Wednesday, December 3, 2014

1972 Buffalo Bills Offensive Line Profiles

BRUCE JARVIS
Center
No. 51
Washington
"An instant success with the Bills after being a third-round draft choice, Jarvis earned a starting job almost on the first day of training camp and held it throughout the season. He made numerous all-rookie teams. Probably the tallest starting center [6-7] in the game, Jarvis has good range for a center and has been a standout at that position throughout college and his brief pro career.
Bruce was born in Seattle. He played in the Hula Bowl after his senior season as an All-West Coast selection."

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


JOHN MATLOCK 
Center
No. 53
Miami
"A member of the Jets' 1966 taxi squad, John played for the Jersey Jets in the ACFL. He was signed as a free agent.
John was a three-year regular for the Hurricanes. He was a four-letter athlete in high school playing football, basketball, track and baseball. He is a student in the off-season.
His nickname is 'Broom.' John's hometown is North Royalton, Ohio."

-The New York Jets Official 1967 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


REGGIE MCKENZIE
Guard
2nd Round
Michigan
"Reggie McKenzie, Michigan, is one of the mainstays of the Wolverine ground game. He can add a few pounds to his 6-4, 225-pound frame."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest, January 1972

"Like Walt Patulski, he has a background as a winner- McKenzie played for two Rose Bowl teams. He can really move. Reggie may have to put on weight but his speed is so good, he can sacrifice some of it.
'Most people projected Reggie in the first round,' says Saban. 'Top line prospects are difficult to come by and McKenzie certainly has the tools.' The Bills got him at the top of the second round. He made a name for himself blocking for record breaking Billy Taylor but in the end it was Reggie who made All-America.
McKenzie is best at blocking for the run; his weakness for pass blocking is credited to inexperience. He is a potential first-year starter on the right side.
He's from Detroit."

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


DICK HART 
Guard
No. 62
"In a season in which the Eagles virtually counted the wounded after every pileup, they found some solace in the way rookie guard Dick Hart broke in.
Dick came into the NFL without the benefit of having played college football. He had been an outstanding high school prospect but elected to try baseball instead. After spending several years in the Milwaukee Braves' organization and getting no farther than Double-A ball, he decided to switch back to football.
Incredibly, he won the regular job at left guard in training camp and started all 14 games; he played 374 minutes, more than any other offensive player on the club. What impressed the staff about this 6-2, 255-pounder was quickness and strength."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968


BOB PENCHION
Guard
5th Round
Alcorn State
"Most scouts rate him right up with the top offensive linemen in college ball."

-Bob Billings, Football Digest , January 1972


DAVE FOLEY 
Offensive Tackle
No. 78
Ohio State
1969
Dave comes to New York as the offensive tackle needed to continue the success of the explosive Jet offense. This 6-5, 255-pound first-rounder clearly has the size and strength needed to assure adequate protection for Namath's passing. This consensus Ohio State All-American also proved his run-blocking prowess as part of the Buckeye squad that won the Rose Bowl.

"Foley came off two knee operations to become a regular at right tackle for the Jets in 1970. Drafted 1st in 1969, he was injured in that year's opener with ruptured ligaments in his right knee and then underwent further surgery to remove the staple just as the 1970 training camp began.
He moved into a starting slot midway through the third game when Roger Finnie was injured against Buffalo and held it all the way from there. He became stronger as the season progressed, solving the problem of his leg tiring late in games. He did an outstanding job against Deacon Jones and Dave Cash of Los Angeles as the Jets won. He followed up with two more great shows, against Boston's Mel Witt and Minnesota's All-Pro Carl Eller.
Weeb Ewbank says Foley will develop into one of the best tackles in the game. 
Foley worked as an industrial engineer for the Port Authority of New York. He won the Ohio high school shot-put championship in 1965 with a 61-8 toss. He spends his free time fishing and playing handball. His hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio."

-The New York Jets Official 1971 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos

"A great utility man along the offensive line, Foley does well at either tackle or center when called upon. He has come off two knee operations to show steady improvement. He has good explosion off the line.
Foley was a regular at right tackle in 1970 after sitting out '69 with a knee ligament damage incurred in the opening game in Buffalo. He had further surgery in 1970 to remove the staple in his right knee. Dave became a starter after the third game that year when Roger Finnie injured his ankle. He became stronger as 1970 progressed, solving the problem of his leg tiring late in games. He did an outstanding job against Deacon Jones (then of the Rams) and Dave Cash as the Jets upset Los Angeles, and also excelled against the Vikings' Carl Eller.
Drafted No. 1 in 1969, Dave worked as a financial planner for Equity Funding Securities Corp. He won the Ohio high school shot-put championship in 1965 with a 61-8 toss.
He enjoys handball and fishing. His hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio."

-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos


IRV GOODE
Offensive Tackle
No. 65
Kentucky
"A first-rate offensive lineman, Irv was traded to the Bills during the off-season. He had been a mainstay of the outstanding Big Red forward wall for a decade, playing tackle, center and guard, but has filled in at other positions when needed.
He came to the Cardinals as their first-round draft choice in 1962 and he earned the team rookie of the year honors as a tackle. He played in the 1965 and 1968 Pro Bowl games.
Irv was All-America at Kentucky."

-1972 Topps No. 214

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