AFC Championship Game--who's your QB?

[ethurst2]

The Dolphins are in the AFC Championship Game.

You have a choice between Dan Marino, the Gunslinger...

Or Bob Griese, the field general.

You've got Mark Clayton and Paul Warfield as your receivers...

Larry Csonka and Ricky Williams as your running backs.

Which quarterback would you pick to lead your team to the Super Bowl!

[Dave Gray]

Marino.

He's the best QB we've ever had.  Griese was a great manager, but I'd rather have raw talent.

[ethurst2]

Wow Dave! I was expecting you to pick "Griese" as the quarterback that you would start.

The reason why I posted this is because a few years ago, someone asked Mad Dog Mandich who he would pick. He didn't want to answer the question until he was backed into a corner and he picked Griese.

His analogy was that Griese was a total offense quarterback while Marino was kind of one-dimensional who loved to throw the ball and disdain run plays. I think there was a slight bias because he played with Bob.

I think another factor is Defense. In the two times that the Dolphins appeared in the AFC Championship Game (Jan 85 and Jan 92) I don't think their defense was that good. Griese had the No-Names to cover up for him.

[raptorsfan29]

i would pick Griese. Marino choked in the playoffs. Griese was a champion

[Dave Gray]

Griese had a complete team.  Marino had good receivers, but no running game, and no defense.

Maybe Marino's distain for the run came because Mark Higgs was his stud RB.  Marino is arguably the best QB the league has ever seen.

Oh...and welcome to the boards, by the way.

[Frimp]

Marino

[Thundergod]

Marino.   

[Brian Fein]

I think with Ricky (I assume you mean the good Ricky, not the second string, lost a bunch of weight, stoner Ricky) and Zonk in the backfield, it won't matter who the QB is, but I'd have to go with Marino as well.

Its nice that we have QB's good enough to talk about like that.  Other than the 49ers, not many other teams have 2 HOF QB's from the recent era to speak of.

[run_to_win]

The Dolphins are in the AFC Championship Game.

What year is it? 

Is this during the 70's when Shula was still a run-first coach and QBs didn't have as much freedom to check off?  If so, I'd take the talent of Marino.   

Or is this during the 80's or 90's when Shula was drunk off Marino's talent and the QB was given more freedom to check off?  If so, I'd take the patience of Griese.

[run_to_win]

Maybe Marino's distain for the run came because Mark Higgs was his stud RB.

What about this guy?  (<- link)  He was healthy enough to catch passes...

[ethurst2]

Guys,

Do you think that Marino sabotaged his own chance to go to more Super Bowls by having a "pass first" mentality?

[run_to_win]

Do you think that Marino sabotaged his own chance to go to more Super Bowls by having a "pass first" mentality?

Heresy warning!  Read at your own risk!

Yes, but Shula was fully complicit.

[jtex316]

Unfortunately, Dan Marino was the HS Jock that never grew up.

Don Shula should have stepped in very early and put together a system where Marino didn't throw for 8,000 yards a season. Hell I could brake every passing record in that offense. 

I don't blame Marino for throwing on damn near every play.

[DolFan619]

 Â    I'd take Marino, no question about it.

[Phishfan]

It's tough to blame Marino for a lack of a running game. The line could not run block and there was little talent at RB. The offense was designed as a pass first offense. In that situation you cannot blame a QB for passing.