RIP: Air Coryell

[MileHigh]

Reports out of San Diego say Don Coyell has died at 85.

Even as a Broncos fan, it was fun to watch those teams play.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/01/reports-don-coryell-dies-at-85/

 

[mb]

Merlin Olsen needed some exciting games to call?

 

[MileHigh]

I was thinking of Charlie Jones.

 

[Blitz]

Indeed they were fun to watch.
Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler, John Jefferson, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, and even Chuck Muncie making defenses be honest ...
NBC had that contract to do AFC football games. 'Dem was the days.

To the best of my knowledge, those good San Diego teams at least lost on their own terms and didn't have to go through the anguish of getting screwed out of a chance at the Super Bowl game.
Another good AFC team of that era, the Houston Oilers, got gypped.

RIP Don Coryell

 

[MileHigh]

Only got to two AFC title games playing in a great era of AFC football . First one was at home that I don't remember, other than it was against the Raiders (lost 34-27 after falling behind 21-7 in the first quarter). The second one is the infamous Freezer Bowl in Cincinnati the next season in which they had zero chance a week after the epic game in Miami.

Also coached at Whittier College, home of the Poets.

 

[Bubbler]

Also coached the mid 70s Cardinals teams that knocked Dallas out of the NFC East's perch for a couple of years. RIP.

 

[YGBFKM]

The Chargers-Bengals title game was on NFL Network two nights ago. RIP to one of the most influential offensive minds in NFL history.

 

[Quakes]

The Chargers were my second-favorite team back then, because of that offense. When playing in the backyard with friends, whoever was the quarterback was Fouts, and the rest of us were Winslow, Joiner or Chandler, or maybe James Brooks or (later) Lionel "Little Train" James or Gary Anderson coming out of the backfield.

And as good as those Chargers were in the early '80s, how great a coaching job must Coryell have done to get the Cardinals -- maybe the least successful NFL franchise ever -- into the playoffs?

 

[jambalaya]

The first pro athlete I ever met was Louie Kelcher. My dad took me to the hardware store to get his autograph, circa 1980 or 81. He and Fred Dean and Big Hands Johnson were the only real defensive players on those offense-laden teams. That's all Coryell needed was a tougher roster of defensive players to perhaps have a Super Bowl dynasty.

 

[Liut]

Amazing what he did with the Big Red considering Bidwell. Seemed like a pleasant man. RIP.

 

[cyclingwriter]

Dobler absolutely praised Coryell in one of his books. He said the Cards biggest mistake was letting Coryell walk. Also, said he could never imagine Coryell ever slowing down.

 

[Batman]

The first pro athlete I ever met was Louie Kelcher. My dad took me to the hardware store to get his autograph, circa 1980 or 81. He and Fred Dean and Big Hands Johnson were the only real defensive players on those offense-laden teams. That's all Coryell needed was a tougher roster of defensive players to perhaps have a Super Bowl dynasty.

That window was wide open for them, too. Their best years came right as the Steelers were starting to slip, the Raiders were for the most part mediocre, and the 1980s NFC powers hadn't quite come together yet. How they never even made it to a Super Bowl baffles me.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

The best NFL game I ever saw was that 1981/82 AFC semifinal between the Chargers and Dolphins.

 

[Armchair_QB]

The first pro athlete I ever met was Louie Kelcher. My dad took me to the hardware store to get his autograph, circa 1980 or 81. He and Fred Dean and Big Hands Johnson were the only real defensive players on those offense-laden teams. That's all Coryell needed was a tougher roster of defensive players to perhaps have a Super Bowl dynasty.

That window was wide open for them, too. Their best years came right as the Steelers were starting to slip, the Raiders were for the most part mediocre, and the 1980s NFC powers hadn't quite come together yet. How they never even made it to a Super Bowl baffles me.

If they aren't stretched beyond their limit against the Dolphins OR they get to play at home the next week instead of flying back across the country to play in that icebox in Cincinnati I think they easily advance to the Super Bowl that year.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The first pro athlete I ever met was Louie Kelcher. My dad took me to the hardware store to get his autograph, circa 1980 or 81. He and Fred Dean and Big Hands Johnson were the only real defensive players on those offense-laden teams. That's all Coryell needed was a tougher roster of defensive players to perhaps have a Super Bowl dynasty.

As an Alabama guy I cannot let you overlook Woodrow Lowe, who missed one game in 11 years with the Chargers. But your point stands: San Diego was a little soft defensively, especially in the secondary. And when they helped that area by bringing in Gil Byrd and Danny Walters in about 1983, they had already gotten old everywhere else.

As for Coryell, his teams were one of the reasons I first got into the NFL. Did it get any better than Fouts-to-Winslow, circa 1981?

 

[Steak Snabler]

Also worth noting that Coryell lost only 19 games in 13 years at San Diego State (which wasn't a major program at the time, but still ...). He is also the only man to win 100 games in both college and the NFL.

I think I remember reading somewhere that Coryell's SDSU staff included both John Madden and Joe Gibbs at one time.

 

[cyclingwriter]

Also worth noting that Coryell lost only 19 games in 13 years at San Diego State (which wasn't a major program at the time, but still ...). He is also the only man to win 100 games in both college and the NFL.

I think I remember reading somewhere that Coryell's SDSU staff included both John Madden and Joe Gibbs at one time.

Madden, Gibbs, Jim Hanifan, Ron Downhower and a couple of guys who coached college teams. I knew he had a lot of success at San Diego State, but didn't realize he produced so many top caliber players...Fred Dryer and Brian Sipe lead the way, but there was a small crop of others in there.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The first pro athlete I ever met was Louie Kelcher. My dad took me to the hardware store to get his autograph, circa 1980 or 81. He and Fred Dean and Big Hands Johnson were the only real defensive players on those offense-laden teams. That's all Coryell needed was a tougher roster of defensive players to perhaps have a Super Bowl dynasty.

That window was wide open for them, too. Their best years came right as the Steelers were starting to slip, the Raiders were for the most part mediocre, and the 1980s NFC powers hadn't quite come together yet. How they never even made it to a Super Bowl baffles me.

If they aren't stretched beyond their limit against the Dolphins OR they get to play at home the next week instead of flying back across the country to play in that icebox in Cincinnati I think they easily advance to the Super Bowl that year.

That 1981 team also lost its best defensive player midway through the season when Dean quit the team in a contract dispute and forced a trade to the 49ers (who not coincidentally won the Super Bowl).

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Also worth noting that Coryell lost only 19 games in 13 years at San Diego State (which wasn't a major program at the time, but still ...). He is also the only man to win 100 games in both college and the NFL.

I think I remember reading somewhere that Coryell's SDSU staff included both John Madden and Joe Gibbs at one time.

Madden, Gibbs, Jim Hanifan, Ron Downhower and a couple of guys who coached college teams. I knew he had a lot of success at San Diego State, but didn't realize he produced so many top caliber players...Fred Dryer and Brian Sipe lead the way, but there was a small crop of others in there.

I think Haven Moses was on S.D. State, too.

 

[Bubbler]

The best Chargers team was probably 1979, when they were 11-5 and had a better defense than they did in the early 80s to match their potent offense. But they choked against Houston in the playoffs and never got a chance to play the Steelers.