Sam Wyche and the zone blitz

[fredtoast]

I was listening to Soloman Wilcott's interviewing Dick Lebeau of Sirius Radio yesterday.  Dick was talking about coming up with his original idea for the "zone blitz".  He said that he was lucky that Sam Wyche was his head coach with the Bengals at the time.  He figured a lot of head coaches would have laughed at him for suggesting they drop a nose tackle or defensive end into zone coverage, but Sam was willing to try anything.

LeBeau also said that the first time they used it in preseason it resulted in a pick six.  So that made Wyche much more excited about it.

We always give Sam a lot of credit for his offensive innovations.  Now it looks like he might also deserve a little credit for one of the biggest defensive innovations of the last half century.

[*rfaulk34*]

So what you're saying is, arguably the 2 biggest schemes in the NFL--offense and defense--WC offense and zone blitz, were both created in Cincinnati. 

[fredtoast]

(06-11-2022, 04:52 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: So what you're saying is, arguably the 2 biggest schemes in the NFL--offense and defense--WC offense and zone blitz, were both created in Cincinnati. 

A lot of great innovative coaches have worked here.  Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, Dick LeBeau, Sam Wyche, Marvin Lewis.

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-11-2022, 05:00 PM)fredtoast Wrote: A lot of great innovative coaches have worked here.  Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, Dick LeBeau, Sam Wyche, Marvin Lewis.

[fredtoast]

(06-11-2022, 05:02 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote:

I edited it to include a ninja.

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-11-2022, 05:04 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I edited it to include a ninja.

I figured that's what you were doing from the start.

[grampahol]

Marvin revolutionized keeping players around till they could both retire happily.. at the same time! 

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

He wasn't called the "Always innovative Sam Wyche" for nothing.