1978 Profiles: Chuck Knox and Tom Caitlin

CHUCK KNOX

Head Coach

HOW A $400,000 MISSION LED TO EVENTUAL PRO MERGER

Signing of Namath By Jets Saved Old AFL From Destruction

"The scene is a darkened briefing room in the war ministry, New York division.

Stark photographs of various contracts are on the walls. At the table are two members of the cabinet and a young acolyte who has been summoned for a dangerous mission. Ordinarily the acolyte is a drill sergeant for the troops. But he possesses special backgrounding which makes him invaluable for the forthcoming mission.

The mission is to rendezvous with a certain Hungarian expert who has the armament to bring a quick and victorious end to the war.

'Make no slip, do not let him out of your sight, make contact in the distant location, accompany him across the continent and deliver him to us. Price is no object. The other side is after him just as desperately.'

Fadeout ...

Chuck Knox talks wistfully about the stranger than fiction caper just described in what perhaps is only a slight over-dramatization. Knox had a vital role in it.

Pro football today is one giant and hugely profitable brotherhood. The expensive signing war is long over.

But it never would have happened ... the American Football League would have been destroyed ... if the Jets had failed to sign the $400,000 quarterback. This signing of Joe Namath was the catalyst leading to pro football's peace treaty and merger, and a radical change in the economy of all sports.

The man commissioned with bringing Namath into the AFL camp was Knox.

He, then, in 1964 was the young line coach of the Jets. Today he is the man credited with revitalizing the Lions' offensive line.

'I was assigned to it because I had known Joe from western Pennsylvania,' Knox recalls.

'I'd coached football in Ellwood City, Pa., against Beaver Falls while Joe was in junior high there. The first time I ever saw Joe was in Beaver Falls. He was playing junior high basketball. He was in the eighth grade then. I saw him play football his senior year. He played on an undefeated team. His coach, Larry Bruno, was an old friend of mine.

'I was coaching at the University of Kentucky then and I tried to recruit him out of high school, but he decided to go to Alabama. I'd known his brother Frank well, too, because he'd gone to Kentucky.'

With this intelligence on file, Sonny Werblin, owner of the Jets, settled on line coach Knox as his liaison man with Namath in December of 1964. Knox was dispatched south to the Alabama campus after briefing from Werblin and Coach Weeb Ewbank.

'Sonny Werblin had been in the talent business for many, many years,' said Knox. 'He'd handled top entertainment. He knew the value of a buy like Namath. He knew what a guy like Namath would mean to the Jets and to the AFL. What Werblin said in effect was we had to have him regardless of price.'

The St. Louis Cardinals, of the more powerful National Football League, had also drafted Namath. If they got him, the AFL likely could have gone under. The AFL had to get a player of Namath's magnitude to escalate the war and hasten the peace.

'It was before Alabama was going to play in the Orange Bowl and Bear Bryant had given Joe 10 days off along with the rest of the team,' said Knox. 'Joe was free to talk then and we were going to play in San Diego on the next Sunday.

'On Friday I flew to Birmingham and on to Tuscaloosa, picked up Joe Namath and Mike Bite, Joe's attorney, and flew back to Birmingham. On Saturday morning we flew from Birmingham to Los Angeles. We checked into the Beverly Wilshire, went to Chasen's. We met out there with Werblin, Ewbank and Bob Schulman, a tax expert from Washington, D.C., who was there to determine the best way to set up the money.

'Then we flew to San Diego and Joe went to the game with us. Then he went back to Alabama.

'The week prior to the Orange Bowl I went down to Miami to keep tabs on Joe. As soon as the Orange Bowl game was over we signed him and had the press conference the next day.'

Namath was signed for $427,000, a figure so shocking because it was four times more than any other draft choice had ever received. It shocked especially the NFL. Suddenly prices for college draft choices zoomed and the war became more intense- and the merger by treaty was the only solution.

'Teams were hiding out players at that time and there were all kinds of shenanigans,' said Knox. 'But Namath had given us assurances he wouldn't sign with the Cardinals until he talked to us and got our figure. He kept his word.'

Knox recalled there was one near snafu during his mission. There was a fear Namath had been spirited by the Cardinals during the night.

'Joe at that particular time liked to sleep in the morning,' said Knox. 'He almost missed the plane out of Birmingham. We had to rush for the plane carrying our own bags.

'I wonder what would have happened if I'd showed in L.A. without Joe.'

Maybe Pete Rozelle can find the answer hidden in the Pentagon Papers."

-Jerry Green, The Detroit News (Football Digest, November 1971)

TIP FROM THE COACH

"The four teams that made it to the conference finals were all fine defensive teams,' says new coach Chuck Knox. "If you have a fine defensive team, you will have a chance to win every game you play because your defensive will keep you within range of your goal."

-The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1973 Edition)

"One of the intriguing sequences of migrating coaches began with Chuck Knox, who after five NFC West titles in as many seasons at Los Angeles, went shuffling off to Buffalo with Ram owner Carroll Rosenbloom's blessings.

While Knox was successful in the relatively weak NFC West, he was less than formidable in the playoffs with an overall 3-5 record, including 0-3 in NFC title games. Most disturbing to the 70-year-old Rosenbloom was that the Rams didn't reach the Super Bowl once. The Rams were all but assured of playing in the NFL title game, it appeared, in 1975 when they entertained NFC Wild Card Dallas in Los Angeles. The week before, L.A. had demolished St. Louis, 35-23, which had won the NFC East over the Cowboys. Dallas, however, who had slipped past Minnesota, 17-14, in the playoffs' first round, stunned Carroll's club, 37-7.

After the 1976 season, which ended in another title game loss for L.A., this time 24-13 at Minnesota, there was speculation Knox would jump ship and take the head job at Detroit. That further dismayed Rosenbloom. When the Rams were upset by Minnesota, 14-7, at home in the first round of the '77 playoffs, Rosenbloom was happy to let Knox go anywhere he pleased. To show how much Knox wanted to get away from the Ram owner, he chose Buffalo.

Interestingly, Rosenbloom, who acquired burned-out quarterback Joe Namath from the New York Jets prior to last season, also tried, to no avail, to get Super Juice, O.J. Simpson. The first deal Knox made in Buffalo was to swap Simpson to Ram-rival San Francisco for future draft choices.

Knox will have his work cut out for him rebuilding the Bills, who have won only five of their last 25 games. One of Knox's drawbacks was his conservatism on offense. 'The secret of his failure (in L.A.),' opined Ram linebacker Isiah Robertson, who 'was sorry' to see Knox leave, 'was in not bringing some creativity to the offense, in not being able to score points.'

There's no question his Bills will have to field a more open attack to be competitive in the very offensive-minded AFC Eastern Division.

'Our immediate goal,' says Knox, 'is to be competive, so week in and week out we'll play good, consistent football.' "

-Dave Payne, from The Reason Behind So Many Coaching Changes, Football Digest (July-August 1978)

"Many football fans were disappointed and mystified as to why Chuck Knox, then coach of the Rams, failed to insert Joe Namath in the line-up when Knox's team was being beaten by the Vikings, 14-7, in the NFC playoffs in December.

'The score was 14-0,' Ram quarterback coach Kay Stephenson told the New York Post, 'and the rain was really coming down hard. Pat's (Haden) hands just aren't that big and the ball was wet. He was having trouble holding the ball, let alone passing it. Knox had both Vince (Ferragamo) and Joe warm up. I told Knox three times that Namath was throwing the better of the two on the sidelines, and he was ready to go in.

'Every time I told him, he just nodded and walked away. I told Joe to keep loose, and it should only be a few minutes, but Chuck never called on him. I don't know why.'

L.A.'s offensive assistant and receivers coach Lionel Taylor says, 'Everybody on the team thought Namath would play if Pat continued to have problems. I was shocked Joe didn't get the call.' "

-from Did You Know That ..., Football Digest (September 1978)

"Shufflin' off to Buffalo isn't the recommended way to keep the victories rolling in. Not when you're Chuck Knox, who won five NFC West titles in five years in Los Angeles. He couldn't stand working for Rams' owner Carroll Rosenbloom, however- too much quarterback interference. Knox isn't the Hollywood type anyway.
But what, for heaven's sake, can he expect in Buffalo, where Lou Saban dismantled a good team? 'I'm not a miracle worker,' said Knox. 'But hard work can make up for a lot of things. I guarantee that no coaching staff will out-work us.' Whether that is enough remains to be seen.
Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Knox won't have the expert advice of Don Klosterman on scouting college talent. But Chuck is now in charge of the entire football operation in Buffalo, so all is not all lost."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

"We can structure the kind of program here that will again make Buffalo a force in the AFC. We're going to take the players here and build around their capabilities. The current personnel gives us an excellent start toward the future."

Chuck Knox, from News, Quotes & Comments (Football Digest, October 1978)

TOM CAITLIN 

Defensive Coordinator

"One of the most sought after players in football, All-American Caitlin came to the Browns by way of a trade with Baltimore involving 15 players. A great defensive prospect, Caitlin is a lightning play analyst and has the speed and agility to match his reactions. He is considered top linebacking material."

-1953 Bowman No. 35

"Tom was drafted by Baltimore but dealt to the Browns in 1953 when he became a regular linebacker. He called the defensive signals in '54 and then went into military service as a pilot. He rejoined the club in '57.

Tom was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he works as a salesman."

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

1978 Buffalo Bills Outlook

TEAM DIRECTORY

President: Ralph Wilson

Vice-President, Football Operations-Head Coach: Chuck Knox

Vice-President-General Manager: Stew Barber

Vice-President: Patrick McGroder

Vice-President, Public Relations: L. Budd Thalman

Home Field: Rich Stadium (80,020)

-The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1978 Edition)

"The Juice is gone and the future belongs to Terry Miller.

The Bills have shifted from 31-year-old Simpson to rookie Miller in a rebuilding program begun by one of the most successful coaches in pro football, Chuck Knox. Knox left the Los Angeles Rams for a rich new contract in Buffalo.

Buffalo fans will be happy with respectability for a while, and Knox will try to give it to them by restoring what the Bills do best- run the football.

The nucleus of a top line is still there, with Joe DeLamielleure and Reggie McKenzie at guards and Joe Devlin at tackle. An interesting experiment will be the shift of tight end Paul Seymour to offensive tackle and the employment of Reuben Gant as the full-time tight end.

Seymour played on rushing plays and Gant on passing downs last year in an odd and obvious shuttle system.

Joe Ferguson gives Knox an experienced and quality quarterback. Bob Chandler led all NFL wide receivers in catches the last two seasons.

The problem is on defense. There is unlimited opportunity for rookies such as linemen Scott Hutchinson of Florida and Dee Hardison of North Carolina and linebacker Lucious Sanford of Georgia Tech and Mario Cellotta of Southern California.

Prediction - Fourth."

-Larry Felser, Football Digest (September 1978)

CAPSULE ANALYSIS

Strength: Offensive line, running.

Greatest Need: Linebacking, defensive line.

Outlook: Will be better.

-Football Digest (September 1978)

OFFENSE
"Orange juice sales are down in Buffalo, where people don't run through airports, or look anymore for that gifted athlete who did. Niagara Falls, it's said, doesn't even fall with the same force. Buffalo lost its No. 1 tourist attraction, Orenthal James Simpson, the man who made the Buffalo Bills and, it's to be assumed, will now break them. O.J. has now gone home to San Francisco, leaving Roland Hooks to try and run his sweeps. But how do you snake through holes like The Juice?
New coach Chuck Knox, who allowed the trade, said, in essence, 'OK, we don't figure to win this year, maybe not even next year. It's the future we're concerned with.'
Well, the rape of the Bills is complete. O.J. is near the Golden Gate, J.D. is in Motown, Ahmad in Icicleville, Pat rushing passers in Oakland.
What's left is Joe Ferguson, an average quarterback; Hooks and Jim Braxton, average backs; a strong line with no one to open holes for; and a capable wide receiver in Bob Chandler. Buffalo's offense, once the game's most productive, now slips into the sunset- over San Francisco."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

DEFENSE
"Without Simpson, Buffalo's defense figures to be on the field even longer this fall. The Bills' defense has presented a problem for the offense for a number of years, namely how to outscore what it has given up. Without Simpson and playing in the loaded AFC East, the Bills will be lucky to win two games. It won't be the fault of the entire Bills' defense. The secondary is one of the AFC's finest- Tony Greene, Mario Clark, Dwight Harrison and Doug Jones. Greene had nine interceptions and Clark seven- the second and fourth best records in football.
But as good as Buffalo is against the pass, it's just as bad against the run. Opposing running backs feel like O.J. when they know it's Buffalo's defense they're running against. The Bills surrendered 171 yards rushing a game, placing them 25th in football. Buffalo wound up 23rd in team defense because of its sieve-like tendencies against the run. Mike Kadish isn't bad, but Bill Dunstan and Sherman White are journeymen. The Bills had only 17 quarterback sacks- the worst record in the NFL. Which makes their secondary something special."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

KICKING GAME
"How would you like to be Carson Long? Only 14 PAT attempts in 14 games and 11 field goal attempts, making seven. Marv Bateman, whose dream is to out-punt Ray Guy someday, finished below his expectations at 39.9. Keith Moody and John Kimbrough each returned a punt for a touchdown, so not all is lost."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

THE ROOKIES
"O.J. Simpson is gone and the Bills immediately replaced him with Oklahoma State great Terry Miller. Then Buffalo got down to a more serious area of concern, drafting defensive ends Dee Hardison of North Carolina and Scott Hutchinson of Florida."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

OUTLOOK
"Working under Carroll Rosenbloom was nothing in comparison to what Chuck Knox will experience this season. He inherits a team with more holes than the Watergate coverup. He'll need a long contract to endure those sleepless, winless nights to which he's unaccustomed."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1978 Edition

"The announcement that O.J. Simpson had shuffled off FROM Buffalo to San Francisco didn't exactly come as a thunderbolt. It was more or less expected, given all the talking and balking about the Juice's expressed desires to finish his career somewhere on California's shores, the land he calls home. What did come as a surprise was the announcement that highly successful Los Angeles head coach Chuck Knox would be taking over the Bills, replacing Jim Ringo in a job that's rapidly becoming noted for its transitory nature.
Knox is Buffalo's third head coach in less than three years. Ringo took over from Lou Saban in mid-season of 1976 and finally wound up with a 3-20 record overall. And now, enter Knox who was supposed to have herded the Rams all the way into the Super Bowl last year. Instead, they got stuck in a highly unusual mud bog and lost an NFC division playoff to a weather-hardened bunch of Minnesota Vikings, 14-7. It was a bizarre ending to Knox's well-founded hopes of a Super Bowl game after achieving the playoffs all five of his years in Los Angeles, his record there being 54-15-1.
Buffalo's All-Pro guard Joe DeLamielleure expressed the feelings of perhaps quite a few Bills when asked his views on the new head coach. 'A lot of guys couldn't believe it at first,' DeLamielleure confided. 'And then, it gave them a lot of confidence because Chuck Knox must see something positive here. He's a proven head coach and we're just happy that he could see enough here to interest him.'
What does interest Knox in Buffalo? It certainly can't be the weather, not after those years in balmy L-A. While the Bills have won only five of their last 28 games, Knox can rightfully discern some positive points. The 1977 passing offense, for instance, led the entire NFL in yards gained through the air, even though Joe Ferguson's performance at quarterback last season wasn't all that impressive. What was very noteworthy, however, was the Buffalo corps of receivers who caught a total of 221 passes for an average gain of 12.7 yards.
The Bills didn't rank quite so high in rushing offense, but they finished quite a way up the ladder in total offense- an AFC fourth behind the heady company of Oakland, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Ferguson's final game of '77 was a club record-breaker. In closing out the schedule against the Dolphins in the Orange Bowl, he completed 25 passes in 40 attempts for 331 yards and a touchdown. The 25 completions broke a Buffalo record for one game. He also surpassed club one-season marks for passing attempts with 457 and completions with 221.
In another area, corner Keith Moody, in his second year, set a new Buffalo record for best punt return average for a season, 13.1 yards per carry. Also, his 91-yard punt return for a touchdown against Cleveland is the longest in Buffalo annals. And for the second successive year, Bob Chandler caught more passes than any other NFL wide receiver. Whether it's offense or defense, Knox will find plenty about the Bills to keep him interested while he tries to achieve the balance of a tightrope walker over nearby Niagara Falls.
Of interest, naturally, are Knox's feelings about walking into the Buffalo job while one of pro football's greatest, the redoubtable Orange Juice, is walking out. 'The trade of Simpson to San Francisco creates an element of uncertainty at running back,' Knox admits. 'You don't lose an athlete of O.J.'s stature without feeling it. But we're optimistic about the prospect of finding a solid replacement. Roland Hooks did a good job after the Juice was sidelined for the year. There were also things to like about the limited play of Mike Collier and Curtis Brown. Jim Braxton, whose rushing totals were off last fall because of injury, is certainly a key to our ground game.'
In the opinion of some expert observers, Knox has already taken a head start toward resurrecting the Bills by making shrewd choices in the 1978 NFL college draft. In fact, Buffalo and New Orleans are regarded as this year's most successful drafters of rookie prospects. Knox & Company had five choices in the first three rounds and used them to select highly regarded collegians in positions that need help. Running backs Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) and Dennis Johnson (Mississippi State) provide some hope of offsetting O.J.'s departure. Defensive ends Dee Hardison (North Carolina) and Scott Hutchinson (Florida) give that lagging defensive unit a boost. Wide receiver Danny Fulton (Nebraska-Omaha) joins a pass-receiving unit that needs depth, even if doesn't need help."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

OFFENSE
"Quarterbacks: Interceptions kept Ferguson from being really effective last season. It's hard to believe he threw only one interception in 1976 (in 151 attempts) and 24 in 1977 (albeit on 457 throws). That, plus Buffalo's 20 lost fumbles and the 36 times Ferguson was sacked, contributed much to the 3-11 season.
Buffalo fans wanted rookie Ken Johnson to get a chance but he didn't. Besides Ferguson, the only other player to throw a pass for Buffalo last season was O.J. Simpson. He tossed the ball one time and it fell, like his career at this point, incomplete.
Running Backs: O.J. Simpson, as everybody knows, has switched teams if not rent-a-cars. Simpson watchers from Buffalo to Bombay will watch his San Francisco sojourn with an avid interest, at least.
Will he be missed by the Buffalo running game? Some say no, pointing to Braxton's smooth recovery from knee surgery and the present diversified rushing attack. Hooks showed good form his second year, but bigger developments may lie ahead.
The Bills chose two of college football's top running backs in the '78 NFL draft. No. 1 pick was Terry Miller, consensus All-American from Oklahoma State. Dennis Johnson of Mississippi State was chosen in the 3rd round. Johnson's rushing average was five-plus yards per carry. Concerning Terry Miller, Knox says, 'Comparison with O.J. Simpson at this point would be unfair to Terry, but he is also an explosive runner with the ability to make tacklers miss and he can run away from people.'
Receivers: Chandler's 60 receptions ranked second in the NFL, and Reuben Gant's 41 helped the passing attack considerably- so much so that Buffalo led the entire NFL in team passing offense (180.7 yards per game). A total of 221 pass receptions ranked an NFL third; running back Braxton caught 43 of these.
John Kimbrough is a speedy kick returner. There may be more to come. In the 3rd round the Bills chose Danny Fulton, fresh out of the University of Nebraska's Omaha campus and carrying a flock of impressive credentials.
Interior Linemen: Tackle Dave Foley retired after eight years and that leaves Joe Devlin, Joe DeLamielleure, Willie Parker and Reggie McKenzie as starters. Ken Jones, who played all 14 games, looms as Foley's possible replacement at left tackle although Winston Hill is on hand after an exchange with the Rams. This is the unit that did so well by O.J. Simpson, and also provided protection for the NFL's leading team passing attack in '77. It has that magic blend of talent, youth and experience.
Kickers: Marv Bateman does a good job with his 39.9 average. He may have some competition from Rusty Jackson who averaged 39.0 yards for the Rams in 1976.
Carson Long was an instant success his rookie year, with 13 of 14 PATs and seven of 11 field goals, some of them from beyond the 35-yard marker. Little wonder the Bills chose no shoe experts in the draft. But they did pick up one from the free agents- Tom Dempsey, lately of Houston."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

DEFENSE
"Front Linemen: Was Buffalo's defense suspect last season? Opinion differs on this, but the opposition did score 313 points, the enemy quarterbacks got sacked only 17 times and the opposition attack gained 318.1 yards [per game], which placed the Bills 11th in AFC team defense.
Phil Dokes and Mike Kadish gave good accounts of themselves, but some re-sorting may be in order here. Dee Hardison, a 2nd round choice, was an All-American end last season and Scott Hutchinson, also a second-round pick, received regional plaudits.
Linebackers: Merv Krakau filled in for the injured John Skorupan. Dan Jilek and Shane Nelson play aggressively and hit hard. Lucius Sanford is a 4th round choice from Georgia Tech where he achieved honorable mention All-America.
Cornerbacks: Mario Clark is living up to his pre-rookie evaluation. He does the job well and had seven interceptions last season. Dwight Harrison is one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Ball-carriers find him hard to get by.
Moody returns punts at a 13.1-yard pace and kickoffs at 21.2 yards per carry.
Safeties: Tony Greene's nine interceptions placed him second in the NFL behind Bengal Lyle Blackwood's 10. And Greene did it coming back from injury. Often penalized, Doug Jones makes up in aggressiveness what he lacks in tact."

-Herbert M. Furlow, The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978

"The O.J. Simpson era has ended in Buffalo, and a major rebuilding program has been initiated under the direction of former L.A. Ram head coach Chuck Knox. A glittering collegiate draft provided some optimism for the Bills' fans, who set a new all-time low in attendance last season when O.J. was sidelined with an injury. Knox, a run-oriented, ultra-conservative type, is expected to drastically revamp an offense that led the NFL in pass attempts (457) as well as a defense that recorded an NFL-low 17 sacks.
OFFENSE: Top draft pick Terry Miller of Oklahoma State is an all-purpose game-breaker with 1,000-yard potential, and should soften the blow of Simpson's departure. Power blocker Jim Braxton returns at fullback to lead the way for Miller. Highly regarded Dennis Johnson of Mississippi State packs speed and power and could be a factor at fullback, while Roland Hooks and Curtis Brown are reserve tailbacks.
Knox inherits a classy run-blocking line that features the play of All-Pro Joe DeLamielleure and veteran Reggie McKenzie at the guards. Willie Parker is the regular center, Joe Devlin is set at one tackle, but the other position is up for grabs among converted tight end Paul Seymour, Winston Hill and rookie Eric Smith (6'5"/275) of Southern Mississippi.
Quarterback Joe Ferguson has the tools and should prove to be less erratic (24 interceptions) under the conservative influence of Knox. Fred Besana has the edge over fellow soph Ken Johnson for the No. 2 passer role. Although plagued with constant double coverage, flanker Bob Chandler managed to rank second in the conference with 60 receptions. Prize draft pick Danny Fulton of Nebraska-Omaha should lighten the load by drawing attention on the opposite flank. John Holland, John Kimbrough and Lou Piccone are reserve wide receivers. Should Seymour be moved inside to tackle, talented Reuben Gant will take over tight end on a full-time basis, with young Ken Spaeth of Nebraska his backup.
Punter Marv Bateman posted a fine 39.9-yard average on his 81 punts last year and consistently ranks among the leaders in his specialty. Soph Carson Long and veteran Tom Dempsey battle for the placekicking job. The darting Miller will double as a key kick returner and should generate plenty of excitement with his breakaway ability.
DEFENSE: Knox will be starting from scratch in this disaster area and will rely on rookie talent to bring order to what has been a terribly disorganized unit. All-American Dee Hardison (6'4"/ 250) of North Carolina and top-rated Scott Hutchinson (6'4"/245) of Florida are expected to step into starting roles in the front line. Aggressive Mike Kadish should retain his regular status at tackle while Ben Williams, Sherman White and Bill Dunstan compete for the open slot.
The established linebacking trio is scheduled for revision due to the arrival of rookies Lucius Sanford of Georgia Tech and Mario Celotto of USC. John Skorupan and Dan Jilek appear relatively secure, but Merv Krakau and/or hustling Shane Nelson will have to scramble to retain their jobs. Bo Cornell and Tom Ruud figure to remain emergency reserves.
An especially cohesive secondary, one that has suffered from the lack of a pass rush, will remain intact with ball-hawking Mario Clark (seven interceptions) and Dwight Harrison working the corners while standout Tony Greene (nine interceptions) pairs with capable Doug Jones at the safety spots. Steve Freeman is the key reserve while Keith Moody and Charles Romes add depth.
PFI OUTLOOK: The Bills have plenty of individual talent on hand and could respond in surprising fashion to the fundamentalist approach of Knox. The new field boss faces a difficult adjustment, moving from a first place team to a cellar-dwelling club as well as from the defense-oriented NFC to the high scoring AFC. It could prove to be a painful transition this first year."
Prediction: 5th Place

-Pro Football Illustrated 1978, published by Complete Sports, Inc.

"New coach Chuck Knox takes over a floundering club that no longer has O.J. Despite Knox's reputation as run-oriented and conservative, look for the Bills to emphasize the pass. Joe Ferguson has become a prolific passer, but if he goes down the Bills are left with dubious relief pitching.
Terry Miller was drafted No. 1 to replace O.J., with an assist from Roland Hooks. The offensive line is still formidable."

-Jimmy the Greek, Jimmy the Greek's 1978 Football Handbook

1978 Fleer Action: Buffalo Bills Daylight Breakers

"All a good NFL runner needs is 'a little daylight' and he's gone. The Bills provided their strong backs with room to run during the 1977 season. Buffalo's offensive linemen make sure that one of their backs 'sees the light.' "

-1978 Fleer No. 5

1978 Fleer Action: Buffalo Bills Swarming Defense

"One grabs him high, the other grabs him low- the Bills' defensive unit enjoys getting together to stop an offensive play.

The Bills' swarming defense enabled Buffalo to lead the AFC in fewest first downs given up in passing situations last season."

-1978 Fleer No. 6

1978 BUFFALO BILLS ROSTERS

1978 Buffalo Bills Preseason Roster

Head Coach - Chuck Knox

Assistant Coaches: Tom Catlin, Jack Donaldson, Elijah Pitts, Ray Prochaska, Kay Stephenson, Jim Wagstaff, Willie Zapalac

60 Bill Adams (G) Holy Cross 

7  Marv Bateman (P) Utah 

34 Jim Braxton (FB) West Virginia 

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

81 Bob Chandler (WR) USC 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon 

35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State 

50 Greg Collins (LB) Notre Dame 

30 Bo Cornell (LB) Washington  

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma State

76 Bill Dunstan (DT) Utah State

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas 

36 Mike Franckowiak (RB) Central Michigan 

22 Steve Freeman (CB-S) Mississippi State

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland  

28 Dwight Harrison (CB) Texas A&M-Kingsville 

80 John Holland (WR) Tennessee State

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State

Tom Hull (LB) Penn State

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

14 Ken Johnson (QB) Colorado

24 Doug Jones (S) Arizona State, Cal State-Northridge 

73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State 

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

82 John Kimbrough (WR-PR) St. Cloud State 

52 Merv Krakau (LB) Iowa State 

72 John Little (DT) Oklahoma State 

5  Carson Long (K)  Pittsburgh 

John McCrumbly (Texas A&M)

67 Reggie McKenzie (G)  

46 Keith Moody (KR-CB) Syracuse 

79 Greg Morton (DE) Michigan 

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor  

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

26 Charles Romes (S) North Carolina Central 

54 Tom Ruud (LB) Nebraska  

87 Paul Seymour (TE) Michigan  

55 John Skorupan (LB) Penn State

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

86 Leonard Willis (WR) Ohio State

38 Stan Winfrey (RB) Arkansas State

Randy Young (T) Iowa State

53 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue 

Top Five Draft Choices

 1 Terry Miller (RB) Oklahoma State

 2 Dee Hardison (DE) North Carolina

 2 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida

 3 Dennis Johnson (RB) Mississippi State

 3 Danny Fulton (WR) Nebraska-Omaha

-1978 Complete Handbook of Pro Football

1978 Buffalo Bills Preseason Roster, By Position

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks

Fred Besana (California)

Joe Ferguson (Arkansas)

Ken Johnson (Colorado)

Running Backs

Jim Braxton (West Virginia)

Curtis Brown (Missouri) 

Mike Collier (Morgan State)

Mike Franckowiak (Central Michigan) 

Roland Hooks (North Carolina State)

Dennis Johnson (Mississippi State)

Terry Miller (Oklahoma State)

Stan Winfrey (Arkansas State)

Receivers

Bob Chandler (W) (USC)

Danny Fulton (W) (Nebraska-Omaha)

Reuben Gant (T) (Oklahoma State)

John Holland (W) (Tennessee State)

Jim Kimbrough (W) (St. Cloud State)

Lou Piccone (W) (West Liberty State)

Paul Seymour (T) (Michigan)

Len Willis (W) (Ohio State)

(W)-Wide Receiver  (T)-Tight End

Interior Linemen

Bill Adams (G) (Holy Cross)

Joe DeLamielleure (G) (Michigan State)

Joe Devlin (T) (Iowa)

Winston Hill (T) (Texas Southern)

Ken Jones (T) (Arkansas State)

Reggie McKenzie (G) (Michigan)

Willie Parker (C) (North Texas State)

Randy Young (T) (Iowa State)

Connie Zelencik (C) (Purdue)

(T)-Tackle  (G)-Guard  (C)-Center

Kickers

Marv Bateman (P) (Utah)

Tom Dempsey (PK) (Palomar JC)

Carson Long (PK) (Pittsburgh)

Rusty Jackson (P) (LSU)

(PK)-Place Kicker  (P)-Punter

DEFENSE

Front Linemen

Phil Dokes (E) (Oklahoma State)

Bill Dunstan (T) (Utah State)

Dee Hardison (E) (North Carolina)

Scott Hutchinson (E) (Florida)

Mike Kadish (T) (Notre Dame)

Pete Lazetich (T) (Stanford)

John Little (T) (Oklahoma State)

Greg Morton (E) (Michigan)

Phil Olsen (T) (Utah State)

Sherman White (E) (California)

Ben Williams (E) (Mississippi)

(E)-End  (T)-Tackle

Linebackers

Greg Collins (M) Notre Dame

Bo Cornell (O) (Washington)

Dan Jilek (O) (Michigan)

Merv Krakau (M) (Iowa State)

Shane Nelson (O) (Baylor)

Tom Ruud (O) (Nebraska)

Lucius Sanford (O) (Georgia Tech)

John Skorupan (O) (Penn State)

(O)-Outside Linebacker  (M)-Middle Linebacker

Cornerbacks

Mario Clark (Oregon)

Dwight Harrison (Texas A & I)

Keith Moody (Syracuse)

Safeties

Steve Freeman (Mississippi State)

Tony Greene (Maryland)

Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley State)

Charles Romes (North Carolina Central)

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978, published by Pocket Books, New York

1978 Buffalo Bills Basic Roster

Offense

WR  Bob Chandler

WR  John Holland

WR  John Kimbrough

TE  Reuben Gant

TE  Paul Seymour

T   Joe Devlin

T   Ken Jones

G   Reggie McKenzie

G   Joe DeLamielleure

C   Willie Parker

QB  Joe Ferguson

RB  Roland Hooks

RB  Jim Braxton

RB  Curtis Brown

RB  Mike Collier

Defense

DE  Ben Williams

DE  Sherman White

DE  Phil Dokes

DT  Mike Kadish

DT  Bill Dunstan

LB  John Skorupan

LB  Dan Jilek

LB  Shane Nelson

LB  Tom Ruud

DB  Mario Clark

DB  Dwight Harrison

DB  Tony Greene

DB  Doug Jones

DB  Keith Moody

-Jimmy the Greek's 1978 Football Handbook

1978 Bills Veteran Roster

Head Coach - Chuck Knox

60 Bill Adams (G) Holy Cross 

7  Marv Bateman (P) Utah 

34 Jim Braxton (FB) West Virginia 

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

81 Bob Chandler (WR) USC 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon 

35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State 

50 Greg Collins (LB) Notre Dame 

30 Bo Cornell (LB) Washington  

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma State

76 Bill Dunstan (DT) Utah State

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas 

78 Dave Foley (T) Ohio State

36 Mike Franckowiak (RB) Central Michigan 

22 Steve Freeman (CB-S) Mississippi State

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland  

28 Dwight Harrison (CB) Texas A&M-Kingsville 

80 John Holland (WR) Tennessee State

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State

Tom Hull (LB) Penn State

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

14 Ken Johnson (QB) Colorado

24 Doug Jones (S) Arizona State, Cal State-Northridge 

73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State 

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

82 John Kimbrough (WR-PR) St. Cloud State 

52 Merv Krakau (LB) Iowa State 

72 John Little (DT) Oklahoma State 

5  Carson Long (K)  Pittsburgh 

John McCrumbly (Texas A&M)

67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan 

46 Keith Moody (KR-CB) Syracuse 

79 Greg Morton (DE) Michigan 

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor  

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

26 Charles Romes (S) North Carolina Central 

54 Tom Ruud (LB) Nebraska  

87 Paul Seymour (TE) Michigan  

55 John Skorupan (LB) Penn State

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

86 Leonard Willis (WR) Ohio State

38 Stan Winfrey (RB) Arkansas State

Randy Young (T) Iowa State

53 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue 

-Football Digest (September 1978) 

1978 Bills Draft Choices

1 Terry Miller (RB) Oklahoma State

2 Dee Hardison (DE) North Carolina

2 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida (from San Francisco)

3 Dennis Johnson (RB) Mississippi State

3 Danny Fulton (WR) Nebraska-Omaha (from San Francisco)

4 Lucious Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech

5 Ken Spaeth (TE) Nebraska

6 choice to New York Jets

6 Eric Smith (T) Southern Mississippi (from Philadelphia)

7 Mario Celotta (LB) USC

7 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri (from Houston)

8 choice to New England through Philadelphia

9 choice to New York Jets

10 Will Grant (C) Kentucky

11 Jerry Blanton (LB) Kentucky

12 Richard Crump (RB) Northeast Oklahoma A&M JC  to check

-Football Digest (September 1978) 

1978 Buffalo Bills Revised Roster

   4  Rusty Jackson (P) LSU

   6 Tom Dempsey (K) Palomar State

   9 Bill Munson (QB) Utah State

10 David Mays (QB) Texas Southern

12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas  

21 Marvin Switzer (CB) Mississippi State

22 Steve Freeman (SS) Mississippi State

23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State

24 Doug Jones (SS) Cal State-Northridge 

25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State

26 Charles Romes (CB) North Carolina Central 

29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon   

39 Dennis D. Johnson (FB) Mississippi State

40 Terry Miller (RB) Oklahoma State

41 Eddie McMillan (CB) Florida State

43 Tony Greene (FS) Maryland  

46 Keith Moody (CB) Syracuse  

47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri 

49 Larry Walton (WR) Arizona State

51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan 

53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky

54 Randy McClanahan (LB) Southwest Louisiana

55 Tom Graham (LB) Oklahoma

56 Tom Ehlers (LB) Kentucky

57 Lucious Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech

59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor  

60 Bill Adams (G) Holy Cross  

61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State 

67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan

68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State

70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa 

71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame 

72 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas State 

74 Dee Hardison (DT) North Carolina

75 Dennis L. Johnson (DT) Delaware

77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi 

78 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida

79 Elbert Drungo (T) Tennessee State

81 Bob Chandler (WR) USC 

82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling

83 Sherman White (DE) California 

84 Mike Franckowiak (TE) Central Michigan

85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma State

88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State

89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State

-Football Digest (January 1979) 

1978 BUFFALO BILLS DEPTH CHARTS

1978 Bills Preseason Depth Chart

OFFENSE

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas), Ken Johnson (Colorado), Fred Besana (California)

RB Roland Hooks (North Carolina State), Mike Franckowiack (Central Michigan), Terry Miller (Oklahoma State)*, Dennis Johnson(Mississippi State)*

RB Jim Braxton (West Virginia), Mike Collier (Morgan State), Curtis Brown (Missouri), Stan Winfrey (Arkansas State)

WR John Holland (Tennessee State), Lou Piccone (West Liberty State), John Kimbrough (St. Cloud State)

LT Ken Jones (Arkansas State), Winston Hill (Texas Southern)

LG Reggie McKenzie (Michigan), Bill Adams (Holy Cross)

C Willie Parker (North Texas State), Connie Zelencik (Purdue)

RG Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State), Bill Adams (Holy Cross)

RT Joe Devlin (Iowa), Ken Jones (Arkansas State), Randy Young (Iowa State)

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State), Paul Seymour (Michigan)

WR Bob Chandler (USC), Len Willis (Ohio State), Danny Fulton (Nebraska-Omaha)*

DEFENSE

LE Ben Williams (Mississippi), Greg Morton (Michigan), Dee Hardison (North Carolina)*

LT Mike Kadish (Notre Dame), John Little (Oklahoma State), Pete Lazetich (Stanford)

RT Bill Dunstan (Utah State), John Little (Oklahoma State), Phil Olsen (Utah State)

RE Sherman White (California), Phil Dokes (Oklahoma State), Scott Hutchinson (Florida)*

LLB John Skorupan (Penn State), Shane Nelson (Baylor), Tom Ruud (Nebraska)

MLB Merv Krakau (Iowa State), Greg Collins (Notre Dame)

RLB Dan Jilek (Michigan), Bo Cornell (Washington), Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech)*

LCB Mario Clark (Oregon), Keith Moody (Syracuse)

SS Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley), Steve Freeman (Mississippi State)

FS Tony Greene (Maryland), Charles Romes (North Carolina Central)

RCB Dwight Harrison (Texas A & I), Keith Moody (Syracuse)

KICKERS

K Carson Long (Pittsburgh), Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC)

P Marv Bateman (Utah), Rusty Jackson (LSU)

* rookie

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1978, published by Pocket Books, New York

OFFENSE

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12, Bill Munson (Utah State) 9, David Mays (Texas Southern) 10

RB Terry Miller (Oklahoma State)*, Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25, Steve Powell (Northeast Missouri State) 23

FB Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47, Dennis D. Johnson (Mississippi State)*    

WR Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82, Larry Walton (Arizona State) 49

T Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72

G Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67, Bill Adams (Holy Cross) 60

C Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61, Will Grant (Kentucky) 53

G Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) 68 

T Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70, Elbert Drungo (Tennessee State) 79

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88, Mike Franckowiak (Central Michigan) 84 

WR  Bob Chandler (USC) 81, Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

DEFENSE

DE Ben Williams (Mississippi) 77, Dennis L. Johnson (Delaware) 75

DT Dee Hardison (North Carolina)* 

DT Phil Dokes (Oklahoma State) 85, Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71

DE Sherman White (California) 83, Scott Hutchinson (Florida)*

LB  Shane Nelson (Baylor) 59, Tom Ehlers (Kentucky) 56

MLB Randy McClanahan (Louisiana-Lafayette) 54, Tom Graham (Oklahoma) 55

LB Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech)*, Dan Jilek (Michigan) 51

CB Mario Clark (Oregon) 29, Eddie McMillan (Florida State) 41

SS Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley) 24, Steve Freeman (Mississippi State) 22

FS Tony Greene (Maryland) 43, Marvin Switzer (Mississippi State) 21

CB Charles Romes (North Carolina Central) 26, Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46

K Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC) 6

P Rusty Jackson (LSU) 4

KR  Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46, Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47

PR  Keith Moody (Syracuse) 46, Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

* rookie

1978 BUFFALO BILLS TOPPS CARDS

Marv Bateman 

Jim Braxton

Bob Chandler (1977 Bills Receiving Leader,  745 yards)

Mario Clark

Joe DeLamielleure

Joe Ferguson

Reuben Gant

Tony Greene (1977 Bills Interceptions Leader, 9) 

Dwight Harrison 

Roland Hooks 

Mike Kadish 

Merv Krakau 

Reggie McKenzie

Willie Parker

Lou Piccone 

Paul Seymour 

Sherman White (1977 Bills Quarterback Sacks Leader, 4) (no 1978 Topps card)

-Topps No. 503

1978 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary

Head Coach - Chuck Knox

Defensive Coordinator - Tom Caitlin

QB Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12

QB Bill Munson (Utah State) 9

RB Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25

RB  Terry Miller (Oklahoma State 40

FB Jim Braxton (West Virginia) 34

WR Bob Chandler (USC) 81

WR Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82

WR Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

WR Larry Walton (Arizona State) 49

TE Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88

TE Paul Seymour (Michigan) 87

C Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61

G Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67

G Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) 68

T Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70

T Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72

T Winston Hill (Texas Southern) 76

T Elbert Drungo (Tennessee State) 79

 

DT Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71

DT Phil Dokes (Oklahoma State) 85

DE Sherman White (California) 83

DE Dennis L. Johnson (Delaware) 75

MLB Tom Graham (Oregon) 58

MLB Merv Krakau (Iowa State) 52

LB John Skorupan (Penn State) 55

LB Dan Jilek (Michigan) 51

LB Tom Ruud (Nebraska) 54

CB Mario Clark (Oregon) 29

CB Dwight Harrison (Texas A & I) 28

CB Eddie McMillan (Florida State) 41

SS Doug Jones (San Fernando Valley) 24

FS Tony Greene (Maryland) 43

K Tom Dempsey (Palomar JC) 6

K Carson Long (Pittsburgh) 5

P Marv Bateman (Utah) 7

KR Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

PR Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

1977 Buffalo Bills Preseason Depth Charts

OFFENSE
QB - JOE FERGUSON 12, Gary Marangi 17, Fred Besana*
RB - O.J. SIMPSON 32, Roland Hooks 25, Curtis Brown*
RB - JIM BRAXTON 34, Jeff Kinney 36, Darnell Powell 35, Nate Jackson*
WR - JOHN HOLLAND 80, Emmett Edwards 86, Thom Gossoms**, Bill Houston**
LT- DAVE FOLEY 78, Ken Jones 69
LG - REGGIE MCKENZIE 67, Will Wilcox*
C - MIKE MONTLER 53, Willie Parker 61, Bob Patton 65
RG - JOE DELAMIELLEURE 68, Bill Adams 60
RT - DONNIE GREEN 74, Joe Devlin 70
TE - PAUL SEYMOUR 87, Reuben Gant 88, Fred Coleman 84
WR - BOB CHANDLER 81, Ron Holliday 82, Eddie Bell 27, Steve Shelton**

DEFENSE
LE - Ben Williams 77, Ron Pruitt*
LT - MIKE KADISH 71, Jeff Lloyd 75
RT - MARTY SMITH 79, Bill Dunstan 76
RE - SHERMAN WHITE 83, Phil Dokes*
LLB - JOHN SKORUPAN 55, Tom Ruud 54, Mark Johnson 50
MLB- MERV KRAKAU 52, Bob Nelson 56, Greg Morton*
RLB - DAN JILEK 51, Bo Cornell 30
LCB - MARIO CLARK 29, Robert James 20, Willie Smith**, Charles Romes*
SS - DOUG JONES 24, Van Green 21
FS - TONY GREENE 43, Steve Freeman 22
RCB - DWIGHT HARRISON 28, Keith Moody 46

SPECIALISTS
K - GEORGE JAKOWENKO 5, Ron Slovenski**, Neil O'Donoghue*
P - MARV BATEMAN 7, Wilbur Summers**

* rookie
** free agent
1976 STARTERS IN CAPITAL LETTERS

-Buffalo Bills 1977 Press-TV-Radio Guide

OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Joe Ferguson (Arkansas)
Gary Marangi (Boston College)

Running Backs
O.J. Simpson (USC)
Jim Braxton (West Virginia)
Roland Hooks (North Carolina State)
Jeff Kinney (Nebraska)
Darnell Powell (Chattanooga)

Receivers
Bob Chandler (W) (USC)
John Holland (W) (Tennessee State)
Paul Seymour (T) (Michigan)
Reuben Gant (T) (Oklahoma State)
Eddie Bell (W) (Idaho State)
Fred Coleman (T) (Northeast Louisiana)
Emmett Edwards (W) (Kansas)
(W)-Wide Receiver  (T)-Tight End

Interior Linemen
Dave Foley (T) (Ohio State)
Joe Devlin (T) (Iowa)
Joe DeLamielleure (G) (Michigan State)
Reggie McKenzie (G) (Michigan)
Mike Montler (C) (Colorado)
Donnie Green (T) (Purdue)
Bill Adams (G) (Holy Cross)
Willie Parker (C-G) (North Texas State)
Ken Jones (T-G) (Arkansas State)
Bob Patton (C) (Delaware)
(T)-Tackle  (G)-Guard  (C)-Center

Kickers
George Jakowenko (PK) (Syracuse)
Marv Bateman (P) (Utah)
(PK)-Place Kicker  (P)-Punter

DEFENSE
Front Linemen
Ben Williams (E) (Mississippi)
Sherman White (E) (California)
Mike Kadish (T) (Notre Dame)
Bill Dunstan (T) (Utah State)
Marty Smith (T) (Louisville)
Jeff Lloyd (T) (West Texas State)
(E)-End  (T)-Tackle

Linebackers
Dan Jilek (O) (Michigan)
John Skorupan (O) (Penn State)
Merv Krakau (M) (Iowa State)
Tom Ruud (O) (Nebraska)
Bob Nelson (O-M) (Nebraska)
Bo Cornell (O) (Washington)
Mark Johnson (O) (Missouri)

(O)-Outside Linebacker  (M)-Middle Linebacker

Cornerbacks
Mario Clark (Oregon)
Dwight Harrison (Texas A & I)
Keith Moody (Syracuse)
Clifford Brooks (Tennessee State)
Robert James (Fisk)

Safeties
Doug Jones (S) (San Fernando Valley State)
Tony Greene (W) (Maryland)
Van Green (S) (Shaw)
Steve Freeman (W) (Mississippi State)
(S)-Strong Side  (W)-Weak Side or 'Free' Safety

* Rookie

-Pro Football 1977 published by Ballantine Books

OFFENSE
QB - Joe Ferguson, Gary Marangi, Sam Wyche
RB - O.J. Simpson, Roland Hooks, Darnell Powell
RB - Jim Braxton, Jeff Kinney, Curtis Brown*
WR - John Holland, Emmett Edwards, Ron Holliday, John Kimbrough*
LT- Dave Foley, Ken Jones, Bill Dunstan
LG - Reggie McKenzie, Bill Adams
C - Mike Montler, Willie Parker, Bob Patton
RG - Joe DeLamielleure, Will Wilcox*
RT - Donnie Green, Joe Devlin
TE - Paul Seymour, Reuben Gant, Fred Coleman
WR - Bob Chandler, John Holland, Eddie Bell

DEFENSE
LE - Ben Williams
LT - Mike Kadish, Jeff Lloyd, Phil Dokes*
RT - Marty Smith, Jeff Lloyd
RE - Sherman White
LLB - John Skorupan, Tom Ruud, Mark Johnson
MLB- Merv Krakau, Bob Nelson
RLB - Dan Jilek, Bo Cornell
LCB - Mario Clark, Keith Moody, Clifford Brooks
SS - Doug Jones, Van Green
FS - Tony Greene, Steve Freeman
RCB- Dwight Harrison, Keith Moody, Robert James

KICKERS
K- George Jakowenko
P- Marv Bateman


* rookie

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1977, published by Pocket Books, New York