Hard hits, bad weather and more lead to ridiculously low rushing totals during the 1969 AFL season. Check out who the leaders were and how many yards they had.
@@manny4552 ..well ..you’re probably as old as I am then ..lol ..those were some great times growing up ..and watching these legends ..remember Leslie ‘Speedy’ Duncan too? ..I remember he returned a 108 yard int pic 6 ..good times ..
THIS WAS MY ERA...LEROY KELLY...GALE SAYERS..HORNING..AFL VS NFL..I WAS A FIRST YR PLAYER IN 68 POP WARNER...I WAS A LINEBACKER TILL 79. THAT WAS MY LAST YR...MOOSE PEARSON ....DREWS YOUNGER BRO SHOWED ME HOW TO HIT...
Kansas City had quite a defense back then, Curly Kulp, Willie Lanier and Buck Buchanan. Also at 7:59 I noticed former NBC color commentator Paul Maguire # 55 playing linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. Maguire was also the punter on that team. I can't get enough of your old school videos and insightful commentary! Keep 'em coming
My favorite all-time linebacker, Bobby Bell #78, was on that team, too. He really nailed #40 Pete Banaszak of the Raiders in one clip. They were loaded.
@@markgardner9460 Yes, it was TEXTBOOK PERFECT FORM -- a "beautiful" and 100% "clean" tackle ... solidly "laying the wood" of the shoulder and body squarely into the RB's midsection and "wrapping him up" where the only direction Banaszak could go was DOWN. Unfortunately, such basic fundamentals have not been emphasized in the NFL (or elsewhere, as college and high school mimic the pros) for DECADES, as defenders now try to land spectacular hits on offensive players ... and in the process they almost always MISS making the tackle or instead only make glancing contact which enables the ball carrier to continue for more yards downfield. I miss the good old days -- including the sloppy fields !!
I do remember tough yards for backs back in the day-I became an AFL fan in 69-70. Floyd Little was the man....love that guy. Nance was a beast. The rules during that era were allot of anything goes and that meant punish qb's and backs and mug receivers. Another impediment back then was barbaric sports medicine. "Rub some dirt on it". If they did have surgery, they cut on them like a Christmas Turkey. Hence many players played injured & dealt with problems their whole lives, see Jim Otto. Brutal. Thanks brother, you're appreciated.
I think if you tore your meniscus back then you had two choices, either cortisone and play with the pain or take out the whole meniscus and go bone on bone. Brutal.
A particularly sad example was Greg Cook; first he was forced to play with a torn rotator cuff without surgery, and then his shoulder was mangled by surgeons, ending his career except for a brief bit of action in the 1973 season opener.
You didn’t get star treatment back then, you did what the coach told you to do. I think it’s a great idea giving both backs the same amount of carries. The old Houston Oilers, I remember reading Joe Namath’s book back in high school and he mentioned he hated playing the Oilers because their defense was relentless. Them and the Raiders.
I think that it's a great idea, too. One RB can be the quick, fast one while the other one is the pounder. Splitting carries somewhat evenly doesn't wear one guy out. Plus management doesn't have to pay superstar salaries.
1:01 "Yeah, a running back probably isn't going to bust a long run in that slop!" And then Csonka breaks out the longest run of his career (a 54 yard touchdown) in that slop.
Very few teams in either League had a "Feature RB" in those days. Gale Sayers, OJ Simpson were among the rare exceptions. For instance the Vikings in 1969, had over 1800 yards on the ground. Dave Osborn had the bulk with 643 yds while Bill Brown trucked for 430 himself. The Cowboys that same year had 2276 yards on the ground. Calvin Hill(rookie year) had 942 and FB Walt " Pinch between the cheek and gum" Garrison rumbled for 818 yds rushing. The Raiders had a stable of powerful and versatile RBs. They totaled 1765 yds as a team for rookie HC John Madden.
O.J. wasn't even "the man" until year 4. The new Head Coach, Lou Saben, in 1972 told him that he was going to be the "Feature RB" and the rest, as they say, was history. Thank you for providing the stats 'n stuff!
@@markgardner9460 True but OJ had 181 carries in 69 while the next highest was 83. The Bills as a team did not do so well in OJs time. By contrast the contender teams I mentioned distributed the load better. Balance was the key.
@@jstube36 The problem was OJ's first coach in Buffalo was John Rauch; and he was an idiot. He wanted to make OJ a decoy and make him catch passes. OJ was one of the greatest RBs in football history; but he was a subpar blocker and had hands of stone.
He had 30 catches in his rookie year of '69 and that was his highwater mark. Somehow he caught 7 td passes on only 28 catches in '75 with a tremendous 15.2 yards per catch.
Little Dickie Post was a man of perpetual motion. Very shifty. At the 4:07 mark, a young shagedellic lady almost falls into a garbage can at the mere sight of Mike Garret exiting the playing field. I think you hit it with the tandem backfields utilized by a lot of teams. Spread the workload and keep guys fresh. I didn’t realize Kiick was a Dolphin all the way back to 69. I have never heard of Granger, and I mean NEVER. Always some informative stuff, Mr Gardner ! Thanks for assembling this quality video.
@@markgardner9460 And then ten years later under the coaching of Don Coryell the Chargers led the NFL in implementing and emphasizing the passing game.
I worked out in 76 in San Diego at the old Maylan's Gym in La Jolla with Mike Garrett. The guys thighs were huge, like two blocks of cement sitting on his knees. I used to wonder what it would be like trying to tackle him around the waist and get hit by those churning thighs.
Marv Hubbard was a seldom-used rookie in 1969 but went on to be a great power back. Never averaged less than 4.6 ypc during his time with the Raiders, and averaged 4.8 ypc for his entire career.
Making Floyd Little’s accomplishment, even more impressive was the no threat Dan horn Steve Ramsey, lack of passing talent combination at quarterback, so I’m sure the line was stacked against number 44
Ah, you know it! He didn't have the greatest career stars, but he ran with a lot of heart and was an important part of the city of Denver. He gave a lot back to the community.
"...the line was stacked against number 44" Yeah, Little was the only threat on the Bronco offense in 1969, so teams stacked the line of scrimmage to stop him. Little made the five-yard run exciting because he typically had to make five or six tacklers miss him. Little was old for a rookie in 1967 (age 25), so his career got started later than most players.
Great stuff as usual. Dickie Post was so fun to watch. A favorite of mine. I remember reading a comment from a defensive player at that time when asked about Post’s small stature and quickness: “If you slap him, he’ll go down. But first you gotta get close enough.”
Jim Nance was a pile driver! Intimidating! 657 more rushing yards than second place!Mind boggling! Syracuse was quite the running back factory for quite a while! Brown,Davis Little, Csonka!and Nance!
I'm glad you finally had a video highlighting Dickie Post. His AFL leading 873 yards rushing exemplifies the brutality of trying to run in 1969 playing for the AFL.
@4:03, the lady falls over the trash can as the 3 kids and the cop glued on Garrett ignore her. I miss how people used to dress up a little to go to games instead of wearing the same team merch everybody else is dressed in.
I was born in 1971 and didn't start watching football until Super Bowl XV but I love the AFL. I wish there had never been a merger. The NFL is a monopoly now. Anyway, thanks for all you do to help us see what the pro game once was.
Just love your videos. I was trying to remember what would have caused the individual rushing yards to plummet so quickly. Then you mentioned the split backfields and the similar yardage of each. Which makes perfect sense. Thanks for your stellar work.
Great vid Mark, thanks. I guess I have a blind spot called Dickie Post!? I new nothing. Lowe, Garrison on to James Brooks. No Dickie Post in my memory. Now, Nance was a legend in my house. Thanks meng
Thank you, Hammer! I actually think that Jim Nance warrants serious Hall of Fame consideration. I am probably in the minority there, but that's what I maintain.
The next year (1970), Dickie Post made a cut back on a run against Cincinnati, and backup defensive lineman Marty Baccaglio made him pay dearly for it. Nearly snapped Post in half. Post, in fact, played only one more season, splitting it with the Broncos and Oilers, and was pretty much a shell of his former self.
RB's didn't have much longevity back then, especially for a smaller-sized RB like Post. I don't recall the Bengals defender in the video who drove his helmet into Post's knee, but that was a dirty play.
The ‘69 Kansas City Chiefs led the AFL in rushing with a trio of RBs with Mike Garrett (21), Robert Holmes (45), and little Warren McVea (6), the speedster. The Dolphins went to the RB trio format a few years later with great success. But, as you said, most teams had that HB/ FB combo sharing carries.
One of the clips had WR Frank Pitts lined upon so close to Dawson that he could have almost blew into his ear hole. They were in a stacked backfield formation with 3 players lined up directly behind Dawson. Pretty cool, I thought.
@@markgardner9460 Yes, Coach Stram was very creative with his alignments and schemes. I always liked their “huddles” back then. He wasn’t averse to experimenting.
Sir I am so glad I found your channel. Keep up the great work. Do you have any footage of the white running back for Detroit in the early 60’s? I think he went to Michigan I can’t remember his name
Jim Nance is kinda the forgotten man in that long line of great Syracuse back from Brown, Davis, Nance, Csonka and Little. I know from the 70's to the 90's Penn State was known as "Linebacker U " but from the late 50's to the 70's Syracuse was "Running Back U" !
JEEEEEEZ ?! Ain't no running back today could understand this, or how Jim Brown was The Greatest Running back of ALL time. Go back to REAL GRASS FIELDS ! No gloves, no anything to gat isn't about Real American FOOTBALL.
I'd forgotten how good Jim Nance was. Looks like a charging Hippo, just swatting down tacklers - lot like Marv Hubbard, or Riggins - just tough to bring down. And Chargers last winning season was 1969. I think the Oilers went 6-6-2, or something, but outclassed by Oakland in the playoffs in 1969.
That's certainly one of the primary reasons, although in San Diego league leader Dickie Post had 182 carries, which was the lion's share. Brad Hubbert had 94 carries which was the second most on the team. Great poi t!
Great stuff. There probably would have been a lot more 1000-yard rushers if teams had given 80% of their carries to one feature back. I'm glad they didn't, though. The two-back, and even three-back systems are more fun and interesting.
Pro Quarterback was the one that I have. I jumped the gun on Richard's question. Now I'll have to earmark some monies towards the purchase of some of those. Who knows, maybe some day I'll get around to reading them. I have so much material now that it's going to take years to get through it all, but I think that's a good problem to have.
I had the pleasure to see DICKIE POST play while he was at the UNIV. of HOUSTON. He was in the same backfield rotation as WARREN MC VEA. There were usually breakaway runs in each game by both during those ‘66 and ‘67 seasons. U. Of H. under former ARMY assistant to the CADETS head coach RED BLAIK, COOGS HEAD COACH BILL YEOMAN, was an independent back then, playing teams such as OKLAHOMA STATE, TEXAS(U OF H was the last team not to lose to TEXAS [20-20 tie in AUSTIN]before the HORNS went on a 30 game winning streak that ended with a loss in the ‘71 COTTON BOWL NEW YEAR’s Day.), CHATTANOOGA(*major college footballing back then), IDAHO*, TULSA, CINCINNATI, MISSISSIPPI STATE, and oh yeah, an on the road 37-7 WIN OVER THEN #2 MICHIGAN STATE.. All of that success was via YEOMAN’s invention- THE VEER OFFENSE. Guys such as RILEY ODOMS at tight end, ELMO WRIGHT at split end, TOM BEER at wideout and tight end, and JOHNNY PEACOCK in the secondary, with ROYCE BERRY on the d-line, all of those mentioned all played in the AFL and/or NFL. Celebs such as singer=LARRY GATLIN, and d-coordinator extraordinaire WADE PHILLIPS also played on those late ‘60’s teams. Heck, WADE’s dad=BUM PHILLIPS was briefly assisting on the sideline, while the opposition featured DR. PHIL Mc Graw on the TULSA squad the night they were beaten 100-6.. Ahhhh, the ASTRODOME was electric…ELECTRIC back then!!!
@@markgardner9460, love your RU-vid postings, MARK.. I got to see U OF H a lot on AUTUMN SATURDAY NITES IN THE DOME. My now late UNCLE MIKE DYER was an assistant trainer at RICE U., and he was constantly getting free tickets, they were SKYBOXERS, although at my young age, I thought the audio speakers were the SKYBOXES, lol. Yep, we were sitting in SKY BLUE SEATS elevated in altitude for the best views in the house, with food and drink at our beck and call, and an open bar for adults such as my AUNT BETTY who took me to the Dome and watched the most exciting team in college ball back then. Uncle Mike was usually on the road with the RICE OWLS. By the way, I discovered that I needed eyeglasses back then because I could not clearly see the lettering messages on the Dome scoreboard. One final note, if I am not mistaken, DICKIE POST is of “native” Indian stock, hailing from OKLAHOMA. I am not sure of the MAIN TRIBE, likely Cherokee. Boy, he and MCVEA were fun to watch at U OF H!!
Post actually made the Chargers roster as a Flanker behind Lance Alworth, but was pressed into duty as a Running Back when Paul Lowe had an injury and his replacement was injured, too. Thank you for sharing those great memories! I'm glad that you enjoy the videos, too.
@@markgardner9460 , plan for the switch to flanker was likely born out of a fear that POST was too small to be a running back. Obviously, outside of his injury bug in the pros, he was not an ineffective runner, when healthy. In fact, he was just the opposite.. when healthy and could actually suit up.
two things i notice that don't happen anymore. refs did not hesitate to raise the touchdown signal.in fact they were pretty enthused. and players that scored did not feel the need to act like idiot's, they just shook hands with teammates and got off the field.
Yes, the refs were emphatic about their touchdown signaling! Players were wise to limit their touchdown celebrations because they needed the energy later. Why players run up and down the field to celebrate makes no sense to me, in that regard.
Tremendous one here Mark! History is important in all phases of life, including sports. So much can get overlooked, including many of the players covered here.
Thank you! I think it's important for us to not forget how far the league has come from far more simpler times. Sometimes I wonder if the league will go back to the two Running Back set, but I doubt that it will due to the love affair with passing.
Well my friend, the league is lost and a disgrace to the game for a number of reasons, starting with enforcing the rules of the game and the lack of fundamentals, as your footage reminds us on a regular basis! These videos should be used a t football camps.
That's a great idea! Show them that textbook Bobby Bell tackle on Pete Banaszak. There's nothing wrong with leading with your helmet when you're smart enough to know to place it to the side of the ballcarrier's body. They don't want those kind of tackles, in the name of player safety, but what's not stated is the side benefit of the sloppiest attempts at tackling imaginable that allow a ton of cheap yards being gained. By the way, does anyone know what the league does with the monetary fines? Somehow I don't think they're holding a big party at the end of the year.
We could write a book and make a movie on what's wrong with the present NFL. Like I said, so much of your footage , into and analysis exposes today's flaws. But this IS the game, and the one I've always subscribed to. Your videos are just great and this one is explo ding with views.
My Dad used to play number boards for the NFL games in the early to mid 1970's. He always said that 0 & 0 was the best number since that was the score at the end of the first quarter so often. My point is that teams punched and prodded eachother's defenses in order to detect a weakness; they were feeling eachother out because rules to grossly benefit the passing game had not yet been instituted. We loved it! We didn't need or even want to watch something like a 45 to 42 game. I liken scoring to eating ice cream. A bowl is great, but eating four bowls is far too much. It's called The Law of Diminishing Utility. Maybe today's NFL will figure that out some day.
One notable omission from this list was number one draft pick OJ Simpson. Buffalo was awful in 1969 and they came to San Diego in the last AFL game for the Bills and Chargers before the merger. OJ didn't do much in that game, but Post had a long touchdown and secured the rushing title. Post had two all-pros blocking for him: Guard Walt Sweeney and tackle Ron Mix, who is now has a bust in Canton. Floyd Little would become the new American Football Conference's first rushing champion in 1970. It's still hard to believe that no one if the AFL's last year would even gain 900, let alone 1,000 yards.
Can you do a story on Dwayne Thomas 44 of Dallas, Tom Landry said he'd turn backward while drawing up plays , never missed a play , he might have been touched. curious 🤔
In honor of this video I’ll wear my #55 EJ Holub 69 chiefs jersey for this one….btw Hoyle Granger played RB with Jim Nance for the 74 Houston Texans of WFL
Awesome! I have an 8 X 10 color photo of Holub that shows his beaten and battered helmet. It looks like it was attached to the back of a pick-up truck and dragged down a gravel road for 10 miles. I did not know that about Granger and Nance - thanks for the info!!
@Michaelleroy About Carl Garrett Running Back For NewEngland He Came To Our Chicago Bears " In 74&75" And We Played The Dallas Cowboys Defense That Trash Talked Garrett " 2 Times In The Red Zone 5 Yard Line & Carl Scored Both Times Then Trash Talked Dallas Back While In The End Zone ! They Forget He Was A 1500 Yards Running Leader At New England It Was Fun To See Him Tell Dallas Defense Off 😂😅 Lol "Cool Lou "
"In my "humble opinion".." offences and "defenses"....were just so much better...." play-calling in other words..and of course....the "game" was a "different beast"!!
That's a good point. Most of the teams' Quarterbacks called their own plays, so they had to be "in tune" with the down, distance, field position, score, time outs, and time remaining. That's a lot of responsibility that today's Quarterbacks really don't have to be concerned with because someone is telling them that inside their helmet.
5:50--too many carries per game (due to over reliance on him for the team's offense) plus playing on that thin, raggedy Astrodome Astroturf--gee, sounds like what would happen to an even greater Oiler power back a decade or so later.
Yes, indeed. The same thing happened to Earl Campbell. I saw that thin Astrodome backyard patio turf during a tour of the stadium in '79 and my eyes bugged out of my head when it was pulled up to reveal concrete underneath.
I wonder afl defensives were preparing for nfl offensives as teams fell out of contention? The oilers and bengals had to be thinking about the Steelers and browns afl east had the colts. I wonder at least if it was in back of their minds
In the 1969 season, they might not have known who their opponents in the first merger season; as the divisional alignments might not have been settled.
@@tygrkhat4087 I think they before 69. When Paul brown bought the bengals in 66/67 he bought it in understanding that they would be playing against his former team model’s browns. And model didn’t want to move over to the afl/afc without rooneys steelers. When merger was in danger Paul brown argued he didn’t purchase an AFL club but an NFL club. Understanding that they would merge under the shield of the NFL. I believe Michael macCambridge’s Americas Game: the epic story how pro football captured a nation; tells the story in great detail
@@jjw56 I've read McCambridge's book. The last part of the merger to be worked out was the realignment of the new league. There were several scenarios that were put forward. One plan, that was eventually adopted, was for 3 teams to join the AFC from the old NFL. Which three teams it would be was the sticking point. The merger was never in doubt by the time Brown created the Bengals. What Brown objected to was a MLB-like set-up with the AFL and NFL as separate leagues. Brown never knew until the Browns, Colts and Steelers agreed to join the AFC that he would get the Browns twice a year. I believe that those decisions weren't made until after the 1969 season.
@@tygrkhat4087 oh, that’s makes more sense. Brown knew he buying an nfl and it was the Cleveland and Pittsburgh that wanted to be together but yeah that particular item would have happened after 69. Thanks for clarifying
I think the leagues should separate and play each other less. maybe the two leagues would create more distinctive styles of play which would lead to a more exciting super bowl like the first four. At least that’s how I see it Then fans would become league fans as well as team fans. Wow, could I be murdered for this theory kind of like the movie Pelican Brief!! LoReallyL. 😆😆😆
I think by 1969, AFL defenses were just as good--and nasty--as NFL defensive units. And of course NFL running backs did not have it easy in those days either.
@@markgardner9460 Thank you! And he did that (1) coming off a knee injury and major knee surgery (much more invasive than modern arthroscopic surgery) and (2) on a 1-13 team where he WAS their offensive unit, thus proving his greatness.
That's right. They aiming for no tackling in an effort to try and keep all of their high priced players on the field throughout a playing season that gets continuously extended. I think an 18 game regular season is coming within the next 5 years.
