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In case you have missed it over the last few days, the Phinsider Community has been building the All Time Miami Dolphins Depth Chart. We've made our way through the quarterbacks and wide receivers so far, and are in the middle of voting for the tight end positions each afternoon. This morning, we will introduce the first post in the running back series, working our way through four slots within the depth chart.
But first, we have to add Chris Chambers as the final wide out to make the depth chart. Chambers came to the Dolphins with great anticipation among fans. Where Gadsden was the possession, go-to guy, Chambers was the dyanmic, deep threat. Drafted in the second round of the 2001 draft, Chambers made an impact in his rookie year, leading the league in yards per catch with 18.4 as a rookie. In 6-1/2 years with the Dolphins, Chambers would rack up 405 catches for 5,688 yards and 43 touchdowns, all top five in the all time Dolphins career receiving lists (4th in catches, 5th in yards, 4th in touchdowns). Chambers had one season above the 1,000 yard mark, his 2005 campaign with 1,118 yards and a Pro Bowl berth. The Dolphins would trade Chambers to the San Diego Chargers at the 2007 trade deadline, getting a second round pick for the receiver.
Now, we move on to the half backs. Below you will find the current depth chart, then the list of nominees for the four open slots, followed by the poll itself.
The current depth chart looks like:
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QB |
Dan Marino | Bob Griese | Chad Pennington | |||
WR |
Mark Clayton | Paul Warfield | Mark Duper | Nat Moore | O.J. McDuffie | Chris Chambers |
TE |
Randy McMichael | |||||
RB |
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C |
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Jim Kiick - One portion of the triple headed backfield monster of the Dolphins running game from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, Kiick would play with Miami from 1968 to 1974. He would leave the Dolphins after their second Super Bowl win, heading to the WFL for a season before joining the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins at the end of his career. During his time with the Dolphins, Kiick play in 97 games, starting 68 of them. He would have 997 rushing attempts, for 3,644 yards, and 28 touchdowns.Kiick would be selected to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969.
Mercury Morris - Morris worked with Kiick in that three-headed backfield, playing with Miami from 1969 to 1975. During that time, he would carry the ball 754 times for 3,877 yards and 29 touchdown in 86 games played, 52 of them as a starter. Morris would be named to the Pro Bowl in 1971, 1972, and 1973.
Benny Malone - Malone joined Miami for the 1974 season, playing five years with the Dolphins. He would appear in 57 games, starting 27, and carrying the ball 503 times. He would gain 2,129 yards, scoring 16 touchdowns.
Delvin Williams - Williams played three years with Miami, spanning the 1978 to 1980 seasons, starting 29 games of the 45 in which he appeared. He would carry the ball 643 times over that time, gaining 2,632 yards with 13 touchdowns. Williams would be selected to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and 1978, as well as being named to the First Team All Pro selections in 1978.
Tony Nathan - Nathan would have one of the longest careers as a Dolphins running back, sticking with the team from 1979 to 1987. He would carry the ball 702 times for Miami, tallying 3,543 yards and 16 touchdowns, starting 69 games while appearing in 123 total. Nathan would be named First Team All Pro in his rookie campaign, as well as lead the league in yards per attempt average in 1981 (5.3 YPA).
Lorenzo Hampton - Hampton would appear in 70 games (27 starts) for the Dolphins in the 1985 to 1989 seasons. He would carry the ball exactly 500 times, gaining 1,949 yards with 22 touchdowns.
Sammie Smith - Smith only spent three seasons in Miami, starting 13 games and appearing in 27 additional games. He would carry 509 times from 1989 to 1991, gaining 1,787 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.
Mark Higgs - Higgs would join the Dolphins in 1990, playing five seasons with the team. He would have 702 rushing attempts, gaining 2,648 yards and finding the endzone 14 times.
Bernie Parmalee - Parmalee played from 1992 to 1998 with Miami, appearing in 104 games (26 starts). He would gain 1,959 yards on 513 carries, with 15 touchdowns.
Karim Abdul-Jabbar - Abdul-Jabbar gained 3,063 yards in his Dolphins career spanning the 1996 to 1999 seasons. He would start 23 of the 50 games in which he appeared, carrying the ball 888 times with 33 touchdowns scored. He would lead the league in 1997 with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Lamar Smith - Smith only played two seasons with the Dolphins, but would carry the ball 622 times over the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He would gain 2,107 yards with 20 touchdowns, appearing in 31 of the Dolphins' contests over his two years (16 starts).
Ricky Williams - Williams was with the Dolphins from 2002 to 2010, but only played in seven of those seasons. He would start 57 of the 93 games in which he would appear Though most Dolphins fans will always wonder what could have been with Williams, given his missed seasons due to retirements, injuries, and suspensions, Ricky is currently the team's all time leader in attempts, carrying the ball 1,509 times. He is second on the team's all time rushing yardage list, with 6,436, along with 48 touchdowns (second for the franchise). Williams holds the top two single season rushing performances in team history, including his league leading 1,853 yards in 2002. Williams also led the league in attempts that season, as well as the next year. He was a 2002 First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.
Ronnie Brown - Brown picked up the slack during the on-again/off-again relationship the Dolphins had with Ricky Williams. During his six years with Miami (2005-2010, 76 games with 40 starts), Brown would carry the ball 1,128 times for 4,815 yards, third all time for the franchise. He would also score 36 rushing touchdowns, again claiming third all time for the team. Brown would make the Pro Bowl in 2008, riding the wave the team's Wildcat offense would cause throughout the league.
Reggie Bush - Bush claims his position on the list of nominees based on his one year with the team being one of just 12 seasons in which a Dolphins rusher reached 1,000 yards. Bush came to Miami in 2011, having been used primarily as a change of pace back with the New Orleans Saints. With the Dolphins, he would carry the ball 216 times, tallying 1,086 yards with 6 touchdowns. Bush would start 10 of the 15 games in which he played last year.
Vote below for which half back should take the top spot on the depth chart for the All Time Dolphins.