Draft A Player from the 60's, 70's & 80's

[Some Guy From Mars]

Here is an interesting (and hopefully fun idea): draft one or two players each from the decades of the 60's, 70' and 80's that if given the benefits of modern rule changes as well as weight training and conditioning would potentially be even better if playing today. Following are my selections:

60's

DEACON JONES
Everyone knows that in today's NFL it is paramount that you put pressure on the quarterback and who better to do that than Deacon Jones, whom today I see playing a complementary and very fitting edge rusher role. A modern contemporary might be Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones who is the exact same height and weight as Deacon Jones at 6 ft 5 and 265 lbs.

70's

LYNN SWANN
I tire about people hating on the Hall of Fame credentials of the great Steelers receiver because he did not put up the type of gaudy numbers of modern receivers. Well earth to moon, Swann played the first four seasons of his career (1974-77) when the league only played 14 games and the rules were slated heavily in the favor of defenses. It also does not help that he played in an offense that, by today's standards, might be considered conservative at best. Even when the league went to a 16 game schedule in 1978 and changed the rules to open up the offense, the Steelers still ran more than they passed.

The best way to invite comparison would be to wonder what type of statistics Swann might put up if he replaced Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt on the 'Greatest Show on Turf' era Rams. Or better yet, if he had played the better part of his career with the Patriots and Tom Brady was his quarterback.

80's

DAN MARINO
The 80's might have been the era of the quarterback when factoring not only the great draft of 1983 not to mention Joe Montana. Yes, I understand that Montana might be the sexier choice here (and you cannot go wrong with the selection) but recent NFL history shows that a classic drop back quarterback such as the aforementioned Brady and Peyton Manning can succeed wildly in the league today. And who better to choose than Marino, whom I can see shredding modern NFL defenses if surrounded by the right talent.

[JohnTurney]

Here is an interesting (and hopefully fun idea): draft one or two players each from the decades of the 60's, 70' and 80's that if given the benefits of modern rule changes as well as weight training and conditioning would potentially be even better if playing today. Following are my selections:

60's

DEACON JONES
Everyone knows that in today's NFL it is paramount that you put pressure on the quarterback and who better to do that than Deacon Jones, whom today I see playing a complementary and very fitting edge rusher role. A modern contemporary might be Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones who is the exact same height and weight as Deacon Jones at 6 ft 5 and 265 lbs.

70's

LYNN SWANN
I tire about people hating on the Hall of Fame credentials of the great Steelers receiver because he did not put up the type of gaudy numbers of modern receivers. Well earth to moon, Swann played the first four seasons of his career (1974-77) when the league only played 14 games and the rules were slated heavily in the favor of defenses. It also does not help that he played in an offense that, by today's standards, might be considered conservative at best. Even when the league went to a 16 game schedule in 1978 and changed the rules to open up the offense, the Steelers still ran more than they passed.

The best way to invite comparison would be to wonder what type of statistics Swann might put up if he replaced Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt on the 'Greatest Show on Turf' era Rams. Or better yet, if he had played the better part of his career with the Patriots and Tom Brady was his quarterback.

80's

DAN MARINO
The 80's might have been the era of the quarterback when factoring not only the great draft of 1983 not to mention Joe Montana. Yes, I understand that Montana might be the sexier choice here (and you cannot go wrong with the selection) but recent NFL history shows that a classic drop back quarterback such as the aforementioned Brady and Peyton Manning can succeed wildly in the league today. And who better to choose than Marino, whom I can see shredding modern NFL defenses if surrounded by the right talent.

All good choices. D. Jones was faster than Chandler Jones, when he was young he was like a bigger Von Miller. Swann and Stallworth, I made that comparison in 2001 to the GSOT, with Jim Smith and T. Bell. I wondered what those four might have done in a 4-wide set.

Marino, you'd think would do well in today's game, especially if he could get one big WR, like a Fitz or Megatron.

Good idea for a post.

[L.C. Greenwood]

70's

LYNN SWANN
I tire about people hating on the Hall of Fame credentials of the great Steelers receiver because he did not put up the type of gaudy numbers of modern receivers. Well earth to moon, Swann played the first four seasons of his career (1974-77) when the league only played 14 games and the rules were slated heavily in the favor of defenses. It also does not help that he played in an offense that, by today's standards, might be considered conservative at best. Even when the league went to a 16 game schedule in 1978 and changed the rules to open up the offense, the Steelers still ran more than they passed.

The best way to invite comparison would be to wonder what type of statistics Swann might put up if he replaced Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt on the 'Greatest Show on Turf' era Rams. Or better yet, if he had played the better part of his career with the Patriots and Tom Brady was his quarterback.



Lynn Swann would easily put up gaudy numbers under today's rules, and you wouldn't need a Kurt Warner or Tom Brady throwing to him. Swann wasn't just a graceful receiver with great body control, he was tough as nails, and lethal after the catch. The usual highlights you see about Swann fail to mention how effective he was on shorter patterns, absolutely fearless.

[Some Guy From Mars]

Lynn Swann would easily put up gaudy numbers under today's rules, and you wouldn't need a Kurt Warner or Tom Brady throwing to him. Swann wasn't just a graceful receiver with great body control, he was tough as nails, and lethal after the catch. The usual highlights you see about Swann fail to mention how effective he was on shorter patterns, absolutely fearless.

Agreed, but the thing with Lynn Swann if he were playing today (or at least based upon today's rules) he wouldn't have to worry about dealing with headhunters like George Atkinson or Jack Tatum.

[JuggernautJ]

Here is an interesting (and hopefully fun idea): draft one or two players each from the decades of the 60's, 70' and 80's that if given the benefits of modern rule changes as well as weight training and conditioning would potentially be even better if playing today. Following are my selections:

60's

DEACON JONES
Everyone knows that in today's NFL it is paramount that you put pressure on the quarterback and who better to do that than Deacon Jones, whom today I see playing a complementary and very fitting edge rusher role. A modern contemporary might be Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones who is the exact same height and weight as Deacon Jones at 6 ft 5 and 265 lbs....

All good choices. D. Jones was faster than Chandler Jones, when he was young he was like a bigger Von Miller....

I can't imagine the Deacon with today's year round training and conditioning.
I bet he'd be more like 6/5" 300 lbs and still as cat-quick as ever.
No offense intended but I'm not sure Chandler Jones could hold a candle to him...

For my (50's-) 60's choice a player I'd like to see in today's game would be Lenny Moore.
Given his skill-set he might out-Marhsall-Faulk Marshal Faulk. Certainly the game has evolved significantly in regards to how his abilities would be used.
I think he'd be a Hall of Famer all over again.

The 70's is hard for me... so many great players I got to see as I grew up.
John Hannah, Bobby Bell and Ted Hendricks would all be amazing if they played today. But for skill positions Charlie Sanders popped into my head. I'd like to see how his game would translate to the modern era. I can envision him playing at maybe twenty pounds heavier and tearing up the field in a Jimmy Graham type roll.

I can't help but be a homer for the 80's.
There are a lot of 49ers from that time I'd "draft" to an updated team of today.
A fun choice would be a certain high-knee-action RB from Nebraska.
I would definitely like to see Roger Craig in my backfield with Lenny Moore.

[74_75_78_79_]

Deacon, OJ, Montana