R.I.P. Don Coryell

[OldRightHander]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/article/2010-07-01/innovative-football-coach-coryell-dies-85

[cumberlandreds]

I hate to hear of his death. I didn't realize he had such a good college career too. He was certainly an innovator. His teams passed with frequency like most all the teams do today. Back then it was almost like a freak show to see a team pass as much as they did. The NFL owes him and along with others a lot for making the NFL much more exiting to watch than the three yards and a cloud of dust theory many teams used before him.
The NFL Network showed the Freezer Bowl game last weekend. I have it on my DVR but haven't watched it yet. I always thought if the temps had been close to normal that day the Chargers would have won. But we will never know that. R.I.P Don Coryell. Thanks for making the NFL more entertaining.

[Revering4Blue]

What many people don’t realize is that Coryell was also instrumental in the development of the I-formation running game that John McKay popularized at Southern California in the 1960s.

Coryell ran a version of the I while a high school head coach in Hawaii and as the head coach at Whittier College in 1957-1959. He was an assistant coach to McKay at USC in 1960 before succeeding Paul Governali as the head coach at San Diego State in 1961.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/01/don-coryell/


Just to recap - Don Coryell created an offense that has:

* Produced 7 Super Bowl victories in 9 appearances.
* Created many of the greatest offenses and statistical seasons in NFL History, not mention a few current and several future Hall-of-Famers.
* (Along with the Walsh offense) Forced numerous defensive changes, including free substitution - leading to the nickel and dime defenses, Buddy Ryan's blitzing "46", the Parcells / Belichick 3-4 defenses of the mid-late 80s, the Capers / LeBeau zone blitz, and Dungy's Tampa 2.
* Continued to be effective more than 30 years after it was introduced to the NFL.

Now, explain to me that Don Coryell doesn't deserve the Hall of Fame with a straight face?

If you even make the attempt, you just don't know football.

I couldn't agree more.

This is a great article.

http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2010/7/2/1548673/its-don-coryells-nfl

[macro]

I always thought if the temps had been close to normal that day the Chargers would have won. But we will never know that.

It would have been a closer game, but the Bengals were going to win, either way. Some don't believe in things like this, but the Chargers had expended too much emotional energy in the classic game in Miami the week before. Having that game become the epic battle that it was, played into the Bengals hands.

The Bengals also had already won handily in San Diego in Week 10, so I think they had their number. One thing's for sure: Dan Fouts dislikes the Bengals to this day. He makes that obvious from the broadcast booth.

[RichRed]

If not for Coryell, there may not have been a Joe Gibbs. As a Redskins fan, I'm grateful. Coryell's a definite Hall of Famer. R.I.P.

[westofyou]

I hate to hear of his death. I didn't realize he had such a good college career too. He was certainly an innovator. His teams passed with frequency like most all the teams do today. Back then it was almost like a freak show to see a team pass as much as they did. The NFL owes him and along with others a lot for making the NFL much more exiting to watch than the three yards and a cloud of dust theory many teams used before him.
The NFL Network showed the Freezer Bowl game last weekend. I have it on my DVR but haven't watched it yet. I always thought if the temps had been close to normal that day the Chargers would have won. But we will never know that. R.I.P Don Coryell. Thanks for making the NFL more entertaining.

Brrrrrr I'm still feeling the cold from that game.

[Tony Cloninger]

I can never understand why some commentators....especially out here in LA area and of course when 690 AM had Rome and some others broadcasting from down in San Diego.... always think that the Chargers would have won on a warmer day.

The Bengals beat them 40-17 and it was not even that close. In sunny San Diego. I have the tape of that game. The Bengals beat them and beat them good. Fouts was harassed almost all day.

[Kingspoint]

He made the game fun.

He completely changed the NFL.