SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Wade Phillips called defensive plays for Buddy Ryan during his three years with the Eagles, but Ryan would still interject, especially when the opposing offense picked up a first down.
"If they made a first down, [Ryan] said, 'Blitz!' " Phillips recalled on Wednesday from the Super Bowl. "He said, 'Blitz 'em!' OK, Coach. Any time they made a first down he was going to blitz them."
Phillips chuckled at the thought. But the 68-year-old Broncos coordinator, who has achieved a similar amount of acclaim as a defensive whiz, said the former Eagles coach had a great impact on his career.