MIKE HUDOCK
Center
No. 52
Miami
"Mike Hudock broke into pro football as a man without a future. He was Chuck Bednarik's understudy with the Philadelphia Eagles - and you know how indestructible Bednarik was. With the Jets, however, Mike has been the starting offensive center for five years, and in 1964 he was second-team All-AFL.
He's 6-2 and 245 pounds, and he played his college football at Miami (Florida).
Though he suffered a leg injury last year, he is expected to come back strong. With his experience, think how valuable he'll be working with expensive new quarterbacks Joe Namath and John Huarte."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
SAM DELUCA
Guard
No. 65
South Carolina
"Sam's AFL career began with the San Diego Chargers in 1960. Sam retired in 1962 but returned to the gridiron in 1963. The quick guard was purchased by the New York Jets before the 1964 season began. The local boy missed the first three games of the campaign but came on strong and was the Jets' regular starter at right guard.
An important addition to the club, Sam is a top-notch pass protector.
Sam keeps in shape during the off-season by teaching physical education in a Queens, New York high school."
-1965 Topps No. 113
DAN FICCA
Guard
No. 61
USC
Following a 14-game rookie season with the Raiders in 1962, New York traded All-AFL guard and Titan icon Bob Mischak to Oakland for Dan, and have no reason to regret the transaction. He has become one of the most feared guards in the league while playing all 14 games in both of his Jet seasons.
New York scouts and coaches have highly regarded Dan since he was an outstanding tackle at the University of Southern California.
WINSTON HILL
Offensive Tackle
No. 75
Texas Southern
"The Jets believe that big Winston Hill could blossom into one of the top offensive tackles in the league.
In 1963, Hill, a 275-pounder, started out on the New York taxi squad after signing as a free agent. Last year, he was a starter and made the East All-Star team. That's rapid progress.
Winston can also play offensive center - and he did for three games last season."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Winston was signed by the New York Jets as a free agent in 1963. Last season, the big, strong tackle opened the campaign on the taxi squad, but his solid performance during team drills convinced Weeb Ewbank to activate him. Winston played three games at center when injuries rocked the Jets at that spot.
The young offensive tackle has what it takes to develop into one of the best linemen in the league. Winston played in the AFL East-West All-Star Game.
Winston was his high school's tennis singles champ from 1957-1959."
-1965 Topps No. 116
SHERMAN PLUNKETT
Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Maryland State
"The only problem facing offensive tackle Sherman Plunkett is keeping his weight 'down' to 295 pounds. Last season Sherm stayed comparatively thin and he made second-team All-AFL.
He blocks on pass plays; the Jets coaches graded him at 91 percent on pass blocking, which is an almost unbelievable mark. He is also deceptively fast. How many 295-pounders do you know who can run 40 yards in 5.2 seconds? Sherman can.
In 1958 and '59, he played for Weeb Ewbank's NFL champion Colts. He came to the Jets from San Diego in 1963."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"The veteran offensive tackle showed a marked improvement last year and was named to the AFL's second All-League team. Sherman, an excellent pass protector, played in the 1964 All-Star contest for the East.
This is the second time that Sherman has played for a Weeb Ewbank team. Now beginning his third year with the New York Jets, Sherman originally played for the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League.
Sherman's big problem is keeping his weight down, yet he can run the 40-yard dash in 5.2 seconds."
-1965 Topps No. 125
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
1965 Profile: Larry Grantham
Linebacker
No. 60
Mississippi
"The name is Larry Grantham, and there is no lighter linebacker playing regularly in professional football. Larry tips the scales at 206 pounds, yet he's been voted an All-AFL outside linebacker for four consecutive years.
He's the kind of player who invariably makes the key play. He tackles very hard, blitzes well and has the mobility to cover fast backfield men on pass plays. His ability to read a play before it unfolds is phenomenal.
Larry is one of only four players who date back to the 1960 and the original New York AFL franchise - the Titans. Remember them? The others: Bill Mathis, Don Maynard and Mike Hudock."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"For the fourth straight year, Larry was named an all-league outside linebacker. He has played in three American Football League All-Star Games. Larry's top thrill in pro ball was intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown in the 1963 AFL All-Star Game.
He has shown the skeptics by overcoming his lack of bulk with aggressiveness, agility and fast reflexes."
-1965 Topps No. 114
No. 60
Mississippi
"The name is Larry Grantham, and there is no lighter linebacker playing regularly in professional football. Larry tips the scales at 206 pounds, yet he's been voted an All-AFL outside linebacker for four consecutive years.
He's the kind of player who invariably makes the key play. He tackles very hard, blitzes well and has the mobility to cover fast backfield men on pass plays. His ability to read a play before it unfolds is phenomenal.
Larry is one of only four players who date back to the 1960 and the original New York AFL franchise - the Titans. Remember them? The others: Bill Mathis, Don Maynard and Mike Hudock."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"For the fourth straight year, Larry was named an all-league outside linebacker. He has played in three American Football League All-Star Games. Larry's top thrill in pro ball was intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown in the 1963 AFL All-Star Game.
He has shown the skeptics by overcoming his lack of bulk with aggressiveness, agility and fast reflexes."
-1965 Topps No. 114
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
1965 Profiles: Matt Snell and Mark Smolinski
MATT SNELL
Fullback
No. 41
Ohio State
"If you want to know how good a running back really is, ask the coach who doesn't own him. Here's what coach Mike Holovak of Boston says about the Jets' Rookie of the Year fullback, Matt Snell: 'He's the next Jimmy Brown of pro football.'
In 1964, Matt finished second only to Cookie Gilchrist among AFL rushers. He gained 948 yards on 215 carries, for a 4.4 average. He also caught 56 passes, tying for seventh in the league.
Matt is fast enough and, at 220 pounds, strong enough to run over what he can't get around. He's a dedicated blocker and can play defense, if necessary. He did it at Ohio State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"'Matt Snell is pro football's next Jimmy Brown,' predicts head coach Mike Holovak of the New England Patriots. 'He has all the attributes to be just great.'
A 23-year-old fullback, Snell ran away with AFL Rookie of the Year honors last season when he gained 948 yards on 215 rushing attempts and snared 56 passes, good for 393 yards. The powerfully built youngster from Locust Valley, Long Island gave the New York Jets the drawing card they needed to fill brand new Shea Stadium and steal some of the spotlight from the New York Giants from the rival NFL.
Matt was the Jets' top draft choice and the third selection of the Giants. Free-spending owner Sonny Werblin of the Jets won out when he reportedly paid Snell $43,000, including a $23,000 bonus. It proved to be a gilt-edged investment. Says Werblin: 'I've never been more impressed with an individual than I have with Snell. And as a football player, we're glad we have him.'
Matt was born in Swainsboro, Georgia and moved to Long Island with his family when he was six. He attended high school in Carle Place and received no less than 65 college scholarship offers, finally choosing Ohio State where he played under Woody Hayes. Snell was a halfback during his sophomore season, a linebacker and defensive end as a junior, and a linebacker and fullback as a senior. It wasn't easy to switch from the Buckeyes' style of play to the more complex world of pro football.
'The transition was a big one, the biggest I ever made,' says Matt.
But it didn't take Snell long to find his niche. Playing against the Oakland Raiders early last October, the 6'2", 215-pound fullback gained 168 yards. A week later he shattered that mark by piling up 180 yards against Houston, his best effort of the year.
Says head coach Weeb Ewbank: 'Snell is great to work with. He never asks any questions, just goes and does what he's told.'"
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
"Mighty Matt, with a full year's experience under his belt, will be pushing Keith Lincoln for the title of 'best all-around back in the league' in 1965.
The 6-2, 219-pounder from Ohio State single-handedly provided the New York Jets with a running attack last season. This was not totally unexpected since Snell had been a highly touted runner in college. But what the Jets never anticipated was the way he would learn to block, fake and develop as a pass receiver.
In fact, Snell came on so fast in this latter category that he finished second on the Jets, and seventh in the league. And it didn't take anything away from his ball-carrying ability, either.
Displaying smashing power and deceptive speed turning the corner, he rolled up 948 yards- only 33 less than rushing champ Cookie Gilchrist. Notable among his achievements was a great performance (180 yards on 31 carries) against the Houston Oilers.
Coach Weeb Ewbank, a pretty good judge of talent, calls his big fullback 'a complete football player.' That appraisal is obviously shared by Snell's peers around the league; they voted him Rookie of the Year in 1964."
-Sports All-Stars/1965 Pro Football
"Matt was the Rookie of the Year in the American Football League and he never failed to give an outstanding performance. The powerful fullback set an AFL rookie mark with his 945 yards rushing and finished second in the league to All-Star Cookie Gilchrist. Matt also finished seventh in the league in receiving.
Matt set a Jet mark with 180 yards gained in a game against Houston."
-1965 Topps No. 127
MARK SMOLINSKI
Fullback
No. 30
Wyoming
"The leading New York rusher in 1963, Mark had another fine season in 1964. A good blocker and pass protector, Mark filled in at fullback behind Matt Snell.
He set a Jet record with a 56-yard run from scrimmage. A skilled receiver, Mark could play tight end if the situation warranted it."
-1965 Topps No. 126
Fullback
No. 41
Ohio State
"If you want to know how good a running back really is, ask the coach who doesn't own him. Here's what coach Mike Holovak of Boston says about the Jets' Rookie of the Year fullback, Matt Snell: 'He's the next Jimmy Brown of pro football.'
In 1964, Matt finished second only to Cookie Gilchrist among AFL rushers. He gained 948 yards on 215 carries, for a 4.4 average. He also caught 56 passes, tying for seventh in the league.
Matt is fast enough and, at 220 pounds, strong enough to run over what he can't get around. He's a dedicated blocker and can play defense, if necessary. He did it at Ohio State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"'Matt Snell is pro football's next Jimmy Brown,' predicts head coach Mike Holovak of the New England Patriots. 'He has all the attributes to be just great.'
A 23-year-old fullback, Snell ran away with AFL Rookie of the Year honors last season when he gained 948 yards on 215 rushing attempts and snared 56 passes, good for 393 yards. The powerfully built youngster from Locust Valley, Long Island gave the New York Jets the drawing card they needed to fill brand new Shea Stadium and steal some of the spotlight from the New York Giants from the rival NFL.
Matt was the Jets' top draft choice and the third selection of the Giants. Free-spending owner Sonny Werblin of the Jets won out when he reportedly paid Snell $43,000, including a $23,000 bonus. It proved to be a gilt-edged investment. Says Werblin: 'I've never been more impressed with an individual than I have with Snell. And as a football player, we're glad we have him.'
Matt was born in Swainsboro, Georgia and moved to Long Island with his family when he was six. He attended high school in Carle Place and received no less than 65 college scholarship offers, finally choosing Ohio State where he played under Woody Hayes. Snell was a halfback during his sophomore season, a linebacker and defensive end as a junior, and a linebacker and fullback as a senior. It wasn't easy to switch from the Buckeyes' style of play to the more complex world of pro football.
'The transition was a big one, the biggest I ever made,' says Matt.
But it didn't take Snell long to find his niche. Playing against the Oakland Raiders early last October, the 6'2", 215-pound fullback gained 168 yards. A week later he shattered that mark by piling up 180 yards against Houston, his best effort of the year.
Says head coach Weeb Ewbank: 'Snell is great to work with. He never asks any questions, just goes and does what he's told.'"
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
"Mighty Matt, with a full year's experience under his belt, will be pushing Keith Lincoln for the title of 'best all-around back in the league' in 1965.
The 6-2, 219-pounder from Ohio State single-handedly provided the New York Jets with a running attack last season. This was not totally unexpected since Snell had been a highly touted runner in college. But what the Jets never anticipated was the way he would learn to block, fake and develop as a pass receiver.
In fact, Snell came on so fast in this latter category that he finished second on the Jets, and seventh in the league. And it didn't take anything away from his ball-carrying ability, either.
Displaying smashing power and deceptive speed turning the corner, he rolled up 948 yards- only 33 less than rushing champ Cookie Gilchrist. Notable among his achievements was a great performance (180 yards on 31 carries) against the Houston Oilers.
Coach Weeb Ewbank, a pretty good judge of talent, calls his big fullback 'a complete football player.' That appraisal is obviously shared by Snell's peers around the league; they voted him Rookie of the Year in 1964."
-Sports All-Stars/1965 Pro Football
"Matt was the Rookie of the Year in the American Football League and he never failed to give an outstanding performance. The powerful fullback set an AFL rookie mark with his 945 yards rushing and finished second in the league to All-Star Cookie Gilchrist. Matt also finished seventh in the league in receiving.
Matt set a Jet mark with 180 yards gained in a game against Houston."
-1965 Topps No. 127
MARK SMOLINSKI
Fullback
No. 30
Wyoming
"The leading New York rusher in 1963, Mark had another fine season in 1964. A good blocker and pass protector, Mark filled in at fullback behind Matt Snell.
He set a Jet record with a 56-yard run from scrimmage. A skilled receiver, Mark could play tight end if the situation warranted it."
-1965 Topps No. 126
1965 Jets Quarterback Profiles
JOE NAMATH
Quarterback
1st Round
Alabama
"Among the thousands of spectators jammed into Miami's Orange Bowl last New Year's Day was Weeb Ewbank, the stocky head coach of the New York Jets. Ewbank had his eyes trained on Joe Namath as the Alabama quarterback rifled a 20-yard touchdown pass. 'Namath is fabulous,' Ewbank raved. 'Reminds me of Johnny Unitas. He could make a pro team right now.'
Playing with a tightly bandaged right knee, Namath completed 18 of 37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He gave a virtuoso performance even though his team lost to Texas, 21-17. The next morning, amid fitting pomp and circumstance, the Jets signed the 6'2", 194-pound youngster to what certainly must stand as the most generous rookie contract in the history of professional sports. The Jets have never verified the terms, but informed guesses place the figure at $400,000, spread over a three-year period.
Able Jet owner Sonny Werblin believes pro football has become a great entertainment medium and that a star will attract the fans in droves. 'I believe the Jets have found that star in Namath,' he says.
Born May 31, 1943 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Joe was the local high school football hero.
'He was good and he knew it,' his mother recalls. 'But now he's changed. He doesn't brag so much anymore.'
During his three-year career at Alabama, the Crimson Tide lost only three regular season games and won three postseason bowl trips. Joe's college passing figures show a career total of 203 completions in 374 attempts. Last year he was in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury but he was around long enough to guide Alabama to an undefeated season. Joe underwent a knee operation last winter which is said to have corrected the trouble.
'The New York fans will go for Namath,' claims Ewbank. 'If we don't win a championship soon, it won't be his fault.'"
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
"Joe Namath, Alabama's quarterback, appeared in only three complete games last year due to an injured knee, but was still one of the most sought-after college football players in recent years. He's 6-2, 195 pounds."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Signed for a large bundle of cash by the Jets, Joe will be testing his knee in early exhibition games and New York fans have their fingers crossed.
The quarterback from Alabama was called the greatest athlete to come out of the college ranks in 1964. Joe set a SEC pass completion mark by hitting his targets 64% of the time. He completed 18 passes for 255 yards in the 1965 Orange Bowl.
Not afraid to run with the ball when the opportunity arises, Joe carried the ball for 572 yards and 15 touchdowns during his college days!"
-1965 Topps No. 122
DICK WOOD
Quarterback
No. 19
Auburn
"You have to feel sorry for Dick Wood. He's a competent AFL quarterback, but the Jets did not show much faith in his skills when they paid $400,000 for untried Joe Namath and $200,000 for untried John Huarte.
Dick has been New York's starting quarterback for the last two years. He throws the long bomb (35 touchdown passes), but five knee operations have slowed him down. During his three-year AFL career, including a season divided between Denver and San Diego, Dick has completed 45.9 percent of his passes."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
JOHN HUARTE
Quarterback
2nd Round
Notre Dame
"One of the game's most highly touted rookies will be coming to the Jets for the 1965 season. John was a second round draft pick of New York.
Among the 1964 honors won by the quarterback were [the Heisman Trophy], UPI's Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year. John didn't get to play much college football until his senior year at Notre Dame, but last year completed 114 passes and gained 2,062 yards in the air. He completed 21 passes against Stanford last season."
-1965 Topps No. 117
MIKE TALIAFERRO
Quarterback
No. 17
Illinois
"The back-up man to the Jets' Dick Wood, Mike was given a chance to show his stuff towards the end of the 1964 season. The big quarterback can throw the long bomb and he is a good scrambler, too.
Mike is the second-leading passer in Illinois history. His strong arm led Illinois to the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory in his Senior Year."
-1965 Topps No. 128
Quarterback
1st Round
Alabama
"Among the thousands of spectators jammed into Miami's Orange Bowl last New Year's Day was Weeb Ewbank, the stocky head coach of the New York Jets. Ewbank had his eyes trained on Joe Namath as the Alabama quarterback rifled a 20-yard touchdown pass. 'Namath is fabulous,' Ewbank raved. 'Reminds me of Johnny Unitas. He could make a pro team right now.'
Playing with a tightly bandaged right knee, Namath completed 18 of 37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He gave a virtuoso performance even though his team lost to Texas, 21-17. The next morning, amid fitting pomp and circumstance, the Jets signed the 6'2", 194-pound youngster to what certainly must stand as the most generous rookie contract in the history of professional sports. The Jets have never verified the terms, but informed guesses place the figure at $400,000, spread over a three-year period.
Able Jet owner Sonny Werblin believes pro football has become a great entertainment medium and that a star will attract the fans in droves. 'I believe the Jets have found that star in Namath,' he says.
Born May 31, 1943 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Joe was the local high school football hero.
'He was good and he knew it,' his mother recalls. 'But now he's changed. He doesn't brag so much anymore.'
During his three-year career at Alabama, the Crimson Tide lost only three regular season games and won three postseason bowl trips. Joe's college passing figures show a career total of 203 completions in 374 attempts. Last year he was in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury but he was around long enough to guide Alabama to an undefeated season. Joe underwent a knee operation last winter which is said to have corrected the trouble.
'The New York fans will go for Namath,' claims Ewbank. 'If we don't win a championship soon, it won't be his fault.'"
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
"Joe Namath, Alabama's quarterback, appeared in only three complete games last year due to an injured knee, but was still one of the most sought-after college football players in recent years. He's 6-2, 195 pounds."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Signed for a large bundle of cash by the Jets, Joe will be testing his knee in early exhibition games and New York fans have their fingers crossed.
The quarterback from Alabama was called the greatest athlete to come out of the college ranks in 1964. Joe set a SEC pass completion mark by hitting his targets 64% of the time. He completed 18 passes for 255 yards in the 1965 Orange Bowl.
Not afraid to run with the ball when the opportunity arises, Joe carried the ball for 572 yards and 15 touchdowns during his college days!"
-1965 Topps No. 122
DICK WOOD
Quarterback
No. 19
Auburn
"You have to feel sorry for Dick Wood. He's a competent AFL quarterback, but the Jets did not show much faith in his skills when they paid $400,000 for untried Joe Namath and $200,000 for untried John Huarte.
Dick has been New York's starting quarterback for the last two years. He throws the long bomb (35 touchdown passes), but five knee operations have slowed him down. During his three-year AFL career, including a season divided between Denver and San Diego, Dick has completed 45.9 percent of his passes."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
JOHN HUARTE
Quarterback
2nd Round
Notre Dame
"One of the game's most highly touted rookies will be coming to the Jets for the 1965 season. John was a second round draft pick of New York.
Among the 1964 honors won by the quarterback were [the Heisman Trophy], UPI's Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year. John didn't get to play much college football until his senior year at Notre Dame, but last year completed 114 passes and gained 2,062 yards in the air. He completed 21 passes against Stanford last season."
-1965 Topps No. 117
MIKE TALIAFERRO
Quarterback
No. 17
Illinois
"The back-up man to the Jets' Dick Wood, Mike was given a chance to show his stuff towards the end of the 1964 season. The big quarterback can throw the long bomb and he is a good scrambler, too.
Mike is the second-leading passer in Illinois history. His strong arm led Illinois to the Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory in his Senior Year."
-1965 Topps No. 128
Saturday, July 26, 2014
1965 Profile: Weeb Ewbank
Head Coach
"Wherever he has gone as a coach, Weeb Ewbank has built winners, including two successive championship teams with the Baltimore Colts, where he developed the great John Unitas. Weeb hopes to produce his first AFL champion for New York this year, and he believes he may have another Unitas in quarterback Joe Namath.
Weeb began his football coaching career under the master, Paul Brown. He is also remembered in New York for the time he tried to take a punch at Sam Huff for 'roughing up' his Colts.
Now beginning his third year as Jet pilot, the former Miami of Ohio athlete is sitting pretty. Not only does he command the troops in the field, but he is the club's general manager as well."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Wherever he has gone as a coach, Weeb Ewbank has built winners, including two successive championship teams with the Baltimore Colts, where he developed the great John Unitas. Weeb hopes to produce his first AFL champion for New York this year, and he believes he may have another Unitas in quarterback Joe Namath.
Weeb began his football coaching career under the master, Paul Brown. He is also remembered in New York for the time he tried to take a punch at Sam Huff for 'roughing up' his Colts.
Now beginning his third year as Jet pilot, the former Miami of Ohio athlete is sitting pretty. Not only does he command the troops in the field, but he is the club's general manager as well."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
1965 New York Jets Outlook
"The heralded arrival of Joe Namath isn't likely to relegate the rest of the Jets to anonymity, but even it does, nobody will really mind if the All-America from Alamaba leads them to their first AFL title. Which is the way a lot of pre-season forecasts will go, including this one.
There are football men around who are gray at the temples who will tell you that Namath is ready to step in as the first-string quarterback.
'He's a pro right now,' they were saying of him while he was still playing out his senior year and they were commenting on his ability, not casting aspersions on his amateur standing.
If Namath is that good, and if he can stand up on his surgery-corrected knee as well as to the inevitable glare of publicity that will come his way, he can be the unifying force of a solid Jet ballclub. To catch the ball, the Jets can provide him with better-than-adequate receivers in split end Bake Turner and flanker back Don Maynard, both of whom are long-bomb threats. Gene Heeter and Dee Mackey will battle it out for the tight end assignment.
As a counter to the inevitable passing attack, the Jets will have Rookie of the Year Matt Snell to grind out the yardage from fullback, and there are capable runners from among Bill Mathis, Mark Smolinski and rookies Bob Schweickert and Cosmo Iacavazzi, the Ivy Leaguer from Princeton.
The tackles in an aggressive and experienced front line are All-Star Sherman Plunkett and Winston Hill, the guards will be Sam DeLuca and Dan Ficca, with Pete Perreault challenging for a starting spot, and five-year veteran Mike Hudock at center.
Last year, the defense was one of the Jets' strong points until it was crippled by injuries. It now seems restored with Gerry Philbin and LaVerne Torczon at the ends, and Gordy Holz and Paul Rochester at the tackles. A tough linebacking corps made up of All-League Larry Grantham, the colorful but efficient Wahoo McDaniel and rookie Ralph Baker did a remarkable job of bottling up opponents' running games.
The deep secondary is secure if Marshall Starks and Clyde Washington can pick up where they left off before they both were injured last year. In Dainard Paulson and Billy Baird, the Jets have two of the best safeties in the league.
To bolster this entire defensive unit, coach Weeb Ewbank will give extensive trials to linemen Verlon Biggs and Jim Harris, linebackers Ed Cummings and Bob Rowley, who are holdovers from last year, and defensive backs Willie West, Bill Rademacher, Vince Turner and Bill Pashe.
There's another rookie quarterback around who should not be overlooked amid all those loose greenbacks. He's John Huarte, and if his bank account doesn't match Namath's, he intends to prove he's his equal at quarterback. John, after all, only got $200,000."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"While the NFL was the clear winner in signing the key collegiate performers in the annual drafts, the AFL won the day by getting the biggest headlines when the New York Jets signed Alabama All-American quarterback Joe Namath to a contract reportedly calling for $400,000. Then, after making the catch of the year, Sonny Werblin, the man who owns the Jets, found he still had some excess cash around and lured Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte of Notre Dame into the Jet camp."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"The Jets signed the brightest names in college ball (Joe Namath, John Huarte, et al.) which should assure them an every-game sellout this season. Owner Sonny Werblin can afford it. If he paid $1 million for the Jets, he can count on $4.5 million in TV funds in the 1965-1969 span, plus the use of Shea Stadium.
No dreamer, coach Weeb Ewbank knows that college stars assure no title since most are 'four years away.' But he does believe that Joe and John will arrive much sooner. After all, Matt Snell, the Sandow-shaped fullback, made the transition in his first season out of Ohio State. Matt was a near-unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year honors in 1964.
Actually, Ewbank has equal pride in his defensive unit. To help in the line he signed Verlon Biggs (6'4", 250) and Jim Harris (6'4", 265), and will welcome back Gerry Philbin, ace defensive end taken out by a shoulder injury in 1964's fourth game.
Linebacking, tough last year, is even tougher now. Larry Grantham made all-league for the fourth straight time, colorful Wahoo McDaniel ate up runners and Ralph Baker checked most everything that moved on his left side.
But the pass defense worries Ewbank. He intends to get more range through such vets as Ed Cummings and Bob Rowley, and two mobile rookies, Skip Hoovler and Bob Finamore.
Both cornerbacks, Marshall Starks and Clyde Washington, were injured last season and if they don't regain their old form, the Jets will be in trouble again, though not to the extent of last year when their replacements also were hurt.
The new quarterbacks will find protection like that provided President Johnson. In fact, the opposition got to immobile Dick Wood only 27 times in '64. The phalanx is formed largely by tackles Sherman Plunkett (6'2", 295) and Winston Hill (6'4", 275). Sam DeLuca, Dan Ficca and Pete Perreault are equally formidable at guard.
To enhance his air game, Ewbank is seeking more speed at halfback. Bill Mathis, the incumbent, will have to hold off rookies Bob Schweickert, a quarterback at Virginia Poly, and Cosmo Iacavazzi from Princeton."
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
THE PROSPECTS
"The Jets seem certain to come up with a football 'first' this season - the first quarterback ever to be drafted from the pages of a James Bond novel. His identity is not yet determined, but his name, naturally, will be 'Goldfinger.' If that seems stretching a point, it's kid stuff compared to the expansiveness of Jet owner Sonny Werblin. He invested $400,000 in one quarterback with a bad knee (Joe Namath of Alabama) and some $200,000 more in another boy with just one full year of college experience (John Huarte of Notre Dame). Even Bond would wonder about such risks, but not Jet coach Weeb Ewbank, who won two NFL titles with a fellow named Johnny Unitas at Baltimore. Ewbank even went so far as to sign another rookie quarterback, Bob Schweickert of VPI, though he can be used elsewhere. Add reserve Mike Taliaferro, and signal-calling practice in the Jet camp should resemble a convention of drill instructors. Namath and Huarte are the top candidates - the battle will no doubt be one of the more interesting features of the '65 season.
Regardless of the outcome, the Jets need much more than a passer. They were seventh in both total offense and defense last year. The ranks are thin (injuries hurt last year and the Jets lost six of their last seven games). They should improve in '65, but with Buffalo and Boston in the same division, the advance may not show in the standings."
-Tom Harmon, 1965 Football Almanac (Tom Harmon's Sports Information Book)
THE STARS
"The Jets came up with the AFL's Rookie of the Year in '64 - fullback Matt Snell. He was second in the league in rushing (945 yards) and seventh in pass receiving (55 for 396 yards). Many think he'll top those statistics this year.
Center Mike Hudock (6-2, 245) won All-Star mention last year, as did offensive tackles Sherm Plunkett (6-2, 295) and Winston Hill (6-4, 275), an agile fellow who is a former high school tennis champion.
The top defenders, as always, are linebacker Larry Grantham and safety Dainard Paulson, both All-AFL picks.
But the most popular linebacker is Wahoo McDaniel. He led the team in tackles last year, and probably in income, too. He wrestles as a professional in the off-season."
-Tom Harmon, 1965 Football Almanac (Tom Harmon's Sports Information Book)
"Showman Sonny Werblin builds his aerial circus."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1965
Rookie Quarterbacks Don't Actually Win in Pro Ball
But Joe Namath is Not the Usual Rookie
This $400,000 Passer Has that Rare Championship Quality
"Weeb Ewbank, five-by-five head coach of the Jets, believes in one quarterback at a time. Always has, probably always will. When he was with the Baltimore Colts, Ewbank found an unknown, $6-a-game sandlotter named John Unitas- and stuck with him. Unitas won him two National Football League championships. This year he'll have to sift through five of them in his search for one. Among them will be two of most expensive young passers ever to play a game of pro ball: Joe Namath of Alabama and John Huarte of Notre Dame. Like most football men, Ewbank realizes that it usually takes three or four seasons to develop a pro quarterback. But with Namath and Huarte- especially Namath- Weeb thinks it can be accomplished much sooner. Like in 1965, for example. If he's right, if Namath or Huarte take over as the regular quarterback, welcome to the Jet era.
All the fuss over Namath/Huarte has obscured the fact that the Jets already have a starting quarterback. But $600,000 of owner Sonny Werblin's money says that Dick Wood will not start for long. That's the amount the Jets paid for Namath ($400,000) and Huarte ($200,000). This kind of expenditure isn't exactly a vote of confidence in Wood and his 1964 understudies, Mike Taliaferro and Pete Liske. Actually, Wood is a good quarterback. But he has probably reached his performance peak- and it has not been high enough to win championships. In three pro seasons, Dick has completed 45.9 percent of his passes, 47 percent last year. Five knee operations have left him with the mobility of a light stanchion.
But Namath and Huarte! Consider Namath. Jet scouts grade all prospects in 12 categories: quickness, agility, strength, reaction time, coordination, size potential, durability, speed for position, intelligence, character, aggressiveness, pride. Namath received the maximum rating- outstanding- in eight of the 12 departments; the second rating in the remaining four. The report summed him up this way: 'An outstanding passer with big, good hands and exceptionally fast delivery. Has good agility and sets up very well. A fine 'scrambler.' Throws the short pass very well and can also throw the 'bomb' with great accuracy. Is smart and follows the game plan perfectly. Is a fine leader ... Will be everyone's number one draft choice.'
Other scouts were equally lavish. The Houston Oiler prospector simply wrote: 'The best!' across Namath's report card, while one NFL coach admits that Joe could be the best quarterback to enter pro ball in 15 years. Of course, there is the matter of Namath's bad right knee. Surgery was performed last winter to repair the torn knee cartilage, a small cyst was also removed, and now the doctors pledge that Namath's knee is sound.
Huarte, 6-0, 190 pounds compared to Namath's 6-2, 194, is not considered as elegant a passer. Still, the message on John Heisman's Trophy says that he was the outstanding college player in the country last year. He took Notre Dame to within 95 seconds of an unbeaten record and the national championship. The scouts note that Huarte throws with a sidearm delivery, the legacy of an old shoulder injury. They wonder if he will be able to get the ball over the upraised arms of those pro rushers.
With this caliber of no-cut competition, Taliaferro and Liske, last season's rookie quarterbacks, don't figure. The league has expanded its player limit to 36 men, and the Jets will probably carry three quarterbacks: Namath, Huarte and Wood. Taliaferro is a hard, fast runner who throws a nice ball, but he completed only 31.4 percent of his passes on the few occasions he got to play. He might do better elsewhere. Liske spent almost all of '64 on the taxi squad. He may hang on as a defensive back.
Resolution of the quarterback dilemma should make a more dangerous ballcarrier out of the Jets' top player, 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year Matt Snell, by taking the pressure off him. Snell, a 220-pound fullback, was the AFL's second-leading ground-gainer- 945 yards on 215 carries for a 4.4-yard average. He also tied for seventh place among the pass receivers with 55 catchers. Coach Mike Holovak of the Patriots calls Snell 'the next Jimmy Brown.' Matt does not have Brown's bursting speed, but he does possess exceptional balance and straight-ahead power, enough acceleration to turn the ends when he has to, and a willingness to block unselfishly.
The Jets realize that they need more backfield speed. Snell, his substitute, veteran fullback Mark Smolinski, and tight halfback Bill Mathis are all big men who are happiest plowing inside, through the briar patch. Mathis' strong blocking helped Snell break free time and again last year, but when Bill and Matt both start, New York has no outside threat. That's why coach Ewbank will take a careful look at his fourth draft pick, Bob Schweikert of Virginia Tech. Schweikert, 195 pounds, was a running quarterback in college. The Jets will try him at halfback- and also flanker, defensive back and kick returner. Schweikert has excellent speed. Cosmo Iacavazzi is another interesting rookie back. Cosmo was a standout single-wing fullback at Princeton, but at 5-11, 205 pounds, he must play halfback in the pros- if he is fast enough.
If the runners are heavy-footed, the pass receivers aren't. Split end Bake Turner and flanker Don Maynard are especially tough running deep routes. Turner caught 58 passes and Maynard caught 46. There is one problem with Maynard. Don sometimes breaks pass patterns. This confuses the quarterback, who throws to a predetermined spot, leads to interceptions and drives Ewbank crazy. When Maynard did that last year, Ewbank replaced him with rookie Jim Evans. Veterans Gene Heeter and Dee Mackey, both 235 pounds, will share tight end. Heeter has had an operation on his injured knee.
New York's offensive line played much better in '64, particularly when it came to pass blocking. Jet quarterbacks were thrown for losses only 27 times. Everybody is back.
Sam DeLuca, a Brooklyn schoolteacher, and Dan Ficca are the guards. Mike Hudock will start at center for the sixth consecutive season. Huge Sherman Plunkett and Winston Hill will play tackle. Plunkett, 295 pounds, made the all-star team and enjoyed his finest pro season in '64. He scored an amazing 91 percent on his pass blocking assignments. Hill, 275 pounds, is progressing rapidly. He's gone from taxi squad to all-star squad in two years. Hill can also play center; he did last year after Hudock was hurt. [The combination of Hudock's injury and DeLuca also being injured was] one of two reasons why the Jets faded late last year. (The other reason was defensive backfield injuries.)
For bench strength, the Jets have guards Pete Perrault, Dan Kearley and Paul Perret; center John Schmitt; tackles Jim McCusker and Ralph Farmer; and Dave Herman and Mitch Dudek, who can play guard or tackle. Dudek, Farmer, Perret and Kearley are rookies.
Besides landing those costly quarterbacks, coach Ewbank sought defensive players in the college draft. He thinks he got the big linemen he wants in 250-pound Verlon Biggs of Jackson State, 265-pound Jim Harris of Utah State and Seth Cartwright, also 265. Biggs is the man the NFL thought it had stashed away during the draft meetings but the Jets signed him. He can play tackle or end and runs 40 yards in 4.7 seconds. Harris and Cartwright are both tackles.
It will be at tackle, incidentally, that the rookies will have their best chance to win jobs. Paul Rochester and Gordy Holz are the holdovers there. Gerry Philbin and Bert Wilder, outstanding as rookies, appear to have the defensive end jobs locked up. Philbin has undergone a successful operation to repair the shoulder separation that kept him out most of the season. After Philbin was injured, Wilder switched to left end and veteran LaVerne Torczon played right end. Now Wilder will return to the right side, where he is more effective. Torczon, Bob Watters and rookie Gary Plumlee of New Mexico and maybe Biggs will be the reserves. Swingman Bob McAdams can play end or tackle.
Last year the Jets yearned for a glamorous, Huff-tough player the fans would take to. They found him in middle linebacker Wahoo McDaniel, a colorful 240-pound Choctaw Indian obtained from Denver. As the Jets' new 'image,' Wahoo got credit for more tackles (115) than he made, but he did help the New York linebacking. McDaniel is tougher against running plays. Second-year pro Ed Cummings and rookie Skip Hoovler of Ohio U. are in reserve. The corner linebackers will be All-AFL Larry Grantham on the right side, soph Ralph Baker on the left. Experienced Bob Rowley and Memphis State rookie Bob Finamore are corner spares.
The Jet pass defense was the second worst in the league in '64. But most of the damage was done after cornerbacks Clyde Washington and Marshall Starks were lost for the season. Starks broke his leg and Washington tore an Achilles tendon. Both needed hospital care and rehabilitation and must be listed as question marks. On the other hand, safetymen Dainard Paulson and Bill Baird are exclamation points. Paulson led the league with a record-tying 12 interceptions. If Washington and/or Starks cannot come back fully, Ewbank has a melange of pro discards- Mark Johnston, Willie West, Bill Pashe, Vince Turner and Pete Liske.
What it boils down to, though, is this: can Joe Namath come on in one season? In the spring, coach Ewbank went down to Alabama and gave Namath a cram course in Jet terminology and plays. If Joe can move the Jets against pro defenses on two legs the way he moved Alabama against Texas on one in the Orange Bowl, New York will blast off its two-year 5-8-1 plateau and win the Eastern title."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1965
"It's a financial fact of life that any big league sports operation must have a showcase. The idea is for a strong New York entry to draw big- both at home and on the road. In the American Football League, New York hasn't as yet achieved that exalted status. Only a club with a winning record can do it, and in the five-year history of the AFL, the Titans-Jets have yet to come close [except for 7-7 seasons in 1960 and 1961]. But last year, New York did set attendance records, did capitalize on the drastic skid of the rival New York Giants in the NFL, and did grab tremendous headlines with the post-draft expenditure of $600,000 for two college quarterbacks, Joe Namath and John Huarte.
New York has chalked up a mediocre 5-8-1 record in each of the last two seasons, but it has high hopes of becoming a bona fide contender in 1965. A key factor will be the performances of Namath and Huarte. One of these high-priced rookie field generals must replace lanky Dick Wood, coach Weeb Ewbank's stopgap quarterback for the past two years, who was dealt to Oakland in July. In addition to Namath and Huarte, another rookie, Virginia Tech's Bob Schweikert, is a quarterback possibility. However, the Jets will probably wind up using him as a receiver.
Ewbank has the same coaching staff back for a third straight year, and the New York defense, therefore, has been able to find the cohesion that was so sadly lacking during the Titan era. The team should be over the .500 mark this year."
-Harold Rosenthal, Sports All-Stars/1965 Pro Football
1965 New York Jets Preseason Roster
* Troy Allen (DB) Western Michigan
46 Bill Baird (DB) San Francisco State
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
* Verlon Biggs (DE-DT) Jackson State
Seth Cartwright (DT) Prairie View A & M
62 Ed Cummings (LB) Stanford
65 Sam DeLuca (G) South Carolina
* Mitch Dudek (OT-G) Xavier
80 Jim Evans (FL) Texas Western
* Ralph Farmer (OT) Wisconsin
61 Dan Ficca (G) USC
* Bob Finamore (LB) Memphis State
* Cornell Gordon (DB) North Carolina A & T
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
* Jim Gray (DB) Toledo
* Jim Harris (DT) Utah State
85 Gene Heeter (E) Virginia
67 Dave Herman (G-T) Michigan State
75 Winston Hill (OT-C) Texas Southern
74 Gordy Holz (DT) Minnesota
* Skip Hoovler (LB) Ohio
*7 John Huarte (QB) Notre Dame
52 Mike Hudock (C) Miami
Jim Hudson (DB-HB) Texas
* Cosmo Iacavazzi (HB) Princeton
33 Curley Johnson (E-K) Houston
23 Mark Johnston (DB) Northwestern
Dan Kearley (G) Alabama
84 Alfonzo Lawson (FL) Delaware State
14 Pete Liske (QB-DB) Penn State
89 Dee Mackey (E) East Texas State
31 Bill Mathis (HB) Clemson
13 Don Maynard (FL) Texas Western
* Mike Mayne (OE-LB) Idaho
88 Bob McAdams (DT) North Carolina A & T
70 Jim McCusker (DT) Pittsburgh
54 Wahoo McDaniel (LB) Oklahoma
*12 Joe Namath (QB) Alabama
26 Bill Pashe (DB) George Washington
40 Dainard Paulson (CB) Oregon State
64 Pete Perreault (G-LB) Boston University
Paul Perret (G) Wagner
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
Gary Plumlee (DB) New Mexico
79 Sherman Plunkett (T) Maryland State
83 Bill Rademacher (DB) Northern Michigan
72 Paul Rochester (DT) Michigan State
63 Bob Rowley (LB) West Virginia
Max St. Victor (K-FB) Northeastern
57 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
* Bob Schweikert (HB) Virginia Tech
30 Mark Slominski (FB) Wyoming
41 Matt Snell (DE-LB-FB) Ohio State
25 Marshall Starks (DB) Illinois
17 Mike Taliaferro (QB) Illinois
87 LaVerne Torczon (DE) Nebraska
29 Bake Turner (E) Texas Tech
11 Jim Turner (K-QB) Utah State
43 Vince Turner (DB) Missouri
42 Clyde Washington (DB) Purdue
86 Bob Watters (DE) Lincoln
22 Willie West (DB) Oregon
82 Bert Wilder (DT-DE) North Carolina State
19 Dick Wood (QB) Auburn
* rookie
-Pro Football 1965
1965 New York Jets Preseason Depth Charts
OFFENSE
QB - Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17, Joe Namath (Alabama)*, John Huarte (Notre Dame)*
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton)*, Bob Schweikert (Virginia Tech)*
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29, Jim Hudson (Texas)*
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Jim McCusker (Pittsburgh) 70
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52, John Schmitt (Hofstra) 57
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65, Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79, Ralph Farmer (Wisconsin)*
TE - Gene Heeter (Virginia) 85, Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89, Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, Bob Watters (Lincoln) 86
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Jim Harris (Utah State)*
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74, Bob McAdams (North Carolina A & T) 88
DE - LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87, Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Bob Finamore (Memphis State)*
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54, Ed Cummings (Stanford) 62
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Bob Rowley (West Virginia) 63
CB - Marshall Starks (Illinois) 25, Willie West (Oregon) 22
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40, Bill Rademacher (Michigan State) 83
S - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Vince Turner (Missouri) 43
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42, Mark Johnston (Northwestern) 23
* rookie
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
OFFENSE
QB - Joe Namath (Alabama)*, John Huarte (Notre Dame)*, Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Bob Schweikert (Virginia Tech)*, Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton)*
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
SE - George Sauer (Texas)*, Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Jim McCusker (Pittsburgh) 70
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52, John Schmitt (Hofstra) 56
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65, Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79, Nick DeFelice (Southern Connecticut) 71
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89, Gene Heeter (West Virginia) 85, Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Seth Cartwright (Prairie View A & M)*
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74, Jim Harris (Utah State)*
DE - Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82, Verlon Biggs (Jackson State)*
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Jim O'Mahoney (Miami)*
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54, Al Atkinson (Villanova)*
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
CB - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Willie West (Oregon) 22
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40, Cornell Gordon (North Carolina A & T)*
S - Ray Abruzzese (Alabama) 25, Bill Rademacher (Northern Michigan) 23, Jim Hudson (Texas)*
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42, Mark Johnston (Northwestern) 27
SPECIALISTS
K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40
* rookie
1965 New York Jets Profile Summary
Head Coach - Weeb Ewbank
QB - Joe Namath (Alabama) 12
QB - Dick Wood (Auburn) 19
QB - John Huarte (Notre Dame) 7
QB - Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31
HB - Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton) 32
HB - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41
FB - Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89
TE - Gene Heeter (West Virginia) 85
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61
G - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81
DE - Verlon Biggs (Jackson State) 86
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51
LB - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42
CB - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40
S - Ray Abruzzese (Alabama) 25
K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46
There are football men around who are gray at the temples who will tell you that Namath is ready to step in as the first-string quarterback.
'He's a pro right now,' they were saying of him while he was still playing out his senior year and they were commenting on his ability, not casting aspersions on his amateur standing.
If Namath is that good, and if he can stand up on his surgery-corrected knee as well as to the inevitable glare of publicity that will come his way, he can be the unifying force of a solid Jet ballclub. To catch the ball, the Jets can provide him with better-than-adequate receivers in split end Bake Turner and flanker back Don Maynard, both of whom are long-bomb threats. Gene Heeter and Dee Mackey will battle it out for the tight end assignment.
As a counter to the inevitable passing attack, the Jets will have Rookie of the Year Matt Snell to grind out the yardage from fullback, and there are capable runners from among Bill Mathis, Mark Smolinski and rookies Bob Schweickert and Cosmo Iacavazzi, the Ivy Leaguer from Princeton.
The tackles in an aggressive and experienced front line are All-Star Sherman Plunkett and Winston Hill, the guards will be Sam DeLuca and Dan Ficca, with Pete Perreault challenging for a starting spot, and five-year veteran Mike Hudock at center.
Last year, the defense was one of the Jets' strong points until it was crippled by injuries. It now seems restored with Gerry Philbin and LaVerne Torczon at the ends, and Gordy Holz and Paul Rochester at the tackles. A tough linebacking corps made up of All-League Larry Grantham, the colorful but efficient Wahoo McDaniel and rookie Ralph Baker did a remarkable job of bottling up opponents' running games.
The deep secondary is secure if Marshall Starks and Clyde Washington can pick up where they left off before they both were injured last year. In Dainard Paulson and Billy Baird, the Jets have two of the best safeties in the league.
To bolster this entire defensive unit, coach Weeb Ewbank will give extensive trials to linemen Verlon Biggs and Jim Harris, linebackers Ed Cummings and Bob Rowley, who are holdovers from last year, and defensive backs Willie West, Bill Rademacher, Vince Turner and Bill Pashe.
There's another rookie quarterback around who should not be overlooked amid all those loose greenbacks. He's John Huarte, and if his bank account doesn't match Namath's, he intends to prove he's his equal at quarterback. John, after all, only got $200,000."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"While the NFL was the clear winner in signing the key collegiate performers in the annual drafts, the AFL won the day by getting the biggest headlines when the New York Jets signed Alabama All-American quarterback Joe Namath to a contract reportedly calling for $400,000. Then, after making the catch of the year, Sonny Werblin, the man who owns the Jets, found he still had some excess cash around and lured Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte of Notre Dame into the Jet camp."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"The Jets signed the brightest names in college ball (Joe Namath, John Huarte, et al.) which should assure them an every-game sellout this season. Owner Sonny Werblin can afford it. If he paid $1 million for the Jets, he can count on $4.5 million in TV funds in the 1965-1969 span, plus the use of Shea Stadium.
No dreamer, coach Weeb Ewbank knows that college stars assure no title since most are 'four years away.' But he does believe that Joe and John will arrive much sooner. After all, Matt Snell, the Sandow-shaped fullback, made the transition in his first season out of Ohio State. Matt was a near-unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year honors in 1964.
Actually, Ewbank has equal pride in his defensive unit. To help in the line he signed Verlon Biggs (6'4", 250) and Jim Harris (6'4", 265), and will welcome back Gerry Philbin, ace defensive end taken out by a shoulder injury in 1964's fourth game.
Linebacking, tough last year, is even tougher now. Larry Grantham made all-league for the fourth straight time, colorful Wahoo McDaniel ate up runners and Ralph Baker checked most everything that moved on his left side.
But the pass defense worries Ewbank. He intends to get more range through such vets as Ed Cummings and Bob Rowley, and two mobile rookies, Skip Hoovler and Bob Finamore.
Both cornerbacks, Marshall Starks and Clyde Washington, were injured last season and if they don't regain their old form, the Jets will be in trouble again, though not to the extent of last year when their replacements also were hurt.
The new quarterbacks will find protection like that provided President Johnson. In fact, the opposition got to immobile Dick Wood only 27 times in '64. The phalanx is formed largely by tackles Sherman Plunkett (6'2", 295) and Winston Hill (6'4", 275). Sam DeLuca, Dan Ficca and Pete Perreault are equally formidable at guard.
To enhance his air game, Ewbank is seeking more speed at halfback. Bill Mathis, the incumbent, will have to hold off rookies Bob Schweickert, a quarterback at Virginia Poly, and Cosmo Iacavazzi from Princeton."
-Bill Wise, 1965 Official Pro Football Almanac
THE PROSPECTS
"The Jets seem certain to come up with a football 'first' this season - the first quarterback ever to be drafted from the pages of a James Bond novel. His identity is not yet determined, but his name, naturally, will be 'Goldfinger.' If that seems stretching a point, it's kid stuff compared to the expansiveness of Jet owner Sonny Werblin. He invested $400,000 in one quarterback with a bad knee (Joe Namath of Alabama) and some $200,000 more in another boy with just one full year of college experience (John Huarte of Notre Dame). Even Bond would wonder about such risks, but not Jet coach Weeb Ewbank, who won two NFL titles with a fellow named Johnny Unitas at Baltimore. Ewbank even went so far as to sign another rookie quarterback, Bob Schweickert of VPI, though he can be used elsewhere. Add reserve Mike Taliaferro, and signal-calling practice in the Jet camp should resemble a convention of drill instructors. Namath and Huarte are the top candidates - the battle will no doubt be one of the more interesting features of the '65 season.
Regardless of the outcome, the Jets need much more than a passer. They were seventh in both total offense and defense last year. The ranks are thin (injuries hurt last year and the Jets lost six of their last seven games). They should improve in '65, but with Buffalo and Boston in the same division, the advance may not show in the standings."
-Tom Harmon, 1965 Football Almanac (Tom Harmon's Sports Information Book)
THE STARS
"The Jets came up with the AFL's Rookie of the Year in '64 - fullback Matt Snell. He was second in the league in rushing (945 yards) and seventh in pass receiving (55 for 396 yards). Many think he'll top those statistics this year.
Center Mike Hudock (6-2, 245) won All-Star mention last year, as did offensive tackles Sherm Plunkett (6-2, 295) and Winston Hill (6-4, 275), an agile fellow who is a former high school tennis champion.
The top defenders, as always, are linebacker Larry Grantham and safety Dainard Paulson, both All-AFL picks.
But the most popular linebacker is Wahoo McDaniel. He led the team in tackles last year, and probably in income, too. He wrestles as a professional in the off-season."
-Tom Harmon, 1965 Football Almanac (Tom Harmon's Sports Information Book)
"Showman Sonny Werblin builds his aerial circus."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1965
Rookie Quarterbacks Don't Actually Win in Pro Ball
But Joe Namath is Not the Usual Rookie
This $400,000 Passer Has that Rare Championship Quality
"Weeb Ewbank, five-by-five head coach of the Jets, believes in one quarterback at a time. Always has, probably always will. When he was with the Baltimore Colts, Ewbank found an unknown, $6-a-game sandlotter named John Unitas- and stuck with him. Unitas won him two National Football League championships. This year he'll have to sift through five of them in his search for one. Among them will be two of most expensive young passers ever to play a game of pro ball: Joe Namath of Alabama and John Huarte of Notre Dame. Like most football men, Ewbank realizes that it usually takes three or four seasons to develop a pro quarterback. But with Namath and Huarte- especially Namath- Weeb thinks it can be accomplished much sooner. Like in 1965, for example. If he's right, if Namath or Huarte take over as the regular quarterback, welcome to the Jet era.
All the fuss over Namath/Huarte has obscured the fact that the Jets already have a starting quarterback. But $600,000 of owner Sonny Werblin's money says that Dick Wood will not start for long. That's the amount the Jets paid for Namath ($400,000) and Huarte ($200,000). This kind of expenditure isn't exactly a vote of confidence in Wood and his 1964 understudies, Mike Taliaferro and Pete Liske. Actually, Wood is a good quarterback. But he has probably reached his performance peak- and it has not been high enough to win championships. In three pro seasons, Dick has completed 45.9 percent of his passes, 47 percent last year. Five knee operations have left him with the mobility of a light stanchion.
But Namath and Huarte! Consider Namath. Jet scouts grade all prospects in 12 categories: quickness, agility, strength, reaction time, coordination, size potential, durability, speed for position, intelligence, character, aggressiveness, pride. Namath received the maximum rating- outstanding- in eight of the 12 departments; the second rating in the remaining four. The report summed him up this way: 'An outstanding passer with big, good hands and exceptionally fast delivery. Has good agility and sets up very well. A fine 'scrambler.' Throws the short pass very well and can also throw the 'bomb' with great accuracy. Is smart and follows the game plan perfectly. Is a fine leader ... Will be everyone's number one draft choice.'
Other scouts were equally lavish. The Houston Oiler prospector simply wrote: 'The best!' across Namath's report card, while one NFL coach admits that Joe could be the best quarterback to enter pro ball in 15 years. Of course, there is the matter of Namath's bad right knee. Surgery was performed last winter to repair the torn knee cartilage, a small cyst was also removed, and now the doctors pledge that Namath's knee is sound.
Huarte, 6-0, 190 pounds compared to Namath's 6-2, 194, is not considered as elegant a passer. Still, the message on John Heisman's Trophy says that he was the outstanding college player in the country last year. He took Notre Dame to within 95 seconds of an unbeaten record and the national championship. The scouts note that Huarte throws with a sidearm delivery, the legacy of an old shoulder injury. They wonder if he will be able to get the ball over the upraised arms of those pro rushers.
With this caliber of no-cut competition, Taliaferro and Liske, last season's rookie quarterbacks, don't figure. The league has expanded its player limit to 36 men, and the Jets will probably carry three quarterbacks: Namath, Huarte and Wood. Taliaferro is a hard, fast runner who throws a nice ball, but he completed only 31.4 percent of his passes on the few occasions he got to play. He might do better elsewhere. Liske spent almost all of '64 on the taxi squad. He may hang on as a defensive back.
Resolution of the quarterback dilemma should make a more dangerous ballcarrier out of the Jets' top player, 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year Matt Snell, by taking the pressure off him. Snell, a 220-pound fullback, was the AFL's second-leading ground-gainer- 945 yards on 215 carries for a 4.4-yard average. He also tied for seventh place among the pass receivers with 55 catchers. Coach Mike Holovak of the Patriots calls Snell 'the next Jimmy Brown.' Matt does not have Brown's bursting speed, but he does possess exceptional balance and straight-ahead power, enough acceleration to turn the ends when he has to, and a willingness to block unselfishly.
The Jets realize that they need more backfield speed. Snell, his substitute, veteran fullback Mark Smolinski, and tight halfback Bill Mathis are all big men who are happiest plowing inside, through the briar patch. Mathis' strong blocking helped Snell break free time and again last year, but when Bill and Matt both start, New York has no outside threat. That's why coach Ewbank will take a careful look at his fourth draft pick, Bob Schweikert of Virginia Tech. Schweikert, 195 pounds, was a running quarterback in college. The Jets will try him at halfback- and also flanker, defensive back and kick returner. Schweikert has excellent speed. Cosmo Iacavazzi is another interesting rookie back. Cosmo was a standout single-wing fullback at Princeton, but at 5-11, 205 pounds, he must play halfback in the pros- if he is fast enough.
If the runners are heavy-footed, the pass receivers aren't. Split end Bake Turner and flanker Don Maynard are especially tough running deep routes. Turner caught 58 passes and Maynard caught 46. There is one problem with Maynard. Don sometimes breaks pass patterns. This confuses the quarterback, who throws to a predetermined spot, leads to interceptions and drives Ewbank crazy. When Maynard did that last year, Ewbank replaced him with rookie Jim Evans. Veterans Gene Heeter and Dee Mackey, both 235 pounds, will share tight end. Heeter has had an operation on his injured knee.
New York's offensive line played much better in '64, particularly when it came to pass blocking. Jet quarterbacks were thrown for losses only 27 times. Everybody is back.
Sam DeLuca, a Brooklyn schoolteacher, and Dan Ficca are the guards. Mike Hudock will start at center for the sixth consecutive season. Huge Sherman Plunkett and Winston Hill will play tackle. Plunkett, 295 pounds, made the all-star team and enjoyed his finest pro season in '64. He scored an amazing 91 percent on his pass blocking assignments. Hill, 275 pounds, is progressing rapidly. He's gone from taxi squad to all-star squad in two years. Hill can also play center; he did last year after Hudock was hurt. [The combination of Hudock's injury and DeLuca also being injured was] one of two reasons why the Jets faded late last year. (The other reason was defensive backfield injuries.)
For bench strength, the Jets have guards Pete Perrault, Dan Kearley and Paul Perret; center John Schmitt; tackles Jim McCusker and Ralph Farmer; and Dave Herman and Mitch Dudek, who can play guard or tackle. Dudek, Farmer, Perret and Kearley are rookies.
Besides landing those costly quarterbacks, coach Ewbank sought defensive players in the college draft. He thinks he got the big linemen he wants in 250-pound Verlon Biggs of Jackson State, 265-pound Jim Harris of Utah State and Seth Cartwright, also 265. Biggs is the man the NFL thought it had stashed away during the draft meetings but the Jets signed him. He can play tackle or end and runs 40 yards in 4.7 seconds. Harris and Cartwright are both tackles.
It will be at tackle, incidentally, that the rookies will have their best chance to win jobs. Paul Rochester and Gordy Holz are the holdovers there. Gerry Philbin and Bert Wilder, outstanding as rookies, appear to have the defensive end jobs locked up. Philbin has undergone a successful operation to repair the shoulder separation that kept him out most of the season. After Philbin was injured, Wilder switched to left end and veteran LaVerne Torczon played right end. Now Wilder will return to the right side, where he is more effective. Torczon, Bob Watters and rookie Gary Plumlee of New Mexico and maybe Biggs will be the reserves. Swingman Bob McAdams can play end or tackle.
Last year the Jets yearned for a glamorous, Huff-tough player the fans would take to. They found him in middle linebacker Wahoo McDaniel, a colorful 240-pound Choctaw Indian obtained from Denver. As the Jets' new 'image,' Wahoo got credit for more tackles (115) than he made, but he did help the New York linebacking. McDaniel is tougher against running plays. Second-year pro Ed Cummings and rookie Skip Hoovler of Ohio U. are in reserve. The corner linebackers will be All-AFL Larry Grantham on the right side, soph Ralph Baker on the left. Experienced Bob Rowley and Memphis State rookie Bob Finamore are corner spares.
The Jet pass defense was the second worst in the league in '64. But most of the damage was done after cornerbacks Clyde Washington and Marshall Starks were lost for the season. Starks broke his leg and Washington tore an Achilles tendon. Both needed hospital care and rehabilitation and must be listed as question marks. On the other hand, safetymen Dainard Paulson and Bill Baird are exclamation points. Paulson led the league with a record-tying 12 interceptions. If Washington and/or Starks cannot come back fully, Ewbank has a melange of pro discards- Mark Johnston, Willie West, Bill Pashe, Vince Turner and Pete Liske.
What it boils down to, though, is this: can Joe Namath come on in one season? In the spring, coach Ewbank went down to Alabama and gave Namath a cram course in Jet terminology and plays. If Joe can move the Jets against pro defenses on two legs the way he moved Alabama against Texas on one in the Orange Bowl, New York will blast off its two-year 5-8-1 plateau and win the Eastern title."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1965
"It's a financial fact of life that any big league sports operation must have a showcase. The idea is for a strong New York entry to draw big- both at home and on the road. In the American Football League, New York hasn't as yet achieved that exalted status. Only a club with a winning record can do it, and in the five-year history of the AFL, the Titans-Jets have yet to come close [except for 7-7 seasons in 1960 and 1961]. But last year, New York did set attendance records, did capitalize on the drastic skid of the rival New York Giants in the NFL, and did grab tremendous headlines with the post-draft expenditure of $600,000 for two college quarterbacks, Joe Namath and John Huarte.
New York has chalked up a mediocre 5-8-1 record in each of the last two seasons, but it has high hopes of becoming a bona fide contender in 1965. A key factor will be the performances of Namath and Huarte. One of these high-priced rookie field generals must replace lanky Dick Wood, coach Weeb Ewbank's stopgap quarterback for the past two years, who was dealt to Oakland in July. In addition to Namath and Huarte, another rookie, Virginia Tech's Bob Schweikert, is a quarterback possibility. However, the Jets will probably wind up using him as a receiver.
Ewbank has the same coaching staff back for a third straight year, and the New York defense, therefore, has been able to find the cohesion that was so sadly lacking during the Titan era. The team should be over the .500 mark this year."
-Harold Rosenthal, Sports All-Stars/1965 Pro Football
1965 New York Jets Preseason Roster
* Troy Allen (DB) Western Michigan
46 Bill Baird (DB) San Francisco State
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
* Verlon Biggs (DE-DT) Jackson State
Seth Cartwright (DT) Prairie View A & M
62 Ed Cummings (LB) Stanford
65 Sam DeLuca (G) South Carolina
* Mitch Dudek (OT-G) Xavier
80 Jim Evans (FL) Texas Western
* Ralph Farmer (OT) Wisconsin
61 Dan Ficca (G) USC
* Bob Finamore (LB) Memphis State
* Cornell Gordon (DB) North Carolina A & T
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
* Jim Gray (DB) Toledo
* Jim Harris (DT) Utah State
85 Gene Heeter (E) Virginia
67 Dave Herman (G-T) Michigan State
75 Winston Hill (OT-C) Texas Southern
74 Gordy Holz (DT) Minnesota
* Skip Hoovler (LB) Ohio
*7 John Huarte (QB) Notre Dame
52 Mike Hudock (C) Miami
Jim Hudson (DB-HB) Texas
* Cosmo Iacavazzi (HB) Princeton
33 Curley Johnson (E-K) Houston
23 Mark Johnston (DB) Northwestern
Dan Kearley (G) Alabama
84 Alfonzo Lawson (FL) Delaware State
14 Pete Liske (QB-DB) Penn State
89 Dee Mackey (E) East Texas State
31 Bill Mathis (HB) Clemson
13 Don Maynard (FL) Texas Western
* Mike Mayne (OE-LB) Idaho
88 Bob McAdams (DT) North Carolina A & T
70 Jim McCusker (DT) Pittsburgh
54 Wahoo McDaniel (LB) Oklahoma
*12 Joe Namath (QB) Alabama
26 Bill Pashe (DB) George Washington
40 Dainard Paulson (CB) Oregon State
64 Pete Perreault (G-LB) Boston University
Paul Perret (G) Wagner
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
Gary Plumlee (DB) New Mexico
79 Sherman Plunkett (T) Maryland State
83 Bill Rademacher (DB) Northern Michigan
72 Paul Rochester (DT) Michigan State
63 Bob Rowley (LB) West Virginia
Max St. Victor (K-FB) Northeastern
57 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
* Bob Schweikert (HB) Virginia Tech
30 Mark Slominski (FB) Wyoming
41 Matt Snell (DE-LB-FB) Ohio State
25 Marshall Starks (DB) Illinois
17 Mike Taliaferro (QB) Illinois
87 LaVerne Torczon (DE) Nebraska
29 Bake Turner (E) Texas Tech
11 Jim Turner (K-QB) Utah State
43 Vince Turner (DB) Missouri
42 Clyde Washington (DB) Purdue
86 Bob Watters (DE) Lincoln
22 Willie West (DB) Oregon
82 Bert Wilder (DT-DE) North Carolina State
19 Dick Wood (QB) Auburn
* rookie
-Pro Football 1965
1965 New York Jets Preseason Depth Charts
OFFENSE
QB - Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17, Joe Namath (Alabama)*, John Huarte (Notre Dame)*
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton)*, Bob Schweikert (Virginia Tech)*
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29, Jim Hudson (Texas)*
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Jim McCusker (Pittsburgh) 70
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52, John Schmitt (Hofstra) 57
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65, Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79, Ralph Farmer (Wisconsin)*
TE - Gene Heeter (Virginia) 85, Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89, Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, Bob Watters (Lincoln) 86
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Jim Harris (Utah State)*
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74, Bob McAdams (North Carolina A & T) 88
DE - LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87, Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Bob Finamore (Memphis State)*
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54, Ed Cummings (Stanford) 62
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Bob Rowley (West Virginia) 63
CB - Marshall Starks (Illinois) 25, Willie West (Oregon) 22
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40, Bill Rademacher (Michigan State) 83
S - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Vince Turner (Missouri) 43
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42, Mark Johnston (Northwestern) 23
* rookie
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
OFFENSE
QB - Joe Namath (Alabama)*, John Huarte (Notre Dame)*, Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31, Bob Schweikert (Virginia Tech)*, Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton)*
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
SE - George Sauer (Texas)*, Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Jim McCusker (Pittsburgh) 70
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52, John Schmitt (Hofstra) 56
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65, Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79, Nick DeFelice (Southern Connecticut) 71
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89, Gene Heeter (West Virginia) 85, Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
DEFENSE
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, LaVerne Torczon (Nebraska) 87
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72, Seth Cartwright (Prairie View A & M)*
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74, Jim Harris (Utah State)*
DE - Bert Wilder (North Carolina State) 82, Verlon Biggs (Jackson State)*
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Jim O'Mahoney (Miami)*
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54, Al Atkinson (Villanova)*
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
CB - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Willie West (Oregon) 22
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40, Cornell Gordon (North Carolina A & T)*
S - Ray Abruzzese (Alabama) 25, Bill Rademacher (Northern Michigan) 23, Jim Hudson (Texas)*
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42, Mark Johnston (Northwestern) 27
SPECIALISTS
K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29, Jim Evans (Texas Western) 80
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46, Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40
* rookie
1965 New York Jets Profile Summary
Head Coach - Weeb Ewbank
QB - Joe Namath (Alabama) 12
QB - Dick Wood (Auburn) 19
QB - John Huarte (Notre Dame) 7
QB - Mike Taliaferro (Illinois) 17
HB -Bill Mathis (Clemson) 31
HB - Cosmo Iacavazzi (Princeton) 32
HB - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
FB- Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41
FB - Mark Smolinski (Wyoming) 30
FL - Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
SE - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
TE - Dee Mackey (East Texas State) 89
TE - Gene Heeter (West Virginia) 85
C - Mike Hudock (Miami) 52
G - Sam DeLuca (South Carolina) 65
G - Dan Ficca (USC) 61
G - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
T - Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75
T - Sherman Plunkett (Maryland State) 79
DT - Paul Rochester (Michigan State) 72
DT - Gordy Holz (Minnesota) 74
DE - Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81
DE - Verlon Biggs (Jackson State) 86
MLB - Wahoo McDaniel (Oklahoma) 54
LB - Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
LB - Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51
LB - Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
CB - Clyde Washington (Purdue) 42
CB - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46
S - Dainard Paulson (Oregon State) 40
S - Ray Abruzzese (Alabama) 25
K - Jim Turner (Utah State) 11
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Bake Turner (Texas Tech) 29
PR - Bill Baird (San Francisco State) 46
Sunday, July 6, 2014
1964 Jets Rookie Profiles
MATT SNELL
Fullback
First Round
Ohio State
"Matt Snell hails from Locust Valley, Long Island and could become the local hero of the New York Jets, who have plans along these lines as they play their first season at Shea Stadium, about 15 miles from Snell's home. Matt is a 6-1, 225-pound versatile young man who was all-everything as a schoolboy and who played wherever he was needed at Ohio State.
He was the starting right halfback as a Buckeye soph. He was moved to end and excelled on defense as a junior. He was also a linebacker and a fullback and was the Jets' No. 1 draftee. Coincidentally, he was the Giants' No.3 choice, and the hometown tug-o-war was a beaut until Snell threw his lot with the Jets.
Weeb Ewbank drafted him with the idea of using him as a linebacker. But recent studies of film have Weeb convinced that Matt may fill the bill as the fast running back the Jets needed last year."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Touted as a $100,000 rookie, fullback Matt Snell is on the spot to make good in a big way. Drafted No. 1 out of Ohio State, the Jets outbid the rival NFL Giants, who made him their fourth choice.
In college, he was a star on both offense and defense, where he played defensive end and linebacker, but the Jets went to training camp with the idea of giving him a long look on offense first. Matt was a high school star in Carle Place, New York, not too far from the Jets' new Stadium, before he enrolled at Ohio State."
Dave Anderson, Pro Football 1964
"Matt was quite a catch for the New York Jets. A number one draft pick, the fullback was one of college football's top stars for the past two years.
A highly versatile performer, Matt can also do a top job as a linebacker and as a defensive end. Still growing and getting stronger, he is the kind of runner that can smash into the opposition and drag'em with them [sic]."
-1964 Topps No. 125
GERRY PHILBIN
Defensive End
Third Round
Buffalo
"Gerry is one rookie who will be giving his all to win a regular job with the New York Jets this season. Able to play defensive end or as a linebacker, he should be around Shea Stadium for many years to come.
A number three draft choice of the Jets, he played in the Senior Bowl last year. Gerry was on the dean's list in college and made the All-America academic team."
-1964 Topps No. 123
JEFF WARE
Linebacker
13th Round
Pittsburgh
"Jeff is the big boy from Pittsburgh that the New York Jets have been touting. The Jets' front office think that he's going to grow into one of the league's top linebackers. A hard hitter with quick reflexes, Jeff figures to win a regular job with New York in his rookie season.
Jeff makes his home in Rocky River, Ohio."
-1964 Topps No. 128
PETE LISKE
Quarterback
15th Round (1963)
Penn State
"The New York Jets wanted to be certain they didn't miss out on acquiring the services of Pete Liske. The rookie quarterback was a future draft choice of the Jets in 1963. Head Coach Weeb Ewbank is very high on the lad from Plainfield, New Jersey.
At Penn State, Pete established six school records. A good ball handler, Pete will be given lots of opportunities to play in 1964."
-1964 Topps No. 117
MIKE TALIAFERRO
Quarterback
28th Round (1963)
Illinois
"The New York Jets chose Mike in 1963 as a future draft pick. He'll be sharing the work with New York's quarterback Dick Wood.
A top battling passer with a strong arm, Mike pitched Illinois into the Big 10 [championship] in 1963. The native of Dallas, Texas was a real standout in the Rose Bowl last year.
Always in there battling, Mike is a fine runner and a threat at any time to call for a quarterback sneak."
-1964 Topps No. 126
JIM TURNER
Place Kicker-Quarterback
Free Agent
Utah State
Although a three-year starter as a quarterback at Utah State, Jim comes to the Jets as a place kicker. Coach Ewbank has determined the that a place-kicking specialist is needed to add more scoring to the developing Jet offense.
Jim's hobbies are fishing and hunting.
Fullback
First Round
Ohio State
"Matt Snell hails from Locust Valley, Long Island and could become the local hero of the New York Jets, who have plans along these lines as they play their first season at Shea Stadium, about 15 miles from Snell's home. Matt is a 6-1, 225-pound versatile young man who was all-everything as a schoolboy and who played wherever he was needed at Ohio State.
He was the starting right halfback as a Buckeye soph. He was moved to end and excelled on defense as a junior. He was also a linebacker and a fullback and was the Jets' No. 1 draftee. Coincidentally, he was the Giants' No.3 choice, and the hometown tug-o-war was a beaut until Snell threw his lot with the Jets.
Weeb Ewbank drafted him with the idea of using him as a linebacker. But recent studies of film have Weeb convinced that Matt may fill the bill as the fast running back the Jets needed last year."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Touted as a $100,000 rookie, fullback Matt Snell is on the spot to make good in a big way. Drafted No. 1 out of Ohio State, the Jets outbid the rival NFL Giants, who made him their fourth choice.
In college, he was a star on both offense and defense, where he played defensive end and linebacker, but the Jets went to training camp with the idea of giving him a long look on offense first. Matt was a high school star in Carle Place, New York, not too far from the Jets' new Stadium, before he enrolled at Ohio State."
Dave Anderson, Pro Football 1964
"Matt was quite a catch for the New York Jets. A number one draft pick, the fullback was one of college football's top stars for the past two years.
A highly versatile performer, Matt can also do a top job as a linebacker and as a defensive end. Still growing and getting stronger, he is the kind of runner that can smash into the opposition and drag'em with them [sic]."
-1964 Topps No. 125
GERRY PHILBIN
Defensive End
Third Round
Buffalo
"Gerry is one rookie who will be giving his all to win a regular job with the New York Jets this season. Able to play defensive end or as a linebacker, he should be around Shea Stadium for many years to come.
A number three draft choice of the Jets, he played in the Senior Bowl last year. Gerry was on the dean's list in college and made the All-America academic team."
-1964 Topps No. 123
JEFF WARE
Linebacker
13th Round
Pittsburgh
"Jeff is the big boy from Pittsburgh that the New York Jets have been touting. The Jets' front office think that he's going to grow into one of the league's top linebackers. A hard hitter with quick reflexes, Jeff figures to win a regular job with New York in his rookie season.
Jeff makes his home in Rocky River, Ohio."
-1964 Topps No. 128
PETE LISKE
Quarterback
15th Round (1963)
Penn State
"The New York Jets wanted to be certain they didn't miss out on acquiring the services of Pete Liske. The rookie quarterback was a future draft choice of the Jets in 1963. Head Coach Weeb Ewbank is very high on the lad from Plainfield, New Jersey.
At Penn State, Pete established six school records. A good ball handler, Pete will be given lots of opportunities to play in 1964."
-1964 Topps No. 117
MIKE TALIAFERRO
Quarterback
28th Round (1963)
Illinois
"The New York Jets chose Mike in 1963 as a future draft pick. He'll be sharing the work with New York's quarterback Dick Wood.
A top battling passer with a strong arm, Mike pitched Illinois into the Big 10 [championship] in 1963. The native of Dallas, Texas was a real standout in the Rose Bowl last year.
Always in there battling, Mike is a fine runner and a threat at any time to call for a quarterback sneak."
-1964 Topps No. 126
JIM TURNER
Place Kicker-Quarterback
Free Agent
Utah State
Although a three-year starter as a quarterback at Utah State, Jim comes to the Jets as a place kicker. Coach Ewbank has determined the that a place-kicking specialist is needed to add more scoring to the developing Jet offense.
Jim's hobbies are fishing and hunting.
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