Phinatics.com

Bobby Humphrey
2004

Bobby Humphrey was a running back for the Miami Dolphins. He was traded to the Dolphins in 1992 by the Broncos in exchange for Sammie Smith and played for the team from 1992-1993. Bobby was extremely successful as a running back in college and in the pros, including winning NFL Rookie of the Year and playing in a Super Bowl. His NFL career was cut short after numerous knee injuries and personal issues. He is currently the Head Coach of the Arena Football League 2 team the Birmingham Steeldogs. Bobby played college football for the University of Alabama.

Phinatics.com gives Bobby Humphrey a special "THANK YOU" for his participation.

phinatics.com: You have had a very successful program with the Steeldogs here in BHAM, AL. This year started off a little different than usual, but now you have 3 wins in a row. What do you think made the biggest difference these past few weeks?
Bobby Humphrey: I think the biggest difference over the last few weeks is the way the guys' confidence level has risen. We weren't playing bad football before then - - - we just weren't playing with that confidence that we were going to be able to pull a game out if it was a close ball game. We were losing some close ball games, and we kind of got into that slump of saying if anything bad happens it's just time to fold the tent, or if it's a close ball game we can't find that way to win. I think now the tables have turned and the guys seem to be finding a way to make plays to get us over the edge and to get us over the hump so that we can win ball games. Its been very exciting. I think the guys are playing with a lot of confidence. The new guys have gained a lot of faith in our system, and what we are trying to accomplish offensively and defensively and special teams, and its been a difference maker.

phinatics.com: As a coach, what kinds of things do you use from those years of learning from two of the great coaches in NFL history --- Dan Reeves and Don Shula?
Bobby Humphrey: Shula was calm, cool, and let his assistants do their work -- I learned from that. Reeves was very organized. So, I try to take a combination of both of those type of approaches. Both of them had the winning, hard-work ethic, and I have always been a hard worker, but I really can't take either one of their philosophies and apply them to an indoor game because it doesn't work that well (laughs). But, you know, being around those guys and watching their character . . . it kind of grew on me, and I am thankful and blessed that it did. I thought Shula did a great job of trying to help me become a young man in the latter part of my career -- at the tail end of my career as an NFL player. I think I was just so bull-headed in my early days with the Broncos that I couldn't see the good Dan Reeves was trying to do for me, but I was really able to focus more during my days with the Dolphins under Shula.

phinatics.com: What’s it like for you coaching in a pass happy league when you were a RB all of your football playing career?
Bobby Humphrey: (laughs) It's been really fun. Now that I have me some really good running backs like Demontray Carter and Dustin McClintock, we run the ball a lot more than we have in the past. Coming into the league my first year, I had to truly make some adjustments because I really tried to figure out how we could we run the ball. But, I've enjoyed tossing the ball around --- it's a ton of fun being able to throw the ball 90% of the time.

phinatics.com:You led the Dolphins in receptions in 1992 as a running back with 54 catches. Do you think Miami passed too much back then or would you have done the same thing with Marino at the helm?
Bobby Humphrey: I would have done the same thing with the people we had on that particular team. We had all the guys at the key positions. You had an excellent tight end in Keith Jackson. You had Tony Martin and Mark Duper. You had me coming out of the backfield along with Tony Paige as a fullback -- he was an excellent receiver. You had a lot of weapons at that particular point in time. We could do a combination of both -- we could run the ball as well as pass the football, but I think our strong suit was throwing the ball. It was hard for any defense to double cover one particular player because there were so many good players that year on the team.

phinatics.com: Was a Marino pass much different than an Elway pass, and if yes how?
Bobby Humphrey: Oh, most definitely. Dan Marino's passes were a lot softer and weren't as challenging to catch. John Elway had a lot more velocity on the ball and a straight line bullet. I would say the speed of the ball was the difference in those guys' passes.

phinatics.com: Did you have a chance to see Ricky Williams last year running for the Dolphins, and if yes, what did you think about it?
Bobby Humphrey: Off and on. I've always admired Ricky Williams for his running ability. With the size and speed that he has, I always felt that he was going be a great back in the NFL. I just thought that when he went to the Saints he just got off to a bad start and got injured. But, I've always felt that he would be a good back. I never felt like he would be one of those bust running backs coming out of college, and I'm telling you, he showed it with the Dolphins. He showed it with the Dolphins --- strong up top, can make guys miss, can get the corner, and can outrun cornerbacks in the secondary.

phinatics.com: Mike Shula was QB your freshman and sophomore years at Bama, do you think he was the right choice for the coaching job at the University of Alabama?
Bobby Humphrey: I think he was a great choice. I think he will do an excellent job. I'm not saying he is going to have it easy. He is going to have some bumps and bruises, but he is going to get used to being a head coach. It's always different when you're new and the man whose making the decisions rather than the one whose suggesting what decisions to make -- so, that's going to be a little different. But, I think over the long haul he is going to make an excellent coach.

phinatics.com: You'd like to work there at some point, right?
Bobby Humphrey: Eventually, someday I'd like to work there. I'd like to get back to the University of Alabama. If Shula is there during the time, I'd love to be there under his tutelage. If not, I'd still like to be there sometime. I don't know what Shula's long terms goals and plans are, but I know whatever he does he is going to be prosperous.

phinatics.com: Do you think the non-hiring of Sylvester Croom had anything to do with his skin color?
Bobby Humphrey: I'd like to say no, but I would be blind to the fact if I said it didn't have anything to do with it. I think if it didn't have a lot to do with it --- it had just enough to do with it where he wasn't able to get the job.

phinatics.com: If you give one piece of advice to players just starting their NFL career, what would it be?
Bobby Humphrey: You worked hard to get there, so work hard to stay there. It is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have seen a lot of players, including myself, let it go so easy. You do that by saying, "Now I have reached the top, so I don't have to work as hard. I can kick back and relax. I can go out and do things that aren't very beneficial to me in having a successful career." So, I would say to the guys continue to work hard and stay there.

phinatics.com: Biggest personal difference between Bobby Humphrey of the NFL and the Bobby Humphrey of today?
Bobby Humphrey: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I was in the NFL, I didn't have the knowledge about God, and I didn't have Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Today, I do, and that has been the total difference.

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