From: tokuno@milton.u.washington.edu (Ken Tokuno)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Niners/Bills (gag)
Date: 15 Sep 92 18:44:10 GMT
Organization: University of Washington

felix@ocf.berkeley.edu (Felix Ling) writes:

>In article <1992Sep14.042013.2107@enterprise.rdd.lmsc.lockheed.com> marshall@force.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com writes:
>>In article <d9xndga.mzimmers@netcom.com>, mzimmers@netcom.com (Michael Zimmers) writes:
>>>Now then, some puerile ranting:
>>>
>>>1. If we had anything resembling a placekicker, we win.
>>
>>Yep. That was the difference. Each team had the ball the same number
>>of times. No punts. Same number of turnovers. But they had two field
>>goals and we only had one (and we even had one more attempt). The

>If Cofer was decent, the Niner's would probably have won.  Then again, if
>the Niners' secondary was decent, they would've romped (and vice versa, of
>course).  And there is always Lofton's dropped touchdown pass.  Cofer
>accounted for only 6 lost points (and a 48 yarder is kinda pushing it for
>any kicker--except Lohmiller).  The Bills scored 34 in a game in which
>the Niners had a longer time of possession.  I don't think Cofer's the big
>problem here (though he IS a problem).

	The problem is that he missed a 33 yard attempt early in the game.
 He makes that one and the game would have been tied at the point of the
Niners last drive, meaning that they would have been able to play for
better position for field goal attempt to win the game, not just to tie. 
That matters a great deal.

>And I wouldn't exactly say that they both had the ball the same number of
>times.  The Bills did have the ball at the end of the first half with 7
>seconds left and at the end of the game with around 45 seconds left, but
>I wouldn't exactly call those quality possessions, since Kelly simply
>downed the ball on both occasions.  The Niners had one more quality 
>possession and one more field goal try.

	The Bills had the ball 10 times, the 49ers had the ball 9 times. 
Subtract the two "non-quality" possessions and it is still effectively the
same.

>>>2. If we have Rice all game, we probably win (as good as the other
>>>   WRs are, Rice is still better).

>Wouldn't have made much difference.  Every receiver they had could already
>outrun the Bills secondary.  Don't see why they'd need an especially fast one.

	Do you understand how much better Rice is than any other receiver
in the NFL?  It has nothing to do with his speed.

>>>3. Montana makes that last drive work.

>Young failed because his protection broke down (or the Bills pass-rush
>stepped up), and I doubt Montana could've done anything in the little time
>he would've had.  Also, there's no way Montana has a better passing day
>then Young (you just can't get much better than that), and he wouldn't have
>been able to scramble for those important 3rd and 4th down conversions in
>the second half.  Of course, if Montana did somehow make it work, he
>probably would've left just enough time for Kelly to make his own last
>drive anyway.  Or at least a Hail Mary.  :-P

	Do you understand that a truly great quarterback doesn't just put
up a lot of big numbers, but does what it takes to win the game when it
counts:  at the end.  No one has ever done this like Montana has.  I take
nothing away from Young's performance, but he is not nor will he ever be
as good as Montana in these situations.  It has to do with keeping cool,
knowing how to read the defense, and finding the open receiver.

>Finally got to see the Niners face a real quarterback.  Is it just me, or
>haven't they really seen one for at least two years?  (yeah, Chris Miller's
>not too bad, and the Falcons did sweep them last year).  Same could be said
>for the Bills, I suppose, but we already know how easy a time they have in
>the AFC East.

	No the last two years they have only had to face the likes of John
Elway, Warren Moon, Mark Rypien and other lesser QBs.

>Last remark.  Aren't you sorta glad that Cofer missed, so that the game
>wouldn't end up being decided by the OT coin toss?  :-)


	In a way, yes.  Nice observation.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro