COMMENTARY : Marino Has Fastest Gun in the NFL : Dolphins: Quickness is the key to the success of Miami quarterback, who squares off against Buffalo’s Kelly tonight.

The quality that distinguishes Miami Dolphin passer Dan Marino is his rare quickness. He’s like a snake striking. He does everything in a great hurry: read, decide, release.

That was evident again the other night when Marino, one of the NFL’s all-time finest passers, was seen in an almost flawless performance.

His opponent, the improving New England Patriots, whatever their problems are on offense, manage to line up a playoff-caliber defense with Andre Tippett and Vincent Brown at linebacker and, among others, Ronnie Lippett in the secondary.

And in defeating this team, Marino was unfailingly on target, reminding everyone that when the players around him are playing as well as they can, he’s like someone from a more refined universe.

He got his passing power in his customary way, with a fast, easy centrifugal motion that is a cornerback’s bane but a football fan’s delight.

Instead of bringing his arm back and then forward--and stepping forward to throw, as many passers do--Marino held the ball behind his head, and then, as he he threw, he swiftly twisted his hips and upper body around, too.

It’s a motion not unlike a shot putter’s, or a golfer’s, enabling Marino to uncoil so fast that, as usual, no viewer could really see it unless the picture was slowed down.

That is the Joe Namath passing motion, a form of which is also used by Dallas’ Troy Aikman, Chicago’s Jim Harbaugh and others.

No one today, however, comes closer to the pure Namath style than Marino, who, in fact, releases the ball faster than Namath could.

Said Patriot cornerback Lippett after three Miami touchdown passes won the game, 30-20: “They say (Marino) has been struggling, but we sure didn’t see it. Nobody’s sharper.”

Nobody playing today, that is. As a passer, Namath, possibly, was a bit better. And at the short and middle ranges, the Joe Montana of 1988-89 was a match for any quarterback.

But to see the ball thrown with exceptional grace and precision this year, you must tune Marino in. Of the greatest passers of all time, he’s the only one now playing.

Because of that--and also because his team has been welcoming home some of its many injured--Miami (5-5) is back on the road to the NFL playoffs.

Beyond the division leaders, only the Raiders are ahead of the Dolphins this week in the AFC’s wild-card race.

“Our next two will tell it,” Dolphin Coach Don Shula said, mentioning the Buffalo-Miami game tonight at sold-out Joe Robbie Stadium--Marino vs. Jim Kelly--and another big game in Chicago on Nov. 24: Marino vs. Harbaugh.

Shula confirmed that when Miami was starting 3-5 this season, Marino wasn’t able to overcome an unprecedented run of injuries to Dolphin receivers, backs, offensive linemen and even some on the defensive side.

The club’s best defensive player, linebacker John Offerdahl, is still out--gone for the season--but the other injured, tackle Richmond Webb among them, have been returning one by one.

That was reflected in the New England results. On a night when Miami’s backs rushed for only 67 yards, averaging only 2.9 a carry, the offensive line held firm as Marino’s passes moved the Dolphins six times to touchdowns and field goals.

Although Buffalo’s Kelly is a different type, and probably a superior quarterback, Marino is the most exciting passer since Namath. And long, medium or short, he is also the most accurate, with the best touch.

The great disappointment of Marino’s life is undoubtedly Shula’s inability to recruit more talent for the Dolphins. The Bills, except at quarterback, seem much the better team.