"Everything is clean and new around here. There is a fresh set of club officials; the coaching staff is on the scene for the first time, and the name is sleek and modern and a delight to headline writers. But we have to stop here and honestly wonder if New York expects to move from the Eastern cellar, only because it was unable to sign any young college talent or affect any trades of consequence.
Handcuffed by a lack of operating cash at the end of '62, New York was unable to enter the draft market. Ironically, the purchasers have the desire and money to wheel and deal but the prize chickens have been plucked, leaving only some rather lean bones to pick on. This does not help the chances of a franchise which the AFL would like to see a bit stronger.
Those who are old Titans and new Jets are definitely not of inferior quality; it's just that there's not enough of them.
Starting in the backfield, Dick Christy, flanker Don Maynard and fullback Bill Mathis are capable people who would be more effective with a steady quarterback. Lee Grosscup, an old-young ex-Giant, and Butch Songin, a former Patriot, could supply stability if both can stay out of harm's way. New York was quarterback poor in '62 due to a series of frustrating injuries.
The offensive forwards are operating with short personnel, particularly at end where Thurlow Cooper and Perry Richards are alone now that Art Powell has gone West. Tackles and guards are not in abundance but they are qualified. Gene Cockrell and Francis Morelli are the tackles. Bob Mischak, Sid Fournet and Roger Ellis are back at guard. The center is Mike Hudock.
All along the defensive points there are willing and talented hands - but again, not enough of them.
Nick Mumley and LaVerne Torczon, ends; Dick Guesman and George Strugar, tackles, comprise a stubborn front which needs plenty of additional hands. The linebackers, however, are a different breed, plentiful and productive, led by Larry Grantham, Hubert Bobo, Jerry Fields and Ed Cooke.
Help at the corner spots and at the safety slots would be appreciated. Dainard Paulson, Paul Hynes and Ed Kovac take turns at halfback; Lee Riley, Bill Atkins (when in shape) and Bill Shockley are the deep dissuaders.
Ewbank, a hard and proud worker, will fret and fume until he gets more personnel. If he hollers long and hard - and stays for a season or two - he'll get the Jets out of the cellar ... but not in '63."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"New York, New York, it's a wonderful town.
For the American Football League, New York has been nothing but a Giant pain in the neck ever since the fledgling organization began in 1960. The AFL's dirtiest show window was in New York and Harry Wismer, ex-president of the ex-Titans, washed a lot of laundry there.
The Wismer organization was so incredibly bad that no one took the Titans seriously. Wismer was a joke, so his team had to be. During the many months that it took to get rid of Wismer, many an AFL executive wondered if the league really needed New York. Wouldn't it be better to set up shop in another town, a non-competitive one like New Orleans or Atlanta as far away as possible from those New York Giants? The answer, of course, was no. Any major sports organization in America must have a going concern in New York or fold. The reason is that the city is a center of communications.
The two major wire services, which provide at least half of all the sports copy read in the nation's daily newspapers, are in New York, and the bulk of the copy is written there. Radio, television, magazines- their origins are in New York. The sportswriters who feed these media work in Manhattan and to attract their attention, team promoters must present their products there.
Without New York exposure, the teams or leagues are gradually forgotten by the communications people. And publicity is the lifeblood of any professional sports organization. If the American Football League had abandoned the nation's No. 1 metropolis, following the Wismer-Titan disaster, the organization would have reverted to minor league status within three years.
The other seven franchises in the American Football League, which collectively have lost almost $4,000,000 in starting their circuit, were most fortunate to trade Wismer for new owner David (Sonny) Werblin and his rich race track pals. Werblin has long been associated with Music Corporation of America, an outfit which knows how to run a first-class operation.
All of Werblin's early moves were first class, such as hiring Weeb Ewbank as coach and Joe Cahill as promotion-publicity director. Ewbank, let out by the Colts, was by far the best man available and the same could be said for Cahill, the capable man behind the Army Athletic Association at West Point.
It may sound funny but New York, in turn, needed an AFL team. Financing for the new Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows was predicated on a pro football tenant. If the tenant disappeared, heaven knows what would have happened to the municipal stadium.
As a nucleus, Ewbank has on offense two adequate quarterbacks, Lee Grosscup and John Green; two dependable running backs, Dick Christy and Bill Mathis; and a flanker, Don Maynard. That gives Weeb a backfield. The line is full of problems. On defense, he has one outstanding linebacker, Larry Grantham, and half a secondary with Bill Atkins and Dainard Paulson. Elsewhere, it's a fill-in situation.
Ewbank will have to build his ball club in a hurry from the cuts of the other clubs in both leagues- he chose only two players in the special AFL draft. Weeb's first New York team will be strictly a paste-up job. The only Titans receiving '63 contracts were the only ones considered to be worth keeping.
The Jets are starting from scratch this season and that means they are three years behind their AFL competitors."
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
OFFENSE
Receivers
"Art Powell played out his contract and went to Oakland. That broke up the team's best asset, the Maynard-Powell combo. There's no one left like Art.
Glen Knight had two shots with the Giants but never impressed. Karl Kaimer, a long shot, made the squad last year and contributed. Thurlow Cooper was an original Titan. Despite his lack of speed, he's done a good job. Gene Heeter came from Buffalo.
Rating: Poor"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Interior Linemen
"It's a nucleus. Dick Guesman also can play defense. Bob Mischak slipped in '62, but don't count him out. Bob is likely to pair with John McMullan, who's trying a comeback. He never should have been dropped in '62. Fran Morelli broke in capably and could play regularly. Mike Hudock is a fine center, an original member of the team.
The Giants cut Ted Poliskin at camp last summer. Clarence Gadsen's size is impressive. Roger Ellis is a capable reserve. Charles Stick and Larry Reaves are just names."
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Quarterbacks
"Both Lee Grosscup and Johnny Green wound up '62 as cripples. Grosscup can be an AFL star. He has the arm.
Rating: Good"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Running Backs
"For Bill Mathis, forget '62. He was hurt. Dick Christy had a fine year. The Jets need more like him.
Merrill Douglas had three years with the Bears. He can help. Ed Kovac will stick, maybe on defense.
Rating: Fair"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Kicker
"Bill Shockley in '62: 13-for-26 in field goal attempts.
Rating: Fair"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
DEFENSE
Front Linemen
"A beginning. George Strugar had five years in the NFL. John Kenerson is an ex-Ram, Bob Watters is ex-Giant taxi squad. Laverne Torczon was once All-League at Buffalo. John Kapele once did time with the Steelers.
Nick Mumley was a fixture with the Titans. He must fight to stick.
It's not hard to fill the gaps here.
Rating: Fair"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Linebackers
"Hubert Bobo's taped knee belongs in a museum. All-League Larry Grantham is a class player, probably the Jets' best. Ed Cooke was a steady hand with the Titans; Jerry Fields is a spare who can improve.
Rating: Poor"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
Defensive Backs
"Billy Atkins, hurt in '62, has been All-League. He can punt, too. Dainard Paulson was a bright discovery. Lee Riley set an AFL record for interceptions.
Rating: Fair"
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
OUTLOOK
"Unhappily, the standings won't reflect all the changes that have been made. Not this year, anyway. Prediction: Fourth."
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
"They used to be the Titans but new coach Weeb Ewbank vows to erase all memories of that bedraggled entry. It's going to take time, though, because the Jets don't have much to start with.
Among those Ewbank will build his fortunes around are quarterback Lee Grosscup, offensive guard Bob Mischak, linebacker Larry Grantham, defensive tackle Dick Guesman, deep back Lee Riley, fullback Bill Mathis and halfback Dick Christy."
Inside Football 1963
"The New York entry in the AFL has a glossy new plant in which to play its game, a reputable coaching staff by headed diligent Weeb Ewbank, a well-heeled set of owners directed by Sonny Werblin and a lot of paid-up debts. All identification with the tenuous regime of Harry Wismer was discarded by changing the name from Titans to Jets.
In short, everything about the operation is big league - except the team.
The league dilly-dallied in settling the New York situation until almost every fine college prospect in the county was signed up and the good free agents corralled. The Jets are left with the same team that miraculously was able to win five games in an impossible situation - sometimes they didn't get paid (until the league stepped in), the coaching was disorganized and the talent was lacking (one back kept his job because Mrs. Wismer liked the way he ran).
Ewbank, who left the security of being paid not to coach Baltimore in '63, wasn't dismayed. He faced a comparable situation when he first took over the Colts in 1954 and built them to championship status in four years. In New York, he inherited a dozen players or so who qualify as pros. The quarterbacks, Lee Grosscup and Johnny Green, would look good on a lot of other teams. Ex-Giant Grosscup had an amazing debut against Oakland - two passes, two touchdowns.
Bill Mathis at fullback and Dick Christy at halfback are solid. Christy, not big, will probably become a flanker. Bob Mischak at guard and Mike Hudock at center are proficient offensive linemen. Skinny Don Maynard has had brilliant moments as a receiver; Art Powell's defection to Oakland leaves him the lone threat. On defense, George Strugar and Dick Guesman are dependable linemen, and veteran safety Lee Riley led all of football with 11 interceptions last season. Linebacker Larry Grantham is another bulwark on defense. Of course, that's just a bare nucleus. Ewbank is confident that his close contacts built up through three decades of coaching at all levels will produce enough free agents to pad out the squad. He can't forget that he once found Johnny Unitas on a Pittsburgh sandlot. In addition, the league committed itself to furnish a certain amount of help with a special draft. But the Jets selected just two untested college kids."
-1963 Official Pro Football Almanac
1963 New York Jets Preseason Roster
57 Hubert Bobo (LB) Ohio State
* Tom Bolz (E) Detroit
* Ed Buettner (OE)
* Norman Butz (OE) Baltimore
45 Dick Christy (HB) North Carolina State
70 Gene Cockrell (T) Hardin-Simmons
82 Ed Cooke (LB) Maryland
88 Thurlow Cooper (OE) Maryland
-- Merrill Douglas (FB) Utah
56 Roger Ellis (C-G) Maine
64 Jerry Fields (LB) Ohio State
62 Sid Fournet (G) LSU
* Clarence Gadsden (OT) Maryland State
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
12 Johnny Green (QB) Tennessee-Chattanooga
17 Lee Grosscup (QB) Utah
72 Dick Guesman (DT) West Virginia
* Gene Heeter (E) West Virginia
52 Mike Hudock (C) Miami
-- Paul Hynes (HB) Louisiana Tech
86 Karl Kaimer (E) Boston
-- John Kapele (E) Brigham Young
-- Glen Knight (E-HB) Shaw
-- Howard Kovac (CB) Cincinnati
* Lou Lingerman (DE)
31 Bill Mathis (FB) Clemson
13 Don Maynard (FL) Texas Western
* Jim McKinstry (LB) Farmingdale
68 John McMullan (G) Notre Dame
67 Bob Mischak (G) Army
-- Frank Morelli (OT) Colgate
74 Nick Mumley (DE) Purdue
40 Dainard Paulson (CB) Oregon State
* Ted Poliskis (T) Hofstra
* George Rapp (E) Richmond
* Larry Reaves (G-T) Arizona State
-- Will Renfro (G) Memphis State
80 Perry Richards (OE) Detroit
22 Lee Riley (S) Detroit
-- T. Robotti (FB) Boston College
29 Bill Shockley (HB) West Chester
* Jeff Slabaugh (T) Indiana
* Robert Smith (LB) Toledo
11 Butch Songin (QB) Boston College
* George Spradlin (FB)
* Charles Stick (G) Louisville
* Tony Stricker (FL) Colorado
73 George Strugar (DT) Washington
87 LaVerne Torczon (DE) Nebraska
* Ernie Velten (HB) Gettysburg
83 Bob Watters (DE) Lincoln
* rookie
-Pro Football 1963
1963 NEW YORK JETS PRESEASON DEPTH CHARTS
OFFENSE
Receivers
Glen Knight (S) (Shaw)
George Rapp (S) (Richmond)
Thurlow Cooper (T) (Maine)
Gene Heeter (T) (West Virginia)
Tom Bolz (T) (Detroit)
Karl Kaimer (T) (Boston University)
Don Maynard (F) (Texas Western)
Tony Stricker (F) (Colorado)
(S)-Split End (T)-Tight End (F)-Flanker
Interior Linemen
Dick Guesman (T) (West Virginia)
Clarence Gadsden (T) (Maryland State)
Frank Morelli (T) (Colgate)
Ted Poliskin (T) (Hofstra)
Bob Mischak (G) (Army)
John McMullan (G) (Notre Dame)
Charles Stick (G) (Louisville)
Larry Reaves (G-T) (Arizona State)
Roger Ellis (C-G) (Maine)
Mike Hudock (C) (Miami)
(T)-Tackle (G)-Guard (C)-Center
Quarterbacks
Johnny Green (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
Lee Grosscup (Utah)
Running Backs
Bill Mathis (F) (Clemson)
Merrill Douglas (F) (Utah)
Ed Kovac (H) (Cincinnati)
Dick Christy (H) (North Carolina State)
(F)-Fullback (H)-Halfback
Kicker
Bill Shockley (West Chester)
DEFENSE
Front Linemen
Bob Watters (E) (Lincoln)
Nick Mumley (E) (Purdue)
John Kapele (E) (Brigham Young)
LaVerne Torczon (E) (Nebraska)
George Strugar (T) (Washington)
John Kenerson (T) (Kentucky State)
(E)-End (T)-Tackle
Linebackers
Hubert Bobo (M) (Ohio State)
Larry Grantham (O) (Mississippi)
Ed Cooke (O) (Maryland)
Jerry Fields (O) (Ohio State)
(M)-Middle Linebacker (O)-Outside Linebacker
Defensive Backs
Billy Atkins (C-S) (Auburn)
Dainard Paulson (C) (Oregon)
Lee Riley (S) (Detroit)
(C)-Cornerback (S)-Safety
-Harold Rosenthal, All-Pro 1963 Football
OFFENSE
QB- Lee Grosscup (Utah)
HB - Dick Christy (North Carolina State)
FB - Bill Mathis (Clemson)
E - Thurlow Cooper (Maine)
T - Alex Kroll (Rutgers)
G - Roger Ellis (Maine)
C - Mike Hudock (Miami)
G - Bob Mischak (Army), Sid Fournet (LSU)
T - Frank Morelli (Colgate)
TE - Perry Richards (Detroit)
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western)
DEFENSE
DE - Nick Mumley (Purdue)
DT - Dick Guesman (West Virginia)
DT - George Strugar (Washington)
DE - LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska)
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi)
MLB - Hubert Bobo (Ohio State)
LB - Ed Cooke (Maryland), Jerry Fields (Ohio State)
CB - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State)
S - Lee Riley (Detroit)
S - Billy Atkins (Auburn)
CB - Paul Hynes (Louisiana Tech), Ed Kovac (Cincinnati)
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
OFFENSE
QB - Lee Grosscup (Utah) 17, Johnny Green (Tennessee-Chattanooga) 12
HB - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45, Ed Kovac (Cincinnati) 35, Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FB- Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30, Merrill Douglas (Utah) 36
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29, Ken Gregory (Whittier) 84, Perry Richards (Detroit) 80
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern)*, Jack Klotz (Pennsylvania Military College) 78
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61, Roger Ellis (Maine) 56
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52, Charley Theokas (Massachusetts)*
G - Sid Fournet (LSU) 62, Charles Stick (Louisville)*
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79, Alex Kroll (Rutgers) 55, Clarence Gadsden (Maryland State)*
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89, Thurlow Cooper (Maine) 88, Gene Heeter (West Virginia)*
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
DEFENSE
DE - Bob Watters (Lincoln) 86, John Kenerson (Kentucky State) 75
DT - Chuck Janerette (Penn State) 72, George Strugar (Washington) 73
DT - Dick Guesman (West Virginia) 77, John Kapele (Brigham Young) 64
DE - LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87
LB - Jim Price (Auburn)*, Ed Cooke (Maryland) 82
MLB - Dave Yohn (Gettysburg) 57, Jerry Fields (Ohio State) 64
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Walt Michaels (Washington & Lee) 34
CB - Tony Stricker (Colorado)*, Ed Kovac (Cincinnati) 35
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40, Billy Atkins (Auburn) 2
S - Bill Baird (San Francisco State)*, Lee Riley (Detroit) 22
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42, Marshall Starks (Illinois)*
SPECIALISTS
K - Dick Guesman (West Virginia) 77
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45
PR - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45
* rookie
1963 New York Jets Profile Summary
Head Coach - Weeb Ewbank
Assistant Coach - Walt Michaels
QB - Lee Grosscup (Utah) 17
HB - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45
HB - Bill Shockley (West Chester) 24
FB- Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31
FB - Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52
G - Bob Mischak (Army) 67
G - Sid Fournet (LSU) 62
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79
T - Alex Kroll (Rutgers) 55
DT - Chuck Janerette (Penn State) 72
DT - Dick Guesman (West Virginia) 77
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 73
DE - Nick Mumley (Purdue) 74
DE - LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87
MLB - Hubert Bobo (Ohio State) 57
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
LB - Ed Cooke (Maryland) 82
LB - Walt Michaels (Washington & Lee) 34
S - Lee Riley (Detroit) 22
S - Billy Atkins (Auburn) 2
CB - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42
K - Bill Shockley (West Chester) 24
P - Billy Atkins (Auburn) 2
KR - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45
PR - Dick Christy (North Carolina State) 45
No comments:
Post a Comment