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Miami Dolphins
Miami's on the runThe Dolphins really, really, really want to have a running game this season. Oh, and making it to the Super Bowl would be great, too.
By BRUCE LOWITT © St. Petersburg Times, published September 3, 1998
Oh, he's said the same thing the past two years, and each year quarterback Dan Marino ended up shouldering the load. In 1996, the Dolphins were 11th in passing, 19th in rushing. Last year they were second in passing and 29th (next-to-last) in rushing.
"Your quarterback is always going to carry the team," Johnson said, "but we had a higher percentage of our offense in the passing game last year than anybody in the NFL. We need more balance. Now, people have been saying that here in Miami for a long, long time. But by totally changing the structure of the offense, we're committed to run the ball. And not just committed to saying it. It's truly sink or swim with the running game." Well, yes, but what makes this year different from last year, or the year before that? "I've got a new offensive coordinator, that's the biggest difference," Johnson said with a no-nonsense look on his usually cherubic face. "I said, "Run the ball,' last year and evidently my offensive coordinator didn't listen to me. This one will listen to me -- or I'll get another offensive coordinator." "He's right!" exclaimed offensive coordinator Kippy Brown, the former Dolphins (and Bucs) running backs coach who succeeded Stevens. "I honestly believe that to win a championship you have to be efficient running the football. If you aren't, you can't expect the productivity that the better running teams have." In other words, he said, three and out by the Dolphins, followed by the Miami defense seemingly on the field forever trying to stop a team from running the ball down its throat, is not a winning recipe. More often than not, if the Miami ground game didn't get going early, Marino took it upon himself to take control. The quarterback who holds 51 team and 24 NFL records as he heads into his 16th season says he has been waiting a long time to start handing off more often. "I've talked about that for years," he said. "Whatever it takes for us to win football games, it's fine with me. I've played in many games where I've thrown 60 times and we got our butts kicked, and that's no fun. It's more fun when you can throw 20 or 30 times and win, believe me." With first-round draft choice (and likely kick- and punt-returner) John Avery backing up Karim Abdul-Jabbar at running back, and fullback Stanley Pritchett returning from a nearly season-long knee injury, the Dolphins have at least the semblance of a capable backfield. Having Lawrence Phillips in the mix, despite his reputation for troublesome behavior, might have been nice. But Miami ditched him, supposedly for poor training camp play. "I was hoping, for Lawrence's sake, that he'd find a home here, develop his talents and show what he's capable of," Brown said. "It didn't work out. This organization will keep on going." The Miami line is strengthened with the addition of right guard Kevin Donnalley, a take-no-prisoners free agent signed away from the Oilers. Now Brown has to instill in the linemen and backs the faith that that the way to the Super Bowl is on the ground. "The first thing you've got to do is believe, as the good running teams believe, that running the football in the long run will win you games," Brown said. "Look, I like throwing the football. I've coordinated passing games. But I believe in my heart that for any team to win a championship, it's got to be able to run, to be balanced. "We're not going to be three yards and a cloud of dust every play. We're going throw quite a bit. I don't see Dan's pass production dropping." Marino will have to do it without Yatil Green, the No. 1 pick of a year ago, who has yet to play a down as a pro. His surgically repaired right knee gave way in training camp, costing him a second season. The Dolphins likely will count on six-year veteran Charles Jordan as their deep threat and hope O.J. McDuffie, their most reliable receiver, can come up with more than the one TD he scored last year. "When we throw the ball," Brown said, "I want it to be advantageous for us. I want to throw because we want to, not because we have to. If we're running efficiently, (the defense) won't rush as hard, the play-action (pass) becomes more of a factor, and that creates more open shots downfield. The big thing, mentally, for Dan, the running backs, the (offensive) line, even the wide receivers, is to believe this is going to be the way to win a championship." When Johnson took over the franchise from Don Shula, he promised a Super Bowl team in three years. This is the third year. Is he backing away from that promise? Maybe. "People asked me (in 1996) for a timetable," Johnson said, "and since I had a three-year contract, I said three years. When pressed for an answer, you've got to give them something. I wasn't going to say, "No comment.' "In all honesty, I was saying that this year would be our best year up to that point because we'd have the salary cap cleaned up and I'd have room under the cap to get some free agents, and a couple of good drafts would reap some dividends. I think it has proven out that this is our most talented team since I've been here," Johnson said. Good enough to play in Super Bowl XXXIII in the Dolphins' own back yard? J.J. wouldn't say.
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his, Jimmy Johnson says, is the season the Miami Dolphins are going to run the ball. Really. Honest. No kidding. 