Conducting a little bit of an experiment with this discussion… when you hear the term “finesse” (typically in a derogatory manner), which teams from across the decades spring to mind?
Conducting a little bit of an experiment with this discussion… when you hear the term “finesse” (typically in a derogatory manner), which teams from across the decades spring to mind?
Going old school here- the team that first got called “finesse” by the modern media was the 1988 49ers.
This was especially used to contrast what the Bill Walsh coached West Coast Offense was doing with the timed receiving routes and lack of an emphasis on a run game first with teams like the NY Giants or Bears of the ‘80s. Well, as Keena Turner famously said during the post-game locker room interview, the “finesse ass 49ers” rolled into Soldier Field in the freezing cold during the NFCCG and wooped them 28-3.
I thought of the 80s 49ers as soon as I read the question. The first thing I think about from those teams is Montana to Rice. Both guys were smooth af. Then I remembered Roger Craig running like a maniac. Ronnie Lott crushing people. Charles Haley being Charles Haley, etc.
They weren’t soft, but compared to the teams you mentioned and Washington (the other Super Bowl winners of that era), they were definitely more finesse.