Hey George
Monday, Oct 1, 1967
Why
didn’t you blitz more, cutting down the time Namath had to pass?
We did blitz, as much as we could without exposing our secondary. In the second half, though, they were picking up our blitz much better. Joe Namath is an excellent reader of defenses. When he’d spot us in what he thought was a blitzing situation, he’d dump passes to his backs, or Pete Lammons, the tight end. I wish we’d have had half the success Namath did picking these things up.
Looking
at his past record, why didn’t you start Karl Noonan today?
Twilley had a fine practice week and deserved to start. He and Noonan are so close it’s difficult to separate them. I try to give them equal playing time one way or another.
Why
didn’t you use Abner Haynes in the first quarter?
I said before the season that Haynes and Auer would share the running-back spot. Haynes started last Sunday against Kansas City, so Auer got the start against the Jets and did a good job, at least in the first quarter. His run set up our touchdown.
Why
aren’t you using Bob Griese? Is he hurt more than you said?
Griese injured his shoulder on the second-last play of the first quarter when he hit their end, Biggs. He says he’ll be all right and Dr. Virgin (Miami’s physician) seems to agree.
Tuesday, October 2, 1967
Joe Auer carried the ball several times in the first quarter and gained substantial yardage. Why didn't he carry the ball in the second half? -A. V. Parrish, 518 Caligula, Coral Gables.
Joe didn't play
in the second half. I'll admit he started well and set up our touchdown with
a fine run. But in the second quarter he was missing assignments or not carrying
them out. Then he fumbled a punt and lost us field position when we were only
three points behind 10-7. Larry Seiple had to punt out from the goal line
and the Jets went on to score a big touchdown they never should have had.
* * *
Why, in the third quarter, did you go back to the air when you were going
so well on the ground? - Danny Johnson 19811 NW 40th Ct.
Before we got the football in the third quarter we were down, 23-7. We had no choice but to throw the ball in an effort to catch up.
* * *
Why do other teams provide their quarterbacks with protection while the Dolphins
don't? Are we pushing too hard on the defense and forgetting the other half
of the game? William Conrad. 1360 NW 175th St.
I'll concede that in the last couple of games our quarterbacks have not been getting the protection they need. This is not entirely the fault of the linemen. Blocks are being missed in the backfield and sometimes our quarterbacks are at fault for calling plays right into the hands of the defense. Remember we are still a young team and building.
* * *
Would the shotgun offense help when the offensive line is falling apart as
badly as it did Sunday? -- Sarah Denhan, 341 NW 63rd Ct.
Sarah, I wish we would
have brought a shotgun, along for Namath. I would have pulled the trigger
myself. Seriously, the shotgun offense is too limited, and it destroys the
balance of the offense.