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1981 Miami Dolphins
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Record: 11-4-1, Finished 1st in AFC East Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 345 points (21.6/g), 11th of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 275 points (17.2/g), 5th.
Differential of 70 points (4.4/g), 8th.
Expected W-L: 10.1-5.9.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +2 (0.1/g), 12th.
Coached by Don Shula (11-4-1)
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1981 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | David Woodley | 23 | 1 | 15 | 191 for 366, 2,470 yards, 12 td, 13 int, & 63 rushes for 272 yards and 4 td | Miami Dolphins / 8th / 214th pick / 1980 |
| RB | Tony Nathan | 25 | 2 | 11 | 147 rushes for 782 yards, 5 td, & 50 catches for 452 yards and 3 td | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 61st pick / 1979 |
| FB | Andra Franklin | 22 | Rook | 11 | 201 rushes for 711 yards, 7 td, & 3 catches for 6 yards and 1 td | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 56th pick / 1981 |
| WR | Duriel Harris | 27 | 5 | 12 | 53 catches for 911 yards, 2 td | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 80th pick / 1976 |
| WR | Nat Moore | 30 | 7 | 11 | 26 catches for 452 yards, 2 td, & 1 rush for 3 yards and 0 td | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 78th pick / 1974 |
| WR | Jimmy Cefalo | 26 | 3 | 6 | 29 catches for 631 yards, 3 td | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 81st pick / 1978 |
| TE | Ronnie Lee | 25 | 2 | 16 | 14 catches for 64 yards, 1 td | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 65th pick / 1979 |
| LT | Jon Giesler | 25 | 2 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 24th pick / 1979 |
| LG | Bob Kuechenberg | 34 | 11 | 9 | Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 80th pick / 1969 |
|
| LG | Jeff Toews | 24 | 2 | 7 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 53rd pick / 1979 |
|
| C | Mark Dennard | 26 | 2 | 11 | Miami Dolphins / 10th / 274th pick / 1978 |
|
| C | Dwight Stephenson | 24 | 1 | 5 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 48th pick / 1980 |
|
| RG | Ed Newman* | 30 | 8 | 16 | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 156th pick / 1973 |
|
| RT | Eric Laakso | 25 | 3 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 106th pick / 1978 |
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Doug Betters | 25 | 3 | 15 | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 163rd pick / 1978 |
|
| NT | Bob Baumhower* | 26 | 4 | 16 | 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 40th pick / 1977 |
| RDE | Vern Den Herder | 33 | 10 | 14 | Miami Dolphins / 9th / 230th pick / 1971 |
|
| LOLB | Bob Brudzinski | 26 | 4 | 16 | 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Los Angeles Rams / 1st / 23rd pick / 1977 |
| LILB | A.J. Duhe | 26 | 4 | 16 | 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 13th pick / 1977 |
| RILB | Earnest Rhone | 28 | 6 | 16 | 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| ROLB | Larry Gordon | 28 | 5 | 16 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 17th pick / 1976 |
| LCB | Don McNeal | 23 | 1 | 12 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 21st pick / 1980 |
| RCB | Gerald Small | 25 | 3 | 16 | 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 93rd pick / 1978 |
| SS | Glenn Blackwood | 24 | 2 | 16 | 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Miami Dolphins / 8th / 215th pick / 1979 |
| FS | Lyle Blackwood | 30 | 8 | 10 | 3 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 9th / 217th pick / 1973 |
| FS | Don Bessillieu | 25 | 2 | 6 | 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 134th pick / 1979 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Uwe von Schamann | 25 | 2 | 0 | 24 of 31 field goals & 37 of 38 extra points | Miami Dolphins / 7th / 189th pick / 1979 |
| P | Tom Orosz | 22 | Rook | 0 | 83 punts for a 40.8 average, 0 blocked | |
| PR | Tommy Vigorito | 22 | Rook | 1 | 36 punt returns for a 10.5 average and 1 td | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 138th pick / 1981 |
| KR | Fulton Walker | 23 | Rook | 2 | 38 kick returns for a 24.5 average and 1 td | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 154th pick / 1981 |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Elmer Bailey | 24 | WR | 16 | 0 | 196 | 6-0 | Lincoln (MO),Minnesota | 12/13/1957 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 100th pick / 1980 |
| 70 | Bill Barnett | 25 | DE | 9 | 2 | 256 | 6-4 | Nebraska | 5/10/1956 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 75th pick / 1980 |
| 73 | Bob Baumhower* | 26 | NT | 16 | 16 | 261 | 6-5 | Alabama | 8/4/1955 | 4 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 40th pick / 1977 |
| 34 | Woody Bennett | 26 | RB | 3 | 3 | 227 | 6-2 | Miami (FL) | 3/24/1955 | 2 | |
| 46 | Don Bessillieu | 25 | DB | 16 | 6 | 200 | 6-1 | Georgia Tech | 5/4/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 134th pick / 1979 |
| 75 | Doug Betters | 25 | DE | 15 | 15 | 262 | 6-7 | Montana,Nevada-Reno | 6/11/1956 | 3 | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 163rd pick / 1978 |
| 47 | Glenn Blackwood | 24 | DB | 16 | 16 | 187 | 6-0 | Texas | 2/23/1957 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 8th / 215th pick / 1979 |
| 42 | Lyle Blackwood | 30 | DB | 12 | 10 | 190 | 6-1 | TCU | 5/24/1951 | 8 | Denver Broncos / 9th / 217th pick / 1973 |
| 58 | Kim Bokamper | 27 | DE-LB | 16 | 1 | 245 | 6-6 | Concordia (MN),San Jose State | 9/25/1954 | 4 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 19th pick / 1976 |
| 59 | Bob Brudzinski | 26 | LB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 6-4 | Ohio State | 1/1/1955 | 4 | Los Angeles Rams / 1st / 23rd pick / 1977 |
| 81 | Jimmy Cefalo | 26 | WR | 16 | 6 | 190 | 5-11 | Penn State | 10/5/1955 | 3 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 81st pick / 1978 |
| 83 | Vern Den Herder | 33 | DE-NT | 16 | 14 | 250 | 6-6 | Central College (IA) | 11/28/1948 | 10 | Miami Dolphins / 9th / 230th pick / 1971 |
| 63 | Mark Dennard | 26 | C | 11 | 11 | 253 | 6-1 | Texas A&M | 11/2/1955 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 10th / 274th pick / 1978 |
| 77 | A.J. Duhe | 26 | LB-DE | 16 | 16 | 247 | 6-4 | LSU | 11/27/1955 | 4 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 13th pick / 1977 |
| 37 | Andra Franklin | 22 | RB | 16 | 11 | 225 | 5-10 | Nebraska | 8/22/1959 | Rook | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 56th pick / 1981 |
| 72 | Mike Fultz | 27 | DT | 4 | 0 | 278 | 6-5 | Nebraska | 1/28/1954 | 4 | New Orleans Saints / 2nd / 34th pick / 1977 |
| 35 | Nick Giaquinto | 26 | RB | 8 | 0 | 205 | 5-11 | Bridgeport,Connecticut | 4/4/1955 | 1 | |
| 79 | Jon Giesler | 25 | T | 16 | 16 | 262 | 6-5 | Michigan | 12/23/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 24th pick / 1979 |
| 50 | Larry Gordon | 28 | LB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 6-4 | Arizona State | 7/8/1953 | 5 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 17th pick / 1976 |
| 74 | Cleveland Green | 24 | T | 6 | 0 | 265 | 6-3 | Southern | 9/11/1957 | 2 | |
| 84 | Bruce Hardy | 25 | TE-WR-QB | 16 | 4 | 235 | 6-5 | Arizona State | 6/1/1956 | 3 | Miami Dolphins / 9th / 247th pick / 1978 |
| 82 | Duriel Harris | 27 | WR | 15 | 12 | 179 | 5-11 | New Mexico State | 11/27/1954 | 5 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 80th pick / 1976 |
| 31 | Eddie Hill | 24 | RB | 11 | 3 | 205 | 6-2 | Memphis | 5/13/1957 | 2 | Los Angeles Rams / 2nd / 54th pick / 1979 |
| 36 | Steve Howell | 25 | FB-TE | 10 | 2 | 227 | 6-2 | Baylor | 12/20/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 107th pick / 1979 |
| 11 | Jim C. Jensen | 23 | WR-QB | 16 | 0 | 215 | 6-4 | Boston University | 11/14/1958 | Rook | Miami Dolphins / 11th / 291st pick / 1981 |
| 40 | Mike Kozlowski | 25 | DB | 14 | 0 | 196 | 6-0 | BYU,Colorado,San Diego State | 2/24/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 10th / 272nd pick / 1979 |
| 67 | Bob Kuechenberg | 34 | G-T-C | 16 | 9 | 253 | 6-2 | Notre Dame | 10/14/1947 | 11 | Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 80th pick / 1969 |
| 68 | Eric Laakso | 25 | T-G | 16 | 16 | 285 | 6-4 | Tulane | 11/29/1956 | 3 | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 106th pick / 1978 |
| 86 | Ronnie Lee | 25 | T-TE-G | 16 | 16 | 265 | 6-3 | Baylor | 12/24/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 65th pick / 1979 |
| 33 | Bo Matthews | 30 | RB | 3 | 0 | 230 | 6-4 | Colorado | 11/15/1951 | 7 | San Diego Chargers / 1st / 2nd pick / 1974 |
| 28 | Don McNeal | 23 | DB | 12 | 12 | 190 | 5-11 | Alabama | 5/6/1958 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 21st pick / 1980 |
| 89 | Nat Moore | 30 | WR-RB | 13 | 11 | 184 | 5-9 | Florida,Tennessee-Martin | 9/19/1951 | 7 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 78th pick / 1974 |
| 22 | Tony Nathan | 25 | RB | 13 | 11 | 206 | 6-0 | Alabama | 12/14/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 61st pick / 1979 |
| 64 | Ed Newman* | 30 | G | 16 | 16 | 245 | 6-2 | Duke,Florida Atlantic | 6/4/1951 | 8 | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 156th pick / 1973 |
| 3 | Tom Orosz | 22 | P | 16 | 0 | 204 | 6-1 | Ohio State | 9/26/1959 | Rook | |
| 78 | Ken Poole | 23 | DE | 16 | 0 | 251 | 6-3 | La-Monroe | 10/20/1958 | Rook | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 126th pick / 1981 |
| 54 | Steve Potter | 24 | LB | 16 | 0 | 235 | 6-3 | Virginia | 11/6/1957 | Rook | |
| 43 | Ricky Ray | 24 | DB | 8 | 0 | 180 | 5-11 | Norfolk State | 5/30/1957 | 2 | New Orleans Saints / 6th / 146th pick / 1979 |
| 55 | Earnest Rhone | 28 | LB | 16 | 16 | 220 | 6-2 | Henderson State | 8/20/1953 | 6 | |
| 38 | Terry Robiskie | 27 | RB | 1 | 0 | 210 | 6-1 | LSU | 11/12/1954 | 4 | Oakland Raiders / 8th / 223rd pick / 1977 |
| 80 | Joe Rose | 24 | TE | 16 | 0 | 228 | 6-3 | California | 6/24/1957 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 7th / 185th pick / 1980 |
| 52 | Steve Shull | 23 | LB | 16 | 0 | 220 | 6-1 | William & Mary | 3/27/1958 | 1 | |
| 48 | Gerald Small | 25 | DB | 16 | 16 | 192 | 5-11 | San Jose State | 8/10/1956 | 3 | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 93rd pick / 1978 |
| 57 | Dwight Stephenson | 24 | C-T | 16 | 5 | 255 | 6-2 | Alabama | 11/20/1957 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 48th pick / 1980 |
| 10 | Don Strock | 31 | QB | 16 | 1 | 220 | 6-5 | Virginia Tech | 11/27/1950 | 7 | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 111th pick / 1973 |
| 45 | Ed Taylor | 28 | DB | 6 | 2 | 174 | 6-0 | Memphis | 5/13/1953 | 6 | New York Jets / 9th / 224th pick / 1975 |
| 53 | Rodell Thomas | 23 | LB | 3 | 0 | 225 | 6-2 | Alabama State | 8/2/1958 | Rook | |
| 60 | Jeff Toews | 24 | G-T | 9 | 7 | 255 | 6-3 | Washington | 11/4/1957 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 53rd pick / 1979 |
| 32 | Tommy Vigorito | 22 | RB-WR | 16 | 1 | 193 | 5-10 | Virginia | 10/23/1959 | Rook | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 138th pick / 1981 |
| 5 | Uwe von Schamann | 25 | K | 16 | 0 | 190 | 6-0 | Oklahoma | 4/23/1956 | 2 | Miami Dolphins / 7th / 189th pick / 1979 |
| 41 | Fulton Walker | 23 | DB | 16 | 2 | 193 | 5-10 | West Virginia | 4/30/1958 | Rook | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 154th pick / 1981 |
| 16 | David Woodley | 23 | QB | 15 | 15 | 210 | 6-2 | LSU | 10/25/1958 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 8th / 214th pick / 1980 |
| Team Total | 25.7 | 16 | 223.6 | 6-1.9 | 3.0 |