Holmgren Has Familiarity On His Side

Mike Holmgren won’t admit it, but he’s got a significant advantage as coach of the NFC team in today’s Pro Bowl.

Although he’s had only five days to put together a game plan, the Green Bay Packers’ coach has a bunch of players familiar with the offense - right down to the terminology.

For starters, there are his own players, quarterback Brett Favre and tight end Mark Chmura. Or, he could go to a bunch of San Francisco 49ers in quarterback Steve Young and receivers Jerry Rice and Brent Jones. Philadelphia running back Ricky Watters can be included in that group, too.

All are products of the “West Coast offense,” which Holmgren helped design while an assistant with the 49ers.

“You don’t have to spend a few hours getting everyone used to the terminology,” he said. “We even have guys in the offensive line who are familiar with this system.

“If they’re comfortable running it, then you have a better chance of producing some good plays and still stay within the offensive rules of the Pro Bowl.”

Holmgren’s AFC counterpart, Ted Marchibroda of Indianapolis, doesn’t disagree.

“Any advantage helps in a game like this,” he said. “The key is not to get too complicated. We want to have some fun out there and showcase the guys the best we can.”

But Emmitt Smith had some fun this week making Holmgren squirm a little by playing the role of a recalcitrant player. It goes back to Smith’s first Pro Bowl appearance.

With the game on the line, Holmgren, at that time a 49ers assistant, pulled the rookie in favor of a more experienced running back.

When told that Holmgren promised to hand the load to a certain Dallas Cowboy, Smith laughed and said, “No, no, no. I haven’t had a good talk with Mike yet, but I think he knows my intentions. They can use all the running backs they want, but this one right here has carried it over 500 times this year and that’s enough for me.”

After letting that sink in - and as Holmgren recovered from the gag - Smith said he’d give it his best shot. Holmgren was quick to make it clear he wouldn’t skip Smith.

“I made that mistake once and I’m not about to make it a second time,” Holmgren said. “He hasn’t let me forget it and every time he’s played against a team I’ve been involved with, he’s pounded the living daylights out of us.”

Injuries have kept him out of the Pro Bowl the past two years, but Smith promised to make up for lost time.

“I’ve missed coming out here the past couple of years,” he said. “I really wanted to come out here this year and relax a little bit, get out on the golf course and enjoy myself.”