Friday, December 12, 2014

1972 Buffalo Bills Defensive Back Profiles

ROBERT JAMES
Cornerback
No. 20
Fisk
"Bob moved into a starting cornerback slot in 1970, after playing mainly on special teams as a rookie. He's a tough tackler and open-field defender. The first player from Fisk University to make good in pro football, Bob played linebacker and defensive end at Fisk and was the team's MVP in 1968.
Bob wears contact lenses on the field."

-1972 Topps No. 114


ALVIN WYATT
Cornerback-Kick Returner
No. 41
Bethune-Cookman
"A first-year surprise at cornerback, Wyatt came to Buffalo in a trade with Oakland. He'd been a fine kick returner on the West Coast, having led the Raiders his rookie year (1970), yet was just a special teamer in the Raiders' long list of talent. But in Buffalo he found a starting job, displacing longtime hero Butch Byrd on the right side of the defense.
Alvin intercepted one pass and ran it back 30 yards. He also gave the Bills some real breakaway speed on kick returns and ran back his 30 kickoffs for an average of 25.4 yards. He also averaged a very respectable 8.2 yards for his 23 punt returns and raced 61 yards for a touchdown with one of them.
Wyatt had an 86-yard punt return in college where he was all-conference three years in a row. He played baseball and ran track in college, too. He keeps active with baseball and basketball in the off-seasons."

-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Football, 1972 Edition


JOHN PITTS
Strong Safety
No. 48
Arizona State
The No. 1 draft choice of the Bills in 1967, John is in his fifth year as Buffalo's starting strong safety. He has outstanding size (6-4, 215) for his position and is known for meeting a sweep with a jarring tackle.
John was both a defensive back and a wide receiver for Arizona State. He was All-Western Athletic Conference in 1965 and '66 and played in the Coaches All-America Game. He also played basketball and ran track.


JACKIE ALLEN
Free Safety
No. 21
Baylor
Known for getting to the ball quickly, Jackie became Buffalo's starting free safety halfway through last season. He has a habit of being in the right place at the right time.
Jackie was a starting defensive back at Baylor for three years and was All-Southwest Conference in 1968. He was also a three-year letterman in track.
He enjoys hunting and fishing and plans on a coaching career after his playing days.

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