Packers Senior Candidates
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:42 pm
I thought I had answered a question about the Packers senior Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates from long ago. But I don't see the post. Must have hit the wrong key. My apologies.
I'd rate Lewellen, No. 1. No question. I think he is the most deserving player in the entire NFL not in the Hall. In fact, when one researches only primary sources and nothing later than about 1965, you get the impression the debate at that point among the few former Packers who were eyewitnesses to all of Lambeau's great players from Lewellen to Hutson (Charlie Mathys, Jug Earp, Johnny Blood, Mike Michalske, who played and then stayed in the GB area and/or closely followed the team, or even worked for it) was whether Lewellen or Hinkle was the franchise's greatest player.
I think Dilweg is certainly deserving. Lambeau called him the best end in the seven-man line era. And he was a six-time all-pro on the GB Press-Gazette all-pro teams selected by coaches, club officials and sportswriters from across the league. What I find interesting, though, is this: In the few newspaper stories of the day that went into much detail about the specifics of Dilweg's strengths, the suggestion was that No. 1 was his ability to cover punts, and I don't know that I've ever seen that mentioned in stories about Dilweg's Hall credentials. Ray Flaherty wrote an instructive article on the duties of ends in Spalding's 1940 NFL guide. And it reflects to a degree what Lambeau and others said about ends in the 1920s, early '30s: That covering punts may have been their most important assignment. The reason I rank Dilweg behind Lewllen is that in the old game stories and play-by-plays not only in Green Bay and Milwaukee, but opposing cities, as well, is that Lewellen dominated games time and time again with his punting and scoring prowess. Dilweg did a lot of the dirty work, but he didn't average much more than a catch a game, if that.
What's more, the Packers had another outstanding defensive end, Larry Craig. Sammy Baugh said at the end of his career: “Any time anybody asks me who gave me the most trouble when I was attempting to pass, I always say Larry Craig. We could never handle him consistently. We tried to keep our best blocker on him, but he still rushed me harder than anyone I ever played against.” Baugh also picked Craig as the blocking back on his all-time team. Plus, Bob Waterfield and Bobby Layne offered similar praise of Craig's defensive play. Craig's teammates called him "Superman."
Isbell has impressive credentials, too. As a passer, his numbers were better than Baugh's when he retired after five seasons. And, actually, Isbell led the Packers in rushing his first two years, while Arnie Herber and/or Bobby Monnett combined for or had more passing yards. But, again, the ND Box was not the single wing. So Isbell, as the LHB, didn't call signals. He also shared playing time at first with Monnett, another Packer Hall of Famer, and then apparently with others because he was only an average defender. Monnett was also a combination runner-passer. In addition, Isbell played in the same backfield as Herber (the RHB) at times and, thus, wasn't always the primary passer his first three years. That said, Isbell's 2,021 passing yards in 1942 were almost 500 more than Baugh had ever thrown for at that point. Isbell also owned the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a career with 59. Baugh was second with 56 even though he had played one more season than Isbell. Here's what Bernie Scherer, Packers end from 1936-38, said about the three halfbacks: “They were different kinds of players. Herber was a better long passer. Isbell could run better. Herber couldn’t run at all. The best of all was Bobby Monnett. He could run the ball and throw the kind of pass you liked to catch. He was just great. I thought more of him than Isbell or Herber.”
I'd rate Lewellen, No. 1. No question. I think he is the most deserving player in the entire NFL not in the Hall. In fact, when one researches only primary sources and nothing later than about 1965, you get the impression the debate at that point among the few former Packers who were eyewitnesses to all of Lambeau's great players from Lewellen to Hutson (Charlie Mathys, Jug Earp, Johnny Blood, Mike Michalske, who played and then stayed in the GB area and/or closely followed the team, or even worked for it) was whether Lewellen or Hinkle was the franchise's greatest player.
I think Dilweg is certainly deserving. Lambeau called him the best end in the seven-man line era. And he was a six-time all-pro on the GB Press-Gazette all-pro teams selected by coaches, club officials and sportswriters from across the league. What I find interesting, though, is this: In the few newspaper stories of the day that went into much detail about the specifics of Dilweg's strengths, the suggestion was that No. 1 was his ability to cover punts, and I don't know that I've ever seen that mentioned in stories about Dilweg's Hall credentials. Ray Flaherty wrote an instructive article on the duties of ends in Spalding's 1940 NFL guide. And it reflects to a degree what Lambeau and others said about ends in the 1920s, early '30s: That covering punts may have been their most important assignment. The reason I rank Dilweg behind Lewllen is that in the old game stories and play-by-plays not only in Green Bay and Milwaukee, but opposing cities, as well, is that Lewellen dominated games time and time again with his punting and scoring prowess. Dilweg did a lot of the dirty work, but he didn't average much more than a catch a game, if that.
What's more, the Packers had another outstanding defensive end, Larry Craig. Sammy Baugh said at the end of his career: “Any time anybody asks me who gave me the most trouble when I was attempting to pass, I always say Larry Craig. We could never handle him consistently. We tried to keep our best blocker on him, but he still rushed me harder than anyone I ever played against.” Baugh also picked Craig as the blocking back on his all-time team. Plus, Bob Waterfield and Bobby Layne offered similar praise of Craig's defensive play. Craig's teammates called him "Superman."
Isbell has impressive credentials, too. As a passer, his numbers were better than Baugh's when he retired after five seasons. And, actually, Isbell led the Packers in rushing his first two years, while Arnie Herber and/or Bobby Monnett combined for or had more passing yards. But, again, the ND Box was not the single wing. So Isbell, as the LHB, didn't call signals. He also shared playing time at first with Monnett, another Packer Hall of Famer, and then apparently with others because he was only an average defender. Monnett was also a combination runner-passer. In addition, Isbell played in the same backfield as Herber (the RHB) at times and, thus, wasn't always the primary passer his first three years. That said, Isbell's 2,021 passing yards in 1942 were almost 500 more than Baugh had ever thrown for at that point. Isbell also owned the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a career with 59. Baugh was second with 56 even though he had played one more season than Isbell. Here's what Bernie Scherer, Packers end from 1936-38, said about the three halfbacks: “They were different kinds of players. Herber was a better long passer. Isbell could run better. Herber couldn’t run at all. The best of all was Bobby Monnett. He could run the ball and throw the kind of pass you liked to catch. He was just great. I thought more of him than Isbell or Herber.”