Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.
In goal-line and short-yardage situatiations, the Rams often went to the straight T-formation with their so-called "Bull Elephant" backfield of Younger, Towler, and Dick Hoerner. Younger was 6-3,225 pounds; Towler was 6-2 and 225, and Hoerner was 6-4 and 220.Saban wrote:Dan Towler - Tank Younger. During the 50's, Dan Towler had some great years starting in 1951 and led the NFL in rushing in 1952. Dan started to slip a little bit in 1954, so Younger started getting more playing time at fullback and Tank had a succession of great years.
Funny thing, Towler and Younger were about the same age. Younger was a good linebacker and played at that position while Towler was the starting fullback during the early 50's, but Younger took over when Towler started slipping due to injuries or something.
Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.
I always think of them operating together in the Bull Elephant backfield.JuggernautJ wrote:Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.
Both are in the Hall of (the) Very Good and I've read a bit about them.
Of course, we're all familiar with the Rams offense of that era...
Anyone else from the "early days?"
In the 1982 film History of Pro Football, Art Donovan tells a story. He apparently had a feud with Deacon Dan. After a running play, Art and another defender (not sure if it was Yanks, Texans or Colts) were beating on Towler. The ref grabbed Donovan and said "If you do that again, it's going to cost you $100 and I'll throw you out of the game." While this was going on, Younger came in for Towler, and Donovan didn't notice. Next play, Younger gets the ball, gets tackled, and Donovan, disregarding the ref's warning, is doing something to Tank's nose when he hears a cry "Hey, let me go! This ain't the Deac, it's the Tank!"JuggernautJ wrote:Ah, that is a good pairing from the 1950's!Saban wrote: Deacon Dan Towler and Paul Tank Younger were two big, strong running backs for the Los Angeles Rams and were both pretty good.
Both are in the Hall of (the) Very Good and I've read a bit about them.
Of course, we're all familiar with the Rams offense of that era...
Anyone else from the "early days?"
It's too bad that he got hurt when he did (catching a pass in Week 14 against the Chiefs, which was Denver's last win that year before their collapse). If they had a healthy Hillis for the rest of the year, they probably make the playoffs, and Shanny isn't fired, which changes everything for Denver football from the last ten years.Peyton Hillis didn't play (six starts) that much and averaged five yards a carry when he did.
My thoughts, exactly.rhickok1109 wrote: Of course, Alex Gibbs might deserve more credit for that than any of the running backs...
