The Tackle Source Issue Again

 By John Turney 

We've posted on this before about tackles differing on a player due to the source being a coach tally or a gamebook tally.

Today's entry is the Dolphins and Zach Thomas. Thomas signed with the Dallas cowboys in 2008 and here is the 2008 Media Guide entry for his career statistics plus the 20o8 tackle totals by the coaches. 

The 1,866 tackle total was what the Dallas PR department got from the Miami PR department and when the 2008 total of 177 is added to the 1,866 it comes to 2,043.

We use gamebooks or "play-by-plays" and add also add a column for "stuffs" and our career total is 1,727 total tackles, some 316 less than the totals found in the 2008 and 2009 Cowboys Media Guides. 

So, once again, when looking at NFL defensive stats like tackles, tackles for loss, pressure,s hurries and so on, just be aware of the source and how they do their totals. It does make a difference.

Jessie Tuggle's Career Tackle Total

 By John Turney  

Jesse Tuggle made a lot of tackles, there is no doubt about that. But the source for those are the coaches tackles whic are always full of assisted tackles that raise the total significantly. This happens across all teams in the NFL. 

We've posted on this before and Tuggle might be the epitome of this phenomenon. 

Here are his totals as per Pro-Football-Reference.com (PFR)—

And here are his tackle totals using the gamebooks or "play-by-plays" as they used to be called—

The issue is when comparing tackles as some do it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Here is a chart, again from PFR—

Using coaches totals through 1993 rather than gamebooks (used from 1994 through 2000) yields a total that puts Tuggle fourth on the list when he should be in the top ten. 

Of course, this is better than the Falcons Media Guide which uses coaches total for all of Tuggle's career and has him with a total of over 2,000 tackles.

A coach can get defensive when their totals are questioned. Players. too. "Well, I loved those tackles" is one thing we have heard. After all, coaches use game tape to determine the tackles and a player who assists on a tackle is important in the scheme and result in the play. "Force" and "spill" and things like that are part of the mission of the defense. However, unless you have coaches' tackle totals for all the teams then they are useless for comparison.

In fact, tackle totals are not that useful anyway, but they are not a reality. Ideally, every series of downs would go something like this: run on first down, tackle for loss by the middle linebacker. Second down a pass knocked down by a cornerback. Third and long, hurry by a defensive end ball thrown away. Result: one credited tackle. If that happens a lot on a great defense, then the leading tackler would not have a lot of tackles. If a defense is a bend-but-don't-break variety then there will be a lot of credited tackles. So context matters. 

So with all the given caveats, Tuggle's tackles are far less when using the same source as Lewis and Thomas and the others. So, just be aware of such things when reading nebulous statistics on the Internet. Knowledge is power. 

Mike Henry—August 15, 1936–January 8, 2021

By Jeffrey J. Miller

Mike Henry's 1962 Post Cereal card

Most people who remember Mike Henry at all remember him as the titular character in three Tarzan movies from the 1960s, but we here at the Pro Football Journal—and some of the more knowledgeable football fans, of course—recall Henry as a decent middle linebacker who played six NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1959-61) and Los Angeles Rams (1962-64).  It was with great sadness that we learned of Henry’s passing on January 8, 2021 at the age of 84. 

During his career, the six-foot, two-inch, 220-pounder appeared in 76 games, 54 as a starter.  He had his best statistical season in 1963 with the Rams, picking off five passes and recovering one fumble.  For his career, Henry accounted for nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries.             

Henry played his college ball at USC but was selected by the less-than-glamorous Pittsburgh Steelers in the 9^th round of the 1958 college draft. After three seasons in the Steel City, Henry’s desire to pursue a career in acting resulted in his requesting a trade to the Los Angeles Rams, knowing several Rams had made appearances in movies, television series and commercials. It wasn’t long before Hollywood studios recognized the potential in the ruggedly handsome native Californian. He began appearing in bit roles in film and television the early 60s, but his signature role signaled the end of his football career.  

Mike Henry (53) in action as the Los Angeles 
Rams take on John Unitas (19) and the 
Baltimore Colts, November 22, 1964.

With his chiseled physique, Henry was perfectly fit for the role of Lord of the Jungle.  Between 1965 and 68, Henry appeared in three Tarzan flicks, including Tarzan and the Valley of Gold, Tarzan and the Great River, and Tarzan and the Jungle Boy.  

While filming Tarzan and the Jungle Boy, however, Henry was bitten on the jaw by the chimpanzee playing Cheetah, requiring 20 stitches to close the wound. The actor subsequently sued the production company (Banner Productions). The case was settled for an undisclosed amount, but Henry refused to continue in the role. Ron Ely took over as Tarzan in the TV series.

Mike Henry as Tarzan (1966)

Henry moved on to forge a successful career as a character actor, his most notable role as the son of Buford T. Justice, Jackie Gleason’s character in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy.  He also appeared in two films with John Wayne, as Sergeant Kowalski in The Green Berets (1968) and as a corrupt sheriff in Rio Lobo (1970).  

Henry put his experience as a football player to good use, too, appearing alongside Charlton Heston in the commercial and critical flop Number One in 1970, and as a football-playing prison guard in the wildly popular Burt Reynolds vehicle, The Longest Yard (1974).  His last film role was a bit part in the 1987 comedy Outrageous Fortune, which starred Bette Midler and Shelly Long.

Mike Henry as Rasmussen, a crooked prison 
guard/football player in The Longest Yard (1974)

              

He retired from acting in 1988 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He passed away in Burbank, California, on January 8 due to complications from both Parkinson's and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).     

Charlie Krueger—January 28, 1937–February 5, 2021

By John Turney   

The man whose face represented the epitome of pro football has passed away—49ers defensive tackle Charlie Krueger. He was 84. According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle Krueger passed away of heart and kidney failure.

Krueger began his career with a flash, recording a safety in each of his first three seasons, and tying an NFL mark, one he held a piece of until Ted Hendricks and Doug English surpassed him with four.

He was a Second-team All-Pro as a second-year defensive end with the 49ers in 1960. In 1961 he unofficially set his career-high with 8½ sacks as he transitioned to defensive tackle. 

He hurt his knee in 1963 and according to Sports Illustrated, "Krueger was in acute pain from 1963 on...he was regularly anesthetized between and during games and endured repeated, questionable steroid treatments administered by the team physician." Still, he played and played well. 

The next season, 1964, he went to a second Pro Bowl and the following season of 1965 he was a Second-team All-Pro (when he totaled 7½ unofficial sacks). In 1966 he was an honorable mention All-Pro by the AP. In 1968 and 1969 he had fine back-to-back seasons—in 1968 he had 5½ sacks and 6 tackles for loss and in 1969 his tackle total was 50 with 7 tackles for loss and 4½ sacks. 

The next season, 1970, according to SI, "(D)uring a game, pieces of Krueger's left femur and tibia broke off. He was given codeine for the pain and finished that game and the season—there were five games remaining—before the fragments were removed from his knee". Still, as the 49ers won the NFC West for the first of three consecutive seasons Kreuger was a Second-team All-NFC selection

Kreuger's number 70 was retired in 1974 and among the dozen retired by the 49ers. He's also a member of the 49ers (Edward J. DeBartolo) Hall of Fame. In 1964 Krueger was voted the 49ers Len Eshmont Award, what the 49er organization calls its most prestigious annual honor.

In 49ers history, only John Brodie (17), Jerry Rice, and Jimmy Johnson (both 16) played more than Krueger's 15 seasons and he still stands seventh in most games played for a 49er (198). And though unofficial, he ended his career with 53½ sacks. 

Kreuger, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame (Inducted 1983), was the 1955 Sophomore Lineman of the Year in the Southwest Conference, and then was a two-time All-American at Texas A&M where he played for the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. After his senior season, he was the captain of the 1958 College All-Star team, who beat the Detroit Lions 35-19 and then was the eighth overall pick in the 1958 NFL Draft. Krueger also was named to the Southwest Conference 50th Anniversary Team, covering 1919-68, and a member of the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame (Inducted 1972)

His younger brother Rolf Krueger also went to Texas A&M and a decade after Charlie was taken in the first round Rolph was a  second-round pick in 1969 for the Cardinals and played six years in the NFL, including in 1972 and 1972 with the 49ers as a teammate of his older brother. 

He served 10 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a captain.  He was known for his work with Easter Seals, March of Dimes, and Max Baer Heart Fund. 

The 49er organization released this statement after his passing, ""One of the longest-tenured players in franchise history, Charlie was known as the 'Textbook Tackle' for his reputation as a technician and his tremendous strength. He was a tough, resilient, and smart player who looked out for his teammates, both on and off the field. We extend our condolences and prayers to his wife, Kris, and the entire Krueger family."

However, most who remember him won't remember the accolades the honors, and the like. They will likely remember him because of his grizzled face, scarred and beaten. They will remember him as a  defensive tackle wearing a two-bar facemask, the same kind his quarterback John Brodie wore. 

He exemplified what many thought of as the "old NFL" that represented toughness and character and he wore it on his face, his soul, and sometimes that is worth more than the fame and accolades. 

R.I.P. Charlie. 

The Best Play in NFL History You've Never Seen

 By John Turney  

Jack Manders motions from his right halfback position to the left flat, Bernie Masterson (#33) gets rushed by Barney McGarry and loses his helmet as he throws downfield to Hamp Pool (#76) who makes the catch despite being defended by All-Pro fullback Johnny "Zero" Drake. Pool then laterals to Bob Nowaskey at the 20 and he runs it in the rest of the way for the touchdown.

The Associated Press described it this way—

United Press was very similar, dry, to-the-point—

Nothing about the hit to the head, the helmet pulled off, the quarterback standing tough in the pocket just a pass to Pool then a lateral to Nowaskey. Times have changed.

PFR scores it as a 20-yard pass to Nowasky from Materson which is how it may have been scored in the day. 

Fun stuff

Are ACTUAL Politics Really Necessary in the Hall of Fame Process?

 By John Turney

Today, as reported by KEWQ Channel 3, Sacramento, California Latino Legislators voted on a resolution calling on Tom Flores to be inducted into the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This is silly on a couple of levels. We've known there have been small "p" politics in Hall of Fame voting fora long time. But never (or rarely) have actual politicians tried to taint the process. That has changed.

First, the vote was already taken. The voters met on the 18th of January, 2021, met and voted up or down on Flores' candidacy. No one knows the vote. Well, some do—like Coach Flores who has surely been told by now by the Hall of Fame s president that he will get a Gold Jacket. 

We are simply sure (though we've not been told anything) that Flores been voted in. It will be announced this upcoming Saturday at the NFL Awards Ceremony the day before the Super Bowl.

So, there is nothing these self-serving politicians can do about the Hall of Fame vote in any case. Nothing. They can pass a resolution calling on Peyton Manning's election to the Hall of Fame, too. But it will do zero good. NONE. At least in many resolutions, there may be something pending that a resolution can actually change. In this case, the horse is long gone and these people are voting to close the barn door. 

In fact, the Coors Light campaign had more of a chance to impact voters (it didn't) than this resolution. But at least Coors Brewing Company ran the commercial BEFORE the vote. 

Second, the resolution is not accurate. Tom Fears, who was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from1967-70 was the first Hispanic/Latino to be a head coach in the NFL. Fears was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, of an Angelo father and a Mexican mother. 

Next, they mention his being someone with a Super Bowl ring as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. And yes, that is technically true, but of course, misleading since he was a bench warmer in 1969 for Hank Stram's Super Bowl-winning Chiefs. In political discourse (when these folks know well), that would be known as "spin". And it's also not relevant because Mike Ditka is not in the Hall of Fame (the other player with those achievements) is in the Hall of Fame because he was one of the best players at his position in the history of the NFL. Not for his time as a head or assistant coach. 

Also, this resolution mentioned, "Of the thirteen coaches in the NFL's history to win two or more championships, Flores is one of only four who have not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with George Seifert, Mike Shanahan, and Tom Coughlin."

Have these politicians heard of Buddy Parker? or to them does the phrase "championships" mean Super Bowl wins? Again, in political parlance, this is dissembling. 

Is politics needed in the Hall of Fame process? Certainly, this kind of thing has been done before for the candidate, we've not looked it up. But if so, then and now, it's a poor idea. And even if it were a good idea, at least be accurate, though politicians are not known for being accurate with facts, so there is that. 

Politicians and non-binding, none-of-their business resolutions matter as much as this SNL clip from the 1990s—

video clip: SNL, Fair use claim

Also, as we mentioned, it's a done deal, no matter the outcome (and those for Flores can rest assured, his two wins as the head coach of the Raiders are enough to have gotten him in this year's class of the Hall of Fame and overrides the negatives in his "second-act" failures in Seattle. 

Just give it a handful more days and everyone can celebrate Coach Flores' career. He will be happy and so will his fans. 

Rams, According to Rumor, Make a Splash by Trading for Matthew Stafford

By John Turney 

This CBS Tweet says it all

Last year when the Rams acquired Jalen Ramsey we posted that the Rams have never been shy about making big-time deals. If the InterWeb rumors are accurate they have pulled the trigger on another blocked buster trade once again. 

Many sources are reporting that the Detroit Lions are dealing QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two future first-round picks, a third-round pick plus QB Jared Goff.

So, they get: Matthew Stafford

They give up: Two #1s and a #3.

The Rams paid a heavy price for Jared Goff in dollars and in draft capital. 

In 2019 Goff signed a four-year, $134 million contract with $110 million of that guaranteed. In 2016 the Rams traded a bundle to get Goff. We've detailed it before but here it is again—

In April of 2016, the Rams sent a 2016 first-round pick plus two second-round picks and a third-round pick plus another first-round pick (2017) and a 2017 third-round pick to the Titans in exchange for the #1 overall pick, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick.  With that #1 overall the Rams took Jared Goff.

So they got: The #1 overall (Jared Goff), a #4, and a #6

They gave up: Two #1s, two #2s, and two #3s.

The Rams 2016 Draft chart looks like this

(round, overall, player, pos, school)
1 #1 Jared Goff, QB, Cal

1 #15 (Choice to Tennessee)
2 #43 (Choice to Tennessee) Pick from Philadelphia for Sam Bradford
2 #45 (Choice to Tennessee)
3 #76 (Choice to Tennessee)
4 #110  Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
4 #113 (to Chicago) from Tennessee
4 #117  Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina (From Chicago)
5 # (155)   (Used for Isiah Battle in Supplemental draft)
6 #177 Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina St. (from Tennessee)
6 #190  Josh Forrest, MLB, Kentucky
6 #206  Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Miss (from Chicago)
7 #235 (Choice to Tennessee for Case Keenum)

 

The top of the 2017 draft looks like this

(round, overall, player, pos, school)

1 #5 Choice to Tennessee for Jared Goff

2 #37 (Choice to Buffalo plus #149 for #44 and #91)

2 #44 Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama (Choice from Buffalo)

3 #69 Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

3 #91 John Johnson, S, Boston College (Choice from Buffalo)

3 #100 (Choice to Tennessee) Compensatory pick for Janoris Jenkins

The Rams got Goff and the fourth, which the split, in essence, and got Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas. A good little draft move, a Les Snead special, getting two for one, and both were good special teams players but neither could play wide receiver in the NFL and both are gone. They used the sixth-rounder on Temarrick Hemingway. But what can be expected from a late-rounder? Hard to criticize that, really.

To get the extra second-rounder and third-rounder the Rams used the draft capital they got for sending Sam Bradford to the Eagles and the compensatory pick they received when  Janoris Jenkins signed with the Giants.

So, all told, outgoing picks are four #1s, two #2s, and three #3s

Incoming players are Matthew Stafford in 2021, Jared Goff (#1 overall in 2016), Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Temarrick Hemingway.

And now the "outgoing column" adds Goff to Cooper, Thomas, Hemingway (and Jenkins and Bradford two premium picks that could have been used elsewhere). 

Stafford in Rams uniform--Photoshop via Twitter

So, all of that falls on Stafford, himself a 2009 #1 overall pick. Invested in him in this trade string are the 2010 #1 overall pick (the Rams got Foles and a #2 for Sam Bradford and some change) the 2016 #1 overall pick (which the Rams paid and additional #1 and two #3s to swap their own 2016 #1 pick for) for a total draft capital of the four #1s, two #2s, and three #3s we mentioned.

Ironically, due to other trades for Brandin Cooks and Jalen Ramsey, the last time the Rams drafted in the first round was in 2016 when they grabbed Goff, though in 2019 they could have but they traded out of the first round to gather additional picks. Now, it seems it will be 2014 before they do so again unless they trade back into round one the next few years which certainly is possible for Trader Les.

They are rivaling Washington's run of not having a first-round pick from 1968 (when they took Jim Smith who lasted a year) until 1980 when they took Art Monk who went to the Hall of Fame. That's eleven years in the desert for Washington...if the Rams do draft in the 2024 first-round as they are currently scheduled it will be just seven years out of the premium round. 

Stafford is a good fit. He's always impressed with his toughness (playing on that hurt shoulder as a rookie. It was a gutty performance that sold us). He still has a great arm but is he going to be productive from 33-35, 36, 37, and on like Brady or Rodgers? 32 is the new 29 for quarterbacks, and the way they are protected Stafford should be okay, health-wise. 

Bert Jones in 1982

But what are they going to use to draft premium players to protect him or to give him the weapons he needs? Not to mention other needs that always seem to come up. It's hard to always plug them with second-rounders or third-rounders. 

But, the Rams are just being the Rams. Go big or go home. They hit a homer on SoFi Stadium, it's amazing and t looks great. They swung big on the uniforms and struck out. 

Maybe this will be the trade home run? Will Stafford be more Brady's is now with the Bucs or like others who have left their original team and done well. Peyton Manning comes to mind, and there are others. 

Or, will he be more than Bert Jones? One short stint and then the Rams have no quarterback. 

In all cases, that's a lot to pay for a quarterback. It didn't seem that Jared Goff was THAT bad. We thought we saw him in the Super Bowl in February 2019. That's just two years ago, right? Just checking.

As for Goff being told he's been traded to the Lions has to be like this—