"The odds are against a team suffering back-to-back injury-riddled seasons. That's why some experts believe the Jets, a team full of super talent, will outclass the AFC East this year and even go all the way to another Super Bowl. But much depends on the full recovery of many frontline players and the dependability of the rookies. And losing Verlon Biggs was a blow. He was a seven-year regular.
Number one on the list of the returning disabled is Joe Namath, whose attitude toward his livelihood- football, not acting- became more serious when he could no longer play after breaking his right wrist against the Colts last year. The wrist seems to have healed perfectly, and Joe started throwing the ball and getting into shape last spring. It is even said that his knees may be stronger because of the long rest and special exercises. If Namath does make it back all the way, then second-string passer Al Woodall will do little more than handle the sideline phone. But Woodall showed he could lead the team and pass accurately last year. The experience under fire can only have helped him. Also available are Bob Davis, who put in some time relieving Woodall last year, and rookie Jim Betts, drafted as a safety but a backup quarterback at Michigan.
Even if all goes well with the passers, there is a big problem with the receivers. Split end George Sauer, at the peak of his career, announced his retirement last spring, and flanker Don Maynard's future is a big question mark. The 34-year-old Maynard limped along with leg injuries last year. Short (5-7) Ed Bell and tall (6-5) Rich Caster make good showings in their rookie seasons and are the likeliest candidates to carry on this year. Before Sauer decided to retire there was talk of shifting Caster to tight end to give the Jets more of a deep threat there, but he'll be needed at wide receiver now. Caster must overcome a tendency to drop easy passes; he holds the tough ones. Coach Weeb Ewbank is also counting on 11th round draft choice Vern Studdard of Mississippi, who runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds and could be a real deep threat and a kick returner. Harvey Nairn, also very fast, missed two years with the Army but is back to try for a job.
Pete Lammons is an adequate tight end but doesn't have the speed Ewbank would like to see there. He'll be challenged (but not ousted) by third-year man Wayne Stewart, coming back from knee surgery, second-year man Gary Arthur, used as an extra tight end on short-yardage plays and on the special teams last year, and rookies John Curtis and Greg Flaska.
If the young receivers don't develop quickly and up to expectations, that will put cruel pressure on the Jet running game, potentially one of the best in all pro football. The question is: can the Jets' runners support that responsibility? Fullback and Namath bodyguard Matt Smell ruptured his Achilles' tendon in the third game of the '70 season. Until Snell starts running and cutting under game conditions, his recovery must be considered suspect. Emerson also was felled by the injury jinx, though he did look good at the end of the season. Ewbank used his first 1971 draft choice for a running back, John Riggins, a 6-2, 225-pounder from Kansas who broke Gale Sayers' college running records. Riggins is both an inside and an outside threat. He'll contend for a job with holdovers George Nock (a pleasant '70 surprise) and Lee White (injured again part of last year). Others looking for work include Clifford McClain, a 1970 rookie who is still an unknown quantity, and draft choice Steve Harkey. Phil Wise, drafted in the sixth round as a defensive back, will also get a look in the offensive backfield.
When healthy, the Jets' offensive line is good at blasting open holes for the runners and great at protecting Namath. But the only starter to stay healthy last year was left tackle Winston Hill. Guard Randy Rasmussen had an ankle sprain that hindered him throughout the campaign, and both right guard Dave Herman and center John Schmitt were bothered by nagging hurts. They should be fully recovered this year. The problem at right tackle is still unsolved. Roger Finnie, small for tackle but extremely strong, held the job at the start of 1970 but dislocated his ankle and missed the rest of the season. Dave Foley, his replacement, still seemed bothered by his knee- a holdover injury from '69. Both Finnie and Foley will compete with number two draft choice John Mooring, a 6-6, 250-pounder from Tampa. Depth will come from guards Dave Middendorf and Tom Bayless, center/tackle Pete Perreault and rookies Roy Kirksey, Jack Harping and Dan Dyches.
Despite the injuries the Jets finished first in total defense in the AFC- first against the rush, only ninth against the pass. But the opposition completed only 43.1 percent of its passes against New York, lowest in the conference. The continued superiority of the Jets' defense depends heavily on the complete recovery of left end Gerry Philbin. Philbin dislocated his shoulder, missed several games, then played the rest of the season wearing a restrictive harness. Rookie Mark Lomas filled in at both tackle and end last year and wound up starting at left tackle in place of veteran Steve Thompson, who was bothered by injuries. They'll battle for the job this year. Right tackle John Elliott returns to scare the pants off opposition runners and passers, but the loss of right end Biggs, who played out his option and jumped to the Redskins, can't help. The Jets occasionally criticized Verlon's attitude, but he is a first-rate football player when he wants to be. Those contending for his job will be second-year man Lomas, John Little, Ray Hayes (last active in 1969) and rookies Scott Palmer and John Eggold. Fourth round choice Bill Zapalac (Texas) could wind up on the line, at linebacker, or even at tight end.
The linebackers are Al Atkinson in the middle, Larry Grantham and Ralph Baker outside. Coach Ewbank calls Atkinson the best linebacker around against both the pass and the rush. Grantham calls the defensive signals. This unit, playing together since 1966, is backed up by Paul Crane, Dennis Onkotz and John Ebersole. Carl McAdams, last active with the Jets in '69 as a defensive lineman, will give it a try at linebacker this year. He has never recovered from that pre-rookie season ankle fracture.
The Jets' secondary was completely revamped last season with the addition of rookies Earlie Thomas and Steve Tannen at the corners and two veterans acquired through trades, W.K. Hicks and Gus Hollomon, at the safeties. Coach Ewbank was especially pleased with the way the new cornerbacks controlled sweeps. And by season's end, few quarterbacks dared pass into Thomas' area. For added strength, the Jets drafted Chris Farasopoulos of Brigham Young in the third round. He runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds. Other draftees, Phil Wise, Rich Sowells and Jim Betts, will also get a look, along with holdover reserves John Dockery, Cecil Leonard, Mike Battle and taxi squadder James Williams. Veteran safety Jim Hudson had back trouble all through the '70 season and is unsure about his future.
To bolster what Coach Ewbank felt was one of the Jets' biggest weaknesses, New York traded place kicker Jim Turner to Denver for Bobby Howfield. What Howfield is expected to do is kick field goals (which Turner did) and get Jet kickoffs deep into the end zone (which Turner didn't). Rookies Farasopoulos, Studdard, Wise and Sowells will get looks as kickoff and punt return men, along with the fearless Battle. Ewbank hopes that at least one of the rookies will emerge as a much needed game-breaker. Steve O'Neal is the punter. Last year he had a 40.1-yard average, a substantial drop from his 1969 record but still good enough."
IN BRIEF
Probable 1971 Finish: 2nd (AFC Eastern)
Strengths: a superior defense, especially against the run, Namath's arm, Boozer and Snell running.
Biggest Needs: complete recoveries for Namath, Snell and Maynard, and improved kickoffs.
1970 finish: 3rd (AFC Eastern, 4-10-0)
-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971
"Coach Weeb Ewbank went into the 1970 season saying his Jets, 'had better material than when we won the Super Bowl.' As it turned out, the Jets had the worst record in the history of the franchise, which includes the late Harry Wismer's late Titans. Last season the Jets won only four of 14 games. But a bad record is not always due to a bad team. Sometimes a bad record is merely the result of bad luck. Certainly, that was true of the New York Jets last season, who suffered 30 disabling injuries, many of them to irreplaceable performers.
The fact is that despite their dismal record, the Jets probably gained more respect from opponents than they did even their Super Bowl season. They never quit.
Ewbank's primary concern going into the 1970 season was his defensive secondary. In 1969, it had looked like a travel terminal, with players pouring in and out of it like so many commuters. So Weeb discarded the entire unit and started all over. He traded for free safety W.K. Hicks from Houston and acquired strong safety Gus Hollomon from Denver, two solid veterans who could both tackle and play the pass. At cornerback the Jets took a tremendous gamble- they decided to start rookies. Steve Tannen from Florida, the No. 1 draft choice from Florida, was no surprise. But Earlie Thomas from Colorado State wasn't drafted until the eleventh round, which shows again how uneven scouting can be at times. Thomas looked better than Tannen at cornerback right from the start, though both took their beatings early and lived to develop into potential stars.
With his outstanding linebacking trio of Al Atkinson, Ralph Baker and Larry Grantham helping the secondary with their quick, intelligent pass drops, Ewbank could afford to rely on rookies at the corners. Of course, the Jet linebackers could afford to overplay the pass because the front line was not only difficult to run against but among the game's best pass-rushing units. John Elliott is as quick as any tackle in football, while Gerry Philbin and Verlon Biggs put on tremendous pressure from the outside.
Unfortunately, the thing that wrecked the Jets last season was injuries. Philbin was the first to go; he had to have a shoulder operation in the preseason and missed the first five games, then had to play with a harness that hampered him for weeks. But the only other serious injury on defense was sustained by tackle Steve Thompson. He missed four games, but not until after Philbin returned. Eighth round draft choice Mark Lomas filled in capably for both.
Although the Jets gave up a lot of points, 286 (only Buffalo, Boston, Houston and Oakland gave up more), many of those were not the fault of the defense. The fact is that the Jet defense was the toughest in the conference to run against and ranked No. 1 in total defense in the AFC. Ewbank's rookie gamble cost him some touchdowns, but the close-guarding cornerbacks were heavy contributors to the Jets' allowing the lowest percentage of pass completions in the entire NFL: 43.1.
However, New York's really crippling injuries occurred on offense. 'One time I looked up and we had only four of our offensive regulars in the game,' says Ewbank. The line was bothered by nagging hurts all season, with tackle Winston Hill the lone man in the unit to avoid missing any playing time. The line stayed intact, though, through the first three games. Although the Jets lost two of the three- to Cleveland, 31-21, and to Buffalo, which always plays tough against New York, 34-31- they had the top rushing attack in the conference to this point. But in the Bill game tackle Roger Finnie dislocated an ankle and fullback Matt Snell, who gained almost 300 yards in less than three games, tore an Achilles tendon. Both were lost for the rest of the season. Dave Foley replaced Finnie, but a postoperative knee bothered him and in the second half of games he couldn't fire out at all. As for Snell, there is just no replacing a fullback who runs, blocks and catches passes the way Matt does.
Meanwhile, New York's regular wide receivers, Don Maynard and George Sauer, were in and out of the lineup with injuries. Maynard missed seven full ball games. He and Sauer still ended up leading the club in receptions with 31, but both had been averaging over 60 catches per year before 1970. Their replacements, little Ed Bell and big Richard Caster showed a lot of speed but lacked experience.
The Jets lost to Miami in game four, 20-6, and then to Baltimore, 29-22, as Namath had six passes intercepted. Worse, Joe broke his hand and was sidelined for the season. The following week, with inexperienced Al Woodall at quarterback, halfback Emerson Boozer went out with an injury that sidelined him for four weeks. The Jets lost to the Giants, 22-10, and then were beaten by Pittsburgh, 21-17.
The following week, with reserve runners George Nock and Lee White grounding out 153 yards, the Jets upset the Rams, 31-17. Then they beat Boston, 17-3, as the defense limited the opposition to 80 yards on offense. A week later the Jets managed the biggest upset of the season, beating Minnesota, 20-10. Boozer was back and he and Nock picked up most of the 187 yards New York gained against the famed Viking front four. The Jets played tough the last three games, too, barely losing to Oakland, 14-13, and Miami, 16-10. They knocked John Unitas out of the finale, but Earl Morrall came in and beat them, 35-20.
Ewbank wasn't dejected, though. 'I was proud of our players,' he said. 'If we had been healthy, I don't know if anyone would have caught us.' At least his reserves got a lot of playing time and that blooded youth now provides the Jets with the finest depth they've ever had. Ewbank now has two solid young cornerbacks in Tannen and Thomas, a competent reserve quarterback in Woodall and a respectable third man in Bob Davis, as well as a tough backup defensive lineman in Lomas.
'Our biggest problems last year,' Ewbank says, 'besides injuries, were our kickoffs, our kickoff and punt returns, lack of depth for the offensive line and our lack of speed at tight end.'
He feels he solved the kickoff problem by trading Jim Turner to Denver for Bobby Howfield, whose kickoffs are usually too deep to be run back. Howfield is a better long field goal kicker than Turner, though perhaps not as consistent on short kicks. As for the kick returns by New York, the Jets drafted four speedsters to handle them, led by Chris Farasopoulos, the all-time NCAA kick return leader. Pete Lammons is still a tough tight end, though Ewbank may shift the 6-5, 225-pound Caster to the slot to get more speed there. Although Caster has the speed, does he has the nose for blocking? And if George Sauer's sudden retirement announcement holds, Caster will have to replace him. The Jets' No. 1 draft choice is a runner, John Riggins of Kansas, who can reportedly play halfback or fullback.
Perhaps the most important plus to come out of the Jets' 1970 debacle is the new attitude Joe Namath seems to have acquired. Being sidelined appears to have made him realize how much he really LIKES football. If he stays healthy this season, look for the Jets to return to the Super Bowl."
-Berry Stainback, Pro Football Forecast For 1971
STRENGTHS: Joe Namath's talent and leadership when he's healthy; talented array of receivers; solid front wall and linebackers on defense; improved kicking game; solid running attack when Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell healthy.
WEAKNESS: Many stars must prove themselves able again after injuries; premature retirement of George Sauer.
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
"The 1970 season wasn't much fun for Jet players and their fans. A season-long wave of major injuries turned a 1969 division titlist into a 4-10-0 club, the worst record in Jets history. The team could conceivably return to the 10-4-0 plateau of 1969 but there is a lot of mending to do. Joe Namath, Matt Snell, Gerry Philbin, Don Maynard, and George Sauer plus others suffered from major injuries and just about everyone else suffered from nagging, minor ailments in 1970. The team's planning and organization were wrecked.
But out of adversity, some benefits arose. The Jets uncovered- much to their surprise- a pretty good quarterback in Al Woodall. They unearthed some fine young receivers in Rich Caster and Ed Bell. Offensive tackle Dave Foley was shoved into the line despite inexperience and his own injuries and performed well. So did rookie defensive backs Earlie Thomas and Steve Tannen. Thus the Jets developed depth which should help if they get back into contention."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD
"It was inevitable that weak-kneed Joe Namath would receive a major injury sometime in his career. But who would have expected a broken wrist? Then again, Joe always the unpredictable sort. The fracture kept him out of more than half the games. He didn't throw again until April 1971. But the word out of Miami, Beaver Falls, Tuscaloosa, Manhattan or wherever you catch up to him is that he's fine and rarin' to go again. Woodall led Namath in almost every statistical category last season but the Jets desperately needed Broadway Joe's leadership.
Injuries to the 1-2 running duo, Matt Snell and Emerson Boozer, had the Jet ground attack at a standstill in 1970, even though George Nock and Lee White pinch-hit well at times. The acquisition of powerful Kansas rookie John Riggins should bolster either fullback or halfback. Riggins runs like a race car and hits like a bulldozer. He's the classic fullback at 237 pounds.
What will hurt the offense is the surprise retirement of George Sauer. Without his pass-catching, the Jets will still be in fine shape IF they can get another good year out of 34-year-old Don Maynard. Caster should have no trouble moving into a starting slot after his fine rookie year; he ate up 20 yards per reception while filling in. The Jets would like a little more leg speed at tight end where Ewbank has publicly said he's not fully satisfied with Pete Lammons. But there are no prime prospects in sight. Nevertheless, the offense ranks among the best in football- if the players can get out of the doctor's office and onto the field."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
OFFENSIVE LINE
"Tackle Winston Hill made it through the season and won All-AFC honors for his efforts. His linemates didn't fare so well. Center John Schmitt was out for a while, followed by guards Randy Rasmussen and Dave Herman, then tackle Roger Finnie. Everyone will be back but Finnie may have lost his job to Dave Foley. The Jets hope that high choice John Mooring, a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder from Tampa will provide some depth; he's got excellent credentials."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
DEFENSIVE LINE
"John Elliott, the smallish but bullish All-AFC tackle, was one of the few Jets who survived the battle of 1970. He keeps getting greater each year and his true value may be seen in '71. Philbin is at one end, but Verlon Biggs played out his option and is gone. Mark Lomas and Steve Thompson will fight for the other tackle job. Even though injuries held them back, the Jets sacked quarterbacks 35 times and kept opposing teams to 100 yards a game rushing on the average."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
"Linebackers Larry Grantham, Ralph Baker and Al Atkinson are not individual standouts but few trios work better together. Atkinson is coming off his finest year. Grantham is in his 12th season but still going strong. Baker is unsung if that's possible for a New York player.
The secondary, always suspect in the past, did better than expected in 1970 with rookies Tannen and Thomas as cornerbacks, and newcomers W.K. Hicks and Gus Hollomon as safeties. Hicks alone had eight interceptions. The group as a whole led pro football at stopping the pass (percentage-wise). Rookies Chris Farasopoulos, Phil Wise and Jim Betts are sure to receive close scrutiny in early drills."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
SPECIALISTS
"The Jets gave up popular Jim Turner to Denver for Bobby Howfield. The Englishman, a soccer booter, is a much better kickoff man and had longer field goals in 1970. Score a plus here for the Jets.
Farasopoulos set collegiate records with his kick runbacks and Vern Studdard, another rookie, is a kick-return threat, too."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
OUTLOOK
"The Jets have better material than they had when they won the Super Bowl. But they MUST stay healthy."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
THE JETS' BIG PLAY
"With strong-armed Joe Namath in the lineup, the Jets like to set up veteran Maynard or Caster with a long down-and-out, then deep route. The flanker drives straight at the cornerback, then makes a sharp move outside. While the cornerback is reacting to the first move, the flanker makes another sharp turn upfield. In case the opposition switches to a zone, Namath can go to his alternates."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
RADIO DATA
"Veterans Merle Harmon (play-by-play) and Sam DeLuca (color) will broadcast Jets games over New York City station WOR. At press time, WOR was planning to extend its broadcast of the games into a network that would cover most of the Northeastern United States."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
"This is the era of tough, young lean head coaches in pro football. Men who run their teams with harsh discipline and a set of no-nonsense rules. There doesn't seem to be a place in the group for a rotund, 64-year-old grandfather who refuses to get uptight about things like the length of his players' hair.
But the Jets' Weeb Ewbank, starting his 18th season as a head coach, still does things his own way and gets results. (He's won three world championships since 1958, and only the late Vince Lombardi won more during the same span.) Ewbank's greatest asset is his handling of young players. When Joe Namath was injured last season and Al Woodall flopped in his first couple of games at quarterback, critics said the club should dump Woodall and go out and get an experienced quarterback to finish the campaign. But Ewbank stayed with the kid and he ultimately led New York to victories over Minnesota and Los Angeles.
The result is that the Jets will go into 1971 with a capable backup man for Broadway Joe. Several other young players also gained valuable experience during a year when injuries virtually destroyed the team (at one point, the Jets were down to four offensive regulars), and Ewbank regards this depth as one of the reasons why it can go all the way again.
'Before the 1970 season opened, I said I thought we had better material than when we won the Super Bowl,' he declares. 'But the injuries crippled us. We couldn't survive those injuries last year and we can't survive them this year, either. But if we're healthy and don't have some other bad luck, I think we can challenge for the title.'
New York has already had the misfortune of losing two 1970 starters. Receiver George Sauer decided to retire and defensive end Verlon Biggs played out his option, but the rest of the club seems raring to go. The player the Jets are most concerned about is Matt Snell, who was leading the AFC in rushing last season when he tore an Achilles tendon. Because that's one of the toughest injuries for an athlete to come back from, New York made running back John Riggins of Kansas its No. 1 draft pick. Some people think Snell's running and blocking, however, are as important to the Jet offense as Namath's passing, so his return is eagerly awaited.
The defense rates much more attention than it gets. Even with a young, inexperienced secondary, and with All-Star end Gerry Philbin sidelined for five games last year, it ranked No. 1 in the AFC."
-Vito Stellino, All-Pro 1971 Football
"Quarterback Joe Namath's injury status dictates the performance of his team. The Jets had more physical problems than Coach Weeb Ewbank had ever experienced and his loss of Matt Snell took much away from the running game.
Snell had his Achilles tendon torn and believes he can make it all the way back. Ewbank has long featured strong running as the best complement to go with Namath's passing and when Snell wasn't around it had to take something away from the offense.
Emerson Boozer gave the Jets another good season but he, too, suffered with injuries. George Nock is young and a comer. But Ewbank got himself the kind of rookie fullback he covets in John Riggins of Kansas.
Riggins has speed, power, pass-catching hands and can block in the tradition of the old school fullbacks. So Ewbank was drafting with a purpose in mind. He knows that if Namath can be protected he'll find his receivers and reach them in the clear.
The Jets have had good drafts back-to-back. An offensive lineman sure to help them is John Mooring of Tampa, who is 6-6, 250. Rookies of a year ago, sure to make a contribution, are linebacker John Ebersole and two defensive backs, Steve Tannen and Earlie Thomas.
Defensive end Verlon Biggs was traded off to the Washington Redskins. He won't be missed. Gerry Philbin, a seven-year pro, and Mark Lomas, a sophomore, figure to be the starters.
John Elliott, a solid player with speed and agility, and Steve Thompson are the tackles. The Jets have a good set of linebackers with the likes of Ralph Baker, Al Atkinson and Larry Grantham.
It doesn't figure that the Jets will have as many injuries to contend with in 1971. Ewbank has an exceptional eye for talent, rarely misses in his evaluation of a player, and the Jets figure to be in the race all the way this time. They never really had a chance in 1970."
-John Steadman, Football Digest, September 1971
1971 NEW YORK JETS ROSTERS
82 Gary Arthur (TE) Miami (Ohio)
62 Al Atkinson (LB) Villanova
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
40 Mike Battle (S) USC
77 Tom Bayless (G) Purdue
7 Ed Bell (WR) Idaho State
* Jim Betts (S-QB) Michigan
32 Emerson Boozer (RB) Maryland State
88 Richard Caster (WR) Jackson State
56 Paul Crane (LB-C) Alabama
* John Curtis (TE) Springfield-Mass.
15 Bob Davis (QB) Virginia
43 John Dockery (CB) Harvard
* Dan Dyches (C) South Carolina
55 John Ebersole (LB) Penn State
* John Eggold (DE) Arizona
80 John Elliott (DT) Texas
* Chris Farasopoulos (DB-SP) Brigham Young
61 Roger Finnie (T-G) Florida A & M
* Greg Flaska (DE-TE) Western Michigan
70 Dave Foley (T) Ohio State
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
* Steve Harkey (RB) Georgia Tech
* John Harpring (G) Michigan
73 Ray Hayes (DT) Toledo
67 Dave Herman (G) Michigan State
33 W.K. Hicks (S) Texas Southern
75 Winston Hill (T) Texas Southern
48 Gus Hollomon (S) Houston
3 Bobby Howfield (K)
22 Jim Hudson (S) Texas
Peter Johnson (TE) Penn State
* Roy Kirksey (G) Maryland-Eastern Shore
87 Pete Lammons (TE) Texas
28 Cecil Leonard (CB) Tuskegee
57 John Little (DT-DE) Oklahoma State
84 Mark Lomas (DT-DE) Northern Arizona
13 Don Maynard (WR) Texas Western
50 Carl McAdams (DT) Oklahoma
42 Clifford McClain (RB) South Carolina State
30 Chuck Mercein (RB) Yale
68 Dave Middendorf (G) Washington State
* John Mooring (T) Tampa
25 Harvey Nairn (WR) Southern
12 Joe Namath (QB) Alabama
37 George Nock (RB) Morgan State
20 Steve O'Neal (P-WR) Texas A & M
35 Dennis Onkotz (LB) Penn State
* Scott Palmer (DT) Texas
64 Pete Perreault (G) Boston University
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
66 Randy Rasmussen (OG) Kearney State
* John Riggins (RB) Kansas
52 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
41 Matt Snell (RB) Ohio State
* Rich Sowells (DB-SP) Alcorn A&M
89 Wayne Stewart (TE) California
* Vern Studdard (WR-SP) Mississippi
21 Steve Tannen (CB) Florida
45 Earlie Thomas (CB) Colorado State
85 Steve Thompson (DT-DE) Washington
Don Turner (G) Western Carolina
34 Lee White (RB) Weber State
* Jim Williams (DB) Virginia State
* Phil Wise (DB-SP) Nebraska-Omaha
18 Al Woodall (QB) Duke
* rookie
-Pro Football 1971
VETERANS
82 Gary Arthur (TE) Miami (Ohio)
62 Al Atkinson (LB) Villanova
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
40 Mike Battle (S) USC
77 Tom Bayless (G) Purdue
7 Ed Bell (WR) Idaho State
32 Emerson Boozer (RB) Maryland State
88 Richard Caster (WR) Jackson State
56 Paul Crane (LB-C) Alabama
15 Bob Davis (QB) Virginia
43 John Dockery (CB) Harvard
55 John Ebersole (LB) Penn State
80 John Elliott (DT) Texas
61 Roger Finnie (T-G) Florida A & M
70 Dave Foley (T) Ohio State
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
67 Dave Herman (G) Michigan State
33 W.K. Hicks (S) Texas Southern
75 Winston Hill (T) Texas Southern
48 Gus Hollomon (S) Houston
3 Bobby Howfield (K)
22 Jim Hudson (S) Texas
87 Pete Lammons (TE) Texas
28 Cecil Leonard (CB) Tuskegee
57 John Little (DT-DE) Oklahoma State
84 Mark Lomas (DT-DE) Northern Arizona
13 Don Maynard (WR) Texas Western
50 Carl McAdams (DT) Oklahoma
42 Clifford McClain (RB) South Carolina State
30 Chuck Mercein (RB) Yale
68 Dave Middendorf (G) Washington State
12 Joe Namath (QB) Alabama
37 George Nock (RB) Morgan State
20 Steve O'Neal (P-WR) Texas A & M
35 Dennis Onkotz (LB) Penn State
64 Pete Perreault (G) Boston University
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
66 Randy Rasmussen (OG) Kearney State
52 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
41 Matt Snell (RB) Ohio State
89 Wayne Stewart (TE) California
21 Steve Tannen (CB) Florida
45 Earlie Thomas (CB) Colorado State
85 Steve Thompson (DT-DE) Washington
34 Lee White (RB) Weber State
18 Al Woodall (QB) Duke
ROOKIES
John Riggins (RB) Kansas
John Mooring (OT) Tampa
Chris Farasopoulos (DB) Brigham Young
Bill Zapalac (LB-DE) Texas
Phil Wise (DB) Nebraska-Omaha
Scott Palmer (DT) Texas
Roy Kirksey (G) Maryland-Eastern Shore
John Curtis (TE) Springfield-Mass.
Jim Betts (S-QB) Michigan
Vern Studdard (WR) Mississippi
-The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)
Jets Revised Roster (after final cutdown before start of regular 1971 season)
82 Gary Arthur (TE) Miami (Ohio)
62 Al Atkinson (LB) Villanova
51 Ralph Baker (LB) Penn State
7 Ed Bell (WR) Idaho State
32 Emerson Boozer (RB) Maryland State
88 Richard Caster (WR) Jackson State
56 Paul Crane (LB-C) Alabama
15 Bob Davis (QB) Virginia
43 John Dockery (CB) Harvard
55 John Ebersole (DE) Penn State
80 John Elliott (DT) Texas
19 Chris Farasopoulos (DB) Brigham Young
61 Roger Finnie (T) Florida A & M
60 Larry Grantham (LB) Mississippi
36 Steve Harkey (RB) Georgia Tech
67 Dave Herman (G) Michigan State
75 Winston Hill (T) Texas Southern
48 Gus Hollomon (S) Houston
3 Bobby Howfield (K)
87 Pete Lammons (TE) Texas
57 John Little (DT-DE) Oklahoma State
84 Mark Lomas (DT-DE) Northern Arizona
13 Don Maynard (WR) Texas Western
42 Clifford McClain (RB) South Carolina State
71 John Mooring (T) Tampa
37 George Nock (RB) Morgan State
20 Steve O'Neal (P-WR) Texas A & M
72 Scott Palmer (DT) Texas
81 Gerry Philbin (DE) Buffalo
66 Randy Rasmussen (G) Kearney State
44 John Riggins (RB) Kansas
52 John Schmitt (C) Hofstra
41 Matt Snell (RB) Ohio State
46 Rich Sowells (DB-SP) Alcorn A&M
76 Bob Svihus (T) USC
21 Steve Tannen (CB) Florida
45 Earlie Thomas (CB) Colorado State
27 Phil Wise (RB-DB) Nebraska-Omaha
18 Al Woodall (QB) Duke
53 Bill Zapalac (LB-DE) USC
-Football Digest, December 1971
1971 NEW YORK JETS DEPTH CHARTS
OFFENSE
QB Joe Namath (Alabama) 12, Al Woodall (Duke) 18, Bob Davis (Virginia) 15, Jim Betts (Michigan)*
HB Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32, George Nock (Morgan State) 37, Clifford McClain (South Carolina State) 42, Phil Wise (Nebraska-Omaha)*
FB Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, Lee White (Weber State) 34, Chuck Mercein (Yale) 30, John Riggins (Kansas)*, Steve Harkey (Georgia Tech)*
E Ed Bell (Idaho State) 7, Vern Studdard (Mississippi)*
T Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, Dave Foley (Ohio State)*, John Harpring (Michigan)*
G Randy Rasmussen (Kearney State) 66, Dave Middendorf (Washington State) 68, Tom Bayless (Purdue) 77, Don Turner (Western Carolina)
C John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64, Dan Dyches (South Carolina)*
G Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67, Pete Perreault (Boston University) 64, Roy Kirksey (Maryland-Eastern Shore)*
T Dave Foley (Ohio State) 70, Roger Finnie (Florida A & M) 61, John Mooring (Tampa)*
E Pete Lammons (Texas) 87, Wayne Stewart (California) 89, Gary Arthur (Miami-Ohio) 82, John Curtis (Springfield-Mass.)*, Greg Flaska (Western Michigan)*
FL Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Richard Caster (Jackson State) 88, Steve O'Neal (Texas A&M) 20, Harvey Nairn (Southern) 25
DEFENSE
E Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, Mark Lomas (Northern Arizona) 84, John Little (Oklahoma State) 57, John Eggold (Arizona)*
T Mark Lomas (Northern Arizona) 84, Steve Thompson (Washington) 85, John Little (Oklahoma State) 57, Ray Hayes (Toledo) 73
T John Elliott (Texas) 80, Steve Thompson (Washington) 85, Ray Hayes (Toledo) 73, Carl McAdams (Oklahoma) 50, Tom Bayless (Purdue) 77
E John Little (Oklahoma State) 57, Steve Thompson (Washington) 85
LB Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56, Dennis Onkotz (Penn State) 35, Willie Zapalac (Texas)*
LB Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62, John Ebersole (Penn State) 55, Carl McAdams (Oklahoma) 50
LB Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56, Dennis Onkotz (Penn State) 35
CB Steve Tannen (Florida) 21, John Dockery (Harvard) 43, Cecil Leonard (Tuskegee) 28, Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young)*
S Gus Hollomon (Houston) 48, Mike Battle (USC) 40, Jim Hudson (Texas) 22, Jim Betts (Michigan)*
S W.K. Hicks (Texas Southern) 33, Cecil Leonard (Tuskegee) 28, Rich Sowells (Alcorn A&M)*
CB Earlie Thomas (Colorado State) 45, John Dockery (Harvard) 43, Cecil Leonard (Tuskegee) 28, Jim Williams (Virginia State)*
* rookie
-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971
1971
OFFENSE
QB Joe Namath (Alabama) 12, Bob Davis (Virginia) 15, Al Woodall (Duke) 18
HB Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32, George Nock (Morgan State) 37, Cliff McClain (South Carolina State) 42
FB Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41, John Riggins (Kansas)*, Steve Harkey (Georgia Tech)*
WR Richard Caster (Jackson State) 88, Eddie Bell (Idaho State) 7
T Bob Svihus (USC) 76, Dave Foley (Ohio State) 70
G Randy Rasmussen (Nebraska-Kearney) 66
C John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
G Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
T Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75, John Mooring (Tampa)*
TE Pete Lammons (Texas) 87, Gary Arthur (Miami-Ohio) 82
WR Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13, Steve O'Neal (Texas A & M) 20
DEFENSE
DE Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81, John Little (Oklahoma State) 57
DT Roger Finnie (Florida A & M) 61, Scott Palmer (Texas) 72
DT John Elliott (Texas) 80
DE Mark Lomas (Northern Arizona) 84
LB Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51, Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
MLB Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62, John Ebersole (Penn State) 55
LB Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60, Bill Zapalac (Texas)*
CB Steve Tannen (Florida) 21, John Dockery (Harvard) 43
SS Gus Hollomon (Houston) 48, Phil Wise (Nebraska-Omaha)*
FS W.K. Hicks (Texas Southern) 33
CB Earlie Thomas (Colorado State) 45, Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young)*
SPECIALISTS
K Bobby Howfield 3
P Steve O'Neal (Texas A & M) 20
KR Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young)*
PR Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young)*
* rookie
NFLPA Wonderful World Stamps, alphabetical
Al Atkinson
Ralph Baker
Mike Battle
Emerson Boozer
John Elliott
Dave Herman
Winston Hill
Gus Hollomon
Bobby Howfield
Pete Lammons
Joe Namath
Gerry Philbin
Matt Snell
Steve Tannen
Al Woodall
NFLPA Wonderful World Stamps, by position
QB Joe Namath
QB Al Woodall
HB Emerson Boozer
FB Matt Snell
TE Pete Lammons
G Dave Herman
T Winston Hill
DT John Elliott
DE Gerry Philbin
MLB Al Atkinson
LB Ralph Baker
CB Steve Tannen
SS Gus Hollomon
FS Mike Battle
K Bobby Howfield
1971 New York Jets Profile Summary
President & CEO - Philip H. Iselin
Chairman of the Board - Townsend B. Martin
Vice-President and Treasurer - Leon Hess
Vice-President and Secretary - Helen L. Springborn
Director of Player Personnel - Homer Edington
Assistant Director of Player Personnel - Jimmy Jones
Head Coach & General Manager - Weeb Ewbank
Coach - Walt Michaels
Coach - Buddy Ryan
Coach - Ken Meyer
Coach - Wimp Hewgley
Talent Scout and Assistant Coach - Ed Biles
QB Joe Namath (Alabama) 12
QB Al Woodall (Duke) 18
QB Bob Davis (Virginia) 15
QB Jim Betts (Michigan) 17
HB Emerson Boozer (Maryland State) 32
HB George Nock (Morgan State) 37
HB Cliff McClain (South Carolina State) 42
FB Matt Snell (Ohio State) 41
FB Lee White (Weber State) 34
FB John Riggins (Kansas) 44
RB Phil Wise (Nebraska-Omaha) 27
RB Bruce Brown (Tampa) 36
WR Don Maynard (Texas Western) 13
WR Richard Caster (Jackson State) 88
WR Ed Bell (Idaho State) 7
WR Harvey Nairn (Southern) 25
WR Vern Studdard (Mississippi) 22
TE Pete Lammons (Texas) 87
TE Wayne Stewart (California) 89
TE Gary Arthur (Miami-Ohio) 82
TE John Curtis (Springfield-Mass) 86
C John Schmitt (Hofstra) 52
C Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
C Dan Dyches (South Carolina) 54
G Dave Herman (Michigan State) 67
G Randy Rasmussen (Nebraska-Kearney) 66
G Roy Kirksey (Maryland State) 63
T Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 75
T Bob Svihus (USC) 76
T Dave Foley (Ohio State) 70
T Roger Finnie (Florida A & M) 61
T John Mooring (Tampa) 71
DT John Elliott (Texas) 80
DT Steve Thompson (Washington) 85
DT Chuck Hinton (North Carolina College) 64
DT Scott Palmer (Texas) 72
DE Gerry Philbin (Buffalo) 81
DE Mark Lomas (Northern Arizona) 84
DE Roger Finnie (Florida A & M) 61
DE John Little (Oklahoma State) 57
DE John Eggold (Arizona) 50
MLB Al Atkinson (Villanova) 62
MLB John Ebersole (Penn State) 55
LB Larry Grantham (Mississippi) 60
LB Ralph Baker (Penn State) 51
LB Paul Crane (Alabama) 56
LB Dennis Onkontz (Penn State) 35
LB Bill Zapalac (Texas) 53
CB Earlie Thomas (Colorado State) 45
CB Steve Tannen (Florida) 21
CB John Dockery (Harvard) 43
CB Rich Sowells (Alcorn A & M) 46
SS Gus Hollomon (Houston) 48
SS Phil Wise (Nebraska-Omaha) 27
FS W.K. Hicks (Texas Southern) 33
FS Mike Battle (USC) 40
FS Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young) 19
S Jim Betts (Michigan) 17
DB Jim Williams (Virginia State) 23
K Bobby Howfield 3
P Steve O'Neal (Texas A & M) 20
P Gus Hollomon (Houston) 48
KR Mike Battle (USC) 40
KR Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young) 19
KR Vern Studdard (Mississippi) 22
PR Mike Battle (USC) 40
PR Chris Farasopoulos (Brigham Young) 19
