CELEBRATING MEN WHO HAVE CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN: Chris Willis & John Turney

BY TJ Troup

Thought long and hard about how to write this story, and yes it is game day, and usually am having my morning coffee and doing the research before my NFL Sunday begins. During my days as a coach was so focused on my career that spending time reaching out to folks was just not part of the plan(unless it was a coach who could help me). The two exceptions have been detailed here at the Journal before. 

Summer of '86 got my first college job and took the time to write to Paul Lionel Zimmerman, and Steve Sabol. Those two men took me "under their wing" ....and yes cliches are part of my lexicon and guided me, and just as important introduced me to folks that made my life better. Some of those men became friends, and today here at the Journal will detail that friendship. 

Chris Willis, NFL Films

Let's start with Mr. Chris Willis. Arrived at NFL Films to do my research (watch film), and met with Steve early that morning, and boy oh boy was he upbeat and excited. Though cannot remember his exact words, something like "coach, have a new archivist here at Films, and can't wait for you to meet him. 

He is full of enthusiasm, has already demonstrated dedication, and everyone here likes him". Chris Willis has stated many times how getting the job at NFL Films has changed his life, and last Thursday evening he did a show on Joe Carr. Having played the game (receiver at Urbana College), and loving history—especially the early history of the game he has written numerous books. 

Willis at Urbana College

Everyone of those sagas was exceptionally well written and had the depth of research needed to take the reader deep into the core of his subject matter. Chris and myself have had many, MANY talks about the history of the game, how the philosophy of coaching has changed and evolved, and finally his favorite team the San Francisco 49ers. During my visits to Films have brought along my core group(an "Animal House" group of friends who also love the game), and Chris has been a terrific host, and as you can well imagine he has made friendships with those men as well. The best way to detail how well the visits have gone is lunchtime. 

A morning of watching film on the different monitors, and then down to the cafeteria for lunch, and of course while eating the back and forth of what we saw, and tangential snippets of conversation about the league, and teams, and players. Then back up stairs for more film. 

No doubt there are millions of folks in the world that could care less about watching old film, but WE DO! Due to the damn Chinese Communists have not been to NFL Films since spring of 2019, yet when my next trip does happen we will again have the joy of watching old film and spending time with Chris. Next week Mr. Chris Willis will celebrate his birthday..happy birthday to ya my valued friend! 

Dr. Z shared with me his thoughts about a young man who researched the pass rush, and defensive line play like no one else he had ever heard of. Did I know John Turney? Hell no, never heard of him? Not sure the exact year (not that it really matters), have known John for many years, and we have had many long talks about the game and all aspects. He allowed me to become involved in the Hall of Fame voting process and would meet at the SB city. 

Those meetings were fascinating/intriguing and learned a hell of a lot. While all of them were fun, the lunch with Jack Youngblood (after he had finally been voted in), and his friends remains seared in my memory for many reasons, but would not have happened without John. 

John Turney played the game and has even coached, yet research, and writing are his strong suits. If you have not read my columns at the Journal before, then before going any further...I am one hard-edged individual, don't suffer fools well, and never take prisoners—yes much like Paul Lionel Zimmerman. There are many sites on the internet about pro football, and almost all of them are either flawed(attempting to be kind), or just downright pathetic. 

You read, learn nothing, and come away wondering who would hire someone who writes like this? Having a forum where I can share my thoughts and what have learned about the history of the game, coaches, and players is very important to me! John Turney has allowed me to write whenever I want, and not edit my material. THANKS, JOHN!

 Before this season is over John and myself will discuss the season, and more specifically the Rams and how they are playing. NFL Films has done team histories of almost all of the teams. Not sure why each of the teams that began play right after the merger has not been done, but no doubt money has something to do with it? Steve Sabol did not care about cost, he cared about the history of the game, and the teams. 

John Turney

One of the teams that does not have a team history on DVD is the Rams. If NFL Films ever did decide to do a team history on the Rams; would fight tooth and nail to make sure that there was a round table discussion by the three people would know Ram history better than anyone else. Who are those three people you ask? 

Would have Ms. Jennifer Allen Ricards, John Turney, and myself answer any questions NFL Films producers would ask, and all three of us could and would detail stories about Ram history.

Today is John Turney's birthday...happy birthday John!, and you can celebrate tonight watching the Rams beat the Titans on Sunday Night Football.

Four Run/Pass Stuffs for Micah Parsons Last Sunday

 By Nick Webster 

Micah Parsons

At PFJ we track tackles for loss the same way sacks are scored. It is not like the way NFLGIS does it—they only use lead tackles and ignore plays in which there is a forced fumble and it is not how Stats, LLC does it, they do not include pass plays.

That said, I have been working on run/pass stuffs for a couple of decades and have been able to find some excellent performances but it cannot ever be completed because too many gamebooks do not include the needed data and there are too many films that are also not around to fill in the gaps. 

However, there is enough to learn about some great performances going way back and fans of the NFL can appreciate some great names and great performances that otherwise might not be known and that is why I've undertaken this project.

That said, here is a list of players who have had four or more run/pass stuffs that I've been able to uncover.

Micah Parsons had four on Halloween, three on pass plays, and the most total stuffs since Jadeveon Clowney had four in 2019. In 2015 DeMarcus Lawrence had four the last Cowboy to have four stuffs before Parsons.

The most in a game that have so far been uncovered are Don Blackmon, of the Patriots, and Washington's Neal Olkewicz and Joe Rutgens with five. Certainly, it is possible there are others with five or even someone with six, but if so, that is a treasure I will find in the future, hopefully.

By far the funnest one discovered is Bill Hewitt's four tackles for loss in 1933 against the Packers. I sure wish there were more records available to find missing pre-WWII games with great defensive achievements in them. 

Bill Hewitt

All four of T.J. McDonald's stuffs were on pass plays when he totaled four in 2016 against the 49ers the only player with more than Parsons had on this list. 

Deacon Jones in 1972

Deacon Jones appears twice, once as a Ram and once as a Charger. Junior Seau, J.J. Watt, and Bruce Smith appropriately are on the list with Deacon since they are four that have 100 or more career run/pass stuffs with Junior having the most of that foursome.

J.J. Watt

Of course, I realize that stuffs, like sacks, will have varying value depending on the circumstance of the game and that a stuff is a team effort—and just like all football stats, it skewed in that way.

If a quarterback throws a touchdown it's a team effort—the center snaps, the line blocks, the receivers run routes the quarterback throws, and the receiver catches. We still count all those individual stats, the attempt, the completion, the touchdown pass, the catch, the yards, the touchdown reception and so on. 

As with a sack, a stuff is a group effort but tracking them individually has merit. Again, like with sacks, over time and careers, it seems the good players with the ability to shed blockers and get into the backfield sit atop my stuff lists.

A stuff does, however, have great value in many game situations. On first-and-ten, if a team runs, they want to get at least four yards. If they lost a yard they are five yards behind the sticks. 

If they threw incomplete on first down, often they will run on second down to make third down more manageable. If they lose a yard on second-and-ten, they are in an even longer third down than if they are an incomplete pass. 

If it is short yardage, then a no-gain is usually as good as a loss for the defense, but if it is third and short, and teams going for it so often on fourth down, then a one- or two-yard loss on third down makes fourth down tougher. 

The bottom line is a tackle for a loss is a positive play for the defense and is worthy of being tracked and tallied and we can learn more about the game knowing the numbers as opposed to not knowing them, at least that is my view.

Single-games can be anomalous with some odd names popping up but that is the great part of single-game records the usual names appearing alongside the lesser-known players. Timmie Smith still holds the single-game rushing mark for Super Bowls just ahead of Marcus Allen, who is next. And that is terrific, I think. 

The top three names tied for this unofficial record are not household names but Washington fans will remember them as Patriots fans will with Blackmon and it sheds some light in their careers and now, with Micah Parsons coming within one of tying those three if gives folks a chance to remember some fun names of the past around an interesting but key stat.

Hope you enjoy the chart.

edited 8/25/2023

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "The Battle for Ohio"

By TJ Troup 

When the NFL merger came about in 1970 there was a reconfiguration of the six divisions in the league, and for the first time Paul Brown's old team would face his new team for supremacy in Ohio, and possibly a division title. Many years have passed and if you are sixty-one years old, and live in Ohio between Cleveland and Cincinnati you have witnessed and probably watched some of the pitched battles between the Browns and Bengals. 

Twelve times since 1970 the Browns have earned a playoff berth, and fourteen times the Bengals have. Discounting the '82 tournament (almost everyone seemed to be in a postseason game), only ONCE in 1988 have both teams made the playoffs in the same year (the teams split the two games). 

So, if somehow they both did earn their way into the playoffs this year, that certainly would be news! There have been years when both teams just flat out stunk; oh, you want to know which years? As recently as 2019 the Ohio teams had a combined record of 8-24, and there are other years you can look up and do the math and see that these two teams were also-rans in the AFC. This coming Sunday is a meaningful game on the banks of the Ohio River as a Bengal team no one thought would be competitive this year, and a Browns team some believed was Super Bowl-bound continue the rivalry. 

The rematch on January 9th sure could have an impact on the standings in the new seventeen game season. We are nearing the half-way point in the season, and in a couple weeks will attempt to convey where we are headed? 

Now to history; Halloween 1988 and the 3-5 Colts host the defending AFC champion 4-4 Broncos on Monday Night Football. Eric Dickerson explodes for 124 rushing yards in the first half (he finishes with 159), and scores four times in the 55-23 victory. 

While there are many other games on October 31st that could be singled out, including the 1948 game between the Redskins and Yanks; let us return to October 31st, 1943. Wilbur Moore is in his fifth year in Washington, and has contributed to the success of the team but he has his finest season. Washington has won twelve straight games, and are the defending league champions, and with such a strong team led by future Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh they believe they will return to the title game. 

The Brooklyn Dodgers take the field wearing their red jerseys, and as such the 'Skins are clad in BLACK jersey's and the color film of the game is sure a fun one to watch, and analyze. Moore ranks 12th in league in rushing with 130 yards gained on just 14 carries. Wilbur sometimes aligns as a fullback or halfback in the backfield, yet he is usually flanked or set up as a wingback. Many of his rushing attempts are sweeps, and he has the speed and moves to average 9.2 a carry(in this game he carries three times for twelve yards). 

Since Sid Luckman is having a career year with the Bears, and Irv Comp of the Packers is off to a great start—Slingin' Sam ranks third in passing, though with impressive stats; 36 of 66 for 435 yards, with 8 touchdown tosses, and just four interceptions. Maybe the Texan should have always worn black, 'cause boy oh boy does he shred the Dodger defense. 

End Joe Aguirre has a fine afternoon with 4 receptions for 100 yards, and two scores, but this day belongs to Moore. Wilbur had caught 15 passes in his career entering 1943, but when the 'Skins were warming up, Moore already with 13 catches for 211 yards knows he can surpass his career total after just four games of  '43. 

Baugh is a master at aligning his team in a variety of formations. Oh, you want to know what formations he uses? 

Why, glad to share that the 'Skins are in single-wing power right or left, double-wing right or left, and at times the backs are out wider and look much like the formations we see today in a "spread" offense. Baugh learned offense in his college days at TCU, and now in his seventh year has even added a couple wrinkles. Finding #35 Moore sometimes had to rewind the film to see where he was aligned but did not really matter to the Brooklyn defenders since they did not stop him all day. 

Wilbur Moore

Wilbur grabs 7 passes for 213 yards, and two scores in the 48-10 destruction of the Dodgers (Washington at one point trailed 10-7). Moore's first touchdown is a simple down and out and after nabbing Baugh's well-timed accurate pass he breaks the attempted tackle to dash an additional 45 yards down the right sideline to paydirt. 

His second score he is also aligned as a flanker right and begins with a standard post pattern, and he is open, but Sam holds the ball longer and lofts the ball towards the opposite hash mark, thus Moore almost looks to be running an arrow route right to left. 

Wilbur's speed has him easily outrunning the Dodger defenders on the longest catch of his career—72 yards. When the league leader stats are published on November 3rd we see the immortal "Alabama Antelope" Don Hutson on top of the receiver chart (what else is new) with 23 receptions for 328 yards, and five touchdowns. Moore now ranks second with 20 catches for an impressive 424 yards and a league-leading six touchdowns. Baugh by the way now ranks second to Luckman in passing after completing 16 of 28 for 376 yards, and six scores. 

In the last six games of the campaign Moore catches just 10 passes for 113 yards, and one touchdown as opponent defenses (especially the Bears & Giants) focused on him. Washington won just two of those six games, yet hung one to tie for the Eastern Crown. Moore earned Second-team All-Pro honors from the New York Daily News.

Rams Acquired A Great Player That Can Help Them Win the Super Bowl

 By John Turney

Rams acquired a great player that can help them win the Super Bowl but is this the way to crow about it?

Credit: Rams Twitter Account

Doesn't the Rams Twitter account staff know that Teddy K.G.B. fell into Mikey McD's bear trap and lost? Mike made his straight on the flop so Teddy was betting against a made hand.

The rule is this: If you are going to boast on Twitter choose a meme that actually makes sense.

2021 Mid-Season All-Pro Team—Set in Jello

 By John Turney 

Hard to find linemen so far this year, lots of injuries, illnesses, and lack of playing time in preseason seems to have caused a lack of cohesion early in the season. However, they seem to be coming around now.

Other positions are pretty easy. We expect plenty of changes between now and the end of the season because many picks were close and things can change pretty quickly in the NFL. 

The defensive positions are very tight and though we won't be listing them there are a lot of honorable mentions in the defensive fronts and linebackers and there are a few quarterbacks that are certainly worthy of well.

So, the season's end All-Pro will have more things sorted out. 

Quinnen Williams (4.5 sacks, strong interior presence) and Maxx Crosby are honorable mentions on the defensive line, Williams behind Heyward and Leonard Williams (45 tackles, 5.5 sacks). Leonard Williams almost edged out Cameron Heyward (50 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 deflected passes) but Heyward has been so strong this year.

We looked closely at Sebastion Joseph-Day the Rams nose tackle, but after an exceptional start, he's faded that last month. The same for Maxx Crosby (5 sacks, 19 hits), although he has not faded really, he still puts good pressure on the quarterback it's just that Nick Bosa (7 sacks, 5 TFLs, 15 hits) is better. Myles Garrett (10.5 sacks, 20 QB hits) is on pace for 20 sacks. We'll see if he gets there. 

Haason Reddick (7.5 sacks, 5 TFL vs the run) was third in our 30 edge category. Tremaine Edmunds, Demario Davis, and Devon White are right there with Campbell and Warner, everyone is just neck-and-neck

Darius Leonard and Quincy Williams are the off-the-ball -type 'backers—whether a SAM or a WILL. We'd like to put Williams on the First-team but Leonard is one of the top four or five defenders in the NFL (behind Donald. Garrett, Ramsey, and Simmons) in our view so Quincy is stuck on the Second-team. We still like Xavien Howard at Miami and Tre'Davious White of Buffalo. Jordan Porter of Buffalo is worthy as well. 

Jalen Ramsey is a corner, nickel (star), even some linebacker. Derwin James is the star for the Chargers and plays right safety in their base. 

The receivers were pretty easy five or six stood out and then there were some good ones. Cooper Kupp is averaging 115.5 yards per game, third-best in Rams history so far, and could smash a lot of records if he stays on his pace.

Chart credit: Pro Football Reference

Ja'Marr Chase has been great and could threaten rookie records. Adams is so fun to watch as is Samuel. 

Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Matthew Stafford could all make a claim for the quarterback slot. The end-of-the-year All-Pro running back slot is now up for grabs with Derrick Henry out but Jonathan Taylor has the momentum. We will see if he sustains in beginning this Thursday.

The next two months will be fun. There are 4-5 excellent teams in the NFC and in our view a few in the AFC. 

We'll give the final All-Pro team after the 17th game along with an All-Rookie team by Chris Willis of NFL Films. 

Rams Land Von Miller for 2nd and 3rd-Round Picks

By John Turney

Adam Schefter, among others, reports the news of a trade between the Rams and Broncos that brought future Hall of Famer Von Miller to the Rams for second-and third-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

His tweet reminded up of this 1977 ad in the Los Angeles Times featuring three All-Pros, one from each level of the defense, Isiah Roberton, Jack Youngblood, and Monte Jackson.

 

Aside from the obvious things like what will the trade mean to the balance of power in the NFC and the NFC West were are curious to how Miller will be employed in the Rams defense,

Miller has been a left outside linebacker his whole career, and a left defensive end in nickel his whole career, with few exceptions. We'd guestimate he's been on the left edge 90% of his career or even maybe a bit it more.

The Rams have Leonard Floyd at that position. This year we'd guess he's been the left edge in base and nickel around 90%, give or take a few percentages. 

Last year we'd say the numbers were 80% or so because he'd played a little more on the right than this year and he'd play a Joker role some last year, a stand-up linebacker who would pick his hole and rush from behind the defensive line. 

While we do not anticipate any issue, we'd expect, though we could be wrong, of course, that Miller will eventually take the left edge and Floyd will move to the right with Terrell Lewis and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo spelling them.

Either way, when healthy Miller is still one of the best edge rushers around and will help the Rams defense in a category they are already excellent in (they lead the NFL in sacks and are among the leaders in pressures). 

So, we will see if this "all in" bet pays off since they had as good a chance as anyone at winning the Super Bowl if they had stood pat and on paper, this move only makes them stronger.

Packers Pick Off Cardinals in Arizona

 By Eric Goska

Rasul Douglas intercepts in the end zone in Arizona.
(screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

Call it a nix-six pick?

Maybe that’s not the best way to refer to an interception that prevents a touchdown late in a game. But absent something better, the term will have to suffice.

Whatever you want to call it, the play Rasul Douglas made late Thursday in Arizona cries out for a catchy nickname. His end-zone interception with 12 seconds remaining allowed Green Bay to escape with a 24-21 win over the previously unbeaten Cardinals.

Not all interceptions carry the same weight. Some, like a long heave before halftime, are akin to a punt. Others, either directly or indirectly, result in points.

Still others seal victory.  Though perhaps not as glamorous as a pick-six, they determine who wins and who loses.

Down 24-21 with three minutes, 23 seconds remaining, Arizona mounted its final drive hell-bent on scoring. The team began at its 1-yard line after quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down pass was batted incomplete.

Just over three minutes later, Kyler Murray had his team perched at the Green Bay 5. With 15 seconds remaining, the Arizona quarterback had potentially three shots to pierce the Packers’ end zone.

He got only one.

The Cardinals appeared well-positioned to take the lead. In their previous 22 fourth-quarter plays, they had gashed Green Bay for 166 yards (7.5 average) and 10 first downs.

But Douglas was about to change that. Tasked with guarding A.J. Green, Douglas, and not the former All-Pro receiver, came up with the ball in the end zone on Murray’s first throw there on that final drive.

Douglas tapped both feet down to make sure before heading off to celebrate.

Quite an accomplishment for a player who was on the Cardinals’ practice squad just weeks earlier. A third-round pick by the Eagles in 2017, Douglas was signed to the Packers’ active roster on Oct. 6.

But Douglas did more than provide the climatic play. He registered a team-high nine solo tackles and was on the field for all 55 of Arizona’s offensive plays.

He also saw extensive action in two other games. He had five tackles against the Bears, and made four stops, and forced a fumble against Washington.

Solid work, but nothing as memorable as his dagger in the desert.

So, what separates Douglas’ pick from the many others in Packers history? Time and location.

Since 1942, only nine Green Bay defenders have intercepted a pass in the last two minutes of a game with the line of scrimmage tucked inside the Packers’ 10-yard line. Douglas and Doug Evans (in 1995) are the only two to have done so with the ball resting inside the 6.

Douglas’ interception won’t soon be forgotten. It’s also one that might carry some weight when playoff seedings are determined.

No Fly Zone
 
Since 1942, nine Packers defenders have intercepted a pass launched from inside the Green Bay 10-yard line in the last two minutes of a game.
 
  LOS    Date               Interceptor          Opponent    Opposing QB      Final Score
  GB3    10-22-1995      Doug Evans              Vikings           Brad Johnson         GB won, 38-21
  GB5    10-28-2021      Rasul Douglas          Cardinals       Kyler Murray         GB won, 24-21
  GB7    11-19-1967       Willie Wood              49ers              John Brodie            GB won, 13-0

  GB7     9-28-1969       Herb Adderley         49ers               John Brodie           GB won, 14-7
  GB7    10-11-2015       Quinten Rollins       Rams              Nick Foles               GB won, 24-10
  GB8    11-29-1981      Mike Douglass          Vikings          Tommy Kramer     GB won, 35-23
  GB8    10-4-1987        Jim Bob Morris        Vikings          Tony Adams           GB won, 23-16
  GB8      9-5-1993        Roland Mitchell        Rams              Jim Everett           GB won, 36-6
  GB9    10-21-1956       Jim Capuzzi             Rams              Rudy Bukich          GB won, 42-17