1981 AFC East discussion

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Mark. I never saw that interview. Nothing to back this up other than watching games, but I always felt like Shula had a "loyalty" thing. When to pull the QB is more of a judgment call, but for lineup decisions, it felt like he went with the player with seniority at times. I always wondered if loyalty to Woodley played into this as well, but nothing to base it on. The score was tough too - pulling a QB that's ahead/down 3 goes against conventional wisdom - he would have had to just feel it. I guess that's part of why we don't see many 2 QB systems!

[Mark]

While Strock was known for coming off the bench and playing well he never cut it as a starter as I recall. Looking at the numbers he was worse overall than Woodley. Also recall that Woodley played well in the playoffs vs. New England and San Diego and the Jets game was in the mud. He also had been 4 of 6 in the first half of the SB I believe.

[CSKreager]

The 1981-85 Dolphins were one of the biggest overachievers in NFL history. By 1986, reality caught up to them.

Between QB and RB, Miami had IMHO the worst offensive backfield to ever make a SB.

I've gone back and watched a lot of the games. The '80s had a different feel to it: lot of mediocre QB play, teams very committed to the run usually in 2-back formations; players literally smaller, etc. - it was a different era.

I don't think Miami had a championship team (which actually made me feel better because as a kid and a fan, I thought they should have won every year, ha ha but I don't think they overachieved either. The '83 team may have been the best imo - Marino stepped in for Woodley, but the offense wasn't overhauled yet to overemphasize passing. Also, Arnsparger was still there. It was pretty unbelievable that Walker fumbled consecutive kickoff returns thus never giving Marino a chance to get back on the field against Seattle in the playoff game.

Finally, as far a worst backfield ever to make a SB - I don't know. Andra Franklin was actually a pro bowler that year. How many teams have made the SB without a pro bowl runner? And some have brought Nathan up for HOVG. Woodley was a sad story which we've gone over before, but Strock always seemed to step in and do well when needed (It'll forever remain a mystery why Shula didn't bring him into the SB against Washington). Finally, it would have been interesting to see whether Overstreet could have overcome his fumbling problems and given Marino a better running game. By the end of the '83 season, it was becoming clear he was the best back they had, but too many fumbles.

Franklin making his only pro bowl in a 9 game season says all I need to know.

82 Miami was a joke. Laughable offense + smoke and mirrors defense that got carried by the Orange Bowl mystique. They were closer to a 2-7 team than 7-2

[7DnBrnc53]

Franklin making his only pro bowl in a 9 game season says all I need to know.

Right. It was like Sammy Winder making the Pro Bowl as an alternate with around 700 yards rushing (as an alternate in 1986).