It is difficult to know exactly when an innovation entered into pro football. The safety blitz was purported to have been invented by Larry Wilson in 1961 but in 1960 the Oilers of the AFL employed the same tactic the year before.
The same is true of the nickel back, when was it first employed? No one is really sure. When was it employed "in earnest" that is when it was a dedicated part of a defensive game plan would be a better test.
The same is true for the so-called "designated pass rusher" or nickel rusher. Today it is commonplace, so much so that it's not talked about much in the media, either on the Web or during games, but it is a vital position. Sometimes it's an older player coming in at the end of his career or a younger player with his young legs taking the place of a 3-4-type end when a team uses four down linemen.
Film study has yet to reveal the first time it was used in the NFL, but we do have a good idea of when it was used in earnest.
Years ago we spoke to Paul Zimmerman, then SI's head writer. He mentioned he thought perhaps Larry Cole, in 1968 would come in to fill in for a heavy-legged starting left defensive end Willie Townes. But, Townes was injured early in the season and Cole became the starter anyway.
In 1969 Roger Brown sustained an injury and youngster Coy Bacon became the Rams starting right tackle, but when Brown returned they split time and T.J. Troup indicates that essentially Bacon, the younger, quicker player was used on pass downs in a platoon with the older, heavier Brown.
However, neither really did it for a sustained time. We think that distinction came in 1970 when Cedrick Hardman was a rookie. He was a dynamite pass rusher in college and taken in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers. He was, though, not ready to be an NFL starter. "Heck, it took him until 1972 to learn how to close a trap. He threw a party for him when he got it done", says then 49er linebacker coach Mike Giddings. Hardman started five games that season after the 49ers coaching staff had tried to groom Hardman. Early in the season he'd rotate in at right defensive end, but "the idea was to get him run-stopping experience in the rotation and then get him into the game on passing downs" recalls Giddings.
It worked well as the 49ers won the division and Hardman led the team in sacks with 8½. In the following clip you can see Bill Belk leave the game and Hardman enter the game and make a play.
In Baltimore, Bill Newsome sometimes was used in a similar role. He beat out Roy Hilton early in the season but later, Hilton re-secured the right DE spot, but there were plenty of times film study shows Newsome at left DE and usual left DE Bubba Smith playing inside and Hilton playing right DE. Billy Ray Smith, the 34-year old tackle was out of the game. Interestingly, in reviewing Super Bowl V these variations were not used much, if at all.
In 1971 George Allen used newly acquired Jimmie Jones in the same way. (He also used Bill Brundige as a rush tackle to relieve Manny Sistrunk on pass downs). Jones was a tall, light, extremely quick player who led the Redskins in sacks in 1971 with 7½ sacks, the first we know of to lead a team in sacks while starting only one game.
In this clip you can hear Frank Gifford mention this Redskin duo entering the game in a passing situation.
In the Los Angeles Rams employed what they called their "57" defense when they would try and get three DEs on the field on passing downs. Deacon Jones was the left DE and early in season he missed a few games with a fallen arch, rookie Jack Youngblood filled in and the Rams won all three games. When Jones returned is when the Rams used the "57" with Youngblood playing right DE (a position he hated) and usual right DE Coy Bacon reducing to defensive tackle.
In the same game as the first clip you can hear the ABC announcing team mention Youngblood's role, coming in on a pick 6 and leaving on a 3rd and one.
The next season Youngblood started 11 games at left DE and newly acquired Fred Dryer started three, but in the games Dryer got a lot of action in the "57" playing right DE and again, Bacon playing inside. Dryer ended the season with 4½ sacks.
In 1973 Harvey Martin won the designated role in training camp and he'd play in sure passing downs at left defensive end, with, ironically, Larry Cole going to the bench. Martin ended the season with 9 sacks as the Cowboys advanced to the NFC Championship game.
Cole, at LDE in Dallas base 4-3 flex
Martin in game at LDE in place of Cole
This clip shows Martin come in on a 3rd down and 17 and sack Fran Tarkenton in the NFC Championship game.
The next season number one overall pick Ed Jones was the designated rusher on the right side, Martin on the left and Bill Gregory would come in for Bob Lilly. Lilly told Pro Football Journal, "they replaced me on passing downs my final tow years and to this day I don't know why. At that stage in my career, I was a better pass rusher than run player".
Here are some more stills from 1973:
Here Martin is in for Cole and Bill Gregory for Lilly.
This is the Dallas base 4-3 flex with Cole as LDE.
Pat Toomay said the experience was fine by him, "More effective pay per play" he wrote in his book The Crunch. "I was getting paid the same no matter how many plays, so, the way I say it my 'pay per play' went up". After the season Toomay was dealt to the Buffalo Bills and in 1975 Ed Jones and Harvey Martin switched sides and became the starting DEs in the "Doomsday II" defense and Martin ended the 1974 season with 7½ sacks and Jones had 6 (in Dallas they were called 'traps') sacks.
In 1974 the New Orleans Saints used a 3-4 defense quite a lot. In that scheme their usual 4-3 right DE, Joe Owens, would be on the bench. Bob Pollard would play right DE in the 30. When they went to nickel (4-2-5) Pollard would play inside (similar to what Bubba Smith and Coy Bacon had done and what Howie Long and Dan Hampton would do in the future) and Owens would come in and be the sack master, and he led the team in 9½ sacks.
The Saints when they used a 3-4 as a base
Here is their 4-3 base defense, note the RDE is #82 Pollard.
Here is the nickel with Owens at RDE and Pollard at LDT
Also in 1974 the great Deacon Jones filled the DPR role for the Redskins. Jones had started all 13 of his previous seasons but signed with the Redskins and George Allen to try for one more shot at an NFL title. Jones played both left and right DE, usually taking LDE Ron McDole's place (McDole is who left the game, usually, in 1971 when Jimmie Jones came into the game) and the Deac ended the season with three sacks, though he had one taken away due to a penalty.
Joe Owens was used in the same role in 1975 as well, finishing with 6½ sacks. However, there were times he'd spell new right DE Stave Baumgartner at right DE in the times they used the 4-3.
In 1975 the Cowboys had another stud rusher they had drafted: Maryland's Randy White. Dallas thought he'd end up being a starting linebacker in their defense, eventually. In the meantime, he'd be used in a variety of ways, mostly as a rusher on pass downs. The Cowboys would line up White as and outside linebacker in a 3-3-5 defense and rush, either from the right or the left. He'd also take either Jethro Pugh's spot at LDT or Larry Cole's spot at RDT and rush on 3rd and long situations and would also line up as a nose in a 3-man line. He had 11 sacks combined in 1975 and 1976.
Here are some examples of White's play in 1975 and 1976 lining up in various spots.
The Chiefs had a rushman in 1976 as well and they finished with 5½ sacks and only started three games. We have not seen enough 1976 Chiefs film to know his role exactly, but we suspect it was as an inside rusher in likely passing downs, in that the Chiefs had decent ends, Whitney Paul and Wilbur Young, though they seem to be reversed in where they lined up, but that's a different topic altogether.
More and more teams moved to a 3-4 defense in the 1980s, with the high mark of 25 of 28 teams in 1985. With that move, there were more DPRs every year.
In 1982 Fred Dean didn't perform as well as he had in 1981 but Tony McGee, now with the Redskins was the top performer of 1982 with 6.5 sacks in 9 games. Right behind him was the Giants nickel left end George Martin with 6 sacks. Three players with 4 sacks Greg Brown of the Eagles, Casey Merrill of the Packers, and Ruben Vaughan of the Raiders round out the top five.
In 1983 Fred Dean made up for his so-so 3½ sack performance of the previous season with an NFC-leading 17.5 sack performance and another trip to the Pro Bowl. The Steelers Keith Willis would be the "Second-team All-Pro" with his 14-sack performance.
Rookie Greg Townsend of the Raiders had 10.5 sacks and wily vet Tony McGee had 10 as these two are the iconic examples of most DPRs, a youngster with all the physical ability in the world and the experienced player with an array of pass-rush moves. George Martin had 9 sacks with the Giants.
In all there were 13 players with 6 or more sacks with 5 or fewer starts in 1983, certainly, the DPR was a major part of NFL defenses. Gary Jeter of the Rams was one of those and he was usually a right DT in the Rams nickel and Don Smerek and rookie Bill Pickell were two more who were factors with the Cowboys and Raiders, respectively.
The Raiders starting 3-4 defense was composed of Howie Long and Lyle Alzado (LDE and RDE) and Reggie Kinlaw as the nose tackle. The Raiders, in Bandit (5 DBs), Pirate (6 DBs), and Desperado (7 DBs) had a usually defensive line of Townsend (LDE), Pickel (LDT), Long (RDT, usually the 3-tech) and Alzado (RDE).
The top non-starting sacker in 1984 was Pickell with 12.5 sacks. Pickel did start three games, however when Reggie Kinlaw was injured. Additionally, Pickel rotated a lot with Kinlaw and as a result got more snaps than many of the usual DPRs we've discussed, nonetheless, he was very effective in the Raiders sub defenses. Casey Merrill, who the Giants had acquired was a DE in nickel with 3-4 end Leonard Marshall moving inside, had 8.5 sacks.
In Seattle, the designated rusher was former Ram Mike Fanning, one of the "Knox Guys". He'd enter the game and play tackle and he finished with a goodly 7 sacks.
The Packers replaced Merrill with former starter Ezra Johnson in the DPR role he had 7 sacks, as did second-year players Greg Townsend and Karl Mecklenburg.
Jumpy Geathers, who would become a staple in this category, had 6 sacks at left end for the Saints (he didn't move inside until 1986). George Martin dropped to a 5.5 sack total and Tony McGree dropped to 4.5. The 49ers got a lot of production from former Charger Gary Johnson who had 5 sacks in the regular season and three more in the playoffs and Super Bowl. Really, the position was so commonplace it is hard to name them all.
In 1985 Gary Jeter was what we'd consider the "All-Pro" DPR. He had 11 sacks, playing in a 4-man line he'd play either RDE or RDT or in a three-man nickel he'd play RDE. Seattle's Randy Edwards had 10.5 sacks, taking the spot from Mike Fanning as the inside rusher.
Two usual subjects, George Martin and Greg Townsend both had 10 sacks (neither started a game) and Jumpy Geathers had 6.5 at right end (was a left nickel end as previous season).
Fred Dean finished with just 3.5 sacks and found himself without a job in 1986 as his role was filled by rookie Charles Haley who had 12 sacks.
Greg Townsend had 11.5, Geathers had 9, Gary Jeter had 8 sacks and Saint Frank Warren had 7.5 and Kevin Greene had 7 to round out the top six of the non-starters (fewer than 5 starts) sack list.
In 1987, five non-starting players had 6 or more sacks in the strike-shortened season. They were Greg Townsend (8.5), Gary Jeter (7), Kevin Greene (6.5), Charles Haley (6.5), and Frank Warren (6).
We can see there are names that embraced the role and were successful year in and year out.
In 1988, Gary Jeter was in his usual role plus one more. The Rams employed a 5-LBer "Eagle" defense which would align Jeter as a DT among lots of linebackers. Jeter totaled 11.5 sacks to lead all NFL non-starters in sacks.
Following him are Sean Jones, Oilers (7.5 sacks), and George Martin (also 7.5). There were several with 6 sacks and one notable player, Al "Bubba" Baker now with the Vikings had 5.5 sacks in a role that was new to him.
Ending the 1980s with 1989, a new name emerged: 215-lb LBer Rufus Porter who was the right DE in the Seahawks' 4-man line and he had 10.5 sacks in the role. Atlanta's Marcus Cotton had 9 in a similar role.
The Colts used veteran Ezra Johnson in their nickel and he had 8.5 sacks, youngster Bennis Byrd had 7 with the Jets and the Patriots got 7 sacks from Gary Jeter who they acquired via Plan B free agency and the Oilers got 6 sacks from Sean Jones.
In 1977, after about a decade of NFL teams toying with it, the designated pass rusher (DPR) became really, a mainstream scheme in the NFL. Early in the season of the Raiders got injured and newly acquired end Pat Toomay was to step in at left DE. However, right DE Otis Sistrunk knew Toomay preferred the right side and volunteered to play left DE and Toomay could play right. Toomay had some success in the preseason and when the Tooz came back, the Raiders, who used a base 3-4 defense would send Toomay in at right DE, and Otis Sistrunk would move to right LDE and Matuszak would play defensive tackle.
Toomay proved very effective, seemingly being featured by Howard Cosell on the weekly halftime highlights of ABC's Monday Night Football. Cosell didn;t choose the highlights, NFL Films did, but Cosell did the narration and was always effusive about Toomay. The Raiders ended 11-3 and Toomay had 14½ sacks, which subsequent research reveals led the AFC. He finished a sack ahead of Tony "Mac the Sack" McGee of the Patriots.
In 1974 the Patriots, who had flirted with a 3-4 defense in 1973, committed to a 3-4 defense full-time and were the first NFL team to do so (the Oilers followed around mid-season). tony McGee was acquired from the Bears for the 1974 season and was and extra lineman. He had 4½ sacks in 1974, and he did play some designated rusher, usually, though it was in a 3-4 defense, taking starting LDE Mel Lunsford's place. So, it wasn't an every-week thing, but they did try, late in games to get McGee in th games. In 1975 injuries forced McGee into a starting role and he kept it for the 1976 season.
In 1977, however, Lunsford regained his starting role and the Patriots began to use a 4-man line with their 5 defensive back scheme, rather than the 3-3-5 they used in 1974-76 (with some exceptions). McGee thrived and had 13½ sacks for the season.
McGee in a 3-man line at left end
Mel Lunsford in the Patriots 3-4 base defense at LDE
The Eagles began using s 3-4 in 1977 and they had a WFL castoff, Len Burman come in and rush in their nickel and he garnered 10 sacks in that role. Others played the spot as well, though not with the success of Toomay, McGee and Burman. Rookie Ezra Johnson had 3½ sacks in the role in Green Bay, for example.
McGee, who could be one of the poster children of the role was big-time again in 1978 with 11½ sacks. Pat Toomay said "For whatever reason, the Raiders didn't use the 40 nickel much in 1978 and I didn't get the snaps I did in 1977". Toomay ended the year with just 4 sacks.
"In 1979 there were rumors the Rams wanted to trade me to the Rams to take Fred Dryer's play, who they thought was too small. The trade fell through and then Otis (Sistrunk) got hurt and all-of-the-sudden I am nose-up on a tackle". Toomay meant he was the starting right DE in the 1979 Raiders 3-4 defense.
That season the DPR for the Raiders was youngster Willie Jones and he finished the season with 10 sacks from the right DE spot in the 40 nickel. But he wasn't the top player in the DPR role for 1979. That honor goes to Oilers rookie Jesse Baker.
In 1979 the Oilers (who had been in a 3-4 since mid-season 1974) were not getting a lot of rush so they began to use more 4-man lines in likely passing downs and the key player was Jesse Baker. Elvin Bethea was the starting right DE but only had 1½ sacks for the season but Baker made up for it, leading the AFC (unofficially) with 15½ sacks.
Baker was both an inside rusher in the 40 defense (with Bethea at right end, his usual spot) but he also played RDE in the 40 defense with Bethea leaving the field. In those situations, Ken Kennard would play inside due to his quickness. Baker also spelled Bethea in the base defense as well, so in reality, 1978 was the last season Bethea was a full-time player. Baker was just too good a pass rusher and was better outside than inside so Bethea lost playing time. In 1980 and 1981 Bethea was run-down specialists, again giving way to Baker on likely passing downs.
Again, Tony McGee was money with 11½ sacks. Also in 1979, the Patriots moved former starting RDE Julius Adams from a starting role to a role similar to McGee's only on the opposite side and he tallied 5½ sacks. The following year, however, Adams returned to his starting role and went to his first Pro Bowl.
In Washington Joe "Turkey" Jones would play LDE in the nickel (the Redskins still used a 4-3 base defense so Jones was coming in for the usual LDE) and finished with 6½ sacks. Dallas's Bruce Thornton played LDT on passing downs and also had 6½ sacks and was especially noticeable in big games.
The Jets used a 4-3 defense and the rookie starting left defensive end was Mary Lyons. On passing downs fellow rookie Mark Gastineau would come in to replace him. Lyons told Sports Illustrated "it doesn't make you feel worth a damn when they take you out on the gravy plays".
In 1980 another milestone for the DPR was reached: It was the first season a player in that role won a Super Bowl. That player was actually two: Cedrick Hardman, and Willie Jones. Hardman led the Raiders with 9½ sacks and played RDE when Raiders went to a 40 defense and Jones, who had a good season the year before was the left DE (the previous season he was on the right side most often, moving to the left in 1980). The 3-4 starters, John Matuszak and Dave Browning reduced to tackles to complete the foursome.
Had the Eagles been able to pull out Super Bowl XV that honor for first DPR to win a Super Bowl would go to Claude Humphrey. Humphrey was to play in the designated role in 1979 but due to injuries he was pressed into starting service but in 1980 the nickel front Dick Vermeil wanted came to fruition and Humphrey finished with 15½ sacks.
The Denver Broncos employed a 3-4 quite often in the mid-1970s and committed to it full-time in 1976 but they chose to get pressure from blitzing, keeping their 3-man line in games in likely passing downs. In 1980 that changed with Rulon Jones and Greg Boyd. At times, Jones would enter the games and play DE and Boyd would sometimes play inside at DT in a 40 nickel.
Combined, they totaled 20½ sacks. It was not as precise as some rotations of the era because Denver still used their usual 3-man lines, but ensured that the Jones and Boyd combo (with Latimer at NT) were in the game in opponents' passing situations.
Again, steady Tony McGee produced, this time with 8½ sacks. Cardinals rookie Curtis Greer was brought along similarly to how Cedrick Hardman was with the 49ers in 1970, as a rusher to use his skills and in a rotation to cut his teeth in defending against the NFL running game.
In Anaheim, the Rams used a three-man rotation at defensive tackle with Larry Brooks and Cody Jones as starters and Mike Fanning filling in, but Rams tried to make sure Fanning was in the game in the nickle/dime defenses and Fanning, though just starting three games, Fanning had 10 sacks, second to Jack Youngblood on the team.
In 1981 yet another milestone was passed with Fred Dean becoming the first DPR to get post-season honors being voted the UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year and being a consensus All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Dean started 7 games in 1981 but 4 of them were with the Chargers before the trade to the 49ers and the other 3 were in games when the 49ers opened in a 4-2-5. Dean had 12 sacks with the 49ers and another with the Chargers. He was considered the key to the 49ers making the jump to a Super Bowl-quality defense.
Rookie Howie Long was an inside rusher in the 1981 version of the Raiders pass rush. Hardman still played right DE but was not as effective as he was in 1980 and Willie Jones was injured mid-season, Long filled the gap and had 8½ sacks.
In Buffalo, the Bills used Ken Johnson as a tackle in their 4-man line and he had 8 sacks for the season. Miami used former starter Kim Bokamper in a designated role and he sack the quarterback 7½ times. Jesse Baker became a starter in 1982 but he finished his "apprenticeship" as a DPR with 6½ sacks in 1980 and 10 in 1981 to bring his three-year total to 32.
Oddly, in 1981, Tony McGee had only 6 sacks though he was forced into being the starter at LDE due to injuries to other players. It seems he had more productivity per play as a third-down rusher than as a starter. After the season he was let go and finished his career with Washington.
LOOKING BACK John Turney Picking up with the 1990s we see a new phenomenon, the "wave rusher". Though it had been used before, the Cowboys used rotation to help them become a top defense and Super Bowl winners and in a copycat league, other teams used it. Additionally, the NFL moved away for the 3-4 defenses as a base back to a 4-3, peaking with around 25 4-3 teams in 1995. So, often the DPR was replacing a 4-3 player rather than a 3-4 player who was often the dimensions of a defensive tackle.
In 1990 we find the top non-starting sacker to be rookie linebacker Aaron Wallace who was a hand in the dirt rusher, as was Rufus Porter. Fred Stokes, a former Rams had 7.5 sacks as the Redskins DPR.
In 1991 Raider Anthony Smith emerged as the top DPR. Smith, a huge fan of Deacon Jones, became the early 1990s version of Greg Townsend. From 1991-93 he had 36 sacks an average of 12 per season. From 1994-97, as a starter, he averaged less than half that per season.
During the same time frame Jumpy Geathers (that name again), though he didn't have big sack totals was very effective, devastating even, as an inside rusher for the Redskins. Dallas moved former starter Jim Jeffcoat to DPR in 1992 and he responded with 10.5 sacks. Lee Williams of the Chargers had 11 sacks, though he did get to start 5 games in 1992.
Geathers, though, in 1994, had 8.0 sacks, tied for the most among non-starters in the NFL for the Falcons. The player he tied with was Dallas's Jeffcoat. Geathers had 7.0 sacks in 1995, his last with Atlanta, which was second in the NFL among non-starters and made the Dallas Morning News All-Pro team as a nickel rusher. The leader in 1995 was rookie Hugh Douglas whose 10 sacks earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In 1996 the rookie stud was Tony Brackens who had 7 sacks in the DPR role, often as a standup LBer who'd pick his hole, and other times as a traditional hand-in the dirt DE. Brackens got a lot of playing time and was very adept at making key plays, in 1995-96 in addition to his 14.0 sacks he deflected 16 passes, forced 10 fumbles and recovered four. Today, Jon Gruden may refer to his role as a "Joker" player, one who fills a variety of positions in a scheme.
Also in 1996, future HOFer Richard Dent had 6.5 sacks for the Colts as a DPR, and ancient Clay Matthews was a nickel RDE for the Falcons and also had 6.5 sacks. Geathers (now for Denver) and Jeffcoat both had 5.0 sacks, this time though, Jeffcoat was with Buffalo who signed him specifically as a third down rusher in 1995.
The following season the 49ers signed Kevin Greene away from the Panthers to play their "Elephant role" and he had 10.5 sacks in a non-starting role. Brackens duplicated his 1996 performance with 7 sacks.
In 1998 veteran Trace Armstrong didn't start any games and he posted 10.5 sacks in Miami's nickel (sub) defense. Teammate Lorenzo Bromell was right behind him with 8 and he tied with Green Bay's Keith McKenzie.
In 1999 McKenzie edged Armstrong with 8 to the former's 7.5, Another notable DPR is Clyde Simmons who had 7 sacks as the Bengals DPR. Simmons was a long-time starter who like so many played a part-time role in his twilight seasons.
Trace Armstrong was the ideal DPR in 2000 when he was the first player with no starts to start his first game in the Pro Bowl. He led the AFC with 16.5 sacks (officially) 7 fumbles forced and had it not been for a quirk in the scoring he may have tied for the NFL lead, which would be a first for a DPR. He was also a Second-team All-Pro, the first DPR to get post-season honors since Fred Dean in 1981, Armstrong averaged 12 sacks a season from 1998-2000 as a DPR, among the best stints ever.
In 2001 the Rams Leonard Little led the NFL with 14.5 sacks (in 38% of the defensive snaps) and the Packers Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was right behind him with 13.5 (in 43% of the snaps).
In 2002 Rod Coleman tallied 11 sacks as a rush 3-technique and N.D. Kalu and Mark Word both had 8 sacks for the "Second-team All-Pro" mythical title.
Terrell Suggs, a rookie, had 12 sacks in 1 start in 2003 and right behind him was the Vikings Lance Johnstone with 10 sacks. Johnston in 2004 was tops in the NFL with 11 sacks in one start and the Colts Robert Mathis had 10.5 sacks (and 6 FF) right behind.
Mathis was then top in 2005 with 11.5 sacks (8 FF) and Johnstone was next with 7.5 sacks.
Super-fast rookie Mark Anderson's 12 sacks (and 4 FF) led NFL among non-starters in 2006 and Robert Geathers (10.5) was next and Elvis Dumervil (8.5) was third.
In 2007 Justin Tuck (10 sacks) was first, next, after a few seasons as a starter was Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (9.5). Tied for third with 8 sacks was Oakland's Chris Clemons and Tampa's Stylez G. White.
The top 4 non-starting sackers in 2008 were Robert Mathis (11.5 sacks), Darren Howard(10), Jacob Ford (7) and the Rams James Hall with (6.5).
2009 was a down year for the DPR in terms of sacks but here is the top 7, courtesy of Pro Football Reference.com
In 2010 the leaders were:
We've previously chosen All-Pros and Second-team All-Pros for the rest of the seasons, but here are the charts for completeness and have listed all with 5 or more sacks and 5 or fewer stars. We've noted our picks for First- and Second-team All-Pro for these years.
2011
2012
In 2012 we went with Hayes over Griffen in part because Hayes, in addition to over 20 pressures (by both Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus) had nine run/psss stuffs to go with his seven sacks in just 34% of the defensive snaps. He was part of the defensive end rotation as well as playing inside in nickel situations in a four-defensive end look by the Rams. He was solid in 2013 as well.
2013
2014
2015
In 2016 our First-team All-Pro was Danielle Hunter and the Second-team pick was Markus Golden. We felt Hunter was more consistent week-in and week out, though Golden came on well in 2016.
After eight years of successful football, including playing in four title tilts, the Lions had fallen on hard times by the close of the 1959 season. Many areas of the team needed to be improved, yet what easily stands out the most to anyone who followed the league and this team was simply how slow the receiving corps was.
Purchasing Topps football cards in the Autumn of 1960 got a card of Terry Barr; and of course his position is listed as defensive halfback. Watching the Lions play was puzzled since he was playing flanker (which he also did during the second half of '59). Barr as swift and athletic as he was could not do it alone.
The draft in 1960 brought in Washington State end Gail Cogdill, and he was voted rookie of the year for his performance. He was consistent (caught at least one pass every game), and skilled at every facet of playing receiver. We cannot always go by what is written, yet during this story there will be many quotes. The first comes from Don Schiffer's Pro Football Handbook; "Rookie of the year honors were won handily by Gail Cogdill, the speedy offensive end with the educated hands". This statement speaks volumes.
The Lions were again contenders in 1961 and film study shows that Detroit often went into a "trips" formation they called "Zephr". The concept was to align three receivers to one side of the field, and station Cogdill alone to the other side of the formation so he would have man coverage. This is a single back formation with fullback Nick Pietrosante behind the quarterback.
Very few corners could handle Cogdill one-on-one. Additionally, he was able to practice his skills against the greatest corner of all-time in Richard "Night Train" Lane. The 8-4-1 Lions end the 1961 season at home against the defending champion Eagles, and they are also contending for a division title. Sonny Jurgensen tied Unitas touchdown pass record in this game (32 in a season) as the Eagles win 27-24. Cogdill is hardly mentioned in the postgame write-up even though he caught 7 for 171 yards, and the longest touchdown of his career. His speed in going deep is showcased on this play.
Playoff Bowl victory in tow the Lions look forward to the '62 season. I was asked by Steve Sabol years ago who was the best second place team of all-time. Steve believed there were two that stood out; the 1962 Lions and the 1967 Colts. Eventually this creative visionary man evolved this question into the "missing rings" concept at NFL Films.
The 1962 Detroit Lions did not see themselves as a second place team, and their performance against the Packers on Thanksgiving day is indeed one of the most dominating ever in league annuals over a league champion that lost only once. The names of the men who played outstanding football for Detroit in 1962 roll off the tongue, yet the MVP of this team is Gail Cogill. He "beat" both Herb Adderley and Willie Wood for touchdowns in the Thanksgiving massacre, and followed up the next two weeks with 11 catches for 240 yards.
He could run every route with precision, was sure handed, and had the speed and long stride to get open deep. His conversation with me years ago detailed how often he was aligned at left tight end and had to block. Lion coach George Wilson wanted a powerful running game (folly on his part), as Detroit should have thrown much more often with Barr, Gibbons, and Gail. Winning their third consecutive play-off bowl is an accomplishment, but being in the championship game is the goal of every team.
Don Schiffer's 1962 handbook on Cogdill states that "He intends to improve his play by viewing game films between seasons, studying his mistakes and those of his defenders". Detroit fails to contend in 1963 though Cogdill again has an outstanding season including a late September performance against the soon to be champion Bears where he caught 4 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns against a George Allen secondary that stopped many a receiver, but not Gail.
The Street & Smith's publication in 1964 states "Smooth Gail Cogdill a yearly Pro Bowl performer". Going to the pro bowl in the Coliseum to see my football heroes play was a joy for me and my dad; and as such saw him play in person against the best in the game.
Dave Boss was the creative force for NFL Properties, and a terrific photographer. His up close shot of Terry Barr on the field in the Coliseum on October 31st, 1965 is beginning of the downfall of Detroit. His knee is so injured his career is ending, and now Cogdill must attempt to carry a team that is not near as strong as years previous.
His own nagging injuries have limited his effectiveness, and the numbers bear this out. Ten receptions the second half of the 1965 campaign and nary a touchdown. Street & Smith's Western Conference prediction for 1966 is for 7th and last. The following quote tells us even more " the receiving picture is murky, and public speaker Cogdill's future is necessarily uncertain".
Gail spoke out concerning the lack of direction and the flawed offensive game plans. The quarterback position in Detroit is now handled by Karl Sweetan, and he would never be ranked in the top half in the league, let alone elite. He can throw short; thus Cogdill catches many short passes in 1966.
His last 100-yard receiving game was November 1st of 1964 when he destroyed the Ram secondary at Tiger Stadium. Should he have spoken out? Our conversation touched upon the topic, but my main question was simply how long till you were going to wear another uniform.
Don Shula thought enough of him to bring him to Baltimore in '68, but his mainly depth in case of injury to one of the starters. Gail was a terrific storyteller, and his retelling of his days with Norm Van Brocklin in Atlanta were hysterically funny. The Dutchman wanted no mistakes, and Gail though at the end of his career played error free football as a Falcon. Cogdill played consistently during 1969 as Atlanta became one of the most improved teams in the league.
NFL Films, for many years, had a television segment called "Game of the Week" and on October 4th of 1970 the Falcons beat the eventual Western Conference champion 49ers 21-20 as Gail caught the winning touchdown pass on a flawlessly run route.
Today would have been Gail's 80th birthday, and he is missed by so many, especially his daughter Kristen and his former teammates. Was honored to have seen you play Mr. Cogdill, and you are not forgotten.
In 1937 Cal Hubbard picked his own personal All-Time team that he told to Henry McLemore of United Press. Hubbard was himself an All-Time great and put himself on the team.
