Miami Dolphins At 50: Top Season Records
By Brian Miller
Rushing Yards
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In 2002 Ricky Williams rushed for a team record 1,853 yards. A record that still holds the top spot today. Williams also holds the 2nd best single season record with 1,372 yards accomplished a year later in 2003.
After Williams you drop back to 1978 when Delvin Williams rushed for 1,258 yards. Lamar Smith in 2000 rushed for 1,121 and Ricky Williams appears in the fifth spot in his 2009 season rushing for 1,117 yards. Larry Csonka takes the sixth spot with 1,116 established in 1972.
Receptions
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
The top spot on the Dolphins all-time list is held by O.J. McDuffie who in 1998 caught 90 passes. Mark Clayton shares the 2nd spot with Brandon Marshall. Clayton caught 86 passes in 1988 while Marshall caught the same in 2010. Marshall also holds the 4th spot with 81 receptions just behind Chris Chambers’ 2005 season of 82 catches. No current member of the Miami Dolphins holds any spot on the top 10.
Receiving Yards
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
It’s no surprise that 1984 comes in big as a season for Dolphins statistics. Mark Clayton holds the single season record with 1,389 while Mark Duper comes in 2nd and 3rd with 1,313 in 1986 and 1,306 in 1984. Irving Fryar posted a 1,270 season in 1994 while Brandon Marshall rounds out the top five with 1,150 in 2011. No current player is in the top 10 which is not surprising given the turnover of wide-receivers that occurred during the 2015 off-season.
Points
This little guy had a big leg.
In 1999 Olindo Mare scored 144 points taking over the top spot previously held by Pete Stoyanovich who holds the 2nd and 3rd spots. “Stoyo” scored 124 points in 1992 and 121 in 1991. In 2010 Dan Carpenter scored 115 points to tie for the 9th spot.
Sacks
Jason Taylor and Bill Stanfill hold the single season record for sacks. Stanfill’s record 18.5 sacks in 1973 held the top spot for more than a decade until 2002 when Jason Taylor tied the mark. Taylor who played more games per season had the chance to take the top spot by himself but failed to register a sack in the final game of the season. He did however lead the league in 2002.
Current Miami Dolphin DE Cameron Wake currently holds a two way tie at six with Adawale Ogunleye with 15.0 sacks. “O-Gun” reached the mark in 2003 while Wake reached his in 2012.
Tackles
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
We wrap up the top single season records by looking at the best seasons of individual tackles. The first name that normally comes to mind is Zach Thomas but it’s Steve Towe who in 1976 posted 217 tackles to take the top spot. Not for nothing, Thomas holds eight of the top 11 spots. Thomas posted 195 in 2002 for 2nd and 184 in 2003 for third. He holds his own tie for 4th 180 in ’96 and 180 in 2001.
Rusty Chambers in 1979 posted 178 for 6th place and Ernie Rhone in 1981 posted 171 for 7th.