Bears Give Up Most Draft Capital Ever for a Defensive Player?

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

Here is what is being reported on the Khalil Mack trade: The Bears gave up two 1st round draft picks (in 2019 and 2020), a 3rd round pick in 2020 and a 6th round pick in 2019. In return, the Bears also received s a 2nd round pick in 2020 and a conditional 5th round pick in 2020.

The Bears also rewarded Mack by making him the highest-paid defensive in NFL history with a six-year, $141 million deal with $90 million guaranteed (an average of $23.5 million) which eclipsed what the Rams paid Aaron Donald the day before.

So, the net result is just about two 1st round picks. The other picks, in essence, amount to making the deal more palatable for the Bears. We won't know the final draft chart count until the draft orders are known, but we see it as simply two 1sts.

Rich Cimini Tweeted that these are the players traded for two 1st rounders:

 Adam Schefter Tweeted this:

We have to give Shefty the benefit of the doubt, (he may be speaking only of the salary cap era). We do that because there are some examples of when teams gave up more for a defensive player, although not all were direct trades.

In 1975 the Redskins gave two 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder as compensation for Dave Butz who signed with the Redskins (leaving the Cardinals) as a free agent in the mini-free agent era of the 1970s. 

In 1987 the Colts traded away the rights to holdout rookie Cornelius Bennett (a #1 draft choice) to Buffalo for Greg Bell and the Bills' first-round draft picks in 1988 and 1989 and their 2nd pick in 1989. 

The Colts then sent all those picks and Bell together with their own 1st round draft pick in 1988, their 2nd rounders in 1988 and 1989  Owen Gill, to the Los Angeles Rams, who sent  Eric Dickerson off to Indianapolis.

Likely because of its complexity this trade is never remembered as the Bills giving up two #1s and a #2 and Greg Bell for Cornelius Bennett. It's always remembered more as three #1s and three #2s plus a fullback and a running back for Dickerson.

In 1988 the Colts shipped a pair of 1st rounders to Seattle for Pro Bowl linebacker Fredd Young, as Cimini correctly mentioned.

Going way back in 1974 the Eagles shipped a pair of 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder for Bill Bergey and that worked out well for both teams.

And in the same category as Dave Butz, the Raiders, in 1975, signed Ted Hendricks and the compensation sent to the Packers was two 1st rounders. So, again, not technically a trade but for all intents and purposes it was a trade—Al Davis valued Hendricks as being worth two #1 picks.

Another trade often overlooked is the two #1s sent from the Panthers to the Redskins for compensation for Sean Gilbert.  Gilbert was given the "franchise" tag by the Redskins but didn't want to sign for that designated amount so essentially a deal was worked out, the Panthers signed him and the compensation was the two high draft picks. Again, not a trade, but a deal for a player deemed to have two 1st round pick value.

In 1988 the Redskins signed restricted free agent Wilber Marshall from Bears to a 5-year, $6 million contract and the Bears received two #1s as compensation. Again, not really a trade, but when there is compensation it's the same as a trade it's just the player gets to decide where to go and the compensation is set by the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA but there is no doubt that Marshall was valued as being worth two 1st round selections.

So, the Mack trade is definitely rare but under different iterations of the CBA and loose definition of free-agent signings that were de facto trades, it wasn't unprecedented.

But it is interesting in that the Raiders moved to a purer 4-3 defense this year and the Bears run something more similar to what the Raiders have been using in the last few years. Would it make sense to play Mack as a linebacker in a 4-3? Or as a defensive end in the Tampa/Vikings style 4-3? With the Bears, he fits perfectly as a linebacker in the 30 and as a nickel end in the 40 sub defenses.

Sure, Mack could fit in the 4-3 great players can get it done, but would he still be great? Sure Lawrence Taylor or Andre Tippett or Von Miller could play either a 40 linebacker or 40 end, but does it suit their skills? Wouldn't it be better to use them and their "joker" skills (ironically a Jon Gruden term) in a defensive like the Bears? (Also, yes Miller was a 40 linebacker in base and a 40 DE in nickel with the Broncos before they switched to a 3-4, Miller one of the few ever to do that). 

Anyway, we will see if perhaps scheme fit was part of the equations for the Raiders, along with money and the compensation.

JIM FINKS and the 1951 Steelers

LOOKING BACK
By T.J. Troup

Today in celebration of Jim Finks birthday, and to correct a topic that is important in not only Steeler history but the league itself—the following. Though this saga will focus on Pittsburgh during the '51 campaign, we will begin in 1942. Previous to 1947 the 1942 Steelers were the best team the Black & Gold had put on the field. They are 7-3 when they travel to Wisconsin to State Fair Park to take on the Packers. Pittsburgh gains 254 yards passing in this game to set a team record, and six of the players had their longest reception of the year.

Trailing 10-0 in the 3rd quarter Dick Riffle runs for 7 yards, and laterals to blocking back Vern Martin. Martin runs over the snow ringed field for 54 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay scores twice in the 4th quarter to lead 24-7. Very late in the game, the Steelers drive 68 yards to score and complete 4 passes for 58 yards. The black & gold recover an onside kick, and Bullet Bill Dudley tosses to Martin for 24 yards and a touchdown. The Packers recover the onside kick to end the game. Many teams have gained at least 254 yards passing in a game, yet the key here is Pittsburgh is entrenched in the single wing. Jock Sutherland took Pittsburgh to the brink of a division title in '47, but his death brought a pall over the organization and the team. He is replaced by young Johnny Michelosen. Pittsburgh begins '48 with a 2-1 record but falls apart to finish 4-8.

The Steelers in 1949 rebound and watching and evaluating film they are a strong team. They certainly are not at the level of Philadelphia, yet they are a precision team that hits hard. Opening the season at Forbes they handily beat the Giants 28-7. Bobby Gage and Joe Geri rotate from tailback and wingback until the 4th quarter. Off the bench comes rookie Jim Finks and his first pass is right on target to left end Bill Long on an out pattern for 13 yards.

This play should have been a foreshadowing; Michelosen is convinced that Gage and Geri can do the job. Finks gets a chance to play in midseason with the injury to rookie Don Samuel and throws his first touchdown pass against the Giants. He has the longest run of his career (38 yards) comes in the victory over the Bulldogs, but over the course of the last five games of the year he completes just 6 of 25 for 96 yards without a touchdown and with 5 intercepted. Finks plays in the secondary and intercepts in the loss to the Bears, and in the last game of the year catches a 17-yard touchdown pass from blocking back Charlie Seabright. He has shown he is athletic and versatile as a rookie, but how much of a chance will he get to play tailback in 1950? He throws passes in the first two games, but Joe Geri has a standout season running, and even sometimes passing as Pittsburgh finishes at 6-6.

Pittsburgh has a record of 16-19-1 entering 1951 during the Michelosen era. Pittsburgh with the 9th pick in the draft takes fullback Butch Avinger who never plays for the Steelers, and with the 20th pick comes Chuck Ortman. The Black & Gold passed on lineman Dick Stanfel, Mike McCormack, and Bill George—ouch! Nine rookies make the team in '51 highlighted by Dale Dodrill, and free agent Jack Butler.

Bert Bell has a strange schedule for the '51 season as each team in the conference will not play each divisional opponent twice. Pittsburgh will play the Chicago Cardinals just once, but National Conference Green Bay twice. Why Bell did this we will never know? There are websites and encyclopedias that have failed in listing who started for teams in this era. For the first time, you will read who did play and where. Let's begin with the over-shifted 5-3-3 defense. Left linebacker and he is stationed on the split end is stumpy Darrell Hogan. Though Hogan plays hard he does little to help his team during the year.

When Pittsburgh shifts to a 6-2 defense Hogan becomes a defensive guard, and he is driven back repeatedly on running plays. The opening day starter at left defensive end is rookie Tom Jelley. Jelley is listed as having played in 5 games during the year, and this is just flat wrong, as he plays in at least 8 games. Jelley will start the first four at left end, play some offense early in the year, and then the last two weeks of the season returns and plays right defensive end.

The left defensive tackle is George Hays for the first four games, and then shifts to left defensive end for the next seven games. Carl Samuelsen rotated in early in the year at left defensive tackle and then becomes the starter. He is woefully slow in pursuit but holds the fort on running plays right at him. Lean bowlegged Dale Dodrill is the starter at middle guard till a mid-season injury against Philadelphia. He struggles at times getting off a block, but sure demonstrates he has a future in the league due to his pursuit and aggressive play. The second half of the year John Schweder starts at middle guard.

Second-year man Ernie Stautner is the right defensive tackle, and he is much improved. Ernie is outstanding in pursuit and is effective in penetrating the pass pocket. The right defensive end is Bill McPeak who is in his third year, and also shows improvement. He is excellent defending the sweep and is a relentless pass rusher. The right linebacker is Frank Sinkovitz in his fifth season. Though he hustles, he just does not make much of a difference during the year, and the newspapers state that the fans booed him towards the end of the year.

Listed as a middle linebacker, though he aligns over the right offensive tight end at times is the best player on the team in Jerry Shipkey. Jerry does not play any fullback and concentrates on leading the defense. He is a very deserving First-team All-Pro. Instinctive, quick, with excellent pursuit angles, he also is exceptional on pass defense. Though he is sent on blitzes up the middle many times, this is not an effective aspect for this team. Shipkey, when allowed to roam sideline to sideline, is in his element. Strong as an ox, he is one of the few men in the league who just does not miss a tackle in the open field.

Jim Finks began the year as the starting right corner but was moved to safety with the struggles of Chuck Ortman and rookie Ray Mathews. Finks will start at safety from the fourth week through the close of the campaign. The third week of the year Jack Butler starts at right corner and improves each week. A fearless tackler and instinctive pass defender this youngster with experience will prove to be one of the best corners in the league till he is moved to right safety in '56.

Howard Hartley is in his fourth year and has already intercepted 14 passes in his career, but the best is yet to come. Howard is one of the few defensive backs in any era to intercept at least 10 passes in a season and not be chosen for the pro bowl. Pittsburgh finishes third in the league in the defensive passer rating category with a mark of 46.6 and intercepts an impressive 11.28% of all opponent passes.

The Black & Gold defense will have many strong games during the year. The problem for this team is the offense. So, who took the field for the Steelers when they had the ball? Veteran Val Jansante begins the year at left end, but he is the subject of venom by fans and leaves the team at midseason. He is replaced by rookie Henry Minarik. His only year in the league is a fascinating one and will be detailed later in this saga. Since Pittsburgh is in the single wing they align both tackles to the same side. Lou Allen in his second year and veteran team leader Frank Wydo do a commendable job in the run game, but both have difficulty in pass protection.

Pro Bowl center Bill Walsh leads the offensive line and is superb at the center snap and making his block. The left guard is second-year man Dick Tomlinson, while the right guard is pro bowl bound George Hughes. Evaluating Hughes is a challenge since the expectations for a pro bowl guard are high, and George does not shine near as often as I thought he would.

The right end is captain Elbie Nickel. Sure-handed and a willing blocker, he has his moments, yet the issue is always the same.....when Elbie is open who is accurate enough to throw him the ball? Joe Gasparella does not throw very much, and at the beginning of the year is the starting blocking back, but after four weeks he leaves the Steelers. He is replaced by Truett Smith, who is only adequate as a blocker. In the Steeler single wing the tailback and wingback switch positions many times during a game.

Left-handed Lynn Chandnois aligns so he can roll left to throw, and he usually is at his best running on outside plays due to his speed. Joe Geri is selected for the pro bowl, and over the years there have been other players chosen that did not earn their way to Los Angeles. Quoting Abby Mendelson from his book on Steeler history "one wonders how Geri earned such honors". He is not effective running and is inaccurate passing. He is often replaced by Chuck Ortman. The rookie from Michigan is a willing runner, but is not very productive. Ortman just does not display the accuracy you need to have in an NFL passer. He is in and out of the line-up all year.

Jerry Nuzum is now a fullback (wingback earlier in his career), and shares playing time with Fran Rogel. Since the Steeler running game is moribund at best, and so much depends on the fullback pounding out yards up the middle neither man can be considered a team strength. Pittsburgh enters the last game of the season having scored only 160 points in eleven games. During the wins over the Cardinals, Packers, and Eagles the defense played solid football, while the offense did just enough. They have been shut-out twice by Cleveland, and the rumor is Johnny Michelosen might be replaced though Art Rooney denies this.

Dick Todd has been coach of the 'Skins for eight games with a 5-3 record and Washington is at home on this fateful final day of the season with a chance to finish 6-6. This is the game that will be detailed, and explain the future of Pittsburgh Steeler football. The captains meet on a snow-covered field with sunshine creating December shadows. There will be 14 turnovers in this game(seven by each team), partially due to the weather conditions on this frosty cold afternoon in our Nations Capitol. The first play from scrimmage shows Rob Goode who is trying to win the rushing crown taken down in the open field by Jerry Shipkey one on one. Washington punts and the Steelers as they have so often during the year align in a double wing formation.

The differences between the single and double wing are not nuanced, they are striking. No writer or historian has ever commented that the Steelers of Jock Sutherland have virtually abandoned the single wing for the double wing! Washington fumbles on their next possession and Ortman now in at tailback bounces a pass off of Truett Smith's chest to linebacker Chuck Drazenovich. The Steeler defense grudgingly gives ground as Baugh mixing his plays beautifully moving deep into Pittsburgh territory.

Middle guard John "Bull" Schweder hustles to down former Steeler Bill Dudley after a reception and dash down the sideline. Dudley though puts three points on the board with a field goal. Ortman has the Steelers in the single wing, but throws incomplete, and they punt. Baugh throwing deep up the left sideline for Dudley has his pass intercepted as Butler leaps into the air. Ortman fumbles the ball to defensive end Walt Yowarsky and again the 'Skins have the ball. Baugh rifles a pass down the middle through the frosty air only to have Hartley intercept. Ortman out of the double wing misfires and Harry Gilmer intercepts.

Second quarter and with all day to pass Baugh locates Joe Tereshinski behind Shipkey. Joe catches the well-thrown pass on the Pittsburgh five and trots into the end zone. Washington 10 Pittsburgh ZERO. The Steelers go back and forth from the double to single wing, but Ortman is sacked after moving the ball to the Redskin fourteen on a pass to Minarik (Pro Football Reference does not list any sacks in this game which is in error) since he holds the ball too long. He did this all year and as such the Steelers finished 10th in this category allowing 318 yards in sacks for the year. Geri badly misses his field goal attempt.

Washington punts and Ortman completes passes to Nickel and Chandnois before again misfiring to Drazenovich. Sammy Baugh has the 'Skins aligned in the t-formation then the double wing, but the staunch Steeler defense forces a punt. Chandnois in the double wing tries to run to no avail, and Pittsburgh again has to punt. Pittsburgh forces a punt, and Ortman aligned in the double wing to pass for three straight plays cannot find a receiver and runs every time till he is again intercepted. We are at half-time in this hard-fought, yet flawed game of turnovers and punts. Ortman begins the second half in the double wing and throws incomplete and is hit by Lipscomb. He is injured and replaced by Joe Geri.

Ortman over the last seven games has a passer rating of 18.4 as he completed just 43 of 114 for 502 yards with just 1 touchdown, and 10 intercepted. Geri proceeds to throw three straight wobbly misguided passes and then punts. Washington goes nowhere and punts. Geri out of the double wing is hammered by Drazenovich when he runs, but on the next play complete his only pass of the game to Chandnois. Geri cannot get the first down on a running play and punts.

Rob Goode fumbles when hit running to his left and a hustling Bull Schweder playing the game of his life recovers. Joe Geri is hit by Paul Lipscomb as he releases his pass and is replaced by none other than starting safety Jim Finks. Finks first pass is pilfered by Gilmer, but Washington now in the t-formation cannot move and punts. Finks has the Steelers aligned in the old Sutherland single wing and after avoiding the rush completes to Minarik on a crossing route, and then out of a double wing completes to Minarik at the sideline.

Jim then completes to Chandnois on an out pattern, and to Nickel up the seam. Finks is sacked by defensive end Bob Hendren. Finks cannot gain the necessary yardage when he runs, and the Steelers again punt. Washington in the T-formation is again stopped and punts the ball back to Pittsburgh, but Finks fumbles the ball back to the 'Skins.

Very late in the 3rd quarter, and Baugh is intercepted by Shipkey on a textbook linebacker zone drop play. This is the turning point in the game. Finks out of the single wing completes to Minarik as the quarter ends. Fourth quarter and the Steelers have not scored a point since the first half of the Eagle game on November 25th (thirteen quarters). First play of the quarter out of the standard single wing Finks well-thrown pass hits the mark as Chandnois catches the ball on his sideline route, and scampers 40 yards down the sideline to score.

The Redskins are in the 'T' and go nowhere, and punt again. Finks completes an out to Chandnois, and then comes back to him again on an out route. His passes have a slight wobble in the frigid air, yet his timing is superb and he is accurate. Finks cannot find a receiver and runs. The momentum and promising drive ends as Drazenovich rips the ball loose from Rogel.

Washington cannot move again and punts again. Finks completes another out to Chandnois, and then finds Minarik open on the other side of the field on a skinny post for 37 yards. Chandnois catches another pass, and when Finks cannot locate either Chandnois or Minarik he flips to Rogel who makes a fine one-handed catch and trundles deep into Redskin territory. Rogel punches it in and Pittsburgh leads 14-10.

The Skins fumble the kick-off back to Pittsburgh, and Finks still in the standard single wing rolls right and takes off for 22 yards. Joe Geri re-enters the game and burrows his way into the end zone to score. His extra point attempt goes off the left upright, but no matter a ten point lead late in the game. Washington is aligned in a wing formation with Ed Salem at tailback instead of Baugh, and one of his balloon passes is intercepted by Howard Hartley.

Finks and Geri are in the game at the same time as the Steelers run out the clock. Pittsburgh has set a new team record with 288 passing yards, and Finks was a very sharp 14 of 24 for 201 yards. For the first time in team history two receivers for Pittsburgh gained over 100 yards receiving; Minarik in his last game as a pro, and Chandnois for the second time in the season. Questions arise? How come Finks was not given an opportunity sooner? Quoting Ray Didinger in his superb book on Steeler history states "the tough little defensive back everyone said should have been throwing the ball all year."

Why use Geri and Ortman when neither could hit the ground with their hat? Pittsburgh aligned in the double wing so many times in the year attempted more passes than ever before in team history and had so little to show for it. Art Rooney dismisses Michelosen, and Joe Bach returns to Pittsburgh. Finks leads the league in touchdown passes in 1952 as Chandnois and Ray Mathews display their skills receiving. Elbie Nickel gains over 200 yards as a receiver in the final game of the '52 season against the Rams.

Finks will have his struggles after Joe Bach leaves due to ill health and Walt Kiesling returns. Those two men just could not get on the same page philosophically. Five times Finks would attempt at least 40 passes in a game, yet the Steelers off to fast starts in both '54 and '55 could not sustain their winning. Finks leaves the Steelers after 1955, and sure had success in helping build the Vikings and Bears, yet he should also be remembered for that fateful frosty day in Washington when the starting safety moves again to tailback and passes his team to victory.

The 1973 NFC Player of the Year—Did John Hadl Deserve It?

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

From time to time we like to look back and analyze past award winners and view them through the lens of current sensibilities versus those "back in the day". Things have changed and scrutiny is higher, especially for quarterbacks.

So, today the subject is the NFC Offensive Player of the Year. The AFC and NFL MVP/Player of the Year was clear—O.J. Simpson and his transcendent 2,003-yard rushing season for the Bills.

John Hadl was the consensus NFC Player of the year in 1973 winning the UPI, Sporting News, NFLPA, and Kansas City Committee of 101 versions of the award with Fran Tarkenton winning the New York Chapter of the PFWA award.

Hadl's awards make sense based on the Rams 12-2 record and his passing statistics for the season but when you break down his season into halves, it may not be that simple.

In the first six games, Hadl was on fire with a 129.5 passer rating  (the first season it was used as a passing statistic) and had 13 touchdowns compared to just two picks. Then, in week seven, he hit a purple wall and only had a few good games in the last eight weeks and some poor ones—

Hadl's slump continued in the playoff game versus Dallas and into 1974 when he was traded to the Packers for a pile of draft picks. Insiders thought there was something wrong with Hadl's arm, he was missing throws he normally made and Rams general manager Don Klosterman jumped when he had a chance to unload his ailing quarterback for such a high bounty. It turns out it was not his arm but his lower back that was causing the issues, you know, with the backbone connected to the neck bone and the neck bone connected to the arm bone, it all fits together. Regardless, there were issues causing poor performance.

So, was he having one great half of a season and one poor half of a season the stuff of being a Player of the Year? Maybe then, but if this happened now we think someone else would be chosen. 

But who?

Roman Gabriel had a fine year but his 5-8-1 record would be a hindrance, even though they were a few plays away from being 7-7. Fran Tarkenton, as mentioned, won the NY PFWA NFC Player of the Year Award for his 12-2 Vikings. Roger Staubach was 10-4 won the passing title and led the NFC in passing touchdowns (tied with Gabriel). All would be fine choices.

However, we think the best vote would be for Harold Jackson, Hadl's teammate.

Chart credit: Pro Football Reference

Jackson was a big part of Hadl's first half anyway and had another monster day (for the 'dead ball era') in the second half. His 21.9 yards per catch were second in the NFL and his 13 touchdown receptions led the NFL, all for a team that ran the ball almost two-thirds of the time.

Jackson is a player who often gets overlooked, he led the 1970s in receptions, yard receiving, and touchdowns and was fifth in yards per catch and didn't get close to being All-Decade. Possibly because he played for three different teams in the 1970s and didn't have huge support from any of the voters because the longest he played for any team was five years.

Regardless, we think he had the best, most productive, impactful season of any NFC skill player in 1973. He's our pick for this "what if" analysis.

Colorization of the Day—Al Blozis

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

Al Blozis only played 23 games in the NFL from 1942-44 before shipping over to Europe to served in World War II. Tragically he was killed in action.

Per Wikipedia:
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 28th Infantry Division. On January 31, 1945, his platoon was in the Vosges Mountains of France scouting enemy lines. When two of his men, a Sergeant and a private, failed to return from a patrol, he went in search of them alone. He never returned.

We've seen some film of Blozis and in our judgment, he was the best defensive player in the NFL in 1943 and would be our choice for a retro Defensive Player of the Year Award. he was listed as a defensive tackle and that was accurate, but in those days the alignments were different. He spent most of his time lined up over an offensive tackle and these days that would make him a defensive end (the same is true of Arnie Weinmeister as well).

Here above is our colorization salute to a true hero:  Al Blozis.

Dennis Havig Never Did Earn His "Falcon"?

HUMOR
By John Turney

One uniform story this preseason is the Browns coach Hue Jackson making the Browns 'Earn their stripes' in 2018 meaning they had to make the team before the get the three stripes in the middle of the lid.

Until then they have to wear these:

Okay, fine, but in 1973 Dennis Havig was photographed like this:

Did he never earn his Falcon?

Clearly, it came off, but wouldn't it be great if players did have to earn their logos? We would see better football, no?

Actually, it was likely just issues with the sticker itself. Here he is a few weeks later, presumably a new sticker and it's starting to come off. 

A Brief History and Review of NFL's 'Three Techniques'

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

At first, the 'flop' 4-3 defense did not catch on in the NFL. One of the first teams to use it (maybe the first) was the early 1970s Giants but they had a good middle guard (John Mendenall) but could never find the good rush tackle to match with him.

The next team to use it, and they did it for just one year, was the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And a key feature of the flop 4-3 is that the defensive tackles switch sides depending on the line call, and one of the defensive tackles is a nose tackle and the other is always a three-technique. Selmon also played plenty of end that year and would switch sides. It's hard to get lots of film to break down the percentages of where he played but what we've seen shoes that, really, until he got hurt, the Bucs three-technique was often Lee Roy Selmon who became a Hall of Famer as a 3-4 defensive end.

After that, we saw the Packers use a nose and 3-tech in 1977 (Dave Pureifory at nose and Dave Roller as the 3-tech but they didn't do it all the time, it seemed to change depending on the opponent) and then Carl Barzilauskas as a 3-technique and Roller as the nose in 1978 and 1979 though we saw some games where they went string left- and right tackles. We also so Terry Jones and others as nose tackle in 1979. 

The 1978 Lions would flop their tackles some as well but it didn't seem to be something they did all the time. In 1979 they did it more with Doug English usually playing nose. This was something that Floyd Peters, the Lions' line coach didn't do when he was with the 49ers but it is fair to say began to implement with the Lions. The rest of Peters's tenure there they got away from it. In 1980 Doug English suddenly retired in 1980 to work in the oil industry and when he got back they played more of a left- right tackle format.

For time immemorial the 4-3 defensive tackles had been left and right. They always stayed on the same side and when the coach wanted to make a call, such as an overshift or and undershift, the tackles slid into position, meaning both would, at times, play over or near the center and over the guard. With the flop 4-3 they would change sides to achieve the same affect.

There are more than one of the technique alignment charts, with different numbers of the outside techniques, but this is the classic one. There is one that makes small changes and one that has consecutive numbering over the tight end. Also, rather than "1" sometimes the shade techniques over the center are called 0+and 0- meaning zero strong and zero weak.

The overs and unders are set on where the tight end aligns. Below the when the tight end is to the offenses right it's called "closed left". When the TE is to the offenses left it is "closed right".

In the under the line is shifted away from the tight end and in the over the line is shifted towards the tight end. In both cases the linebackers shift the opposite way to balance the defensive formation.

So, after the experiment with the Bucs the flop 4-3 and the Packers in the late-1970s the flopping of tackled didn't appear in the NFL again (in earnest anyway) until 1986 when the Vikings began to use it when they moved from a 3-4 to a 4-3 to free up Keith Millard and to get Chris Doleman on the field full time. Later, after Millard blew out a knee and was traded John Randle took that spot and held it for over a decade. Millard was the consensus NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1989 when he had 18 sacks (still the unofficial record for three-techniques) and 11 run/pass stuffs.

Randles numbers were ridiculous in terms of pass rush with 137.5 sacks in his career, but only 44 run/pass stuffs. Nonetheless, he was a six-time All-Pro and went to seven Pro Bowls en route to the Hall of Fame.

In 1990 the Jets employed the flop scheme. In 1989 they were a 3-4 team that was struggling to put pressure on the quarterback. Pete Carroll was the defensive backs coach with the Vikings when they went to the flop was the Jets defensive coordinator in 1990. He put Dennis Byrd into what he called the "Eagle" tackle, which is just different nomenclature for the 3-technique, and it paid dividends, with Byrd recording 20 sacks over the next two years. Sadly it ended with a tragic injury to Byrd in 1992.

The Buccaneers used the flop 4-3 in 1976 and switched to a 3-4 in 1977 and played that through 1990. In 1991 Floyd Peters, who implemented the flop in Minnesota in 1986, was the Bucs defensive coordinator and installed the flop there. In 1992 the Bucs drafted Santana Dotson to fill the 3-technique spot and he held it until he was shipped to the Packers and the Bucs drafted Warren Sapp. Peters was there through 1994 and in 1996, in Sapp's second year Monte Kiffin (another Viking alum who was with Peters and Carroll in 1986) was hired and the Tampa-2 defense was perfected. They coverage was the specific Cover-2 that Bud Carson used to call Cover-22 but the front—the defensive line was still the same flop that Peters installed in 1991 and Sapp thrived.

Sapp, of course, ended with close to 100 sacks and was voted to the Hall of Fame and is often considered the prototype for the three-technique. We think he was sometimes too heavy and could have been even more productive in run defense, but really, it wasn't his job. He was supposed to get up the field and create problems for the offense and he did that very well.

In the early 1990s the flop was catching on with coaches other than the Vikings, though some still did. In 1995 Willie Shaw installed his "Jet" scheme which was a flop 4-3 but he emphasized that all plays were passing plays, i.e. the "jet" technique was used, which mean they rushed the passer first and played the run on reactions and athleticism. Calling it the "Jet" scheme was good PR but it was no different than what the other flops schemes were doing or for that matter, it wasn't different than what Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen did in the George Allen schemes of the 1960s.

In Shaw's scheme, D'Marco Farr emerged and a Pro Bowl quality player. In 1995 he has 11.5 sacks, 11 run stuffs and forced five fumbles. He was a Dallas Morning News All-Pro in 1995 and a Sports Illustrated All-Pro in 1996 and a Pro Bowler in 1999. Knee injuries cut his career short and had to hang 'em up in 2001.

The scheme proliferated to New Orleans, Atlanta, and through Lovie Smith to Chicago, and elsewhere. La'Roi Glover and Rod Coleman, and Tommie Harris were the stars in those locales. Glover even led the NFL in sacks in 2000 with 17 (though we think Sapp did with 16.5 but that is another story). Coleman had 22 sacks over a two-year period in 2004-05 and Harris was a three-time Pro Bowler for the Bears from 2005-07.

These days it is a golden age of the three-technique though not all of the players are in flop 4-3 schemes. Geno Atkins, now beginning his ninth season, is and has been a Pro Bowler every year since 2011 with the exception of 2013 when he had a knee injury. He's totaled 61 sacks in his eight seasons and is a three-time All-Pro. 

Jurrell Casey began in a flop 4-3 but the last few years he's been in a hybrid 3-4 where one "end" is reduced or "sunk" to three-technique. That occurs with Wade Phillips's scheme with the Rams, Aaron Donald is a three-technique who was almost always on the weak side. In that scheme the WILL backer and MO backer also are always away from the tight end/strong side, flopping three positions rather than one.

Casey had 10.5 sacks in 2013 in the 4-3 and while still being a difference-maker has not had that kind of production since they went to the hybrid 3-4. In our view he gets moved around too much, sometimes standing up as a defensive end or in the A-gaps as a linebacker. Obviously, the coaches know more than we do, but it's just a bit too gimmicky. Line him up over the guard like the Rams do with Donald and Casey will get you double-digits sacks and stuffs is our view.

Donald is more productive year-in and year-out than any three-technique. So far he's averaged 9.8 sacks a year and 10.4 run stuffs and has been All-Pro three times and was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. The only concern is when he's going to show up to play for the Rams in 2018. He's holding out for the second straight year and though it is thought he will be in sometime soon, the longer goes means the possibility of missing games like he did in 2017.

Kawann Short and Gerald McCoy have been in the more traditional flop 4-3 schemes and also have been Pro Bowl quality. They get overshadowed a bit because of the emergence of Donald and the constant presence of Atkins but both are fine players. Short got post-season honors in 2015 when he had 11 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and McCoy is a six-time Pro Bowler.

On the horizon, the 49ers have DeForest Buckner and the Cowboys were thought to have a future star in David Irving but that is on indefinite hold due to being suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He is eligible to return Week 5 but by not reporting to the camp, that is in question. Irving had 7 sacks in eight games through the middle of the 2017 season but his recent Instagram message: “Every game you seen me play in, I was medicated” does not help matters.

Buckner has a bright future and has already played very well. We look forward to seeing if he can reach the upper-echelon this season. Grady Jarrett played very well in 2017 and seems to be getting better he needs to up his production but he seems to have the right stuff.

The Colts now have Denico Autry and look like they plan to play him as a three-tech. We will see but he's shown some skills with the Raiders as 'wave rusher' and with Colts as a starter maybe he can be a double-digit sack guy in their new rusher-friendly scheme.

Seahawks people we talk to say that Jarran Reed has the talent to be one of the "next ones" if you will. We have seen him flash pressure, but to be a star he needs to get to the QB and take him down. Pressures are great, no doubt, but if he loses his 'warning track power' (hurries) and turns it into 'home run power' he could be a star, too. He's quick and agile for his size, he just needs to close on the QB more.

One rookie we are watching is P.J. Hall of the Raiders. He stood out the first two preseason games and leveled off in the third, but we expect him to be the starting three-technique sooner rather than later. He had violent hands and lots of hustle. It's early, but he's one to keep an eye on. If he plays in the regular season like he has in preseason he will definitely be on the All-Rookie teams.

In this look back we've hit the highlights, there are some good players over the past 30 years we've omitted but we're confident these are the one that stand out in this specialized position of "3-tech". So, who will the best "Eagle" tackle in the NFL in 2018? It's a good bet he will wear number 99 but it's no guarantee.

When The Fan Was Not Fed: Pre-Elias

LOOKING BACK
By T.J.Troup


John Turney's outstanding article yesterday on Seymour Siwoff and the Elias Sports Bureau sure inspired me. Thus the following; research is much more difficult when the film and statistics are not the same.

Where to begin? During the decade of the 1940's the NFL had a separate category for laterals. While this is not the most important category, anyone who looked at the stats would see errors. Not sure if Joseph T. LaBrum had enough help, but his name is listed on the league manual.

When the lateral category was changed with the dawning of a new decade the yards gained went into the category of the play; i.e.; Brodie throws to Conner for 13 yards vs. Eagles in October of 1958, and he laterals to Owens who gains another 48. This 61 yard play is John Brodie's longest completion of the year.

So, the most poignant question; were there errors in listing the laterals? Yes, there were, and at times listed in the wrong category. Should have been on interception return yards, but was listed in rushing is just one example.

The Rams are playing the Lions in '53 and Woodley Lewis returns a punt, and laterals to guard Duane Putnam who goes an additional 21 yards. Is Putnam listed in the league manual? No! Should he be? Of course, and when you have the play by play and film and they both show the Putnam play that speaks to the researchers on what to do with the play?

Then as John stated so emphatically, Elias took over and chose to correct as much stat data as they could while also keeping each seasons current stats accurate. There are folks across the country who have shown tremendous dedication to the team they cheer for. The most prominent is Mr. Eric Goska.

Eric's detailed play by play of Packer history, and his dogged determination in making sure all the numbers add up is an indication that this Northwestern Wildcat math major wanted complete and detailed accuracy. Having worked with and become friends with Eric over the years on many projects just shows that a Packer fan, and a Bear fan can coexist, and in fact work well together. Anyone who relishes Packer history should/must own his book on Packer history. Eric is not alone. Terry Musolf was most helpful with my projects as he knows Colts history. Should every team have someone like Terry or Eric? Of course!

Since I mentioned the Bears, and John stated in his story yesterday that the fire in Bears headquarters caused the loss of so much historical data. While many would assume, and folks be careful you know what happens when people assume—the Bear organization has made little or no attempt in the past about attaining the game by game stats pre-fire. That may change now that Mr. Jared Ellerson is in charge of the media? Jared are you listening? Recently my research quest has taken me to a category that is listed last on the score sheets—fumble returns and recoveries. Later this year will detail what I have learned/gained by attempting to research this category, and there will be a story attached on Cardinal Tom Wham.