'84 Chronology-High Praise

Event Date: April 20th, 1984

Event Description: Levy Praises Kelly

Source: Chicago Tribune-UPI

If Chicago Blitz Coach Marv Levy can be taken at his word, stopping the Houston Gamblers at Soldier Field on Sunday will be like trying to fill an inside straight.

'The Gamblers have the most unique offense I have ever seen with quarterback Jim Kelly sprinting out and having his big blocking back, Sam Harrell, trailing to take a handoff,' Levy explained.

Houston brings an offense to town, Levy says, which is “geared mostly for passing, but is so explosive, it is almost impossible to contain.”

Kelly has passed 254 times, an average of  32 passes per game. “We have to be prepared in a way we don't get caught in any blitzes, because Kelly is such a good runner, he can kill you with those kind of tactics,” Levy said.

Levy, whose team is 2-6, was anything but happy about his team's showing against New Orleans last Sunday. The Blitz led 21-10 going into the final quarter, but a pair of Breakers’ touchdowns pushed New Orleans into the win column.

“It was the kind of game you would like to forget because there were so many key assignments missed, and by some pretty good football players,” he said.

Levy adds the Blitz is more like an expansion team, but at the same time, does not have the advantage Houston, a new team in the league, has had, because in addition to the draft, the Gamblers got to take a lot of players from other teams.

“In order for the Blitz to win consistently this season, we have to score anywhere from 30 to 35 points a game because our defense is just not good enough to stop a lot of teams,” he said.

The game will also mark the return of former Chicago Bears' head coach Jack Pardee, who coaches the Gamblers.

Story-(UPI-Modified)