July 23, 2024
Jeff Dellenbach: Versatility Kept Me in the Game
Jeff Dellenbach spent the first 10 seasons of his 15-year NFL career as a member of the Miami Dolphins. One of the most versatile players in team history, Dellenbach, saw time at every position on the team’s offensive line. Contributors to this episode include Sevach Melton and Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
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Speaker 1: You're now diving.
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Speaker 2: I'm gonna have been that pix straight.
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Speaker 3: Who then setting down with Seth Living Oh.
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Speaker 1: Jay je Well, and this is strictly for I'm.
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Speaker 2: A true number one of course, y'all. This ain't the other nervous boys talk that might be. Welcome back to the Fish Tank, presented by iHeartRadio right here on the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network, Seth Lovitt and the man with the best hands in the podcast business, O j McDuffie. Juice. How you feeling today?
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Speaker 3: Oh, you know, I'm feeling great, big Seth. You know me, man, when we start focusing on the correct side of the football.
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Speaker 2: I knew where you were going.
00:00:44
Speaker 3: I get I get very excited, bro. And that's that's where we're at again today. Man, I love it.
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Speaker 2: There's no doubt you have an offensive bias.
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Speaker 1: You know.
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Speaker 2: You told me there's no such thing as an offensive bias.
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Speaker 1: It just is what it is.
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Speaker 2: But we are indeed very excited to uh welcome one of your former teammates on the offensive side of the ball, Jeff Dellenback. Thanks for diving into the tank.
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Speaker 1: I'm happy to be here.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, and that setup is outstanding. Just talking about it here Yeah.
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Speaker 3: It's all right, it's all right. Setup dellis a little.
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Speaker 2: Too much green and yellow.
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Speaker 1: Well, you know, I haven't to play there a couple of pretty good years. So I got to play in the twos.
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Speaker 2: You did, You did, And we'll kind of gloss over that, we'll talk about it a little bit. We want to you played a whole bunch of years here for the Miami Dolphins. In fact, sixteen NFL seasons, which in and of itself is incredible, and ten of them were played right here for our Dolphins. So we do have plenty of football to discuss today. But before we get into any of that, I want to talk about the big event you have coming up and I you know, we see the Dellenback Foundation logo there the fourth annual Dellenback Foundation Fishing Classic. It takes place on Saturday, August third. Proceeds are providing much needed funds, volunteer services, and supplies to veterans and first responders who are in need. Tell us what's going on, Jeff, and how can people particularly right?
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Speaker 1: Well, you know, it's a fishing tournament. It's basically a fun tournament. It's a smaller boat, a lot of people that just come out to have fun. We have a few serious fishermen, but it's pretty much a fun tournament Saturday, August third, out of a harbor town Marena and Daniel Beach. And you know, Thursday night is really the big fun event because it's called the Captain's Party and we have to take care of a little bit of logistics, but it's really kind of a hangout auction raffle. You don't have to fish to come and enjoy the party. So then that's at mass Pro Shops at the restaurant there, and we'll have a lot of fun, a lot of exciting things to auction off and raffle, and everybody walks away having a good.
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Speaker 2: Time, well, not having to fish and having fun at a party. Juice. That sounds like the event that you and I would attend.
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Speaker 3: I'm definitely count me in on that. Man. I can finally make one of Deli's events. Man. You know, I've been to a couple of man, but I'm counting me in on that Thursday night party. Man, a party and not have the fish man count me in, Delly.
00:03:03
Speaker 1: That's what it's all about. You know. It's like, I want to have fun and you know, We build it around a fishing tournament, but there's other ways to get involved. And you know, we raise funds to help the veterans, first responders and kids that are just in dire need. We try to stay somewhat small intentionally so we can avoid all that red tape and when somebody needs help, we are Our goal is to move within twenty four hours to you know, keep them from being on the streets and that kind of stuff. So wow, you know, we have a lot of fun doing it. But you know, when you put a smile on somebody's face, it's it makes it all worthwhile.
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Speaker 2: That's awesome. And where can if somebody wants to participate, where do they go? If someone's like I want to enter, where the best thing is.
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Speaker 1: Go to our website, which is Delenbachfoundation dot org and all the information pops up right there. I got some pretty good people that know how to do this technology stuff. If I can put all that technology, I can push a button and it works, I'm okay more than.
00:03:58
Speaker 3: All great stuff, Jeff Man. I mean, I know anytime I go to a charity event that I'm going to see big Deli there. That's for sure. Man. You certainly helped my foundation out. I know you've done stuff with Jason's Foundation as well. So it's awesome that you know, you put this event together, you know, of your own and you know, I hope people come out and support you and the way you supported all of us. Man, that's what it's really all about. And by the way, I'm glad that you played your ten years here in Miami because you know, it gave me a chance to share the huddle with you, like Sef talked about, which is always a lot of fun. And that was just my first couple of seasons. Actually it was during my rookie I think it was my rookie season, big seth in ninety three that you made one of the biggest plays I've ever seen an offensive line and make. I know you what, I know, you know what I'm talking about. Let's go back a little bit here. Thanksgiving Day nineteen ninety three, Texas Stadium and one of the craziest finishes we've ever seen in a football game. Tell us about that, man, Well.
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Speaker 1: I think you go to the crazy start was We're going to Dallas and there's snow and ice everywhere, which we're really expecting nobody really prepared for it, and we went out in that field. It was like an ice rink, so it was sliding all over the place. And it came down to basically the last play of the game. We were lining up kick a field go. I believe we were down by two points at the time. I think it was sixteen fourteen and Pete st Iyanovich lined up to kick a field go and he basically slips on his plant foot kicks the ball low. It gets blocked. The ball happened to go past the line of scrimmage, so the only way that anything could happen was somebody from Dallas had to touch the ball. And as we're running down with the ball, you're kind of like, okay, the ball's rolling. It's I can't do anything. And here comes leon Lett sliding through to try to recover the ball, which he didn't have to do, but he did. As soon as he touched it became a live ball and I was fortunately it's being the right spot at the right time. I recovered the ball. I still say I was in the end zone. It should have been a touchdown. I'm going to fight that till my dying days. But they pulled it back, I put it on the one yard line and we got to line up and rekick the field goal, which you know, we won the game seventeen sixteen at that point.
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Speaker 3: Yeah, except that was that was so crazy, man, me as a rookie in that game. First of all, everybody grew up watching little Dallas on Thanksgiving, and you get an opportunity to go and play against him. And like Delli said, usually when you see those Dallas games, man, it's all nice, and you know God has got you know, shining down on America's team, and it's beautiful. Thanksgiving Thursday. We get there and it's a hot mess, man, and we had to deal with that thing. And that ball looked like a grease pig out there, the way it was sliding around and stuff like that, man, And that had to be fun. What I'd love about that whole thing, Delly, is you guys, all the linemen who went to cover that were smart enough to just let it, let us sit there and see if something like that might happen. Nobody downed it, nobody got there, you gouts surrounded it, and then of course, like you said, leon Lett comes sliding in there. Thank goodness, and we get the recovery. Now, I don't know if you got in the end zone. Like you said, I look at the tape again, DELI I think the words for I got it, I got it.
00:07:03
Speaker 2: Don't waste your time with the tape, don't waste your time.
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Speaker 3: But good stuff, man, great, great day. You remember that also, Baily on that situation. That was the last game we won that year. Yeah.
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Speaker 1: Actually it was one of those games where we're kind of like, Okay, this is it we got we can finish up strong now and you know, be where we need to be at the end of the season. And things just didn't come together for us that year.
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Speaker 2: So I want to go back to what Jew's just said. And you know, I did watch it this morning again, and I've seen it a thousand times. I could watch it because it's great.
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Speaker 3: Yes, I did see it.
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Speaker 2: I think that they I think they had a hard time trying to go tell Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson that the game was gonna end like that, so they wanted to at least make another football play. Who knows. Regardless of that, it was interesting to watch all you guys swarm the ball, But that has to be a coaching point, right, But how many times has that been practiced? How many times had that been discussed for that to be ingrained in all of your head to make that play.
00:08:01
Speaker 1: One thing I'll say is that Mike Westoff was our special teams coach at the time, and he was very thorough and always covered things. And I don't think it was that week, but maybe the week before we actually talked about that situation. You know, what if the ball gets tipped and it goes beyond the line of scrimmage and it's like you know, So we kind of did talk through it, and so it was fairly fresh in our minds that we covered stuff like that, and we were around for quite a while at that point, so we kind of pride ourselves on knowing the situations. And sure enough, here comes the situation that we talked about this and it was stuck in there somewhere, and I was able to pull it out in time to know the right thing to do.
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Speaker 3: And that's a great point right there, because a lot of people don't know that once a kick is blocked, now these guys, all these big linemen had to go and cover like it's a punt at that point, you know what I mean. And a lot of times you see guys or a kick gets blocked or whatever and they start heading towards the sideline or whatever. All of our linemen were there and ready, man, no matter what is day somebody picked it up or what might have happened, man. So that coaching point is valuable right there.
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Speaker 2: Because realistically, right if a dB or somebody picks that thing up on the defensive side and nobody's there to cover it, they could pick it up and return it correct. So you have to protect against that. But I guess also be Johnny on the spot or Jeff on the if that's going to happen, because who knows when you might get a chance to score a touchdown. So you were the starting center in that game against Dallas and for the majority of that ninety three season. But center wasn't even your original position. I like to say, or you've probably heard it a million times. You were like the Swiss Army knife of Dolphins offensive lineman forever during your tenure there. And we're going to discuss all of that. But your introduction to playing the center position came in some less than ideal circumstances. To say, the least.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, it was definitely very interesting. And really, if you think back to the NFL in the mid eighties, we have practice squad, we didn't have extra player. We had a forty five men roster. So when you break down that roster, how many offensive linemen can you carry, you know, on your weekly roster, And we carried seven. So out of seven guys to play five positions, you're kind of hanging by the skin of your teeth a lot of times. And I came in as a tackle and right away they you know, can't play left tackle, can't play right taple, so I started playing both tackles. Then pretty soon, well go play right guard, and I made the team. So I'm one of the seven. And again back then, history was no free agency on so you're gonna be here for a while. Just go sit over there and you'll get your time. So it's like they didn't expect me to, you know, as a as a rookie. You know, it's kind of like Roy Foster was in his third year and he was the next youngest offensive lineman at the time, and it kind of took two or three years before they would have confidence in you to actually play and it's like, okay, so I'm sitting over there. Practice time come around. We'd be running plays and you start doing stuff for the defense. Well, Dwight Stevenson, greatest center of all time, we'd like to get a drink of water. Who can snap the ball? And John Sandusky looked at me, he said, can you stap a ball? I'm like, I can try. So I would get three or four snaps during practice, so Dwyke could get a drink of water, you know.
00:11:19
Speaker 2: And that was really Dwight needs that drink of water. So that's good.
00:11:23
Speaker 1: That's good of you know. A year or so I did a lot of that, and that was my playing center was a little bit in practice. I would get a snap or two. Well, in the second year, we're in a Monday night football game against the Jets. In the huddle, I'm playing right tackle at the time, and all sudden, Dwight's son laying on the field injured, and John Sandusky, for all of you that don't know, a little bit of a crusty old school coach, kind of comes hobbling into the huddle, looks around and goes, guess you gotta go and turn and walked away and I'm like, I guess I gotta go, and Roy Foster goes, You're playing center? Yeah, you who, like, okay, I'm going to center. So you know, I actually ran over and got a ball with Dan, took a couple of snaps, and okay, let's go play football. Well, at that time, the New York sack Exchange was still full functioning, and got Joe Clucko lining up by my nose, which, you know, just in itself, walking over and seeing Joe is like, I'm playing against one of the best nose tackles in the league right now. I'm filling in for arguably the best center that's ever played the game. And I got this guy named Dan Marino behind me. I hope I don't break his fingers. Yeah, that's kind of how it started, and fortunately it went okay. Next week we went to Philadelphia and they happened to put a guy by the name of Reggie White on the nose for the whole game.
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Speaker 2: Oh my god.
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Speaker 1: And that was that was interesting in itself, but you know a lot of things that people don't know. I would go visit Dwight every Friday afternoon after get DOWNE with Crocket. All Right, Dake, What am I doing? How do I do this week? I prepare for this? And Dwight was great and would always Dwight and his mild mannered You'll you'll be all right, You'll be right, help me out here, You'll be all right.
00:13:06
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
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Speaker 1: But it worked out well. And I think it was three weeks after the injury, we played the Jets again and again Joe Cluco lining up, and about the third play of the game, I get called for holding and I'm like, that wasn't you know it was you know, you could call holding every play, but no, that wasn't you know?
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Speaker 2: It was an offensive line and he said he wasn't holding.
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Speaker 1: But about five six plays later, I come out of the huddle and this time I know Joe's talking to the empire behind him, and I blocked him. There's a flag holding, second holding call, like you know in the first quarter, and I'm like, what's going on? When we get off the field and Coachula came over to visit me and wasn't real happy, to say the least going on. I'm like, Joe's got the ear of the Empire out there that you know, so you know, Joe was playing his game talking to the official, and you know, we got his So after that, I don't think I ever got a call for holding again.
00:14:05
Speaker 2: You got the attention of a lot of officials. So, but you had never played center in organized football prior to that, at least in a game other than.
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Speaker 1: The water, you know, other than with the Dolphins. That those were my first snaps ever and there was a very few of those in between.
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Speaker 2: That still just blows my mind. Like juice, you always talk about being the emergency quarterback and you never ever wanted to be in that position, but just because you could sling the ball. But imagine like the first time you ever had to play, You're filling in for Dan Marino, you know, and it's the first time you've ever played a quarterback in organized football. That would just be I can't fathom.
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Speaker 3: You know what else is kind of crazy, Big Steff. What Delli said a little bit earlier there is that you know, when we had Dwight on, he was worried about breaking Marino's fingers. He thought he broke his fingers too. Now that's that's everything. He did it once, So that's a that's a common thing with that young instead of a quarterback that we had. I'm sure it.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: I always a worry when you got that ball in your hand and you're starting it out and okay, who's behind me? And I hope that the ball goes where it's supposed to go, because you know, when you're worried about that three hundred pound guy across from I watched to rip your head off, it's you kind of forget about where the ball's going on that snap.
00:15:13
Speaker 3: I know that's right. So Delly Seth referred to you as a Swiss army knife, and that was pretty much throughout your career. In fact, I mean, I think I've read that when you were at University of Wisconsin as a freshman you actually played a little defense. Is that true.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: I was actually recruited as a defensive end and played quite a bit as a freshman in the defensive line. I came back to camp as a sophomore. We had a couple offensive line and flunk out of school, and the head coach called there there was four of us in the defensive line that played the three positions, and I was the youngest two of the guys. Actually, Darryl Simms was the first round pick by the Steelers Tim Krumery, who played forever with Sin Pengels. Oh yeah, and then me and another guy and the four of us are sitting in the head coach's office and they said, we have a problem. We think we need one of you to move to the offensive line. And of course the three old guys turned and looked at me like.
00:16:07
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:16:08
Speaker 1: So I wasn't real happy at the time, but you know, after time, it worked out well, so I can't complain about it.
00:16:14
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it did work out well because actually when you came to Miami, I think we talked a little bit about it. You played all five positions, you know, on the line over the course of your career. Hell, in ninety two, I think, didn't you alternate by quarter with with with Mark Dennis at right tackle or something like that.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: I was doing that rotation. Then I actually played a few games at center, played a game or two at left tackle that year, so just kind of wherever needed. And not to mention long snapping two, which I never did until I became a Dolphin.
00:16:42
Speaker 3: Wow, Seth, you talk about a limited roster, the more you can do, right, I mean, that's what I learned too. Scott Scott Miller thought, me learned every single position, and you'll dress out and you play every game. There's always a possibility. Man, that's the same thing to happen with Delhi on the line right there.
00:16:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's definitely. You know, the versatility you know got me in the game kept me in the game for a longer time too, because you know, it kept playing out every year where that people bring me in because they could carry one less offensive lineman and it worked out very well.
00:17:11
Speaker 2: But the alternating by quarter thing, I'm trying to understand that. Like I you know, and if you go back and look at ninety two, I think Mark started eight games at right tackle and you started eight games the right tackle, and then would you guys literally rotate by Okay, Mark's going to start, so he's going to play quarters one and three, and Dell you got quarters three or two and four?
00:17:33
Speaker 3: Like was that?
00:17:34
Speaker 1: Literally the game was pretty much the game plan. It varied a few times, just you know, like momentum and you know, you're into the first quarter, carry into the second quarter. You might end up playing almost the whole first half. So it didn't work out exactly that way, but the idea and the theory was they wanted to keep me somewhat fresh and ready and keep marking the game in case I had to go fill in another spot.
00:17:55
Speaker 2: Got it, I was because I'm trying to understand, like what you know, you get into a rhythm and I have to imagine. I remember j T would often tell me how a lot of times, you know, if he's making plays later in the game, some of it was just being able to out work and out last the guy in front of them. But some of like you're setting up moves and things that you're setting up in quarters one and two, you come to fruition in three and four, and so I have to imagine for an offensive lineman, there's a rhythm as well. You start to kind of figure out and how this guy's trying to jump the snap count this, that, and so when you're just getting into a rhythm and then now quarters over.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: And you got to go it definitely, you know, I still don't really understand the whole thinking of how it went that way, but you know, again you just but that's what they say what you have to do to you know, hopefully win games. And you know, either at the end of the year, wild.
00:18:43
Speaker 2: And so just if a younger fan, like if a if a fan of these current Miami Dolphins, Well we all are, but I'm saying a younger fan that didn't that wasn't around to watch these games, if they just kind of stumbled into this conversation and didn't know voices and they just heard what we're talking about, they might be, Oh, they've got Liam Iikenberg on the show, right, because you know, and just you know this, I've said this when we were watching the games. It said, Liam in a lot of ways is like the modern day Jeff doallenback for this team because he has I think last year even he might have lined up at all five positions. He also had never played center until this past year when Connor Williams you know, was injured and they said, hey, we want to get you warmed up here when you watch the Dolphins because I know you stay very active, Jeff in following this current team and being involved in supporting. Do you kind of see the way Liam's experience has been particularly the last couple of seasons. Can you relate to that? And then I just I guess you just said it. But as challenging as it is, it just it has to make you a valuable piece of the puzzle.
00:19:45
Speaker 1: It's kept me in the game. It got me in the game. It kept me in the game. So I get all that, and I understand all that, and yes, you're watching the modern Dolphins. And again, today's era is so different because so many people, well, I'm a left hackle and that's it. You know. It's like why receivers, you know, I'm a slot or I'm you know, it's like, well, no, how about learning football and learn how to play the game, and you can play any position. And that's when I've coached high school football and work with younger kids, I'm always like, don't just understand what the right guards do and know what the right tackle is doing, what the center is doing. Learn how to play defense because you'll understand what that defensive guy is trying to do to you. I did some camps down here in South Florida. I would always tell the quarterbacks go go work with the defensive backs. You'll learn a lot more about what they're looking at and how to how to beat them and how to defeat them if you understand what they're doing. So you know, understanding the whole picture of football is really very helpful. And you know that's I'll preach that to the day I die, that you know, learn the whole thing and not just you know, okay, on play three, you're gonna step with your right foot. Well, where's the defensive guy gonna line up? Maybe you have to step with your left foot. You know, just just some little things that can really help you out. And it carries over to life too.
00:20:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt about it. Well, then we've talked a lot about, you know, all the positions you've played, but we haven't spoken at all about the guy who was signed them to. You know, we talked about coachs and Dusky a little bit, but what was it like playing for SULA. I mean, I don't imagine that there was every time he said, hey, delly, we need you to play center. We're going to rotate to with Mark Dennis, and then you questioned him. You probably never happened. I'm sure right.
00:21:17
Speaker 1: No, he wasn't a guy that you really questioned too much. And even going back to my story of you know, the Joe Clucko thing, when I tell some of the older guys that there are plenty of times you come off the sidelines and he just kind of give me that stare, like, you know, you got to block the guy here, you know, just the jaw and the look just kind of ripped right through you. So you just did whatever he asked.
00:21:37
Speaker 3: Did you take that long walk sometimes, you know, to try to avoid him and he still finds you know, you try to go the long way back to that, to the to the bench, and he still finds a way to make his way to you.
00:21:47
Speaker 1: Early on, I would play those games and then after a while, just you know what, he's gonna get me anyhow, so I right straight at him usually and then it was all right, let's get done, let's move on.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: Oh that's great, that is great. Well, whenever we have players from your era of Miami Dolphins football on, we always talk about two guys. One of course is coach Shula, and then the other is the man that you were charged with protecting, and that was Dan Marino. Can you talk about what, you know, the responsibility of blocking for Dan, but also the uniqueness of that job as well, So like there had to be there's a significant amount of pressure playing your position regardless. But when the term franchise quarterback is used a lot now, but it really applies to a handful of guys, and Dan Marino was one of them, and so there was that. But then we've had so many linemen on this show talk about things like either some of the things Dan would say to you guys, whether it's in the huddle or in the meeting room. Kevin Donnelley tells his great story of the first time he had played with Warren Moon but when he first got here and there was a fourth and ten and the play came in from the sidelines and Danny kind of gave the f that play, we're gonna run this, and Donald's looking around like us to protection, you know, like he didn't know, and Danny's like, just block somebody, And so could you just talk about these things that made Danny well?
00:23:09
Speaker 1: And I think what you're hitting on is a little bit of what some of the most successful plays probably in Delphin history, is that we'd be in the huddle and they'd call a play, usually a run play, and he'd be like, Yeah, that's not happening, and then Clayton Dooper would just step up and say, hey, you know, run that again. Instead of going underneath, I'm going over the top. Just throw it out there, I'll go get it, you know, so as almost like drawing up the plays in the sand. As we're out there, of course they would forget about calling the protections, so we'd be breaking the huddle and it'd be like eighty six protection, we're sliding it, and you know, we just kind of call it as we go. And I think what really made us as an offensive line and Dan kind of click was that we were usually on the same page, you know. There the defense can always bring one more guy than you can block, and our big thing was we're going to take the hit off the quarterback by blocking the most dangerous guys and let the furthest guy go and you know, hopefully one of us can get a hand on him or something, just you know, so it's not just a clean shot on him. And then, you know, the quick release of Dan Marino always comes into it that. I think a big part of the quick release was Dan understanding the concept of just talking about that I'm gonna be protected here. If this guy comes, he's mine, so I gotta get rid of the ball. So he understood that, and obviously he had a great knack of understanding that and being able to make things happen with his arm. So you know, we went through a period where two records of longest streak of not having a sack and then the least amount of sacks in the season. You know, those records are still standing up there. And I don't remember him exactly, but I think we went think we went like eighteen games without giving up a sack or something, you know, one from one season into the next, and then you know, just I think it was six sacks in a year something to that attempt, and you know, those things go a long way. But it came down to our backs blocking the tight ends, knowing what they're doing. Obviously, the receivers running the routes, no one to break off. We were clicking at that time with the offense, and we really felt good about anytime we'd get on the field, we're gonna go score. And just the mentality that Dan brought to the huddle, and you didn't want to be on his bad side because there were times where I remember one time blocked the guys playing left Talco at the time, blocked him. Guy fell on the ground and he's there and I'm kind of like, okay, you know, looking like something else and Dan throws the ball. I turn around. Dan's was glaring at me and he looks down and points at the guy on the ground. He was too close to him. It was like, this is my office, keep it clean here. Like So, yeah, we got into it a couple of times with a few heated moments. You know, you're gonna block the guy, You're gonna do, you know? And I tell him just throw the damn ball and shut up, and we'd get after it again.
00:26:00
Speaker 2: Oh that's too good, that is too good. This is my offense right clean.
00:26:04
Speaker 3: Let's let's go back a little bit bit, Stef. You know, Delli in nineteen eighty nine and you started every game for the Dolphins that left tackle. But then the following season, you know, we select Richmond Web with the ninth overall pick. How quickly could you see that Richmond had the goods? And obviously you know that and what made him such a special player? Man? How how fast did you realize that? We we know how fast we realize how good Marino was. Did you realize the same when it came to Richmond Web?
00:26:30
Speaker 1: You could see Richmond right from day one that he had some you know, abilities athleticism for a big guy was unbelievable, just how he could move and make things happen, long arms and kind of the prototypical left tackle at the time, and I was really, you know, kind of slated as a right tackle. So it wasn't like it was like, hey, if you got a guy that can play left tackle, I'll get back to the right side or whatever. So you know, again, it's one of those things where whatever we can do to help this team win. That's how everybody just kind of came together and you know, you make it happen, and that's uh, you know that those were good years that we had going there with you know, Richmond and Keith and Ron Heller at right tackle just uh, you know when I was playing center and so a lot of good times, a lot of a lot of a lot of points scored and uh, a lot of games won, but not quite enough.
00:27:22
Speaker 3: Delly, Why why is chrisman Man overlooked right now for the Hall of Fame?
00:27:25
Speaker 1: You think offensive lineman? Yeah, yeah, I hate, I hate to say it, and it's so tough. You know, I love the accolades when people get recognized a lot because you know, they deserve it. And there's so many deserving people that have played the game, but offensive linemen in particular, just what stats do we have to hang our hats on? You know, it's like how do you you know, receivers, running backs, dbs all have things that they can you know, look at stats and say, look, I rank in the top you know whatever. Offensive linemen don't really have that availability. So you know the old adage that if you're an offensive lineman and people know your name, that's not a good thing. That's yeah, right, that means you got called for three holdings in one game.
00:28:06
Speaker 2: Three of right, now we got three Yeah, imagine somebody doing that.
00:28:11
Speaker 1: But yeah, again, rich get there. It's just gonna take you know, a little bit of time and some of these other guys to get their accolades and the offensive lineman er, I was going to just you know, follow behind a little bit because of just the way it is.
00:28:24
Speaker 2: You made the joke about the three holding calls, and I love that story. And look, if you're going to hold somebody, hold someone who's gonna end up with a gold jacket.
00:28:31
Speaker 1: Right.
00:28:32
Speaker 2: So Joe Clecko was you know, he he did his thing on the field and apparently with the officials, but that period of time that you were playing all over the offensive line. If we look at the guys that you had to play against, not just Joe Clecko, right, Bruce Smith and Fred Smurliss in Buffalo, and I'm gonna name guys on the outside and inside, because hell, you were moving all line, right, So you know Bruce Smith and Fred Smurliss. Not only did you have Joe Cleco, but yet Mark Gastino at that point in time, right, you had to deal with him. Andre Tippett in New England, you had to deal with him. Even I was looking at some of the opponents going outside of the division, played the Raiders a handful of time. They had guy by the name of Howie Long. He was pretty good. What was it like just going up against that era of pass rushers and ferocious defensive line.
00:29:21
Speaker 1: No, there there were plenty of them. Actually, my first play ever in in an NFL game it was against Richard Dent. So the Monday night game when the Bears run defeated.
00:29:35
Speaker 2: That's your first action you ever saw was the eighty five airs.
00:29:37
Speaker 1: I got to ended up putting in that right tackle. The right tackle went down for a couple of plays, So get in there. And I run out there and there's Richard Dent. It's like, I know this guy from the TV. But yeah, I had the distinction of being playing against some great talent. And you know, my rookie year was Bruce Smith's rookie year. I'd say it was. My first real start was a the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, blocking Smith and we ended up winning that game, just kind of squeaking it out at the end. First start I ever had was Indianapolis. We were pregame warm ups and John Geesler taurres cartilage stretching, so it's like, you know, we go back into the locker room and they're like, you're starting to left tackle, Like I'm starting left okay, you know, so fast. And but you know, I always like playing against the best. I just always felt like, you know, when you go out there and you play against the Reggie Whites and those kind of people, that's what it's about playing in the NFL. And I think in the back of my mind I always had that, you know, a guy like Reggie White is supposed to beat you once in a while. So when you're playing that guy, especially like a rookie that nobody knows and they beat you. It's like, how can I you know, how can you let him beat you on that play? But you know, Reggie White, at least you know you can line up and get after him again. And you know, I had the nice portion of you know, play with Reggie at the end of our careers.
00:31:02
Speaker 2: And yeah, probably a lot better, I bet.
00:31:08
Speaker 1: Well.
00:31:08
Speaker 2: You know, it's funny when you say that, because you hear guys say it all the time, Well how did this happen? Hey, those guys get paid too, right, you know, we're not the only people on the field who are getting paid. But when you talk about those guys, they're not just getting paid, they're gonna be They're they're they're iconic players in the history of this league. So pretty neat to say, hey, I lined up against this guy, lined up against that guy and and battled it out.
00:31:30
Speaker 1: That's looking at some of my pictures on the walls and stuff, it's those are the pictures I have, or you know, me blocking Richard Den from that first time, me blocking Reggie when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's like that, you know, it's those are the memories that you know that keep you going.
00:31:46
Speaker 2: So cool that is so cool. Well, we're not going to keep this going too much longer, Jeff. But what we are going to do is end uh this thing the way that we that we end all of our episodes, and that's with our two minute drill. We know that you know, we don't necessarily are going to tell you what the protection is here when we when we jump into the huddle, but we know that you can read and react and you can make it happen because if you block for Dan Marino, you definitely had to block your share of two minute drills. So we kind of put two minutes up on the clock. You'll have to keep it in your head here. I don't have an actual clock here to run. We'll throw some some quick questions out, some of them a little quicker than others. Hopefully they're all fun and we'll see if we can put this thing.
00:32:27
Speaker 1: Okay, sounds good?
00:32:28
Speaker 3: All right, ready, dell he here we go. All right. In a recent article on the website alldolphins dot com, you were named the best number sixty five in Miami Dolphin history. Can you name another player who were number sixty five before or after you?
00:32:43
Speaker 1: I'm terrible with names, So you're making this difficult on me.
00:32:47
Speaker 2: Well, no, well we did. We mentioned one of them earlier in Kevin Dollards, so there's yeah, there's one. I think he was he was rated a second. Look, Wally Pursuit was the guy who had it before for you. It looks like from seventy seven to seventy eight, but then nobody had it until Deli with eighty five, so that they held that number for you for a while.
00:33:07
Speaker 1: It's like, I don't know how I ended up with sixty five. There again, that's one of those questions you don't ask. It's just I'm happy to have a number.
00:33:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm glad I got a number that's exactly right. All right, Maybe this one's easier, maybe not. You were born on Valentine Valentine's Day, Born on Valentine that one, right, you were? Well, I'm making a little harder than that.
00:33:29
Speaker 1: So juicy.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: He's a true cupid. What is the most romantic thing? Jeff Dellenback who was born on Valentine's Day? The Valentine's Day baby, what is the most romantic thing?
00:33:38
Speaker 3: Should we ask him? Or should we asked Mary?
00:33:42
Speaker 2: They might get different answers.
00:33:43
Speaker 1: Actually, when we're getting married, Back in eighty five, I said to Mary, I said, look, my birthday is Valentine's Day, so you're gonna mess out. We're not celebrating Valentine's Day. I'm not giving up my birthday.
00:33:57
Speaker 2: Oh so that's very romantic, Jeff.
00:34:00
Speaker 1: So I kind of went the other play on that. Okay, I still, you know, I still take care of run Valentine's Day. But she diets something.
00:34:10
Speaker 3: I love it. I love it. Okay, okay, Jeff. All Right, So the Florida Panthers just hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in thirty years thirty seasons actually for the sense of organization. And many people don't know this, but you played JV hockey at University of Wisconsin as well. What position did you play and who would you compay your game to?
00:34:31
Speaker 1: I actually was a goalie, and wow, I actually loved playing. I got to play with some very good hockey players, Helios, Piet Flatley, the name a few that we're on there. Also was an original season ticket holder for the Panthers, so I'm a big fan. Today's goalies play a different style. They do more of what they call the butterfly style, where they're on their knees all the time with the pads straight up. When I was playing, the thing was to stay on your feet and make the you know, skate saves and that kind of stuff. But Ken Dryden would probably be a guy who I look back at, and I'm sure you two guys are way too young to remember Ken Dryden, but he was for the Canadians who was a long time goalie that Hall of Famers, and.
00:35:16
Speaker 3: Then DEVI look at that. These goalie pads have changed a lot, haven't they. That they seem like they're huge, man Like, I think that's why they goding his butterfly technique, right, I.
00:35:24
Speaker 1: Think it does have something to do with Those pads are huge, but they're also very light. Where back in the day, you know, I mean I was playing offensive and defensive line actually at the time, so I was like two ninety and you put on those pads, I probably weigh three hundred and fifty three hundred and sixty pounds with the pads on. Now the pads probably told about ten pounds. It's like they're just the technology has come a long way.
00:35:48
Speaker 2: Wow, crazy stuff. All right, we've got one play left, and this is the perfect question for it. You are one of it, and maybe even I didn't do all the research, but you might be the only player in league history to apt the football for both Dan Marino and Brett Farv in an NFL game. Uh, we know that you want a super Bowl with Brett and the Packers. We understand that. But if you jumped in the huddle for one final drive, there's a minute left on the clock, there's eighty yards between you and immortality, who do you want taking that snap?
00:36:20
Speaker 1: That is such a tough question I get all the time because they're they're both such great competitors, and I love playing with either one of them. There you know people that always ask me, like, which one do you like? You know, they're two totally different guys, and you know, Dan's kind of uh, you know, give me a glass of fine wine and a tailored suit, and Brett's give me a cold beer and a pair of jeans. But they both can win football games. And uh, you know, I was touching to play to the best, in my opinion, and uh, just I guess you're not gonna get a get a real answer out of me.
00:36:54
Speaker 2: He wiggled his way out of that one.
00:36:56
Speaker 1: I don't know.
00:36:57
Speaker 2: We got This is a little bit like the touchdown that became a field goal at ten and that Dallas game is I think what it is. We're gonna have to go back and watch the tape, but that is the two minute drill and he is Jeff dellenback. Jeff, thank you so much. We hope that your event is a great success. We know you're doing it for all the right reasons and very important cause. And just thanks for being such a great friend to both of us in our organizations.
00:37:20
Speaker 1: Thank you appreciate everything you guys do for this organization and the community. And I did hear you both say you're gonna be the Thursday night at the Captain's party, So I love it.
00:37:28
Speaker 3: That's right. We'll be there, man, be there. Hey, thanks for diving in Dellie. Hi.
00:37:32
Speaker 1: Thank you you're now diving.
00:37:38
Speaker 2: Just like Jews said. Thanks for diving into the fish tank presented by iHeartRadio. Be sure to follow us on whatever streaming platform you're using, and don't be afraid to rate the show or leave us a comment. We love your feedback, and remember you can find us as well as Drive Time with Travis Wingfield and all of our international partners on Miami Dolphins dot com.
00:37:58
Speaker 1: This time
Speaker 1: You're now diving.
00:00:07
Speaker 2: I'm gonna have been that pix straight.
00:00:10
Speaker 3: Who then setting down with Seth Living Oh.
00:00:15
Speaker 1: Jay je Well, and this is strictly for I'm.
00:00:18
Speaker 2: A true number one of course, y'all. This ain't the other nervous boys talk that might be. Welcome back to the Fish Tank, presented by iHeartRadio right here on the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network, Seth Lovitt and the man with the best hands in the podcast business, O j McDuffie. Juice. How you feeling today?
00:00:37
Speaker 3: Oh, you know, I'm feeling great, big Seth. You know me, man, when we start focusing on the correct side of the football.
00:00:43
Speaker 2: I knew where you were going.
00:00:44
Speaker 3: I get I get very excited, bro. And that's that's where we're at again today. Man, I love it.
00:00:48
Speaker 2: There's no doubt you have an offensive bias.
00:00:51
Speaker 1: You know.
00:00:52
Speaker 2: You told me there's no such thing as an offensive bias.
00:00:54
Speaker 1: It just is what it is.
00:00:55
Speaker 2: But we are indeed very excited to uh welcome one of your former teammates on the offensive side of the ball, Jeff Dellenback. Thanks for diving into the tank.
00:01:04
Speaker 1: I'm happy to be here.
00:01:05
Speaker 2: Yeah, and that setup is outstanding. Just talking about it here Yeah.
00:01:08
Speaker 3: It's all right, it's all right. Setup dellis a little.
00:01:11
Speaker 2: Too much green and yellow.
00:01:14
Speaker 1: Well, you know, I haven't to play there a couple of pretty good years. So I got to play in the twos.
00:01:18
Speaker 2: You did, You did, And we'll kind of gloss over that, we'll talk about it a little bit. We want to you played a whole bunch of years here for the Miami Dolphins. In fact, sixteen NFL seasons, which in and of itself is incredible, and ten of them were played right here for our Dolphins. So we do have plenty of football to discuss today. But before we get into any of that, I want to talk about the big event you have coming up and I you know, we see the Dellenback Foundation logo there the fourth annual Dellenback Foundation Fishing Classic. It takes place on Saturday, August third. Proceeds are providing much needed funds, volunteer services, and supplies to veterans and first responders who are in need. Tell us what's going on, Jeff, and how can people particularly right?
00:02:00
Speaker 1: Well, you know, it's a fishing tournament. It's basically a fun tournament. It's a smaller boat, a lot of people that just come out to have fun. We have a few serious fishermen, but it's pretty much a fun tournament Saturday, August third, out of a harbor town Marena and Daniel Beach. And you know, Thursday night is really the big fun event because it's called the Captain's Party and we have to take care of a little bit of logistics, but it's really kind of a hangout auction raffle. You don't have to fish to come and enjoy the party. So then that's at mass Pro Shops at the restaurant there, and we'll have a lot of fun, a lot of exciting things to auction off and raffle, and everybody walks away having a good.
00:02:43
Speaker 2: Time, well, not having to fish and having fun at a party. Juice. That sounds like the event that you and I would attend.
00:02:51
Speaker 3: I'm definitely count me in on that. Man. I can finally make one of Deli's events. Man. You know, I've been to a couple of man, but I'm counting me in on that Thursday night party. Man, a party and not have the fish man count me in, Delly.
00:03:03
Speaker 1: That's what it's all about. You know. It's like, I want to have fun and you know, We build it around a fishing tournament, but there's other ways to get involved. And you know, we raise funds to help the veterans, first responders and kids that are just in dire need. We try to stay somewhat small intentionally so we can avoid all that red tape and when somebody needs help, we are Our goal is to move within twenty four hours to you know, keep them from being on the streets and that kind of stuff. So wow, you know, we have a lot of fun doing it. But you know, when you put a smile on somebody's face, it's it makes it all worthwhile.
00:03:33
Speaker 2: That's awesome. And where can if somebody wants to participate, where do they go? If someone's like I want to enter, where the best thing is.
00:03:39
Speaker 1: Go to our website, which is Delenbachfoundation dot org and all the information pops up right there. I got some pretty good people that know how to do this technology stuff. If I can put all that technology, I can push a button and it works, I'm okay more than.
00:03:58
Speaker 3: All great stuff, Jeff Man. I mean, I know anytime I go to a charity event that I'm going to see big Deli there. That's for sure. Man. You certainly helped my foundation out. I know you've done stuff with Jason's Foundation as well. So it's awesome that you know, you put this event together, you know, of your own and you know, I hope people come out and support you and the way you supported all of us. Man, that's what it's really all about. And by the way, I'm glad that you played your ten years here in Miami because you know, it gave me a chance to share the huddle with you, like Sef talked about, which is always a lot of fun. And that was just my first couple of seasons. Actually it was during my rookie I think it was my rookie season, big seth in ninety three that you made one of the biggest plays I've ever seen an offensive line and make. I know you what, I know, you know what I'm talking about. Let's go back a little bit here. Thanksgiving Day nineteen ninety three, Texas Stadium and one of the craziest finishes we've ever seen in a football game. Tell us about that, man, Well.
00:04:52
Speaker 1: I think you go to the crazy start was We're going to Dallas and there's snow and ice everywhere, which we're really expecting nobody really prepared for it, and we went out in that field. It was like an ice rink, so it was sliding all over the place. And it came down to basically the last play of the game. We were lining up kick a field go. I believe we were down by two points at the time. I think it was sixteen fourteen and Pete st Iyanovich lined up to kick a field go and he basically slips on his plant foot kicks the ball low. It gets blocked. The ball happened to go past the line of scrimmage, so the only way that anything could happen was somebody from Dallas had to touch the ball. And as we're running down with the ball, you're kind of like, okay, the ball's rolling. It's I can't do anything. And here comes leon Lett sliding through to try to recover the ball, which he didn't have to do, but he did. As soon as he touched it became a live ball and I was fortunately it's being the right spot at the right time. I recovered the ball. I still say I was in the end zone. It should have been a touchdown. I'm going to fight that till my dying days. But they pulled it back, I put it on the one yard line and we got to line up and rekick the field goal, which you know, we won the game seventeen sixteen at that point.
00:06:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, except that was that was so crazy, man, me as a rookie in that game. First of all, everybody grew up watching little Dallas on Thanksgiving, and you get an opportunity to go and play against him. And like Delli said, usually when you see those Dallas games, man, it's all nice, and you know God has got you know, shining down on America's team, and it's beautiful. Thanksgiving Thursday. We get there and it's a hot mess, man, and we had to deal with that thing. And that ball looked like a grease pig out there, the way it was sliding around and stuff like that, man, And that had to be fun. What I'd love about that whole thing, Delly, is you guys, all the linemen who went to cover that were smart enough to just let it, let us sit there and see if something like that might happen. Nobody downed it, nobody got there, you gouts surrounded it, and then of course, like you said, leon Lett comes sliding in there. Thank goodness, and we get the recovery. Now, I don't know if you got in the end zone. Like you said, I look at the tape again, DELI I think the words for I got it, I got it.
00:07:03
Speaker 2: Don't waste your time with the tape, don't waste your time.
00:07:07
Speaker 3: But good stuff, man, great, great day. You remember that also, Baily on that situation. That was the last game we won that year. Yeah.
00:07:14
Speaker 1: Actually it was one of those games where we're kind of like, Okay, this is it we got we can finish up strong now and you know, be where we need to be at the end of the season. And things just didn't come together for us that year.
00:07:26
Speaker 2: So I want to go back to what Jew's just said. And you know, I did watch it this morning again, and I've seen it a thousand times. I could watch it because it's great.
00:07:35
Speaker 3: Yes, I did see it.
00:07:36
Speaker 2: I think that they I think they had a hard time trying to go tell Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson that the game was gonna end like that, so they wanted to at least make another football play. Who knows. Regardless of that, it was interesting to watch all you guys swarm the ball, But that has to be a coaching point, right, But how many times has that been practiced? How many times had that been discussed for that to be ingrained in all of your head to make that play.
00:08:01
Speaker 1: One thing I'll say is that Mike Westoff was our special teams coach at the time, and he was very thorough and always covered things. And I don't think it was that week, but maybe the week before we actually talked about that situation. You know, what if the ball gets tipped and it goes beyond the line of scrimmage and it's like you know, So we kind of did talk through it, and so it was fairly fresh in our minds that we covered stuff like that, and we were around for quite a while at that point, so we kind of pride ourselves on knowing the situations. And sure enough, here comes the situation that we talked about this and it was stuck in there somewhere, and I was able to pull it out in time to know the right thing to do.
00:08:42
Speaker 3: And that's a great point right there, because a lot of people don't know that once a kick is blocked, now these guys, all these big linemen had to go and cover like it's a punt at that point, you know what I mean. And a lot of times you see guys or a kick gets blocked or whatever and they start heading towards the sideline or whatever. All of our linemen were there and ready, man, no matter what is day somebody picked it up or what might have happened, man. So that coaching point is valuable right there.
00:09:05
Speaker 2: Because realistically, right if a dB or somebody picks that thing up on the defensive side and nobody's there to cover it, they could pick it up and return it correct. So you have to protect against that. But I guess also be Johnny on the spot or Jeff on the if that's going to happen, because who knows when you might get a chance to score a touchdown. So you were the starting center in that game against Dallas and for the majority of that ninety three season. But center wasn't even your original position. I like to say, or you've probably heard it a million times. You were like the Swiss Army knife of Dolphins offensive lineman forever during your tenure there. And we're going to discuss all of that. But your introduction to playing the center position came in some less than ideal circumstances. To say, the least.
00:09:52
Speaker 1: Yeah, it was definitely very interesting. And really, if you think back to the NFL in the mid eighties, we have practice squad, we didn't have extra player. We had a forty five men roster. So when you break down that roster, how many offensive linemen can you carry, you know, on your weekly roster, And we carried seven. So out of seven guys to play five positions, you're kind of hanging by the skin of your teeth a lot of times. And I came in as a tackle and right away they you know, can't play left tackle, can't play right taple, so I started playing both tackles. Then pretty soon, well go play right guard, and I made the team. So I'm one of the seven. And again back then, history was no free agency on so you're gonna be here for a while. Just go sit over there and you'll get your time. So it's like they didn't expect me to, you know, as a as a rookie. You know, it's kind of like Roy Foster was in his third year and he was the next youngest offensive lineman at the time, and it kind of took two or three years before they would have confidence in you to actually play and it's like, okay, so I'm sitting over there. Practice time come around. We'd be running plays and you start doing stuff for the defense. Well, Dwight Stevenson, greatest center of all time, we'd like to get a drink of water. Who can snap the ball? And John Sandusky looked at me, he said, can you stap a ball? I'm like, I can try. So I would get three or four snaps during practice, so Dwyke could get a drink of water, you know.
00:11:19
Speaker 2: And that was really Dwight needs that drink of water. So that's good.
00:11:23
Speaker 1: That's good of you know. A year or so I did a lot of that, and that was my playing center was a little bit in practice. I would get a snap or two. Well, in the second year, we're in a Monday night football game against the Jets. In the huddle, I'm playing right tackle at the time, and all sudden, Dwight's son laying on the field injured, and John Sandusky, for all of you that don't know, a little bit of a crusty old school coach, kind of comes hobbling into the huddle, looks around and goes, guess you gotta go and turn and walked away and I'm like, I guess I gotta go, and Roy Foster goes, You're playing center? Yeah, you who, like, okay, I'm going to center. So you know, I actually ran over and got a ball with Dan, took a couple of snaps, and okay, let's go play football. Well, at that time, the New York sack Exchange was still full functioning, and got Joe Clucko lining up by my nose, which, you know, just in itself, walking over and seeing Joe is like, I'm playing against one of the best nose tackles in the league right now. I'm filling in for arguably the best center that's ever played the game. And I got this guy named Dan Marino behind me. I hope I don't break his fingers. Yeah, that's kind of how it started, and fortunately it went okay. Next week we went to Philadelphia and they happened to put a guy by the name of Reggie White on the nose for the whole game.
00:12:44
Speaker 2: Oh my god.
00:12:45
Speaker 1: And that was that was interesting in itself, but you know a lot of things that people don't know. I would go visit Dwight every Friday afternoon after get DOWNE with Crocket. All Right, Dake, What am I doing? How do I do this week? I prepare for this? And Dwight was great and would always Dwight and his mild mannered You'll you'll be all right, You'll be right, help me out here, You'll be all right.
00:13:06
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
00:13:07
Speaker 1: But it worked out well. And I think it was three weeks after the injury, we played the Jets again and again Joe Cluco lining up, and about the third play of the game, I get called for holding and I'm like, that wasn't you know it was you know, you could call holding every play, but no, that wasn't you know?
00:13:26
Speaker 2: It was an offensive line and he said he wasn't holding.
00:13:29
Speaker 1: But about five six plays later, I come out of the huddle and this time I know Joe's talking to the empire behind him, and I blocked him. There's a flag holding, second holding call, like you know in the first quarter, and I'm like, what's going on? When we get off the field and Coachula came over to visit me and wasn't real happy, to say the least going on. I'm like, Joe's got the ear of the Empire out there that you know, so you know, Joe was playing his game talking to the official, and you know, we got his So after that, I don't think I ever got a call for holding again.
00:14:05
Speaker 2: You got the attention of a lot of officials. So, but you had never played center in organized football prior to that, at least in a game other than.
00:14:14
Speaker 1: The water, you know, other than with the Dolphins. That those were my first snaps ever and there was a very few of those in between.
00:14:22
Speaker 2: That still just blows my mind. Like juice, you always talk about being the emergency quarterback and you never ever wanted to be in that position, but just because you could sling the ball. But imagine like the first time you ever had to play, You're filling in for Dan Marino, you know, and it's the first time you've ever played a quarterback in organized football. That would just be I can't fathom.
00:14:41
Speaker 3: You know what else is kind of crazy, Big Steff. What Delli said a little bit earlier there is that you know, when we had Dwight on, he was worried about breaking Marino's fingers. He thought he broke his fingers too. Now that's that's everything. He did it once, So that's a that's a common thing with that young instead of a quarterback that we had. I'm sure it.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: I always a worry when you got that ball in your hand and you're starting it out and okay, who's behind me? And I hope that the ball goes where it's supposed to go, because you know, when you're worried about that three hundred pound guy across from I watched to rip your head off, it's you kind of forget about where the ball's going on that snap.
00:15:13
Speaker 3: I know that's right. So Delly Seth referred to you as a Swiss army knife, and that was pretty much throughout your career. In fact, I mean, I think I've read that when you were at University of Wisconsin as a freshman you actually played a little defense. Is that true.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: I was actually recruited as a defensive end and played quite a bit as a freshman in the defensive line. I came back to camp as a sophomore. We had a couple offensive line and flunk out of school, and the head coach called there there was four of us in the defensive line that played the three positions, and I was the youngest two of the guys. Actually, Darryl Simms was the first round pick by the Steelers Tim Krumery, who played forever with Sin Pengels. Oh yeah, and then me and another guy and the four of us are sitting in the head coach's office and they said, we have a problem. We think we need one of you to move to the offensive line. And of course the three old guys turned and looked at me like.
00:16:07
Speaker 3: Okay.
00:16:08
Speaker 1: So I wasn't real happy at the time, but you know, after time, it worked out well, so I can't complain about it.
00:16:14
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it did work out well because actually when you came to Miami, I think we talked a little bit about it. You played all five positions, you know, on the line over the course of your career. Hell, in ninety two, I think, didn't you alternate by quarter with with with Mark Dennis at right tackle or something like that.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: I was doing that rotation. Then I actually played a few games at center, played a game or two at left tackle that year, so just kind of wherever needed. And not to mention long snapping two, which I never did until I became a Dolphin.
00:16:42
Speaker 3: Wow, Seth, you talk about a limited roster, the more you can do, right, I mean, that's what I learned too. Scott Scott Miller thought, me learned every single position, and you'll dress out and you play every game. There's always a possibility. Man, that's the same thing to happen with Delhi on the line right there.
00:16:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's definitely. You know, the versatility you know got me in the game kept me in the game for a longer time too, because you know, it kept playing out every year where that people bring me in because they could carry one less offensive lineman and it worked out very well.
00:17:11
Speaker 2: But the alternating by quarter thing, I'm trying to understand that. Like I you know, and if you go back and look at ninety two, I think Mark started eight games at right tackle and you started eight games the right tackle, and then would you guys literally rotate by Okay, Mark's going to start, so he's going to play quarters one and three, and Dell you got quarters three or two and four?
00:17:33
Speaker 3: Like was that?
00:17:34
Speaker 1: Literally the game was pretty much the game plan. It varied a few times, just you know, like momentum and you know, you're into the first quarter, carry into the second quarter. You might end up playing almost the whole first half. So it didn't work out exactly that way, but the idea and the theory was they wanted to keep me somewhat fresh and ready and keep marking the game in case I had to go fill in another spot.
00:17:55
Speaker 2: Got it, I was because I'm trying to understand, like what you know, you get into a rhythm and I have to imagine. I remember j T would often tell me how a lot of times, you know, if he's making plays later in the game, some of it was just being able to out work and out last the guy in front of them. But some of like you're setting up moves and things that you're setting up in quarters one and two, you come to fruition in three and four, and so I have to imagine for an offensive lineman, there's a rhythm as well. You start to kind of figure out and how this guy's trying to jump the snap count this, that, and so when you're just getting into a rhythm and then now quarters over.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: And you got to go it definitely, you know, I still don't really understand the whole thinking of how it went that way, but you know, again you just but that's what they say what you have to do to you know, hopefully win games. And you know, either at the end of the year, wild.
00:18:43
Speaker 2: And so just if a younger fan, like if a if a fan of these current Miami Dolphins, Well we all are, but I'm saying a younger fan that didn't that wasn't around to watch these games, if they just kind of stumbled into this conversation and didn't know voices and they just heard what we're talking about, they might be, Oh, they've got Liam Iikenberg on the show, right, because you know, and just you know this, I've said this when we were watching the games. It said, Liam in a lot of ways is like the modern day Jeff doallenback for this team because he has I think last year even he might have lined up at all five positions. He also had never played center until this past year when Connor Williams you know, was injured and they said, hey, we want to get you warmed up here when you watch the Dolphins because I know you stay very active, Jeff in following this current team and being involved in supporting. Do you kind of see the way Liam's experience has been particularly the last couple of seasons. Can you relate to that? And then I just I guess you just said it. But as challenging as it is, it just it has to make you a valuable piece of the puzzle.
00:19:45
Speaker 1: It's kept me in the game. It got me in the game. It kept me in the game. So I get all that, and I understand all that, and yes, you're watching the modern Dolphins. And again, today's era is so different because so many people, well, I'm a left hackle and that's it. You know. It's like why receivers, you know, I'm a slot or I'm you know, it's like, well, no, how about learning football and learn how to play the game, and you can play any position. And that's when I've coached high school football and work with younger kids, I'm always like, don't just understand what the right guards do and know what the right tackle is doing, what the center is doing. Learn how to play defense because you'll understand what that defensive guy is trying to do to you. I did some camps down here in South Florida. I would always tell the quarterbacks go go work with the defensive backs. You'll learn a lot more about what they're looking at and how to how to beat them and how to defeat them if you understand what they're doing. So you know, understanding the whole picture of football is really very helpful. And you know that's I'll preach that to the day I die, that you know, learn the whole thing and not just you know, okay, on play three, you're gonna step with your right foot. Well, where's the defensive guy gonna line up? Maybe you have to step with your left foot. You know, just just some little things that can really help you out. And it carries over to life too.
00:20:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt about it. Well, then we've talked a lot about, you know, all the positions you've played, but we haven't spoken at all about the guy who was signed them to. You know, we talked about coachs and Dusky a little bit, but what was it like playing for SULA. I mean, I don't imagine that there was every time he said, hey, delly, we need you to play center. We're going to rotate to with Mark Dennis, and then you questioned him. You probably never happened. I'm sure right.
00:21:17
Speaker 1: No, he wasn't a guy that you really questioned too much. And even going back to my story of you know, the Joe Clucko thing, when I tell some of the older guys that there are plenty of times you come off the sidelines and he just kind of give me that stare, like, you know, you got to block the guy here, you know, just the jaw and the look just kind of ripped right through you. So you just did whatever he asked.
00:21:37
Speaker 3: Did you take that long walk sometimes, you know, to try to avoid him and he still finds you know, you try to go the long way back to that, to the to the bench, and he still finds a way to make his way to you.
00:21:47
Speaker 1: Early on, I would play those games and then after a while, just you know what, he's gonna get me anyhow, so I right straight at him usually and then it was all right, let's get done, let's move on.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: Oh that's great, that is great. Well, whenever we have players from your era of Miami Dolphins football on, we always talk about two guys. One of course is coach Shula, and then the other is the man that you were charged with protecting, and that was Dan Marino. Can you talk about what, you know, the responsibility of blocking for Dan, but also the uniqueness of that job as well, So like there had to be there's a significant amount of pressure playing your position regardless. But when the term franchise quarterback is used a lot now, but it really applies to a handful of guys, and Dan Marino was one of them, and so there was that. But then we've had so many linemen on this show talk about things like either some of the things Dan would say to you guys, whether it's in the huddle or in the meeting room. Kevin Donnelley tells his great story of the first time he had played with Warren Moon but when he first got here and there was a fourth and ten and the play came in from the sidelines and Danny kind of gave the f that play, we're gonna run this, and Donald's looking around like us to protection, you know, like he didn't know, and Danny's like, just block somebody, And so could you just talk about these things that made Danny well?
00:23:09
Speaker 1: And I think what you're hitting on is a little bit of what some of the most successful plays probably in Delphin history, is that we'd be in the huddle and they'd call a play, usually a run play, and he'd be like, Yeah, that's not happening, and then Clayton Dooper would just step up and say, hey, you know, run that again. Instead of going underneath, I'm going over the top. Just throw it out there, I'll go get it, you know, so as almost like drawing up the plays in the sand. As we're out there, of course they would forget about calling the protections, so we'd be breaking the huddle and it'd be like eighty six protection, we're sliding it, and you know, we just kind of call it as we go. And I think what really made us as an offensive line and Dan kind of click was that we were usually on the same page, you know. There the defense can always bring one more guy than you can block, and our big thing was we're going to take the hit off the quarterback by blocking the most dangerous guys and let the furthest guy go and you know, hopefully one of us can get a hand on him or something, just you know, so it's not just a clean shot on him. And then, you know, the quick release of Dan Marino always comes into it that. I think a big part of the quick release was Dan understanding the concept of just talking about that I'm gonna be protected here. If this guy comes, he's mine, so I gotta get rid of the ball. So he understood that, and obviously he had a great knack of understanding that and being able to make things happen with his arm. So you know, we went through a period where two records of longest streak of not having a sack and then the least amount of sacks in the season. You know, those records are still standing up there. And I don't remember him exactly, but I think we went think we went like eighteen games without giving up a sack or something, you know, one from one season into the next, and then you know, just I think it was six sacks in a year something to that attempt, and you know, those things go a long way. But it came down to our backs blocking the tight ends, knowing what they're doing. Obviously, the receivers running the routes, no one to break off. We were clicking at that time with the offense, and we really felt good about anytime we'd get on the field, we're gonna go score. And just the mentality that Dan brought to the huddle, and you didn't want to be on his bad side because there were times where I remember one time blocked the guys playing left Talco at the time, blocked him. Guy fell on the ground and he's there and I'm kind of like, okay, you know, looking like something else and Dan throws the ball. I turn around. Dan's was glaring at me and he looks down and points at the guy on the ground. He was too close to him. It was like, this is my office, keep it clean here. Like So, yeah, we got into it a couple of times with a few heated moments. You know, you're gonna block the guy, You're gonna do, you know? And I tell him just throw the damn ball and shut up, and we'd get after it again.
00:26:00
Speaker 2: Oh that's too good, that is too good. This is my offense right clean.
00:26:04
Speaker 3: Let's let's go back a little bit bit, Stef. You know, Delli in nineteen eighty nine and you started every game for the Dolphins that left tackle. But then the following season, you know, we select Richmond Web with the ninth overall pick. How quickly could you see that Richmond had the goods? And obviously you know that and what made him such a special player? Man? How how fast did you realize that? We we know how fast we realize how good Marino was. Did you realize the same when it came to Richmond Web?
00:26:30
Speaker 1: You could see Richmond right from day one that he had some you know, abilities athleticism for a big guy was unbelievable, just how he could move and make things happen, long arms and kind of the prototypical left tackle at the time, and I was really, you know, kind of slated as a right tackle. So it wasn't like it was like, hey, if you got a guy that can play left tackle, I'll get back to the right side or whatever. So you know, again, it's one of those things where whatever we can do to help this team win. That's how everybody just kind of came together and you know, you make it happen, and that's uh, you know that those were good years that we had going there with you know, Richmond and Keith and Ron Heller at right tackle just uh, you know when I was playing center and so a lot of good times, a lot of a lot of a lot of points scored and uh, a lot of games won, but not quite enough.
00:27:22
Speaker 3: Delly, Why why is chrisman Man overlooked right now for the Hall of Fame?
00:27:25
Speaker 1: You think offensive lineman? Yeah, yeah, I hate, I hate to say it, and it's so tough. You know, I love the accolades when people get recognized a lot because you know, they deserve it. And there's so many deserving people that have played the game, but offensive linemen in particular, just what stats do we have to hang our hats on? You know, it's like how do you you know, receivers, running backs, dbs all have things that they can you know, look at stats and say, look, I rank in the top you know whatever. Offensive linemen don't really have that availability. So you know the old adage that if you're an offensive lineman and people know your name, that's not a good thing. That's yeah, right, that means you got called for three holdings in one game.
00:28:06
Speaker 2: Three of right, now we got three Yeah, imagine somebody doing that.
00:28:11
Speaker 1: But yeah, again, rich get there. It's just gonna take you know, a little bit of time and some of these other guys to get their accolades and the offensive lineman er, I was going to just you know, follow behind a little bit because of just the way it is.
00:28:24
Speaker 2: You made the joke about the three holding calls, and I love that story. And look, if you're going to hold somebody, hold someone who's gonna end up with a gold jacket.
00:28:31
Speaker 1: Right.
00:28:32
Speaker 2: So Joe Clecko was you know, he he did his thing on the field and apparently with the officials, but that period of time that you were playing all over the offensive line. If we look at the guys that you had to play against, not just Joe Clecko, right, Bruce Smith and Fred Smurliss in Buffalo, and I'm gonna name guys on the outside and inside, because hell, you were moving all line, right, So you know Bruce Smith and Fred Smurliss. Not only did you have Joe Cleco, but yet Mark Gastino at that point in time, right, you had to deal with him. Andre Tippett in New England, you had to deal with him. Even I was looking at some of the opponents going outside of the division, played the Raiders a handful of time. They had guy by the name of Howie Long. He was pretty good. What was it like just going up against that era of pass rushers and ferocious defensive line.
00:29:21
Speaker 1: No, there there were plenty of them. Actually, my first play ever in in an NFL game it was against Richard Dent. So the Monday night game when the Bears run defeated.
00:29:35
Speaker 2: That's your first action you ever saw was the eighty five airs.
00:29:37
Speaker 1: I got to ended up putting in that right tackle. The right tackle went down for a couple of plays, So get in there. And I run out there and there's Richard Dent. It's like, I know this guy from the TV. But yeah, I had the distinction of being playing against some great talent. And you know, my rookie year was Bruce Smith's rookie year. I'd say it was. My first real start was a the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, blocking Smith and we ended up winning that game, just kind of squeaking it out at the end. First start I ever had was Indianapolis. We were pregame warm ups and John Geesler taurres cartilage stretching, so it's like, you know, we go back into the locker room and they're like, you're starting to left tackle, Like I'm starting left okay, you know, so fast. And but you know, I always like playing against the best. I just always felt like, you know, when you go out there and you play against the Reggie Whites and those kind of people, that's what it's about playing in the NFL. And I think in the back of my mind I always had that, you know, a guy like Reggie White is supposed to beat you once in a while. So when you're playing that guy, especially like a rookie that nobody knows and they beat you. It's like, how can I you know, how can you let him beat you on that play? But you know, Reggie White, at least you know you can line up and get after him again. And you know, I had the nice portion of you know, play with Reggie at the end of our careers.
00:31:02
Speaker 2: And yeah, probably a lot better, I bet.
00:31:08
Speaker 1: Well.
00:31:08
Speaker 2: You know, it's funny when you say that, because you hear guys say it all the time, Well how did this happen? Hey, those guys get paid too, right, you know, we're not the only people on the field who are getting paid. But when you talk about those guys, they're not just getting paid, they're gonna be They're they're they're iconic players in the history of this league. So pretty neat to say, hey, I lined up against this guy, lined up against that guy and and battled it out.
00:31:30
Speaker 1: That's looking at some of my pictures on the walls and stuff, it's those are the pictures I have, or you know, me blocking Richard Den from that first time, me blocking Reggie when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's like that, you know, it's those are the memories that you know that keep you going.
00:31:46
Speaker 2: So cool that is so cool. Well, we're not going to keep this going too much longer, Jeff. But what we are going to do is end uh this thing the way that we that we end all of our episodes, and that's with our two minute drill. We know that you know, we don't necessarily are going to tell you what the protection is here when we when we jump into the huddle, but we know that you can read and react and you can make it happen because if you block for Dan Marino, you definitely had to block your share of two minute drills. So we kind of put two minutes up on the clock. You'll have to keep it in your head here. I don't have an actual clock here to run. We'll throw some some quick questions out, some of them a little quicker than others. Hopefully they're all fun and we'll see if we can put this thing.
00:32:27
Speaker 1: Okay, sounds good?
00:32:28
Speaker 3: All right, ready, dell he here we go. All right. In a recent article on the website alldolphins dot com, you were named the best number sixty five in Miami Dolphin history. Can you name another player who were number sixty five before or after you?
00:32:43
Speaker 1: I'm terrible with names, So you're making this difficult on me.
00:32:47
Speaker 2: Well, no, well we did. We mentioned one of them earlier in Kevin Dollards, so there's yeah, there's one. I think he was he was rated a second. Look, Wally Pursuit was the guy who had it before for you. It looks like from seventy seven to seventy eight, but then nobody had it until Deli with eighty five, so that they held that number for you for a while.
00:33:07
Speaker 1: It's like, I don't know how I ended up with sixty five. There again, that's one of those questions you don't ask. It's just I'm happy to have a number.
00:33:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm glad I got a number that's exactly right. All right, Maybe this one's easier, maybe not. You were born on Valentine Valentine's Day, Born on Valentine that one, right, you were? Well, I'm making a little harder than that.
00:33:29
Speaker 1: So juicy.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: He's a true cupid. What is the most romantic thing? Jeff Dellenback who was born on Valentine's Day? The Valentine's Day baby, what is the most romantic thing?
00:33:38
Speaker 3: Should we ask him? Or should we asked Mary?
00:33:42
Speaker 2: They might get different answers.
00:33:43
Speaker 1: Actually, when we're getting married, Back in eighty five, I said to Mary, I said, look, my birthday is Valentine's Day, so you're gonna mess out. We're not celebrating Valentine's Day. I'm not giving up my birthday.
00:33:57
Speaker 2: Oh so that's very romantic, Jeff.
00:34:00
Speaker 1: So I kind of went the other play on that. Okay, I still, you know, I still take care of run Valentine's Day. But she diets something.
00:34:10
Speaker 3: I love it. I love it. Okay, okay, Jeff. All Right, So the Florida Panthers just hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in thirty years thirty seasons actually for the sense of organization. And many people don't know this, but you played JV hockey at University of Wisconsin as well. What position did you play and who would you compay your game to?
00:34:31
Speaker 1: I actually was a goalie, and wow, I actually loved playing. I got to play with some very good hockey players, Helios, Piet Flatley, the name a few that we're on there. Also was an original season ticket holder for the Panthers, so I'm a big fan. Today's goalies play a different style. They do more of what they call the butterfly style, where they're on their knees all the time with the pads straight up. When I was playing, the thing was to stay on your feet and make the you know, skate saves and that kind of stuff. But Ken Dryden would probably be a guy who I look back at, and I'm sure you two guys are way too young to remember Ken Dryden, but he was for the Canadians who was a long time goalie that Hall of Famers, and.
00:35:16
Speaker 3: Then DEVI look at that. These goalie pads have changed a lot, haven't they. That they seem like they're huge, man Like, I think that's why they goding his butterfly technique, right, I.
00:35:24
Speaker 1: Think it does have something to do with Those pads are huge, but they're also very light. Where back in the day, you know, I mean I was playing offensive and defensive line actually at the time, so I was like two ninety and you put on those pads, I probably weigh three hundred and fifty three hundred and sixty pounds with the pads on. Now the pads probably told about ten pounds. It's like they're just the technology has come a long way.
00:35:48
Speaker 2: Wow, crazy stuff. All right, we've got one play left, and this is the perfect question for it. You are one of it, and maybe even I didn't do all the research, but you might be the only player in league history to apt the football for both Dan Marino and Brett Farv in an NFL game. Uh, we know that you want a super Bowl with Brett and the Packers. We understand that. But if you jumped in the huddle for one final drive, there's a minute left on the clock, there's eighty yards between you and immortality, who do you want taking that snap?
00:36:20
Speaker 1: That is such a tough question I get all the time because they're they're both such great competitors, and I love playing with either one of them. There you know people that always ask me, like, which one do you like? You know, they're two totally different guys, and you know, Dan's kind of uh, you know, give me a glass of fine wine and a tailored suit, and Brett's give me a cold beer and a pair of jeans. But they both can win football games. And uh, you know, I was touching to play to the best, in my opinion, and uh, just I guess you're not gonna get a get a real answer out of me.
00:36:54
Speaker 2: He wiggled his way out of that one.
00:36:56
Speaker 1: I don't know.
00:36:57
Speaker 2: We got This is a little bit like the touchdown that became a field goal at ten and that Dallas game is I think what it is. We're gonna have to go back and watch the tape, but that is the two minute drill and he is Jeff dellenback. Jeff, thank you so much. We hope that your event is a great success. We know you're doing it for all the right reasons and very important cause. And just thanks for being such a great friend to both of us in our organizations.
00:37:20
Speaker 1: Thank you appreciate everything you guys do for this organization and the community. And I did hear you both say you're gonna be the Thursday night at the Captain's party, So I love it.
00:37:28
Speaker 3: That's right. We'll be there, man, be there. Hey, thanks for diving in Dellie. Hi.
00:37:32
Speaker 1: Thank you you're now diving.
00:37:38
Speaker 2: Just like Jews said. Thanks for diving into the fish tank presented by iHeartRadio. Be sure to follow us on whatever streaming platform you're using, and don't be afraid to rate the show or leave us a comment. We love your feedback, and remember you can find us as well as Drive Time with Travis Wingfield and all of our international partners on Miami Dolphins dot com.
00:37:58
Speaker 1: This time
