Defensive Tackle
No. 81
Southern
"A starter at right defensive end for eight games last year, sharing the role with Mark Lomas, Neal came on with an outstanding second half of the year after having a weight problem early in the season. He tied with Lomas and Carl Barzilauskas for the team leadership in sacks with five. Richard had four of his dumps in the last three games as the Jets ran their winning streak to six.
In 1973 he played three of the four defensive line positions before settling in at right tackle. Richard has missed only two games in his entire career (a knee injury in 1970) and now has 82 to his credit, 68 consecutively. He was a regular defensive tackle for New Orleans and was their captain in 1972. Neal originally was a No. 2 draft pick of New Orleans (1969) and came to the Jets in a trade in January 1973 along with Delles Howell for a No. 2 and a No. 3 draft pick.
Neal has a B.A. in political science. His hometown is Shreveport, Louisiana."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
1975 Profile: Mark Lomas
Defensive End
No. 84
Northern Arizona
"Lomas has led or tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks for the last three years from his end position. He had five dumps in '74 for a tie for the lead, and owned the top spot exclusively in '73 with 10 and in '72 with eight. He started seven of the 11 games he played in 1974, all at right end.
He had his season cut short when he suffered a strained right Achilles tendon against Miami at Shea and was in a cast for the rest of the year. Mark aggravated the same injury playing tennis in the off-season and will have to recuperate from that damage.
Drafted 8th in 1970, Mark has a good pass rush and has now made better adjustments against the running plays to his side. He had a memorable game against Baltimore in 1972 when he dumped Johnny Unitas three times and then recovered a fumble in the rematch to set up a touchdown.
Lomas is a believer in health foods and makes his own concoctions. He's also a strong advocate of stretching exercises, which many of the Jets now use. His hometown is Garden Grove, California."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 84
Northern Arizona
"Lomas has led or tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks for the last three years from his end position. He had five dumps in '74 for a tie for the lead, and owned the top spot exclusively in '73 with 10 and in '72 with eight. He started seven of the 11 games he played in 1974, all at right end.
He had his season cut short when he suffered a strained right Achilles tendon against Miami at Shea and was in a cast for the rest of the year. Mark aggravated the same injury playing tennis in the off-season and will have to recuperate from that damage.
Drafted 8th in 1970, Mark has a good pass rush and has now made better adjustments against the running plays to his side. He had a memorable game against Baltimore in 1972 when he dumped Johnny Unitas three times and then recovered a fumble in the rematch to set up a touchdown.
Lomas is a believer in health foods and makes his own concoctions. He's also a strong advocate of stretching exercises, which many of the Jets now use. His hometown is Garden Grove, California."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Sunday, June 28, 2015
1975 Profile: Carl Barzilauskas
Defensive Tackle
No. 77
Indiana
"He was something else. He towered over everybody in the room. They certainly don't come much bigger. Not when you're 6-6 and weigh 280 pounds. Yet, he stood there a bit uncomfortable. It all seemed strange to him. Answering questions before the New York writers was something new. He never experienced it before. Not in Waterbury, Connecticut or Bloomington, Indiana. But he was something special. Everyone who attended the press conference at the posh 21 Club could sense it. Such a setting is only reserved for super stars or a number one draft choice. And last spring Carl Barzilauskas was only a number.
But that was a year ago. Suddenly, Barzilauskas is something more. His rookie year disclosed that. He started every game at defensive tackle. And he was tested time after time. He was double-teamed and often triple-teamed. Yet, all the while he learned. He learned so well that he was almost named Rookie of the Year. More important, Barzilauskas is looked upon as a future super star, which is the way the Jets figured it all along.
It took a lot of figuring, too. Barzo, as he is known to his teammates, didn't have the greatest of years his final season at Indiana University. But there was a reason. Barzilauskas played all season long on a broken foot. He wouldn't quit. That more than anything else impressed the Jets. That and the obvious fact that he was big and strong. He had that much going for him. He certainly didn't get much recognition. That doesn't come easy when you're exposed to three years of losing football. It can get awfully frustrating.
NFL coaches and players, however, were the most frustrated. Tommy Prothro, the head man of the San Diego Chargers, lauded Barzo by saying he was one of the finest young defensive linemen to come along in years. Don Shula of Miami echoed those same sent sentiments.
Jim Langer, the All-AFC center from Miami, was given a particularly rough time by Big Barz and later in the Dolphin locker room said that he's 'one of the strongest players I've ever faced.'
'I never made anything in college, not even All-Big Ten,' shrugged Barzo. 'But a lot of that is politics. You have to come from a winning team. We only won 10 games in my three years at Indiana.'
Whatever Barzilauskas achieved he did through natural talent and the willingness to learn. He didn't have the greatest background for football as a youngster in Waterbury, Conn. And Barzo is the first to admit it.
'The football back home was really weak,' he admitted. 'I was way behind when I got to Indiana and I knew it. I didn't have much confidence in myself. The reason I went there was that Indiana was the only major school that offered me a scholarship.
'I thought I had a pretty good junior year. I know I improved a lot. My senior year proved plenty of things to me, but I can't be happy about it. What I really wanted was to be on a winner. That's what you play for.'
For a while last season Barzilauskas didn't know much about winning. The Jets were 1-7 and Barzo felt like he never left college. Suddenly, though, things began to happen. Good things. The Jets began to put it all together, offensively and defensively. And, they didn't stop until they won six straight games to finish at 7-7. Significantly, the winning streak was also the turning point in Barzo's emergence as the key of the front four.
'Midway through the season I started to play loose,' revealed Barzilauskas. 'I was very tight in the beginning. I didn't know what to expect. I finally reached a point of doing things by habit rather than having to think about them. I hesitated quite a bit at the beginning but as the season progressed I had everything done to me that could be done so I learned.
'There's such a difference between college ball and the pros. In college they tax your heart more than your mind. Some people try to get you to do impossible things in college. They almost expect you to cover the whole defensive line by yourself. In the pros, you've got a job and you do it and then try for the big play. In college, it seemed like they wanted the big play every play.'
'He's without question the finest defensive lineman I've ever coached,' praised Jet defensive line coach Dick Voris. 'He's got outstanding strength, good quickness, intelligence and he's dedicated. All he needs is experience and he'll one of the best around.
'Barzo needs to improve his pass rush. But he will. It is something all young linemen have to learn. In college they used to blow right in. But here they have a lot of old pros waiting to knock them down with moves the kids have never seen.
'We have three secrets to get to the quarterback. Carl has the inclination to wrestle too much with an opposing lineman. You have to shove him out of the way quick or the time element will beat you. He'll learn how, don't worry.'
Head coach Charley Winner was pleased with Barzo's rookie play. Actually, he was ecstatic at the progress his budding star made. So much so that he began to compare him with an all-time great. Gino Marchetti. And that's saying a lot.
'He practices like I remember Marchetti practicing at Baltimore,' beamed Winner. 'The thing I like about him is his concentration every time he lines up in practice. He's very intense and he wants to learn. I hope he never loses that attitude.'
There's no way he will. For the first time, Barzilauskas has experienced winning. He discovered how enjoyable it all is. He isn't about to stop now ... "
-Lou Sahadi, The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 77
Indiana
"He was something else. He towered over everybody in the room. They certainly don't come much bigger. Not when you're 6-6 and weigh 280 pounds. Yet, he stood there a bit uncomfortable. It all seemed strange to him. Answering questions before the New York writers was something new. He never experienced it before. Not in Waterbury, Connecticut or Bloomington, Indiana. But he was something special. Everyone who attended the press conference at the posh 21 Club could sense it. Such a setting is only reserved for super stars or a number one draft choice. And last spring Carl Barzilauskas was only a number.
But that was a year ago. Suddenly, Barzilauskas is something more. His rookie year disclosed that. He started every game at defensive tackle. And he was tested time after time. He was double-teamed and often triple-teamed. Yet, all the while he learned. He learned so well that he was almost named Rookie of the Year. More important, Barzilauskas is looked upon as a future super star, which is the way the Jets figured it all along.
It took a lot of figuring, too. Barzo, as he is known to his teammates, didn't have the greatest of years his final season at Indiana University. But there was a reason. Barzilauskas played all season long on a broken foot. He wouldn't quit. That more than anything else impressed the Jets. That and the obvious fact that he was big and strong. He had that much going for him. He certainly didn't get much recognition. That doesn't come easy when you're exposed to three years of losing football. It can get awfully frustrating.
NFL coaches and players, however, were the most frustrated. Tommy Prothro, the head man of the San Diego Chargers, lauded Barzo by saying he was one of the finest young defensive linemen to come along in years. Don Shula of Miami echoed those same sent sentiments.
Jim Langer, the All-AFC center from Miami, was given a particularly rough time by Big Barz and later in the Dolphin locker room said that he's 'one of the strongest players I've ever faced.'
'I never made anything in college, not even All-Big Ten,' shrugged Barzo. 'But a lot of that is politics. You have to come from a winning team. We only won 10 games in my three years at Indiana.'
Whatever Barzilauskas achieved he did through natural talent and the willingness to learn. He didn't have the greatest background for football as a youngster in Waterbury, Conn. And Barzo is the first to admit it.
'The football back home was really weak,' he admitted. 'I was way behind when I got to Indiana and I knew it. I didn't have much confidence in myself. The reason I went there was that Indiana was the only major school that offered me a scholarship.
'I thought I had a pretty good junior year. I know I improved a lot. My senior year proved plenty of things to me, but I can't be happy about it. What I really wanted was to be on a winner. That's what you play for.'
For a while last season Barzilauskas didn't know much about winning. The Jets were 1-7 and Barzo felt like he never left college. Suddenly, though, things began to happen. Good things. The Jets began to put it all together, offensively and defensively. And, they didn't stop until they won six straight games to finish at 7-7. Significantly, the winning streak was also the turning point in Barzo's emergence as the key of the front four.
'Midway through the season I started to play loose,' revealed Barzilauskas. 'I was very tight in the beginning. I didn't know what to expect. I finally reached a point of doing things by habit rather than having to think about them. I hesitated quite a bit at the beginning but as the season progressed I had everything done to me that could be done so I learned.
'There's such a difference between college ball and the pros. In college they tax your heart more than your mind. Some people try to get you to do impossible things in college. They almost expect you to cover the whole defensive line by yourself. In the pros, you've got a job and you do it and then try for the big play. In college, it seemed like they wanted the big play every play.'
'He's without question the finest defensive lineman I've ever coached,' praised Jet defensive line coach Dick Voris. 'He's got outstanding strength, good quickness, intelligence and he's dedicated. All he needs is experience and he'll one of the best around.
'Barzo needs to improve his pass rush. But he will. It is something all young linemen have to learn. In college they used to blow right in. But here they have a lot of old pros waiting to knock them down with moves the kids have never seen.
'We have three secrets to get to the quarterback. Carl has the inclination to wrestle too much with an opposing lineman. You have to shove him out of the way quick or the time element will beat you. He'll learn how, don't worry.'
Head coach Charley Winner was pleased with Barzo's rookie play. Actually, he was ecstatic at the progress his budding star made. So much so that he began to compare him with an all-time great. Gino Marchetti. And that's saying a lot.
'He practices like I remember Marchetti practicing at Baltimore,' beamed Winner. 'The thing I like about him is his concentration every time he lines up in practice. He's very intense and he wants to learn. I hope he never loses that attitude.'
There's no way he will. For the first time, Barzilauskas has experienced winning. He discovered how enjoyable it all is. He isn't about to stop now ... "
-Lou Sahadi, The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Saturday, June 27, 2015
1975 Profile: Garry Puetz
Guard
No. 78
Valparaiso
"Puetz continued his development into an outstanding young offensive lineman in 1974. He started all 14 games, 13 at right guard and one at center; he filled in the center slot in Chicago when Wayne Mulligan was on the bench with pneumonia. Garry is a good, strong blocker who has learned the fundamentals of pass protection very well, and also handled kickoffs against Houston.
Garry was one of the big surprises of the 1973 training camp when he was a rookie. He displaced veteran Dave Herman at the guard slot at the opening of the year and started the first four games. Puetz and Robert Woods are the only rookie linemen to win starting jobs with the Jets since Randy Rasmussen did it in 1967. Garry signed with the WFL last year but the contract was breached.
Drafted 12th in 1973, Garry was a kicker in college in addition to his line work and majored in physical education. He pronounces his name 'Pets' and his hometown is Chicago, Illinois."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 78
Valparaiso
"Puetz continued his development into an outstanding young offensive lineman in 1974. He started all 14 games, 13 at right guard and one at center; he filled in the center slot in Chicago when Wayne Mulligan was on the bench with pneumonia. Garry is a good, strong blocker who has learned the fundamentals of pass protection very well, and also handled kickoffs against Houston.
Garry was one of the big surprises of the 1973 training camp when he was a rookie. He displaced veteran Dave Herman at the guard slot at the opening of the year and started the first four games. Puetz and Robert Woods are the only rookie linemen to win starting jobs with the Jets since Randy Rasmussen did it in 1967. Garry signed with the WFL last year but the contract was breached.
Drafted 12th in 1973, Garry was a kicker in college in addition to his line work and majored in physical education. He pronounces his name 'Pets' and his hometown is Chicago, Illinois."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Friday, June 26, 2015
1975 Profile: Warren Koegel
Center
No. 53
Penn State
"Koegel started the season at center when Wayne Mulligan was ill with pneumonia, but suffered knee and ankle injuries which kayoed him. He made a brief appearance against Baltimore five weeks later and then was placed on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season. Warren has recovered through off-season therapy programs.
Warren came to the Jets in 1974 in an off-season deal with Houston and has spent time with Oakland (1971 and 1972 taxi squads) and with St. Louis (1973). Originally a 3rd round choice of Oakland in 1971, he makes the long snap and can also play tackle.
Koegel was an outstanding Long Island athlete while at Seaford High School and his brother Pete is a pitcher in the Pirates' system. His hometown is Mineola, New York."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 53
Penn State
"Koegel started the season at center when Wayne Mulligan was ill with pneumonia, but suffered knee and ankle injuries which kayoed him. He made a brief appearance against Baltimore five weeks later and then was placed on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season. Warren has recovered through off-season therapy programs.
Warren came to the Jets in 1974 in an off-season deal with Houston and has spent time with Oakland (1971 and 1972 taxi squads) and with St. Louis (1973). Originally a 3rd round choice of Oakland in 1971, he makes the long snap and can also play tackle.
Koegel was an outstanding Long Island athlete while at Seaford High School and his brother Pete is a pitcher in the Pirates' system. His hometown is Mineola, New York."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Thursday, June 25, 2015
1975 Profile: Gordie Browne
Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Boston College
"A backup tackle, Browne gained needed experience during 1974. He had only played one full year of offensive line in college, but showed the ability to learn. Gordie had back troubles stemming from the Coaches All-America Game in June of '74 and had a flare-up of that midway through the year and did not play in three games.
Gordie needs to polish up his pass protection but can handle run blocking adequately. Drafted No. 2 in 1974, he played an outstanding game against Ed 'Too Tall' Jones in the Senior Bowl.
Browne has a B.S. in marketing and a B.S. in management and is pursuing a master's in business administration. His hometown is Millis, Massachusetts."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 79
Boston College
"A backup tackle, Browne gained needed experience during 1974. He had only played one full year of offensive line in college, but showed the ability to learn. Gordie had back troubles stemming from the Coaches All-America Game in June of '74 and had a flare-up of that midway through the year and did not play in three games.
Gordie needs to polish up his pass protection but can handle run blocking adequately. Drafted No. 2 in 1974, he played an outstanding game against Ed 'Too Tall' Jones in the Senior Bowl.
Browne has a B.S. in marketing and a B.S. in management and is pursuing a master's in business administration. His hometown is Millis, Massachusetts."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
1975 Profile: Roger Bernhardt
Guard
No. 68
Kansas
"Bernhardt was used as a backup guard, but started against Chicago when Garry Puetz had to move to center, and did a fine job in that game. He also saw action against San Diego when Puetz bruised a foot.
He was reacquired by the Jets from St. Louis along with Jamie Rivers as compensation for Clifford McClain. A draft choice of Pittsburgh in 1973, Roger had been with the Jets in '73 briefly when he came via a trade with Pittsburgh in exchange for wide receiver Mike Haggard.
Roger majored in physical education. He lettered in football, basketball and track in high school and his hometown is Lyons, New York."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
No. 68
Kansas
"Bernhardt was used as a backup guard, but started against Chicago when Garry Puetz had to move to center, and did a fine job in that game. He also saw action against San Diego when Puetz bruised a foot.
He was reacquired by the Jets from St. Louis along with Jamie Rivers as compensation for Clifford McClain. A draft choice of Pittsburgh in 1973, Roger had been with the Jets in '73 briefly when he came via a trade with Pittsburgh in exchange for wide receiver Mike Haggard.
Roger majored in physical education. He lettered in football, basketball and track in high school and his hometown is Lyons, New York."
-The New York Jets Official 1975 Yearbook
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)