TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Those Decisions Didn't Single-handedly Decide the Game"

By TJ Troup 

The title of today's narrative is a quote from Bill Barnwell at ESPN.com. He was detailing his thoughts on the Rams @ Seahawks game. Enjoy his column more than anyone online. Years ago, Paul Lionel Zimmerman put his thoughts to paper on the best assistant coaches in history. While the list is very impressive; really believe there is someone missing who really deserves to be listed as one of the best assistant coaches of all-time, Phil Bengston! 

Phil Bengston

After his playing career at Minnesota, he began as so many did as a college coach. The San Francisco 49ers became contenders late in 1951 and Buck Shaw hired Bengston in '52. The three assistant coaches he worked with the most were Lawson, Duncan, and Hickey. Film study of the strategic alignments he used from 1952 through 1958 varied based upon his personnel and the subtle changes throughout the league on how defense was to be played during this era. 

When I wrote "The Birth of Football's Modern 4-3 Defense," his name figures prominently, yet could and should have written more about him. Over the years reached out to a handful of former players and coaches and one of the most insightful letters came from the defensive captain of the '56 Niners Rex Berry. 

While he did not share a lot of stories on Coach Bengston; he sure shared his respect for this coach, and the coverages used to augment the defensive fronts. Very few 49ers were with Bengston from '52 through '58; yet the main cog in the defense was future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Leo Nomellini. A true warrior that every coach could build his defense around. 

Leo Nomellini, Charlie Powell and Phil Bengston

The 1954 49ers faded down the stretch, yet the rookie right defensive end (team defensive MVP) Jackson Brumfield exploded on the NFL horizon as he probably led the league in sacks. In the chapter on the '57 Niners the game of significance is the defeat of NYG in Yankee Stadium to keep San Francisco alive in the West. 

The creative "red dog" package Bengston used that day overmatched the Giants offense and their offensive coordinator, Vince Lombardi. When Coach Albert tired of coaching and stepped down after '58, Bengston was thought to be a viable candidate to become head coach, but the Morabito brothers chose (foolishly) to hire Red Hickey. 

Vince Lombardi responded quickly to the news and convinced Bengston to return to the Midwest and help him revive the woeful Packers. Not only did he accomplish his mission, but it is how quickly Bengston did it. The trades with Cleveland to acquire Henry Jordan, Bill Quinlan and Willie Davis. His work with the two young linebackers, and most importantly the sudden rise to stardom at right outside linebacker by veteran Bill Forester. 

Forester, much like Hazeltine, in San Francisco, was the key man on weak-side pass coverage, the timely "red dog" and the ability to diagnose and pursue. When the Packers took the field entering the '62 campaign as reigning champions, they were soon to become one of the best defenses in NFL history from when division play began. 

Bengston adjusted over the next few years, and though the Packers would still "red dog" they became the standard to measure your own team based upon the coverages, alignments, and subtle strategy. When you study the Packers defense in the first two "Silver Trophy" games, you quickly see his impact on the outcome of the game. 

This saga is not an evaluation of Phil Bengston as a head coach, but to state emphatically that he should be in the assistant coaches' Hall of Fame! 

Finally, an apology to BruAnt for getting the date wrong in last week's column, sure should have double checked. One game left to play, and would relish any and all thoughts on who wins the game, and how they are going to do it.