1972 Buffalo Bills Defensive Line Profiles

FRANK CORNISH 

Defensive Tackle

No. 75

Grambling 

"By the end of last season, Frank Cornish was probably the finest young defensive tackle in the National Football League. A huge and frightening 6-6 and 270 pounds, Frank has tremendous strength and more than adequate agility for a man of his bulk. The Chicago defensive strategy is designed to have him always on the side of the line opposite the offensive tight end.

This is his third year in the league. He came to the Bears after playing collegiate football at Grambling."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"The biggest man on the man-eating Bear defensive line is 6-6, 270-pound Frank Cornish, who made a place for himself after only one season in the league. Because of his great size and strength, Frank is always positioned against the strong side of the offense- the side on which the tight end lines up. His presence forces clubs to run the other way, but Frank can also penetrate and get to their quarterback. A couple of seasons ago against the St. Louis Cardinals, he was credited with nine unassisted tackles."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969

BOB TATAREK

Defensive Tackle

No. 71

Miami

Bob was drafted 2nd in 1968, started all 14 games in '69, was injured most of '70 and started every game in '71. From the rock'em, sock'em school of defensive play, he nails the opposition with hard, sure tackles.

He was an All-American in his senior year at Miami. He played in the Liberty Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl and College All-Star Game.

Bob majored in business administration and likes hunting, fishing and golf.

AL COWLINGS

Defensive End
No. 82
USC
"He traced O.J.'s footsteps almost to a toenail. Cowlings grew up in San Francisco, attended San Francisco City College, became an All-America at Southern Cal and was a No. 1 draft choice of the Bills- the same path O.J. traveled.
Because of his excellent size, speed and pursuit, Big Al earned a starting job as a rookie and last year gave evidence of being a fledgling star. The Bills' publicity mill says he 'may make a strong bid for All-Pro recognition in 1972.' Cowlings was the team's best pass rusher last year.
He's mod, and a music lover."

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

WALT PATULSKI

Defensive End

1st Round

Notre Dame

"At 6-4 and 255 plus, this fellow is supposed to have everything necessary to make it big."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"The first man taken in the entire draft, he has superstar potential. 21 years old, Patulski is expected to bump veteran Cal Snowden out of a job on the right side of the line. A great college player, he's from Liverpool, New York, not too far from Buffalo. That fact, plus his Polish ancestry, could make him a big star in Buffalo if he can cut it in the pros. Walt is a team player who prides himself on his clean play.

Patulski went to Notre Dame as a fullback prospect and still harbors a desire to carry the ball. He was a prep All-America as a back, and made the nation's all-sophomore team in college and was a consensus All-America as a senior. Walt co-captained the Irish. He wants to go to law school."

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

"That big 84 is really going to be something. He is going to a club that can really use a strong pass rush, and this fellow could have been playing for a pro club when he was a junior at Notre Dame. The first time I saw him, I couldn't believe I was watching a college defensive lineman. He's got the right mixture of meanness, confidence and the willingness to learn."

-Anonymous Scout, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition

"Patulski was the Bills' first-round draft pick. At Notre Dame, he started every game and received the Lombardi Award as the top college lineman in 1971. Patulski was named All-America in six major polls."

-1972 Coca-Cola

FRED SWENDSEN

Defensive End

3rd Round

Notre Dame

"Fred Swendsen, Notre Dame, 6-4, 235, rates as an excellent prospect. Sooner or later you're bound to notice that the scouts consider the entire Irish front four as excellent prospects."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972