Which 07 Team Would have Beaten 72 Phins?

[Bostonian1962]

I think it's safe to say that this years Patriots team would have beaten the 1972 Dolphins team (Play along. I realize you can't compare era's what with 260 pound linemen going against today's 320 pound linemen, and 210 pound LBs of yesteryear etc.)

But, for the heck of it, which of today's teams would have beaten the Phins?

Dallas?
Green Bay?
Jacksonville?
San Diego?
Indianapolis?
All of the above?

I believe strongly it's all of the above. Again, it's probably very unfair, with the height, weight, strength, and speed differences of today's players, but...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think it's safe to say that this years Patriots team would have beaten the 1972 Dolphins team (Play along. I realize you can't compare era's what with 260 pound linemen going against today's 320 pound linemen, and 210 pound LBs of yesteryear etc.)

But, for the heck of it, which of today's teams would have beaten the Phins?

Dallas?
Green Bay?
Jacksonville?
San Diego?
Indianapolis?
All of the above?

I believe strongly it's all of the above. Again, it's probably very unfair, with the height, weight, strength, and speed differences of today's players, but...

Umm, given the changes in the game, even the 2007 'lphins would have more than a fighting chance of beating the 1972 Dolphins.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Umm, given the changes in the game, even the 2007 'lphins would have more than a fighting chance of beating the 1972 Dolphins.

Actually, that's a good point.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

F the '72 dolphins :singing:

 

[Cannon Arm]

You can go to WhatIfSports and run sims against the 72 Dolphins (excluding 07 teams, which will probably be available soon). On a neutral field in a dome, teams with nice running attacks (and favor the run on their playcalls) can beat the 72 Dolphins with regularity. Hell, '04 Clock Killin' Corey Dillon is a one man wrecking crew against the 72 Dolphins. The 99 and 01 Rams teams with Marshall Faulk are the same against the Dolphins. The 2005 Steelers usually do well, but they have Big Ben as being very spotty. He gets pulled for Maddox in one sim. The 1966 Kansas City Chiefs with their run attack, too, win consistently.

 

[xmarkd400x]

The game has gotten bigger and faster than in 1972, just as it has in all sports. The 1972 Dolphins would not be able to compete with professional teams today just because of sheer lack of size. Take a look at this:

1972 Dolphins starting offensive and defensive lines

OLine: (LT, LG, C, RG, RT)
Wayne Moore (265)
Bob Keuchenberg (255)
Jim Langer (257)
Larry LIttle (265)
Norm Evans (250)


DLine: (LE, LT, RT, RE)
Vern Den Herder (252)
Manny Fernandez (250)
Bob Heinz (260)
Bill Stanfill (252)

2007 Patriots starting offensive and defensive lines

OLine: (LT, LG, C, RG, RT)
Matt Light (305)
Logan Mankins (310)
Dan Koppen (296)
S. Neal (305)
Nick Kazcur (315)

DLine: (LE, NT, RE)
Richard Seymour (310)
Vince Wilfork (325)
Ty Warren (300)

The '07 Patriots OLine outweighs the '72 Dolphins OLine by 1531 to 1292 an average of 47.8 pounds per person.

Since the '07 Pats play a 3-4 and the '72 Phins used a 4-3, they have one more defensive lineman than the Patriots. For comparison I have included Jarvis Green, the Pats first sub on the DLine (285 lbs). The '07 Pats DLine outweighs the '72 Dolphins DLine by 1220 to 1014. That is good for an average of 51.5 pounds per person.

Vince Wilfork outweighs the '72 Phins center by 68 pounds (325 to 257). I can tell you from personal experience that I get worn down playing guys my own size, not to mention a behemoth who is ~25% heavier than me. Just the sheer size of the game would indicate that the '72 Dolphins would get the crap kicked out of them by ANY 2007 pro team.

References:
http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?pn=2&ac=players
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/NE
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/1972perfectseason/1972depthchart.asp
http://www.1972perfectseason.com/Roster/numerical.php

 

[MRBLAZE]

Considering how the 72 Dolphins only beat two teams with a record over .500 in their 14-0 season, I'd say any team with a record over .500 would be favored against them. And that's being conservative.

 

[Bostonian1962]

The game has gotten bigger and faster than in 1972, just as it has in all sports. The 1972 Dolphins would not be able to compete with professional teams today just because of sheer lack of size. Take a look at this:

1972 Dolphins starting offensive and defensive lines


2007 Patriots starting offensive and defensive lines


The '07 Patriots OLine outweighs the '72 Dolphins OLine by 1531 to 1292 an average of 47.8 pounds per person.

Since the '07 Pats play a 3-4 and the '72 Phins used a 4-3, they have one more defensive lineman than the Patriots. For comparison I have included Jarvis Green, the Pats first sub on the DLine (285 lbs). The '07 Pats DLine outweighs the '72 Dolphins DLine by 1220 to 1014. That is good for an average of 51.5 pounds per person.

Vince Wilfork outweighs the '72 Phins center by 68 pounds (325 to 257). I can tell you from personal experience that I get worn down playing guys my own size, not to mention a behemoth who is ~25% heavier than me. Just the sheer size of the game would indicate that the '72 Dolphins would get the crap kicked out of them by ANY 2007 pro team.

References:
http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?pn=2&ac=players
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/NE
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/1972perfectseason/1972depthchart.asp
http://www.1972perfectseason.com/Roster/numerical.php

Great stuff. Thanks for posting!!!!!

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Umm, given the changes in the game, even the 2007 'lphins would have more than a fighting chance of beating the 1972 Dolphins.

well yeah, and aren't the 72 dolphin, like 60+ years old now?

 

[Bostonian1962]

well yeah, and aren't the 72 dolphin, like 60+ years old now?

Yes. That's why I picked "all of the above".

 

[Cannon Arm]

I ran a few more sims against the 72 Dolphins at WhatIfSports (teams that won):

Barry Sanders and the 1997 Lions (4 TDs rushing against the Dolphins) (one sim had the Lions win even though Scott Mitchell threw 3 INTs)

LT and the 2006 Chargers (4 TDs--3 rush, 1 rec-- against the Dolphins)

Shaun Alexander and the 2005 Seahawks

Terrell Davis and the 1998 Broncos

Eric ****erson and the 1983 Rams

Also, since the Miami offense runs through Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka, I threw the 2000 Ravens at them and Ray Lewis and company (with Jamal Lewis carrying the ball 22 times for 169 yds) hold Morris and Csonka to 37 total rushing yards and the team wins 30-9.

The 72 Dolphins had plenty of weaknesses.

 

[VT_NY_Patsfan]

The Fins linemen weighed between 250 to 260 each on both sides of the ball. That means they give up a 40 to 50 pound weight advantage for each lineman aginst any 2007 NFL team. The 1 and 15 2007 Dolphins would kick their buts. They would look like the low priced Seahawks in the State Farm commerical.