HOF Board of Directors Must Call Emergency Meeting—Call to Action

 By John Turney

Subject of Meeting: Extending the Modern Era Candidates to 1991 from 1996

Since the Board of Directors chose to only have four players (four coaches and four contributors) included in the next four Hall of Fame Classes it is now paramount that they increase the "Modern Era" by five years to 1991.

Currently, the "Modern Era" is for players whose careers end 25 years prior to the current Hall of Fame class which is now 2021 making it `1996. We propose that be extended five years, to 1991.

That way, several players who were modern-era "near misses" can get one more shot in the modern era and will not be in the senior pool or the "swamp" as it is also known. That way they will not compete with the players who played in the 1980s and before as a way to make this tightening of slots fair.

There is precedent for this. In 2004 the modern era went from 20 years to 25 years and that change allowed Carl Eller to go from the senior swamp to back to the modern era and then he was rightfully inducted in 2004. It has been sixteen years since that change and it is time for another in our view.

It a player's final season was 1991 or after, you are in the modern pool of players, including all players who played within the last thirty years. 

It is the only fair thing to do. Yes, it may push some recent players back some as a few of the near misses come up one more time, but the universe of those players is small. It also means those whose last year is 1996 get five more years and so on. 

With only four slots in the next four years, this is the fair thing to do to mitigate the major change of limiting the senior players in the changes last week. 

Call to Action

Please contact Dave Baker, President of the Hall of Fame

david.baker@profootballhof.com

Asking that he call an emergency Hall of Fame board meeting to consider this change in the rules/by-laws and that it happen within the next week. Be respectful, be kind, be insistent. 

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, there need not be any flights booked, hotel reservations, no travel expenses whatsoever. It can all be done by Zoom or another teleconference service so there is no excuse that can be made concerning logistics. Any board member, even on vacation, can find an hour or two to discuss this proposed rule change and vote on it. 

This is something that is allowed to happen under current rules and can happen instantaneously for the Class of 2021.

It harms no one, and it helps many. There is, as far as we can tell, no downside. It was a change that could have been considered anyway had it been suggested. 

Please, Tweet, Facebook, Instagram, this message around to football fans everywhere. Perhaps it can make a difference.

We are deadly serious about this. 

Thank you. 

Just Messing Around With Metallic Blues and Real Ram Horns versus "Wave-horns"

By John Turney

The upper left shit is from the Rams Twitter feed. All others are iterations done by PFJ.

We did this just for fun, to see the various horns with curls and various colors of blue. Call it a "COVID" project. 

The upper right is a horn with 3D effect and a curl in the horn. The slot below is the current horn with a curl. Next to that same thing but with a "thin" break. The bottom left is mo break with a curl, bo shading. Botton right has a thin "break" and a curl and 3 D shading.

Actual color—seems on the medium blue side.

We tweaked the above color to match the color seen in most Rams publicity shots —a true royal metallic blue.

Metallic Navy

Metallic Midnight Blue

The 1960s All-Pro/All-NFL/All-AFL Conundrum

 By John Turney

This issue has to be addressed by NFL fans and Hall of Fame voters and those who advocate for particular players for the Hall of Fame.

The issue?

How to properly verbalize and normalize the All-Pro/All-NFL/All-AFL honors of the 1960s. To a lesser degree this applies to the 1946-1949 era when the AAFC and NFL were both major leagues of football just as the NFL and AFL were.

As we know at the end of each season the press and sometimes the press will poll players or coaches or executives to select "All-Pro" teams. But sometimes that verbiage All-"PRO" is a misnomer. Yes, we all use it as shorthand in writing and speaking and Tweeting, etc., but technically, it means picking from all the major leagues.

Football has used that term whereas basketball and baseball have used the term "All-Star" rather than All-Pro.

So, going to 1946, there were All-Pro teams that have players chosen from both the NFL and the AAFC. And there were All-NFL teams and All-AAFC teams chosen as well. 

Here is an excerpt from the Pro Football Researcher's Association book The Best Each Season—

As can be seen, the AP and Sportswriters' (Chicago Herald-American) pick All-Pro teams. The United Press, New York News, Washington Post, Pro Football Illustrated, the Official AAFC team, and the Cleveland Press picked All-NFL and All-AAFC teams or both.

Thus, making the AP or Sportswriters' team was a tougher task than making the UP or other teams that selected from only one league. Think of it as making the American League All-Star team and the National League All-Star team—if a Major League All-Star team were chosen each year, from say, 1954-65 and you had to identify outfield positions, meaning only ONE centerfielder then in any given year Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays could be left out because one or the other had a better year.

Likewise, making All-Pro is tougher than making All-NFL or All-AFC.

Jump to the 1960s. The NFL and AFL had separate "All" teams for most of the years. It was not until 1967 when Murray Oldermann of NEA picked the first major All-Pro team of the AFL/NFL era and the following year other major organizations began to pick from both leagues. So, from 1960-66, in general, there were no "All-Pro" teams, just All-NFL and All-AFL teams.

As such, there were some players racking up amazing numbers, especially in the AFL, but there was also less "competition" for spots in the NFL as well. Who would have been the mythical All-Pro center in the mid-1960s Jim Otto or Mick Tingelhoff? We will never now. All we know is there were to-so-called All-pro centers but what there really were was an All-AFL consensus center and an All-NFL consensus center. 

This matters because with so few slots coming up in the senior committee players were truly All-Pro (picked from all 26 or 28 teams) are going to have their "Alls" compared to players who had their "Alls" chosen from 16 (NFL) or 10 (AFL) teams and there is an inequity there than folks need to understand and to figure into any equations.

How to do that? Hard to say. Each fan and each voter and each pundit will have to work that out on their own. There is not a right or wrong way to account for it, we suppose, as long as it is accounted for in some way.

Incidentally, this goes for the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team and the All-Time AFL Team (the de facto AFL All-Decade Team). For that's we've suggested the NFL's official 75th Anniversary Combines 1960s team as the go-to, with plenty of deference to the previous teams. 

This one picks from both leagues, it is official, chosen by an NFL-composed committee and when picking the best of the best does a better job than the teams chosen in 1969-70. Those are great for personal recognition, but for a time when there are only four slots in four years for seniors, this perhaps should be THE All-Decade team of the 1960s. 

So, we can see that not all "All-Pros" are created equally. Careful attention needs to be paid when trying to separate the greatest of the great. 

It must be that way when you may have 20, 30, or more qualified players for four slots. One must nit-pick. Not in a mean, vicious way, but in a fair way. A way that says (hypothetically), "Okay, both these guys were 1960s All-Decade picks but only one made the combined All-Decade 'Team of the Sixtes" let's at least consider that. It is a tougher honor to achieve". 

It also may be fair to ask, "Were this guys All-pros really more All-NFLs or All-AFLs as opposed to All-Pros of the 1950s or 1980s?" Like that. 

As we implored to the fans in a previous post All-Pros/Pro Bowls (i.e. "honors") are only ONE part of any given player's Hall of Fame resume, not all of it. There ARE other considerations—rings, stats, testimonials, various intangibles (among those could be the so-called 'he changed the game arguments, which, as an aside are usually false, but if really true could be a part of a HOF case).

But to the extent "honors" are part of a case, in a time of getting down to brass tacks, getting the definitions right and the meaning of All-Pro vs All-League right is only fair. 

We are confident the senior committee is aware and has been aware of such distinctions, but have not been convinced that fans, advocates, and even younger or newer members of the Hall of Fame voting committee is aware of such things. We fear there are a few in the latter groups of fans and writers and pundits are part of a highlight generation that is led more by superlatives such as "he's a beast" or he was someone who "jacked up" opponents or he "changed the game" (while offering little evidence and not knowing that so-called change happened perhaps forty years earlier). 

We wish the senior committee good luck. The vetting for the senior picks will be even higher and when they do pick, we fear even more than usual criticism will fall upon them if they don't pick players modern or younger fans are aware of. 

However, we do think that those younger fans need to know the nuances of All-Pro, All-League, Pro Bowl, and All-Conference designations. Many of us grew up reading about such things and it became second-nature, but the highlight generation seems, often, oblivious of them. We hope this missive helps. 

HOF Classes 2021-24 Will Only Have Four Senior Players

 By John Turney

With only four slots tough choices have to be made by the voters and it is not time to get to brass tacks, only the best of the best can even be considered, much less be inducted. 

So, ancillary considerations by fans must be thrown out the door. It is hard enough to get voters to agree on who the top players are among a group of top players without the noise that often accompanists the cases made for some of the players by fans. 

So, when voters have to throw out all those things fans think matter, don't be upset, that have to do it. By allowing only four seniors over the next four years the voters are in a tough spot. It's the best of the best now. And nothing more.

Here are the Dos and Don'ts For Fans

Partisanship Must Go

Voters will not focus on specific teams. And this is directed at fans, not voters, who will do the right thing.  It does not matter that your team, as you suppose, is underrepresented in the Hall of Fame. It may or may not be. But with so few slots it is not a time to say "My team won "X" number of  NFL championships and their rival won "Y" titles but they have more HOFers so we need to level the field so here is the player "Z" to do it.

Or, "My team has always been getting screwed by the HOF, here are the two best players we ever had, other than the one who is already in, so let's have them be one or two of the four seniors over the next four years—that's only fair".

There is just not room for that kind of thinking. If you have a beef, blame the Hall of Fame itself, not the voters. But if you think "fairness and equity" is more representation among teams you are wrong.

Fairness and equity is putting the most qualified players in, regardless of team. Or league.

This also goes for those who are fans of the AFL. Maybe there will be an "AFL makeup class" someday as has been proposed. That would be an idea with merit. However, not with these four slots. An AFL player should be one of the four only if he is one of the best four. 

Yes, of course, that is a subject of debate, but there should not be extra weight given because of the league a player played in. That is not fair to perhaps more qualified players who may have played before or after the AFL existed.

No Leapfrogging

The Centennial Class of 2020 had some odd choices. Not all bad, per se, but some of the inductees jumped over the queue of players who had been on the Final 15 and Final 25 before when they were slugging it out for years on the modern list, narrowly missing induction and then were leapfrogged for HOF induction by players who never were on the Final 15. Most were qualified but some more than others with one or so quite dubious.

Remember, the Centennial Class was not chosen by the Seniors Committee of the Hall of Fame, though some were part of the committee it was chosen by a Blue Ribbon Committee that did, overall, a decent job. But with the HOF senior committee, if you are a fan of some player you expect to pop up out of nowhere, don't be disappointed if he doesn't. 

The voters likely will look at those players who were the narrow misses when they were modern players more so than some darkhorse. It simply is not fair to those who have been on the Final 15 and Final 25 before to go that route again with these next four slots.

Honors Count

Each year All-Pro teams have been voted on by the writers  AP, PFWA, the Players (Sporting News or NEA) and those should be a guide for who should get in for the next four years. All-Decade selections should be a factor as well, as should MVPs and Defensive Player of the Year Awards. 

Statistics and testimonials should also be part of the mix but they should not supersede the honors. What that means is some quote by some player's coach should not make up for the fact that he was All-Pro maybe one time in his career. 

Or, perhaps a player who has great stats in say, rushing, receiving, sacks, or interceptions, yet was never able to be an All-Pro more than once or twice or went to just one or two Pro Bowls (or less) should jump over players who ALSO had good stats but ALSO was a three- or four-time All-Pro (or more) and went to a handful (or more) Pro Bowls.

So, if you "guy" from your "team" is one who has the most complete resume, that check ALL the boxes: All-Pros, Awards, stats relative to their positions, testimonials, intangibles, longevity to a reasonable degree you will be happy. 

You may not be if you expect the committee to pick someone who checks one box such as stats or testimonial over someone who has those plus All-pros and Pro Bowl. 

In other words, we expect the Seniors Committee to be fair. 

No Quarterbacks

Sorry, quarterbacks get every benefit of every doubt due to the importance of the position. That is why there are so many quarterbacks with MVP awards who are not in the Hall of Famer. year-in and year-out they get the glory and the honors and the notice. 

Those not in the Hall of Fame have been weighed and measure and found wanting. In fact, some get so much of the benefit of the doubt a case can be made for a couple to perhaps not be HOFers and for a handful who were first-ballot HOFers to not be worthy of that added distinction. 

If there were a dozen slots for seniors over the next four years perhaps a case could be made for a quarterback to be among the best of those twelve, but no way can a case be made for any of the quarterbacks that are often listed as being "snubbed" as being one of the top four senior players. 

Thus, if you are hoping for a quarterback, be prepared to be let down.

Sidebar Concerning Super Seniors (Players who played 60 or more years ago)

Conversation in Heaven

Al Wistert: "Say Ox, How many time were you All-Pro?"

Ox Emerson, "Six. You?"

Wistert. "Six"

Emerson "You won a title, right?"

Wistert, "Two, and you got one, right?"

Emerson, "Correct. And your team set statistical records on both offense and defense"

Wistert, "Sure did, Ox, just like you Lions teams of the 1930s".

Emerson, "You blocked for an all-time great—Steve Van Buren"

Wistert, "I did, and you blocked for the great Dutch Clark, right?"

Emerson, "Boy, was that fun".

Wistert, "Are you in the Hall of Fame?"

Emerson, "Nope, Are you?"

Wistert, "No, I am not"

Ed Sprinkle walks by in his gold HOF jacket

Wistert, "Now there is some bullshit"

Emerson, "You got that right, Al"

Though we think both Wistert and Emerson are qualified we don't know if the super seniors stand a chance. It's hard, but with only four slots how can they be picked when living players who have been so close are waiting? 

This is a tough one. But, perhaps going with the more recent seniors is the way to go for the senior committee, and perhaps there might be another way to help and induct those much older candidates. 

Press the Hall of Fame for More Slots

This is a long shot but ask the voters to ask, and ask, and ask for another slot. Maybe it could work. (likely it won't happen but we can dream). Also, maybe the voters can push for an extra class (though this is a much longer shot) or players that played their entire careers before the Hall was created. 

This could cover what we call "super seniors"—players from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s—players like Al Wistert, Ox Emerson, who we mentioned, and also Lavvie Dilweg, Verne Lewellen, maybe a Nesser or two and others. That would keep the old-timers from taking slots from the more modern candidates who seem to be filling the senior pool faster than it can be drained (apologies for the bad analogy).

Since the Hall just had the Centennial Class this makes any addition "mass class" harder to justify. But as we mentioned the select Blue Ribbon Committee chose the Centennial Class. This hypothetical 60th Anniversary class could be chosen by the senior committee, and thus would be different enough to justify another group-type class to go along with the senior that season. 

As far as the second slot proposal—it seems like a no-brainer. We never understood why it was taken away in the first place. Two per year was, seemingly, working well. 

In any event when pushing these ideas be respectful to the voters and to the Hall officials if you chose to follow this "do". "Don't" be rude on social media. 

Trust the Seniors Committee

While not perfect the Senior Committee is aware they have to nail these next four picks. There is no room for error. They have done a good job recently, though, in our view there have been some mistakes and those, in our view, stemmed from falling for some of the above "don'ts" we listed. Now, there is no room for that so we don't expect to see it.

We expect to see players who were consistent All-Pros/Pro Bowlers with the "extras" with awards similar to those won by Ken Easley, Robert Brazile, Dave Robinson, etc. but also good stats for their positions. 

We don't expect a player with a lot of sacks but one All-Pro season to be or someone with a lot of interceptions but one or no All-Pro/Pro Bowl seasons or any of the quarterbacks who have had plenty of chances over many years (they didn't 'fall through the cracks'). 

So, we will see. But we'd advise the fans, for whom this semi-polemic was directed to cool their jets and not verbally abuse the HOF voters on Twitter and Facebook because a player from "your team" got "snubbed" in the next four years. 

It's likely that he didn't get picked because there were four players with better careers than his. 

Dan Bunz—More Than Just Super Bowl-Saving Tackles

 LOOKING BACK

By John Turney 

Dan Bunz was one of several keys to the 1981 49ers win in Super Bowl XVI. He was part of a goal line stand that helped preserve the win that began the 1980s 49er dynasty. It was likely the highlight of his career, a worthy career. 

Not all players get to go to the Hall of Fame or even the Hall of Very Good. Some may just be good or some may just be contributors. Bunz was a contributor.

The 49ers had high hopes for him, being drafted in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft. He was a tall, lean (6-4, 228) middle linebacker with good (4.8 forty) speed—perhaps in the mold of Jack Lambert in the 49er brain trust mind.

He had been a top linebacker at Long Beach State totaling 448 tackles there, including 172 as a senior.

With the 49ers he stepped in as a starter as a rookie and led the team in tackles. In fact he repeated that feat in 1979 and 1980, though he missed a couple of games in 1979 and was not a full-time starter in 1980. 

In 1980 he was credited with 5 forced fumbles, tied for the third-most in a season since 1968 according to PFJ research (Roy Barker-8, 1997,  NaVorro Bowman-6, 2013, Cedrick Hardman-5, 1975). 

In 1979 Bunz's surfer looks landed him a speaking role in North Dallas Forty, probably the best of all the football movies, a film adapted from Pete Gent's book of the same name. He played a young linebacker name 'Tony Douglass'.

Bunz with Nick Nolte in North Dallas Forty

"Douglass, We drafted you because they said you were smart and fast.
Right now, I wish you were just one of those things"-Coach Johnson

As the Bill Walsh and the 49ers kept improving the roster and bringing in linebackers, especially role-playing linebackers (run stoppers for early downs and pass defenders and rushers for nickel) Bunz lost playing time and then injuries cost him more. 

But really, aside from his moments of glory in Super Bowl XVI (being in on all four goal line plays including the solo tackle on Charles Alexander on a pass to the flat and being the lead tackler on the fourth-down play to end the drive), his contributions from 1981-83 were minimal. 

However, in 1984, he won the starting "Buck" or strongside outside linebacker position (some schemes call it the SAM) and played well as the 49ers won their second title in four seasons. He came out of the game for Todd Shell in the nickel and for Jeff Fuller in the "Buffalo nickel" but on run downs he was there, turning in plays to the outside, jamming tight ends and doing his job.

The next year he was cut by Walsh, essentially losing his spot to Ron Ferrari who was a better special teams player. Todd Shell took over the Buck position and Ferrari kept his nickel linebacker position. Walsh simply said, "Bunz is a good special teams player but Ferrari is a great special teams player". 

Bunz, understandably was upset. A year earlier (prior to the 1984 draft) He turned down a lucrative offer to sign with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL to stay with the 49ers because he was told he was part of their plans as their Buck linebacker. 

Late in 1985 the Lions needed some help at linebacker and signed Bunz who in two games picked off a pass, but that was Bunz's last NFL action. The Lions waived him in May of 1986, prior to training camp and that was it for Bunz. 

Bunz led a fulfilling life after football, running a restaurant/winery, teaching phyical education and working with kids. 

Yes, Dan Bunz was a worthy contributor. And that is enough. Two rings and one it could be argued the 49ers would not have had without his efforts. 

COURAGE & DETERMINATION: Ed Husmann and the 1962 Houston Oilers

By TJ Troup

Ed Jusmann

Very similar to the saga on the 1974 Buffalo Bills, this story will be written much like my book on the 1950's "The Birth of the Modern 4-3". The Houston Oilers enter the '62 campaign as the two-time AFL Champions. They also enter the season with their third head coach in three years. 

No matter who is at the helm these men know how to win. Pop Ivy resigned from the Cardinals with two games to go in 1961 with a 5-7 record, yet he gets one last chance to save his coaching career. His staff includes Walt Schlinkman, who is listed as the offensive coordinator, and coaches the offensive backs. Joe Spencer in his second year has proven to be an excellent offensive line coach; especially in pass protection. New to the staff and having to fill the departed Wally Lemm's shoes as defensive co-ordinator is Neill Armstrong. 

He has a strong background having played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Pop Ivy really and truly believed in his double-wing offense in Chicago, and though entertaining; any team that fumbles and turns the ball over as much as his team did is not going to be consistently successful. Give Pop credit as he has adjusted his offense with backs not going in motion, and not losing the ball on reverse hand-offs. 

Houston will align in the standard pro set, double tight end/flanker set, but quite often there is the Columbia blue-clad Oilers in the double wing and at times even a triple wing set. There is maximum pass protection with an airtight pocket for Blanda, and of course, with a double-wing you have many options on pass routes to attack secondaries.

Running plays out of the double wing are run inside and always with trap blocking. The Oilers are still a passing team, and have a man who has undeniable faith in his ability to complete every pass and lead a team to victory in Blanda. His record-setting season of '61 will seem like a distant memory at times in '62 since George forces more passes than ever into coverage. No man has ever thrown 32 interceptions in eleven victories in a season at this point in pro football history, yet that is exactly what he does. Studying film of the venerable warrior he still makes the throws he needs to when it counts the most.  

George Blanda 

Blanda gets rid of the ball quickly and can read any coverage. His back-up is Jackie Lee, and the youngster can sling it with the best of them. Give me an example you ask? November 25th against the Chargers and Lee drops back into the end zone and calmly delivers a deep strike to left tight end Willard Dewveall on a seam streak for 98 yards! 

Charlie Tolar can run block, pass block, catch the ball if needed, and will gain over 1,000 yards on the ground with his bowling ball style running. He is very productive on trap plays inside as he maneuvers well off the guards block. Dave Smith when given the opportunity off the bench can help any team. 

Billy Cannon will not come close to his superb 1961 season, and the breakdown is as follows: first three games 45 carries for 187 yards, and the last game of the year when completely healthy 9 carries for 103 yards, but the other ten games? A pedestrian 93 carries for 184 yards. 

Cannon is injured against San Diego in September and is just not the same ball carrier, yet he is one of the few backs in football that can break a game open as a receiver out of the backfield. The double wing formation is just what the doctor ordered for Billy, and as such he contributes with 13 touchdowns. Bill Groman never really recovers from his leg injury, and as such he catches 14 passes in the first half of the year, and then just 7 the second half of the campaign.

Rangy Bob McLeod is a complete tight end in that he blocks well, and is a viable weapon in the passing game. Surprising speed for a big man, he can run both short and deep routes well.....and he is consistent since he catches a pass in every game. 

Willard Dewveall can play both tight end and split end, and must be accounted for on every pass play. Similar to his days with the Bears; Willard makes the difficult catch look easy, and demonstrates the ability to go over the middle and go deep. Dewveall is more than adequate as a blocker. Usually aligned as the flanker to the right is Mr. Charlie Hennigan. No receiver in football explodes out of his cuts like Charlie, and he still has blistering speed. While he drops a pass every now and then, he is reliable and his fingertip catch against the Patriots when the Oilers needed it most in November would be shown repeatedly on Sports Center.

Charley Hennigan

Mr. Hennigan will not re-write the record book in '62, yet he still ranks as one of the best in the league and forces opponents to alter coverage due to his game-breaking ability. There was no award for assistant coach of the year in the days of the AFL, but if there was—Joe Spencer would have been a finalist. Four of his offensive lineman are selected for the AFL all-star game. 

Right guard Hogan Wharton is a fine pass blocker and is very effective on trap plays, and he is the one starter not selected. Center Bob Schmidt is as consistent as the day is long, and has the necessary quickness to cut-off the middle linebacker. Houston has a young quality back-up at right guard and center in John Frongillo. Right tackle Rich Michael has excellent feet, moves well and is adequate at the drive block. 

Left guard Bob Talamini has gotten better every year and is now among the best in the league. Hard-nosed, and dedicated; Talamini backs down from no one. This is the last year in the league for "Dirty" Al Jamison. He has overcome his debilitating back issues and continues to battle every play. Evaluating him on film is a joy.  He has average footwork and lacks quickness, but at the end of the game Dirty Al has blocked the man he is supposed to over and over again. His ability to hustle downfield and block (sometimes after the whistle) has become legendary. Not many men play in the championship game every year of their career, but his three years in the AFL have resulted in three title game appearances. 

The Houston Oilers allowed just 94 yards in sacks the entire year, and this will stand as the league record until Namath and his NYJ o-line better the mark in 1966. Consider that Blanda goes down for just 39 of the 94 yards and attempts over 400 passes is a testament to his ability to get rid of the ball, and Coach Spencer's boys keep defenders off of him.  The only AFL team to not allow a sack, and not lose a fumble five times in a single season are the 1962 Houston Oilers. While the offense could not score at the record setting pace of 513 points as they did in '61; scoring 387 is enough for the Oilers to finally win 11 games in a season. 

Wally Lemm was one of the best secondary coaches in the NFL during the 1950s, and the job he did in 1961 still stands out. Wally said it best, he just "polished tarnished silver". Wally is now with the Cardinals, yet there is an eery sameness to the Oiler defense in '62 as what he concocted in '61. Houston over shifts, shoots gaps, runs the zone blitz, and many times will safety blitz through one A-gap, while the middle linebacker shoots the other. Since eight men from the offense are chosen for the AFL all-star game, what does the defense have to say in this story of team success. 

The first half of the year the Oilers allow 156 points, but the second half of the year—oh yeah, only 114! So, who took the field for Houston when opponents have the ball? Dennit Morris was a sullen hard-bitten take no prisoners middle linebacker for the champion '61 Oilers, and he has retired. Houston with the 91st selection in the draft take Northwestern's undersized Larry Onesti.  

He has football savvy beyond his years, quickness, tenacity, and flows to the ball well. He starts opening day and records two sacks in the victory over Buffalo. Starting at middle linebacker at 194 lbs in the '60s is unheard of, and Onesti lasts just four games before being injured. He is replaced by Gene Babb. Athletic, and versatile in that he has played fullback for two different NFL teams, and also linebacker; the hope is he can deliver for Houston. He is by far the weakest link on the team. 

The outside linebackers fare much, much better. Right linebacker Mike Dukes is effective on the red-dog(blitz), adequate in coverage, and a strong tackler. Left linebacker Doug Cline handles tight ends well, can also red dog when asked, and is very able in pursuit. None of these men go to the all-star game. 

Rookie Bobby Jancik is productive as a kick return man, and as the season progresses gets more and more playing time at right corner, and even some at left safety. Jancik has the quickness and speed to play the position, yet his season is a baptism by fire. The reason Jancik plays as much as he does is simple; Mark Johnston is not the player he was in 1960. He is the man targeted the most in the Oiler secondary. Right safety Freddie Glick is chosen for the AFL All-Star game, but does not receive any all-pro recognition. Watching him play on film is a joy. Swift, tough, and a strong tackler, he is on the verge of stardom. 

Coach Armstrong uses Glick much the same way Larry Wilson is utilized in St. Louis. Left safety Jim "The Blade" Norton lacks speed, and is rail-thin, yet he is Second-team All-AFL and selected for the AFL All-Star game. Norton is a fine tackler (especially cutting runners down like a blade of grass), and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time on a pass defense. 

I have been asked many, MANY times to evaluate corner play for the decade of the AFL, and there was such a revolving door for so many teams, with so many men just not having the skill set to play the position for any length of time. Tony Banfield was by far the best corner in the early days of the AFL. His athleticism, quickness, and some backpedal are what the position calls for. Though he is not Night Train Lane in stopping sweeps, Tony does not hesitate in forcing the sweep, and making the tackle. Playing the ball in flight is his strength, and has the soft hands for the interception. He is unanimous First-team All-AFL. 

The second half of the 1961 season both Denver and Oakland became the doormats of the league, and as such an "equalization" draft was allowed in which teams could not keep all their players. The Houston Oilers are going to have to revamp their defensive line. 

The new left defensive end is Gary Cutsinger, and is going to be a real fine strong side defensive end when he gains experience. Cutsinger holds up admirably during '62. Late in the year 5'10'' Bucky Wegener plays defensive end and in the title game, he is one the best players on the field. Though he plays in only four games Ron McDole also shows flashes of ability (especially against New York). 

Ed Culpepper knows all about losing having played for the Chicago Cardinals and the expansion Minnesota Vikings. Still strong as a run plugger, Ed also is a factor in rushing the passer in '62. Rotating in with Ed is veteran Bill Herchman. While not very effective as a pass rusher, he and Culpepper hold up well in '62. 

Don Floyd

Right defensive end Don Floyd is unanimous First-team All-AFL. He sheds blocks well, has the skill set to rush the passer, and is able in pursuit. 

The last piece to this title contender is the birthday boy; Ed Husmann would have turned 89 today, and would have relished an opportunity to talk football with him. He is a walk-on at the University of Nebraska out of Ogallala (Lonesome Dove anyone?), and earns the Tom Novak award as a Cornhusker, "(T)he player that best exemplifies courage and determination". His background in track and basketball in high school demonstrates he has athleticism, and speed. 

Ed is the heavyweight college wrestling champion. He is a rookie with the 1953 Chicago Cardinals and learns all about what a losing organization is (1-10-1). After serving our country honorably he returns to the Cardinals in '56 and is part of the one winning team Chicago has in the decade. There are many so-called sources that list what position a man played, and are incorrect. 

Though not a starter on the '56 Cardinals he plays both defensive tackle and defensive end and starts the final game of the year against the Browns as the left defensive tackle. The Cardinals quickly fall from contention in '57, and late in the year he starts at right defensive tackle. 1958 he plays every game (not the four listed in the flawed Total Football), and is the starter at right defensive end. Twice during the season he will face Roosevelt Brown; thus an education on going against the best. 1959 he plays, but is not a starter for defensive co-ordinator Wally Lemm, though he is part of the November 1st victory over the Steelers(late in the game Len Dawson finally gets playing time for Pittsburgh at quarterback).

The Cardinals are headed to St. Louis but Ed is headed to Dallas and the expansion Cowboys. Again, hard lessons of losing. He is listed as the starting right defensive tackle for Tom Landry, yet saw him play right defensive end also. The Dallas Cowboys waive Husmann on September 5th, 1961, and he joins the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. When the Oilers are 1-3-1 no doubt Ed thought been down this sad road before, but not for long as Houston runs the table to become champions.

 Late in the '61 season during the winning streak, Husmann plays outstanding football at right defensive tackle, and is very effective rushing the passer and had at least 6½ sacks the last five games of the year. Billy Cannon is voted the MVP of the '61 title game, and second in the voting—Mr. Ed Husmann. Voted Second-team All-Pro in '61 you can imagine how he looked forward to '62 even with a new head coach and new defensive coordinator. 

This story will not detail every game for '62, yet two games for Ed stand out as he recorded 4 sacks in both. Against the New York Titans on October 14th, and against the Dallas Texans on November the 4th in a must-win game. 

How many defensive tackles have two 4 sack games in the same season? The list must be very short. Since Ed registered at least 12 sacks during the first 11 games of the year that means over the course of 16 games he garnered 18½ sacks! Evaluating him on film is a study in technique. 

Listed at either 235 or 240 lbs, he did not have the size to bullrush offensive guards. Husmann comes out of his stance and fires right into the guard when head up, then uses his hands expertly(wrestling background) to shed his opponent. Ed also would slide over to the gap and knife through into the backfield. At times he would align on the center and draw the double team. He would at times be overpowered by drive blocks, and double teams, but he would fight off the blocks and pursue with a vengeance which is one of his best traits. 

When the All-AFL voting was done for '62 Bud McFadin (very deserving)was unanimous All-Pro, but the other tackle was Jerry Mays? Though a fine player, he did not have the season Ed Husmann did in '62, and he is relegated to Second-team All-Pro. To end this saga will set the stage and take you to Houston and the title game clash against the Dallas Texans. 

For three years the Oilers combined record for the first half of the year is 12-8-1, but down the stretch when it counted the most, a robust 19-2. When you play the Houston Oilers late in the year, best bring your "A" game. Houston had a winning record against all the teams in the AFL for the first three years, except one, yes you guessed it; the Dallas Texans. 

October of '61 Dallas destroyed the Oilers on the ground in a Texan victory, and with a refurbished Len Dawson at the helm this Dallas team is a far cry better than the two previous Texan teams. The injury to all-AFL Chris Burford has convinced coach Hank Stram to adjust his game plan and formations. The Texans will go double tight end, with a flanker—early in the game all-world running back Abner Haynes, and two fullbacks split in the backfield. 

The Texans are effective running the ball and building a 17-0 half-time lead. Haynes scores on an out pattern as flanker right beating Banfield and zipping down the sideline to score. Dallas offensive line blocking scheme is effective, and going over the film shows Tyrer down blocking on Husmann, and the guard pulling. 

At times Husmann is double teamed by the guard and center, and Gene Babb is nowhere to be found in helping stop the run. Just as they had during the regular season the Oiler defense made excellent half-time adjustments(only 47 points allowed all year in the 3rd quarter). Gowdy and Christman comment that the Oilers look like "tigers" in the second half. The Houston pass rush records 6 sacks for 50 yards(Husmann is the only man to get two), and the re-aligned defensive scheme limits the run. When Dallas loses a fumble; Gowdy calls out who is at the bottom of the pile, and claims it is Husmann. The Game Book states it is Bucky Wegener. Gowdy exclaims during the Oiler rally that Husmann and the "determined defenders" of Houston have impacted the game.  

Blanda is cornered by Willard Dewveall at half-time concerning the coverages used by Dallas, and he has all six of his catches in the second half as the Oilers rally to tie the game, and late in 4th quarter Blanda attempts the winning field goal—BLOCKED. 

Overtime we go, and now in the 6th quarter the Texans move the ball into field goal range and Tommy Brooker delivers. Dallas dethrones Houston 20-17. Husmann returns in '63 to the Oilers and with a 6-4 record after ten games still have a chance to win the east, but the four-game losing streak ends the days of Oiler dominance. 

Husmann also plays in 1964 and '65 as his AFL career is coming to a close. He is durable (does not miss a game), but is aging, and heads north to Canada and Edmonton for '66. Will end this saga with a couple of quotes; first by the best left guard in AFL history in Billy Shaw—"Ed Husmann was the most competitive player he ever met". Husmann remarked as he is leaving for Canada; "I fought off the rookies for ten years now". 

SF 49ers: All-Time 3-4 Top Seasons

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

The following is a "career-year" team selected from the years the San Francisco 49ers played a base 3-4 defense—the "3-4 era" if you will.

The 49ers 3-4 "era" was from 1981-93 and then from 2005 through 2017 (though from 2005-2008 the 49ers switched back and forth, so we accounted for that in our picks). They are now back to a 4-3 base with the likes of Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead in the front four.

So, our "career-year" 3-4 era are those seasons. We will pick a base and a sub (nickel) unit.

Honorable Mentions

First, let's get the honorable mentions out of the way. Many of the ones on the Second-teams above were close choices, narrow choices above some of the names below.

Keena Turner, 1984, Mike Walter, 1989, Willie Harper, 1983, were all good. Turner was especially good. If we went for long-term picks rather than "career years" Turner and Walter would have been locks. Turner, we put on the nickel team anyway, but he was a good "Whip" or "Will" in base, but we had to go with the dominant pass rushers there.

Ray McDonald, 2011 as a base end and nose tackles Aubrayo Franklin, 2009, and Isaac Sopoaga, 2011 all get mentions. Nate Clements, 2010 and Don Griffin, 1990, were tough to not pick as the Second-team corner but felt Rodgers was a hair above them. We felt the same about Eric Reid's 2013.

Base Defense

Pierce Holt 

So, beginning with the base defense we chose Pierce Holt and Justin Smith. Holt, from 1989 to 1992 averaged 50 tackles and six sacks and Smith, from 2008-14 average 43 tackles and six sacks. Holt was a Second-team All-Pro in 1992 and Smith was a consensus All-Pro in 2011.

Both were stout run defenders in the 30 defense and would sink to tackle in the nickel and were fine rushers inside. Smith was especially tough inside, drawing a lot of double teams. 

Dwaine Board, 1983, Kevin Fagan, 1990, are the backups. In full seasons from 1981-86 Board averaged 45 tackles and 10 sacks a year and from 1988-90 Fagan's averages were 7 sacks and 50 tackles per season. 

Board would play right end in base defense but would usually move to left end in nickel to accommodate Fred Dean who usually played right end or the open end. On occasion, in 1986, he'd play inside in the nickel. 

Michael Carter is the top nose and Pete Kugler's 1983 is the Second-team. Carter was likely the top run defending nose tackle of the 1980s. He even got some pressure in passing downs at times. Kugler was a very active-type nose in 1983, had a good year, then left for the USFL. When he returned to the NFL in 1986 he was the starting left defensive end for the 49ers in 1987.

Charles Haley 

For the rush backer or "Elephant", we chose Haley over Aldon Smith. The term "Elephant" actually denotes the 49ers 4-3 defense. Haley's position was "whip". However, the "Elephant" term later because synonymous with the "Whip" so we went with that terminology.

This was a hard choice, but Haley's experience gives him the nod—in 1990 he'd been a starter for a few seasons whole Smith's 2012 was his first year as a starter. Both were dominant rushers—game-changers. Smith was a more freakish athlete but Haley was a little more slippery, a better technician. 

Patrick Willis 

We went with Willis and Bowman as the top inside linebackers. Willis was the "Mike" and Bowman the "Ted" the tight end side 'backer. Willis has a good shot at the Hall of Fame. Bowman was almost as good. Willis was en effective blitzer and was excellent in coverage. Any number of seasons for Willis could have been chosen but we went with 2009 with his 152 tackles four sacks, htree picks, 8 passes defensed and three forced fumbles. In 2013 Bowman had 145 tackles 5 sacks, six forced fumbles, two picks and eight passes defensed. That is some kind of production for inside linebackers.

In 2005 Derek Smith was the "Mike"' and had 116 tackles but 12.5 were 'stuffs'—a tackle behind the line of scrimmage to lead the NFL. At the other inside 'backer the "Plugger" as it was called in the 49er scheme is Hacksaw Reynolds. At first. Reynolds was the left inside linebacker in 1981 but quickly began to lineup opposite the tight end. He led the 49ers in tackles in 1981 and 1982 but gave way to situation linebackers more and more in 1983 and 1984. 

The Buck/Strongside linebacker is Ahmad Brooks and he backed up by todd Shell's 1985. From 2011 through 2016 Brooks averaged 50 tackles and 7 sacks and we think 2013 was likely his best season. Shell had a very short NFL career due to injuries but was called an 'emerging star" in 1984, and in 1985 he played over the tight end in base and was a nickel linebacker in sub defenses. In 1985 he made 56 tackles, four sacks, one pick, and defensed six passes. He was someone who filled three roles that were filled by three players previously, the "Buck" and the nickel rush inside 'backer and the nickel cover linebacker. 

Ronnie Lott 

Three of our four secondary members were from 1981 (Lott, Williamson, Hicks) and Eric Wright, we went with 1985 but several seasons would have worked. He picked off a lot of balls in 1983 then teams quit targeting him. Clearly, Lott could have been picked as a safety for 1986 or other years as well, but we kept it to one position per player.

Backing them up we chose Tim McKyer, 1988, Carlos Rogers, 2011, as the corners and Donte Whitner, 2013, and Dashon Goldson, 2012 as the deep men. 

Sub defense

Fred Dean 

Fred Dean, 1981 (12 sacks with 49ers), and Aldon Smith, 2012 (19.5 sacks), are the top ends. Smith, this time, beats out Haley's 1990 year (16 sacks). In pass-rush mode, Smith was just dominating and though picking Haley over Smith would have been okay, Smith was just tremendous in 2012. Dean was simply the key to the 49ers getting over the hump to the Super Bowl. He gave them what they needed to beat the good teams and he was the first non-starting designated pass rusher to be All-Pro, go to a Pro Bowl and win a Defensive Player of the Year Award (He was the UPI DOPY).  Board gets the final slot on the edge.

Jeff Stover

The inside rushers were easy. We just sink Holt and Smith to tackles. We do pick Holt's 1989 in nickel as opposed to his 1992 in the base due to more sacks and hurries. We also sink Fagan from, end to tackle. 

Justin Smith

Then bring in Jeff Stover who was a long, lean, strong fast rusher. Stover, like Michael Carter, was a world-class shot-putter. Stover though was an angular body type who was 6-5, 275, and could run a 4.7 forty and average over 10 sacks a season in 1985-86.  

Willis is our First-team nickel linebacker and his backup is Keena Turner who was a fine linebacker whose forte was coverage—often being the only linebacker on the field. In his prime, from 1981-87 Turner averaged 65 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 passes defensed per season. In 1984 he pilfered four passes and in 1985 he had 6 sacks. He was a complete off-the-ball linebacker. 

Jeff Fuller 

As the other linebacker position, we are picking the "Buffalo nickel" Jeff Fuller, 1985. He's the kind of player you see all over the place now, a safety playing one of the linebacker spots in nickel and can play the second-slot receiver in dime without the defense having to change personnel. From 1984-86, per 16 games, Fuller averaged 3 sacks and 3 picks, though he was hurt and missed 10 games in 1986. He was a special player would would be a star in today's NFL with his hybrid skills.

Bobby Leopold was the linebacker who came in for coverage in 1983 and did a fine job. He was good enough at pass coverage that he started at safety on occasion (much like Seth Joyner could do a decade later). 

Our five-man secondary for nickel is as follows: corners Tim McKyer, 1988, and Eric Wright, 1985. The strong safety is Carlton Williamson, 1981, the nickel free safety Tom Holmoe, 1986, and lurker (the 49ers nomenclature) Ronnie Lott, 1981.  

Lott also played safety in nickel in 1981, he probably played more slot or "lurk" in 1982 and 1983 but that was a function of what teams did at the time. In 1984 the 49ers were in nickel about one-third of the time, split between their "nickel" and "Buffalo" and in 1981 it was less than that. Now, sub defenses can be anywhere from 50-75% of the defensive snaps.

Regardless, Lott was great at the slot, he had the coverage abilities of the corner but could blitz and hit or play middle-of-the field. 

The second-unit secondary is composed of Carlos Rogers, 2011 (corner), and Tarell Brown, 2010 (outside corner, the 'nickel back'), Donte Whitner, 2013, and Dashon Goldson, 2012 (safeties), and Nate Clements, 2010, (playing the slot).

Agree or disagree? Let us know in comments below.