From: Michael.P.Colburn@dartmouth.edu (Michael P. Colburn)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Why Can't the AFC teams play NFC style football.
Date: 29 Dec 92 00:28:08 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
X-Posted-From: InterNews1.0a5@newshost.dartmouth.edu

In article <BzzK32.IAF@ns1.nodak.edu>
sivaram@plains.NoDak.edu (The Purple Bleeder ) writes:

> A recent posting said that the AFC-west plays the NFC-East
> style of football with a good-D.  
> 
> My question is: why can't the teams in the AFC try to emulate
> the philosophy of NFC power houses 
> with emphasis on a dominant-D.  This would make them
> tougher and bonafide Super-Bowl contenders. 
> Ofcourse, this is *not* a flame on the AFC.

IMHO, many AFC teams have been trying to emulate some of their NFC
counterparts.  A number of coaches in the AFC have had significant NFC
experience with successful NFC teams and/or coaches.  Here's some
interesting info concerning some of the coaches presently tenured with
a few AFC franchaises:
 
Buffalo:  Marv Levy - was one of George Allen's assistants with the
Rams and 
          Redskins.  Was with Allen for Washington's '72 appearance in
Super
          Bowl VII.

Cleveland:  Bill Belichick - defensive asst., special teams and
linebacker 
          coach under Ray Perkins/Giants.  In 1983, became defensive   

          coordinator under Bill Parcells.  Brought defensive asst. Al
Groh 
          to Cleveland with him from the Giants

Denver:   Dan Reeves - product of the Cowboys system, both as player 
          and coach.  Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator - coached
for two
          NFC teams, Saints (81-85) and under Buddy Ryan with the
Eagles 
          (86-88).  Defensive line coach Ernie Stautner coach for 12
years
          in Dallas (66-88).

Houston:  Jack Pardee - head coach for Chicago '75-'77, coach of the
year in 
          '76.  Head coach for Washington '78-'80, coach of the year in
'79.

Indianapolis:  Ted Marchibroda - although an offensive specialist, did 
          coaching stints in the Redskins, Rams, Bears and Lions 
          organizations.

Kansas City:  Marty Schottenheimer - did short stints as linebacker
coach for
           both the Lions and Giants.

Miami:     Linebacker coach George Hill coach with the Eagles from
'79-'84.
           Defensive back coach Mel Phillips coached with the Lions
from 
           '80-'84.  Was also a defensive back in the 49ers system for
11 
           years.

NY Jets:   Defensive coordinator Pete Carroll coached with Minnesota,
'85-'89

Pittsburgh: Bill Cowher - played three years in the Eagles' system. 
Coached
           under Marty Schottenheimer in Cleveland and KC.  Defensive 
           coordinator Dom Capers coached with the Saints, '86-'91.

San Diego:  Bobby Ross - gained first coaching experience under Marv
Levy 
           with the Chiefs.  Bill Arnsparger, defensive coordinator -
head 
           coach for Giants '74-'76

Seattle:   Asst head coach Tom Catlin was a defensive coach for the
Rams for 
           11 years.  Linebacker coach Rusty Tillman played for the
Redskins
           from 1970-77.

Whether or not past coaching experiences has any direct bearing on
today's AFC defenses is, of course, debatable.  Obviously there are a
few teams mentioned above who's defenses this past season have been
marginal at best, but IMHO, teams like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, KC, San
Diego & Seattle are using defensive schemes similar to those employed
by successful NFC teams (recent-past and present) like the 49er's,
Eagles, Bears, Giants & the Saints.  I feel that inconsistency (both
offensively and defensively) and key injuries have prevented most of
these AFC teams from establishing what can be considered 'dominating'
defenses.  The defenses of teams like Seattle and Indianapolis
frequently look bad in a game because their offense is bogus.  The D
tires from spending too much time on the field and sometimes gets
burned when gambling on big plays to overcome the lack of offense.  Key
injuries to defensive players can hurt a team even if they have a good
offense (Buffalo).

IMHO, developing a dominating 'NFC-like' D is something a number of AFC
teams have been trying to do...but on the other hand, what about
'bonafide' NFC SB contenders like the Eagles and the Saints?  Having a
dominate defense is great, but it doesn't give you an automatic bye to
the Super Bowl, does it?  BTW, does anyone else think it's ironic that
two teams who have so much trouble in the playoffs face each year other
in the first round?  

Mike Colburn                         =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Dartmouth-Hitchcock                  "Pulu-see-ba-goomba" -- Gilligan 
Medical Center                       =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Lebanon, New Hampshire  03756        :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)
Land of the Giants (and a land without Ray...Yay!!!)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro