Monday, November 17, 2014

1971 Profiles: Al Woodall and Bob Davis

AL WOODALL
Quarterback
No. 18
Duke
"Woodall was the Jets starting quarterback for the last nine games of the year after Joe Namath was injured, and led the team in passing. He had some difficulties in his early starts, being dumped 14 times in his first three games. He became more confident and set up and released quicker after that. Woodall matured gradually during his stint as a starting quarterback, accomplishing his task more and more efficiently as Weeb Ewbank predicted he would.
He got his first start against Buffalo in the sixth game of the year after accumulating a total of only 19 minutes of regular season play during his rookie year and the opening of 1970. His best showing was in the Jets' upset of Los Angeles. Woodall hit on 10 of 17 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in that game and called on an excellent repertoire of plays to be in full command of the game. He received the game ball.
Two weeks later, Al led the Jets to a 20-10 win over Minnesota, throwing for one of the Jets' two touchdowns. It was the second time he had excelled against the Vikings, having helped the Jets to an impressive pre-season victory in 1969.
Not being hampered by knee problems as is Namath, Woodall gave the Jets the threat of a running quarterback. He rushed 28 times for 110 yards, including a 27-yard sprint against Pittsburgh.
Al saw action in only four games in 1969. He spent the 1968 season with the Richmond Roadrunners of the ACFL and led the league in passing. Drafted No. 2 in 1969, Ewbank labels him one of the outstanding young quarterbacks in the league.
Al played baseball and basketball in high school. He is a private E-2 in the National Guard. He has worked for an anti-narcotics program in Gastonia, North Carolina and also in an art show promotion firm, Woodall-Williams Island Exhibits. His hometown is Erwin, N.C."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


BOB DAVIS
Quarterback-Holder
No. 15
Virginia
"Davis came to the Jets as a free agent last October. He was activated for the second Buffalo game after Joe Namath was sidelined with the broken wrist. He had been on the Jets' taxi squad, playing with the Jersey Jays of the ACFL.
He saw action in only one game for the Jets, at Pittsburgh, when he relieved the injured Al Woodall after one play in the fourth quarter. He completed six of 17 passes for 66 yards and drove the team to a touchdown.
Bob was the No. 2 draft choice of the Oilers in 1967 and spent three years there as a reserve quarterback. He went to camp in 1970 with the Giants and Bengals before becoming a free agent. He faced the Jets for three quarters in 1969, hitting on 20 of 35 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, rallying the Oilers from a 21-0 deficit to almost win the game.
An all-state high schooler at Neptune High, Davis lettered in football, baseball and basketball. His hometown is Neptune, New Jersey."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

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