The 1963 Chicago Bears: "I Decided We Needed the Ball"

By TJ Troup 

Have long contemplated writing this saga, my favorite team of all time, but knowing my bias, have struggled with objectivity. The title comes from a quote from right corner Dave Whitsell from the final regular season game win over Detroit and will explore him and that statement at the end of the story. Rather than just diving into who played what position, and how well the '63 Bears need to set the stage by discussing the champions of '62. 

The 1962 Green Bay Packers will always be ranked as one of the truly great teams of all time. During the '62 campaign, they beat the Bears 87 to 7. While no one knows the exact date of Clark Shaughnessy "leaving" the Bears, believe it was after the 49-0 humiliation in late September of '62. George Allen was hired as player personnel director in October of 1958, and over the years worked his way into becoming an assistant coach, and working with the secondary. Have read more than one account that Clark hated Allen. 

George Allen and his troops

George Allen is/was my defensive "guru", and one of the truly magical days of my life was being the guest of the Allen family for George's enshrinement into the Hall in Canton. Tom Bennett details Stan Jones sitting next to Allen on the plane ride to Minnesota for week four in '62 (13-0 shut-out)in his book (a must-have for anyone who relishes the history of the game). The rematch against the Packers in Wrigley in November (listened intently on the radio) was an ass-whipping. 

Green Bay is comfortably ahead and has the ball, and the green & gold juggernaut is so powerful running the ball that Allen takes out starting right safety Rosey Taylor, and goes with an eight-man front with Petitbone aligned in the middle of the field. Did not matter, repeat did not matter as the Pack thundered through the Bears' defense. 

You have the target for the Bears for '63....the hated champion Packers, and you are going to learn about a man who has been granted an opportunity to achieve coaching acclaim. Can George Allen put a defense on the field in '63 that can stop,...... ok limit the Packers? We all know that even if you have a strong defense, the offense must do its job, and thus will start there. 

The format will be much like my book "The Birth of the Modern 4-3 Defense". Who played where, and how well.....and will begin with the o-line coached by Phil Handler. 

Rookie Steve Barnett begins the year at right o-tackle, but cannot keep the job. He will be replaced by one of the unsung men of the Bears in Bob Wetoska. Big Bob plays so well at both tackle and at times right guard he receives some All-Pro recognition. He moves well in space, can drive block, and more than holds his own as a pass blocker. 

The right guard post is shared by Jim Cadile and Roger Davis. Davis never achieved what was expected of him after his college career at Syracuse. His one strength was the ability to pull and lead a sweep but was not much of a drive blocker, and in week three in Detroit played much of the second half at left offensive tackle and demonstrated he had no future at that position. Cadile on the other hand was more than adequate in all facets of o-line play. Left guard is handled by Ted Karras, and though he is not very polished, he gives maximum effort. Since he must face Henry Jordan and Roger Brown during the campaign he must prove he is not a weak link. 

The left tackle is veteran Herman Lee, and the big man still moves his feet well, and is a fine pass blocker. The drive block was never his strength, yet the effort is there. 

By far the best o-lineman on the Bears is center Mike Pyle. Excellent feet, and technique, and he is outstanding at protecting Wade as a pass blocker. Young Mike might not be all-pro (he does receive some acclaim), he is simply the best drive-blocking center in the league as Wade is masterful at the qb sneak (especially at the goal line). 

Angie Coia and John Farrington still share the split end position, yet neither man shines in '63. Coia though is versatile enough that he fills in at flanker when Morris is out of the line-up. Johnny Morris has made the transition from running back to flanker and improved each of the last two years, and begins the '63 campaign by catching 31 passes for 437 yards in the first seven weeks. His quickness, and sharp cuts get him open. 

The next six weeks he battles injury and catches but 8 for 97 yards. When needed the most he rises in the season finale to latch onto 8 passes for 171 yards in the win over Detroit. When in doubt you throw to the best in the league, and Mike Ditka is simply the best tight end in pro football. Film study shows him drop a pass now and again, but the man has surprising speed at this point in his career, and runs every pattern like his life depended on it. Tough after the catch, he absorbs the hit, and breaks away (that aspect will catch up to him in '64).  

He is the go-to guy for Wade, and he delivers. Ditka aligns flexed, tight on either side, and is not only a strong blocker at the point of attack the man hustles downfield and throws open field blocks that are textbook. 

The Bear offensive backfield is by committee, and that committee is flawed with a capital "F". Willie Galimore began 1962 with a game for the ages against the 49ers in Kezar, attempted to play the next few weeks with an injured knee that needed surgery, and he is the question mark for Chicago? Will "Willie the Wisp" ever be a game-breaker again? He does not catch near as many passes as earlier in his career when he would jet through a secondary to score, he is a runner trying to recapture his breakaway ability. 

Though the 27-yard touchdown against the Packers is impressive, Willie is just not the Wisp anymore, thus second-year man Ronnie Bull gets plenty of playing time at halfback. He won Rookie of the Year in '62 (should have gone to Merlin Olsen), and he does run hard, and catch the ball well, but he is limited.....very limited. 

Rick Casares began '63 by gaining 154 yards on just 25 carries in the first four games, but nagging injuries and age have caught up with this tough guy as he gains just 123 yards on 40 carries the rest of the campaign. Joe Marconi was found wanting by the Rams, but the veteran gives the Bears all he has. No moves, marginal speed, average blocker, but somehow when he caught flat passes or screens he made yards (caught 20 passes the last eight weeks from either fullback or split back position). 

Rudy Bukich is a veteran with a strong arm and gets a few chances during the year, but the starter is a man who has never been given credit for what he did in '63—Mr. Billy Wade. His time in Los Angeles was marked by team strife and controversy, yet he had games where he shredded defensive secondaries due to his talented right arm. He can howitzer the ball with the best of them. He is a tough runner, but he has proven difficult to coach due to his belief that he can force a ball through coverage to what he believed is an open receiver. 

During '62 he set team records for yards passing, and completions. Watched him slice and dice the Colt secondary in a 57-0 destruction, and throw for over 450 yards in the comeback win over Dallas. You do not win in 1963 or in the current NFL when you throw interceptions, and Wade threw too many in '62. 

Guided by a revamped offensive philosophy which he took to heart Wade threw short, finally pitched the pigskin with touch, and continued to call a fine game strategically, and ran the sweep right superbly. He is in a division with Unitas, Starr, and a young Fran Tarkenton, and more than holds his own. Billy Wade was a difference-maker in '63 for what he did not do....turn the ball over. 

The Bear offense would sometimes align with wing sets single back, but usually is in standard pro formation running all the standard plays. Chicago moved the ball and scored 16 offensive touchdowns in the first five weeks of the year, but only 17 in the last nine games of the year. At times the Bear offense did just enough to avoid defeat, and as such the Bears were home underdogs at Wrigley in the Championship game. We have all watched teams with superb defenses contend for championships with catchy nicknames, and alignments and defensive strategies that were cutting edge. 

The '63 Bears defense did not have a catchy nickname and disguised what they did on alignment by not telegraphing what they were going to do. Clark Shaughnessy was verbally brutal to the men on the Bear defense (he did not get along with anyone), and the myriad of mystical defenses confused many a quarterback, but also put defenders in untenable positions. George Allen developed a rapport with his men by treating them like MEN. He ditched most of the mystical defenses, and attempted something new in pass defense.....the ability to confuse the quarterback by disguising coverage. 

This story is not about me yet learned from Coach Allen and Coach Tom Hayes valuable concepts that helped me have success as a high school defensive coordinator. Ed O'Bradovich had a strong rookie year in '62 but begins 1963 on the shelf (illness), and he is replaced at left defensive end by Bob Kilcullen. He is the least effective of all the Bear defenders, yet he does his job in just "holding the fort". He did an admirable job against Forrest Gregg on opening day, and though he is not much of a pass rusher he held his own till late in the year when Wild Man OB can take his place in the line-up. 

Stan Jones was an All-Pro guard who lost his speed and cannot pull. He is moved to defense and this warrior of superior strength will just not be moved. Quick enough to provide a capable pass rush up the middle Jones a future Hall of Famer battles all the quality offensive right guards in the league to a standstill. Earl Leggett was supposed to be a dominant defender and has overcome injury to become the starter at right d-tackle. His size, smarts, and toughness helped the '63 Bears become champions.

Doug Atkins

Legendary Doug Atkins had his best year in '63. Many times watching film of this team my response to one of his plays is WOW! That is all that is needed to be said. He is one of the best pass rushers in the league, and he schooled rookie Sanders of the Lions in week three. Atkins motor was reved up in '63 as his pursuit skills improved dramatically. His 10th year is not filled with his rookie mistakes as a Cleveland Brown. He is now the premiere right defensive end who must be accounted for on every play....he relished playing for Allen stating " I would kill for that man". 

Late in the year young massive John Johnson fills in at both defensive tackles (he even went both ways against Detroit in September), and demonstrates he fits right in with these nasty grizzlies. George Allen "pulled off" a trade with Washington to acquire Larry Morris in '59. Though his knees are injured he nonetheless comes like a freight train on the red dog, masterfully diagnoses running plays, and has even improved in dropping into coverage. 

Bill George

Middle linebacker is the province of Bill George, and though rumored to have thought about retirement, he returns in '63 and earns some All-Pro recognition. He still puts his knuckles in the dirt to give the Bears a 5-man line, and he knows the passing lanes when dropping into coverage, but he is a master of the big play, whether it is the sack, or shedding a block to stop a runner in a short-yardage situation. Bill cannot run like he use to, but he is still able in pursuit, and understands his mission, to win a title before retirement. 

Joe Fortunato played lights-out football at right linebacker till Morris arrived, and has improved each year that now he is without a doubt the best strongside linebacker in football. You don't run the sweep his side, he can strong-side blitz and can play both zone and man coverage, he now calls the defense on the field for Allen and his savvy, and smarts is a key to Bear success. You do not win a championship unless you play pass defense correctly. Stated that when interviewed for NFL Films presents in '98 and that will never change. 

The defensive passer rating is a tool that have used repeatedly for my stories, yet this story tells the tale the best. 1961 Bears ranked 12th of fourteen teams in this category with a mark of 76.5 (league average was 68.5), and the reason was simple. Shaughnessy had flawed coverage concepts that asked players to cover receivers without help. 

1962 Bears under Allen improved to third in the league with a mark of 55.8 (league average was 72.6), but the champion Packers led the league with a mark of 43.4. Why were they the best you ask? Well, I'll tell you why—moving Gremminger to strong safety, Whittenton's continued excellence at right corner, Adderley's development at left corner, and the most improved player in pro football in '62 Willie Wood. 

Though Willie played strong football in '61 he blossomed in '62 and was now the best, even better than Jimmy Patton, Yale Lary, and Larry Wilson. He used his quickness and speed to take the correct angle when the ball was in flight, and Wood was a tackler that covered ground and did not miss. These four men returned to Green Bay in '63 to defend their title. 

Can the Bear secondary measure up to this quartet? You betcha! J.C. Caroline is no longer the starter at left corner, he is replaced by wiry, quick, and tough-as-nails Bennie McRae—learning on the job the former Wolverine has been taught by Allen to hide his coverage whether it is man or zone. At times he still struggles, yet plays the sweep well, and intercepts six times. 

Richie Petitbon was forced to play right safety in '61 and though he did the job, he is out of position—he belongs at left or strong safety. He is Allen's disguise master, his alignments, disguise the coverage. He is too far inside of the tight ends alignment therefore it must be zone, wait ....on the snap he uses his long strides and speed to head to the flat and play the tight end man. Petitbon is stacked behind Fortunato, therefore must be man coverage or he has outside zone responsibility, yet on the snap he jets to the middle of the field to take away the square in pattern. 

Petitbon is a deserved first-team All-Pro that pilfers 8 passes (had a couple taken away due to penalty), and still a strong tackler. He earned a Pro Bowl berth in '62 and returned to Los Angeles for his performance in '63. 

Free agent Roosevelt Taylor was the last man to make the Bear team in '61, and Rosey learned that Shaughnessy did not want him, but George Allen fought for him. During '62 Taylor played well in his first year as a starter at free safety, but he is without a doubt the most improved player in the league in '63. Twelve takeaways in 14 games in '63, yet just as important as the takeaways was his ability to disguise Allen's coverage.  

Richie Petitbon

Very different than Petitbon, yet much the same. Taylor is too far from right corner Whitsell, so we audible and throw deep up the sideline, and there is Taylor using his blazing speed to help Davey. He is too close to Petitbon, therefore they must be aligned to double the tight end, or one of them takes the back man to man . . . wait, Taylor is now in deep centerfield....how the hell did he get there? Much like Willie Wood—he took the correct angle and got to where he was needed.

The Bear defensive backfield aligns in standard coverage, and does not deviate . . . they play standard coverage. The Bears mixed, and matched, and attempted to force the triggerman of the offense to hold the ball too long, or pass into an area that SUDDENLY had a defender there that was not at the snap . . . 36 interceptions and a defensive passer rating of 34.8....yes that is correct, 37 points under the league average. 

Billy Wade don't turn it over, and Allen's boys will get the ball back for ya. The expansion Vikings in 1961 acquired (given?) 36 stiffs...and one of those was a Detroit Lion safety who had started a few games in three years...Dave Whitsell. 

Page 264 of the 1967 Sporting News Player Register states the following: guard Zeke Smith, and Whitsell traded by Minnesota to New York for Schnelker, Triplett, and Bob Schmidt. New York then trades Whitsell to Bears for kicker John Aveni (one of the worst in modern league history). George Allen made many a masterful trade, and this one ranks as one of his best. 

Talented corner Erich Barnes was traded so the Bears could acquire Wade, so someone has to play corner. Whitsell was thrown at repeatedly and survived. Average speed, but so damn resilient, resilience is a trait every corner needs (sometimes learned the hard way through experience). Whitsell was a tough run defender who played the weakside sweep well, and battled all those talented split ends in the NFL in '63. He played the ball well in flight, and though considered "the weak link" in the Bear secondary he proved he was not. 

Street & Smith's '63 picks the Bears fifth in the west. Quoting Bob Oates "Trying to sum up the Bears they will probably pass well, and run fitfully. The defense depends on George. If pressed, one would have to say that the Bears will finish somewhere from second to sixth. But don't ask where." 

Don Schiffer's '63 Pro Football states "The Bears certainly should finish no worse than third again, but aren't likely to go any higher". 

The thumbnail sketches of the players talk about 11 players, but no write-up on Roosevelt Taylor, Whitsell, or McRae, and the depth chart has Larry Glueck starting at left corner ahead of Caroline, and McRae is not listed. Fred Williams is listed as the starting left defensive tackle, with Bob Kilcullen at right defensive tackle. Stan Jones is listed as the starting right offensive guard....to say Don Schiffer did not do his homework after all the excellent publications he had done is an understatement. 

The opening-day victory over Green Bay leads to four more consecutive wins, before the upset of the season at Kezar. Tom Brookshier did the announcing for Game of the Week, and the 49ers earned the win with direct power football, with a strong offensive line (St. Clair dominated Kilcullen), and J.D. Smith powering through holes. 

The two fourth-quarter interceptions by Bukich spelled defeat. Sidenote to this game that is never talked about. Tommy Davis attempted a 58-yard field goal that hit the crossbar....damn, what a kick! 

A defensive holding call negated Petitbone's second interception, that could have turned the momentum. Rebounding to win four straight including the impressive win over Green Bay at Wrigley (no Bart Starr, and the Bears take the ball away 8 times)then the tie at Pittsburgh. The game that is the most significant is another Game of the Week....this time the Bears entertain Minnesota at Wrigley. 

In the past two years Chicago has scored 83 points at home in victory over the Vikings . . . the Bear offense could have used some of those points today. The Bears open with Galimore gaining five, but Wade fumbles, and the Vikings have the ball deep in Bear territory. Tarkenton scrambles, and runs up the right sideline where Whitsell throws a forearm shot into Tark's helmet down goes Fran and Ron Vanderkellen enters the game. Minnesota goes up 3-0. 

When the Vikings get the ball back, Bill Brown fumbles and Rosey Taylor recovers. LeClerc ties the game at three. The second quarter is filled with action as Vanderkellen completes 4 of 6 for 109 yards including 30 and 53-yard catches by Gordie Smith. Minnesota 17 Chicago 3. Galimore lost a fumble, but Bear five-man line holds. Minnesota has run the ball for 52 yards, while the Bears have gained just 22 on the ground. Wade is 8 of 13 but the short tosses have gained little. 

The Bear pass rush led by Atkins and Fortunato has kept the Bears in the game. Minnesota has capitalized on four punt returns for 63 yards. The second half of this game will decide if the Bears are western conference champions. Viking ball and on 3rd down, Allen has Fortunato align the Bear defense in a 6man line and stops Minnesota. The Bears 3 and out, but Vanderkellen is sacked by Jones and Atkins, and punts. 

Chicago begins at Minnesota 49 yard line and musters a drive with Marconi gaining 29 on a flare pass. Wade follows Pyle's block into the endzone 17-10. The teams exchange fumbles, and Tommy Mason has two strong runs on Viking's next possession, but Fortunato makes the key tackle on 3rd and two at the 45. Vikings punt, but Wade three straight incompletes. Bears punt, but that man Fortunato intercepts and returns 19 yards. Fourth down and LeClerc misses a 24-yard field goal. 4th quarter and first play of the quarter Vanderkellen escapes and dashes 20 yards. 

Bears go to a five-man line and stop the run with Atkin's pursuit play on Wilson's key. Minnesota punts on 4th and 1. Bears cannot move and punt. Third down and 3 to go, and Mason fumbles, and there he is again to pounce on the ball . . . Rosey Taylor recovers (Atkins & George forced the fumble). Marconi runs left for eight yards and then catches Wade's touch pass in the endzone for 11 yards and we are tied. Seven minutes left, and Tarkenton returns to no avail, and Minnesota punts yet again. 

Chicago is driving, but on fourth down and one in field goal range Halas directs Wade to go for it—Bull attempts to sweep left is trapped in the backfield and laterals to Wade. Halas has no confidence in LeClerc but has great confidence in the defense. Tarkenton is swamped by George, Kilcullen, and Leggett and thus punts. Very late in the fourth quarter, and Bull gains 13 on a sweep, but the gun sounds, and the Bears remain in first place with a second consecutive 17-all tie. 

The victory over San Francisco sets the stage for the Lions to come to Wrigley. There are a handful of terrific flanker/split end combos in the NFL in this era. Giant fans would state that Shofner/Gifford is the best, Cardinal fans would opt for Randle/Conrad, but you would be hard-pressed to convince me that the Lion combo of Cogdill & Barr was not the best. 

Earlier in the year they both made big plays receptions in the 37-21 loss. Cogdill made Whitsell look very bad that afternoon, and now late in the 4th quarter, with the Bears ahead 17-14 . . . Earl Morrall lofts a sideline pass towards Cogdill . . . and Whitsell joins his three secondary mates in the touchdown fraternity as he knifes in front of Gail, and dashes 39 yards to paydirt. 

We all know what happened in the title game against New York.