1971 Jets Offensive Line Profiles

JOHN SCHMITT

Center

No. 52

Hofstra

"Schmitt has been the starting center for the Jets for the past five seasons. He received All-AFL mention following the '68 and '69 campaigns. 

He had a fine year in '70 despite a painful hip injury which hobbled him for seven games. He received a hip pointer against Boston in the second game of the year and then aggravated it two weeks later against Miami. John had his best game that year against the Rams and received a game ball after his great effort against Minnesota.

John is a top-notch pass blocker. 'He plays with his heart and gives a great effort every time,' says Weeb Ewbank. He earned the Heede Award as the Jets' most dedicated offensive player in '68. Signed as a free agent, Schmitt fought his way to regular status after two years on the taxi squad.

Vice-president of the Al Vollmer Insurance Company, Schmitt is also sports director of WGBB radio for Freeport. He is an enthusiastic worker in his community.

John is chairman of Professional Athletic Speakers on Narcotics for the town of Hempstead and Nassau County, where he is also a consultant on Parks and Recreation. He is on the board of directors for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. The Chairman of the Hofstra Alumni Association, he works for the Cerebral Palsy School for the Living on Long Island and is an advisor on community relations for the Central Islip school board.

John makes his year-round home in Merrick and his hometown is Central Islip."

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

"John Schmitt typifies the 'unsung hero' in pro football. The New York Jets signed him as a free agent from Hofstra in 1964. He spent two years on the taxi squad but for the last five years has been the starting center.

He has been calling the 'blocking assignments' for the Jets besides doing a good job in offering protection. He is vastly underrated. 'He plays with his heart,' says coach Weeb Ewbank, 'and gives you a great effort every time he goes out there.'

Over the years, Schmitt has had back and hip injuries but is the type of solid player who has a desire to play when hurt- and does. There have been few challengers for his job simply because he's so thoroughly entrenched.

Schmitt blocks equally well on running plays as passes. A strong, silent football player who never needs to make apologies for a bad day, he is certainly the kind of performer who mirrors the characteristics of a winner."

-John Steadman, from "5 Most Over-Rated and Under-Rated NFL Players" (Football Digest, December 1971)

DAN DYCHES

Center

15th Round

South Carolina

"The starting center for the Gamecocks for two years, Dyches is noted for his blocking ability. He has good speed and gets off the ball quickly. He's penciled in by Weeb Ewbank to help the Jets offensive line situation.

Dan played in the Peach Bowl in 1969. He set a high school record of 54 feet in the shot at Hanahan (South Carolina) High. He also participated in baseball and basketball. He lists his biggest thrill in athletics as 'winning at anything.' His hometown is Hanahan, S.C."

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

DAVE HERMAN

Guard

No. 67

Michigan State

"Dave had one of his sharpest years at right guard for the Jets in 1970. He teamed up well with rookie Dave Foley alongside him to strengthen the Jets' front line. He played perhaps his best games back-to-back against Joe Greene of the Steelers and Merlin Olsen of the Rams, November 8 and 15.

In 1968 Dave moved from guard to tackle for the AFL championship game and the Super Bowl and handled Isaac Lassiter of the Raiders and Bubba Smith of the Colts with ease. He won the starting guard spot in 1965 and had a string of 66 consecutive games until missing two in 1969.

Dave is a hard-hitting, solid performer who does his job consistently well. He's a fine pass protector and is big and powerful and fast enough to lead on sweeps. Dave stays in excellent physical condition and is a dedicated competitor.

He was selected by the Jets as a future choice in the 27th round of the 1963 AFL college draft. He played in the North-South Shrine Game at the close of his college career at Michigan State.

Dave does radio sports programming in the off-season."

-1971 Topps No. 124

"Herman had one of his sharpest years at right guard in 1970. He teamed up well with rookie Dave Foley beside him to strengthen the Jets front line.

He played his best games back-to-back against Pittsburgh's Joe Greene and Los Angeles' Merlin Olsen. He rated playing against Olsen as one of his biggest thrills. A top pass blocker, Herman avoided the Jet injury jinx.

A future draft choice of both the Jets and Giants in 1963, being selected in the 27th round by the Jets and the 8th round by the Giants, Dave won a starting guard spot in 1965 and had a string of 66 straight games unitl missing two in 1969. In 1968 he moved from guard to tackle for the AFL Championship and the Super Bowl and handled Ike Lassiter and Bubba Smith superbly.

Dave is in great demand on the banquet circuit and works in radio sports programming with John Blair & Co. He makes his home in Valhalla, New York; his hometown is Edon, Ohio."

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

RANDY RASMUSSEN

Guard

No. 66

Kearney State

"Rasmussen was on to his way to his best season as a pro in 1970 but was hampered by a severely sprained ankle. He had great games at Cleveland, Boston and Los Angeles and at home against Oakland. He handled Alan Page superbly as the Jets upset the Vikings.

He suffered a sprained ankle at Buffalo and had to sit out the second half. He rested the next week as the Jets played Miami, but returned on the still bothersome ankle against Baltimore. He aggravated it again at Pittsburgh but returned the following week to handle Dinon Talbert of the Rams.

Randy is an outstanding pulling guard. He was the only rookie in the Jets' starting offensive lineup four years ago and split time with Bob Talamini as the Jets went to the Super Bowl. In 1969 he suffered an ankle sprain at Houston and was hobbled considerably during the Kansas City playoff game. Drafted 12th by the Jets in 1967, Randy is a very coachable player.

He grew up on a farm and likes to hunt, play golf and play tennis. He majored in mathematics and works in the brokerage business for Dean Witter. Randy makes his off-season home in New York and his hometown is Elba, Nebraska."

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

ROY KIRKSEY

Guard

8th Round

Maryland State

"Kirksey played three years for Bridgeport of the Atlantic Coast Football League. He spent two years there as a fullback and last year as a guard. Highly recommended by Bridgeport coach Ray Matthews, he is a good pass blocker and has pulling ability. Kirksey has good speed (4.7) for a big man but has had a weight problem.

He carried 198 times for 902 yards and 12 touchdowns for Bridgeport. He caught 30 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns.

Roy was an all-conference choice as a fullback for two years at Maryland State of the CIAA. His biggest thrill in athletics was being named to the All-ACFL team at Bridgeport. He enjoys hunting and fishing. His hometown is Greenville, South Carolina."

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

WINSTON HILL

Offensive Tackle
No. 75
Texas Southern
"Though he had been a stalwart on New York's offensive line for six years, Winston Hill was barely heard of until his brilliant handling of Ben Davidson and Ordell Braase in the 1968 AFL Championship and Super Bowl, respectively. Now the 6-4, 270-pound offensive left tackle is universally regarded as a standout lineman.
Two of his finest games of 1970 were against Los Angeles' Coy Bacon and Minnesota's Jim Marshall. The Jets scored major upset victories in both games.
Hill was originally drafted by Baltimore out of Texas Southern, but the Colts let him go before he had played even a minute for them. The Jets saw enough in the huge but awkward youngster to sign him as a free agent. Winston has enjoyed the finest two seasons of his career the past two years since he lowered his weight from the 280-pound bracket."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"All-Pro tackle who continued to perform as one of the best in the game in 1970. Hill was a unanimous All-AFC pick and was named to the Pro Bowl after being named to the combined (AFL-NFL) All-Pro team in 1969. He was also chosen as the most valuable offensive player by the Jets writers and broadcasters.

Last year Winston had outstanding games against Los Angeles' Coy Bacon and Minnesota's Jim Marshall as the Jets won both games. He also had standout games against Oakland and Miami late in the season.

Hill came to the Jets in 1963 as a free agent from the Colts after Baltimore had drafted him. He was an AFL All-Star four times and won press notices with his handling of Ordell Braase and Ben Davidson in the championship games of 1968.

He's a great pass protector for Namath but says he likes to block for the run more. He came to camp lighter than ever last year at 263.

He was a Texas state high school tennis champion from Weldon High for three years, '57-'59. Weldon also won the district grid crown four years with Hill. He relaxes by playing tennis.

Winston makes his home in Littleton, Colorado. His hometown is Gladewater, Texas."

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

BOB SVIHUS 

Offensive Tackle

No. 76

USC  

"Rookie linemen usually don't break in with the splash that Bob Svihus did last season. The Raiders' No. 3 draft pick, Bob started all 14 games at offensive left tackle and impressed everyone with his pro-type pass blocking- a skill that takes most linemen several years to perfect. Bob improved noticeably each week, and also showed that he could lead a running play with bruising authority.

A 6-4, 245-pounder, he played his college ball at Southern California where he won All-Coast honors in his senior year."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

"The big tackle broke into the Raiders' starting lineup as a rookie in 1965. Bob has excellent speed and often leads the fleet-footed backs downfield. He can use his big frame to block for his quarterback and give him time to complete a pass. Bob goes all out on every play!"

-1967 Topps No. 113

DAVE FOLEY

Offensive Tackle

No. 70

Ohio State

"Foley came off two knee operations to become a regular at right tackle for the Jets in 1970. Drafted 1st in 1969, he was injured in that year's opener with ruptured ligaments in his right knee and then underwent further surgery to remove the staple just as the 1970 training camp began.

He moved into a starting slot midway through the third game when Roger Finnie was injured against Buffalo and held it all the way from there. He became stronger as the season progressed, solving the problem of his leg tiring late in games. He did an outstanding job against Deacon Jones and Dave Cash of Los Angeles as the Jets won. He followed up with two more great shows, against Boston's Mel Witt and Minnesota's All-Pro Carl Eller.

Weeb Ewbank says Foley will develop into one of the best tackles in the game. 

Foley worked as an industrial engineer for the Port Authority of New York. He won the Ohio high school shot-put championship in 1965 with a 61-8 toss. He spends his free time fishing and playing handball. His hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio."

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

JOHN MOORING

Offensive Tackle

2nd Round

Tampa

"Labeled the 'best offensive lineman in the draft' by Jets coaches, John played under Weeb Ewbank in the Senior Bowl. He also played in the Blue-Gray Game.

Mooring is termed 'an unusually good football player' by his college coach Fran Curci. He is an excellent pass blocker and gets off the ball quickly. He should help strengthen the Jets offensive line.

He was on the track team in high school in Falfurrias, Texas as a weight man with the shot and discus. He majored in physical education and has done summer work as a signalman for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad.

Mooring makes his home in Jonesboro, Arkansas. His hometown is Falfurrias, Texas."

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