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Show I SAN FRANCISCO AT age MINNESOTA Sunday, Sept. 2111:30 A.M. Channel 5 Viewers of Sunday's San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings game ought to be ecstatic they'll be watching a football name instead of a personality contest between the two head coaches. Viking coach Bud Grant seldom has a smile or quip for the public. Contrary to legend, he's not frozen. San Francisco coach Dick Nolan was once known as the quietest assistant coach on Tom Landrys (pretty bland himself) staff. Those who know both, claim that Grant is the life of the party compared to Nolan. Personalities aside, it is coaches records that are revealing and Nolan's career mark of 49 44-- doesn't compare with his Minnesota counterpart . . . Nolan has been encouraged by the 49ers last two games, a 44-1- 0 slaughter of Denver and a 24-- 3 victory against Green Bay. The final n mark was considerably better than last year's n The Vikings reervd was the poorest under Grant since his first club went Among the reasons for the sub-- . 500 mark were Alan Page's early absence from training camp because of law school studies, a nuisance injury which sidelined Chuck Foreman for three games, and problems at wide receiver. 5 75-34-- 3. pre-seas- 3-- 3, 0-- 5. 2-- 3. If the 10-- 4 last year are to vikings repeat as a Super Bowl team, they'll need performances like their 20-win over Miami But even if Minnesota is not able to play at a superior level, the Vikings will be heavy favorites to repeat as champions in the weak NFC Central 7 pre-seas- Division. The 4aers could veteran Norm Snead produces at quarterback. He hit 60 percent of his passes and threw four touchdown strikes during the exhibition season to win the starling job. Wide receivers Gene Washington and Bob Hayes are speedy and experienced, and tight end Tom Mitchell is a good target, too. A bevy of competent backs complement the passing game. The best are Wilbur Jackson, who gained over 700 yards last year while making NFC Rookie of the Year, and Larry Schreiber who gained 634 yards and led the team in pass receptions with 30 in 1974. They helped the 49ers rank fourth in NFC rushing last year. The line is a blend of proven pros like o center Forrest Blue and tackle Cas Banaszek and young players like guard Jean Barrett. The lino has been par- ticularly strong on pass protection. THE OFFENSES roll on offense if 15-ye- ,, t! r, u is S JS a a jj the offensive line is on the right side where tackle Ron Yary and guard Ed White team up Center Mick Tinaelhcff is still solid at All-Pr- The Vikes had offensive problems in when they averaged 1 3 5 per game. Minnesota misses wide points receiver John Gilliam who went with the WFL but is now trying to rejoin his former dub. Presently, wide receiver Jim Lash, two touchdowns in the exhibition season, is the best of an ordinary group of receivers. Tarkenton, a man who is now e chasing some of Johnny Unitas records, was largely responsible for the team's 1 passing per game during exhibition play. Chuck Foreman gained s rushing last year. Playing without Foreman for much of the exhibition season, the Vikes barely averaged 105 yurri? niching per g?.rrc. The strength of 35. THE DEFENSES The 49ers tanked 1 1 th in the NFC against the rush last year. The front four and linebackers are virtually the same cast as 1974 except for new tackle Bill Sandifer. The 49er? do better against the pass (they rankea third in NFC Channel 2 pass defense). End Cedrick Hardman leads a good pass rush. Jimmy Johnson, one of the great cornerbacks, is back for his 15th year, and has some good all-ti- helpers in the secondary. Viking foes averaged 17.1 points per game in the exhibition season, but the defense is still solid. A newcomer on the iront four is tackle Doug Sutherland who has replaced the retired Gary Lars an. Alan Page, Earl Eller and Jim Marshall have slowed some, but they still make the big plays. Middle linebacker leff Stemon, on the verge of stardom, is the best of an otherwise ordinary linebacking unit. The secondary is tough against the pass, yielding only two scores in Cornerbeck Bobby Bryant is back after missing last year with a broken arm. SPECIALISTS The 49ers have standout kickoff and punt returners in Kermit Johnson and Ralph McGill. Vikes are still experimenting. Veteran place kicker Fred Cox rates an edge over 49er r. o rookie Steve punter Tom Wittum of the 49ers could be matched for distance by Viking rookie Neal Clabo. pre-seaso- n. Mike-Maye- ungracefully. And now tney must lauuc!-- , a rebuilding year with a murderous opening at Denver, wmch seems to schedule reach frenzied heights at home in the opener. Four of Kansas City's first six games are against AFC West teams three of them on the road. Denver, too, is anxious to atone, although for fewer sins. The Broncos !e!' they were better than last year's mark. They believe a playoff berth is attainable. Theyve pointed all summer to a playing philosophy this year. KC is the first on the list. Like Kansas City Denver also used the summer as a test tube. They didn't play Charley Johnson until the Iasi two games They ran in hordes of prospects They finished winding up with an impressive win over a strong St Louis team. But there is something in the chemistry that begins to bubble when these clubs meet. It's visceral, primal "The Chiefs seem to get up more for Denver even than Oakland," said one Kansas citizen. It s relatively mutural, particularly with the memory of the 26-- 4 edge Kansas City enjoys in the long series. THE QUARTERBACKS Johnson insisted two' games was enough to get ready. His work against St. Louis seems to prove him right. He completed 11 of 17, looked sharp. Hes at 184, feels strong, confident. At 36, hes at the peak of his game mentally. The Chiefs began the summer with eight quarterbacks, and Mike Livingston now seems to have taken a thin edge for the starting job. "It's all or nothing. Mike," Wiggins told the seven-yea- r vet before the Green Bay game If you don't do well here I'm not sure I can even guarantee a spot on the roster " Kansas City wen, 31 3. But Len Dawson at KANSAS CITY AT DENVER Sunday, Sept. 212 P.M. All-Pr- . It will seem strange Sunday Oh, the uniforms will look the same, but the way they move over the floor of Mile H'gh Stadium may cause some identity crises fo ihose infamous south stai.Jers who have grown up hating the Kansas City Chiefs. We've gone to a completely simplified attack," said the man from Kansas City. Very little man in motion, not much shifting. They've cut the playbook in half. Theyre more pass oriented, although they still use a lot of play action." Kansas City without motion? Without dazzling arrays of formations, the deliberate deception they waged so well through the late 1960s? Its like "Jaws" with no shark. Paul Wiggin has begun to mark the team with his own stamp as he finishes his first summer as just the second head coach the Chiefs have ever known. It has been a strange two 'ionths. The Chiefs in the past seldom experimented much in preseason. But Wiggin has used the exhibition season for experimenting, searching, looking, as he tries to restore some of the lustre lost in last year's 9 record, the first losing season in a decade one-at-a-ti- 3-- 3, 5-- KEY MATCHUPS: for GENE WASHINGTON VS. BOBBY BRYANT OR NATE WRIGHT, Washington is one of the most dangerous deeD threats in the game. Cornerbacks Bryant and Wright aie experienced, and Bryant in particular looks like he's headd for a top the Chiefs. It won't be easy They have aged, oiten ' -- year CHUCK FOREMAN VS. WILLIE HARPER OR SKIP VANDERBUNDT. Foreman is dangerous on runs and passes and, with Tarkenton, keys the offense. Linebackers Harper and Vanderbundt have their work cut out. CAS BANAR7FK OR TOM MITCHELL VS. CARL ELLER. Old pros collide on front line. Eller's resistance to 49er running game is a key to victory for Vikes. FORREST BLUE VS. JEFF SIEMON. The experienced Blue win have all he can handle warding off the charges of four-yemiddle linebacker Siemon. ar . ' , . (rv - uif, mi inww II iirnrii iwif light bulbs LAST MINUTE FACTORS Vikes are crippled at wide receiver with only Lash and Doug Kingariter available. Regular Sam McCullum is out three to six weeks with a shoulder separation . . . Vikes also without strong safety Jeff Wright, hurt several weeks ago with a knee injury . . . 49ers have cut place kicker Bruce Gossett who scored 1,021 points during his 1 1 year career. -- W ;trtimo lineups. if c f- 1 - ,ir '77 3, f Economical even heat ' 10 year guarantee Thermostat extra '30" Reg. 14.95 , i. 750-Wa- Stash a cache ot these famous brand b'lghteners Nce'y trosted incandescents Our reg. 32c eacn bulbs 60. 75 or 100 watts 3C" 777-yard- . lawfr eater tv pre-seas- Amu fiaseijoardl 73-yar- aI j E2? 'Tll.il 750-Wa- tt Reg. 14.95 : |
