State Your Case: Why Dolphins' Bill Stanfill Was More Than a 'No Name'

By John Turney 

When the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame's screening committee last week released its list of 60 seniors for the Class of 2025, there were a few surprises, including former Miami defensive end Bill Stanfill. But the screeners got this one right.

Because Bill Stanfill should not have been a surprise.

In his prime, he was the best player on one of the NFL's best defenses. A five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Stanfill deserves to be among the seniors' candidates for the Hall's next enshrinement --partly because he was so accomplished and partly because the Miami defense of the 1970s was, too.

In an era when great defenses earned nicknames -- with Steel Curtain, Doomsday, Purple People Eaters, Fearsome Foursome among the most famous -- there was one that perfectly characterized a bunch of unknowns: The Dolphins' "No Name " defense. There were no Mean Joe Greenes, Carl Ellers, Deacon Joneses; just a group of accomplished players who bordered on the anonymous.

Yet it was one of the league's best. During Don Shula's first five years in Miami, only one team allowed fewer points per game (the Minnesota Vikings) and only four allowed fewer yards.

But, to this day, one only player -- linebacker Nick Buoniconti -- is in the Pro Hall of Fame. He's the "Name" of the No-Names, so to speak. No one else made it past the Hall's preliminary phase for consideration, and that should change -- not because most of the other defenses have multiple players with Gold Jackets; but because, at his peak, Bill Stanfill was the best member of that defense.

Even so, most fans today couldn't name many of those players, including Stanfill. But they're not alone. Still overlooking the "No-Names" are Hall-of-Fame voters. At one time, they valued longevity in careers, and that penalized Stanfill and teammate Dick Anderson (also on the list of 60 seniors) when they were modern-era candidates. Injuries forced Stanfill to retire after eight seasons, which wasn't long enough to attract the attention of voters a generation ago.

But he should attract it now. Why? Let's get started:

-- For openers, he was a five-time Pro Bowler, and was first-team All-Pro in 1972 (AP) and 1973 (PFWA and NEA). Plus, former Hall-of-Fame voter Paul Zimmerman, then writing for the New York Post, named him to his personal All-Pro team in 1974, noting his pass-rush ability and success at stuffing running plays.

-- He was All-AFC every year from 1971 through 1974.

-- The 6-foot-5, 252-pounder was the Dolphins' pass rush.  Consider that in 1969 the Dolphins had 25 sacks, with Stanfill producing eight of them, or 32.1 percent of the team's total. One year later, the Dolphins' pass rush was anemic, recording just 18 sacks. Except Stanfill did his job by bagging six (33.3 percent) of them. In 1971, he had 19.1 percent of the Dolphins' 34 sacks.

-- The year the Dolphins had the NFL's No. 1 defense, they sacked the quarterback 33 times, and Stanfill's share was 30.3 percent (ten individual sacks). In 1973, the Dolphins had 45 sacks, with Stanfill producing a career-high 18-1/2 (41.1 percent). According to Pro Football Reference, no one in the league had more. Stanfill had similar production the next season, totaling 10 of the club's 31 sacks -- 32.2 percent.  That's five of six years with over 30 percent of the "No Name" sacks. 

-- From 1969-74, Stanfill had 59 sacks. For those six years, only four players had more, and three are in the Hall -- Elvin Bethea, Claude Humphrey and Carl Eller. 

-- In his prime, he was responsible for almost one-third of the club's sacks and who knows how many hurries.

But that's what the Dolphins envisioned when they chose Stanfill with the 11th overall pick in the 1969 AFL-NFL draft. At the University of Georgia, he'd been a star, (All-American, Academic All-American, Outland Trophy winner, three-time All-SEC and SEC Lineman of the Year) on a team that won or tied for the conference championship twice. 

He'd been a defensive tackle in college, but the Dolphins wanted to move him to defensive end ... and it was a wise decision.  As a rookie, Stanfill not only produced eight sacks; he intercepted two passes and returned both for touchdowns. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl, chosen as much for his versatility as his intensity.

In defensive coach Bill Arsnparger's famed "53 defense," Stanfill spent considerable time at his collegiate position because the unit's namesake, linebacker Bob Matheson (No. 53), would rush from Stanfill's side of the line much of the time.

Arguably the highlight of Stanfill’s career occurred in 1972 when the Dolphins achieved the only perfect season in NFL history (17-0). In addition to his 10 regular-season sacks that season, he had 3-1/2 more in the playoffs as the Miam defense led the league in points allowed (171) and yards allowed (3,680).

While the next year was challenge, with Stanfill playing the first part of the season 10 pounds underweight because of a viral illness, he had a career year -- recording nearly 20 sacks (including the playoffs). The following season he was the AP Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 when he sacked Jets' quarterbacks five times. 

The year ended with a 24-7 win over Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII, making the "No-Names" back-to-back champions and the Dolphins one of the best teams of all time.

In 1974, Stanfill had another five-sack game, this time against Buffalo, but that would be his last season as a star. Neck injuries affected him so seriously his last two years that he twice was sent to a hospital and forced to retire after the 1976 season.

However, that would not be the last we heard of Bill Stanfill. After the Dolphins tried to renege on the last two years of his contract, alleging that Stanfill had been deemed healthy by their team physicial, he filed a grievance with the NFLPA. He won the case and collected the money he was owed. 

"I wanted to play," he said then, "but when my doctors (some from the Mayo Clinic) are talking about the possibility of death or paralysis, it makes you stop and think."

Which is what the Hall's voters should do with Stanfill's candidacy -- stop and think. When they do, they will see someone who gave everything to a game ... and a team ... he loved. Stanfill had to use a walker before turning 45 because of multiple complications from injuries his last two seasons, and he passed away at the age of 69.

Stanfill was named to the All-Time Miami Dolphins' team in 2007 and is part of the team's Honor Roll. He's also in the University Georgia Hall of Fame and was voted to the College Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps it's time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to hear his case because its screening committee just did.

And it thought he's worthy of Canton. 

Packers Overcome Third Downers to Beat Rams

By Eric Goska

Jordan Love's 12-yard run was Green Bay's only
third-down conversion against the Rams Sunday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Attaining a high score in certain arcade games can extend play.

Achieving success on third down in football can extend drives.

The Packers were no pinball wizards on third down Sunday at SoFi Stadium. In notching a 24-19 victory over Los Angeles, Green Bay had to overcome its lack of production on third-down before the clock signaled game over.

While third-down conversion rates might not correlate with winning as closely as other statistics do (average yards per pass play or turnover differential), teams with higher conversion rates tend to fare better than teams on the lower end of the spectrum. The two winningest teams during the regular-season from 2019 through 2023 – the Chiefs at 63-20 and the Bills at 58-24 – also boasted the highest third-down conversion rates – 48.1 and 46.3 percent, respectively.

Matt LaFleur’s Packers ranked seventh at 43.1 percent over that five-year span. The team’s record of 56-27 is tied with Baltimore for third-best during that stretch.

So when LaFleur’s team lays an egg on third down as they did against the Rams – converting just one of eight – that’s cause for concern. More often than not, a rate that low leads to defeat.

Green Bay has converted one or fewer third downs in a regular-season game 47 times since 1954. Its record in those games is 11-36.

Some of the worst outings in Packers history can be found among the losses. 

• Green Bay (0-10 on third down) was throttled 26-14 by the Lions on Thanksgiving Day 1962.
  
• Green Bay (1-10) was thrashed 61-7 by the Bears in December 1980.
• Green Bay (0-8) was hammered 31-10 at Denver as the Packers mustered just 35 offensive plays in October 1999.

Nothing that extreme awaited the Green and Gold in California. That they scored three touchdowns on drives devoid of third downs helped immensely.

During those three advances – one in the first quarter and two in the third – Green Bay piled up 220 of its 323 yards while earning 10 of its 19 first downs. A windfall of 119 yards came on two receptions alone – a 53-yarder by Jayden Reed in the first quarter and a 66-yarder by Tucker Kraft in the third that put the Packers up 17-13.

That prosperity made Green Bay’s struggles on third down less obvious. But labor they did. Jordan Love completed three of six passes for six yards. He was sacked once for a loss of eight. And he threw a pick-six – to Rams safety Jaylen McCollough – while attempting to avoid a safety in the end zone late in the second quarter.

That’s seven pass plays for a net of minus-2 yards. Green Bay has finished in the red just four times in the passing game in the regular season on third down under LaFleur, regardless of how often they converted. The team is 2-2 in those games.

The Packers’ sole third-down conversion occurred in the fourth quarter. Love scrambled for 12 to secure a fresh set of downs at the Green Bay 42. His dash helped sustain a 14-play, 43-yard, clock-eating advance that consumed eight minutes, 13 seconds, leaving the Rams with not enough time (6:02) in which to erase an 11-point deficit (13-24).

Aversion to Conversion
Since 1954, the five regular-season victories in which the Packers converted no more than one-third down and gained zero or fewer passing yards on that down.

Date                       3D             3D Pass          Opponent          Result
Dec. 15, 1985         1-10                 -20                 Lions                      GB won, 26-23
Dec. 5, 1965            0-9                  -13                 Vikings                  GB won, 24-19
Oct. 6, 2024            1-8                   -2                  Rams                     GB won, 24-19
Oct. 8, 1978            0-12                  -1                  Bears                     GB won, 24-14
Oct. 4, 1970            1-13                   0                  Vikings                  GB won, 13-10

A Century Apart: Xavier McKinney and Ojay Larson

 By Eric Goska

Xavier McKinney (29) during training camp in August.
(photo by Eric Goska)

Xavier McKinney has intercepted a pass in each of Green Bay’s four games this season.

That is impressive to be sure, but not without precedent. Over the years, 10 other Packers stole at least one pass in four or more consecutive contests.

The question then: whose record is McKinney chasing?

McKinney, whom the Packers signed during the first few days of free agency in March, has exceeded expectations. No fewer than four quarterbacks can vouch for that.

McKinney picked off the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts in the first quarter in Brazil. Nine days later, he snagged a pass from the Colts’ Anthony Richardson in the same period in Green Bay’s home opener.

Demonstrating he can strike at any time, McKinney poached Will Levis of the Titans in the fourth quarter and Sam Darnold of the Vikings in the third.

All but the first interception occurred within 20 yards of the Packers’ end zone.

In pilfering the pigskin, McKinney became the first player in team history to intercept a pass in each of his first four games with the team. He went one further than linebacker John Anderson who had one or more in each of his first three games as a rookie in 1978.

But McKinney is not the first to come away with one in four straight games. He shares that honor with Charlie Mathys (1923), Johnny Blood (1929), Don Hutson (1942), Bobby Dillon (1957), John Symank (twice in 1957 and once in 1961) and Nick Collins (2009).

Three players – Eddie Kotal (1928), Lavvie Dilweg (1928-29) and Irv Comp (1943) had streaks of five. And one player, the all-but-forgotten Ojay Larson, waylaid at least one pass six games running.

The Packers say Comp is the record holder. His run of five straight helped him to a club record 10 picks as a rookie.

That said, the team either does not recognize or is unaware of the exploits of those men who toiled during the game’s early years. But we here at Pro Football Journal believe all players, regardless of when they played, should be recognized for their exploits. And Larson, a center who played 13 games for Green Bay during his only season with the team (1925) belongs at the top of the heap.

Colorized photo courtesy of John Maxymuk
and Packers Past Perfect

Larson, who played collegiately at Notre Dame, was a Bear (1922) and a Milwaukee Badger (1923-24) before signing with the Packers. The Green Bay Press-Gazette had this to say about him shortly after he autographed his contract.

“The new Packer has always been considered a great center. He was not pleased with his berth on the Milwaukee club and jumped at the chance to get a ‘change of pasture.’”

Larson swiped his first pass for Green Bay in Week 4 against his old team, the Badgers. The 6-foot-1, 199-pounder redirected Shorty Barr’s third throw of the game. Five plays later, Curly Lambeau connected with Marty Norton from 28 yards out as the Packers recorded their first touchdown in a 31-0 rout of their southern neighbor.

A week later, Larson did the same to Roddy Lamb. The turnover sparked a 6-play, 25-yard drive capped by Myrt Basing’s 1-yard plunge – the first of his two rushing touchdowns – as Green Bay blanked Rock Island 20-0.

Over the next four weeks, Larson gave the Jeffersons, Badgers, Cardinals and Triangles the same treatment. He doubled-dipped against Rochester.

Green Bay went 5-1 during Larson’s 6-game spree. The team’s only loss occurred in Chicago where Paddy Driscoll booted a 27-yard field goal with less than a minute left to lift the Cardinals to a 9-6 victory.

Larson’s run ended after the Packers handed Dayton a 7-0 loss. Green Bay (7-2) then dropped three of its last four to finish 8-5 winding up ninth among the 20 teams in the league that year.

In the penultimate game of the season, Larson injured his knee. As a result, his string of 12 straight starts ended a week later in Providence where he played only sparingly against the Steam Roller in the finale.

In August 1926, the Press-Gazette speculated that: “… it is not probable that Ojay Larson, the Packers’ 1925 center, will play any football on account of an injured knee that gave him considerable trouble last fall.”

Larson did return in 1929 where he played 17 games with both the Bears and Cardinals before hanging up his cleats for good. He died in May 1977 at the age of 79.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Every Decision That We Made, We Made With Our Hearts"

By TJ Troup 

Hall of Fame Steve Sabol

Tomorrow October 2nd would have been Steve Sabol's 82nd birthday. Happy Birthday, Steve, and hope you are enjoying football heaven where you play fullback, and make films. 

This is a special time of year for me with Senior Softball playoffs, selling my book, and relishing watching the games this season. 

 As always would enjoy hearing opinions from all of you, and as such you need a question so I can get those opinions. 

Which teams looks strong enough to go the distance to earn a spot in the final four? 

Dan Campbell sure has his Lions on the prowl, and with the schedule the next few weeks with so many road games. Can Detroit position themselves to again win the division? Detroit against Minnesota has never been much of a rivalry, yet this year the games are gonna be key. 

During my visits to NFL Films when Steve and I would have coffee, always was asked the same question,"Coach what are you working on"? 

Since I had determined that returning an interception for a touchdown means an 80% chance of victory, and when one team has a 100-yard rusher, and their opponent does not equate to a 77% chance of victory. 

I bet you can surmise where I am going with this—what happens when a team has both. 

Felt that this stat needed a "catchy" nickname, and to this day call it "Apocalyptic Horsemen". This past Sunday in San Francisco Fred Warner returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jordan Mason gained over 100 yards in the Niner victory. 

Fred Warner and Jordan Mason

San Francisco has won 18 of the 21 times they have accomplished this feat (85.7%), and the league average historically is 91%. 

In the last four years the 49ers have achieved the Apocalyptic Horsemen stat! Only four other teams have accomplished this stat at least four years in a row. Buffalo with six consecutive seasons holds the record. One of my projects years ago was compiling a list of long runs from scrimmage of at least 50 yards and called it "Elusive". 

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry with his long touchdown run against Buffalo now is tied with Jim Brown with 15!

Sam Darnold: A Quick Study at Lambeau Field

 By Eric Goska

Purple prevailed at Lambeau Field Sunday
(photos by Eric Goska)

Sam Darnold lit up Lambeau Field.

Darnold fired three touchdown passes in leading the Vikings to a 31-29 victory over the Packers Sunday. The seven-year veteran required fewer passing attempts to snag his hat trick than any opposing player in the 68-year history of the stadium.

Quick draw, quick study, Darnold directed the early fusillade. In firing scoring strikes to Jordan Addison, Josh Oliver and Justin Jefferson, the 27-year-old quarterback staked Minnesota to an imposing 28-0 lead in the game’s first 25 minutes.

Only once have the Vikings mounted a larger lead at Lambeau. Head coach Bud Grant’s charges jumped in front by 31 in a 31-7 in trouncing of the Pack in 1973.

Darnold tossed his first TD pass on his fourth throw of the game, a 29-yarder to Addison. He counted No. 2 on his seventh attempt, a 2-yarder to tight end Oliver. He capped off his assault with a 14-yarder to Justin Jefferson, a third TD on just his 13th aerial of the afternoon.

No opposing passer had gotten there quicker in a regular-season game at Lambeau. Darnold broke the previous record of 16 that had been shared by Fran Tarkenton (1971) and Randall Cunningham (1998).

Scores of opposing quarterbacks have plied their trade at the venue the Packers have called home since 1957. Darnold became the 37th to throw three or more TD passes in a regular-season game there.

Sunday was Darnold’s 70th game as a pro. It marked just the sixth time he passed for three or more touchdowns in a game and the second time against the Packers.

As a rookie in 2018, Darnold got three in a 38-44 overtime loss to Green Bay. In that matchup, he needed 23 attempts to come away with his hat trick.

One, Two, Three – Hat Trick
The six opposing quarterbacks who required fewer than 20 pass attempts to fire three touchdown passes in a regular-season game at Lambeau Field
 
    No.        Passer                           Date                           Team           Result
      13          Sam Darnold                   Sept. 29, 2024           Vikings          GB lost, 29-31
      16          Fran Tarkenton              Sept. 19, 1971             Giants            GB lost, 40-42
      16          Randall Cunningham   Oct. 5, 1998                 Vikings          GB lost, 24-37
      17          Nick Foles                        Nov. 10, 2013             Eagles           GB lost, 13-27
      18          Ron Jaworski                  Nov. 25, 1979             Eagles           GB lost, 10-21
      19          Carson Wentz                 Sept. 26, 2019            Eagles           GB lost, 27-34

WCCO-TV CBS Minnesota had much to talk about Sunday.

Welcome back, Aaron Jones!

On Sunday, Jones took to Lambeau Field for the first time since becoming a Viking and enjoyed a productive afternoon. No. 33 led the Vikings with 93 yards rushing on 22 carries, and while not a 100-yard effort, his output is notable for how well it stacks up with performances turned in by other former Packers against their old team.

Backs who once played for Green Bay have returned to face their former employer ever since Eddie Usher donned a Kansas City Blues uniform in 1924. Some –Harry Mattos, Cy Casper and Mike Meade – have been all but forgotten. Others – Mule Wilson, Bobby Jack Floyd and Bill Butler – scarcely made a ripple.

In all, just over 50 backs have fallen into this category over the last 100 years. Just five – Dave Hampton, Jamaal Williams, Edgar Bennett, Vince Workman and Jones – gained more than 75 yards on the ground in a return engagement.

Eddie Lacy signed autographs before the game.

Only one – Hampton – put up numbers comparable to those of Jones. Hampton, who played for Green Bay from 1969-1971, gained 93 yards on 30 carries as a Falcon in 1972 against his old team and he amassed 94 on 23 totes two years later.

Jones, with a long of 17, had three carries of more than 10 yards. He came away with five of the Vikings’ eight first downs rushing.

Almost a third of Jones’ attempts (7) came in the second half of the fourth quarter as Minnesota sought to run out the clock. Not one of those tries brought more than five yards or a first down.

Five players have gained 100 or more yards rushing against Green Bay in the years after they left the team. Hampton leads the list with 260 yards in four games followed by Williams (221-4), Junior Coffey (174-5), Jug Girard (155-6) and Tobin Rote (100-5).

Jones could join that list when the Vikings host the Packers in December.

Return Engagements

Former Packers who gained more than 75 yards rushing in a regular-season game against their old team.
 
    Yds        Atts       Player                             Team                        Date
      94           23          Dave Hampton                 Falcons                      Dec. 15, 1974
      93           30          Dave Hampton                 Falcons                      Oct. 22, 1972
      93           22          Aaron Jones                      Vikings                      Sept. 29, 2024
      81           24          Jamaal Williams               Lions                          Nov. 6, 2022
      78           15          Edgar Bennett                   Bears                         Dec. 13, 1998
      77           18          Vince Workman                Buccaneers               Nov. 28, 1993

New York Giants Running Game -- One of Their Worst Efforts Ever

 By John Turney 

Devin Singletary ran for 24 yards on 14 carries against the Cowboys tonight

Tonight in the Thursday Night Game featuring the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants, Gotham's team wanted to establish the run. But they didn't. Or couldn't.

How bad was it?

They ran for 26 yards on 24 rushes -- an average of 1.1 yards a carry.

One. Point. One.

It's tied for the tenth-worst ever per Pro Football Reference (PFR)—

But what makes it worse is that many of the games listed by PFR are when yards lost attempting to pass were lumped in with rushing yards the separated of which was made permanent post-1952. 

Though a little complex, it's fair to say pre-1952 at least some of the negative rushing players were what would be called sacks today.

So, you can throw out #2 on the list, #4, #6, #7, #8 and two of the games tied at #10.

A post-1952 chart would look like this—

Eliminating the earlier games that were scored differently tonight's performance was the fourth-worst ever.

One. Point. One.

Now, let's look at the other side of the coin. 

Over the decades the Cowboys have had some great defenses that prided themselves on stopping the run. Going into the game the Pokes ranked last in the NFL versus the run and last in yards allowed per carry.

However last night's performance took the Dallas defense from allowing an average of 185.7 yards a game down to 145.8 yards and from 5.4 yards an attempt to 4.6 --they will still rank pretty low but will no longer be last.

But there is more. 

Tonight was the top performance ever for a Dallas defense in terms of stopping the run. The Giants' 1.1 yards an attempt is lower than the previous record of the 1.2 yards the Chargers averaged in 1983. 

Here are the top ten performances in Cowboys history for games an opponent ran the ball 20 or more times.

The Giants were awful running the ball. The Cowboys have never had a better night stopping the run.

History. It's always interesting.

What We're All Missing About Bucs' Lavonte David

By John Turney 

Before I get started, let's get something straight: No, Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Lavonte David hasn't retired. He's starting with the Bucs for a 13th consecutive season, which means that even if he retired after this year he wouldn't be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of  Fame until 2030.

So, now that we have that out of the way, let's move to the obvious question: Why talk about him now? Well, because no matter when he's eligible, it's almost guaranteed that he'll be overlooked.

For most of his career, he has been by AP All-Pro voters, and he was when Hall-of-Fame voters chose the 2010s' all-decade team. So it's a safe bet that he won't draw much interest when the Hall adds him to its list of modern-era eligible players, no matter what year it is.

And that's not right. Here's why.

As suggested, David has not been a highly decorated player, named first-team All-Pro once and chosen to one Pro Bowl, but that's mostly due to a couple of things: 1) The position he plays -- for much of his career he was a weakside linebacker, not the more publicized middle linebacker that always has a higher profile, and 2) he lacks the sacks of most outside linebackers, the ones who play on the edge.

That makes a difference.

Since the Class of 2000, only two modern-era WILL-type linebackers who played this century have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- Derrick Brooks and Junior Seau. The rest have either been middle, inside or edge linebackers.

That doesn't mean there haven't been outside linebackers enshrined in the last 25 years. There have been, but only a handful: Chuck Howley, Chris Hanburger, Dave Robinson and Dave Wilcox. But they were 4-3 outside linebackers who made the Hall of Fame as senior finalists, not as modern-era candidates, with careers that ranged from the late-1950s through the late-1970s.

In other words, they had to wait a long time. 

You could also throw in Robert Brazile as a 3-4 outside linebacker, who didn't end his career with 100 or more sacks and was a complete linebacker, much like the 4-3 guys mentioned. He was a senior finalist, too, though he didn't have to wait as long on Canton after his career ended in 1984. 

In contrast, a spate of recent outside linebackers of the "rushbacker" variety were inducted in the past 25 years, including Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, Andre Tippett, DeMarcus Ware, Ricky Jackson and Kevin Greene. That's six rush linebackers vs. two complete ones. At the same time, middle or inside linebackers Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Patrick Willis, Zach Thomas and Sam Mills -- all of whom were modern-era finalists -- won Gold Jackets, too. 

Final count: "Rush/Edge" 'backers and inside/middle linebackers - 11; WILL 'backers -- 2. 

So, what does all this have to do with Lavonte David? It's just another example of why his path to Canton might be difficult. Nevertheless, what he's done as well as anyone at his position ... ever ... is something few reporters and fewer fans know about -- and that's stopping opponents behind the line of scrimmage.

The 2012 second-round pick out of Nebraska is a dominant run-and-pass stuffer, who fills his gap or can sprint to the flat to tackle a back or receiver for a loss.  And he does it over and over and over again, almost more times than you can count. 

Except, you can ... and they matter.

Starting in 1999, the NFL added a statistical category called "tackles for loss" (TFL), and, while imperfect, it reflects what David does so adroitly. The all-time leader in the TFL category is Terrell Suggs, with a total of 202. Next is J.J. Watt with 195 and Aaron Donald with 176. Lavonte David is ninth with 160.

Why is that Hall-worthy? Considering that all eight ahead of him are pass rushers and that the NFL's TFL stat includes quarterback sacks (where David has just 33-1/2, while others have 100 or more), David shows up well vs. the great sack meisters. In fact, among off-ball linebackers, he's ahead of Hall-of-Famer Brian Urlacher, who checks in next at 138, or 22 fewer than David.

The NFL's TFL list goes back 25 years, but research extends farther and lends more perspective and context to Lavonte David's accomplishments. Some background: In 1994 STATS, Inc. (now STATS Perform) began tracking what it called "stuffs," which were calculated differently than TFLs. But they tell a similar story same story and go back 30 years.

Pro football researcher Nick Webster took STATS's idea and tweaked it to include pass plays for losses -- a bubble screen, for example -- and he took them back 50 or 60 years, depending on the quality of records and films. In what Webster calls "run-and-pass stuffs," David currently has 134-1/2 -- lower than the NFL's total of 160, but only because STATS did not include sacks and neither does Webster.

In Webster's research, Seau is the top man on the list with 171 run/pass stuffs in his 20-year career. Other than Seau and David, the only two off-ball linebackers who have more than 100 are Ray Lewis (117) and Urlacher (104). Two contemporaries who were also WILLs were Lance Briggs and Derrick Brooks, and Briggs had 92 run/pass stuffs and Brooks 77-/2.

Bottom line: Regardless of the source, the proof is there. David was in backfields consistently, and that matters because it puts offenses "behind the sticks" and opposing coaches in foul moods. Plus, he was always around the ball (1,497 career tackles and counting), delivering a pop when he hit his target. His 29 forced fumbles are the most of any off-ball linebacker since 1994 when Pro Football Reference began tracking them. Brooks, the next WILL 'backer on the list, had 24, while Ray Lewis had 19 and Patrick Willis 16. 

Add to that there's the opinion of Bobby Wagner, a potential first-ballot Hall-of-Famer after he retires. When asked on the "Up and Adams" podcast if David was Hall-of-Fame worthy, Wagner's answer was as direct as it was immediate. 

"I don't think he gets the love he deserves," the six-time first-team All-Pro said. "He's done so much amazing stuff over the course of his career, and I definitely think he should be there (Canton).

"He does a good job finding the football, does a real good job reading screens, comes downhill and makes plays ... he's going to be in the backfield. He's good at coverage. There is so much he can do at a high level ... it's really impressive. He's a guy you have to plan for; you've got to know where he's at." 

Note: Wagner has nine career forced fumbles and 93 TFLs. David, remember, has 29 and 160, respectively. Just sayin'.

The analytics site, Pro Football Focus (PFF), has graded all players at all positions since 2006, and, while sometimes controversial, their findings are worth considering. For instance: 

-- In PFF's grading system, Lavonte David ranked as a top-10 off-ball linebacker seven times, including six seasons where he was in the top five.

-- In its coverage grades, he's been top 10 seven times, including five times in the top five, and in 2019 ranked first. 

-- His grades are similar to linebackers Willis (a member of the Hall's Class of 2024), Wagner and Luke Kuechly ... and just about anyone else you can think of.

Will Lavonte David reach the Hall of Fame? I'm skeptical. But SHOULD he? If greatness is the standard, regardless of the number of All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, yes. I just explained why.

Packers Get Six with Picks in Nashville

 By Eric Goska

Jaire Alexander recorded the first Pick-6
of his career Sunday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Jaire Alexander high-stepping his way into the end zone has almost nothing in common with the kneel-down victory formation that often ends NFL games.

That said, the Packers veteran cornerback all but guaranteed his team would win when he reached paydirt with his first career pick-6.

Alexander’s first-quarter theft set the defensive tone for Green Bay as it sacked Tennessee 30-14 at Nissan Stadium. The steal was also the Packers’ sixth pick of 2024, a substantial haul rarely seen so early in a season.

Alexander has received his share of accolades since being selected 18th overall by Green Bay in the 2018 draft. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team that season, Alexander was named All-Pro following the 2020 and 2022 seasons. In August, Lombardi Avenue ranked him as the 9th-best cornerback in Packers’ history.

Unfortunately, Alexander’s career interception total has not matched the hype. Since 2018, 36 players across the league had come away with more than the 11 he had prior to Sunday according to Pro Football Reference.

Alexander grabbed the 12th of his regular-season career late in the first quarter. On the first play of Tennessee’s second possession, he jumped in front of a throw intended for DeAndre Hopkins and returned it 35 yards to put Green Bay in front 17-7.

Now, few 10-point leads are safe in today’s NFL. Especially those forged with three quarters remaining to be played.

But Alexander’s handiwork – a pick-6 – has history on its side. Ever since Bill DuMoe authored the first for Green Bay against the Evansville Crimson Giants in 1921, that type of score has almost always foreshadowed victory.

Alexander’s getaway was the 150th Pick-6 in team annals. The Packers’ record in regular-season games in which one or more occurs is 119-15-2 (.882).

The Packers’ defense tightened after Alexander’s pilferage. After having permitted Tennessee to march 70 yards (10 plays) to a touchdown on its first possession, Green Bay held the Titans to eight yards in the second quarter. The team sacked quarterback Will Levis seven times in the second half.

Nine of Tennessee’s first 10 offensive plays were run in Green Bay territory. Just 10 of its last 42 originated beyond the 50.

Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Halfley

Under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, interceptions have been more forthcoming in 2024 than in 2023 for Green Bay. Toss in Xavier McKinney’s steal near game's end, and the Packers have seven or as many as they had during all of last season.

The first six arrived in rapid order. In the opener, the Eagles had 11 possessions and were picked twice – by McKinney and Alexander. Nine days later at Lambeau Field, the Colts had 10 possessions and were intercepted thrice – by McKinney, Evan Williams and Eric Wilson. In Nashville, Alexander waylaid No. 6 on the Titan’s second offensive possession.

That’s 23 possessions with six ending in interceptions. Since 1941, only the Packers teams of 1996 (16 opponent possessions), 1962 (18), 2009 (18), 1957 (20), 1944 (21) and 1943 (23) matched or exceeded the speed with which the present-day Green and Gold helped themselves to their first six-pack.

So, amid this flurry of outright larceny, what’s Alexander to do for an encore? How about another pick-6?

Get a second and he would become the 30th Packer to reach the end zone two or more times in this manner. Get one against the Vikings this coming Sunday, and he would join Herb Adderley and Rasul Douglass as the only players in team history with Pick-6s in consecutive games.

Picks of the Litter
The possession on which Green Bay’s opponents threw their sixth interception of the season.
 
       Poss        Season        GB’s Record
                                                that Season
          16             1996                   13-3
          18             1962                   13-1
          18             2009                   11-5
          20             1957                    3-9
          21             1944                    8-2
          23             1943                  7-2-1
          23             2024                    ?-?

Book Review: "1961: A Sensational Season" by T.J. Troup

By John Turney

Ten years ago and in-depth review about NFL football in the 1950s was written called, "The Birth of Football's Modern 4-3 Defense: The Seven Seasons That Changed the NFL"

The author was T. J. Troup was -- one of the foremost historians of professional football -- and it was a team-by-team and year-by-year analysis of players, offensive and defensive systems as well as key games for the teams.

It was really groundbreaking. And informative. And amazingly detailed.

Well now there is a follow-up to that book and it follows the same informative format. It is called "1961: A Sensational Season"

And it's excellent.

Want to know who the starters were for the 1961 San Diego Chargers? It's in the book. And you'll learn that players of that era would play multiple positions in a year and sometimes they were not written about at the time or in previous books.

Want to know the most significant game of the season for the Detroit Lions? Read the book and you'll find out.

Troup, through watching film, was able to glean such details and now shares them with ardent football fans.

The book offers an in-depth recount of one of the most transformative years in professional football history. With meticulous research and a deep understanding of the game, Troup brings to life the pivotal events and characters of the 1961 NFL and AFL seasons. This book is not only a reflection on a single season but also a snapshot of an era when professional football was evolving into the modern game we know today.

Want to know what offensive scheme the St. Louis Cardinals used in 1961? It is in the book. Or perhaps you want to know what the Houston Oilers's offense under George Blanda was doing? It's it's in the book.

It is significant because teams -- especially AFL teams -- didn't use just one. And by reading "1961: A Sensational Season" you not only learn who did what but also who might have changed their position to accommodate those kinds of back-and-forths.

It is a straightforward, logical style that delivers information you'll learn nowhere else because Troup, a personal friend of the late Steve Sabol was able to study films most folks never see.

Studying games of the golden age of football is Troup's passion and it shows. 

Boy, does it.

Troup sets the stage by providing an overview of the early 1960s and the state of professional football. The NFL, a well-established league, was gaining prominence, while the AFL, which had just been created in 1960, was still struggling for legitimacy. 

One of the book's standout features is its focus on the people behind the game and the season.

Troup provides in-depth profiles of iconic figures from the 1961 season, such as Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers and Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns. He also highlights the critical contributions of players like Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, and Jim Brown.

Troup is careful not to bog down the reader with technical jargon yet still explains.strategies employed, the game plans, and the key plays are accessible to both seasoned football fans and newcomers alike. 

T.J. Troup’s writing style is both informative and engaging. His deep knowledge of football history shines through. The book is packed with facts, stats, as well as breakdowns.

While the book is highly detailed, it remains accessible because Troup is careful not to alienate readers who may not be as familiar with the finer points of football strategy -- making this book suitable for both football historians and casual fans. There is a little something for both

For football enthusiasts and sports historians alike Troup's writing captures 1961 in professional football with depth and precision. Whether you are a long-time fan of the game or a newcomer curious about its history, this book offers a rich and insightful look into one of the sport's most exciting periods.

Where to Get it:

Right now the book is only available through the author an sells for $24.95 plus shipping. He can be contacted at zeuglodon446@gmail.com.

About the Author"

Troup is a former collegiate and high school football coach and has written articles for American Football Coaches Monthly, Pro Football Journal and was the football coordinator/consultant to George Clooney for the film Leatherheads. Troup is the author of "This Day in Football" which was published in 2009

Packers Run to Sunlight at Lambeau Field

 By Eric Goska

Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) takes off running in the second quarter.
(photos by Eric Goska)

How about that for stick-to-itiveness!

Not since the days of leather helmets have the Green Bay Packers committed to the run as they did in the first half of their 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Never – whether helmeted or headgear free – did their dedication pay off as it did in quarters one and two of their home opener at Lambeau Field.

Running to daylight became running to sunlight on this bright, 85-degree summer day. Green Bay hammered out 261 yards on 53 carries, totals more in line with days of old.

Turning to the ground game was a real possibility for Green Bay in Week 2. Absent Jordan Love (MCL sprain) at quarterback and with Malik Willis in his stead, the Packers sought to take pressure off the relative newcomer by limiting his throws.

And limit him they did. The Green and Gold ran on 53 of 67 offensive plays (79.1 percent), an imbalance not seen since opening day 1978 when head coach Bart Starr’s group went 55-of-64 (85.9).

Six players carried from scrimmage including receivers Jayden Reed and Bo Melton. Josh Jacobs paced the attack with 151 yards on 32 totes.

In remaining earth-bound, the Packers controlled the clock. Their 40 minutes, 11 seconds with the ball was their greatest time of possession since a 41:16 effort against the Vikings on Sept. 13, 2020.

Much of the fun – and the record-setting – occurred in the first half. So successful was Green Bay that one must harken back more than 75 years to find anything comparable.

Willis hands off to RB Josh Jacobs
on Green Bay's first play from scrimmage.

In the first quarter, the Packers pounded the ball 20 times for 164 yards. Jacobs led the way with 81 yards on 10 tries as he, Reed, Melton and Willis combined for six runs of 12 or more yards.

In the first half, Green Bay ripped off 34 runs for 237 yards. Jacobs accounted for 128 of that total as he and Willis each hewed out another run of 12 or more yards.

Those numbers – 20 for 164 and 34 for 237 – are just not seen in this day and age. Certainly not in a first quarter and a first half.

The last time the Packers ran 20 or more times in the first quarter, Curly Lambeau roamed the sidelines. Walt Schlinkman, Tony Canadeo, Ted Fritsch and others hit the line 22 times in a 10-7 victory over the Lions in 1946.

The last time Green Bay ran 34 or more times in the first half also came on Lambeau’s watch. Fritsch, Canadeo, Schlinkman and others headed overland 36 times in a 19-7 win over the Cardinals in 1946.

Why this reliance on running in 1946? That season marked the first time since 1935 that the team was without the legendary receiving end Don Hutson. Green Bay ran because it lacked a decent passing game.

Sunday, the Packers ran, in part, because they had no Love under center. As they did 78 years ago, they attacked on the ground.

In doing so, the team came away with record yardage. Its first-quarter and first-half land grabs are the most by the team in a regular season game dating to 1932, the first year the NFL began tracking rushing and receiving numbers.

The 164 yards against the Colts in the opening 15 minutes topped the previous best of 146 set against the Lions in November of 1964. The 237 yards piled up at halftime shattered the previous high of 182 laid down before the break in a 30-27 win at Minnesota in 2003.

While the 164 yards is a record for the first quarter, it is only the second most productive quarter in Packers history. Green Bay helped itself to 166 yards on the ground in the third quarter of a 43-28 loss to the Cardinals in 1985.

The 237, however, is a record for both a first and a second half. The Green and Gold surpassed 200 yards rushing in a second half twice – 224 in a 34-17 blowout of the Lions in 1947 and 222 (unofficially) against the Bulldogs in 1949.

So for one Sunday, at least, the Packers resembled their counterparts of yesteryear. In a league dominated by the pass, LaFleur and his charges demonstrated that a strong running game can still carry the day.

“Run, Forrest, Run!”
First halves in which the Packers gained the most yards rushing.

      Yards    Attempts     Date                       Opponent        Result
         237              34              Sept. 15, 2024        Colts                     GB won, 16-10
         182              17              Nov. 2, 2003           Vikings                 GB won, 30-27
         178              23              Nov. 24, 1963         49ers                    GB won, 28-10
         169              17              Dec. 17, 1989          Bears                    GB won, 40-28
         165              27              Nov. 3, 1963           Steelers               GB won, 33-14

Why Has Del Shofner Been Forgotten by Pro Football Hall?

By John Turney 

Del Shofner

Only five wide receivers in NFL history were consensus All-Pros five or more times, and, as you might expect, all were named to all-decade teams. However, not all are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, one of them not only is absent; he has never been discussed as a Hall-of-Fame finalist or semifinalist.

Sound odd? It is. Meet Del Shofner.

A star with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, he's never been more than a four-time preliminary nominee in the 1970s. In the meantime, five-time All-Pros Jerry Rice, Don Hutson (who was technically an end), Lance Alworth and Terrell Owens have been ushered into Canton.

But Shofner? Nope. Passed over by time, and that should change.

Why? Let's start with his all-decade selection. He's one of just three modern-era (pre-1940) receivers named first-team all-decade who's not yet in the Hall of Fame, and one of those - - Antonio Brown -- is not yet eligible. Now, remember: Plenty of second-team all-decade choices ... plus some never chosen to any all-decade team ... are in Canton.

But not Shofner, and if that doesn't raise eyebrows, it should. Because in his prime, from 1958 -- the year he moved from defensive back to receiver -- through 1963, no one had more receiving yards. That includes Hall-of-Famers Raymond Berry and Tommy McDonald and everyone else. It also includes one year where leg and ankle injuries, plus a stomach issue, limited him to nine games ... and when the Rams moved him to defense where his less-than-usual speed wouldn't be much of an issue.

Nonetheless, in that period, he was second in pro football in touchdown catches. And though he was the quintessential deep threat, only two receivers caught more passes. In fact, among players who caught 100 or more passes from 1958-63, the tall, slender Shofner ranked fifth best in yards-per-reception, averaging 19.0 per catch.

Five times he was in the NFL's top four in receiving yards. Four times he was in the top four in receptions. Four times he was in the top four in touchdown receptions. And yards-per-catch? Three times he was in the top four. In that five-year peak, Shofner had four of the top 21 seasons in receiving yards in all of pro football -- the NFL and pass-happy AFL.

No one else had more than three.

One of the game’s most dangerous and feared deep receivers, Shofner finished his career averaging 18.5 yards per reception – including highs of 21.5 in 1958 and 21.4 in 1962. Then there's this: On Oct. 28, 1962, in a 49-34 victory over Washington, he had 11 catches for 269 yards.

To this day, that is the Giants' team record.

The next best is Odell Beckham Jr., with 222 yards. You know of him, but many fans -- including Giants' die-hards --don't know much about Shofner. They should. His 11 receptions that day also set a club record that has since been broken ... by one. The team record now stands at 12.

"Del Shofner was elite," said football historian and author T.J. Troup. "Del's numbers are very impressive, and he was the whole package – excellent routes, run-after-the-catch, fly-paper hands and toughness to run inside routes."

In his upcoming book "1961: A Sensational Season," Troup recalls that Shofner's speed "allowed him to be wide-open on short stops, and since he was a master at breaking tackles ... those short stops turned into long gainers. He was a master at shifting gears and burning past overmatched corners ... "

Troup should know. He may have seen more football game film than anyone from that era. And he maintains that it was Shofner -- not Hall-of-Famer Bob Hayes -- who changed the game as it pertains to zone coverage.

Granted, Hayes was faster than Shofner (and everyone else in the world), and opponents paid extra attention to him. But while he was in college, defenses would, as Troup explains, "roll their zones to the weak side to double-cover Shofner. In that era, teams would roll their zones towards the strong side because there was an extra receiver there."

Shofner with the Rams

But Shofner was more than a receiver. In addition to playing defense in Los Angeles, he was the Rams' punter in the late 1950s and had a career average of 42.0 yards. Later, with the Giants, he was so accomplished that Hall-of-Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle called Shofner "the best and most dangerous" of all receivers he threw to in his career.

However, bleeding ulcers and nagging leg injuries caused him to miss 19 games from 1964-67, limited his productivity and, eventually, caused him to retire from the NFL. More than that, they may have convinced Hall-of-Fame voters to exclude him, forgetting that he produced five stellar seasons unmatched by few others -- then or since. 

Isn't that enough to make him a Hall-of-Fame candidate? 

It is for supporters of Sterling Sharpe, the Packers' receiver who was a seniors committee semifinalist this year. He went to five Pro Bowls, the same as Shofner, but was a consensus All-Pro three times -- or two fewer than Shofner. The Colts' Berry also had three consensus All-Pro seasons and five Pro Bowl invites -- the same numbers as Sharpe.

Logic says that if it was good enough for those two -- one in the Hall of Fame and others poised to be inducted soon -- why isn't it good enough for the fleet receiver one paper once called, "a soft-spoken string bean?"

I'm waiting for the answer.