By John Turney
So, today the subject is the NFC Offensive Player of the Year. The AFC and NFL MVP/Player of the Year was clear—O.J. Simpson and his transcendent 2,003-yard rushing season for the Bills.
John Hadl was the consensus NFC Player of the year in 1973 winning the UPI, Sporting News, NFLPA, and Kansas City Committee of 101 versions of the award with Fran Tarkenton winning the New York Chapter of the PFWA award.
Hadl's awards make sense based on the Rams 12-2 record and his passing statistics for the season but when you break down his season into halves, it may not be that simple.
In the first six games, Hadl was on fire with a 129.5 passer rating (the first season it was used as a passing statistic) and had 13 touchdowns compared to just two picks. Then, in week seven, he hit a purple wall and only had a few good games in the last eight weeks and some poor ones—
Hadl's slump continued in the playoff game versus Dallas and into 1974 when he was traded to the Packers for a pile of draft picks. Insiders thought there was something wrong with Hadl's arm, he was missing throws he normally made and Rams general manager Don Klosterman jumped when he had a chance to unload his ailing quarterback for such a high bounty. It turns out it was not his arm but his lower back that was causing the issues, you know, with the backbone connected to the neck bone and the neck bone connected to the arm bone, it all fits together. Regardless, there were issues causing poor performance.
So, was he having one great half of a season and one poor half of a season the stuff of being a Player of the Year? Maybe then, but if this happened now we think someone else would be chosen.
But who?
Roman Gabriel had a fine year but his 5-8-1 record would be a hindrance, even though they were a few plays away from being 7-7. Fran Tarkenton, as mentioned, won the NY PFWA NFC Player of the Year Award for his 12-2 Vikings. Roger Staubach was 10-4 won the passing title and led the NFC in passing touchdowns (tied with Gabriel). All would be fine choices.
However, we think the best vote would be for Harold Jackson, Hadl's teammate.
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| Chart credit: Pro Football Reference |
Jackson was a big part of Hadl's first half anyway and had another monster day (for the 'dead ball era') in the second half. His 21.9 yards per catch were second in the NFL and his 13 touchdown receptions led the NFL, all for a team that ran the ball almost two-thirds of the time.
Jackson is a player who often gets overlooked, he led the 1970s in receptions, yard receiving, and touchdowns and was fifth in yards per catch and didn't get close to being All-Decade. Possibly because he played for three different teams in the 1970s and didn't have huge support from any of the voters because the longest he played for any team was five years.
Regardless, we think he had the best, most productive, impactful season of any NFC skill player in 1973. He's our pick for this "what if" analysis.
...totally agree with you John. Jackson forced defensive co-ordinators to adjust coverage, and as such with the powerful ground game the Rams took advantage. Shula goes undefeated in '72, and Knox as a rookie head coach is two field goals away from an undefeated year....Jackson was the difference.
ReplyDeleteJeez, that’s a tough one. Hadl backed into the award but Jackson’s tremendous season stats wouldn’t look nearly as pretty without the Cowboys and 49ers games. Of course, Harold may have had more big games if not for Hadl’s decline.
ReplyDeleteI think I would go with Gabriel who brought the Eagles back from the dead with help from Harold Carmichael and Tom Sullivan.
In that era, receivers were not given much credit for anything. If they were, Harold Jackson (and a number of other 1960s-1970s receivers) would be appropriately enshrined in the Hall of Fame. There seemed to be some bias against Fran Tarkenton at that time, and initially against Roger Staubach. Possibly because they had the audacity to run with the football to keep plays alive. Regardless, they were not chosen. The huge game that Hadl had throwing to Jackson in the nationally televised match-up against the Cowboys in Week 5 is likely what cemented his selection as the NFC offensive player of the year. It was an amazing first half, and it catapulted the Rams to the top of the football writers' lists as the best team in the NFC.
ReplyDeleteHadl deserved it. No way Gabriel did if his team only won 5 games.
ReplyDeleteRoman Gabriel was NFC player of the year - he put tons of points on the board for Philly. If the Eagles D played half as good as the Merlin Olsen led Rams then Philly would’ve been 12-2. GABRIEL - NFC player of the year.
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