By TJ Troup
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| Bill George |
Will begin and end this saga with mid-season trades. Watched Bill George achieve All-pro status as a boy in the very late '50s and early '60s. Watched Dick Butkus dominate and destroy for nine years (sometimes in person in the Coliseum), after a nine-year void that had a handful of men attempting to play middle linebacker—then along comes Mike Singletary. Watched him lead by example, and make plays (sometimes at Angel Stadium).
Watched Brian Urlacher range sideline to sideline (saw him in Champaign-Urbana). The last few seasons have watched Roquan Smith achieve All-pro status, and he is the final member of this "Filthy Five". The Baltimore Ravens just might have not only solved their defensive dilemma/puzzle . . . they might have clinched a division title by trading for Smith.
Ok, Poles you made the trade, let's see if you find another middle linebacker that can look the filthy five in the eye.
Aubrey Pleasant is now unemployed, and he continued the tradition of porous team pass defense in Detroit. How porous you ask? Lions rank 32nd in the league this year in the defensive passer rating category, and in 2021 had a mark of 108.5.
During 2020 their defensive passer rating was 101.0, and in 2019 was 112.4. Detroit lost their last nine games in 2019 and won just eight of thirty-three games in 2020 and 2021 combined. One of the elements in determining the passer rating is interceptions, and for those 42 games, the Lions intercepted just 22 passes.
Having studied a virtual ton of Detroit Lion film for the seasons of 1953 through 1956; one of the reasons for the Lions success defensively was left safety Jack Christiansen. Yeah, yeah, was a different game then, and there has been a dramatic improvement since then in quarterbacks not turning the ball over via the interception.
This past weekend there were 23 passes intercepted out of a total of 1,031 attempts. From 1953 through 1956 Christiansen played in 42 games, and he intercepted 31 passes. Possibly Aaron Glenn can make a call to football heaven and ask Jack to come help him or he also might be looking for new employment.
On page twenty-three of the 1957 NFL Record and Rules Manual is the category for most combined interceptions in a game. The record then was 11 and on October 30th, 1938 the Rams and Packers joined six other teams in this category.
Distinguished historian Eric Goska sent me the play-by-play for this game, and as such let's take a look at this game in detail quarter by quarter.
First quarter—five passes are attempted, with one completion, and two intercepted. Second quarter— 11 passes attempted with five completed, and two intercepted. Third quarter—16 passes attempted, with six completed, and four intercepted, and finally in the 4th quarter—13 passes attempted with four completed and three intercepted. 45 passes attempted, sixteen completed, and 11 intercepted!
How many of you would be as entertained as I would be watching the Rams & Packers pilfer those errant throws?
Historically we return to the Los Angeles Coliseum on October 30th, 1955 as the Bears take on the first-place Rams.
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| Harlon Hill |
Chicago must win to have any chance of catching the Rams in the standings, and we are in the second quarter tied at seven. George Blanda has just thrown incomplete to Harlon Hill, and it is now 4th down, and seven to go on the Los Angeles forty-one-yard line. Blanda sets up to attempt a 48-yard field goal, and the Rams in an attempt to block the kick have Don Burroughs standing in Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb's cupped hands.
Blanda drills home the field goal to give the Bears a 10-7 lead. Chicago goes on to win, but in the aftermath, Bert Bell adds to the rule book that no longer can an opponent attempt to block a kick with this unique human totem pole.
Derrick Henry is one helluva powerful runner, and he gained over 200 yards rushing this past Sunday, but he is not the only runner to pound out over 200 yards on October 30th. The New York Giants dedicated the game against Washington to Wellington "Duke" Mara. Tiki Barber gained 206 rushing in the Giants in the 36-0 pasting of the 'Skins (the first time the Giants had shut them out in 44 years).
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| Christian McCaffrey Credit: NFL Game Pass |
Recently Doug Farrar assigned a letter grade to the 49ers trade for Christian McCaffrey . . . he gave San Francisco a "D" grade. Found that percentages served me much better in determining student performance, and only put the letter grade on the grade sheets at the semester. Mr. Farrar may want to re-evaluate that grade at the end of the season?
Ms. Leann Rimes's terrific song "One Way Ticket" provided me the title for this saga—as McCaffrey joined a group of legendary men who ran, caught, and threw their way into the end zone.
From Brian wolf ...
ReplyDeleteYes, a number of trades today since some coaches cant develop or motivate the players they have.
McCaffrey better continue to help the Niners because his replacement in Carolina, Foreman, has been running the ball better for them.
Can Chubb give the Dolphins a pass rush or play only when he wants to?
Speaking of Chubb, the Browns have an excellent one but will Hunt be traded to a contender?
Henry will thank the Texans organization in his HOF acceptance speech but the Titans still need to keep utilizing Hilliard as well. They need Henry for the playoffs.
good
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