I was on Youtube a few minutes ago and I was watching an interview he did a while back. A question was asked that caught my attention. The interviewer asked Marino what does he look at or what does he look for when he snaps the ball. He thought he was looking for his favorite receiver or something. Marino said that he was just looking for the open man and when he finds him, he is going to hit him. So my question to you all was do you think Dan Marino had a favorite receiver or was anyone who caught the ball was his favorite at that moment?
Being "open" never seemed to be a requirement. Dan would throw it anyway, just ask McDuffie, he was never open.
That's a pretty famous quote from Marino. Many people took it to mean that he didn't read coverages, merely saw an open man and fired a laser-rocket to said open man. Personally I think he just didn't want to alienate any of his receivers.
To me Dan was magic on the field. I would hold my breath when he threw. You never knew where they were going. He seemed to use all the receivers, but, I always thought the Mark's brothers were his top two. then of course, Moore and on and on. He was just great and knew his stuff inside and out. A very intelligent man. and player.
his favorite rec were the ones that were getting open, so yeah he threw to the open rec. they got to become a fav rec by getting open & catching the ball.
It just amazes me to see someone play as well as Dan Marino. He is the best there was and I don't believe there was anyone that will be like him ever. Simply the greatest there is!!
The guy slept in film sessions. When asked for advice from Sage rosenfels, he replied, "just find the open guy and let it rip." He's probably the best qb to ever live, and would be the worst coach/mentor to ever do it either.
Marino is an Icon and I agree, the best that ever was or ever will be. Dan Marino made every receiver on the field a threat and could thread a needle. As good as he was I just wonder just how good Dan Marino could have been with better knees and more mobility. Its the ultimate compliment when every good or even great quarterback always seems to be compared with Dan Marino. I loved the comment by, I think it was Bill Walsh who talked about system quarterbacks and said Dan Marino was a system or something to that effect.
Imagine how much better he could have been with radio equipment in his helmet linking him to an offensive coordinator in the booth or rules that didn't allow defensive backs to breathe on receivers.
I was on UTUBE for the last 1-2 hours. Remembering the McMahons, Ken Obriens, Kellys, Kosars, Moons, Esiasons, Simms, Everetts, and so many of the quality quaterbacks of the 80s and 90s. Most of those guys never won a championship ring excluding McMahon and Kosar (w/ Cowboys). I dont think that he greatness of a QB should be measured by the amount of rings. Guys like Dilfer, and Doug Williams and Mark Rypien won rings. It takes a whole team of 50 + guys to win. And jst because a guy like Peyton is so much better, it should never take away from what Bernie meant to his team or what Boomer did in Cinncy....( believe he holds all the NFL records for a left handed QB) So with all the respect due to Montana, or Brady,or even Peyton and Farve or Elway, the greatest pure passer of all time is Dan Marino. That is not taking anything away from the other guys. But Dan was a feared man and as accurate in all his throws as anyone I have ever seen. He did have the Marks Brothers, McDuffie, Fryar and....and.... ok so I cant think of any one else expect the great James Pruitt, or Scottt Miller, and dont forget Troy Drayton ( cant believe he is not in the Hall of fame) , and Tony Martin, and the dominant Scott Swuedees, and Mark Ingram and a whole bunch of interesting backs, ( dont forget Mark Higgs!!! ), he still carried the Dolphins for 17 years. What he did on the field was simply eye popping. And the fact that he is not considered in the top 5 is a travisty just because his team could never give him the support he needed to win a superbowl. I almost got teary eyed watching the old tapes. Hearing Jim Mandich go crazy announcing the game!! I miss Dan Marino. There will never be another guy like that ever! Dan gave you at least a chance to win every game. I miss Dan Marino. He is a guy you wish could have won his ring and you wish he could have played forever
I heard that. Another QB, Jim Mcmahon said the same thing when he was asked. In football, you get rid of the ball as soon as you can. You know you only have seconds. The good-great ones never had preference. Often the #1 WR is always well covered. And a good QB has the ability to adapt and take what the defense gives you. Now one thing about Dan. He could throw it so accurate, that he could attempt throws that no one else would even think of trying! He could complete a pass from 40 yards away on a line that others would not dare try. Atlanta Falcon safety, Euegene Robinson said he was covering deep against a Dolphin WR during a Dolphin-Falcon game. He said that he was about 35 yards out and had an extra CB helping him. So he says he was not at all worried about Marino throwing his way. He looked at Marino pull back him arm in a throwing motion, and when he turned back to spot the WR, it was too late!!! He felt the ball whistle by him, did not see it, just felt it, and when he spotted the WR, the guy already had the ball and was coasting down the field, and the CB trailing in vain. Marino was such a dominant QB, but yes a smart one............if you worked hard and got open, Danny would get you the ball no matter who you were. I miss Dan Marino.........we havent seen such a complete exciting player since he retired.
Greatest ever in my opinion also. His numbers would've been out of Favre's reach if he would have had some receivers during his last few years. He didn't have anyone who could get open the last 4-5 yrs. What a shame.
I believe there are QBs who have passed him in the quarterbacking department. But best passer there ever was, was Dan Marino. Best QB, is debatable. And you all know the difference.
Yeah, I have always loved that quote. That's a somewhat famous quote from a conversation Marino was having with Bill Walsh. Walsh was asking him this question: Bill Walsh to Dan Marino: "What are you looking at?..when the ball is snapped, what are you looking at? On your first read? When do you look to your alternate receiver?" Dan Marino: "Look, I just look for the open man...and I'm gonna' hit him"
would it have mattered as far as the radio? i ask because i've always been under the impression that he called his own plays and audibles much like peyton does now.i think it would be horrific..could you imagine dan henning yelling at him to check down lol.
See if you can find his favorite receiver..... Damn....you can argue who was the best ever all you want......but there's one thing you cant argue.....there's not one QB Id rather watch throw a football. You can just watch it over...and over...and every single time you get chills. [video=youtube;pTPFdn9uzj8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPFdn9uzj8[/video]
Yeh..... Marino would have tuned him right the F out..... Henning would have called Wild Cat......Marino would have flicked him the bird....and then told everyone to go long!!!
The thing is, for Dan, an 8 inch space was all he needed for a player to be open. So, on most plays, his guys were open. I think Marino had great vision - very instinctive - and that playing QB and throwing the football came very naturally to him. Some guys have great field vision (peripheral vision) and are able to see how the routes are unfolding and make a snap decision about where to throw it. Dan was like that. That said, he made his share of mistakes with INT's. But, the thing about that is that he nearly always - when in his prime - came back and put enough points on the board for any reasonable defense to overcome and win. I don't think he worked in the way that a Kosar or Montana, Brady or Manning work at their craft. That's what happens when, as Marino said, you are "in the zone" for 12 straight years. I think Marino was the most instinctive QB in the past 30 years. The problem with so many QBs today is they don't have that sixth sense and Dan just played football. He was great at it. All-time great.
I recall Bill Walsh saying something to the effect..."In San Fransisco we had a system. With Marino, he is the system." OMG do I miss those days!!!
Dans reaction time from seeing and executing with that trigger release must have been one of the fastest in the NFL. He just reacted to what he saw and let his arm do the rest. Anyone who saw the timing between Marino/Duper/Clayton will remember it was a thing of beauty.
Yeah, Bill Walsh said that Joe Montana was a product of a system, but Dan Marino was a system. That's a pretty bold and credible statement from the guy whom coached Montana....and I agree.
Marino was the only QB that could throw into double and triple coverage and place the ball in a spot that only his receiver could catch it on a consistent basis. Sure he had his share of picks as well but, absolutely amazing to watch him play.
I think it was Bill Walsh (but I could be wrong) who said Marino is the greatest QB he has ever seen. And we all know who he coached. As far as what Dan saw after the snap? Well, he saw the whole field. It wasn't the quick release, or pocket presence that made him great (although that didn't hurt), it was that he saw and read the whole field with ease.
Yep. True bro! The quote I mentioned in this previous post says a lot: That's a pretty bold and credible statement from the guy whom coached Montana....and I agree.
Think I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with you on that one Jason. Because, IMO it was that lightening quick release and his ability to shuffle up into the pocket as it was collapsing around him that allowed to him to wait until his receivers got just enough separation. And, once he got locked on, it was bam...gone and on the money. Either way, it's all good bro. We're both advid Marino and Dolphans...right?
I'm getting chills recalling the Marino days. He was the main reason I followed football. He was the greatest pure passer I've ever seen. I'm not sure how he stacks up against the golden oldies like Unitas. Can anyone compare those 2? The 2 things I remember about Dan was his lightening quick release. A flick of his wrist & ZINGGGGG a td pass on a tight rope. The 2nd memory was a Bills game where he thru a rocket up the middle. The ball was a laser that tracked into a Bill's helmet. Almost gave the Bill's player whip lash....HAHAHAHA!
Odd that no one mentioned Danny's footwork in the pocket. His one side step capability was amazing. I always thought he looked like a bullfighter out there. If you watch him being pressured he never took his eyes off his receivers downfield. Just stepped out of trouble, used that great vision and could sling it quickly. Marino couldn't run well but his feet were so quick. It is a huge part of his game that is overlooked way too often.
There was a QB that lived in the air. They said whoever challenged him would die. Their defense would freeze up, their arms would flail wildly, and they would disintegrate. The QB threw at Mach 1 on the meter, seven hundred and fifty miles an hour, where the air could no longer move out of the way. They called him Marino. For the record Marino never threw an interception, the receiver just didn't adjust. Just ask him.
Actually, that was what I meant when I said: But, you're right about his footwork KP. He didn't get a lot of credit for his mobility in the pocket, except by some former QB color analysts. Good point on your part. Post of the year IMHO. Frickin' awesome bro.
Hell yes my friend. The only better way to disagree, is over a great craft brew! I get this alot though when talking about Dan. And in all honesty, I'm really doing nothing more than regurgitating what his old teammates used to tell me. I'm no guru, I'm just repeatin'. I used to work at a resort called Little Palm Island. I was their head captain for 3 years, ran their dive trips to Looe Key, sunset sailing charters, and my own fishing charter. I took Dan out a couple times, and he obviously talked the place up while back at HQ, as I started seeing other Dolphins too. Ron Heller was my favorite. He was easy to yuk it up with, and what a character! I used to bring up Neil Smith, just to watch him go off. Anyhoo, while I made sure to not talk shop with Dan (really just wanted to talk everyday **** so he could relax), I did with the other guys, and they all said that it was his ability to see everything. Where everyone was (on O and on D), what they were doing, what they were going to do, ect... It was like everyone around him was in slomo. Joe Rose was/is the most adamant about this.
I really didnt need to see that video. Makes it all the more depressing with our QB situation now. Man,those were the days. We all took it for granted then,but watching it now makes one realize how gifted he really was. Now,if you`ll excuse me,I`m going back to watch it a dozen or so more times.
