2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
- 74_75_78_79_
- Posts: 2631
- Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:25 pm
2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
Being that we can all, pretty much, agree that his ’79 Chargers were his best team (although they were one-and-done), what installment between his three straight mid-’70s Cardinal playoff teams (yes, I know, but I treat ’76 as such) and his three straight SD playoff teams from ’80-thru-’82 do you see as his 2nd-best squad?
Re: 2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
It was only 6-3 but that 1982 Chargers squad was well on its way to putting up some insane offensive numbers. Fouts would've surpassed 5,000 easily and there was a real chance Wes Chandler went over 2,000 as well. I think Winslow may have reached 100 catches as well. James Brooks I thought was underutilized and a very talented player who could do a little bit of everything. The defense of course was a mess. And it got worse as that that shortened season wore on. They had nobody who could disrupt a passing game with pressure up the middle or the edge with any consistently. It was a rapidly declining Gary Johnson and nothing else. And a threadbare secondary.
I would say the 1975 Cardinals were his second best team. They were outstanding on both sides of the ball. Though they weren't quite as "Air" Coryell as you'd think, but Otis/Metcalf/Jones were outright dominant and Mel Gray was a tremendous deep threat befuddling secondaries across the league. Very good special teams.
The INT bug that plagued Hart early on in his career crept in a bit during the regular season and then reared its ugly head the playoffs in a big way. That sunk 'em.
I would say the 1975 Cardinals were his second best team. They were outstanding on both sides of the ball. Though they weren't quite as "Air" Coryell as you'd think, but Otis/Metcalf/Jones were outright dominant and Mel Gray was a tremendous deep threat befuddling secondaries across the league. Very good special teams.
The INT bug that plagued Hart early on in his career crept in a bit during the regular season and then reared its ugly head the playoffs in a big way. That sunk 'em.
-
- Posts: 1834
- Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Tonawanda, NY
Re: 2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
I recently attempted a "best single season by jersey number" list and Chandler's '82 was my choice for #89. That season of his gets lost in the shuffle because of the "truncated" stats from that season.It was only 6-3 but that 1982 Chargers squad was well on its way to putting up some insane offensive numbers. Fouts would've surpassed 5,000 easily and there was a real chance Wes Chandler went over 2,000 as well.
-
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:45 pm
Re: 2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
I would agree that the 1975 Saint Louis Cardinals team was his second best. Terry Metcalf was the Le'Veon Bell of his day, rushing for 816 yards (4.9 average), catching 43 passes, scoring 13 touchdowns when also factoring punt and kick off returns. Jim Otis powered his way for another 1076 yards on the ground. Mel Gray arguably ranked among the best receivers of his day in catching 48 passes for 926 yards (19.3 average) and 11 TD's.
Also consider that in 1975 the Cardinals had three all pros on the offensive line: Center Tom Banks, RG Conrad Dobler and RT Dan Dierdorf. Factor in a fourth in CB Roger Wehrli.
Went 11-3 in winning a very tough NFC East that also included Dallas at 10-4 and Washington at 8-6.
What prevented the team from advancing further in the playoffs, noting its 23-35 division loss to the Los Angeles Rams? Quarterback play. Jim Hart was serviceable but not outstanding in throwing 19 touchdown passes but also 19 interceptions in completing 52.8% of his passes. Yes, those numbers are OK for the era but should better shine in light of the talent surrounding him. Fittingly, he tossed 3 interceptions in the loss to the Rams, two of which were returned for touchdowns. It did not help that the defense revealed its shortcomings, yielding 202 rushing yards to Lawrence McCutcheon and giving up a 66 yard TD pass to Harold Jackson (from Ron Jaworski).
Also consider that in 1975 the Cardinals had three all pros on the offensive line: Center Tom Banks, RG Conrad Dobler and RT Dan Dierdorf. Factor in a fourth in CB Roger Wehrli.
Went 11-3 in winning a very tough NFC East that also included Dallas at 10-4 and Washington at 8-6.
What prevented the team from advancing further in the playoffs, noting its 23-35 division loss to the Los Angeles Rams? Quarterback play. Jim Hart was serviceable but not outstanding in throwing 19 touchdown passes but also 19 interceptions in completing 52.8% of his passes. Yes, those numbers are OK for the era but should better shine in light of the talent surrounding him. Fittingly, he tossed 3 interceptions in the loss to the Rams, two of which were returned for touchdowns. It did not help that the defense revealed its shortcomings, yielding 202 rushing yards to Lawrence McCutcheon and giving up a 66 yard TD pass to Harold Jackson (from Ron Jaworski).
- 74_75_78_79_
- Posts: 2631
- Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:25 pm
Re: 2nd-best Don Coryell HC’ed team
Way to fully spell out ‘Saint’, Mars (as I do with ‘Forty Niners’), lol. Their ’75 team is taking the lead so far this thread and if you want to get technical, it is Coryell’s best team win-%age wise. Remember, ’79 Chargers were only 12-4.
I could imagine late the following season the Cards looking even better yet than the last two seasons for they avenge last year’s playoff loss to Rams, and in the Coliseum, to go 8-2. Two close losses to Wash & Dallas followed, but they rebound by beating playoff-bound Colts the next game and then win the finale to make it 10-4. Sadly, however, it wasn't enough in that only-4-per-conference-make-it era.
’77 was even more disappointing. They start off 1-3 but then go on a 6-game tear that included back-to-back wins at Minn & Big D. And then from there, starting with that Turkey Day massacre to Dolphins in perhaps Greise’s best ever performance, they lose-out rest of way to finish 7-7. Coryell out after the season.
I think if ’82 plays out fully that Chargers finish as they did the two seasons prior (10 or 11 wins), but they making it to the AFCC is less likely due to their defense being even worse. They were able to top Cincy, and convincingly (on MNF), unlike the year prior but came out flat at Miami in the 2nd round (hardly an ‘Epic’ like the year before). They get swept by Raiders as well.
I guess I agree with the ’75 Cards being Don’s ‘2nd’-best team but as a 2a, with ’76 being 2b. Coryell’s best SD team other than ’79, of course, 1980 when they still had Dean hence still a great D-front. As already stated, Cards’ O didn’t have quite the ‘Air’ as those Dan Fouts teams would have (nor the D-front), but a more balanced and better team overall than ’80-thru-’82.
I could imagine late the following season the Cards looking even better yet than the last two seasons for they avenge last year’s playoff loss to Rams, and in the Coliseum, to go 8-2. Two close losses to Wash & Dallas followed, but they rebound by beating playoff-bound Colts the next game and then win the finale to make it 10-4. Sadly, however, it wasn't enough in that only-4-per-conference-make-it era.
’77 was even more disappointing. They start off 1-3 but then go on a 6-game tear that included back-to-back wins at Minn & Big D. And then from there, starting with that Turkey Day massacre to Dolphins in perhaps Greise’s best ever performance, they lose-out rest of way to finish 7-7. Coryell out after the season.
I think if ’82 plays out fully that Chargers finish as they did the two seasons prior (10 or 11 wins), but they making it to the AFCC is less likely due to their defense being even worse. They were able to top Cincy, and convincingly (on MNF), unlike the year prior but came out flat at Miami in the 2nd round (hardly an ‘Epic’ like the year before). They get swept by Raiders as well.
I guess I agree with the ’75 Cards being Don’s ‘2nd’-best team but as a 2a, with ’76 being 2b. Coryell’s best SD team other than ’79, of course, 1980 when they still had Dean hence still a great D-front. As already stated, Cards’ O didn’t have quite the ‘Air’ as those Dan Fouts teams would have (nor the D-front), but a more balanced and better team overall than ’80-thru-’82.