Observer Time: September 22, 2024
Mercury Morris: The Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s are not fooling anyone when it comes to strategy. Don Shula built his teams around a strong running game.
Bob Grazi’s passing rush and defense were great. From the powerful three-headed monster, the backfield represents the only undefeated team in NFL history.
In terms of style, there may not be a better trio in NFL history. While Hall of Famer Larry Csonka was under center and the late Jim Keck was a pass rusher, Mercury Morris was the speed demon who made the big plays.
Mercury Morris, who was one of the worst players in Dolphins history, has sadly passed away at the age of 77. The Morris family confirmed the sad news in a statement on social media on Tuesday morning.
While Morris’ raw numbers may look modest, they don’t capture the impact he had on Miami’s offense at its peak. Had he been able to stay healthy, Mercury Morris could have been one of the best running backs in NFL history for pure talent alone.
So today here at Observer Time we will discuss and observe the news of Mercury Morris death.
DOLPHINS GREAT MERCURY MORRIS PASSES AWAY AT 77
After three years as an unused backup, he had two of his best seasons in the NFL in 1972 and 1973, both leading the Dolphins to Super Bowl victories.
Despite sharing carries with Csonka and Kiick, Mercury Morris rushed for less than 2,000 yards and did so while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Mercury Morris scored 22 points in both seasons. His 5.1 career yards per carry rank fourth all-time among quarterbacks and running backs, trailing only Jim Brown, Marion Motley, and Jamaal Charles.
Mercury Morris has over 4,000 yards rushing and 32 total in his eight-year career.
What made Mercury Morris so effective was the difference between him and Sonka.
With defenders filling the middle to prevent the powerful Tsonka from running down their throats, Shola gave the ball to one of the fastest players in the league in Morris.
He was able to run away from defenders with ease and break up big plays.
The Dolphins backfield of the 1970s may never be seen again, and Morris’ speed was one of the hallmarks of those legendary teams.
My condolences go out to the Morris family and Dolphins fans who are mourning the loss of one of their favorite quarterbacks.
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