Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 12, 1992

I guess all the Raider defense needed was a change in offensive coordinators. . . .

Tom Walsh replaces Terry Robiskie and, presto, the Raiders give up only 13 points in their next two games. . . .

The new offense? It bears a certain resemblance to the old one, but Todd Marinovich is maturing. As he showed against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, the sophomore quarterback is now willing to take an occasional sack instead of trying to force something to happen. . . .

Few were as responsible for limiting the NFL’s most productive offense to a field goal as the Raiders’ two 12-year pros, Howie Long and Ronnie Lott. . . .

It is amazing how much noise 52,297 people can make when they have something to cheer about. . . .

Give Eric Dickerson some daylight and he can still turn it on. . . .

Buffalo is in danger of not having the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Bills are 1 1/2 games behind the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East, and the Dolphins’ additional game will come against the New England Patriots. . . .

Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Moore takes longer between pitches than the no-huddle Bills do between plays. . . .

Where’s instant replay when the Rams really need it? They were robbed of a fumble recovery on Dalton Hilliard’s kickoff return that would have given them the ball in New Orleans territory shortly after they had tied the Saints, 10-10, during the third quarter. . . .

On “NFL Today,” CBS commentator Terry Bradshaw said the way to beat the Philadelphia Eagles was to throw long. Then the Kansas City Chiefs made him look good. . . .

Unfortunately, the Southland got the San Francisco-New England telecast instead of Philadelphia-Kansas City or Atlanta-Miami. But the inspired Patriots and the promising rookie analyst John Robinson made it bearable. . . .

Who you would rather have as your quarterback for the fourth quarter--John Elway, Dan Marino, or Joe Montana? . . .

Two weeks ago, UCLA was 3-0 and there were dreams that the Bruins would go unbeaten, land in the Rose Bowl, and set up a national championship match between Washington and Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. . . .

Now the Bruins are 0-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference, plagued by injuries, and reeling. . . .

Their new role beginning Saturday in Pullman against unbeaten Washington State is that of spoiler. . . .

Stanford is one Bill Walsh-coached team that will win more games with defense than offense. . . .

USC scored 26 points and punted five times during the first half against Oregon. . . .

The Trojan defense was tough, but the Ducks’ rushing total of minus 10 yards is misleading because it includes 63 yards in sacks. The NFL has a better idea. Sack yardage isn’t figured into rushing yardage. . . .

The most dangerous kick returner since Rocket Ismail is Curtis Conway--or is it Glyn Milburn? . . .

USC could have used touchdown maker Johnnie Morton, who was injured, against Washington. .

OK, Miami deserves to be No. 1 after its back-to-back victories over Florida State and Penn State. . . .

Penn State may be Linebacker U., but the Hurricanes’ Michael Barrow is the leading candidate for the Butkus Award. . . .

Most surprising stat of the week: Penn State was penalized nine times for 77 yards and Miami only twice for 24 yards. . . .

Miami’s most difficult remaining test figures to be Nov. 14 at Syracuse. . . .

ABC announcers Brent Musburger and Dick Vermeil said California’s Russell White was the best “five-yard runner” they had seen this season. Well, San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk is the best 10-yard runner I’ve seen. . . .

The black numbers on the Kings’ home uniforms are a lot easier to see than the old silver ones. . . .

But why should fans who pay big money to get into the Forum be subjected to all those commercials on the scoreboard? . . .

Look-alikes: Terry Steinbach and Ringo Starr. . . .

It still seems strange to see Willie Stargell wearing an Atlanta uniform in Pittsburgh. . . .

CBS is taking too long to show its not-so-instant replays during the playoffs. . . .

It is a shame that more players don’t share the enthusiasm of Pirate rookie pitcher Tim Wakefield, who, after beating Atlanta in Game 3, said: “It’s just a blast.” . . .

I wonder if Mike Ditka invited Jim Harbaugh over to watch the NFL games on TV during the Bears’ day off.