Jerry Sherk & Michael Dean Perry

[BD Sullivan]

The most under / non-rated Brown's lineman is Bill Glass averaged over 10 sacks per 14 game season with the Browns, great seasons in 62, 65 and 66 >15 sacks in each season, second behind only Katcavage for sacks in 62. Not a standout, but good against the run, not stout like Gain but good effort guy to work his way out of engagement. Shame that he was caught in the shuffle in Detroit, Center, LB then finally as an edge rusher as Darris McCord needed some spelling and they used more blitzing (those Lions teams loved blitzing LB's, Wayne Walker's specialty).

Jack Gregory had a very good 69 and a huge 70, though his best work was probably done with the Giants in 72 and 75. Not nearly as stout against the run as the aforementioned others.

Glass was the beneficiary of Milt Plum going public with his criticism of Paul Brown's playcalling--which resulted in the trade that was probably seen as a QB-for-QB swap, since Jim Ninowski also came to the Browns. Each team also dealt minor players to each other.

Gregory's two big years with the Browns (and another notable one in '71) led to a contract dispute with Art Modell, which led to Gregory signing a free agent deal with the Giants in June 1972. The Rozelle Rule forced a deal that sent Gregory (along with DB Freddie Summers) to New York in exchange for the Giants first two picks in '73, which were a hit-and-miss: Steve Holden with the first pick, Greg Pruitt with the second. The Cardinals and Raiders were also possible destinations for Gregory and Modell had actually worked a proposed deal with St. Louis. However, Gregory chose New York.

It's interesting that Gregory finished his career in 1979 with the Browns. It was fun seeing him in the same DL with Lyle Alzado.

Their D-Line was in brutal shape entering the 1979 training camp. Hence the trades for Alzado and what turned out to be a washed-up Gregory.

[nicefellow31]

I think there's really no question that at his peak Len Ford was the best lineman in Browns history, his 51 season could be the best DL season, literally up there with Marchetti / Atkins '57, Deacon '64, Reggie's '87, and JJ's '12. Ford's peak was surprisingly short, but he was probably the best DL in football from 51-53. Also not worth underestimating how good Ford was against the run, particularly in 51 and 52, rarely did he sell out breaking down the line for the QB and have a runner get outside him, he was fast enough to keep the edge and big and strong enough to hold the edge. On film he reminds me more of Lawrence Taylor than anyone else I've ever seen, just amazing combination of size, speed and strength - really unfair to an early 50's lineman - he's literally scary athletic. Oh and he did hurdle Tackles, where do you think Doug Atkins learned it.

Can you speak a little more on Atkins '57 and Deacon '64? Most people, including Deacon himself, said that he had his most succesful years under George Allen. Would love to hear some info on those two and those seasons.

[NWebster]

I think there's really no question that at his peak Len Ford was the best lineman in Browns history, his 51 season could be the best DL season, literally up there with Marchetti / Atkins '57, Deacon '64, Reggie's '87, and JJ's '12. Ford's peak was surprisingly short, but he was probably the best DL in football from 51-53. Also not worth underestimating how good Ford was against the run, particularly in 51 and 52, rarely did he sell out breaking down the line for the QB and have a runner get outside him, he was fast enough to keep the edge and big and strong enough to hold the edge. On film he reminds me more of Lawrence Taylor than anyone else I've ever seen, just amazing combination of size, speed and strength - really unfair to an early 50's lineman - he's literally scary athletic. Oh and he did hurdle Tackles, where do you think Doug Atkins learned it.

Can you speak a little more on Atkins '57 and Deacon '64? Most people, including Deacon himself, said that he had his most succesful years under George Allen. Would love to hear some info on those two and those seasons.

Atkins in both 57 and 58 was absolutely on fire, at his physical peak, seemingly motivated (though he hated Clark Shaunnessey) and Shaunnessey used him well. The 57 Bears sack record, sadly, may never be 100% complete, but there's an outside shot he could challenge Ford 51 and White 87 on a per game basis. Atkins also forced a number of fumbles that season and on film played with a motor better than Ford 51. It's good lore and plays into the Bill Curry lines about not making him angry, but Atkins really did have certain games where he just absolutely took over. I havent actually counted (and probably wont) but he seemed to have more 4+ sack games than anyone ever, and he killed the Rams and Lions. He may have liked Allen more, but he was most productive under Shaunnessey, think of the old Howie Long quote, the physical elevator starts at the top of the building and comes down, the mental elevator starts at the bottom and goes up, somewhere in the middle they meet, I think that was Atkins 57-58.

John may disagree but I think 64 was Deacons best season, for non skill positions back then it did usually take a few years of greatness to garner attention, so sure the D POY awards came in 67 and 68, but I think 64 the superior season, it's merely that nobody knew who he was coming in. I think the aspect of Deacons game that's not properly respected is his motor. We view him as another freak, too fast for a guy that big, but he made more sacks that even most of the greats 4 even 5 seconds after the snap, think of Dr. Z's quote about never seeing anyone make more crawling sacks than Deacon, that was a reflection of his motor.

[ChrisBabcock]

but there's an outside shot he could challenge Ford 51 and White 87 on a per game basis.

Just curious... is there an unofficial count somewhere of how many sacks Ford had in '51?