Some Dolphins rookie lists, inspired by today's story on rookie starting center Samson Satele:
TOP 15 GREATEST ROOKIE SEASONS
As chosen by me, because it's my blog dammit:
1. Dan Marino, 1983 -- 2,210 yards, 20 TDs, 96.0 rating in 9 starts.
2. Dick Anderson, 1968 -- 8 picks for 230 yards, one TD.
3. Richmond Webb, 1990 -- Started all 16 games as instant LT star.
4. Tim Bowens, 1994 -- 3 sacks, monster run-stopping.
5. Chris Chambers, 2001 -- 883 receiving and 811 kick-return yards.
6. Zach Thomas, 1996 -- 3 picks, 2 sacks, led team in tackles.
7. Troy Stradford, 1987 -- 619 rushing yards, 48 catches.
8. Terry Kirby, 1993 -- 75 catches, 390 rushing yards.
9. Jack Clancy, 1967 -- 67 catches for 868 yards.
10. A.J. Duhe, 1977 -- Started every game as DE/OLB.
11. Todd Wade, 2000 -- First Dolphin to win NFL offensive rookie of month.
12. Karim Abdul-Jabbar, 1996 -- 1,116 rushing yards, 11 TDs.
13. Fuad Reveiz, 1985 -- 22 FGs, 116 points.
14. Nat Moore, 1974 -- 37 catches for 605 yards; 26.7 kick-return average.
15. Bill Stanfill, 1969 -- 8 sacks, 2 interceptions returned for TDs.
ROOKIES TO LEAD TEAM...
...in rushing, receiving or passing yards, chronologically:
Player Year Category
Jack Clancy 1967 868 receiving
Bob Griese 1967 2,005 passing
Jim Kiick 1968 621 rushing
Nat Moore 1974 605 receiving
David Woodley 1980 1,850 passing
Dan Marino 1983 2,210 passing
Troy Stradford 1987 619 rushing
Sammie Smith 1989 659 rushing
Karim Abdul-Jabbar 1996 1,116 rushing
J.J. Johnson 1999 558 rushing
Chris Chambers 2001 883 receiving
Ronnie Brown 2005 907 rushing
ROOKIES TO START EVERY GAME
Player Pos. Year
Randall Edmunds OLB 1968
Curtis Johnson CB 1970
Mike Kolen OLB 1970
Jake Scott S 1970
Larry Gordon OLB 1976
Bob Baumhower NT 1977
A.J. Duhe DE 1977
Jarvis Williams FS 1988
Richmond Webb LT 1990
Zach Thomas MLB 1996
Kenny Mixon DE 1998
Todd Wade RT 2000
Randy McMichael TE 2002
Wade Smith LT 2003
NFL ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
Associated Press leaguewide honors:
A.J. Duhe DE 1977
Troy Stradford RB 1987
Tim Bowens DT 1994
SELECTED ROOKIE TEAM RECORDS
Chronologically:
Player Year Record
Dick Anderson 1968 8 interceptions
Dan Marino 1983 2,210 passing yards
Ron Davenport 1985 13 touchdowns
Fuad Reveiz 1985 116 points
Terry Kirby 1993 1,264 rushing/receiving yards
Karim Abdul-Jabbar 1996 1,116 rushing yards
Chris Chambers 2001 883 receiving yards
Wes Welker 2004 1,777 rushing/receiving/return yards
OVERALL TOP-10 DRAFT PICKS...
...and how they panned out as Dolphins, with grades by me:
Player, Pos. Drafted Grade
Jim Grabowski, RB 1st-1966 F (Signed with rival NFL Packers)
Rick Norton, QB 2nd-1966 F (Absolutely abysmal)
Bob Griese, QB 4th-1967 A+ (Hall of Famer)
Larry Csonka, RB 8th-1968 A+ (Hall of Famer)
Sammie Smith, RB 9th-1989 D (Had 1,787 rush yards in 3 years)
Richmond Webb, OT 9th-1990 A (Stalwart blcoker for 11 seasons)
Troy Vincent, CB 7th-1992 C (Solid but brief; 14 picks in 4 years)
Ronnie Brown, RB 2nd-2005 C so far (Must do more)
Ted Ginn, WR-Ret 9th-2007 Inc. (Must have eventual impact as WR to justify pick)
UNLUCKY 13: BIGGEST DRAFT BUSTS
The 13 first-round picks who were biggest failures, chosen by me:
1. Rick Norton, QB, 1966
2. Mike Kadish, DT, 1972
3. Don Reese, DE, 1974
4. Billy Milner, OT, 1995
5. Yatil Green, WR, 1997
6. Jamar Fletcher, CB, 2001
7. Darryl Carlton, OT, 1975
8. Eric Kumerow, DE, 1988
9. John Bosa, DE, 1987
10. Jackie Shipp, LB, 1984
11. Randal Hill, WR, 1991
12. John Avery, RB, 1998
13. Sammie Smith, RB, 1989
SWEET 16: BIGGEST GEM-FINDS:
The 16 players drafted in fourth-round or lower who worked out best, chosen by me:
1. Mark Clayton, WR, 1983
2. Zach Thomas, LB, 1996
3. Jake Scott, S, 1970
4. Vern Den Herder, DE, 1971
5. Doug Betters, DE, 1978
6. Reggie Roby, P, 1983
7. Jim Kiick, RB, 1968
8. Mike Kolen, LB, 1970
9. Jim Jensen, UTIL, 1981
10. Ed Newman, OG, 1973
11. Bryan Cox, LB, 1991
12. Uwe von Schamann, PK, 1979
13. Jeff Cross, DE, 1988
14. Bruce Hardy,TE, 1978
15. Steve Towle, LB, 1975
16. Larry Seiple, TE-P, 1967
If you have made it this far, congratulations. You are a true Dolfan. The team thanks you, and I thank you!
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