Miami Dolphins All-Decade Team

I know.  Technically this list is a day late.  But the 2009 regular season is still upon us.  And waiting any longer would make this column even more irrelevant.

Anyway, here is our version of the Miami Dolphins All-Decade Team.  The only thing I can say is that I have not viewed anyone else’s list, be it from this site or otherwise.  So if a selection looks brilliant….hey, what can I say!  If it looks ridiculous…..I’m an idiot all by myself.

At any rate, when you start putting together an All-Decade team, its easy to see why the Dolphins were good at times, but largely struggled with mediocrity.  Without further ado.

Offense

Quarterback - Chad Pennington

In the 10 seasons A.D. (After Dan), Pennington’s resurrection act and division title in 2008 gets him the nod over Jay Fiedler‘s 37-23 record.  A consummate professional in the highest regard, Pennington asserted command of the team and the offense on short notice.  He became a teacher and mentor to the team’s young quarterbacks and provided the Dolphins with the best quarterback play since The Man retired.  Pennington led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record, won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award and finished runner-up in the MVP voting to Peyton Manning.

Oh, and he delivered the Dolphins first AFC East title since 2000 by exacting revenge on the Brett Favre-led Jets at the Meadowlands in Week 17, ending New York’s season and providing Dolphin fans around the world satisfaction and bragging rights for next 8 months.

Running Back - Ricky Williams

Williams’ three 1,000-yard seasons — including a league-leading 1,853 yards, 47 receptions, 1st team All-Pro and Pro Bowl MVP in 2002 — top Ronnie Brown, whose career-high of 241 carries (2006) fall well behind Williams’ 383 and 392 (2002-03).  Williams was the Dolphins offense for two seasons, and didn’t miss a start despite the pounding.

Fullback - Lousaka Polite

Rob Konrad caught 77 passes and 5 TD’s for the decade.  But the Syracuse product was not an exceptional player.  Polite has proven to be a tremendous blocker and a first down machine in short yardage situations.  A Pro Bowl snub, Polite is a still-ascending player whom Colts GM Bill Polian considers an elite fullback.

Wide Receiver – Chris Chambers, Oronde Gadsden

A master of the boundary catch, Chambers led the team in receiving his first five seasons, reaching one Pro Bowl (2005).  Six years after his retirement, the Dolphins are still searching for a big-bodied red zone threat like Gadsden.  The man who caught Dan Marino‘s last (four) touchdown pass(es) was an acrobat on the field, equipped with massive hands and physical strength.  “OG” was also extremely popular in the locker room.  Gadsden wins a toss up with Wes Welker, who emerged as an all-around playmaker before exploding in New England.

Tight End – Randy McMichael

McMichael burst onto the scene as a rookie, catching 39 passes in 2002.  While he was never able to take that next step in Miami, he caught a lot of passes, including a team-high 73 in 2004.

Left Tackle - Jake Long
Left Guard - Mark Dixon
Center - Tim Ruddy
Right Guard - Kevin Donnalley
Right Tackle - Vernon Carey

Long and Carey are no-brainers on the edges.  At left guard, Dixon edges Jamie Nails, who re-emerged as a Pro Bowl caliber guard in 2002 before tearing an ACL.  Donnalley’s standout 2000 season basically beats out mediocrity from everyone else.  Proof of Donnalley’s excellence can be found in rookie Todd Wade‘s plateauing (and regression) after appearing to be a franchise right tackle in 2000.  In a decade of mediocrity (save for 2009), nobody played longer or more consistently than Ruddy, who was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2000.

Defense

Defensive End – Jason Taylor, Adewale Ogunleye.

The lines blur a bit since the Dolphins have run the 3-4 and 4-3.  Since Taylor, one of the franchise’s greatest defenders, spent most of his time with a hand on the ground, he is my RDE.  Ogunleye’s 24.5 sacks from left side in 2002-03 easily get him in. Trace Armstrong (one season), Kevin Carter and Randy Starks all get into the conversation.

Defensive Tackle – Tim Bowens, Keith Traylor

Even though Bowens never played in a 3-4, the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year served a similar purpose in our 4-3 and reached the Pro Bowl 2001.  And Traylor carried on the tradition when the Dolphins moved to the 3-4.  Randy Starks could also get consideration here for his work on passing downs.

Linebacker – Zach Thomas, Joey Porter, Channing Crowder

Outside of Thomas and Joey Porter’s 17.5 sacks in 2008, the Dolphins have been pretty unspectacular here.  The Dolphins spent more time in the 4-3 than the 3-4 this decade, which helps because I had trouble nominating three linebackers for the list.  Crowder gets my nod for seizing the starting job as a rookie, leadership and solid play against the run.

Cornerback – Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain

Not much else needs to be said here.  Madison and Surtain will soon join the Dolphins Ring of Honor.

Safety - Brock Marion (free),  Brian Walker (strong)

From 2000-03, Marion grabbed in 18 INT’s for 401 return yards and 2 TD’s.  He was named to three Pro Bowls.

The underrated Walker (2000-01) is probably forgotten by some, but the position has not seen anything near the 7 INT’s he collected in 2000.  Walker was a more complete player than Yeremiah Bell.  Bell is a big, physical specimen who excels in run support and is an excellent blitzer.  His insertion into the starting lineup visibly improved the defense in 2006.  But he has not taken that next step in pass coverage.  3 INT’s in 77 games — including a dry spell of of 49 games — leaves a bit to be desired.

Kicker – Olindo Mare

Before Mare lost his mojo, the Cooper City native was one of the NFL’s best and most accurate kickers.  His two consecutive seasons over 90% And losing his mojo only applied to field goals.  Mare’s strong leg helped him remain one of the NFL’s best on kickoffs.  And while it does not apply to this list, Mare helped revolutionize the onsides kicking technique in the late ’90s.

Punter – Brandon Jones

The  Dolphins haven’t had anyone ‘great’ here.  But Fields has the longest average and is the only punter to break the 40-yard net mark.  Fields appears to be improving, which wasn’t the case for his predecessors this decade.

Head Coach – Tony Sparano

While I prefer not to hang my hat on single seasons, Sparano’s 11-5 (0-1 playoffs) debut and 7-8 follow-up beats Dave Wannstedt‘s 43-23 stretch (44-29 overall, 1-2 playoffs) for the simple fact that Wannstedt inherited a pretty young, talented team with an outstanding defense and progressively got worse.  Sparano inherited a team that was a Brian Billick charity call away from 0-16 and led them to the greatest turnaround in NFL history.  While the book on Sparano is still being written, his teams have been mentally tough and resilient, while Wannstedt’s had a propensity to fade and choke.

We needn’t delve into the Wannstedt Era any further than that, but I felt it important enough to note that he, and not Nick Saban, trails Sparano.  Both men had total control.  And Saban is a better coach.  But Wannstedt gave his heart and soul to this franchise.  He was a good man who never gave up and had some success in Miami.  Saban was awful to team employees.  And when the going got tough, Nick Saban bolted, cutting a deal with the University of Alabama mid-season then sliding out the back door after it. All while lying about the rumored interest and admonishing anyone who questioned it.

So while he was busy demanding allegiance, accountability, sacrifice, toughness and patience from his players, coaches, fans and the organization, Nick Saban was betraying all of that behind closed doors.  He couldn’t get out the door fast enough.  That, Dolphin fans, is the antithesis of a leader of men.

And with that said, Dave Wannstedt has this Dolfan’s respect.

As Bill Parcells famously says, “You are what your record says you are”.  And with that, I leave you with the 10-year tally (minus Sunday’s game).  ‘Mediocrity’ was a word used a lot in this article.  And unfortunately, the stats back it up.

Regular Season: 79-80
Playoffs: 1-3
Division Titles: 2
Head Coaches: 5

Here’s to a dominant decade of Miami Dolphins football!