Sunday, December 29, 2019

1980 Buffalo Bills Preseason Roster and Depth Charts

1980 Bills Preseason Roster
Head Coach - Chuck Knox
Assistant Coaches: Tom Catlin, Jack Donaldson, Miller McCallum, Steve Moore, Elijah Pitts, Ray Prochaska, Kay Stephenson, Jim Wagstaff, Willie Zapalac
73 Jon Borchardt (T) Montana State
47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri
80 Jerry Butler (WR) Clemson
29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon
35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State
68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State
70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa
85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma St.
56 Tom Ehlers (LB) Kentucky
12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas
22 Steve Freeman (S) Mississippi State
84 Dan Fulton (WR) Nebraska-Omaha
62 Ed Fulton (G) Maryland
88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State
53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky
21 Doug Greene (S) Texas A&I
43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland
74 Dee Hardison (NT) North Carolina
55 Jim Haslett (LB) Indiana (PA)
54 Tom Higgins (LB) North Carolina State
25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State
Ron Howard (TE) Seattle
90 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida
 4  Rusty Jackson (P) LSU
51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan
39 Dennis Johnson (FB) Mississippi State
91 Ken Johnson (DE) Knoxville
73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas St.
71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame
52 Chris Keating (LB) Maine
82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling
11 Dan Manucci (QB) Kansas State
67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan
  5 Nick Mike-Mayer (K) Temple
40 Terry Miller (RB) North Carolina State
46 Keith Moody (CB-KR) Syracuse
 9  Bill Munson (QB) Utah State
59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor
38 Jeff Nixon (S) Richmond
61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State
89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State
23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State
58 Isiah Robertson (LB) Southern
26 Charles Romes (CB) North Carolina Central
57 Lucius Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech
87 Joe Shipp (TE) USC
76 Fred Smerlas (NT) Boston College
Phil Villapiano (LB) Bowling Green
65 Tim Vogler (C) Ohio State
83 Sherman White (DE) California
77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi
86 Len Willis (WR) Ohio St.
60 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue

Top Draft Choices
 1 Jim Richter (C) North Carolina State
 2 Joe Cribbs (RB) Auburn
 2 Gene Bradley (QB) Arkansas State
 3 Mark Brammer (TE) Michigan State
 3 John Schmeding (G) Boston College

-1980 Complete Handbook of Pro Football

50 A Ball (LB) Fullerton
K Baker (LB) William Penn
73 Jon Borchardt (T) Montana State
47 Curtis Brown (RB) Missouri
80 Jerry Butler (WR) Clemson
29 Mario Clark (CB) Oregon
35 Mike Collier (RB) Morgan State
68 Joe DeLamielleure (G) Michigan State
70 Joe Devlin (T) Iowa
85 Phil Dokes (DE) Oklahoma St.
56 Tom Ehlers (LB) Kentucky
12 Joe Ferguson (QB) Arkansas
22 Steve Freeman (S) Mississippi State
84 Dan Fulton (WR) Nebraska-Omaha
62 Ed Fulton (G) Maryland
88 Reuben Gant (TE) Oklahoma State
53 Will Grant (C) Kentucky
21 Doug Greene (S) Texas A&I
43 Tony Greene (S) Maryland
74 Dee Hardison (NT) North Carolina
55 Jim Haslett (LB) Indiana (PA)
54 Tom Higgins (LB) North Carolina State
25 Roland Hooks (RB) North Carolina State
Ron Howard (TE) Seattle
90 Scott Hutchinson (DE) Florida
M Iremia (DE) Brigham Young
51 Dan Jilek (LB) Michigan
39 Dennis Johnson (FB) Mississippi State
91 Ken Johnson (DE) Knoxville
73 Ken Jones (T) Arkansas St.
71 Mike Kadish (DT) Notre Dame
52 Chris Keating (LB) Maine
M Kirtman (WR) San Jose State
20 R Kush (S) Nebraska-Omaha
R Leaks (FB) Texas
82 Frank Lewis (WR) Grambling
11 Dan Manucci (QB) Kansas State
67 Reggie McKenzie (G) Michigan
  5 Nick Mike-Mayer (K) Temple
40 Terry Miller (RB) North Carolina State
46 Keith Moody (CB-KR) Syracuse
 9  Bill Munson (QB) Utah State
59 Shane Nelson (LB) Baylor
38 Jeff Nixon (S) Richmond
61 Willie Parker (C) North Texas State
89 Lou Piccone (WR) West Liberty State
23 Steve Powell (RB) Northeast Missouri State
58 Isiah Robertson (LB) Southern
26 Charles Romes (CB) North Carolina Central
57 Lucius Sanford (LB) Georgia Tech
87 Joe Shipp (TE) USC
76 Fred Smerlas (NT) Boston College
Phil Villapiano (LB) Bowling Green
65 Tim Vogler (C) Ohio State
83 Sherman White (DE) California
77 Ben Williams (DE) Mississippi
86 Len Willis (WR) Ohio St.
60 Connie Zelencik (C) Purdue

-1980 Street & Smith's Official Pro Football Yearbook


1980 Bills Preseason Depth Charts
OFFENSE
QB - Joe Ferguson (Arkansas), Bill Munson (Utah State), Dan Manucci (Kansas State), Gene Bradley (Arkansas State)*
RB - Terry Miller (Oklahoma State), Roland Hooks (North Carolina State), Steve Powell (Northeast Missouri State), Joe Cribbs (Auburn)*
RB - Curtis Brown (Missouri), Mike Collier (Morgan State), Dennis Johnson (Mississippi State)
WR - Jerry Butler (Clemson), Lou Piccone (West Liberty State)
T- Ken Jones (Arkansas State, Jon Borchardt (Montana State)
G - Reggie McKenzie (Michigan), Ed Fulton (Maryland)
C - Willie Parker (North Texas State), Will Grant (Kentucky), Tim Vogler (Ohio State), Connie Zelencik (Purdue), Jim Richter (North Carolina State)*
G - Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State), John Schmeding (Boston College)*
T - Joe Devlin (Iowa), Dee Hardison (North Carolina)
TE - Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State), Joe Shipp (USC), Ron Howard (Seattle), Mark Brammer (Michigan State)*
WR - Frank Lewis (Grambling), Dan Fulton (Nebraska-Omaha), Mike Kirtman (San Jose State)

DEFENSE
E - Ben Williams (Mississippi), Ken Johnson (Knoxville), Mekeli Ieremia (Brigham Young)
NT - Mike Kadish (Notre Dame), Fred Smerlas (Boston College)               
E - Sherman White (California), Scott Hutchinson (Florida), Phil Dokes (Oklahoma State)
LB - Isiah Robertson (Southern), Phil Villapiano (Bowling Green)
LB- Jim Haslett (Indiana-PA), Chris Keating (Maine), Kevin Baker (William Penn)
LB - Shane Nelson (Baylor), Tom Higgins (North Carolina State), Tom Ehlers (Kentucky), Ervin Parker (South Carolina State)*
LB - Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech), Dan Jilek (Michigan), Aaron Ball (Fullerton State)
CB - Mario Clark (Oregon), Keith Moody (Syracuse), Jeff Pyburn (Georgia)*
S - Steve Freeman (Mississippi State), Doug Greene (Texas A & I), Rod Kush (Nebraska-Omaha)
S - Jeff Nixon (Richmond), Tony Greene (Maryland)
CB - Charles Romes (North Carolina Central), Len Willis (Ohio State), Keith Lee (Colorado State)*

KICKERS
K - Nick Mike-Mayer (Temple)
P - Rusty Jackson (LSU)

* rookie

-The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1980, published by Pocket Books, New York

OFFENSE
QB - Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12, David Humm (Nebraska) 10, Dan Manucci (Kansas State) 11, Gene Bradley (Arkansas State)*
RB - Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40, Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25, Joe Cribbs (Auburn)*
FB - Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47, Roosevelt Leaks (Texas) 48                 
WR - Jerry Butler (Clemson) 80, Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89
T- Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72, Dee Hardison (North Carolina) 74
G - Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67, John Schmeding (Boston College)*
C - Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61, Jim Richter (North Carolina State)*, Will Grant (Kentucky) 53
G - Conrad Dobler (Wyoming) 69, Tim Vogler (Ohio State) 65
T - Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70, Jon Borchardt (Montana State) 73
TE - Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88, Mark Brammer (Michigan State) 86
WR - Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82, Ron Jessie (Kansas) 81

DEFENSE
DE - Ben Williams (Mississippi) 77, Ken Johnson (Knoxville) 91
NT - Fred Smerlas (Boston College) 76, Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71, Dee Hardison (North Carolina) 74
DE - Sherman White (California) 83, Scott Hutchinson (Florida) 90
OLB -  Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech) 57, Phil Villapiano (Bowling Green) 41
ILB - Jim Haslett (Indiana-Pennsylvania) 55, Chris Keating (Maine) 52
ILB - Shane Nelson (Baylor) 59, Ervin Parker*
OLB - Isiah Robertson (Southern) 58
CB - Mario Clark (Oregon) 29, Jeff Pyburn (Georgia)*
SS - Steve Freeman (Mississippi State) 22, Rod Kush (Nebraska-Omaha) 42
FS - Jeff Nixon (Richmond) 38
CB- Charles Romes (North Carolina Central) 26, Rufus Bess (South Carolina State) 28

KICKERS
K - Nick Mike-Mayer (Temple) 5
P - Greg Cater (Tennessee-Chattanooga) 7, Rusty Jackson (LSU) 4
KR - Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40
PR - Joe Cribbs (Auburn)*

* rookie


1980 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary
Head Coach - Chuck Knox
QB - Joe Ferguson (Arkansas) 12
RB - Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40
RB - Roland Hooks (North Carolina State) 25
RB - Joe Cribbs (Auburn) 20
FB - Curtis Brown (Missouri) 47
FB - Roosevelt Leaks (Texas) 48
WR - Jerry Butler (Clemson) 80
WR - Frank Lewis (Grambling) 82
WR - Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89
TE - Reuben Gant (Oklahoma State) 88
C - Willie Parker (North Texas State) 61
C - Jim Richter (North Carolina State) 51
G - Reggie McKenzie (Michigan) 67
G - Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) 68
G - Conrad Dobler (Wyoming) 69
T - Joe Devlin (Iowa) 70
T- Ken Jones (Arkansas State) 72

NT - Fred Smerlas (Boston College) 76
NT - Mike Kadish (Notre Dame) 71
DE - Sherman White (California) 83
DE - Ben Williams (Mississippi) 77
ILB - Jim Haslett (Indiana-Pennsylvania) 55
ILB - Shane Nelson (Baylor) 59
OLB - Isiah Robertson (Southern) 58
OLB -  Lucius Sanford (Georgia Tech) 57
OLB -  Phil Villapiano (Bowling Green) 41
CB - Mario Clark (Oregon) 29
CB- Charles Romes (North Carolina Central) 26
SS - Steve Freeman (Mississippi State) 22
FS - Jeff Nixon (Richmond) 38
FS - Tony Greene (Maryland) 43

K - Nick Mike-Mayer (Temple) 5
P - Rusty Jackson (LSU) 4
KR - Terry Miller (Oklahoma State) 40
KR - Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89
PR - Joe Cribbs (Auburn) 20
PR - Lou Piccone (West Liberty State) 89

Saturday, December 28, 2019

1980 Profile: Steve Freeman

Strong Safety
No. 22
Mississippi State
Steve has played in 74 consecutive games for the Bills since coming from the Patriots on waivers during the preseason of 1975. Since becoming a regular safety midway through '78, the last 23 have been as a starter. He led all Buffalo defensive backs with 109 tackles in '78 and last year had three interceptions, one of which he returned 50 yards for a touchdown against the Broncos.
A three-year starter at Mississippi State, Steve led the team in interceptions his final two years. As a senior, he returned 12 punts for 101 yards. He played in the North-South and Senior Bowl games.

1980 Profile: Charles Romes

Cornerback
No. 26
North Carolina Central
In the opening game of the 1979 season against Miami, Charles returned a field goal blocked by Sherman White 76  yards for a touchdown. In 1978 against the Jets, he had the longest interception return of the year in the AFC (second-longest in NFL) by intercepting a pass and running 85 yards for a touchdown. He has played 46 straight games since making the squad as a 12th-rounder in '77 and has started 32 straight in the last two seasons.
Charles has run the 40 in 4.5; before transferring to North Carolina Central, he was the national junior college champion in the 60- and 120-yard high hurdles for Lake City (Fla.) Junior College.

Friday, December 27, 2019

1980 Profile: Lucius Sanford

Linebacker
No. 57
Georgia Tech
Playing in every game for Buffalo in his two years as a pro, Lucius has started every game since the second week of his rookie season. His 116 tackles and five quarterback sacks both led the team in '78 and were followed by 112 tackles and two interceptions last year. Lucius blocked two field goals in one game against the Kansas City Chiefs in '78, the first Buffalo Bill ever to accomplish this, and in '79 scored his first touchdown as a pro by blocking a punt and returning it against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lucius was a starter for four years at Georgia Tech and captain as a senior. As a senior, he was a Sporting News All-American and an AP second team All-American.

R.I.P. Elbert Dubenion

Forever a Folk Hero of the Niagara Frontier

Monday, December 23, 2019

1980 Profile: Isiah Robertson

Linebacker
No. 58
Southern
When the six-time Pro Bowl selection intercepted a pass against the Bengals last year and returned it for a touchdown, it was the third interception returned for a touchdown in his career- in the regular season. In 1975, when still with the Rams, he returned one 76 yards for a score against the Eagles, and in '73 it was 49 yards for a touchdown against the Giants. And in a 1974 playoff game against the Redskins, Isiah intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown in a 19-10 Los Angeles win.
With 11 interceptions in three seasons at Southern, Isiah was an AP and UPI small college All-American and a Sporting News All-American.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

1980 Profile: Shane Nelson

Linebacker
No. 59
Baylor
With a career high 192 tackles last year, Shane led the club for the second time in three seasons. He registered 10 or more tackles in nine games including 14 against the Jets. Although known as particularly effective against opposing running backs, his three interceptions were the most among Buffalo linebackers in '79.
Shane enters the 1980 season with 46 consecutive starts, starting with the opening game of 1977. That year he made the NFL All-Rookie team.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

1980 Profile: Ben Williams

BEN WILLIAMS
Defensive End
No. 77
Mississippi
Nailing his opposition with hard, sure tackles, Ben has been a starting defensive end for the Bills for three years, starting all 14 games in 1977 and all 16 in 1978. Last season, he started 15 of the 16 he played, his skein of 39 consecutive starts ending in the third game of the season. His total of 86 tackles was a career high and second-best among Buffalo defensive linemen.
Ben was a nose guard in college. He was AP and UPI first-team All-Southeastern Conference in 1975, with both AP and UPI All-America honorable mention, and played in the Senior Bowl.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

1980 Profile: Mike Kadish

Defensive Tackle
No. 71
Notre Dame
Mike made the successful transition from defensive tackle to nose tackle in Buffalo's 3-4 defense. Playing in all 16 games in 1979, after playing every game from 1974-77, he led the team in tackles (106) for the third time in four years.
Voted Buffalo's MVP by his teammates in 1977, Mike registered 15 tackles in one game against Kansas City in '78 and last year made 11 tackles in a game three times. After receiving a recovered fumble on a lateral in a 1975 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he ran 26 yards for a touchdown.
Mike was a Notre Dame All-American whose stellar senior season included 97 tackles and eight quarterbacks and an invitation to the Senior Bowl. The number one draft choice of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, he came to Buffalo in a 1973 preseason trade.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

1980 Profile: Ken Jones

Offensive Tackle
No. 72
Arkansas State
Ken started all 16 games for Buffalo in 1979 and has started 31 of 32 in the last two seasons. A 2nd round pick of the Bills in 1976, he started seven games as a defensive end that year. Switching to offense in '77, he filled in at tackle for the injured Dave Foley for the first two games and in '78 became a regular with Foley's retirement.
A Sporting News first-team All-American guard as a senior at Arkansas State, Ken helped lead the way for the nation's top rushing offense.

Monday, December 16, 2019

1980 Profile: Joe Devlin

Offensive Tackle
No. 70
Iowa
This unbelievably strong man may not get a football card every year but is ready to fend off any defensive end who menaces quarterback Joe Ferguson. A starter for the past three years, Joe had a string of 30 consecutive starts snapped late in '78 due to a knee injury, but started all 16 games in '79 and displayed the greatest consistency of his career.
A starter for three years at Iowa, Joe was first-team Sporting News All-American, an honorable mention UPI All-American and first-team All-Big Ten in 1975.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

1980 Rookie Profile: Joe Cribbs

Running Back
1st Round
Auburn
Joe's 3,368 yards and 657 carries are both Auburn career records and both third all-time in the Southeastern Conference. He also holds the school's record for career touchdowns (34) and touchdowns in a season (16 in 1978). In his college career, Joe rushed for 100 yards 13 times (200 twice), rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons and carried the ball 288 consecutive times without fumbling.
Joe was SEC Player of the Year in 1979 and an All-American. He played in the Hula Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

1980 Rookie Profile: Jim Richter

Center
1st Round
North Carolina State
A consensus All-American last year, Jim won the Outland Trophy- the first center ever to win the award and only the second offensive lineman since 1969 so honored. He also brought home the Jacobs Trophy as the outstanding blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Jim is considered a prime reason why NC State led the conference in rushing yards in 1979 and finished second in '77 and '78.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

1980 Profile: Sherman White

Defensive End
No. 83
California
"An outstanding member of the Bills' front four, Sherman led the club with five and a half quarterback sacks in 1979.
Since joining the Bills in 1976, Sherman has started every game in which he's played. His career statistics include a safety he scored in 1972 and a pass he intercepted for a five-year return in '76.
Sherman was a consensus All-American at California."

-1980 Topps No. 106

Friday, December 6, 2019

1980 Profile: Phil Villapiano

Linebacker
No. 41
Bowling Green
"Phil is a versatile competitor who can play inside and outside."

-1980 Topps No. 23

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

1980 Profile: Lou Piccone

Wide Receiver-Kick Returner
No. 89
West Liberty State
"Lou is a multi-purpose performer who is a strong specialty teams player and a good blocker."

-1980 Topps No. 417

Sunday, December 1, 2019

1980 Profile: Willie Parker

Center
No. 61
North Texas State
"Willie is an 'iron man' performer for the Bills with the reputation for being a battler who never stops working. The club's regular center during the past three seasons, he also sees action on all field goal, extra point and punt attempts.
Willie was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior at North Texas State."

-1980 Topps No. 368