Wonder of wonders. A short segment on Bill Wash's system actually stresses where it originated -- in Cincinnati.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d81113133/Top-Ten-Things-that-Changed-the-Game-West-Coast-Offense

And if said offense is really one of the "top ten things that changed the game," we should take a hard look at its origins. Here is Bill Walsh himself, in his foreword to George Cantor's biography on Paul Brown:

"To a certain degree I did use elements of Paul's thinking in devising what's come to be known as the 'West Coast offense.' When I worked with him, though, he wasn't that much of a hands-on technician anymore. His approach to running an offense was pretty much set. I just took away what I could from watching it being run."

Uh huh. In other words, he devised it from the remnants of a relic system. Given that Bill Walsh went on to great accomplishments in Football's modern era, it raises an obvious question. What would the early Bengals have been without him? Much worse off, no doubt. It was a terribly fortuitous association for Paul Brown, the coach whose best days were long, long behind him. I wish people would stop holding PB up as a model of what Mike Brown should be.

Zone Blitz started in Cinci, West Coast Offense started in Cinci. Cincinnati doesn't have nuch to show for such innovations.

Do not forget the No Huddle that Wimpy Marv Levy of the bills cried about and got banned from the AFC Championship Game...That the Bungs later won anyway...

Marv then INVENTED it one year later with Jim "Machine Gun " Kelly and the K-Gun offense

Ha! I remember when Levy tried to take credit for that

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In Memory of Darren

That really was outrageous, wasn't it? Levy scoffed at the mere suggestion that his precious Red Gun offense might have been influenced by the No Huddle. And he got away with it because the Bengals were such a joke at the time. No national reporter would bother to defend a scrub franchise like Cincinnati.

And so something was buried that otherwise might have given Bengals fans a little lasting pride. Thank you again, Mike Brown, for letting the team sink so low.

I believe Seattle created the "Trick-Knee" defense to counter the no-huddle in the playoffs, if you remember.

I believe it was Joe Nash...one of my best friends is a SeaHawk fan...I will have to ask him..


Didn't the old O-Line coach Jim McNally start the whole Zone Blocking craze in the NFL?

ABK 4 Life

The ORIGINAL Kitna Hater since '97

Joe Nash it was, remember it like it was yesterday

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In Memory of Darren

Its kinda nice ready an article that refers to the Bengals as something other than a joke. Although its dated 1/2/89.


http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19890102&id=WBoSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vO8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6931,1163222

I hadn't noticed this segment earlier. From the same series, a big wet sloppy kiss for the Bengals founder:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d811136d3/Top-Ten-Things-that-Changed-the-Game-Paul-Brown

A nice quick summary of his positives, I'd say, but it doesn't refute the raspberries we might blow his way. Yeah, he was great from the mid 30's to the mid 50's, but just okay after that. Certainly by the 70's, his penny pinching and eccentricity sabotaged much of his good work. But anyway, I thought you might have interest in the video.

By the way, Homey, thanks for the link from the old Seattle newspaper editorial. I'll have to start using that Google service.

...over Mikey. OK Paul's best day's might have been behind him. But even at his worst, he was miles ahead of what we have......Mikey. If Mike were 1/2 the man his Dad was, maybe we wouldn't be great, but we'd be helluva a lot better than we've been since he departed...

SWAMP

Take Paul Brown, remove any need of preserving personal legacy, and combine with business situation of wresting team control away from investors. Then add 40 pounds and slowly bring to a boil.

Viola! You have Mikey-Boy!