1968 New York Jets Outlook

"The airlines will dispute this, of course, but you can't get everywhere by air. Just ask the Jets. With Joe Namath winging the ball for more yards last year than any other passer in history, the Jets still finished short of their destination, which was first place. This trip though, they'll get to where they're going on the combined efforts of Joe's passing and a revved-up running attack.
Perhaps the most staggering statistic of last year was the 368 yards of total offense the Jets galvanized per game with 274.6 in passing alone. How could a team capable of this kind of production fail to win the title? It's easy, when you have to depend on passing alone. (Sonny Jurgensen and the Washington Redskins can probably embellish that statement.) As the Jets will demonstrate, you have to come down to earth once in a while, and that's why they'll finally win this year.
Namath commandeers the exciting passing game. His knees are reported sound. His mind is on football during the game. And his arm is young and supple. Should he need any relief, there is always dependable Mike Taliaferro to run in for a couple of plays.
When the ball is put up in the air, the Jets will have the best in the business tracking them in George Sauer and Don Maynard, who were only the most dangerous pair of outside receivers in the league last year. Maynard, incidentally, enjoyed a rare 12-catch day against Oakland's Kent McCloughan. Tight end Pete Lammons is not winning as many personal notices as his two colleagues, but he comes in for his share of catches and just missed making the top ten in '67. Double-teaming this trio is almost suicidal. Coach Weeb Ewbank doesn't need too many reserves in this department, and he'll keep veteran Bake Turner ready on the sidelines as his No. 1 spare. Two rookies who will be tested are Harvey Nairn (Southern U.) and Gary Houser (Oregon State).
Don't blame Namath for the lack of a running game. It's not that he's greedy, it's simply that the Jets two ace backs, Matt Snell and Emerson Boozer, were wiped out by injuries last year, and that virtually eliminated the ground game. Both runners are back now and the Jets should have their strongest running game ever - with plenty of depth to boot. Bill Mathis, Mark Smolinski and Billy Joe from a veteran crew or reliable subs; but they will have to withstand the challenge of two highly promising rookies - Lee White, a 6-4, 240-pounder from Weber State drafted in the first round, and Bob Taylor, a 5-11, 210-pounder from Maryland State picked in the eighth round. White could be a star. He runs with exceptional speed (4.7 for 40 yards) and he's a tireless worker (he chalked up 3,062 yards on 648 carries in three collegiate seasons).
The annual rap hung on the Jets' offensive line is that it is there strictly to protect Namath. Ewbank would like to debunk that tale this year and he's going to do something about it. He's given 320-pound tackle Sherman Plunkett an ultimatum to get his weight down below the 300 level or lose his job. Big Sherm's probable replacement will be Jim Harris, a three-year starter of the defensive line. At the other tackle is Winston Hill, who made the All-Star team last year, and the guards are Dave Herman and second-year man Randy Rasmussen, who Ewbank says had 'an outstanding year for a rookie' in 1967. But both must learn that football is a two-way game and will have to sharpen their blocking on running plays. The center is John Schmitt, returning for his third season. He'll have to go most of the way himself unless Ewbank can find a capable sub. Rookie Sam Walton (East Texas State) will move up as the spare tackle, Harrison Rosdahl, formerly with the Bills and Chiefs, and soph Jeff Richardson are the extra guards, and Paul Crane will come in at center to handle the snaps on punting downs.
There should be no letdown in the relentless Jet defense that last year finished third overall in the league. The Jets give you a pretty strong rush from the outside, but it could be stronger on the inside, and this is where they'll look for their biggest improvement in 1968. Gerry Philbin at one end is rated as one of the best in the league, and Verlon Biggs at the other end is a potential All-Star if he can return to his 1966 form; his play slackened off last year. Paul Rochester is the incumbent at left tackle and John Elliott, who was a first-stringer the last three games of '67, will take Harris' place at right tackle. He was only 229 pounds by the end of the year, however, and the Jets want him up to 245, which his 6-4 frame should be capable of handling. He could provide the quick inside rush. Backup duty will fall to holdovers Steve Thompson, Dennis Randall and Bert Wilder and rookies Ray Hayes (Toledo), Steve Chomyszak (Syracuse) and Karl Henke (Tulsa).
The linebackers are tough enough to patrol Central Park at night. They are Larry Grantham, Al Atkinson and Ralph Baker, who have played together long enough to know each other's moves. This year the Jets hope to realize their investment in Carl McAdams, their No. 1 draft choice for '66 who has been sidelined the past two years with a fractured ankle and a broken toe. Crane will also help out at one of the corners and other candidates will rookie Lee Jacobsen (Kearney State) and taxi-squaders Bill Yearby and Mike Stomberg.
In the old days, if the enemy wanted a quick strike, he would pick on the Jet cornerbacks. But that's now a thing of the past. The secondary is now bolstered by veteran cornerback Johnny Sample and Randy Beverly, who turned in a brilliant rookie campaign after Cornell Gordon was injured last year. Gordon is now trying to reclaim his old job and two rookies who will be on hand are John Dockery (Harvard) and Jim Richards (VPI). The safeties are adequately manned by Jim Hudson on the strong side and Billy Baird on the right side. Challenges will come from Henry King and Bill Rademacher."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

IN BRIEF
Probable 1968 Finish: 1st
Strengths:  Namath's aerial wizardry combined with the glue-fingered receiving of Sauer and Maynard, good running (if Snell and Boozer are healthy) and tough linebacking.
Biggest Needs: better blocking on the offensive line on running plays; some help in the front four and in the deep secondary.
1967 finish:  2nd (8-5-1)

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"Weeb Ewbank's five-year plan for the New York Jets finally expired without the anticipated championship, though there was one bit of solace. The Jets finally came up with a winning season, believe it or not- their first in an eight-year history.
They finished one game out for the Eastern Division crown because they didn't have the depth to compensate for key injuries to their running backs, first Matt Snell and then Emerson Boozer. Boozer had already established himself as the most effective back in the AFL by scoring 10 touchdowns in the first seven games, until his knee was racked up. If the surgery was successful (and that goes for the knee operation on Snell, too), the Jets can expand with optimism. Their rookie prospect, Lee White of Weber State, has the size and speed to fill in the running gaps.
Joe Namath, with love beads, ringlets and llama rug, is still the greatest asset a team can have. He had another knee operation, on a tendon, but that's like getting another shot of cortisone for him. Joe even showed some mobility last year. The passing arm, as usual, was great, though Joe still has that insouciant tendency to put the ball in the air when he shouldn't. His 28 interceptions led the league.
As a brace of receivers for Namath's passes, Don Maynard and  George Sauer merit comparisons with any. Pete Lammons is a rugged target at tight end."

-1968 True's Football Yearbook


1968 New York Jets Preseason Roster
62 Al Atkinson (LB) Villanova
46 Bill Baird (DB) San Francisco State
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
Lou Bell (TE) North Carolina
42 Randy Beverly (DB) Colorado State
86 Verlon Biggs (DE) Jackson State
Tom Bilotta (DE) Adams State
Gene Bledsoe (OG) Tulsa
32 Emerson Boozer (HB) Maryland State
Tommy Burnett (FL) Arkansas
77 Steve Chomyszak (DT) Syracuse
45 Earl Christy (DB) Maryland State
Jim Corcoran (QB) Maryland
56 Paul Crane (LB) Alabama
Mike D'Amato (DB) Hofstra
*John Dockery (DB) Harvard
80 John Elliott (DT-DE) Texas
Vic Esposito (OT-G) North Carolina
48 Cornell Gordon (DB) North Carolina A & T
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
Dave Hankee (OG) Catawba State
78 Jim Harris (OT) Utah State
Ray Hayes (DT) Toledo
28 Abner Haynes (HB) West Texas State
Karl Henke (DE) Tulsa
67 Dave Herman (G) Michigan State
75 Winston Hill (OT) Texas Southern
*Gary Houser (P-TE) Oregon State
22 Jim Hudson (DB) Texas
Lee Jacobsen (OT) Kearney State
35 Billy Joe (FB) Villanova
33 Curley Johnson (P-TE) Houston
40 Henry King (DB) Utah State
87 Pete Lammons (TE) Texas
*Oscar Lubke (OT) Ball State (Indiana)
*Gary Magner (DT) USC
31 Bill Mathis (HB) Clemson
13 Don Maynard (FL) Texas Western
50 Carl McAdams (LB) Oklahoma
Tom Myslinski (OG) Maryland
Harvey Nairn (FL-DB) Southern
12 Joe Namath (QB) Alabama
Henry Owens (HB-SP) Weber State
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
79 Sherman Plunkett (OT) Maryland State
23 Bill Rademacher (DB) Northern Michigan
73 Dennis Randall (DE) Oklahoma State
66 Randy Rasmussen (OG) Kearney State
Jim Richards (DB-FL) Virginia Tech
74 Jeff Richardson (G) Michigan State
Wayne Richardson (OE) Newark C. of E.
72 Paul Rochester (DT) Michigan State
24 John Sample (DB) Maryland State
83 George Sauer (OE) Texas
52 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
20 Bob Schweikert (OB-FL) Virginia Tech
Ray Scott (TE-P) Prairie View
71 Paul Seiler (C-OT) Notre Dame
30 Mark Slominski (FB) Wyoming
41 Matt Snell (FB) Ohio State
Bill Starr (TE) Hofstra
Miles Strasser (RB) Oshkosh State
Mike Stromberg (LB) Temple
17 Mike Taliaferro (QB) Illinois
*Robert Taylor (HB) Maryland State
*Steve Thompson (DE-DT) Washington
29 Bake Turner (OE) Texas Tech
11 Jim Turner (K-QB) Utah State
Sam Walton (OT) East Texas State
*Lee White (FB) Weber State
82 Bert Wilder (DT) North Carolina State
Ron Wyka (DE) Memphis State

* rookie

-Pro Football 1968



1968 New York Jets Preseason Depth Charts
OFFENSE
QB - Joe Namath (Alabama) 12, Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17, Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
HB - Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32, Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Robert Taylor (Maryland State)*
FB - Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30, Lee White (Weber State)*
SE - George Sauer (Texas) 83, Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Oscar Lubke (Ball State)*
G - Randy Rasmussen (Kearney State) 66, Jeff Richardson (Michigan State) 74
C - John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52
G -  Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67, Harrison Rosdahl (Penn State)
T - Jim Harris (Utah State) 78, Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79
TE - Pete Lammons (Texas) 87, Gary Houser (Oregon State)*
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13

DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, Gary Magner (USC)*
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Steve Chomyszak (Syracuse) 77
DT - John Elliott (Texas) 80, Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82
DE - Verlon Biggs (Jackson State) 86, Steve Thompson (Washington)*
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
MLB - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62, Carl McAdams (Oklahoma) 50
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Bill Yearby (Michigan) 88
CB - Johnny Sample (Maryland State) 24, John Dockery (Harvard)*
S - Jim Hudson (Texas) 22, Bill Rademacher (Northern Michigan) 23
S - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Henry King (Utah State) 40
CB - Cornell Gordon (North Carolina A & T) 48, Randy Beverly (Colorado State) 42

* rookie

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

OFFENSE
QB -  Joe Namath (Alabama) 12, Babe Parilli (Kentucky) 15, Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17
HB - Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32, Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Earl Christy (Maryland State) 45, Lee White (Weber State)*,
FB - Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30, Billy Joe (Villanova) 35
SE - George Sauer (Texas) 83, Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Sam Walton (East Texas State)*
G - Randy Rasmussen (Nebraska-Kearney) 66, Bob Talamini (Kentucky) 61
C - John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
G - Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T - Jim Harris (Utah State) 78, Jeff Richardson (Michigan State) 74
TE - Pete Lammons (Texas) 87, Gary Houser (Oregon State)*
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Bill Rademacher (Northern Michigan) 23

DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Ray Hayes (Toledo)*
DT - John Elliott (Texas) 80, Steve Thompson (Washington)*                 
DE - Verlon Biggs (Jackson State) 86, Karl Henke (Tulsa)*
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
MLB - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62, Carl McAdams (Oklahoma) 50
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Mike Stromberg (Temple)*
CB - Johnny Sample (Maryland State) 24,  Henry King (Utah State) 40
S - Jim Hudson (Texas) 22, Bill Rademacher (Northern Michigan) 23
S -  Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Jim Richards (VPI)*
CB - Randy Beverly (Colorado State) 42, Cornell Gordon (North Carolina A & T) 48

SPECIALISTS
K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Earl Christy (Maryland  State) 45, Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Earl Christy (Maryland  State) 45

* rookie 


1968 New York Jets Profile Summary
Head Coach - Weeb Ewbank

QB -  Joe Namath (Alabama) 12
QB - Babe Parilli (Kentucky) 15
HB - Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32
HB - Earl Christy (Maryland  State) 45
FB - Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
SE - George Sauer (Texas) 83
TE - Pete Lammons (Texas) 87
C - John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52
G - Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
G - Randy Rasmussen (Nebraska-Kearney) 66
G - Bob Talamini (Kentucky) 61
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75
T - Jim Harris (Utah State) 78

DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72
DT - John Elliott (Texas) 80   
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81   
DE - Verlon Biggs (Jackson State) 86
MLB - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51
CB - Johnny Sample (Maryland State) 24
CB - Randy Beverly (Colorado State) 42
S - Jim Hudson (Texas) 22
S -  Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46
DB - Cornell Gordon (North Carolina A & T) 48
DB - Earl Christy (Maryland  State) 45

K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Earl Christy (Maryland  State) 45
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46