Saturday, February 28, 2015

1974 Profile: Rick Harrell

Center
No. 61
Clemson
"Active for the last four games of the year after taxiing before that, Harrell is a long snapper and could figure in Charley Winner's plans on the specialty units. He needs seasoning, but impressed Jet coaches last year with his hustle and potential. He could also work at guard.
Drafted 6th in 1973, Rick majored in electrical engineering. He was a four-year wrestler in high school and enjoys golfing and hunting. His hometown is Morristown, Tennessee."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Thursday, February 26, 2015

1974 Profile: Garry Puetz

Guard
No. 78
Valparaiso
"A surprise member of last year's rookie crew, Puetz won a starting job at right guard by the end of camp and was developing nicely according to coaches. He suffered a broken sesimoid bone in his foot at New England and was forced onto the inactive list for seven of the remaining nine games.
Puetz is thought of very highly by Charley Winner and his staff and will work at guard, tackle or center, and is considered to be a good potential center. He learned solid fundamentals of pass protection and worked well in partnership with Winston Hill on the right side. Puetz and Robert Woods became the only rookie offensive linemen to win a starting job with the Jets since Randy Rasmussen in 1967.
Drafted 12th in 1973, Garry was a kicker in college in addition to his line work and majored in physical education. He pronounces his name 'Pets' and his hometown is Chicago, Illinois."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

1974 Profile: John Mooring

Offensive Tackle
No. 71
Tampa
"Mooring has been a swingman offensive lineman for the past three years, able to play any of the positions. He saw a lot of preseason action at right tackle in Winston Hill's absence, and has received a lot of tutoring from Hill and has the ability to become a fine blocker. He has played at center and right guard when injuries sidelined the regulars.
John hits with impact and knocks people down. He has been used as the extra lineman on goal line defenses and blocked a punt in 1971 against Dallas.
Drafted No. 2 in '71, Mooring majored in physical education. He was on track team in high school, a weight man with the shot and discuss. He's done summer work as a signal man for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad. His hometown is Falfurrias, Texas."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Monday, February 23, 2015

1974 Profile: Robert Woods

Guard
No. 72
Tennessee State
"Woods won the starting left tackle slot after four games last year, improving week by week. He's slated for a move to right guard this year to fill the spot left vacant by Dave Herman's retirement. The coaches feel his potential is enormous and he is a major factor in the rebuilding of the offensive line. Line coach Bob Fry says, 'Woods has the potential to be a great star. He just kept getting better and better as the year went on.' Woods does a fine job of pass protecting, learning the pro fundamentals steadily.
Robert was drafted No. 2 in 1973 and has been a student teacher in the off-season. He's the brother of Larry Woods, defensive tackle of the Miami Dolphins and formerly of Detroit. Robert played on three championship teams at Tennessee State. His hometown is Rogersville, Alabama."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Saturday, February 21, 2015

1974 Profile: John Schmitt

Center
No. 52
Hofstra
"Schmitt wrapped up his eighth season as the Jets regular center. He has always been known for his consistency on pass protection and his ability to play even when hurt. He has now played in 114 consecutive games, second only to Winston Hill on the Jet iron man list. Schmitt has been bothered by back trouble but always comes to play. He sat out part of the first Baltimore game two years ago, but has been on for every offensive play since then.
John received All-AFL mention following the 1968 and 1969 campaigns. He enjoyed one of the finest games a center could have in 1971 when he completely neutralized (according to the coaches' film analysis) Kansas City's awesome Willie Lanier in the course of a Jet victory.
Schmitt is a real leader for the younger offensive linemen, and earned the Heede Award as the Jets' most dedicated offensive player in the 1968 season. Signed as a free agent in 1964, he fought his way to regular status after two years on the taxi squad.
The sports director of WGGB Radio in Freeport, handling a daily sports report, John has his own insurance business, representing Massachusetts Mutual with offices both in Jericho (Long Island) and New York City. He's also a dedicated worker for many anti-drug projects and works for the Cerebral Palsy School for the Living on Long Island.
John makes his year-round home in Brookville. His hometown is Central Islip, New York."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Friday, February 20, 2015

1974 Profile: Randy Rasmussen

Guard
No. 66
Kearney State
"Rasumssen has been a top performer for the Jets for the past seven seasons, holding down the left guard slot. Known for his great pass blocking and his powerful one-on-one type of work, he's a leader who was able to work closely with rookie Robert Woods when the latter became the left tackle. Rasmussen is perhaps the best pulling guard the Jets have had in recent years, and a very coachable player who provides a link in Joe Namath's corps of protectors. He's one of the reasons why the Jets running game has been so successful in recent years when Namath has been sidelined.
Drafted 12th in 1967, Randy majored in mathematics. He grew up on a farm and likes to hunt, and play golf and tennis. He's in great demand on the off-season banquet circuit and works as an institutional broker for Jeffries and Co. during the off-season.
Randy makes his off-season home in Elmsford, New York and his hometown is Elba, Nebraska."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Thursday, February 19, 2015

1974 Profile: Winston Hill

Offensive Tackle
No. 75
Texas Southern
"The senior member of the Jets offensive line, Hill was elected co-captain of the offense last year and once again was named to the Pro Bowl. His all-star appearance was the eighth of his distinguished career and the seventh consecutive for him. He has played both sides for the Jets, switching from left tackle to right tackle in 1971.
Hill missed most of the preseason due to a contract dispute, but reported in good shape and had another of his consistently fine years. He is a great pass protector and forms the nucleus of Joe Namath's bodyguards. Hill has played in 152 consecutive games for the Jets, the longest streak in the club's history. His 153 total games ranks third on the all-time participation list of the Jets.
Winston likes to block for the run more than taking the pass protection punishment, but is proficient at both. The Jets like to run behind his blocking. He experimented with a lower weight in 1970, but for the past three years has stayed around the 275 mark.
Hill won press acclaim for his work against Ordell Braase and Ben Davidson during the 1968 championship games. He came to the Jets in 1963 as a free agent after Baltimore and Weeb Ewbank had drafted him.
Winston was a Texas state high school tennis champion from Weldon High for three years (1957-59). Weldon also won the district grid crown in each of his four years on the team.
Very active in religion, Winston is the Jets player representative. He makes his off-season home in Englewood, Colorado, where he owns a ranch. His hometown is Gladewater, Texas."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

1974 Profile: Dennis Cambal

Tight End
No. 30
William & Mary
"Cambal spent his rookie season as a fine member of the special teams and as a backup tight end. Active for seven games, most of them early in the year, he came to camp as a running back, but was moved to tight end after two weeks and developed steadily at that position. Cambal may used in the backfield again this year. He has good size and attitude to play pro football.
Dennis came into the pros as a 14th round pick of Oakland in 1972 and taxied with the Raiders until cut loose during the year. He was picked up by the Jets as a free agent in the spring of 1973.
Cambal was a national high school champ in the 12-pound hammer throw with 202 feet, 1/2 inch. He majored in English and was a Dean's List student at William & Mary, where he was a teammate of David Knight. His hometown is West Yarmouth, Massachusetts."

-New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Monday, February 16, 2015

1974 Profile: David Knight

Wide Receiver
No. 82
William & Mary
"An extremely promising young receiver who could challenge for a starting position this year, Knight impressed coaches with his great hands last year. He caught six passes during spot duty in 1973, one of them a 17-yard touchdown from Al Woodall against Green Bay.
Knight has a great knack of getting to the ball and hanging on to it despite the hits after the catch. He does not have great speed, but runs fine patterns and uses his savvy to get free. He was drafted 11th in 1973.
Born in Trieste, Italy, his hometown is Alexandria, Virginia. David enjoys movies and reading for relaxation. His brother, Randy, is a wide receiver for William & Mary."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Friday, February 13, 2015

1974 Profile: Margene Adkins

Kick Returner-Wide Receiver
No. 26
Henderson JC
"Adkins handled the Jets' kickoff return work last year and saw some duty as a wide receiver. He is a able, as a wide receiver, to fight off the bump and run and physical tactics of defensive backs. Adkins started four games at wide receiver and caught six passes for 109 yards over the season. He took back 60% of the Jet kickoff returns for a 19.8 average.
Margene started his pro career in Canada (1967-69), caught 135 passes for 30 touchdowns and helped Ottawa win the Grey Cup in 1969. He came into the NFL as the second pick of Dallas in 1970 and was traded to New Orleans in 1972. Jet scouts were impressed with him in college and followed his pro peregrinations with interest. Margene came to the Jets along with Julian Fagan in a June 1973 trade with New Orleans.
Adkins was an outstanding high school athlete at Kirkpatrick High in Fort Worth, his hometown. He did not play football until his junior year, concentrating on basketball."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Thursday, February 12, 2015

1974 Profile: Ed Bell

Wide Receiver
No. 7
Idaho State
"The regular left side wide receiver for the past two years, Bell has distinguished himself as a clever, speedy outside man. He can find the open spots in the zone coverage well and has solved the problem of pattern running which hampered him early in his career. Bell finished third on the list of Jet receivers last year with 24 catches, 319 yards and two touchdowns. He had a bothersome bruised heel midway through the season, but shook it off to finish strong.
Bell had another fine day against Baltimore, catching six for 68 yards and a touchdown. He had his other touchdown against Atlanta, a fine 38-yard effort in a downpour of rain. Bell had two standout days in 1972, going 7 for 197 yards against Baltimore and then coming back to grab a last-minute 83-yard tipped Joe Namath aerial to beat the Colts at Shea.
Ed is the smallest Jet ever to have played. He co-holds the Jets single-game record for receptions (12) with Don Maynard and Art Powell. Ed grabbed his dozen against Baltimore in 1970.
Drafted 9th in 1970, Bell majored in speech pathology and audiology. He attends drama school in the off-season and had a lead role in an off-Broadway production of 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie' this spring. He's also worked for the State Department in helping to find employment for minority youths. His hometown is Waco, Texas."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

1974 Profile: Richard Caster

Tight End
No. 88
Jackson State
"Without a doubt one of the most dangerous tight ends in the business today, Caster is a game breaker. He has had 23 touchdowns already in his four-year career to date and has hauled in some the longest passes in Jet history.
Caster started out as a wide receiver for the Jets, but switched to tight end in 1972 and did it so effectively that he won Pro Bowl honors. He picked up right there in 1973 and turned in another top-notch season. He has maintained a 19.1 average per catch over his career.
Rich had his most catches as a pro in 1973 when he caught nine passes for 131 yards against Cincinnati, including a 12-yard touchdown from Al Woodall. The Jets also felt he was in the end zone for what would have been the winning points in the controversial loss. His other touchdowns came against Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Buffalo. In 1972 he had one of the most dramatic games ever by a receiver, catching three touchdown passes against Baltimore, all on first down. Caster was the only NFL receiver to go over 200 yards in a game in 1972, with 204 against Baltimore.
He finished second only to Jerome Barkum among the Jet receiving corps, giving the Jets an explosive inside-outside threat. Caster was timed at 4.5 in the 40 last year in camp, ahead of all other Jet receivers. He has the size to fight off the aggressive defensive back tactics and find the openings in the zone defenses. He usually draws double coverage.
Caster won the Heede Award in 1972 as the most improved and dedicated offensive player. His blocking in the line has improved vastly over his career.
Drafted No. 2 in 1970, Caster also competed in track and field in college, lettering three times. He played on the Alabama state championship grid team while at Williamson High in Mobile, Alabama.
Rich likes to swim and is a fine tennis player. He played tennis against Ed Bell in a benefit match at Nassau Coliseum this spring. His hometown is Mobile, Alabama."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Monday, February 9, 2015

1974 Profile: Jerome Barkum

Wide Receiver
No. 83
Jackson State
"Named to the Pro Bowl, Barkum developed into one of football's most dangerous receivers and led the Jets in pass catching in 1973. He caught 44 passes for 810 yards, an 18.4 average, and raced for six touchdowns. His yardage was second only to Isaac Curtis of Cincinnati in the AFC.
Barkum has the size and speed to be a 'game breaker' of a receiver for the Jets. He caught touchdowns against Buffalo (2), Denver (2), New England and Cincinnati. He had his finest afternoon in the close loss to the Bengals, catching eight passes for 83 yards. He has caught eight touchdown passes in his two years.
Jerome makes the tough catch under pressure and is a strong runner after the grab. He spent his first year as a backup on both sides, catching 16 balls. He has 4.6 speed and also could move inside to tight end if necessary.
A No. 1 draft choice in 1972, Jerome is nicknamed 'Gee.' He's the cousin of Lem Barney, Detroit Lions defensive back, and his brother Melvin is a senior quarterback at Mississippi State. He holds his high school's record of 30 rebounds in a basketball game.
Jerome enjoys music, swimming and fishing. His hometown in Gulfport, Mississippi."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Friday, February 6, 2015

1974 Profile: Mike Adamle

Running Back
No. 1
Northwestern
"Adamle had a strong year as a reserve running back and proved a standout on special teams. He was named captain of the specialty squads and was always among the first players around the ball or into the wedge.
Mike started the last four games at fullback when John Riggins was hobbled by an injury. He had his best day at Philadelphia when he started and ran for 84 yards on 16 tries. His 36-yard dash against the Eagles was second only to Emerson Boozer for the club long of the year. Mike recovered a fumble by Miami on a kickoff return which led to a Jet touchdown in the encounter at Shea. He was called on for five kickoff returns for a 15.8 average.
He was a backup at Kansas City for the first two years of his career. He came to the Jets in a trade with the Chiefs in February 1973.
Mike is the son of Tony Adamle, who played linebacker with the Cleveland Browns when Weeb Ewbank was on the coaching staff there. His hometown is Kent, Ohio."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

1974 Profile: Hank Bjorklund

Running Back
No. 40
Princeton
"Bjorklund spent the '73 season as a backup running back, alternating between running back and fullback. He has good hands for receiving, though he relies on finesse more than speed to earn his yards.
Hank started against Pittsburgh when injuries depleted Jet running backs and carried 13 times for 32 yards, and also caught two passes for 15. He spent four games on the inactive list with a hamstring problem and then a shoulder injury.
Hank has strong straight-ahead power. He's also used for kickoff returns and grabbed nine for a 19.4 average.
Drafted 12th in 1972, Bjorklund is the only Ivy Leaguer on the Jets. He was drafted by the Jets after bringing his own films to Shea Stadium for Weeb Ewbank to appraise. He's a licensed real estate salesman and a stalwart of the Jets off-season basketball team. His hometown is Glen Head, New York."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

1974 Profile: John Riggins

Running Back
No. 44
Kansas
"'John has the potential to be the greatest fullback ever to play this game,' says head coach Charley Winner ... it is all up to John to fulfill that potential.' Riggins missed all of training camp while wrestling with a contract dispute and deciding whether he wanted to play. When he reported, five days before the opening game, he was rusty but in good shape. He finished up with 482 yards and four touchdowns but never quite did get to the form that propelled him to stardom in his sophomore season when he ran for 944 yards.
John regained his accustomed starting position in the second game and improved steadily. He broke out for his second best day in history with a 132-yard effort against New England. He had back-to-back days of 79 and 96 yards against Miami and New England at Shea before injuring his shoulder early in the game at Cincinnati. That injury knocked him onto the inactive list for four of the last five games and kept his duty limited in the other.
During 1972, he showed that he is a great one who can carry the load. His 944 yards were just four yards shy of Matt Snell's Jet season mark and his blocking developed to a fine point. Despite missing the final two games of '72 with minor knee surgery, he carried the ball 207 times, also second only to Snell. Riggins had his best day as a pro with 168 yards at New England on 32 carries, one of three 100-plus afternoons. As a rookie he became the first Jet ever to lead the team in rushing and receiving.
Riggins teams up well with Emerson Boozer in the backfield and is a key to the Jets offense. He has caught 80 career passes, among them a 67-yard touchdown grab against Baltimore in 1972. Weeb Ewbank compares Riggins to Alan Ameche and Marion Motley in terms of potential. 'One of the fastest learners I ever had,' says Ewbank.
A first round draft choice in 1971, John majored in journalism and public relations. He set a 60-yard dash state record in high school with a 6.4, and was twice a state 100-yard dash champ with a 9.8. John hails from Centralia, Kansas, a small town with only 500 people and no street signs. His biggest thrill in sports was seeing himself on a bubble gum card."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook

Sunday, February 1, 2015

1974 Profile: Emerson Boozer

Halfback
No. 32
Maryland Eastern Shore
"Boozer enjoyed his finest season as a pro last year, leading the Jets in rushing, being elected co-captain of the offense, winning in a landslide vote the Jets MVP award from his fellow teammates and becoming the Jets all-time leading rusher. He finished ninth among AFC rushers last year after rolling up 831 yards, the fourth best season ever by a Jet.
He sat out all but one game of the preseason due to a contract dispute, but by opening day he was in as fine a form as he has ever been. With a 105-yard effort against Baltimore in the 12th week, Boo passed Matt Snell as the career rushing leader and finished up the season with 4,521 career yards, 1,118 attempts and 48 touchdowns, all Jet standards. His other 100-plus afternoon proved to his finest day ever when, a week later, he ran for 160 yards against Philadelphia; he also had two touchdowns, one receiving, that day in Veterans Stadium, the seventh time he has had a pair in one game.
Emerson has always been known for his 'nose' for the goal line and stands third on the all-time Jet scoring list with 58 touchdowns and 348 points. He missed one game (Pittsburgh) with tendinitis, but was basically healthy all year. He teams with John Riggins in the backfield to give the Jets one of the most potent ground games in the NFL. Emerson has now strung together five stellar seasons in a row and is only 31 years old. He co-holds the Jet record for touchdowns in a game, with three, having done it five times.
Boozer has been dogged with minor injuries each season, but always bounces right back from them to be a leader of the offense. His sophomore year (1967) saw him suffer a major injury when he tore ligaments in his knee in the eighth game of the year. He had already scored 13 touchdowns at that time, only six shy of the AFL mark. He recovered from surgery and a year later received praise for his work during the AFL Championship game and Super Bowl as he blocked the way for Matt Snell's running.
Emerson picks up the blitz as well as any running back in the game today. His bouncy, high-kneed style of running has been modified somewhat in recent years, but still remains his trademark.
Drafted sixth in 1966, he was named AFL Rookie of the Year in '66 by the Pittsburgh Courier. He majored in industrial education.
Born on the Fourth of July, Emerson does an excellent job on the banquet circuit during the off-season. He has a daily radio program on WLIB and is extremely interested in youth-related work projects. His hometown is Augusta, Georgia."

-The New York Jets Official 1974 Yearbook