Decline of the 'Iron Man' Era

[luckyshow]

Of course Lou Groza placekicked. In his first couple of seasons, Giffird placekicked but not in all situations. Paul Hornung punted for most of his career, but I don't know if he ever placekicked for Packers. Ernie Koy punted (the younger one). If they limited substitutions for kickers, they could return to that type situation. But none of my ideas are considered. I am just in the wrong media for such influence.

Who was last QB to regularly kick, either punting or placekicking?

Has there ever been another lineman, in the post-war era, to kick other than Groza?

Was a triple threat being able to score on a pass, a run or a kick? Does anyone this side of Baugh qualify as a possibility for that? Maybe Blanda....

Hopefully this only goes in once

[conace21]

I believe Danny White was the last QB to kick or punt. He was the regular punter through 1984 or 85.
Tom Tupa wasn't a regular punter until after he stopped being anything more than a backup QB

[oldecapecod11]

by luckyshow » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:19 pm
"...Has there ever been another lineman, in the post-war era, to kick other than Groza?"

Jerry Kramer (assuming you meant WWII?)

[rhickok1109]

Of course Lou Groza placekicked. In his first couple of seasons, Giffird placekicked but not in all situations. Paul Hornung punted for most of his career, but I don't know if he ever placekicked for Packers. Ernie Koy punted (the younger one). If they limited substitutions for kickers, they could return to that type situation. But none of my ideas are considered. I am just in the wrong media for such influence.

Who was last QB to regularly kick, either punting or placekicking?

Has there ever been another lineman, in the post-war era, to kick other than Groza?

Was a triple threat being able to score on a pass, a run or a kick? Does anyone this side of Baugh qualify as a possibility for that? Maybe Blanda....

Hopefully this only goes in once

Jim Martin, who played guard, tackle, and linebacker for the Lions, was also a kicker and continued in the NFL as a specialist kicker for some years.

Paul Hornung scored 50 rushing TDs, caught 12 TD passes, thew 5 TD passes, and kicked 66 FGs and 190 PATs.

[Reaser]

Lou Michaels was a DE also

[coachtj]

....both bill george (blanda injured in late '54), and les richter his first three years place kicked. so when both were chosen for the pro bowl as linebackers they could have utilized as a kicker if needed. richter played guard on offense more than once, and of course bill george started his career on offense. of all the versatile men of the "iron man" era dickie james of the skins still stands out as one of those players who started on offense & defense, and by '62 had compiled impressive kick return stats.

[JeffreyMiller]

Billy Van Huesen ...

[paulksandiego]

LOL...the first two pages of this thread was like 'Groundhog Day'...Poor LuckyShow. Very informative post, I will admit.

[luckyshow]

I do remember reading somewhere (maybe in There Were Giants) that Ken Strong heavilly lobbied Commissioner Bell to change rules so he could continue as a kicking specialist.

Which he did. During the war years he wasn't in NFL so perhaps he influenced that 3 men maximum substitution rule....

In the past players who were already in the game usually kicked the extra points and the field goals....Which I thought was the reason Groza was a placekicker. Most were not that good....See late 1930s Bears games for good examples of this, who kicked the points. Their kickers did pretty well.

In my research of Benny Friedman, I saw where he was still drop kicking field goals and points for his semi pro Cedarhurst Wolverines team, in the late 1930s and early 40s. With presumably the modern skinnier ball. I have always presumed he was the last of the drop-kicker triple threats (in the NFL). (Ken Strong was a placekicker)...

[Ronfitch]

Of course Lou Groza placekicked. In his first couple of seasons, Giffird placekicked but not in all situations. Paul Hornung punted for most of his career, but I don't know if he ever placekicked for Packers. Ernie Koy punted (the younger one). If they limited substitutions for kickers, they could return to that type situation. But none of my ideas are considered. I am just in the wrong media for such influence.

Who was last QB to regularly kick, either punting or placekicking?

Has there ever been another lineman, in the post-war era, to kick other than Groza?

Was a triple threat being able to score on a pass, a run or a kick? Does anyone this side of Baugh qualify as a possibility for that? Maybe Blanda....

Hopefully this only goes in once

Who was the last starter/mostly starter at any position to kick or punt regularly? Danny White, for punting?

I think the game would be much more fun (for me, anyway), if FG and XP kicking were not so ... well, great. NFL kickers are just too good.