Defensive Tackle
No. 77
Indiana
"He's coming off a rugged sophomore pro season of double teams and over-playing after his super rookie year when he was named to the Pro Writers, Pro Football Weekly and UPI all-rookie squads and was also PFW's rookie defensive lineman of the year. Barzilauskas was runner-up as AP's defensive rookie of the year and named Jets rookie of the year by the Pro Football Writers Association.
Barzilauskas was nagged by minor injuries in 1975 but started every regular season game. He missed the preseason game with the Redskins with a rib injury and injured his back in the first New England game. Carl put together his best game of the season in the second Miami game, recovering a Dolphin fumble.
Jets defensive coordinator Walt Michaels says, 'Carl can be as good as he wants to be.' His assets include size, strength and tenacity. He needs to shed blockers and improve with game playing experience. Carl did everything asked of him, learning steadily as his rookie season moved along. He finished in the club lead in quarterback sacks with five, starting every game at left tackle.
He's been called by Miami's Jim Langer 'one of the strongest players I've ever faced,' and hailed by Don Shula and Tommy Prothro as one of the best young defensive linemen they have ever seen. Carl has 5.0 speed to match with his extreme strength; more consistent play by the Jets front line this season may relieve double and triple team pressure. He was a No. 1 draft choice in 1974.
A three-year starter for Indiana, Barzilaukas led the team in tackles as a junior. He played in the East-West Game and the Senior Bowl and played every down in his senior year despite a broken foot.
He majored in physical education in college. His uncle Fritz played for the Giants in the early '50s and is now employed at Yale. Carl is nicknamed 'Barzo' and 'Brontosaurus' and owns a lounge called 'Barzo's Blitz' in Bloomington, Indiana. His hometown is Waterbury, Connecticut."
-1976 New York Jets Media Guide
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