One-Time Cardinals Coach Don Coryell Named To Hall Of Fame

PACardsFan

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When Coryell took over the Cardinals, the team was very similar to what we currently have. Previous coach, Bob Holoway, was an absolute disaster of a coach. So bad, that I’m pretty sure BB fired him after 2 years. Bill was far more limited money wise than Michael, so it was very unusual for him to fire anyone after only 2 years. Holoway had been the DC of the nasty Purple People Eaters, so he brought that reputation with him. It didn’t take long to realize he was in way over his head because we were awful on BOTH sides of ball. BB screwed up royally by firing Holoway’s predecessor Charlie Winner, who was one of our longest tenured HC’s in our history. Charlie had built a strong team for us, but Bill got frustrated that we were just missing out on the playoffs. Remember, no wild cards back then. After the disaster that Holoway was, bringing in a college coach like Coryell was a HUGE joke around the NFL. We were an awful 4-9-1 in Coryell’s first season, but late in the season, you could see that we were getting better. What was special about Coryell was that he had to keep pretty much the same group of players that had been awful under Holoway. Jim Hart had been pretty much below average his entire career until Coryell came around. And drafting Metcalf turned that offense around almost immediately. Meanwhile, Coryell’s system and demeanor took previously average players and made them players. Our OL was fantastic, not like the garbage we had under KK. If those on this board that didn’t think our OL was pathetic under KK saw what Coryell built in the 70’s, they would understand just what kind of potential we have with Murray. Jim Hart was on the cusp of being out of the NFL, and deservedly so, until Coryell came along, built an incredible OL, put some toys like Metcalf around him, and boom, he’s a perennial all star up until the day Coryell was canned. For me, Bill Bidwill should always be condemned as an owner, strictly for how he bumbled the Coryell years. Coryell had vision, and was a leader of men. That team and his Charger teams loved playing for him because he gave them a chance to win each and every week. And the Chargers ownership was every bit as bad as the Cardinals. They were also too cheap to consider investing in a defense that would actually give you a chance to go deep into the playoffs. Would have loved to see Coryell coach a team with real ownership.
 
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PACardsFan said:
When Coryell took over the Cardinals, the team was very similar to what we currently have. Previous coach, Bob Holoway, was an absolute disaster of a coach. So bad, that I’m pretty sure BB fired him after 2 years. Bill was far more limited money wise than Michael, so it was very unusual for him to fire anyone after only 2 years. Holoway had been the DC of the nasty Purple People Eaters, so he brought that reputation with him. It didn’t take long to realize he was in way over his head because we were awful on BOTH sides of ball. BB screwed up royally by firing Holoway’s predecessor Charlie Winner, who was one of our longest tenured HC’s in our history. Charlie had built a strong team for us, but Bill got frustrated that we were just missing out on the playoffs. Remember, no wild cards back then. After the disaster that Holoway was, bringing in a college coach like Coryell was a HUGE joke around the NFL. We were an awful 4-9-1 in Coryell’s first season, but late in the season, you could see that we were getting better. What was special about Coryell was that he had to keep pretty much the same group of players that had been awful under Holoway. Jim Hart had been pretty much below average his entire career until Coryell came around. And drafting Metcalf turned that offense around almost immediately. Meanwhile, Coryell’s system and demeanor took previously average players and made them players. Our OL was fantastic, not like the garbage we had under KK. If those on this board that didn’t think our OL was pathetic under KK saw what Coryell built in the 70’s, they would understand just what kind of potential we have with Murray. Jim Hart was on the cusp of being out of the NFL, and deservedly so, until Coryell came along, built an incredible OL, put some toys like Metcalf around him, and boom, he’s a perennial all star up until the day Coryell was canned. For me, Bill Bidwill should always be condemned as an owner, strictly for how he bumbled the Coryell years. Coryell had vision, and was a leader of men. That team and his Charger teams loved playing for him because he gave them a chance to win each and every week. And the Chargers ownership was every bit as bad as the Cardinals. They were also too cheap to consider investing in a defense that would actually give you a chance to go deep into the playoffs. Would have loved to see Coryell coach a team with real ownership.
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Great stuff man. Thanks.
 
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Snakester said:
About time Coryell got in. My favorite all time Cardinal team. Offensive genius. I was pissed we didn’t keep him when he went to the chargers
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Fired after a 7-7 season. He criticized Bidwill for not spending any money on the defensive side of the ball. To make matters worse, Bill hired Bud Wilkinson, who hadn’t coached a football game in 15 years. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that we haven’t won a championship since the 1940’s.
 
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He’s been deserving of this honor for quite some time now as he was a terrific HC and innovator—he literally changed the way the game is played, thereby dragging two historically lousy franchises into a place among the league’s elite. IMHO his induction has been delayed only because too many pro football writers get hung up on number of SBs a player or coach has won (or not). What a shame because this man deserved this honor during his lifetime.
 
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I was just a kid in those days but those teams were so fun to watch. Mel Gray, Terry Metcalf, Jim Otis, Jackie Smith, OL of Dierdorf, Dobler, Banks, Young, McMillan and Finney. It was an offensive juggernaut. Too bad it was the heyday of the Cowboys and the Redskins/Giants were usually pretty good too. Super tough division.
 
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PACardsFan said:
When Coryell took over the Cardinals, the team was very similar to what we currently have. Previous coach, Bob Holoway, was an absolute disaster of a coach. So bad, that I’m pretty sure BB fired him after 2 years. Bill was far more limited money wise than Michael, so it was very unusual for him to fire anyone after only 2 years. Holoway had been the DC of the nasty Purple People Eaters, so he brought that reputation with him. It didn’t take long to realize he was in way over his head because we were awful on BOTH sides of ball. BB screwed up royally by firing Holoway’s predecessor Charlie Winner, who was one of our longest tenured HC’s in our history. Charlie had built a strong team for us, but Bill got frustrated that we were just missing out on the playoffs. Remember, no wild cards back then. After the disaster that Holoway was, bringing in a college coach like Coryell was a HUGE joke around the NFL. We were an awful 4-9-1 in Coryell’s first season, but late in the season, you could see that we were getting better. What was special about Coryell was that he had to keep pretty much the same group of players that had been awful under Holoway. Jim Hart had been pretty much below average his entire career until Coryell came around. And drafting Metcalf turned that offense around almost immediately. Meanwhile, Coryell’s system and demeanor took previously average players and made them players. Our OL was fantastic, not like the garbage we had under KK. If those on this board that didn’t think our OL was pathetic under KK saw what Coryell built in the 70’s, they would understand just what kind of potential we have with Murray. Jim Hart was on the cusp of being out of the NFL, and deservedly so, until Coryell came along, built an incredible OL, put some toys like Metcalf around him, and boom, he’s a perennial all star up until the day Coryell was canned. For me, Bill Bidwill should always be condemned as an owner, strictly for how he bumbled the Coryell years. Coryell had vision, and was a leader of men. That team and his Charger teams loved playing for him because he gave them a chance to win each and every week. And the Chargers ownership was every bit as bad as the Cardinals. They were also too cheap to consider investing in a defense that would actually give you a chance to go deep into the playoffs. Would have loved to see Coryell coach a team with real ownership.
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thanks for this

this era was when i started watching football as a kid.
so sad to watch that team fall apart -- first Coryell, then Terry Metcalf to Canada because Bidwill wouldnt pay him
 
cardpa

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I'm glad Coryell is finally getting his due. One of the better coaches the Cardinals ever had. He certainly deserves to be in the HOF.
 
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