1968 Buffalo Bills Outlook

"Things are looking up for the Bills this year - from two viewpoints. For one thing, they will still be looking up at the leaders for another hungry season. But for another, their perspective will be a happier one because they have become a sounder club which should be making its move very soon.
Certainly there is strength at quarterback whether Jack Kemp or Tom Flores gets the starting nod. Injuries hit both of them last year, though luckily, not at the same time. If they appear to be at equal strength this time, coach Joe Collier may go with the younger Flores, who is a more conventional pocket passer; but Tom is not nearly as agile as Kemp is, and the final decision may well rest with the offensive line.
Buffalo's air game did not show to advantage in 1967, and this was widely due to injuries to the wide receivers. Interestingly enough, this could be the club's best offensive department in '68; at least there's plenty around for a change. The fabled Art Powell is back from knee surgery he had to undergo after the sixth game of the year, and he should start driving defenses dizzy again. Elbert Dubenion, another pass catcher with a reputation, had a sub-par year in '67 but he's still as fast as ever. And Paul Costa, who is a fine receiver but who must improve his blocking, is back at tight end. But keep your eyes on Haven Moses, a 6-2 1/2, 195-pound speedster from San Diego State. The Bills' prize No. 1 pick in last season's college draft, he's rated a sure bet to succeed eventually at flanker. The experienced receivers include Bobby Crockett and Jerry Seither, both of whom were hurt last year, and Monte Ledbetter at flanker. Charley Ferguson, who missed the entire '67 campaign with an ankle problem, is the reserve at tight end. Richard Trapp, a third round selection from Florida, is another candidate for wide receiver.
The Bills finished next to the bottom in rushing last year, but then they only had a one-man running attack. He was Keith Lincoln, the man with the classic form. If fullback Wray Carlton avoids the rash of injuries which plagued him last year, the Bills will have their one-two punch again. And Collier may even find himself endowed with rare backfield depth in 1968. Aside from the returning Jack Spikes and Charley Bivins, a couple of well-traveled war horses, the Bills are swarming with recruits with good college grades. The best of these are No. 5 draft choice Max Anderson, a 5-8, 180-pound speedback from Arizona State, and fullback Ben Gregory, a six-foot, 225-pounder from Nebraska who also came in the fifth round. Rated slightly behind them are No. 9 choice Gary McDermott, a 6-1, 212-pounder from Tulsa, and 11th round pick Richard Plagge, a 6-2, 212-pounder from Auburn.
If the Bills' line has fully recuperated from injuries that laid low several operatives last year, it could be sock-to-it-'em time again. Stew Barber, who had one his best years in 1967, and Dick Hudson, who didn't because he wrecked a knee, are being counted on at the tackles. Billy Shaw, who missed six games with a knee problem, and the improving Joe O'Donnell are back at guard, and Al Bemiller, who must be an iron man after getting through last season without an injury, is the center. A healthy contingent of veterans and rookies will compete for the extra jobs. Dick Cunningham, who can play anywhere in the interior line, and tackle Wayne DeSutter are the holdovers; the newcomers include tackle Mike McBath (Penn State) and guards Edgar Chandler (Georgia) and Bob Kalsu (Oklahoma).
Although the Buffalo defense gave up more touchdowns on the ground than is customary for this unit (11), it posted the best pass defense marks in the league. The main problem in the front four is at right end, where Howard Kindig, the former San Diego Charger, and rookie Bob Tatarek, the No. 2 pick from Miami, will be tested for the starting job. The rest of the unit returns intact, with Jim Dunaway and Tom Sestak at the tackles and Ron McDole at left end. The reserves are Dudley Meredith, an experienced brawler who can play either end of tackle, and rookies John Gilmore (Peru), Chuck DeVleigher (Memphis State) and George Hines (Kentucky State).
The possible retirement of John Tracey may break up that old gang of Buffalo linebackers, but this unit will still serve as the enforcers on defense. Tracey backs up the left side, but even if he returns he is liable to lose his job to Paul Guidry, a 6-2, 238-pounder who has rapidly been coming into his own. Harry Jacobs is perhaps the quickest and smartest operator playing middle linebacker these days, and Mike Stratton on the right is certainly the meanest. The extras are Jim LeMoine, who moves over from the offense, Paul McGuire and rookie John Frantz (California).
The deep backs waltzed off with 19 enemy passes last year and broke up uncounted other passing plays. In cornerbacks Booker Edgerson and Butch Byrd, and safeties Tom Janik and George Saimes, you have the backbone of the Bills' defense. The subs, except for veteran safetyman Hagood Clarke, are young. They are rookies Jerome Lawson (Utah) and Pete Richardson (Dayton) at the corners and taxi-squaders Tommy Luke, Howard Finley and John Pitts at the safeties."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

IN BRIEF
Probable 1968 Finish: 3rd
Strengths:  a rock-ribbed defense paced by McDole up front and a bolstered quick-reacting secondary.
Biggest Needs: establishing a consistent attack particularly on the ground, and plugging a hole at defensive end.
1967 finish:  tied for 4th (4-10)

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"The Buffalo Bills write off their disastrous 1967 season as a gag. Coach Joe Collier sent a mid-winter bulletin to all his players in which he noted that quarterback Jack Kemp had been sent to Vietnam to entertain the troops. 'During his tour,' Collins wrote, 'Kemp was captured by the Viet Cong. However, they looked at his statistics and released him.'
None of the Bills would have fared much better. As a team, they won only four games after reigning for three years as champions of the Eastern Division. Why the collapse? Collier prefers to believe injuries were a main factor. Billy Shaw and Art Powell, probably the two outstanding talents on the team, each missed half a season. Powell's absence, after six games, was particularly destructive because the Bills weren't loaded with good receivers and Elbert Dubenion, their long-time flanker, showed creaky symptoms of age. Some of the guys just had plain bad years. Bobby Burnett, the 1966 rookie of the year as a running back, came in as an unhappy late signee and went out as a member of the Cincinnati team in the expansion draft. Tom Sestak, who used to be the best defensive lineman in the league, could have trouble justifying a spot in the lineup.
The best thing that happened to the Bills last year was the comeback of Keith Lincoln, the versatile back acquired from San Diego. Keith led the club in rushing, receiving and scoring touchdowns, besides blocking superbly. At 29, he should still have a lot of good football left."

-1968 True's Football Yearbook


1968 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON ROSTER
*Max Anderson (HB) Arizona State
77 Stew Barber (T) Penn State
50 Al Bemiller (C) Syracuse
35 Charlie Bivins (HB) Morris Brown
42 Butch Byrd (DB) Boston University
30 Wray Carlton (FB) Duke
*Edgar Chandler (G) Georgia
45 Hagood Clarke (DB) Florida
82 Paul Costa (E) Notre Dame
83 Bobby Crockett (E) Arkansas
62 Dick Cunningham (T) Arkansas
71 Wayne DeSutter (T) Western Illinois
*Chuck DeVeigher (DT) Memphis State
44 Elbert Dubenion (FL) Bluffton
78 Jim Dunaway (DT) Mississippi
24 Booker Edgerson (DB) Western Illinois
80 Charley Ferguson (E) Tennessee State
*25 Howard Finley (DB) Tennessee A & I
16 Tom Flores (QB) Pacific
John Franz (LB) California
John Gilmore (DT) Peru (Nebraska)
Gordon Gotts (QB) MSU
*Ben Gregory (FB) Nebraska
59 Paul Guidry (LB) McNeese State
*George Hines (DE) Kentucky State
79 Dick Hudson (T) Memphis State
64 Harry Jacobs (LB) Bradley
27 Tom Janik (DB) Texas A & I
*Bob Kalsu (G) Oklahoma
15 Jack Kemp (QB) Occidental
73 Howard Kindig (DE) Los Angeles State
46 Tony King (FL) Findlay
*Jerome Lawson (DB) Utah
43 Monte Ledbetter (FL) Northwest Louisiana State
60 Jim LeMoine (LB) Utah State
20 Keith Lincoln (HB) Washington State
* Tommy Luke (DB) Mississippi
55 Paul Maguire (LB) The Citadel
87 Billy Masters (E) LSU
Mike McBath (DT) Penn State
Gary McDermott (RB) Tulsa
72 Ron McDole (DE) Nebraska
7   Mike Mercer (K) Arizona State
75 Dudley Meredith (DT) Lamar Tech
*Haven Moses (FL) San Diego State
67 Joe O'Donnell (G) Michigan
48 John Pitts (DB) Arizona State
Richard Plagge (RB) Auburn
84  Art Powell (E) San Jose State
*Pete Richardson (DB) Dayton
3   Benny Russell (QB) Louisville
40 Ed Rutkowski (FL) Notre Dame
26 George Saimes (DB) Michigan State
56 Marty Schottenheimer (LB) Pittsburgh
85 Jerry Seither (E) Kent State
70 Tom Sestak (DT) McNeese State
66 Billy Shaw (G) Georgia Tech
32 Jack Spikes (FB) Texas Christian
58 Mike Stratton (LB) Tennessee
*Bob Tatarek (DE) Miami
51 John Tracey (LB) Texas A & M
Richard Trapp (E) Florida
88 Bill Wilkerson (DE) Texas Western

* rookie

-Pro Football 1968


1968 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON DEPTH CHARTS
OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific) 16
HB - Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20, Max Anderson (Arizona State)*
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30, Ben Gregory (Nebraska)* 
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84, Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Wayne DeSutter (Western Illinois) 71
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, Edgar Chandler (Georgia)*
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Bob Kalsu (Oklahoma)*
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79, Dick Cunningham (Arkansas) 62
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Haven Moses (San Diego State)*

DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, George Hines (Kentucky State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Chuck DeVeigher (Memphis State)*
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DE - Howard Kindig (Los Angeles State) 73, Bob Tatarek (Miami)*
LB - Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59, John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 56   
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24, Pete Richardson (Dayton)*
S - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27, Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Tommy Luke (Mississippi)*, Howard Finley (Tennessee A & I) 25*
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Jerome Lawson (Utah)*

* rookie

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific) 16, Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
HB - Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20, Max Anderson (Arizona State)*, Bob Cappadonna (Northeastern) 36
FB - Ben Gregory (Nebraska)*, Gary McDermott (Tulsa)*,
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84, Richard Trapp (Florida)*, Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Mike McBath (Penn State)*
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, George Flint (Arizona State) 63
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50, John Frantz (California)*
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Bob Kalsu (Oklahoma) *
T - Dick Cunningham (Arkansas) 62, Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Billy Masters (LSU) 87, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Haven Moses (San Diego State)*, Monte Ledbetter (Northwest State-Louisiana) 43

DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, Mike McBath (Penn State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70, Bob Tatarek (Miami)*
DE - Tom Day (North Carolina A & T) 89, Howard Kindig (Los Angeles State) 73
LB - Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59, Edgar Chandler (Georgia)*
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 57   
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24, Jerry Lawson (Utah)*
S - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27,  John Pitts (Arizona State) 48
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Pete Richardson (Dayton)*

SPECIALISTS
K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Max Anderson (Arizona State)*
PR - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45,

* rookie 


1968 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary
Head Coach - Joe Collier

QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15
QB - Tom Flores (Pacific) 16
HB - Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79

DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72
DE - Tom Day (North Carolina A & T) 89
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58
LB - Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59
LB - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
CB - Charley Mitchell (Washington) 46
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26
S - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27

K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Charley Mitchell (Washington) 46
PR - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
PR - Charley Mitchell (Washington) 46