Clips of Senior's Committee Semifinalist Al Wistert

 By John Turney 

When "The Hidden Game of Football" was released in 1988 authors Bob Carroll, Pete Palmer and John Thorn changed the way many folks looked at football. Some of their ideas are still used to this day in terms of discussing analytics and metrics.

Each author contributed different parts with Palmer and Thorn mostly discussing the analytics and Carrool, of course contributing, but Carroll did a lot of the narrative.

He had one chapter entitled "Ramblings in the Pantheon" where he discussed Hall of Fame candidates and applied some of the legendary Bill James's methods of comparing players in and out of the Hall. 

Among the players he discussed most was Al Wistert, a tackle who played for the Eagles in the 1940s and early 1950s. 

Wistert was a longtime starter, five-time All-Pro, played on two championship teams, blocked for the player who ended his career as the NFL's all-time leading rusher (Steve Van Buren), was picked All-Decade and had some testimonials from great players who thought he was top-notch and he also played on record-setting teams. 

Still, Wistert wasn't in the Hall of Fame then and is still not. 

He was one of the Final 20 of the 2020 Centennial Class but was eliminated in the first reduction vote. It has been suggested that Wistert's film was not evaluated highly by one or more members of the Blue-Ribbon panel that did the voting. However, to be fair, since we were not present it is not known what and how that opinion was conveyed. All we know he Wistert fell a bit short.

Last year he was not on the Senior's Committee semifinalist list but he is on it this year -- one of the 31 names that have a chance to move on to the Final 12. The senior committee will then meet and discuss those twelve and cut six of them. Then they will cut to three. Those three will be presented to the Hall of Fame voters as a whole and be voted in or not. 

His case has been made many times in terms of the stats, the postseason honors, the championships and the rest of his credentials.

To shed some light here are some clips of Wistert in action. Wistert is No. 70. He's the left tackle on offense and the right defensive tackle on defense. In that era what they called "tackles" would be considered ends today. The same is true for players like HOFer Arnie Weinmeister

Wistert on the right edge, a de facto outside linebacker

A nice tackle for loss, Wistert gets in front of the single-wing 

lead blocker to make tackle

Wistert, lined up on the left tackle keeps outside leverage

and strings out the play and is in on the tackle

Wistert, in a two-point stance, shoots the gap

and closes on the ball, in on the tackle

In that era, linemen cut defenders a lot. It was

simply standard.  Neither of the above two plays

are big gainers but they are solid runs and 

good blocks by Wistert made them so.

A short set in pass protection.

This is 1946. Wistert a two-point stance as a tackle

follows the motioning halfback on his side 

man to man. This is something that was not

just a gimmick—it was part of the game plan.

Wistert takes No. 98 LHB Tom Harmon who motions

to the right flat. Hard to see but he stays with

Harmon and Kenny Washington throws the ball elsewhere

Wistert, #70 right tackle gets out in front and seals 

the far edge on a right-side screen

Obviously, you cannot get a complete sense of someone's career from just a few clips but you can get some idea of the player they were. In seeing more than a few full games of the Eagles from that era there is nothing we can see to suggest the All-Pro voters were wrong, or that George Allen (who called him one of the best linemen ever), or Sammy Baugh (named him to his personal all-time team) were also wrong. 

Of the 31 players on the semifinalist list, no one has more first-team All-Pros than Wistert. Only two have more rings than he does.

It would be terrific if the voters would use one of the three slots for a super senior, and the other two for more recent players. It seems only fair that if you go by traditional standards for what a Hall of Famer is he's qualified notwithstanding what may or may not have been said a few years ago in the Centennial Class meeting. 

Hall of Fame Finalists from 1971 through 1998

 By John Turney 

This is an updated version of a post from earlier this month. Since then Steve Hartman has provided further information and corrected for some errors.

Hartman is an award-winning sportscaster and writer who covered Super Bowls, Final Fours and MLB All-Star games. He was one of the "Loose Cannons" a fixture of Southern California radio for decades.

Dave Anderson, a writer/columnist for the New York Times, was a long-time Hall-of-Fame voter. He is the original source for players who were close to election but ultimately fell short in the given years.

He kept notes over his time on the committee and eventually shared them with Steve Hartman who also found a handful of players who survived the cut from 15 to 10. In several years there were ties in teh voting and there would be a Final 11, not a Final 10.

The Hall of Fame process is that active players would be voted on and the top 14 would make the finalist list. An additional slot was for a player who emerged from the senior committee making it a Final 15.

That group of 15 was then narrowed to ten. And then from ten to six (early years it was five) with the senior candidate automatically in the final seven.

Those seven were then voted on with a "yes" or "no". Players who received 80 percent or more were elected to the Hall and in the Summer, induction in Canton.

These were his findings. 

Players known to have survived the cut from the Final 15 to ten (or eleven) and noted if they were a finalist.  A "Finalist" is someone who got to the yes/no stage of the voting and did not get the required 80 percent needed for election.

Senior candidates make it to the final  (yes-no?) round automatically and are not included in the "Final 10" (or eleven).

pre-1971

no information currently known

1972

Dante Lavelli—Finalist, not elected

Joe Schmidt—Finalist, not elected

1973

Lou Groza—Finalist, not elected

Ole Haugsrud—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate—Never inducted

“Night Train” Lane—Finalist, not elected

Tony Morabito—Finalist, not elected—Never inducted

1974

Roosevelt Brown—Finalist, not elected

Dante Lavelli—Finalist, not elected

Jim Taylor—Finalist, not elected

1975

Jim Ringo—Finalist, not elected

Clark Shaughnessy—Finalist, not elected—Never inducted

1976

Willie Davis—Finalist, not elected

Weeb Ewbank—Finalist, not elected

Jim Ringo—Finalist, not elected

1977

Weeb Ewbank—Finalist, not elected

1978

Charley Conerly—Finalist, not elected—Never inducted

1979

Marshall Goldberg—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate—Never inducted

Paul Hornung—Finalist, not elected

Pete Rozelle—Finalist, not elected

1980

Lou Creekmur—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate

Paul Hornung—Finalist, not elected

Don Maynard—Finalist, not elected

1981

Doug Atkins—Finalist, not elected

Pete Rozelle—Finalist, not elected

1982

Sid Gillman—Finalist, not elected

Pete Rozelle—Finalist, not elected

1983

Joe Namath—Finalist, not elected

Mac Speedie—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate

Gene Hickerson—Made final ten

Paul Hornung—Made final ten

John Henry Johnson—Made final ten

Pete Rozelle—Made final ten

1984

Fran Tarkenton—Finalist, not elected

Joe Namath—Finalist, not elected

Willie Lanier—Finalist, not elected

1985

Paul Hornung—Finalist, not elected

Fran Tarkenton—Finalist, not elected

1986

Len Dawson—Finalist, not elected

Don Maynard—Finalist, not elected

Larry Csonka—Made final eleven

Al Davis—Made final eleven

Tom Mack—Made final eleven

*Missing the fourth member of the final eleven

1987

All seven finalists elected

Fred Biletnikoff—Made final ten

Al Davis—Made final ten

Bob Griese—Made final ten

Alan Page—Made final ten

1988

Bob Griese—Finalist, not elected

Lou Rymkus—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate—Never inducted

Art Shell—Finalist, not elected

George Allen—Made final ten

Al Davis—Made final ten

Bud Grant—Made final ten

*Missing the fourth member of the final ten

1989

Bob Griese—Finalist, not elected

Ted Hendricks—Finalist, not elected

Henry Jordan—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate

Al Davis—Made final ten

Bud Grant—Made final ten
Tom Mack—Made final ten

*Missing the fourth member of the final ten

1990

Class of seven, a tie for the top 10

Al Davis—Made final eleven

Dan Deirdorf—Made final eleven

Larry Little—Made final eleven

Ron Yary—Made final eleven

1991

Al Davis—Finalist, not elected

John Mackey—Finalist, not elected

Lem Barney—Made final eleven

Bob Brown—Made final eleven

Carl Eller—Made final eleven

LC Greenwood—Made final eleven

John Riggins—Made final eleven

1992

Willie Galimore—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate—Never inducted

Charlie Joiner—Finalist, not elected

Tom Mack—Finalist, not elected

Bob Brown—Made final ten

Dan Deirdorf—Made final ten

Carl Eller—Made final team  

Bud Grant—Made final ten

1993

Jackie Smith—Finalist, not elected

Dick Stanfel—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate

Bob Brown—Made final ten

Charlie Joiner—Made final ten

Mel Renfro—Made final ten

Dwight Stephenson—Made final ten

1994

Dan Dierdorf—Finalist, not elected

Carl Eller—Made final ten

Charlie Jouner—Made final ten

Tom Mack—Made final ten

Mel Renfro—Made final ten

1995

Dan Dierdorf—Finalist, not elected

Dwight Stephenson—Finalist, not elected

L.C. Greenwood—Made final ten

Mike Haynes—Made final ten

Charlie Joiner—Made final ten

Mel Renfro—Made final ten

1996

Mike Haynes—Finalist, not elected

Dwight Stephenson—Finalist, not elected

Tom Mack—Made final ten

Lynn Swann—Made final ten

Mike Webster—Made final ten

Jack Youngblood—Made final ten

1997

Jerry Kramer—Finalist, not elected, Senior Candidate

Dwight Stephenson—Finalist, not elected

Lynn Swann—Finalist, not elected

Carl Eller—Made final ten

Paul Krause—Made final ten

Ozzie Newsome—Made final ten

John Stallworth—Made final ten

1998

Ozzie Newsome—Finalist, not elected

Dan Rooney—Finalist, not elected

George Allen—Made final eleven

Carl Eller—Made final eleven

Tom Mack—Made final eleven

John Stallworth—Made final eleven

Jack Youngblood—Made final eleven

The Hall of Fame has published this data from 1999 to the present.

See What Happens When Nike Has Nothing to Do With Your Uniform Design?

 By John Turney

Good things happen. Bucco Bruce returns and the Florida Orange jerseys with red trim also return. 

The so-called Creamsicle uniforms will be an alternate in 2023 and beyond and they look good. So, congratulations to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nike, who ruined the Buc's uniforms in 2014 had nothing to do with this design. They simply used the original template down to the socks.

Nike has failed so many times with uniforms of their own creations it's good that teams are not letting them even tweak the throwbacks. 

Well done, Bucs.

The original design art for the Florida Orange and red uniforms

Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Roman Gabriel — Overlooked or Not by HOF Voters?

By John Turney  

In most cases, Hall-of-Fame candidates are judged on their peak years. And, in most cases, Hall-of-Fame voters look at what that candidate did vs. his peers and decide if he qualifies for Canton. When you look at quarterback Roman Gabriel's peak, it's clear he deserves to have voters hear his case. 

But it's never happened. Not when he was a modern-era candidate nor since he moved into the senior category. 

That must change.

When Gabriel was a starter from 1966-75 -- an 11-year peak, if you will --his performance and team success compare so favorably to other quarterbacks in that span that they demand the Hall's attention. 

And here's why:

-- He was third in touchdown passes, third in yards passing, second in completions and first in lowest interception percentage --essentially top-three in everything. That means he was one of the elite quarterbacks of his time.

-- More importantly, he was the starting quarterback in 74 wins. Only Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton had more. That's further evidence that Roman Gabriel could be counted on to win -- a critical criterion for Hall-of-Fame voters.

So, you may ask, "Outside his years as a full-time starter, what happened? How did he play?"

In his first four seasons in the NFL, the Rams were in disarray, and coaches couldn't decide on a quarterback. That meant Gabriel was only a part-time starter from 1962, when he was a first-round draft pick, through 1965, the year before George Allen arrived.

However, he was able to start 23 games during that time and was 11-11-1. On the surface, that doesn't sound like much, but it is when compared to the Rams' quarterbacks who started the other 32 games. In those games, Zeke Bratkowski, Ron Miller, Terry Baker and Bill Munson were a combined 4-27-2. 

So, while Gabriel won 50 percent of his starts, the others won 15.1 percent of theirs. That's a huge difference.

It wasn't just dumb luck, either, Gabe earned the wins. When he started, the Rams averaged 20.6 points and 303.8 yards a game. Under the other, not-so-fearsome foursome, those numbers dropped to 15.9 and 236.6. Furthermore, with Gabriel running the offense, L.A. turned the ball over an average of 2.3 times per game. With the others, it was 3.2 times.

There was even a Gabriel effect on the defense. With the Rams moving the ball and grinding out first downs under his direction, their defense was on the field less. As a result, it surrendered about one touchdown less per game when the former South Carolina All-American was in charge.

Nevertheless, Gabriel never won the trust of coaches Bob Waterfield or Harland Svare. He did, however, have George Allen's faith from jump street.

"Why aren't the Rams starting this guy?" he asked when he coached the Bears' defense.

When Allen took over the Rams in 1966, he immediately made Gabriel his starter, and the results speak for themselves: After five years together, the two walked away with 49 wins ... the most by any quarterback, AFL or NFL, during that time. Gabriel also went to three Pro Bowls and was the league's MVP in 1969 under Allen.

You could make a strong case that he should have been the MVP in 1967, too. Back then, votes were taken prior to the final game, and Unitas, the actual MVP, went into that weekend, 11-0-2, while Gabriel was 10-1-2. Unitas had thrown 19 touchdowns against 14 interceptions; Gabriel 22 and 13.

So what happened? Gabriel threw four touchdown passes, and the Rams whipped the Colts, 34-10, to win the NFL Western Conference.

Gabriel was the NFL Offensive Player of the Week, ending the regular-season with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Unitas had 20 TDs and 16 picks. Had votes been collected after that last regular-season game, the outcome may have been different.

But Gabriel did more than throw for touchdowns. He scored them, too. The Rams didn't have a terrific running game under Allen, so, when it mattered, they turned to their incredibly strong quarterback. Long before Tom Brady, Gabriel was his team's short-yardage runner, either on a sneak or rollout that had a run-or-pass option.

And both were effective. 

In the Gabriel-Allen years, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Gabriel ran for 19 touchdowns. Not only was it more than any Rams' running back; it tied for 11th among all runners in pro football, not just the NFL. Now, think of that:  Only 10 players ran for more touchdowns than a quarterback. Given the era, that's remarkable.

But it goes on.

From 1966-72, his 22 rushing touchdowns were more than any Rams' running back. And, spanning his entire career, his 30 career rushing scores were more than all quarterbacks, bar none.

Allen was fired after the 1970 season, and Gabriel had arm and knee problems in 1971 and 1972, even seeking an acupuncturist to ease the pain in his right arm. That so shook the Rams, they traded for John Hadl ... a move that led to an unhappy Gabriel asking out.

The Eagles won the bidding war.

In Philadelphia, he was the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 1973 -- a season when he was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and led the league with 3,219 yards, 23 touchdown passes and lowest interception percentage. The Eagles were 5-8-1, but astonishingly close to 7-7 and dramatically improved from the team that won two games the previous year.

The losing record likely kept him from making All-Pro, but astute New York Post writer Paul Zimmerman picked Gabriel to that publication's squad. Zim got it. He knew what Gabriel accomplished.

When he retired, Gabriel ranked as the Rams' all-time leader in most career passing categories and still holds the team's career TD record (154) ... 46 years after playing his last game with the Rams. Also at the time of his retirement, he was in the Top Ten all-time in completions and passing yards. 

If you opened the "1983 NFL Record and Fact Book" under the category of "Lowest Pct., Passes Had Intercepted, Career (1,500 attempts)," you'd have seen Gabriel's name atop the list. What's more, recent research reveals that only Unitas, Tarkenton, Len Dawson and Bart Starr won more times during his career than Gabriel's 86.

All but Gabriel are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nevertheless, his resume says he deserves consideration for Canton, too. Twice, he led the league in scoring passes and three times he led it in lowest interception percentage. He started 89 consecutive games, which was an NFL record for quarterbacks then, and wasn't surpassed until 12 years later.

If there's a knock on Gabriel, it's that he not only didn't win a championship but failed to take the Rams or Eagles to a Super Bowl. But there are plenty of quarterbacks in the Hall without a ring. Jim Kelly didn't win it all. Neither did Dan Marino, Dan Fouts or Warren Moon. Nor Sonny Jurgensen and Fran Tarkenton. If it didn't matter with them, it shouldn't matter with Gabriel, who's the first Pacific Islander to start at quarterback in the NFL.

Gabriel is of Filipino descent.

No, Roman Gabriel wasn't the top quarterback of his era - - his peers included Unitas, Tarkenton, Jurgensen, and Namath -- but he was one of the best ... with one difference: He's never had his case discussed by Hall-of-Fame selectors. The individual who put L.A. back on the football map ... and who was durable and successful ... should at least have that opportunity.

Hopefully, that changes this week when the Hall releases its Class of 2024 senior semifinalists. Granted, it's a long shot, but it would at least start the process for one of the great, underrated quarterbacks of all time.

Pittsburgh Steelers' Career Years—Top Twenty Outside Linebackers

By John Turney

Outside linebacker is a legacy position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Jack Ham, Kevin Greene, T.J. Watt, James Harrison, Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter ... you name it. The list of decorated outside linebackers is long -- particularly after the Steelers switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 in 1982. In fact, since then, only the Philadelphia Eagles sacked more quarterbacks than the men from Steel City.

So which season among outside linebackers from either scheme ranks first in Steelers' history? I'm about to tell you.

I took the top season from each player -- one per customer -- and ranked it by using a variety of criteria, including the "eye test," individual statistics, post-season honors and team success.

Here's the list:

20. (tie) Dirt Winston 1979; and Marv Matuszak, 1953—Winston only started one year for the Steel Curtain defense. That year he was third on the team in tackles with 97, intercepted three balls and recovered three plus he defensed six passes. One of his interceptions was a pick-six.

He was not slated to be a starter but when Robin Cole got injured the right linebacker position was his. 

In the playoffs when he filled in for Jack Ham who was banged up and added another interception and played well in Super Bowl XIV as well making seven total tackles.

It was a good year for someone who was a middle linebacker by trade plus anyone named "Dirt" needs to be on this list. John Madden would have loved that nickname.

Marv Matuszak was a long-time NFL player sometimes good sometimes average. His rookie year, playing in a 5-3 he was solid and went to a Pro Bowl in 1953. He didn't sustain it in Pittsburgh and went to the 49ers and then to the Colts (with a stint with the Packers) and played well. 

In 1953 the Steelers defense was good and the 6-3, 232-pound rookie was excellent.

19. Jason Worilds, 2013—Undersized -- just over 6-1 and around 245 pounds -- but he was fairly effective. He broke out in 2013 as a replacement for James Harrison who was getting long in the tooth and who signed with the Bengals. He made 63 tackles, and had eight sacks (leading the team). The analytics site Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him credit for 50 total pressures. He forced two fumbles as well. 

His 2014 was very similar but he went with 2013 but really, either could be his career year.

He performed solidly the next season but abruptly retired in March of 2015 to "pursue other interests" which turned out to be devoting his time to working for his Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.

At the time Worilds was an unrestricted free agent and would have been offered a $6-8 million a year contract showing quite a sacrifice for his faith. Good for him. 

18. Carlos Emmons, 1999—Emmons took over the right outside linebacker position from Greg Lloyd who'd lost a lot of his production after a 1996 knee injury (patella tendon tear). Emmons stepped in and in his second year as a starter had a career year which he parlayed into a big raise in 2000 by signing a four-year $ 7 million deal with the Eagles.

He had six sacks among his 67 tackles and picked off a pass, forced a fumble and recovered thee. Not a great year but good enough to make this list.

17. Clark Haggans, 2005—Sadly, Haggans passed away last month at the age of 46. He was a solid player and in 2005 made 61 tackles including nine sacks. He recovered two fumbles and forced four. 

he started all four playoff games as the Steelers won the Super Bowl. In the big game, Haggans sacked Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the opening drive.

Haggans was about average size among the Steelers' rushers in the 1990s and 2000s and maybe the slowest -- being time in 4.97 in the forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He compensated with good strength and technique. 

15 (tie). Robin Cole, 1982; and Bryan Hinkle, 1984 —Cole's five sacks in 1982 are not a lot, but, when you account for it as a strike-shortened season, it projects to nine over 16 games. It was Cole's first year in the 3-4 scheme, and the player who held the right-linebacker spot in the previous scheme transitioned well.

Hinkle took over for Cole at right outside linebacker (Cole had moved inside), and his numbers -- 55 tackles, 5-1/2 sacks -- also seem modest. But he played inside on a lot of passing downs, especially after Jack Lambert was out, intercepted three passes and had a fumble recovery returned for a TD.

Neither Cole nor Hinkle had much in the way of size. Cole was 6-2, 220 pounds and Hinkle was about the same weight and an inch shorter. But both were solid and helped the Steelers move from a three-linebacker unit to one that featured four.

14. John Reger, 1961—He played a little at middle linebacker early in his career, found his place as a right-side linebacker in the late 1950s and became a very good player. He was second-team All-Pro in 1959-61 and went to the Pro Bowl in those years. 

I picked 1961 because he was one of the top two players on a team that was first in the NFL vs. the run and second in total defense.

13. Bud Dupree, 2019—It was a good year for Duperee, with 68 tackles, 11-1/2 sacks, nine tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. According to Sports Information Solutions (SIS), he also had 52 quarterback pressures. Dupree was probably the biggest in the long line of Steelers' rush backers at 6-4 and nearly 270 pounds.

12. Alex Highsmith, 2022—He had 64 tackles, 14 sacks, a league-leading five forced fumbles and 52 quarterback pressures per SIS. His performance landed him on the Writers' All-AFC team, and in Week 10 he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

11. LaMarr Woodley, 2009—He was second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in his career year. His 20 tackles for loss led the NFL, and PFF charted him with 60 total pressures. He had 62 tackles, 13-1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. In Week 16 he was the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week.

10. Andy Russell, 1974—Russell was All-Pro in 1975 and a second-team All-Pro in two other seasons, but 1974 seems to be the best overall year.He had 82 tackles (10 for losses), four sacks, five passes deflected, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and was named All-AFC.

Other seasons were considered. In fact, in addition to 1975, almost every year from 1968-73 could have been chosen as his career season.  Russell was that reliable year in and year out.

9. Jason Gildon, 2001—It came down to two years, with 2000 the other consideration. But I picked 2001 when he was first-team All-Pro, went to his second Pro Bowl and was the Week Nine AFC Defensive Player of the Week. 

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy made 56 tackles, forced three fumbles, deflected eight passes, and recovered a pair of fumbles -- returning one for a touchdown. His 12 sacks tied for ninth in the NFL.

8. Chad Brown, 1996—After starting his career as an inside linebacker, Brown moved outside after star linebacker Greg Lloyd was injured in the first game. Because Brown his first three seasons played on the edge in passing situations, it wasn't a big change.

In truth, he preferred being outside, and it showed. He responded with 81 tackles and 13 sacks. He also defensed eight passes, forced three fumbles, had two fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions. And he did all of that playing with an injured ankle the last month of the season.

He was a first-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and fourth in the AP Defensive-Player-of-the-Year voting. Furthermore, his career-year performance earned him a big-money contract with Seattle the following year.

7. Joey Porter, 2002—Porter was more than just an edge rusher. He'd drop into coverage more than most 'backers on this list, as his 2002 performance demonstrated. He intercepted four passes and was credited with 10 passes defensed, had nine sacks, made 89 tackles and forced two fumbles. 

His post-season honors included first-team All-Pro and snagging a Pro Bowl slot. He was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week the second week of the season and was recognized as the Steelers' MVP.

6. Mike Merriweather, 1984—He was the first big-time rusher for the Steelers after they moved to a 3-4 defense in 1982. In his top year, 1984, he recorded 15 sacks, setting a linebacker team record that would last 24 years. Merriweather made 101 tackles, picked off two passes defensed 11 more, and forced two fumbles -- one of which he recovered.

NFL Films called the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker "the Pied Piper of the Pittsburgh pass rush." Given how much time he spent in coverage, it's remarkable that he had so many sacks -- with most coming on blitzes. 

5. Kevin Greene, 1994—The long-haired blonde was terrific in 1994, his best year as a Steeler. He led the NFL in sacks with 14, made 69 tackles (eight for losses), forced a fumble and fell on three. He was first-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and the Week Five AFC Defensive Player of the Week. In addition, the Players' Association voted him the AFC co-Linebacker of the Year. 

4. Greg Lloyd, 1995—If Lloyd's knees hadn't deteriorated, he probably would've strung together a few more great seasons and be in the Hall of Fame. The undersized (6-2, 228) sixth-round pick out of Ft. Valley State went to five straight Pro Bowls (1991-95) and was a first-team All-Pro from 1993-95.

Any of those seasons could be considered his career year.

But I'm going with 1995. He had more sacks in 1994, but he did a lot more than rush the passer one year later. He made 116 tackles, tied for an NFL-best six forced fumbles and was credited by Steelers' coaches with 18 tackles for loss. He also had a career-high three interceptions, defensed four passes and was credited with 6-1/2 sacks.

When the Steelers went to six-defensive back packages he became an inside linebacker with Greene and Chad Brown usually on the edges -- proof that he'd become a complete player.

In 1991-92 he had double-digits in tackles for loss (does not include sacks) but in the sub defenses he played left defensive end. That allowed him more opportunities to make plays in the backfield, which was good. But he wasn't as complete a player as he was later.

3. James Harrison, 2008—He was short (6-0) and powerful and the NFL's best defender. The AP's Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison was also the Steelers' MVP and a consensus All-Pro in a season where his 16 sacks were fourth in the NFL and he led the league with seven forced fumbles. 

In all, the 2002 undrafted free agent made 101 tackles, recorded a safety and even stole an enemy pass. Pro Football Focus credited him with 57 pressures - his career high.  One independent scouting firm ranked him first in the NFL among all players at his position, and twice he won NFL/AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Later, in Super Bowl XLIII, he cut in front of a Kurt Warner pass at the goal line and ran it back 100 yards for a touchdown -- a play that Dick Lebeau, then the Steelers' defensive coordinator, called "the greatest single defensive play in Super Bowl history." 

2. T.J. Watt, 2021—Like Harrison, Watt was an AP Defensive Player of the Year, consensus All-Pro, Pro Bowler and All-AFC in his career season. Three times he was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week and, like Porter and Harrison, voted the team MVP. 

He tied the official league record with 22-1/2 sacks, made 64 tackles, forced five fumbles, deflected seven passes and had 69 pressures (SIS), with much of the damage as a defensive end in nickel-and-dime packages. 

By contrast, early in his career he dropped into coverage an estimated 15-20 percent of the time. But that declined as he became a pass-rush weapon.  Incredibly, Watt's performance was achieved despite missing a couple of games and parts of a couple more. 

1. Jack Ham, 1975—He was so consistently great that any of a number of years could be considered his best. In his first four pro years, he picked off 16 passes, more than any linebacker in the NFL. But 1975, quarterbacks quit challenging him.

It was that season that the man from Linebacker U. had 88 tackles, three sacks and an interception. Granted, he had better stats in other years, but Ham is one of those players who is more than the sum of his statistics.

He was a player that had to be seen to appreciate his greatness.

He played superb football from Week One through the playoffs, particularly in the divisional playoff game vs. the Colts when he had a sack, a 13-yard tackle for a loss and a deflected a pass as the Steelers went on to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Pro Football Weekly named him its Defensive Player of the Year, though the AP award went to teammate Mel Blount. Ham had all the accolades you'd expect in a career year -- making all the "all" teams. "Dobre Shunka" ("The Great Ham" in Polish, Ham's heritage) could do everything a linebacker should. 

He wouldn't get hooked on runs to his side. He could take on a tight end or running back in man-to-man coverage. He could break on balls when in zone coverage. He could blitz effectively, all within the structure of the defense.

Instincts were what set Ham apart from other linebackers. He wasn't big (6-1, 225 pounds), extraordinarily fast (he ran a 4.7 40) or strong ("I don't rely that much on weights"), but he was quick and intuitive on the football field. Plus, he was more than a good tackler. He was a striker who would pop people.

"He's a defensive player that makes things happen," said Hall-of-Fame coach Chuck Noll. "Even though he's on defense, he's an offensive threat."

His 1975 season was the best by a Steelers' outside linebacker.

Ross Browner—Worth Remembering

By John Turney 

Ross Browner is someone we shouldn't forget. No, he never made All-Pro or was voted to a Pro Bowl. In fact, the only postseason honors he received in the NFL was making the 1978 All-Rookie team.

His individual recognition came during his college career at Notre Dame. 

While in South Bend he was an All-American in 1976 and 1977. He won the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) in 1976 and the Lombardi Trophy (outstanding college lineman) in 1977 and was voted the UPI Lineman of the Year in both seasons.

He even won the Maxwell Award as the top player in college football, a rarity for a lineman. Since, he won the award only one other lineman has received it, Hugh Green in 1980.

Browner was that good as a collegian. 

He also set most of the school's individual records for defensive linemen such as tackles and tackles for loss plus others. 

Browner was the proverbial "everyone's All-American."

And his play didn't go to waste - the Fighting Irish won national championships in both 1973 and 1977.

All that landed in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The NFL was a different story. He was very good but not dominant like Lee Roy Selmon or Randy White, two players who won similar awards in the same era.

His NFL career mostly took place in Queen City.

The Cincinnati Bengals took him eighth overall in the 1978 draft and immediately plugged him in at right defensive end. There he stayed for the next nine seasons, except for a five-game stint in the USFL between the 1985 and 1986 NFL seasons.

The Bengals traded Coy Bacon, the man who occupied the right end spot in 1976 and 1977 to Washington and Browner was expected to be a blindside rusher. 

His coach said about him, "He can run like a deer, he's strong and a high-intensity player - he does not watch the parade go by."

He was noted for being an extraordinary athlete - with the same coach saying if the Bengals had a team  decathlon "he'd win most of the events."

Browner, who had three brothers who played in the NFL, didn't become an NFL star. He was a solid, steady, reliable player. 

In 1980 new coach Forrest Gregg hired Hank Bullough off of the Patriots' staff to be his defensive coordinator. With Bullough came the 3-4 defense which was what they'd been running for years.

At first, there was talk of playing Browner as an outside linebacker in the new scheme but ultimately he remained at right defensive end.

This meant a different role for Browner.  He'd led the team in sacks in his first two seasons in the 4-3 but he wouldn't lead the club again until 1985. 

His role as a defensive end changed. He'd have to push a blocker back, read the play, then make a move to the ball carrier. The read-first allowed the linebackers to flow to the ball carrier.

No longer could Browner just take off and then read. He had to be more disciplined but Browner adapted as did the rest of the front seven. 

The offense, led by Ken Anderson, gets a lot of the credit for the Bengals' success in the early 1980s credit but the defense wasn't along for the ride. 

The new 3-4 worked well.

From 1980 through 1984, their first five years in the 3-4, no team allowed fewer rushing yards than did the gang at Riverfront. 

No, that is not a misprint. In the first half of the 1980s, the Bengals stopped the run better than the Bears, not the Cowboys, not the Raiders - better than everyone.

Bet you didn't know that. Few do.

Teams just didn't run on the Bengals back then.

In 1981 the Bengals fought through the playoffs and made it to Super Bowl XVI, losing to the 49ers (Browner got a sack on Joe Montana) and to the playoffs the next year.

The offense sputtered the year after that but the defense remained strong, ranking first in 1983 and then the team went into a transition. Gregg and Bullough were out and Sam Wyche and Dick Lebeau were in.

Browner was his usual solid self for the next few years. Feeling underpaid he signed with the Gamblers in the USFL but returned to the Bengals quickly.

Waived in 1987 by the Bengals (to make room for first-round pick Jason Buck) Forrest Gregg, then with the Packers, signed him to be a backup lineman. That lasted a year then the Pack let him go. He signed a contract with the Rams for the 1988 season but didn't make the team.

It was time to hang 'em up.

For his career he played 138 games, starting 123. While a Bengal he averaged 68 tackles, just under eight sacks, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles per sixteen games. He had a career-high of ten sacks in 1981 and career-highs of tackles (74) and forced fumbles in 1984.

Early last year complications from contracting COVID-19 ended his life way too early. The popular and respected former Golden Domer was praised by teammates and coaches, both college and pro.

He was the kind of guy, one who people respected. Browner was the kind of player every team needs - not everyone can be All-Pro - guys who play good football whether they get recognition or not. Grinders.

Browner is someone worth remembering. 

Career stats—

Top Seasons by Rams Running Backs

 By John Turney 

The Rams' franchise spans 86 years and three cities - Cleveland, Los Angeles and St. Louis - and it includes some of the league's most productive and decorated running backs.

Halll-of-Famers Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Ollie Matson and Jerome Bettis are among them. So are Steven Jackson and Todd Gurley, Tank Younger, Deacon Dan Towler, and Lawrence McCutcheon. There league MVPs, All-Pros, Offensive Players of the Year, and league leaders in rushing, TDs and yards from scrimmage.

And, of course, Gold Jackets.

But who had the best single season? Not the best career; the best career year? You're about to find out.

I've compiled a list of the top 20, taking one season from each player and then ranking it. The criteria are more than just rushing yards. That would be too easy. More is included, like receiving, ball security and postseason honors allowing us to compare players with their peers. With a franchise that began in 1937, a great rushing total in the 1940s wouldn't make the top 100 in 2022.

A historical perspective and a bit of the eye test also help rank players' seasons. So here goes ...

20. Ollie Matson, 1959—The Rams traded nine players to get Matson, and in his first year, a miserable 2-10 season, he gained 854 yards, ran for six touchdowns and had a 5.4 yards-per-rush average.

He was a second-team All-Pro (UPI). It was not a stellar year, but it was his best as a Ram and good enough to crack the top 20.

19. Willie Ellison, 1971—Ellison gained exactly 1,000 yards. His 247 yards rushing against New Orleans set a then-NFL record and a 138-yard game in Atlanta accounted for two-fifths of that total.  But he had seven games of under 50 yards rushing, so his 1,000-yard season ranks lower than some on this list with fewer yards.

Still, he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Week for his record-setting day, a second-team All-NFC selection and was voted to the Pro Bowl.

18. Jim Bertleson, 1973—After a solid rookie seaso, the man Texas coach Darrell Royal called the "finest football player" he ever coached stepped it up in 1973. He went to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement and complemented Lawrence McCutcheon in his breakout year. He ran for 854 yards of the 2,925 that the Rams gained rushing that year. He was also a solid punt returner.

17. Les Josephson, 1967—"Josey" rode the bench in George Allen's first year in Los Angeles after having played quite a bit in his previous two. But the next year he won the starting halfback job and had 800 yards rushing and 400 yards in receptions.  He was also a Pro Bowler on the NFL Western Conference squad.

One of the hardest runners in Rams' history, he tore his Achilles the next season and never repeated the production of his career year.

The Rams went 11-1-2, reached the playoffs for the first time since 1955 and Josephson got his 800 yards despite not having a 100-yard game. He ws the definition of a "solid running back."

16. Cullen Bryant, 1980—Drafted to play safety, Bryant was quickly moved to running back and, just as quickly, kept getting bigger and bigger. On a team with strong guys, he may have been the strongest.

He was a great blocker but not an explosive runner when he finally became a starter in 1978. The 4.5 speed that allowed him to be an excellent kick returner was long gone, as was his ability to keep his weight at 225 pounds. He was listed at 238 pounds but may have been heavier.

But in 1980 something happened. The Rams finally began to throw the ball well after a decade of opponents ganging up to defend likely running plays. For the first time in years, they had to account for passing strikes downfield. Rams' halfbacks kept getting hurt, so that position was by committee. But Bryant was the constant, the mainstay, the unsung hero of the Rams' offense that year.

He led the team in rushing and receiving and escorted other backs as the Rams led the NFL in rushing with 2,999 yards. With the Rams' elite offensive line and Bryant's lead blocking, the club had six games of 215 rushing yards.

That doesn't happen without the steadying influence of Bryant, who had an 800-yard, 50-catch season with a 4.4 rushing average -- far above the 3.7 career average he had prior to 1980. How, you may ask, can Bryant's 1980 be included when Cleveland Gary's 1,125-yard, 52-catch year is not? Didn't Gary have over 300 more rushing yards and essentially the same number of receptions?

Good questions. But Bryant was more vital, and this list isn't only about stats; it's about recognizing seasons with impact. A year like this deserves to be recognized.

15. Greg Bell, 1988—Bell was never spectacular, but he did have two good seasons with the Rams after going to Anaheim in the Eric Dickerson trade. The Rams acquired a pile of picks and blew most of them, but they gained some return on Bell.

In 1988 he scored 18 times, including 16 rushing TDs (he led the NFL in both), and ran for 1,212 yards. Bell also led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1989.

14. Wendell Tyler, 1981—Tyler was a bright spot on a team that had a miserable season, running for 1,074 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught five scoring passes to total 17 TDs from scrimmage, second to only Chuck Muncie that year.

Worth noting: He accomplished this in a season where his offensive line was depleted because of injuries. Only All-Pro center Rich Saul played all 16 games. The other starters missed 28 games, with backup center Doug Smith having to play guard and tackle.

Tyler had a similar year in the 1982 strike-shorted season, one that impressed Bill Walsh so much that he traded for him in 1983 to pair with his new rookie fullback, Roger Craig. There, the former UCLA Bruin had three good seasons and got himself a Super Bowl ring.

13. Tank Younger, 1954—Younger was a great two-way player, a running back on offense and a linebacker on defense.

As a running back, he was part of the "Bull Elephant" backfield that the Rams sometimes used. It deployed three 225-pound running backs (Dick Hoerner, Paul "Tank" Younger and "Deacon" Dan Towler), and the Rams used it when they wanted to pound opponents.

Essentially, the "Bull Elephant" presented a three-fullback offense and was not an every-down offense. The Rams would contrast it with three halfbacks when they wanted to open up their offense. 

By 1954, though, Younger was a cog in the offense, not part of a gimmick backfield. In his career year, he outgained Towler, one of the NFL's top running backs for three years on fewer carries.

Younger led the NFL with a 6.7 yards-per-carry average and was a second-team All-Pro despite missing the final four games. Against the Bears in Week 5, he tore up the Monsters of the Midway with 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

12. Ron Waller, 1955—As late as the 1980s, Los Angeles-based writers would still mention Waller's rookie season of 1955. No, the numbers aren't that impressive, but he passed their eye tests.

Waller was a quick, elusive back that Sid Gillman used to the fullest, but injuries kept him from sustained success. In his initial season, though, he was first-team All-Pro by UPI and second-team All-Pro on the other two major wire service teams - AP and NEA was a also Pro Bowler.

A good kick returner, he led the NFL in all-purpose yards which includes returns as well as rushing and receiving yards.

11. Charles White, 1987—Usually when a player leads the NFL in rushing and rushing touchdowns, is a consensus first-team All-Pro, All-NFC and goes to the Pro Bowl, he'd be high on any list. But because it was a strike season, he gets moved down a little to 11th.

He was also the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year.

To White's credit, his best game was a 213-yard outing in St. Louis that was not against replacement players. In non-scab games, he still rushed for over 1,000 yards-- a credit to the NFL's best run-blocking offensive line.

10. Jon Arnett, 1958—The "Jaguar," Arnett was the second overall pick of the 1957 draft out of USC. He was a local golden boy - born and raised in L.A. -- and was a big deal in his day. He became what the Rams hoped Waller would be.

In his second NFL season, he had his best year on a pretty good 8-4 team when Gillman used the Jaguar as a runner, receiver and returner. He was fifth in the NFL in rushing, 10th in receiving, first in punt return average, ninth in kick return average and second in all-purpose yards.

Though the numbers aren't eye-popping by the standards of later generations, they were excellent given how backs were used in the 1950s. The wire services agreed, naming him a consensus first-team All-Pro, while coaches voted him to his first Pro Bowl.

Arnett was fast and elusive, and Gillman sometimes lined him up as a receiver, usually in the slot but occasionally outside. Listed at 197 pounds, he was closer to 205, so he had more beef than often thought.

9. Dick Bass, 1962—In his career year, Bass became the first Rams' player to run for 1,000 yards, and he did it on a 1-12-1 team. His 1966 season was considered when he helped coach George Allen take the Rams out of the NFL's basement, but in 1962 he did more with less.

He was first-team All-Pro (UPI) and second-team, according to AP and NEA. His 1,033 yards rushing ranked third in the NFL, as did his 5.3 yards per attempt. He also caught 30 passes, including two for scores. Prior to his career year, most of his impact was as the NFL's leading kick returner, something a Rams' player wouldn't do again until 1981.

Bass was a short (5-9), compact fullback, built low-to-the ground like a manhole cover. His best game was against the Bears in December when he ran for 169 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.

8. Johnny Drake, 1940—Nicknamed "Zero," Drake was the first Rams' running back to be a consensus first-team All-Pro when he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (he did it the year before, too) and was second in rushing.  He even stopped and popped two touchdown passes.

For the first five years of the Rams' existence, "Zero" Drake was the best player on the Cleveland Rams.

7. Dan Towler, 1952—Towler was the featured ball carrier this season, leading the NFL in rushing and rushing TDs for an offense that was passing the NFL silly in the late-1940s and early 1950s. He also averaged 5.7 yards a carry, was a consensus All-Pro and was named to the second of his four Pro Bowls. From 1951-54, only Hall-of-Famer Joe Perry ran for more yards, and no one had more rushing TDs than the 1950 25th-round draft pick.

6. Jerome Bettis, 1993—As a rookie, he didn't exactly explode onto the NFL scene. It took time.

In his first month, Bettis averaged 39.5 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards a carry. But after that, his numbers jumped to 105.9 per game, including five yards a pop, with Better named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 212 yards in Week 15.

Bettis was the consensus NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. His 1,429 yards still rank fifth in team history for a single season.

5. Lawrence McCutcheon, 1974—The only knock on "Clutch's" '74 season is that he wasn't used in short-yardage and goal-line situations. "Touchdown Tony" Baker did that.

Other than that, it was a tremendous year.

McCutcheon was the Rams' fullback (he didn't move to halfback until 1976) and their best offensive player. He had seasons when he had more rushing yards, TDs or a better yards-per-carry average, but 1974 was his best year.

He was first-team All-Pro on a team chosen by players (NEA) and second-team on the AP and PFWA teams picked by the media. He was also All-NFC and went to his second Pro Bowl.

His 1,109 yards rushing ranked fourth in the NFL, and his 4.7 yards-per-attempt were fifth. He also had a career-high 39 receptions for 408 yards and 1,512 yards from scrimmage, which was second in the NFL.

It's hard to compare yardage totals from players in a two-back era to those in the one-back period, roughly the early 1980s to now. In previous generations, fullbacks and halfbacks split carries more evenly. Rather than one having 350-400 carries, he might have 225 with the other getting 150-175.

The numbers may not be as impressive as others on this list behind McCutcheon, but he was as important to the Rams as anyone ahead of him.

4. Steven Jackson, 2006—No Rams' running back ever ran harder than Jackson. Others ran hard, no doubt, but Jackson was a beast -- even on a mediocre 2006 team when he was a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. One writer even gave him an Offensive Player-of-the-Year vote.

He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December when he rushed for 597 yards, caught 27 passes and scored ten times. He set career-highs in nearly everything that season, including an NFL-best 2,334 yards from scrimmage second-best in Rams history.

Jackson had 1,528 yards rushing (fifth in the NFL) and 90 receptions (seventh in the NFL), both notable franchise figures. His rushing total is fourth-best in Rams' single-season history, while no running back has ever caught more passes.

3. Todd Gurley, 2017—He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns to the Rams to their first winning season since 2003.

In 15 games, he ran for 1,305 yards, had 788 yards in receptions and averaged 12.8 yards per catch - better than some wide receivers.  He was the AP and PFWA Offensive Player of the Year, runner-up in the MVP voting, a consensus All-Pro and a first-time Pro Bowler.

Three times he was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week -- in Week 4s, 15 and 16. In Week 15, he ran for four touchdowns and 152 yards in a 42-7 demolishment of the Seahawks. One week later, he caught 10 passes for 158 yards in a win over the Titans. He was also twice named NFC Offensive Player of the Month.

His 2018 season was also considered. That was the year he scored two more touchdowns and left a couple more on the table by choosing to run out the clock instead of score. But, in a close call, 2017 is the pick.

2. Eric Dickerson, 1984—Rushing for an NFL-record 2,105 yards is an incredible feat. To do it when your passing offense offers little help makes it more incredible.

In his career year, he was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Weeks 10 and 15), a consensus All-Pro, and a Pro Bowler. He was the NFC Player of the Year and runner-up in the MVP voting (Dan Marino's monster year took the prize).

Twice he ran for over 200 yards and a third time he came close, finishing with 191 yards. His 2,244 yards from scrimmage led the NFL and is the third-highest in club history, while he also tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 14.

If there was a knock, it was only that Dickerson was a fumbler. He had 14 in 1984 and averaged 11 a season with the Rams. Nevertheless, they were 10-6 in 1984. Without Dickerson, they'd have been more like 4-12.

1. Marshall Faulk, 2000—Faulk's 1999 season was tempting with the Super Bowl ring, 1,000 yards rushing and another 1,000 receiving ... as was 2001. In fact, he probably had the three best individual seasons by a Rams' running back - in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Any of the three could top this list.

In 2000 he was a four-time Offensive Player of the Week, the consensus MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, consensus All-Pro, All-NFC and a Pro Bowler. In October and December, the NFL named him the NFC Offensive Player of the Month.

He scored a team-record 26 touchdowns to lead the NFL, 18 rushing (leading the NFL and tying the club mark) and eight more on receptions. Twice he ran for more than 200 yards, four times he had 85 or more receiving yards and five times he scored three or more touchdowns -- three of them part of four-TD days.

He also led the NFL in yards per rush and, best of all, never fumbled.

He was also one of the best-ever backs at pass protection. When he wasn't breaking big runs or making catches, he kept blitzers off of Kurt Warner. In 2000 he was the best player in the NFL, and it was the best season by a Rams' running back.