Page "Super Bowl VIII" Paragraph 24

The Dolphins ' game plan on offense was to use misdirection, negative-influence traps, and cross-blocking to exploit the Vikings defense's excellent pursuit.

( The Kansas City Chiefs had used similar tactics against the same Vikings defensive line in Super Bowl IV ).

Wrote Jim Langer, " All this was successful right away.

We kept ripping huge holes into their defense and Csonka kept picking up good yardage, especially to the right.

We'd hear Alan cussing because those negative-influence plays were just driving him nuts.

He didn't know what the hell to do.

" On defense the Dolphins ' goal was to neutralize Chuck Foreman by using cat-quick Manny Fernandez at nose tackle and to make passing difficult for Tarkenton by double-teaming John Gilliam and knocking down his receivers.

They were also depending on defensive ends Bill Stanfill and Vern Den Herder to contain Tarkenton's scrambling.