Re: "Three Studs on the O-Line" article
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:45 pm
Talking about the post Huff era Giants, we should mention 1970, probably the Giants best season between the Gifford, Huff teams and the Lawrence Taylor era.
1970 was a year that everything just seemed to go the Giants way. The Giants could have made the playoffs that year and possibly the Super Bowl. I will give some reasons here for the improvement.
(1) The Cleveland Browns, in need of a QB, trade Paul Warfield to Miami for a rookie QB named Mike Phipps. To try to make up for the loss of WR Warfield the Browns trade DT Jim Kanicki and RB Ron Johnson to the Giants for WR Homer Jones. Kanicki becomes a solid starter for the Giants at right DT and Ron Johnson becomes a Giants star at running back. Homer Jones does not become a starter for Cleveland at WR.
(2) Matt Hazeltine is picked up from the 49ers and becomes a starter at right linebacker. The former All-Pro linebacker was 37 but played well for the Giants in 1970.
(3) Big rookie Jim Files (6' 4" and about 240 lbs.) takes over at middle linebacker, allowing veteran Ralph Heck to move over to left linebacker. Rookie Files had size and speed and his lack of experience was probably made up for with the seasoned veterans playing on both sides of him.
(4) Jerry Shay was a veteran DT picked up from Atlanta and though not very big for a defensive tackle of that era, plays well for the Giants in 1970, according to Fran Tarkenton.
(5) Clifton McNeil is picked up in a trade with the 49ers in an effort to replace Homer Jones at WR. McNeil plays well and catches 50 passes for the Giants in 1970.
(6) Free agent Bob Tucker becomes the starting TE for New York and is one of the big surprises for the Giants. Tucker was to become a very good TE in the NFL and catches 40 passes in 1970. Tucker was also a formidable blocker.
(7) Defensive ends Fred "Hunter" Dryer and Bob Lurtsema help give the New York team a good pass rush in 1970.
(8) According to Fran Tarkenton, offensive line of Young, Case, Larson, Van Horn, and Buzin play well for the Giants. It probably doesn't hurt that Tarkenton has the ability to scramble out of trouble (I think that I heard that someplace).
(9) DB's Lockhart, Eaton, Williams and Longo do well. especially Lockhart and Williams.
(10) Death of Vince Lombardi helped give Giants 2 wins against Washington that year in close games. Lombardi stays healthy and Giants likely lose one or both of their games to the Skins. After Lombardi's death, Washington goes back to being more like the early 60's Redskins.
(11) This is not a top 10 list, ala Letterman. Giants beat Jets in inner city rivalry game. Jets have a rookie named Woodall at QB due to season ending injury to Joe Namath. RB Matt Snell also out with injury. Jets losing Namath and Snell is tremendous break for Giants and they capitalize with a win.
(12)The scheduling was different in 1970 with teams not playing the same teams outside of their divisions. Some teams catch tough teams and others have it easier. As it turns out, only one of Giants 6 opponents outside of their division have a winning record (the Rams). Giants don't take advantage going 3 and 3 in the 6 games.
(13) Pete Gogolak was one of the best place kickers in the league.
(14) Good reserves in RB's Joe Morrison and Bobby Duhon, TE Aaron Thomas, and G/T Charlie Harper.
(15) FB Tucker Frederickson stays healthy for a change and plays the entire season. His blocking and running no doubt was a plus in 1970.
(16) Fran Tarkenton was fabulous. My vote goes to 1970 for Tarkenton's greatest year.
For more info on the 1970 Giants, a very good source is Fran Tarkenton's book, "Broken Patterns" which focuses quite a bit on the Giants 1970 season.
Unfortunately for the New York Giants, Roger Staubach became the starting QB for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971, which made the Cowboys a much tougher team throughout the 1970's. Also, George Allen became the head coach of the Redskins in 1971 and traded about half the team away and most of their future draft choices. Washington became much tougher starting in 1971 with Allen. I think that Fran Tarkenton saw the handwriting on the wall in 1971 and decided that he wanted out of New York.
1970 was a year that everything just seemed to go the Giants way. The Giants could have made the playoffs that year and possibly the Super Bowl. I will give some reasons here for the improvement.
(1) The Cleveland Browns, in need of a QB, trade Paul Warfield to Miami for a rookie QB named Mike Phipps. To try to make up for the loss of WR Warfield the Browns trade DT Jim Kanicki and RB Ron Johnson to the Giants for WR Homer Jones. Kanicki becomes a solid starter for the Giants at right DT and Ron Johnson becomes a Giants star at running back. Homer Jones does not become a starter for Cleveland at WR.
(2) Matt Hazeltine is picked up from the 49ers and becomes a starter at right linebacker. The former All-Pro linebacker was 37 but played well for the Giants in 1970.
(3) Big rookie Jim Files (6' 4" and about 240 lbs.) takes over at middle linebacker, allowing veteran Ralph Heck to move over to left linebacker. Rookie Files had size and speed and his lack of experience was probably made up for with the seasoned veterans playing on both sides of him.
(4) Jerry Shay was a veteran DT picked up from Atlanta and though not very big for a defensive tackle of that era, plays well for the Giants in 1970, according to Fran Tarkenton.
(5) Clifton McNeil is picked up in a trade with the 49ers in an effort to replace Homer Jones at WR. McNeil plays well and catches 50 passes for the Giants in 1970.
(6) Free agent Bob Tucker becomes the starting TE for New York and is one of the big surprises for the Giants. Tucker was to become a very good TE in the NFL and catches 40 passes in 1970. Tucker was also a formidable blocker.
(7) Defensive ends Fred "Hunter" Dryer and Bob Lurtsema help give the New York team a good pass rush in 1970.
(8) According to Fran Tarkenton, offensive line of Young, Case, Larson, Van Horn, and Buzin play well for the Giants. It probably doesn't hurt that Tarkenton has the ability to scramble out of trouble (I think that I heard that someplace).
(9) DB's Lockhart, Eaton, Williams and Longo do well. especially Lockhart and Williams.
(10) Death of Vince Lombardi helped give Giants 2 wins against Washington that year in close games. Lombardi stays healthy and Giants likely lose one or both of their games to the Skins. After Lombardi's death, Washington goes back to being more like the early 60's Redskins.
(11) This is not a top 10 list, ala Letterman. Giants beat Jets in inner city rivalry game. Jets have a rookie named Woodall at QB due to season ending injury to Joe Namath. RB Matt Snell also out with injury. Jets losing Namath and Snell is tremendous break for Giants and they capitalize with a win.
(12)The scheduling was different in 1970 with teams not playing the same teams outside of their divisions. Some teams catch tough teams and others have it easier. As it turns out, only one of Giants 6 opponents outside of their division have a winning record (the Rams). Giants don't take advantage going 3 and 3 in the 6 games.
(13) Pete Gogolak was one of the best place kickers in the league.
(14) Good reserves in RB's Joe Morrison and Bobby Duhon, TE Aaron Thomas, and G/T Charlie Harper.
(15) FB Tucker Frederickson stays healthy for a change and plays the entire season. His blocking and running no doubt was a plus in 1970.
(16) Fran Tarkenton was fabulous. My vote goes to 1970 for Tarkenton's greatest year.
For more info on the 1970 Giants, a very good source is Fran Tarkenton's book, "Broken Patterns" which focuses quite a bit on the Giants 1970 season.
Unfortunately for the New York Giants, Roger Staubach became the starting QB for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971, which made the Cowboys a much tougher team throughout the 1970's. Also, George Allen became the head coach of the Redskins in 1971 and traded about half the team away and most of their future draft choices. Washington became much tougher starting in 1971 with Allen. I think that Fran Tarkenton saw the handwriting on the wall in 1971 and decided that he wanted out of New York.