49er Defense Might Harass, Confuse Marino Into Off-Game

Everyone in big-time sports has an off-day occasionally--everyone, so far, except Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins. At 23, in only his second season as a pro quarterback, Marino has played peak football for 18 consecutive games. Although the Dolphins were outscored twice in high-scoring events, their passer was never stopped by any opponent. Thus it seems likely that only one thing can beat Miami in the Super Bowl Sunday--Marino’s first off-day. He’s bound to have one eventually. Any athlete will tell you that. But suppose it doesn’t happen this season. Suppose Marino plays a 19th consecutive big game. Is the San Francisco defensive team gifted enough and savvy enough to put him away anyhow? Conceivably, the 49ers have one chance. They may be able to confuse him. He will beat any team’s percentage defenses, but because of his youth and inexperience, Marino could be handled by an imaginative defense. Perhaps. “The 49ers will have to change up on Marino to beat him,” a defensive coordinator said. “They should hit him with every blitz in the book. And mix in every coverage. Make him hold the ball longer than he wants to. Then make him get rid of it faster than he’s used to. Make him think you’re blitzing when you aren’t. Gamble. The Raiders confused him for a while. Anyone human can be confused at times.” The Raiders beat Miami on Dec. 2, 45-34. But to the defensive coordinators of the world, the disconcerting thing about that game was the way Marino came back--coolly throwing big passes--after the Raiders had pushed him around for three quarters. Despite two interceptions and the physical punishment he took, Marino was still firing accurately against the Raiders in the last quarter. It is a bit sobering to recall that the league’s best cornerback, Mike Haynes of the Raiders, was widely acclaimed for his achievement in holding Marino to a draw. Although Haynes intercepted him twice for 14 points, Marino beat him for 14 with two touchdown passes. In the second half, Haynes left his coverage of one Miami receiver and stepped in front of another to make his second big interception. Can the 49ers think of a way to position their defensive backs where, in a confused moment, Marino might once more throw that kind of interception? That is the sort of trick that the 49ers need in their defensive game plan, for contrary to some predictions, this doesn’t have the look of a really high-scoring game. “There won’t be as many touchdowns as some people think,” said Tom Walsh of the Raiders, who coaches their receivers. “You need defensive mistakes in pro football to get the big scores, and these teams don’t make a lot of errors.” The 49ers may, however, have made one error already. They say they’re planning on Ronnie Lott instead of Dwight Hicks at left corner. Lott plainly lacks the speed to run with Miami receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper. Nor does he defend particularly well against long passes. With the design of their offense, the Dolphins will at times try to isolate Clayton or Duper on Lott. For the 49ers, that may not be pretty. One of the league’s great defensive backs, Lott is an intimidating hitter who plays defense like a linebacker. With him on the field, the 49ers are, in effect, lining up with five linebackers and three defensive backs. But that isn’t the way to play the Dolphins. With their speed and quickness, Miami’s receivers eat up linebackers. Technically, tactically, is there a one best way to defense Marino? Most coaches think not. “Everything has been tried and nothing has worked,” said New England defensive coordinator Rod Rust. “Dallas tried one way (blitzing with defensive backs). Pittsburgh tried another (blitzing with linebackers). The Raiders tried a different way (bumping Clayton and Duper, and pressing Marino). We tried another (confusion). Nothing worked.” The 49ers’ defensive game plan is expected to include these essentials: --Their defensive backs will attempt to keep Miami’s receivers in front of them and take away Marino’s long pass. Realizing he’ll score some, they’ll prevent him from doing it with big plays if they can. --They’ll rush him with nine defensive linemen alternating in three positions. “The team with the best fourth-quarter rush wins most close games,” said San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh, whose objective in hiring so many linemen is to keep fresh speed on the field. --Counting on Fred Dean, Dwaine Board, Gary (Big Hands) Johnson and six others, the 49ers hope to pressure Marino with only three or four pass rushers at a time and cover his receivers with seven or eight backs and linebackers. “Blitzing (with more than four rushers) isn’t the answer,” Raider defensive backfield coach Chet Franklin said. “But you’ve got to keep pressuring him.” Said former Coach Sid Gillman: “You’ve got to molest this guy to beat Miami.” Molest him, confuse him, and pray for him to have an off-day. That could be the 49er formula.