Bill Walsh: Ten Greatest Coaches of the NFL Volume 8 by Patrick McCaskey

Author:Patrick McCaskey [McCaskey, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sporting Chance Press
Published: 2015-06-11T04:00:00+00:00

1982 Season

The 49ers’ 1982 campaign was marred by a players’ strike that shortened the regular season to nine games and created friction among teammates. The 49ers’ efforts fell short of a championship team. Their 3–6 record gave them a third place finish in the NFC West.

1983 Season

The 49ers regained some confidence with a 10–6 finish for first position in the NFC West in 1983. They scored 432 points and allowed 293 from competition to give them a point differential of 139. George Seifert became the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and like Walsh, he advanced more complex plans.

Roger Craig, an excellent fullback from Nebraska, was obtained through the draft. Walsh acquired Rams’ running back Wendell Tyler who gave the 49ers a running game that demanded much more attention from opposing defenses. Jesse Sapolu, who would play 13 seasons for the 49ers as offensive guard and center, was also selected in the draft.

During the 1983 season, the 49ers fared well, but they suffered four losses in one month, from October 30, to November 27. They came back strong winning their last three regular season games on the road to the playoffs.

In the division match, the 49ers faced an excellent Detroit Lions’ team that featured a strong defense to counter Walsh’s innovative offense. The Lions’ offense featured a great running back, Billy Sims, who was exciting to watch and difficult for tacklers to bring down. The Lions’ starting quarterback, Eric Hipple, was injured and replaced by veteran Gary Danielson. A rusty Danielson threw five interceptions that day, but the Lions battled right up to the end. Craig and Tyler rushed for San Francisco scores and Wersching kicked a field goal. Lions’ kicker, Eddie Murray, kicked three field goals in the first half and Sims ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the Lions ahead, 23–17. Late in the fourth quarter, Montana tossed a touchdown pass to Solomon that put the 49ers ahead. San Francisco squeaked past Detroit, 24–23.

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