European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday january 22, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 27 super bowl xxv irresistible Bills is. Immovable skins by John f. Bonfatti Orchard Park . A Ted Marchibroda says he does no to remember who but somebody on the Washington redskins 1961 payroll provided the inspiration for the no huddle offence the redskins will see in the super bowl. A it started in Washington when we were driving to work one time and a coach said a someday the plays will be called on the line a a said Marchibroda then a redskins assistant and now offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. A was a coach those kind of things stick. Somebody tells you something very unusual and yet it could happen one said. A it was not totally Wacky because people were audio living at the line of from the modest origin of an off hand remark sprung the leagues top rated offence this season averaging 390.8 Yards a game. The evolution of the Bills Turbo offence Over the years was shaped by other off handed remarks remarks Marchibroda filed in his mind. Strongly enough the next notion in the no huddles eve Marchibroda solution also had a Redskin origin. Marchibroda fired As coach in Baltimore despite a five year stint that included three division championships was Back with Washington As offensive coordinator in 1971. A in training Camp we re installing plays and Sonny Jurgensen raised his hand and said a coach i have to say 13 words in the Well i done to think it dawned on anybody How Many words a quarterback had to say in the huddle. So that made food for thought fast Forward to 1987. Marchibroda a in Buffalo now with Jim Kelly the latest in the Long list of great quarterbacks he a tutored including Jurgensen Billy Kilmer roman Gabriel and Bert Jones. A Jimmy had Success in the Usel but Only a year in the nil and its a different Ball game a Marchibroda said. A Jimmy wanted to play a wide open game and to Jimmy a credit his first thought is winning. But Jimmy was a Little inhibited because of the personnel surrounding the Bills played in Houston that year. Kelly operating a two minute offence led Buffalo on two touchdown drives in the final four minutes erasing a 30-20 deficit in a 34-30 Victory. A fall the two minute drills prior to that had been done with three wide receivers the tight ends out and two backs a Marchibroda said. A we went into Houston and we had two backs a tight end and two wide receivers your Standard set. And in that shootout the last two drives we scored in the no huddle the Bills got Thurman Thomas in the draft the next year and added speedy receivers James Lofton and Don Beebe the year after that. The surrounding personnel in place Marchibroda set Kelly free. Marchibroda a offence has Kelly in a permanent two minute Drill. Using a simple code of colors and letters he Calls the plays at the line taking advantage of personnel mismatches caused by the defense shaving to adjust to Thomas either lining up in the Backfield or split out. A a you be got a Guy under Center who a a great trigger Man and now he a got the elements be can work with including an excellent offensive line a he said. A so it All came together the total system from a standpoint of personnel theory and How to get the Job his Success with the Bills had made Marchibroda a hot commodity again. A every assistant aspires to be the head coach. If it happens Fine. If it does no to happen hey i m just Happy to be Here in Buffalo a he said. All photo by a the most lethal weapons at the disposal of Buffalo offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda Are quarterback Jim Kelly 12rushing and receiving threat Thurman Thomas below and wide receiver Andre Reed Bottom. Charles Mann above right spearheads the pass Rush of Richie Petitbon a Redskin defense. Prove cats come in the form of Suggs tons to a few individuals who May Nat by Richard Keil Herndon a. Apr its myth debunking time and lets Start with the one about now Washington redskins defensive head coach Richic Petitbon makes great halftime adjustments to shut Down opposing offences. His players say that a not True. A we done to make any changes during the game because our game plan going into each game is excellent Quot linebacker Kurt Gouvia said after the redskins Defeated the Detroit Lions 41-10 to Advance to the super bowl. A we knew what they were going to throw at us. In a out there thinking a this is like a cd Mon no changes a there sometimes is maybe one adjustment at halftime. Overall there Arentt Many a linebacker Monte Coleman said. A when they put together a game plan its something you can really count one reason Petitbon is credited with making so Many constructive changes is that his team often plays so much better in the second half. Exhibit a is last weeks pfc Cham Petitbon Pion ship against Detroit which saw Washington clinging to a 17-10 halftime advantage. Washington a defense threw a shutout in the final 30 minutes helping the redskins to their comfortable Victory. But his players say the Only in yes ave made mental or physical mistakes in the first two periods. There arc Small adjustments not wholesale changes. Petitbon also uses his 18 years of coaching experience and his 13-year playing career to help him anticipate problems before they come up. A we have a lot of defences and at times we have to go with different defense but most of the time its just playing what we be planned a Petitbon acknowledged. Quot we Nave been Able to put together schemes which take advantage of our players Abili ties and because of that we have been Able to play Well As a the results Are Clear As Washington has the a Fly a third ranked defense. The Buffalo Bills run a no huddle and the redskins Defeated Cincinnati this season in their Only contest against a team with that setup. While Petitbon is regarded As a defensive Genius he does no to allow that lofty status to create distance Between himself and his players. A a a Bones played the game and he Hasni to forgotten what its like to be a player a defensive end Eric Williams said. A a he a just like another player but he a got thex a and of a and be has a really Brilliant mind for a a he a a perfectionist Quot Gouveia said. A the shows you one thing and expects you to do it. It you done to do it hell get somebody else. If you get Hurt maybe you lose your a Case in Point is safety Alvin Walton whose pass defense and Bone crushing hits recalled Petitbon a own accomplishments. But Walton Hurt his shoulder in week 2, went on injured Reserve and Wasny to activated until week 15. In the meantime Danny Copeland stepped in and performed admirably finishing fifth on the team in tackles. Now Walton sits on the Bench. Petitbon a response to All the newfangled offensive formations has been to switch from a stable defensive unit to one that switches players on every play. A we have smart players and its not just my putting them in for the right situations a he said. A they have to know what a coming. I think that physical Talent Isnit always the criteria on which athletes should be
