From: mrn3@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (MATTHEW R. NARBY)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: My thoughts on the Super Bowl...
Date: 22 Jan 93 16:23:02 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <C166G5.3E6@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v077mdph@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Snoopy
) writes:
>
>       First, please excuse any misspellings, as my terminal program is
>screwed.
>       I think Buffalo has the mental advantage in this game:
>               1.  Buffalo is determined.
>               2.  Buffalo ( especially Kelly and Thomas ) is humble.
>               3.  Dallas is young and inexperienced.
>       Those things, in my mind, give a definite edge to the Bills, but I
>think there are some other things they need to do.
>       The coaches have to find a way to stop Emmitt Smith.  I expect to see
>a lot of even fronts, with Talley or bennett lined up as stand-up ends.  That
>would give the Bills' defense good pursuit speed from both ends of the defensiv
e
>line.  To stop the Dallas passing game, it is imperative to pressure Aikman, bu
t
>it is even more important to take away Jay Novacek.  The Bills can do that
>by double covering him occassionally with the safeties.  It's risky, since Kels
o
>is the last line of defense, but taking away Aikman's go-to guy and pressuring
>him in the pocket will force bad throws.
>       Offensively, Buffalo's task is simpler.  Use Thomas and Davis, even if
>Thomas is healthy.  This has become a proven one-two punch.  Also, take
>advantage of the fact that Dallas has never seen the no-huddle, and run it at
>break-neck velocity.  Doing this will take away the situational substitutions
>that Dallas' defense reiles on so heavily.
>       I don't think Levy will take my suggestions, but I'm confident the Bills
>staff will come up with a way to beat the Cowboy's.  Here's hoping it's a good
>game!
>
>Snoopy
>
Well, at least Thomas is humble. Of course, Kelly thought that beating Miami
was ALL of his own doing, no credit to the other 46. But anyway, I see the
defense you're talking about. This was used earlier in the season, usually
opposing Smith and Bennett on both sides of the line, sometimes even using
Bruce as a stand-up lineman. It worked well then, but injurys to both put a
stop to that. The other lineman, Phil Hansen #90, and Jeff Wright #91, are
both at the top of their game right now, with Hansen putting up all-pro
numbers against Houston, Pittsburgh, and Miami; some may say he was even more
effective than Bruce Smith, although Smith was playing hurt. Also, we have
greatly improved in our running defense, virtually shutting down Barry Foster
twice this year. Henry Jones, CB, is an all-star back. If the Bills can get
one or two coverage sacks out of Aikman, that would be significant towards
winning the game. Offensivly, the Bills have so many weapons running the ball,
Thomas, Davis, Gardner, and such a strong offensive line, that they should be
able to run the ball effectivly, averageing 4-6 yds per carry. In passing
situations, they can go long down the sidelines to Beebe, medium sidelines to
Reed or Lofton, over the middle to Reed, Metzallars, McKeller or Thomas, in
the flanks to Thomas, or Gardner, and the swing pass to Thomas that broke
Miami's defense. I just hope the Bills know when to slow down the no-huddle,
and when to speed it up. It could be argued that the SB loss to the Giants
came as a result of the Bills not playing Ball-control offense when they
needed to, just slamming the ball through the line. Thomas, gardner, Davis,
and Mitch Ferotte are all effective ball carriers and blockers. I like the
short yardage offense, with two tight-ends, Gardner (the ball carrier,
usually) and Ferotte coming out of the backfield to block. This has also been
used in the play-action, with a pass to Ferotte that has scored three TD's
this season. Strange that an offensive lineman had as many TD receptions as
Andre Reed. Oh well, to that end, I will predict the Bills to win 31-28,
although I don't know very much about the Cowboys. I've seen or heard every
Bills game for the last twenty years, and know the present teams strengths and
weaknesses. They are a second half team, as evident in the Oilers game, as it
takes them time to "warm-up." They are really two different teams: One that
lost to the Colts, and played the First half of the Oilers game, and the one
that beat the 49ers, and has played all the rest of the playoff games. I only
hope that my feeling that the Bills are "peaking" at the right time is true,
and they won't come out looking flat and defeated before they even run an
offensive play. Levy and his staff are not the greatest coaches around, they
may not even be good coaches, but the team has a lot of talent, and always
play as a team, not as individuals, Kelly excluded. Kelly is a great QB, but
he has a tendency to make vital mistakes that end up costing victory. If the
Bills are behind going into the fourth quarter, expect Kelly to throw the
interception, probably into double or triple coverage, on what could have been
the go-ahead or tying scoring drive. As I look back on the Greatest Comeback
of All-Time, with the game ticket stub beside me, I thank my lucky stars that
Kelly did not play that game. He could have never done it. Only Reich, with
his cool head and brains, which Kelly seems to lack, could have pulled that
off. So Good Luck and God Bless the Bills, and Frank Reich.
 
-- 
-Matthew Narby-
Buffalo BILLS
One Bills Drive
Orchard Park, N.Y.
Colors: Red, Blue and White
Rich Stadium
(80,020) NFL