TUESDAY TIDBITS: "His Speed Was Deceptive, and He Had the Softest Hands, and Could Catch Anything"

By TJ Troup 

Joe Namath

Once upon a time both the NFL and AFL would treat fans to a Saturday afternoon game late in the season. Relished watching those games since many times had not seen either team play all year (especially if they were eastern conference teams), since living in Chicago only saw my Bears on the road. 

So, let's journey back to Saturday, December 17th, 1966, and head to Shea Stadium. The Buffalo Bills are two-time defending league champions, but their loss to Boston the week before has positioned the Patriots to win the division if they can beat a Jets team that has won only once in the past eight weeks. 

The Bills were considered the toughest team to run against in this era and had allowed only 1007 yards rushing in thirteen games. Boston though ranked ahead of Buffalo as they had allowed only 894 yards rushing! 

Jim Nance
Credit: Merv Corning

The Patriot offense is powered...literally by fullback Jim Nance. A blockbuster inside runner who had surprising speed once loose in the secondary he had gained 1,188 yards on 237 carries (5.0) in the ten games the Patriots either won or tied. 

Can NYJ stop Nance, and can their offense find a way to move the ball on the ground to go with the Namath-led passing attack? 

The Jets defense has gotten stronger/better over the course of each of the last three years, but there is a major line-up change for this contest. Johnny Sample will not be in the line-up at the left corner and is replaced by the usual starting right corner Billy Baird. Starting at right corner will be Cornell Gordon in his very first start. 

Hard-hitting Dainard Paulson is now a reserve in his final season, yet Abruzzesse and Hudson are both strong tacklers at the safety position. Coach Walt Michaels has his defense ready, and after three quarters Nance has gained only 42 yards on 12 carries. 

The big fullback pounded out a 17-yard run on his final carry to set up a late Boston score, but by that time it was far too late. Joe Namath in his second season demonstrated he could make every throw needed to move the ball and win, but he also demonstrated he could force passes into the teeth of a defense and then head to the bench knowing he had just thrown another interception. Not today though, as Joe Willie completed 7 of 10 in the first half for 109 yards. He completed passes to Snell, Lammons, and Maynard (he scored on a 20-yard reception in the first quarter). 

In the second half Namath again completed 7 passes, but for 178 yards, and in a masterful job of reading coverage zipped a pass to George Sauer on a post pattern for 77 and a touchdown. Maynard continued to get open (3 for 72, and another score). Early in the season, the Jets looked like they would give Buffalo a run for the division title as they started out 4-0-1, and in those games, the improving well-coached offensive line allowed just one sack. During the disappointing stretch, the o-line continued to excel as they allowed only eight sacks. 

Coach Chuck Knox had schooled his boys in how to pass block, and they also got help from both Boozer and Snell. Watching film of the Patriot game linebacker Jim Fraser of Boston attempts to blitz and he is stonewalled by Snell. Impressive! Boozer and Snell gain 241 yards rushing in the game on 43 carries as the New York offense moves the chains (26 first downs). This is the second time in Jet history that teammates have both gained over 100 yards rushing in a game. 

Boston led early when Jim Colclough got behind Baird deep in the end zone from the eighteen-yard line. Undaunted Baird battled the Boston receivers all afternoon when challenged he intercepted Parilli twice. Namath did not throw an interception, the Jets did not lose a fumble, and the o-line kept the Boston bully boys from sacking Joe Willie . . . gee you think the Jets might win the game? You bet, 38-28. 

You can imagine the joy in Buffalo, and the next day the Bills beat Denver to become the only team in AFL history to go to the playoffs for four consecutive years. We have all seen quarterbacks come off the bench late in their careers as the relief pitcher to save the team, and on the last day of the regular season in 1988, Don Strock is starting for the Browns in a must-win situation. 

They trail the Oilers in the standings, and that is who Cleveland is playing at home on this snowy December 18th Sunday. Modell had stated that coach Schottenheimer must get his team to the Super Bowl in '88 or seek new employment, but Kozar's injury put the Browns offense in a difficult situation. Difficult but not impossible for a savvy veteran like Strock, who was playing in the final regular season game of his career. 

Strock misfired early and rangy Domingo Bryant took the errant pass to the house (Houston already led 3-0). Down 10-0 Strock just kept firing away and completed 26 of 42 for an impressive 326 yards. Slaughter and Langhorne latched onto 12 passes for 204 yards, and though down 23-7 in the third quarter the Browns scored the final 21 points of the game to earn a playoff berth. Their opponent for the wild-card game the next weekend you ask? Why none other than these same Oilers. 

There has been an evolution in offensive football during the last few years; bet you knew that? The passing game IS the key element in the game today. We all see wide receivers put up some very impressive stats, and some of those receivers are rookies. The Houston Oilers are their very first campaign in 1960 have two rookie receivers. 

Charlie Hennigan is a personal favorite of mine, and most folks at least know who he is, but the saga today will end with the story of the other rookie. Bill Groman played small college football at Heidelberg (can relate to small college football players) and left the teaching profession to try and make the Oiler team. His position coach is the legendary Mac Speedie, and the quarterback for Houston is hard-bitten savvy George Blanda. 

Bill Groman

On opening day in the victory over the Raiders, Charlie Hennigan starts at flanker but is injured during the game, and his back-up Bill Groman comes off the bench and responds with 6 catches for 115 yards and a 32-yard touchdown. The Oilers split their next two games and Groman learning on the job nabs 5 passes for 90 yards. 

Beginning on October 9th against the New York Titans Groman is about to explode like few rookie receivers ever have. Each week he demonstrates the ability to get open. He masters every route and latches onto every ball thrown his way. 

Though 5' 11" he has very long fingers and his athleticism and dedication have given Blanda the best weapon in the AFL. 

Can you give us examples? Well, hell yes I can. From October 9th through October 23rd he catches 21 passes for 378 yards . . . all Oiler victories. He misses the Buffalo game, but when he returns he explodes against Denver on a muddy field. 

Watching the film of him fake and sprinting past the Bronco secondary on his 75-yard touchdown is eye-catching. His ex-teammate George Shirkey gives us the title to this narrative, and Shirkey's quote is right on the money. 

Though he caught 7 passes in the loss to the Chargers, he gained only 88 yards. The next two weeks Bill Groman caught 12 passes for 353 yards, no that is not a misprint—353 yards! He finishes the season with 72 receptions for 1,473 yards, but the breakdown of the games that Houston won and lost is what is key here. 

During the 10 victories, the "Heidelberg Flash" caught 57 passes for 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns! The Oilers defeated the Patriots on December 18th as Groman caught 7 passes for 150 yards. 

How many rookie receivers in 2023 will be able to surpass those stats in their teams' victories? Having watched film of both Harlon Hill and Del Shofner breaking wide open behind defensive backs by at least 15 yards is breathtaking. Groman also exploded past defenders like they did before him, and he caps off his rookie season as a champion. 

Bill has a strong second year in 1961, and because he was such a threat teams rolled coverage toward him. Charlie Hennigan exploited the opposition in '61 with one of the greatest seasons ever by a receiver. Leg injuries curtailed Groman's career, yet his rookie season still stands out as one of the best ever.