1995 Dolphins

[CSKreager]

Shula’s final year

Spent big on free agents

Beat 5 playoff teams yet lost to the 0-5 Saints and Rich Kotite’s Jets

Your thoughts on this team?

[7DnBrnc53]

Despite the FA signings, that team only had four players make the Pro Bowl (Marino, Richmond Webb, Keith Sims, and Bryan Cox). They weren't nearly as good as the experts thought they would be.

They had a shaky right side of the offensive line, a virtually non-existent running game (21st in rushing), and a defense that was 16th in yards despite finishing tenth in points allowed.

I wonder if Jimmy Johnson should have completely blew that team up a year later (trading Marino to a contender, like Pittsburgh).

[74_75_78_79_]

Despite the FA signings, that team only had four players make the Pro Bowl (Marino, Richmond Webb, Keith Sims, and Bryan Cox). They weren't nearly as good as the experts thought they would be.

They had a shaky right side of the offensive line, a virtually non-existent running game (21st in rushing), and a defense that was 16th in yards despite finishing tenth in points allowed.

I wonder if Jimmy Johnson should have completely blew that team up a year later (trading Marino to a contender, like Pittsburgh).

Whereas San Fran "bought" the right players needed to get over the (Dallas) hump, Miami acquired the WRONG players! Maybe you can "buy" more regular season wins/better playoff-positioning, but you still need the chemistry to win-it-all which San Fran, to their credit, succeeded at thus their Lombardi/"monkey" off Steve's back still VERY well-deserved! That was the (free-agency) Game by then! DO credit the better/smarter front office!

At first Miami looked, or at least sort-of, looked the part with that 4-0 start. But soon-enough it unraveled into yet another latter day Don Shula mere playoff qualifier. And he really didn't "resign" following the season as evidenced in he expressing interest in coaching the Ravens for the '96 campaign (return to Baltimore) - remember that?

Yes, Jimmy lived in the area as well as publicly expressing interest in coaching the Dolphins while Shula was still at helm, mind you. But I don't think it was a good idea for he to go there. He actually trading Marino would have been deemed sacrilege! Huizenga, nor Dolphin Country, would have EVER went for it! Therefore, Jimmy had to go along with a South Beach tenure of - end of day - doing no better than his predecessor anyway! He was simply 'stuck' with mere playoff qualifiers as well which concluded with...62-7!!

Considering his interest in being in Florida, how about he expressing interest in Tampa Bay (upsetting Wyche) instead? Not sure if he would have been picked over Dungy, and not sure if he would have been more successful than Dungy either. But at least he would have had a better opportunity considering it would have been he at least he feeling like he was building his own team "from scratch". He winning a SB, or two, before Gruden ever getting there, or at least making it to a SB or two, not a bad possibility!

[CSKreager]

Despite the FA signings, that team only had four players make the Pro Bowl (Marino, Richmond Webb, Keith Sims, and Bryan Cox). They weren't nearly as good as the experts thought they would be.

They had a shaky right side of the offensive line, a virtually non-existent running game (21st in rushing), and a defense that was 16th in yards despite finishing tenth in points allowed.

I wonder if Jimmy Johnson should have completely blew that team up a year later (trading Marino to a contender, like Pittsburgh).

Whereas San Fran "bought" the right players needed to get over the (Dallas) hump, Miami acquired the WRONG players! Maybe you can "buy" more regular season wins/better playoff-positioning, but you still need the chemistry to win-it-all which San Fran, to their credit, succeeded at thus their Lombardi/"monkey" off Steve's back still VERY well-deserved! That was the (free-agency) Game by then! DO credit the better/smarter front office!

At first Miami looked, or at least sort-of, looked the part with that 4-0 start. But soon-enough it unraveled into yet another latter day Don Shula mere playoff qualifier. And he really didn't "resign" following the season as evidenced in he expressing interest in coaching the Ravens for the '96 campaign (return to Baltimore) - remember that?

Yes, Jimmy lived in the area as well as publicly expressing interest in coaching the Dolphins while Shula was still at helm, mind you. But I don't think it was a good idea for he to go there. He actually trading Marino would have been deemed sacrilege! Huizenga, nor Dolphin Country, would have NEVER went for it! Therefore, Jimmy had to go along with a South Beach tenure of - end of day - doing no better than his predecessor anyway! He was simply 'stuck' with mere playoff qualifiers as well which concluded with...62-7!!

Considering his interest in being in Florida, how about he expressing interest in Tampa Bay (upsetting Wyche) instead? Not sure if he would have been picked over Dungy, and not sure if he would have been more successful than Dungy either. But at least he would have had a better opportunity considering it would have been he at least he feeling like he was building his own team "from scratch". He winning a SB, or two, before Gruden ever getting there, or at least making it to a SB or two, not a bad possibility!

If Jimmy goes to Tampa, then who coaches Miami? Following in the footsteps of Don Shula would have been a very hard act for a coach without JJ’s resume.

[74_75_78_79_]

Despite the FA signings, that team only had four players make the Pro Bowl (Marino, Richmond Webb, Keith Sims, and Bryan Cox). They weren't nearly as good as the experts thought they would be.

They had a shaky right side of the offensive line, a virtually non-existent running game (21st in rushing), and a defense that was 16th in yards despite finishing tenth in points allowed.

I wonder if Jimmy Johnson should have completely blew that team up a year later (trading Marino to a contender, like Pittsburgh).

Whereas San Fran "bought" the right players needed to get over the (Dallas) hump, Miami acquired the WRONG players! Maybe you can "buy" more regular season wins/better playoff-positioning, but you still need the chemistry to win-it-all which San Fran, to their credit, succeeded at thus their Lombardi/"monkey" off Steve's back still VERY well-deserved! That was the (free-agency) Game by then! DO credit the better/smarter front office!

At first Miami looked, or at least sort-of, looked the part with that 4-0 start. But soon-enough it unraveled into yet another latter day Don Shula mere playoff qualifier. And he really didn't "resign" following the season as evidenced in he expressing interest in coaching the Ravens for the '96 campaign (return to Baltimore) - remember that?

Yes, Jimmy lived in the area as well as publicly expressing interest in coaching the Dolphins while Shula was still at helm, mind you. But I don't think it was a good idea for he to go there. He actually trading Marino would have been deemed sacrilege! Huizenga, nor Dolphin Country, would have NEVER went for it! Therefore, Jimmy had to go along with a South Beach tenure of - end of day - doing no better than his predecessor anyway! He was simply 'stuck' with mere playoff qualifiers as well which concluded with...62-7!!

Considering his interest in being in Florida, how about he expressing interest in Tampa Bay (upsetting Wyche) instead? Not sure if he would have been picked over Dungy, and not sure if he would have been more successful than Dungy either. But at least he would have had a better opportunity considering it would have been he at least he feeling like he was building his own team "from scratch". He winning a SB, or two, before Gruden ever getting there, or at least making it to a SB or two, not a bad possibility!

If Jimmy goes to Tampa, then who coaches Miami? Following in the footsteps of Don Shula would have been a very hard act for a coach without JJ’s resume.

The Herschel Walker Trade...well Jimmy, or whoever else besides him, would have needed a...'DAN MARINO Trade' to get a possible chance at some Hardware! Otherwise, taking on the Dolphins job as HC would be one of the historically least-appealing gigs.

[Brian wolf]

Johnson was the logical replacement for Shula but Marino was declining, Johnson couldnt get the offensive linemen to be more aggressive in run blocking and he screwed up by not re-signing Fryar. He still got HOF players out of Thomas and Taylor and turned Madison, Buckley, Surtain, Izzo and Armstrong into strong careers. Had Shula had his defenses, might have given Marino a championship in his prime, but by 1996, Marino didnt have alot left. Even if Johnson had replaced Marino by 1998, who could he have gotten in his place?