10 most underrated Miami Dolphins of all time
By Staff
10 most underrated players in Miami Dolphins history? You bet they are!
Over the course of the decades since 1966, hundreds of players have donned the Miami Dolphins aqua and orange. We know the superstars but we don’t quite know the underrated players who made the wheels turn and the cranks grind.
For every superstar, there are a dozen no-name players who have made their mark by supporting those who got the ESPN highlights or went to the Pro Bowl. We are talking about guys that should be on the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame or maybe even a couple who are that most fans wouldn’t know them without looking them up.
Can you name 10 players from Dolphins history that are so underrated that their names are lost in history or at the very least not recognized without some degree of thought? We are going to try and bring ten of the most underrated players in Dolphins history to light. We are going to, for a brief moment, give them some long-overdue kudos.
There are no parameters for this task. Simply players who had good to excellent statistics who are not mentioned among the greatest in Dolphins history. Players I hope you will look up to see what all my hubbub is.
Here are 10 of the most underrated players in Miami Dolphins’ history.
10. Howard Twilley, WR
In the 12th round of the 1966 draft, Miami Dolphins coach George Wilson, Sr. drafted a small wide=receiver out of Tulsa. At 185 pounds and 5-foot-10, Howard Twilley was far from the six feet plus receivers we see in Today’s NFL.
It is rare in today’s NFL to see a player drafted in the seventh round make an NFL roster and in 1966 when the draft lasted 16 rounds, it was even tougher for a player to make an impact. Howard Twilley, well, he made an impression.
Twilley not only made the team, but he performed well enough to survive the coaching change from Wilson, Sr. to Don Shula in 1970. He was good enough in his job to not only clear that coaching change but put in another seven seasons.
For 11 years, his entire career in the NFL, Twilley wore the aqua and orange. He appeared in 11 playoff games and all three of the Miami Dolphins Super Bowls, including of course the ’72 undefeated season.
Statistically, Twilley isn’t in any record books. The Dolphins were a run-first, run second, and pass third type of team during the Don Shula 70s. Consider that in his 11 seasons, he totaled only 3,064 yards on 212 touches. He averaged 14.5 yards per reception, however, still impressive by today’s standards without question.
In 1972, Twilley averaged a whopping 18.2 yards per catch on 20 receptions. Consider that in the same season, HOF receiver Paul Warfield only had 29 receptions all year long.
His longevity and contributions to the team are often overlooked but Twilley was a vital part of the Dolphins’ success in the early ’70s.