European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday. September 24. 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 35 Anges set air game soaring by Dolamore the Hartford courant a Quick scan of summaries from last sunday John Friesz 381drew Bledsoe 365joe Montana 361. Steve Young 355jeff Hosteller 338. It s not the american or National league batting race it s the nil s quarterback race. New rules and in particular a new interpretation Otan old one have liberated offences and passing Yards Are piling up like Money at Mashantucket. Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino 33, says his left leg is not Back to full strength after surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles Tendon but he has 939 Yards in three games. The raiders Hosteller 33, was supposed to have a sore Elbow before throwing four touchdowns against the Broncos last week. Young 32, was operating be Hind three second string offensive linemen As the 49ersbeat the rams. Montana 38, who missed nearly All of the 1991 and 92 seasons with an Elbow injury did not have a 300-Yard game for the chiefs last season but already has two. The patriots Bledsoe 22, has 1,166 passing Yards a Pace that projects to 6,218 for the season which would break Marino s 10-year-old record of 5,084. Last season after a rash of Low scoring Field goal dominated games the nil feared its fans were dozing off. In came the two Point conversion. Kickoffs were to move Back 5 Yards and be kicked from Shorter tees. And the Chuck Rule forbidding defensive backs from hitting receivers More than once or beyond 5 Yards from scrimmage was to be More strictly enforced. That s the one Rule where if they had enforced it they would t have needed All the other Rule changes to increase the offence giants coach Dan Reeves said at the Slart of the season. The giants May be 3-0, but after watching the eagles Randall Cunningham throw for 344 Yards against them in the first game and the redskins Friesz pass for 381 sunday Reeves said he would not want to be reincarnated As a defensive Back. Here Are the raw numbers for the first three weeks of the 1993 season there was  of 395.6 passing Yards in each game. So far this season it s 469.9. There were five 300-Yard passing games by quarterbacks at this time last season. There Nave been 14 so far including three by Bledsoe in 1994. Receivers had 18 games of 100 or More Yards the first three weeks of 93. There have been 34 this year. Touchdown passes Are  91 to 132 for the first three games this season As compared to last sea son.  a around the league people feel it s opening up the analysis Apria new rules have Drew Bledsoe on Pace for 6,218 Yards. Offence said bears quarterback Erik Kramer 63 of 91, 762 Yards in three games. Maybe it has to some degree. I think it has. There were certain situations where they used to be stepping in front of our receivers downfield giving them a Chuck and you re seeing less of that  bump and run the technique often used to inhibit top receivers is becoming less fashionable. To  Tive cornerback must be the athletic equivalent of the receiver they Are covering. And there is Only one Deion Sanders. Cornerback have to use their legs now not their hands Viking coach Dennis Green said. They can t Ward the receivers off. What you la see is cornerback who can run will be of cornerback who can t will be out because the officials Are going to Call  the nil does not release statistics on officials Calls but defensive holding and pass interference penalties seem More common. When the giants beat the Cardi nals 20-17 sept 1.1�three interference Calls against Ari Zona totalling 92 Yards were a key to the game that s because blitzing defences such As Cardina coach buddy Ryan s 46 scheme depend on defensive backs to cover receivers one on one and that s risk Ier business now. A lot depends on what Type of defense you re play ing said Eugene Robinson the sea Hawks two time pro bowl safety. If you Are playing a zone defense you can get away with a Little More because you Don t nee4 to Chuck the receiver you can use your body position to move him. To but when you re playing Rhan to Man the officials Are making a Point to Call it. They just want to make sure you re not tackling the Guy going Down the Field. But you really need to have Good coverage or it s going to be a , including Jet safety Ronnie Lott a member of the nil s 75th anniversary All time team say the kick off rules have More to do with the increase in passing. Last Yeai the average starting Point for offensive units was the 24. So far this season irs the 29. Man the Chuck Rule question is getting old Lott said. It has nothing to do with the game. It s Field Posi Tion. When teams Are starting out near the 40-Yard line they re going to open it up. Teams Are throwing  of course receivers can t be expected to admit they Are getting a break. The jets Rob Moore who has 17 catches for 273 Yards despite playing with a cast on his broken hand and the Falcons Andre Rison 29 catches 388 Yards insist they Are still getting pushed around downfield without penalties being called. The 49efs Jerry Rice 23 catches 394 Yard another All timer said they Are still going to let Guys play. It s not like they Are going to throw a Flag on every  giants had hot Given up a 100-Yard game to a receiver in 24 games before Henry Ellard of the redskins 10 catches 197 Yards burned their Young cornerback Phillippi Sparks and Corey Raymond last week Reeves said games such As the giants 31-23 Victory Are great for fans but miserable for  coaches considered purists who favor aggressive play and hate to give a receiver a Cushion can t be very Happy about what s transpiring. Former Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll he of the steel curtain would twant to think this Rule is named for him. Can you imag Ine the patriots Bill Parcells patriots losing 39-35 to Miami and 38-35 to Buffalo then winning 31-28 at Cincinnati -.-,." / i i Don t like this illegal Chuck Rule Parcells said this week. This non Contact 1 Don t like  look for vikes to put Moon Over Miami by Timothy w. Smith the new York times Here s a capsule look at the weekend National football league games scheduled to be aired Onan to and radio. All times Are Central euro Pean Miami 3-0 at Minnesota 2-1 6 . Sunday on an to key stats the Vikings defense has not allowed quarterback to throw for 300 Yards or More in 39 consecutive games. Dan Marino s nine touchdown passes leads the  the Vikings have a ferocious defense which puts heat on the passer and shuts Down the Rushing at tack. Marino has one of the quickest releases in football Moon and can beat most pass rushes. He s hoping to get some help from the new found Rushing attack. Unfortunately for Miami quarterback Warren Moon will find the weaknesses in Miami s banged up secondary and it will prove the difference. Game score Vikings 24-21. Cleveland 2-1 at Indianapolis 1-2 6 . Sunday on an radio key stats the Browns defense has held opponents to 30.4 percent on third Down conversions Marshall Faulk leads the acc in Rushing with 308 nil on an Yards on 56 carries. Comment the Browns sent the cardinals packing last week with a 32-0 whipping. The Colls have More weapons than the cards the main one being Faulk in the Backfield but Cleveland is surprisingly solid on defense. The Browns should be Able to handle whatever the Colts loss Al them. Game score Browns 21-14. Pittsburgh 2-1 at Seattle 2-1 9 . Sunday on an to key stats Rod Woodson s 27.6 Yard per Kickoff return is third in the acc. Sea Hawks plus-6 turnover ratio is no. 2 in the nil. Comment the sea Hawks Are 4-1 versus Pitts Burgh at Home. Problem is Home is now husky stadium and not the kingdom which is undergoing re pairs. It won t make a difference because the stadium does t have to tackle Steeles running Back Barry Foster who seems to be Back in stride. Game score Pittsburgh 24-17. New Orleans 1-2 at san Francisco 2-1 9 . Sunday on an radio key stats saints Haven t been shutout in 164 games. Under George Scifert the 49ers Are 58-5when they score 21 or More Points. Comment Saint quarterback Jim Everett has a pulled Groin muscle and that could hamper his mobility. San Francisco quarterback Steve Young must be wary of the Saint pass Rush. Linebacker Dario Conner has four sacks. No problem for Young and the49ers game score san Francisco 21-10. Chicago 1-2 at new York jets 2-1 2 . Monday on an to and radio key stats Chicago has committed just three turnovers which is ii Robest in the pfc. The jets offensive line has Given unjust two sacks. Comment defensive tackle Tony Casillas joined the jets this week and they re banking that the run defense will improve a lot. Bears coach Dav Wannstedt ripped into his team following its 42-14 loss to Minnesota. Supposedly it was More heated than any of former coach Mike Ditka s tirades. They la need offence not tantrums to beat the jets. Game score new York 24-10. Denver 0-3 at Buffalo 2-1 2 . Tuesday on an to and radio key stats receiver Andre Reed is second in the acc in receiving with 308 Yards. The Broncos have allowed a league High 110 Points. Comment there s no place worst than Buffalo on a monday night with a National audience watch ing when you be hit the skids like the Broncos. They la either fall Flat or stand up and fight. But the Bills Are Ripe for the picking. Nev have a shuffled offensive line and beat Houston fast week on five Field goals. It s Bounce Back week for Denver. Game score Broncos 27-13. Editor s note the Complete nil predictions which usually run in today s paper were not received in time for this edition. We Hope to include that Fea Ture in sunday s paper