Miami Dolphins All-Time Top 100 Players: 97. Delvin Williams

by Kevin Kraczkowski on Feb 9, 2012 8:00 AM EST in Miami Dolphins Historical Perspective

Delvin Williams was born in Houston, Texas in 1951, and attended college at the University of Kansas. He was drafted in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

As a rookie, Williams was used sparingly, gaining 201 yards on 36 carries, including a 71 yard touchdown run on October 27th against the Oakland Raiders in a 35-24 loss.

In 1975, Williams saw his role grow within the organization, leading the 49ers with 631 yards on only 117 carries, good for a 5.4 yard average, twice gaining over 100 yards in a game. He also caught 34 passes and scored a total of four touchdowns for the 5-9 team.

Williams enjoyed his first 1,000 yard season with the 49ers in 1976, gaining an NFL third best total of 1,203 yards on 248 carries. He had five games of 100 yards or more, scoring a total of nine touchdowns that season, and was invited to his first Pro Bowl following the season.

In 1977, Williams gained over 100 yards three times, and finished with 931 yards on 268 carries. To make room for incoming running back O.J. Simpson, Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins following the season for wide receiver Freddie Solomon. Simpson would not produce for the 49ers as thought, leading the team in rushing with less than 600 yards in 1978, and the team finished 2-14. Williams, however, was just getting started.

In his first year with the Dolphins, Williams was recognized with first team All-NFL honors by several media outlets, including the Associated Press. He gained 1,258 yards, good for fourth best in the NFL, on 272 carries, and five times gained at least 100 yards. He finished the season with eight touchdowns.

1979 saw Williams gain 703 yards on 184 rushes, as he split carries with returning legend Larry Csonka. He again led the team in rushing in 1980, with 671 yards on 187 carries, scoring two touchdowns.

In 1981, Williams joined the Green Bay Packers, but did not see any significant playing time with the club. In 45 games over three seasons with Miami, Williams gained a total of 2,632 yards on 643 carries, scoring 13 touchdowns. He also caught 70 passes for 574 yards and another touchdown.

Poll

Aside from Larry Csonka, who is the running back who contributed the most to the Miami Dolphins on the field?

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I remember this guy but meh........

"Theyas no fawking qwatahback!"-Anonymous Patriots fan at seeing the Wildcat formation for the first time.

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by texascowpunk on Feb 9, 2012 8:18 AM EST reply actions

How do I add that twitter button to the end of my articles/comments?

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by Kevin Kraczkowski on Feb 10, 2012 2:34 AM EST up reply actions

Go to the column on your twitter page that has your stats at the top. Down at the bottom is a grey box. Click on Resources.

Under where it says Twitter Button click on get started. Choose follow. Their will be an HTML code in a box off to the right. Cut and past that in to your sig line box on your profile page here.

"Theyas no fawking qwatahback!"-Anonymous Patriots fan at seeing the Wildcat formation for the first time.

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by texascowpunk on Feb 10, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks!

Do what you feel and say what you mean, because in the end, those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter - Dr. Seuss
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by Kevin Kraczkowski on Feb 10, 2012 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

No problem. Posted the other on your other post.

"Theyas no fawking qwatahback!"-Anonymous Patriots fan at seeing the Wildcat formation for the first time.

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by texascowpunk on Feb 10, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

Oh and at the end of your articles I am not sure. Thats a great question. I will try and figure that one out when I post

my live thread for tonight.

"Theyas no fawking qwatahback!"-Anonymous Patriots fan at seeing the Wildcat formation for the first time.

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by texascowpunk on Feb 10, 2012 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

Delvin was system player

Fait accompli to the NFL.

I never got a prize for doing what was expected of me.

by Tunaflipper on Feb 9, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions

The casual obsever wood say he's a product of the oline, when therein is only as good as it's weakest link!

wopper "the king" computer
We often look rite past the positive's cuz the negative's-r-so hard they dominate!

by wild zion beaver on Feb 9, 2012 9:01 AM EST reply actions

The casual obsever wood say he's a product of the oline, when therein is only as good as it's weakest link!

wopper "the king" computer
We often look rite past the positive's cuz the negative's-r-so hard they dominate!

by wild zion beaver on Feb 9, 2012 9:01 AM EST reply actions

Delvin was pretty good..

but historically great…
MORRIS AND KIICK were so important to the CHAMPIONSHIP teams of the 1970’s.
both took turns being part of the 1-2 punch with the Zonk ! mercury was the perfect compliment the the Power of Csonka…. I think it goes…
1. Csonka
2. Morris
3. Kiick
4. Ricky
5. Ronnie
- a case can be made that tony Nathan contributed a lot to better playoff teams in the 80’s

41 Year FIN FAN
Franchise QB... NOW !!! ...Draft Ryan Mallett ...Draft some Freakin speed for a change. WR & RB speed kills......

by 62Lou on Feb 9, 2012 9:03 AM EST reply actions

My top 5 RB's

Great list, always fun to see what other Dolphins fans think of the history and legacy of all the players. My list is a little different, and I would exclude FBs due to them being a very different piece of the offense through the years versus the traditional RB or TB.
My top 5 would be:
1. Ricky Williams: Just the best pure talent to ever play RB for the Dolphins. Had three monster years and another three productive years. Set a number of team records, and on better teams would have been even more dominant.
2. Tony Nathan: Marino says he was the best RB he ever played with. I agree. Nathan could do anything, and if he played in a more run-first offense I think he could have been a multiple 1,000 yard rusher. He could block, run inside, run outside, and catch.
3. Ronnie Brown: Damn injuries. His two best years were stopped due to injuries, both so random and unnecessary (tackling on a turnover and being brought down from behind). Could catch, run outside and inside, and had speed and power before his body failed him. Still had a very good career and made a lot of big plays for the Dolphins in 6 years.
4. Mercury Morris: Gave the Dolphins a new threat that made their running game unstoppable for a few years. Like Ricky, could have been better longer if off the field issues (and an injury) didn’t rob him of his effectiveness. Really only was an offensive difference maker for 2 years.
5. Jim Kiick: Tony Nathan was a more athletic version of him, could do everything. Good started for a few years and better as the third wheel of the Csonka/Morris/Kiick trio.

Delvin Williams gets my #6 slot, with all the late 80’s/90’s RBs basically being lumped into the next few spots to round out the top 10 (Higgs, Hamption, Abdul-Jabbar, Parmalee, L. Smith). Lamar Smith had the best year and best playoff performance; Parmalee had the most value above and beyond just being a RB. You could also throw in Benny Malone from the late 70’s as an explosive player who just never could solidify himself as a starter.

From Tony Nathan to Ricky Williams, that is a LONG time to go between quality RBs. No wonder the Dolphins struggled to find balance for so long.

by douglaskoehne on Feb 10, 2012 12:55 AM EST up reply actions

I meant to say -

“BUT not HISTORICALLY GREAT…”

41 Year FIN FAN
Franchise QB... NOW !!! ...Draft Ryan Mallett ...Draft some Freakin speed for a change. WR & RB speed kills......

by 62Lou on Feb 9, 2012 9:10 AM EST reply actions

If we are including FBs, like Csonka

Put Keith Byars on the poll. Guy had great hands.

"The first thing I do when I get out of bed and feel the jolt in my knees is think of Roy Winston. On the second step, my calcified Adam's apple starts bobbing, and I think of Carl Eller. A few more steps in the dark and it's Willie Lanier. By the time I get to the bathroom, I'm flashing back to Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke. And when the light finally comes on, I just hope that somewhere in the darkness they're thinking of me, too" - Larry Csonka.
He played before my time but one of the toughest SOBs to ever play!

by Strange on Feb 9, 2012 9:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs