The Infante Touch

Is it a coincidence that quarterbacks come into their own when Lindy Infante is running the offense? You make the call. Cincinnati 's Ken Anderson had an MVP season in 1981, when Infante was in his second year coaching the Bengals ' quarterbacks and receivers. Bernie Kosar led Cleveland to the AFC Championship Game in '87, Infante 's second season as the Browns ' offensive coordinator. Don Majkowski brought the Pack most of the way back in '89, Infante 's second year as Green Bay 's head coach.

In Infante 's system, the receiver must learn to read the defense and choose a pass route from as many as six options he has on a given play. The quarterback also must read the defense, and then pick up the route chosen by the receiver. "It gives players creativity and freedom," says Infante , who was a USFL head coach in 1984 and '85. "You've got to carry concepts and ideas to the field."

Infante admits that, in his offense, "it takes time for it to become second nature." That explains why all three quarterbacks needed to spend a second season in Infante 's system before having their career years. Here's how the three signal callers' best years, all under Infante , compare with their season averages.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]