Question for you old-timers, re: Don Coryell

[AcesHigh]

Would you be able to share with me the reasons behind why Bill Bidwill fired Don Coryell in 1977? This was just a bit before my time, but it seems like he was a coach worth holding on to.

His 5-year record with the Cardinals was:

1973: 4-9-1
1974: 10-4
1975: 11-3
1976: 10-4
1977: 7-7


While the 5-years following Coryell's departure, the Cards record was:

1978: 6-10 (Coryell's record in San Diego was 8-4 that same year)
1979: 5-11 (12-4 in San Diego)
1980: 5-11 (11-5 in San Diego)
1981: 7-9 (10-6 in San Diego)
1982: 5-4 (6-3 in San Diego)


Water under the bridge now... but I'd be curious to know...thanks for your feedback...

 

[Birdbrain]

Coryell grew frustrated with the front office's inability to supply him with good defensive players. He wanted to be in on the draft selections, but he never got the the power that he wanted. He was supposedly very upset when the team selected Steve Psarkewicz as their first round draft choice. He was a quarterback from Missouri, whom nobody had rated as a first round draft choice. He wanted us to draft defense because the team had a great offense, but no defense. Later Coryell made the comment that not one of the Cardinals starting defensive players could start for the New York Giants. Shortly thereafter, Bidwill fired Coryell, and incidentally had the locks changed on his office so he couldn't retreive his personal belongings without an escort from the front office.

 

[JeffGollin]

Coryell...was supposedly very upset when the team selected Steve Psarkewicz as their first round draft choice. He was a quarterback from Missouri, whom nobody had rated as a first round draft choice.
Make that a one-eyed QB from Mizzou.

He wanted us to draft defensive players...
Make that LB Robin Cole.

Shortly thereafter, Bidwill fired Coryell, and incidentally had the locks changed on his office
Birdeye's account is dead-on.

 

[AcesHigh]

So what ever became of Steve Psarkewicz and the guy they didn't take, LB Robin Cole?

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by AcesHigh
So what ever became of Steve Psarkewicz and the guy they didn't take, LB Robin Cole?

Steve played in 10 regular season games, and stunk. 45% 3 TD 7 INT. 2 years with us, one in Green Bay, and out of football.

Cole played for the Steelers, wasn't a star but had a long career and was a good solid player.

 

[football karma]

Other factors were that Coryell's family didnt like it in St. Louis and wanted to get back to the west coast

In addition, Don committed the worst of sins in the Bidwill book -- he didnt show any "loyalty" --

he was coming up on the end of the contract, and signaled that he was open to other offers from other teams.

 

[Wild Card]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Cole played for the Steelers, wasn't a star but had a long career and was a good solid player.

Russ:

In retrospect, Robin Cole was the kind of defensive player that Don Coryell's Cardinals could've used more of. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/29/03:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other/20030929where0929p5.asp

>>Cole, a No. 1 draft choice in 1977, played outside and inside linebacker for the Steelers for 11 years. Listed at 6 feet 2, 225 pounds, he was blessed with size, strength and speed, and he started 114 of the 138 games he played in for legendary coach Chuck Noll...

An outstanding player, Cole was a member of two of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1984 and finished that year with 94 tackles, two sacks and an interception.<<

Yeah, I'd say he was "a good solid player." And that Coryell was right, for all the good it did him.

WC

 

[PACardsFan]

Everything that has been written is very accurate. I thought that I'd mention that the 10-4 record in 1976 DID NOT get us in the playoffs. That was prior to any wild card slots, so it was very difficult to even get into the playoffs. The '77 season doomed Coryell because the Cardinals started something like 7-1, and then proceeded to lose their last 6. In that stretch, the D was horrible, and Coryell got frustrated with the criticism & lashed back. Bad defenses haunted Coryell everywhere he went, so the Cardinals weren't as guilty as it first appeared. His Offenses were so quick to strike, that the D never got enough rest on the sideline. He had even more offensive power with SD, but again, his defenses cost him the opportunity to get to a Super Bowl.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by Wild Card

An outstanding player, Cole was a member of two of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1984 and finished that year with 94 tackles, two sacks and an interception.<<

Yeah, I'd say he was "a good solid player." And that Coryell was right, for all the good it did him.

WC

absolutely, I just meant Cole wasn't a HOF guy(like many of those Steelers are) but you're dead right the type of guy we needed more of on defense back then.

 

[MrY]

My memory is of couse fuzzy, but I seem to remember even Cosell remarking on one Monday Night Football telecast that he could not understand why the Bidwills would not go out and "buy" Coryell the players he needed

 

[MrY]

PS... being from Albuquerque I remember Robin Cole very well as he went to New Mexico. He did have a solid career with Pitt

 

[conraddobler]

I saw a special on Coryell he was really bitter about what happend in St. louis.

It was all a power play and Bidwill didn't like how popular the guy was but mainly it was Coryell daring to start saying things publicly that got him in trouble. He just said what everyone already knew that management was a bunch of morons not in so many words and they booted him.

In any contest between a successful Cardinal coach and management I will always blame management.

Coryell never would of won the Super Bowl he didn't ever have a defense anywhere he was. He would be the perfect OC for Tony Dungy or you could flip flop it and they'd be a match made in heaven.

 

[Red Air Force]

Where they anything like the SB Rams?

Score 42 and give up 41?

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
Where they anything like the SB Rams?

Score 42 and give up 41?

The Cardiac cards were fun to watch, great OL, Jim Otis at FB, Terry Metcalf at RB, Mel Gray, Ike Harris then Pat Tilley later. Who knows what we would have done with JV Cain if he hadn't died on the practice field in a tragedy in training camp, he showed real promise he was an atypical TE at the time more of a receiver than blocker.

Coryell was ahead of his time he used Metcalf in so many ways, he loved the guy he coached against him in college(San Diego State vs. Metcalf's Long Beach State) and said Metcalf nearly beat him single handedly, so he jumped at the chance to draft him and play him. Used him at RB, as a receiver, kick returner, throwing option passes, there was no other player like Metcalf in the NFL at that time and not too many since. I think that's why I like Clinton Portis he reminds me a lot of Terry although he's bigger and faster and clearly a better runner.

People also forget we had Rod Dowhower at OC in the early 80's and he was considered one of the great OC's of that time, he was the mastermind of the '84 offense that was so good with Lomax, Roy Green, Stump Mitchell. We had Fritz Shurmur at DC during the early Arizona days. We HAVE had some well respected coaches but really it's been awhile since we could hire a "name" guy.

 

[ChiCard]

If I'm not mistaken Joe Gibbs was on his staff as well.

 

[cardsfan473]

the organization really took a dive after Bill Sr. gained full control away from his brother. Before that, they were a fairly decent team.

Our family still lived in St. Louis then. My dad practically cried the day Coryell left. That was the day my uncle jumped off bandwagon that has become 30 years of futility (my whole life). My dad and uncles were the lucky ones. They saw this team when they won the division several years in a row.

I still have some hope the Micheal B. will see the writing on the wall, and turn the front office around. Otherwise, we as fans really are left without hope for the future. Perhaps it is that hope, that I still stick with this team. I'll never give up, but this season has surely given me reason!

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Nice Post Russ

Originally posted by Russ Smith
The Cardiac cards were fun to watch, great OL, Jim Otis at FB, Terry Metcalf at RB, Mel Gray, Ike Harris then Pat Tilley later. Who knows what we would have done with JV Cain if he hadn't died on the practice field in a tragedy in training camp, he showed real promise he was an atypical TE at the time more of a receiver than blocker.

Coryell was ahead of his time he used Metcalf in so many ways, he loved the guy he coached against him in college(San Diego State vs. Metcalf's Long Beach State) and said Metcalf nearly beat him single handedly, so he jumped at the chance to draft him and play him. Used him at RB, as a receiver, kick returner, throwing option passes, there was no other player like Metcalf in the NFL at that time and not too many since. I think that's why I like Clinton Portis he reminds me a lot of Terry although he's bigger and faster and clearly a better runner.

People also forget we had Rod Dowhower at OC in the early 80's and he was considered one of the great OC's of that time, he was the mastermind of the '84 offense that was so good with Lomax, Roy Green, Stump Mitchell. We had Fritz Shurmur at DC during the early Arizona days. We HAVE had some well respected coaches but really it's been awhile since we could hire a "name" guy.

The 74 Cards are the kind of team that proves we have had some tradition....maybe though it was just some false hope.....All NFC players Gray (WR)....Werhli (DB)....Hart (QB)...Metcalf (RB)....with a great offensive line of Dierdorf/Dobler/McMillan and Bob Young with Tom Brahaney at Center and Jackie Smith at Tight End .......Don Coryell was the AP and Sporting News Coach of the Year.....maybe one reason being that we went 4-9 the year before.



The J.V. Cain thing is interesting other than the sad news of his death. I think this year (74) was the beginning of about 4 years in a row of terrible drafts....we even drafted a kicker #1 in 78....and Cain was the only decent draftee that year.....we did pick up Pat Tilley in 76....did have an interesting name in 77 as we drafted Terdell Middleton at RB....what was his parent's thinkin about?

74 was also interesting for this nuggett...Jason Steven Plummer was born on December 19 in Boise,Idaho.

 

[Red Air Force]

Re: Nice Post Russ

Originally posted by BuckeyeCardinal
I think this year (74) was the beginning of about 4 years in a row of terrible drafts....we even drafted a kicker #1 in 78.

from azcardinals.com
George Boone spent 24 years with the Cardinals’ organization, serving as director of player personnel from 1973–91 when he oversaw the club’s scouting and drafting operations.

So then where does Boone fit into all of this? I've heard some of you talk about him with a lot of disdain, if he was soo bad why was he around for so long, and why is he back?

 

[Duckjake]

Re: Re: Nice Post Russ

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
So then where does Boone fit into all of this? If he was soo bad why was he around for so long, and why is he back?

Maybe Bernard Wilson knows.

 

[BigRed]

I read a book written by Lomax and he couldn't stand Boone and Boone hated the players. Why this guy is back is beyond me. By the way you guys got me all teary eyed remembering the "fun" days being a Cardinals fan.

 

[Mel Gray TD]

What is the name of the book written about Lomax?

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Steve played in 10 regular season games, and stunk. 45% 3 TD 7 INT. 2 years with us, one in Green Bay, and out of football.

Cole played for the Steelers, wasn't a star but had a long career and was a good solid player.

Robin Cole, from the University of New Mexico. Sorry, but not many Lobos have had success in the NFL so I have to get in a plug for us any chance I get.

 

[Red Air Force]

Originally posted by Mel Gray TD
What is the name of the book written about Lomax?

Third and Long

http://www.amazon.com/o/dt/assoc/handle-buy-box=0800714970

 

[BigRed]

It was actually written BY Neil Lomax.

 

[Harry]

I'll give you the story as I heard from my sources at the time. First let's set the stage. The Cards didn't start 7-1. They started 1-3, losing to Denver, Washington and Dallas. Bidwill was riding Coryell, as the two had never really been close. Somehow despite significant injuries, Coryell rallied the team and they ripped off 7 straight wins to move within one game of the division leading Cowboys. Most of those injuries were to defenisve players and secondary was especially hard hit. The Skins looking to dump payroll offered Ken Houston to the Cards for a draft pick. Bidwill turned down the deal refusing to spend the money. In the end the defense was so riddled by Thanksgiving that the Dolphins decimated the Cards 55-14. The straw that broke the Camel's back was the Cards' season ending loss to Tampa Bay. The Bucs won only one other game that season. It was the excuse Bidwill needed to get rid of Coryell whom Bidwill viewed as disloyal.

Thus ended one of the most underrated coaching jobs in history. The Cards never truly recovered. I doubt Houston would have made the difference, but he did intercept 5 passes that season and recover 3 fumbles. He was a playmaker. With him and Wehrli in the defensive backfield, maybe Coryell was right and they could have stayed with the Cowboys.

That's they story as I heard it from a well placed source.