TUESDAY TIDBITS: "On the One Side, Truth Towers Like a Cliff"

By TJ Troup 

Once upon a time, there was a magical sound coming out of LA. The sound of McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker sure caught my attention, and the harmonies and voices of the singers in the Byrds catapulted them to stardom. 

The title of today's narrative comes from a song David Crosby and Graham Nash wrote, and the night they performed at the Greek Theater under the stars in 1976 was just damn awesome. 

Speaking of truth, will begin with my tried and true—the defensive passer rating. 

The Cincinnati Bengals for the first time ever led the league with a mark of 80.1. There have been many a secondary that took the field with one stellar defensive back, yet his secondary mates were less than capable of covering anything but their own ass and were strafed by opposing quarterbacks. 

This is a TEAM efficiency stat, and the Cincinnati secondary has improved during the year. Can and will they stop or limit Mahomes? Does Chad Henne ride to the rescue? 

Stay tuned. 

The Chiefs secondary finished with a mark of 95.3 in this category (the league average was 89.1) thus Bengal fans believe young Mr. Burrow will continue to shred the Kansas City defense. Especially since opposing passers threw 33 touchdown passes against Kansas City. 

As someone who once upon a time played defensive back, and was bailed out by a fierce pass rush; will the Chiefs pass rush pressure Burrow? 

 Dak Prescott learned why the 49er secondary was ranked fifth in the defensive passer rating last Sunday, and of course they will be challenged by the Eagles passing attack. 

Mr. Jones of NYG finished last weekend's game with a passer rating of 53.8, and the Philadelphia secondary which finished 3rd in the league with a mark of 81.6 looks forward to taking on young Mr. Purdy and his talented teammates. 

Every team looks to improve their roster in the off-season, and when the Eagles signed James Bradberry for 2022 an area of weakness became a strength. Slay is rock solid, yet for me sure enjoy watching Bradberry play corner more. 

Since both the Eagles and 49ers can move the ball on the ground we may have a game that finishes under three hours? 

Since the merger, Philadelphia and San Francisco have played twenty-five times, and of course, will meet again next year. The one time they met in the playoffs the Niners dominated as Steve Young had one of his strong performances both running and passing, while the San Francisco defense led by Bryant Young throttled Detmer and the Eagles. 

 They first battled in 1951, but the game that really intrigued me was opening day at Kezar in 1953. Both teams had winning seasons in '52, and both thought they could win a division title in '53. The 49ers led 17-7 at the half as Joe Perry behind an excellent o-line ran through, and around the Eagle defense. Write-ups of the game mention that it was "chippy" out on the gridiron that afternoon, as tempers flared. 

The legendary Hardy Brown delivered the "Tulsa Hump" into Toy Ledbetter's cheekbone. Bobby Walston and Charley Powell engaged in fisticuffs, and Joe McTigue and the 49er band not only played the National Anthem in an attempt to calm everyone down, the horn section also joined in the merriment. The final score was 31-21 49ers. 

Will end this narrative by going back in time 75 years to the first Eagle team to advance to the title game. 

From 1944 through 1946 the Eagles played winning football, but could not win the game they needed to for a division crown. The Bears dominated the Eagles in '44. 

The late-season loss to the Giants in '45, and the three-game losing streak in November of '46 had convinced the Eagle faithful they just were not championship material. Would relish listing all the starters on both sides of the ball for the '47 Eagles, but just don't have enough film to do justice in evaluation. 

Byron Saam does a fine job narrating the Eagle highlight film and watched the November 2nd, 1947 film over and over. 

So who played well for the Eagles in 1947 you ask? And was there a difference-maker in '47? 

You want answers? 

Here we go! The league is still single-platoon football, though many men come off the bench to play both ways due to fatigue. Twelve rookies make the team in '47, but almost all of them are substitutes or don't finish the year with Philadelphia. 

Neill Armstrong was selected with the 8th pick in the draft, and the swift rookie rotates in with veteran left end Black Jack Ferrante. They combine to catch 35 passes for 538 yards and 6 touchdowns. 

Baby-faced lean defensive end Johnny Green comes in to spell Pihos on defense and demonstrates he will be a factor for years to come. Skinny lightning-fast Pat McHugh flashes ability both running the ball, and range at safety. 

The Philadelphia o-line has unique line splits as there is a vast space between some and only a sliver of daylight between others, but it works. When you have the best runner in football you are motivated to give that man running room. Lindskog, Kilroy, and Wistert are all skilled blockers. 

Al Wistert

When evaluating film of Rosey Brown of NYG in the '50s was astonished at how often, and how well he pulled from his left tackle position. Brown was truly the best ever at this technique (Gifford was quoted many times about how fast Rosey was), yet Al Wistert was pulling from his right tackle post, and leading Steve Van Buren sweeps in'47. 

Wistert was quick, agile, and would cut block defenders right off their feet. Al played defensive right end, and he continually knifed through blockers to pressure passers, and pursue. Why this man is not in the Hall of Fame is a mystery? Bosh Pritchard and Van Buren besides lugging the leather played corner on defense. They were adequate on defense, but we all know of their offensive exploits. 

On October the 5th in the win over the Giants twelve men carry the ball—TWELVE! Everyone gets a few carries, though Van Buren is gonna get the bulk of the carries. None of the backs distinguish themselves at the corner position, but swift Ernie Steele shines at safety.

Steve Van Buren

If the league chose an All-NFL defense Steele would most likely have been a First-team selection. Ben Kish and Joe Muha play fullback and left linebacker, and they both are hard-nosed quality players. Additionally, Muha is an excellent punter. 

Earle "Greasy" Neale aligns his defense in both a 6-2, but also for the first time a 4-man secondary—the beginning of the 5-2-4. This of course means the linebackers have to shed blocks quickly, pursue, and disrupt pass routes when aligned on a flexed offensive end. Alex Wojciechowicz came from the Lions in '46, and now in his first full year in Philly he must lead the young Eagle defenders. 

Hugh "Bones" Taylor of the Redskins has a monster opening day in the heart-stopping 45-42 blockbuster win over Washington as he caught 8 for 212 yards. 

Hugh Taylor

In the rematch Wogey aligns on Taylor's nose and as such Bones catches just two for 29! Though Roy Zimmerman had his moments as an Eagle, the man who runs the Philly T-formation attack is Tommy Thompson, and he is probably the most improved player in the league. Superb at ball handling, faking, and his touch on play-action passes is top-notch. 

The Eagles are no doubt a running team, yet the passing attack with Thompson's accuracy helps produce 350 points. Finally the answer to the above question—was there a difference maker and who was he? 

Drafted by the Eagles while he was in combat in Europe under General Patton, rookie Pete Pihos gives Philadelphia a man who relishes blocking and does this so well it allows Wistert to pull, and his quickness coming off the ball gives Thompson another weapon in the Eagle arsenal. 

Pihos scores the first and last regular season touchdown for the Eagles in '47, while also playing left defensive end. During the November 2nd victory over the 'Skins he makes the special teams play of the year as he literally takes the punt off of Sammy Baugh's foot and dashes 31 yards for a touchdown (league scoring manual lists at 26... oops!) 

During the playoff victory over the Steelers, he again blocks a punt to set up a score. 

Melissa, are you listening? Your dad was the final piece to the Philadelphia championship puzzle. Seems like just yesterday that the DVD on Eagles history was popped into the player (2004), and have watched it many times, and an aspect of the history is the poignant, insightful, and fun lines by Mr. Ray Didinger, "All the legitimacy of a floating crap game". Ray your lines are treasured. 

Didinger discusses the beginning of the tight end middle screen, and Pihos's ability to rumble downfield with the ball. His unique style of catching the ball above the waist not putting his little fingers together, but backhanding the ball with one hand while cupping the ball with the other. 

Are you ready for an NFC championship clash between these two hard-bitten teams? 

I sure am.