Ron Erhardt
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:35 pm
This just doesn't have to be an "is he worthy of HOF or HOVG-consideration" thread, but what you feel his legacy is as an OC? How do you compare him to the great OCs often times mentioned? Usually it's the pass-heavy ones that get the historic reputation, it seems.
Obviously more ground-game-oriented, Ron guided the Pats to an NFL record 3000+ rushing yards in '78! He did win two Rings with the G-men under Parcells! Two different offenses! One with the smaller Joe Morris, more agile linemen and the other being bigger linemen and a bigger RB in Ottis (3 TEs on the line at times) thus an even more bruising, clock-eating attack. His biggest feather-in-cap, of course, was keeping the K-gun off the field for 40 minutes in SBXXV!
He then went to the 'Burgh and ran a nice run-oriented offense for Cowher! However there was a clash in offensive philosophies which led to him leaving after SBXXX. He may have been a bit conservative in that game vs Dallas. With the weapons he had in the passing game, and plenty of rabbits to still pull out the hat with 'Slash' in that first and only year Kordell was used as such, more of #10 maybe should have been used in that one especially considering the opponent.
The only real 'black-eye' he had career-wise, really, was that third and final year as a HC...2-14 in '81 with the Pats. But he did do well in both '79 & '80 - two winning seasons in each case barely missing the playoffs! A shame he only HC'd those three years and never again. He was an excellent HC at North Dakota St, winning two National Championships!
Thoughts?
Obviously more ground-game-oriented, Ron guided the Pats to an NFL record 3000+ rushing yards in '78! He did win two Rings with the G-men under Parcells! Two different offenses! One with the smaller Joe Morris, more agile linemen and the other being bigger linemen and a bigger RB in Ottis (3 TEs on the line at times) thus an even more bruising, clock-eating attack. His biggest feather-in-cap, of course, was keeping the K-gun off the field for 40 minutes in SBXXV!
He then went to the 'Burgh and ran a nice run-oriented offense for Cowher! However there was a clash in offensive philosophies which led to him leaving after SBXXX. He may have been a bit conservative in that game vs Dallas. With the weapons he had in the passing game, and plenty of rabbits to still pull out the hat with 'Slash' in that first and only year Kordell was used as such, more of #10 maybe should have been used in that one especially considering the opponent.
The only real 'black-eye' he had career-wise, really, was that third and final year as a HC...2-14 in '81 with the Pats. But he did do well in both '79 & '80 - two winning seasons in each case barely missing the playoffs! A shame he only HC'd those three years and never again. He was an excellent HC at North Dakota St, winning two National Championships!
Thoughts?