The Seven Myths about Dan Marino never winning a Super Bowl

[john4psu]

In the regular season, he was good enough to beat the '85 Bears. However, in the post-season, he couldn't beat the '85 Patriots - at home - in Miami - and was badly outplayed by Tony Eason. Zero rings at every level. Stats don't lie. Check out his performances in all the Dolphins' post-season losses. No defense? He was drafted by a team that was just in the Super Bowl. Do you think David Woodley's passing got them there or was it the Killer B's defense?

Five times he had a top 10 defense in Miami. Three times he had a top five defense in fewest points allowed. Twice he had a defense that gave up the fewest points in the NFL.

No running game? Another myth. Plenty of examples of teams that won a Super Bowl with far less of a running game than Marino had in Miami. What was the excuse at Pitt? Bobby Bowden said that Pitt's 1980 team was the greatest college football team he ever saw. Maybe check how Marino played in big games in college.

The Seven Myths about Dan Marino

Dan Marino is widely praised as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, and arguably holds the distinction of being the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. There are numerous t…

johnbaranowski.wordpress.com

 

[JohnJH]

So, what were the reasons as to why he never won a SB? I've often wondered that (the same regarding Jim Kelly).

 

[RobertWeathers]

In the regular season, he was good enough to beat the '85 Bears. However, in the post-season, he couldn't beat the '85 Patriots - at home - in Miami - and was badly outplayed by Tony Eason. Zero rings at every level. Stats don't lie. Check out his performances in all the Dolphins' post-season losses. No defense? He was drafted by a team that was just in the Super Bowl. Do you think David Woodley's passing got them there or was it the Killer B's defense?

Five times he had a top 10 defense in Miami. Three times he had a top five defense in fewest points allowed. Twice he had a defense that gave up the fewest points in the NFL.

No running game? Another myth. Plenty of examples of teams that won a Super Bowl with far less of a running game than Marino had in Miami. What was the excuse at Pitt? Bobby Bowden said that Pitt's 1980 team was the greatest college football team he ever saw. Maybe check how Marino played in big games in college.

The Seven Myths about Dan Marino

Dan Marino is widely praised as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, and arguably holds the distinction of being the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. There are numerous t…

johnbaranowski.wordpress.com

I think it's a complicated answer.

83 was DMs rookie year. The lost to SEA because they fumbled 3 times and he threw 2 picks.
84 49ers were a more complete team by landslide. Killer Bs started getting old.
85 see 83. 6 TOs.
86-89 they sucked.
90-95 they weren't as good as BUF or other teams. Shula was 2022-2023 BB
96-99 He became an average to broken-down QB.

 

[Clonamery]

So, what were the reasons as to why he never won a SB? I've often wondered that (the same regarding Jim Kelly).

Didn't smoke enough weed in the big games.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

So, what were the reasons as to why he never won a SB? I've often wondered that (the same regarding Jim Kelly).

To be fair, Kelly led his team 61 yards in the last 2 minutes vs NYG to be in FG position. Had Norwood's kick not gone wide right, he has a ring and who knows what happens the next 3 years.

EDIT Didn't realize how bad Marino was in post season. An 8-10 record and 9 of his losses were by more than touchdown. When they lost, it was by an average of 18.8 points. Take out the blowout vs JAX in his last game and it is still by an average of 14.8 points.

 

[john4psu]

Didn't smoke enough weed in the big games.

Might have helped him calm down a bit.

 

[john4psu]

I think it's a complicated answer.

83 was DMs rookie year. The lost to SEA because they fumbled 3 times and he threw 2 picks.
84 49ers were a more complete team by landslide. Killer Bs started getting old.
85 see 83. 6 TOs.
86-89 they sucked.
90-95 they weren't as good as BUF or other teams. Shula was 2022-2023 BB
96-99 He became an average to broken-down QB.

No one ever mentions his years at Pitt when he had an all-star team around him and threw 64 interceptions in four years despite injuries.....

 

[RobertWeathers]

No one ever mentions his years at Pitt when he had an all-star team around him and threw 64 interceptions in four years despite injuries.....

What all-stars? He had a few teammates drafted mid/late in the draft. We aren't talk about the 2000 Miami Hurricanes here....

Football was different back then. Players threw picks all the time. Especially gunslingers like Marino who bet on their arms in tight coverages and didn't make the safe, smart play.

If you want to pick on Marino, that was his #1 problem. His coaches fell in love with his arm and didn't horsecollar him like great coaches should and he wasn't smart enough to know better.

Those Pitt teams were great. Sometimes great teams don't win the national championship. Look at 1983 Nebraska. 1995 Penn State.

 

[stinkypete]

If you want to pick on Marino, that was his #1 problem. His coaches fell in love with his arm and didn't horsecollar him like great coaches should and he wasn't smart enough to know better.

Most would consider Shula and Johnson great coaches. Another advantage Marino couldn't cash in on.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Most would consider Shula and Johnson great coaches. Another advantage Marino couldn't cash in on.

Jimmy got Marino at the end of his career. He was a great coach.

I do blame Shula for not sticking to what made him a great coach when Marino was there. Defense. Game management. Instead he got lazy drafting and neglected the defense because he had a golden arm QB that he sucked up to. Once he got MIA back to being competitive it was too late.

 

[john4psu]

What all-stars? He had a few teammates drafted mid/late in the draft. We aren't talk about the 2000 Miami Hurricanes here....

Football was different back then. Players threw picks all the time. Especially gunslingers like Marino who bet on their arms in tight coverages and didn't make the safe, smart play.

If you want to pick on Marino, that was his #1 problem. His coaches fell in love with his arm and didn't horsecollar him like great coaches should and he wasn't smart enough to know better.

Those Pitt teams were great. Sometimes great teams don't win the national championship. Look at 1983 Nebraska. 1995 Penn State.

In 1979, Pitt gave up only 8.8 points per game which was fifth best in the country. In 1980, the Panthers gave up only 10.1 points per game which was seventh best in the country. In 1981, Pitt’s defense gave up the 12th fewest points in the country, and in 1982, Pitt’s defense gave up the fifth fewest points in the country. What was the excuse then for Marino not winning a ring?

Until his retiring day, Bobby Bowden said the 1980 Pitt team was the best he ever faced as a head coach and the best college football team he had ever seen.

That year, the Panthers’ roster included four future NFL Hall of Famers, 30 draft picks, seven first-round picks, the Outland Trophy winner, the Maxwell Award winner, the Lombardi Award winner, and the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

That Pitt team had 23 future NFL starters on it. All five of Pitt’s defensive line and the entire offensive line started in the NFL and what a great offensive line protecting Marino giving him time to eat Primanti sandwiches in the pocket: Jimbo Covert, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Rob Fada and Ron Sams. Three defensive backs started in the NFL as well as two of Pitt’s wide receivers, the fullback, the kicker and five other players that didn’t even start at Pitt.

 

[borg]

Super Bowl winners 1983-96

Arguably the greatest era of pro football with Uber teams, dynasties, and stacked to brim rosters.
And all had tremendous run games. Most had tremendous run/pass balance.
Miami had neither, and arguing Marino had even a fraction of the run support these Champs had is nonsensical.

1983 Raiders
1984 Niners.......Note: Niners outrushed MIA 202 to 25
1985 Bears
1986 Giants
1987 Redskins
1988 Niners
1990 Niners
1991 Giants
1992 Redskins
1993 Cowboys
1994 Cowboys
1995 Niners
1996 Cowboys

 

[RobertWeathers]

In 1979, Pitt gave up only 8.8 points per game which was fifth best in the country. In 1980, the Panthers gave up only 10.1 points per game which was seventh best in the country. In 1981, Pitt’s defense gave up the 12th fewest points in the country, and in 1982, Pitt’s defense gave up the fifth fewest points in the country. What was the excuse then for Marino not winning a ring?

Until his retiring day, Bobby Bowden said the 1980 Pitt team was the best he ever faced as a head coach and the best college football team he had ever seen.

That year, the Panthers’ roster included four future NFL Hall of Famers, 30 draft picks, seven first-round picks, the Outland Trophy winner, the Maxwell Award winner, the Lombardi Award winner, and the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

That Pitt team had 23 future NFL starters on it. All five of Pitt’s defensive line and the entire offensive line started in the NFL and what a great offensive line protecting Marino giving him time to eat Primanti sandwiches in the pocket: Jimbo Covert, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Rob Fada and Ron Sams. Three defensive backs started in the NFL as well as two of Pitt’s wide receivers, the fullback, the kicker and five other players that didn’t even start at Pitt.

I see you don't like Dan Marino.

The excuse is they got their ass kicked by Penn State which they always do and keep in mind they changed coaches from 1981 to 82. New systems tends to make players hesitant.

Hugh Green was a great OLB.

 

[john4psu]

Super Bowl winners 1983-96

Arguably the greatest era of pro football with Uber teams, dynasties, and stacked to brim rosters.
And all had tremendous run games. Most had tremendous run/pass balance.
Miami had neither, and arguing Marino had even a fraction of the run support these Champs had is nonsensical.

1983 Raiders
1984 Niners.......Note: Niners outrushed MIA 202 to 25
1985 Bears
1986 Giants
1987 Redskins
1988 Niners
1990 Niners
1991 Giants
1992 Redskins
1993 Cowboys
1994 Cowboys
1995 Niners
1996 Cowboys

Interestingly, you conveniently omitted two years that are certainly in Marino's era, within one and two years of his NFL debut, 1981 and 1982.

The 1981 San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl with Ricky Patton as their leading rusher, gaining only 543 yards and Patton had a 3.6 yards per carry average. Their second leading rusher, Earl Cooper, rushed for just 330 yards and had a 3.4 yards per carry average. On the year, the 49ers averaged just 3.5 yards per rushing attempt.

The 1982 Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl with team-leading rusher John Riggins averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and just 3.6 yards per carry as a team.

In 1995, a year you listed, the 49ers leading rusher was Derek Loville, who rushed for 723 yards, and averaged 3.3 YARDS PER CARRY. As a team that year, the 49ers averaged 3.6 YARDS PER RUSHING ATTEMPT. You call that a tremendous run game????

The 1991 Washington Redskins averaged 3.8 YARDS PER RUSHING ATTEMPT, as did their leading rusher Ernest Byner. Marino had numerous years when he had running backs that averaged better than those two Super Bowl winning teams.

1991 Washington Redskins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Check out the 1991 Washington Redskins Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

1995 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Check out the 1995 San Francisco 49ers Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[borg]

Interestingly, you conveniently omitted two years that are certainly in Marino's era, within one and two years of his NFL debut, 1981 and 1982.

Marino's era began in '83......certainly not '81 or '82.
Why would I include years when Marino was in college?
Why would anyone?

Did the Tom Brady era start in '98 and '99?

 

[stinkypete]

Super Bowl winners 1983-96

Arguably the greatest era of pro football with Uber teams, dynasties, and stacked to brim rosters.
And all had tremendous run games. Most had tremendous run/pass balance.
Miami had neither, and arguing Marino had even a fraction of the run support these Champs had is nonsensical.

1983 Raiders
1984 Niners.......Note: Niners outrushed MIA 202 to 25
1985 Bears
1986 Giants
1987 Redskins
1988 Niners
1990 Niners
1991 Giants
1992 Redskins
1993 Cowboys
1994 Cowboys
1995 Niners
1996 Cowboys

The greats are supposed to elevate lesser talent.

Brady won 4 rings handing off to Antwain Smith, Sony Michel and Leonard Fournette
Manning won his with Joseph Addai and CJ Anderson as his backs
Mahomes has had Damian Williams and Isaiah Pacheco
Roethlisburger had Willie Parker and Rashard Mendehnall
Rodgers had some guy named Brandon Jackson

Marino played up (or down) to the talent surrounding him. He could not carry a severely undermanned team to the Super Bowl like the greats can, he rarely was able to even carry teams to the AFC championship game.

Marino is the single most overrated player in NFL history, and possibly the most overrated of all American sports.

 

[XLIX]

Dan Marino exploded out of the gate. His first 3 years as a starter were easily the best we had ever seen from a QB in NFL history (at that time). And in those 3 years, he lost in the Super Bowl once (to SF) and lost in the AFCCG once (to NE).

After that, he survived far, far more on reputation than on achievement. I don't want to say he stunk, but he was most certainly NOT a top QB in the NFL. He only made the pro bowl 4 times in his final 12 years.

He threw 48-30-44 TD's in those 3 years I mentioned above. Then in the rest of his career - 13 years - he only hit 30 TDs in a single season once.

He threw 5,084-4,137-4,746 yards in those 3 years. Then would break 4,000 only 3 more times in the next 13 years.