AL BEMILLER
Center
No. 50
Syracuse
Al was back at center last year after two seasons at guard. At either position, he's always been a lineman Bills quarterbacks can depend on for pass protection. Al hasn't missed a game since arriving in Buffalo as a rookie in 1961 after making All-East at Syracuse.
BILLY SHAW
Guard
No. 66
Georgia Tech
"Some people think the best one-on-one show in pro football occurs during the mid-week practice sessions of the Bills, when Billy Shaw knocks heads with defensive tackle Tom Sestak. But it's not so. Billy is only warming up for Sunday's game when, week after week, he goes about proving he's the best guard in the league.
The highest vote-getter in the annual All-AFL ratings, he is the complete guard who is equally proficient as a pass blocker and as an interference-runner. The Bills staff says there is no department in which he has a weakness.
A 6-2, 258-pounder from Georgia Tech, he joined the Bills in 1961, which is about as long as he has been an All-League star."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Don't listen to those spoilsports who say that Billy Shaw gets away with murder with his holding tactics. Shaw is just an exceptional blocking guard, that's all, and the six-foot, 250-pound seven-year veteran was one big reason for Buffalo's revived running game in 1966."
-Pro Football Almanac 1967
"One of the most praised guards in pro football, Billy has been an All-Pro selection since 1962.
Billy is an outstanding pass protector and is also the best pulling guard on the Buffalo line. There are few players who can match his aggressive play and competitive spirit."
-1967 Topps No. 28
JOE O'DONNELL
Guard
No. 67
Michigan
Although Joe is perhaps known as Buffalo's 'other guard,' Buffalo quarterbacks have been thankful to have this rugged competitor in tandem with Billy Shaw.
Joe attended Michigan on an academic scholarship, was captain of the 1964 team and twice made the Big 10 academic team.
STEW BARBER
Offensive Tackle
No. 77
Penn State
"One of the stalwarts of the fabulous Buffalo line is Stew Barber. He was originally a linebacker but was converted to the offensive line in 1962. He quickly picked up the knack of pass protection and is also one of the best on long-gaining sweeps."
-1967 Topps No. 18
DICK HUDSON
Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Memphis State
"Meet one of pro football's most determined players. Dick came back after serious surgery in 1963 to battle his way back to the top.
He is rated the best pass blocker on the awesome Buffalo line. Watch Dick send those red-dogging safety men back to where they came from."
-1967 Topps No. 22
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sunday, September 7, 2014
1967 Bills Linebacker Profiles
HARRY JACOBS
Middle Linebacker
No. 64
Bradley
"A real student of the game, Harry is the defensive signal-caller for the Buffalo Bills. He is a member of the rock-em, sock-em school of football and is one of the hardest hitters in professional football."
-1967 Topps No. 23
MIKE STRATTON
Linebacker
No. 58
Tennessee
"Put a football suit on Mike Stratton and you transform him from a quiet, unobtrusive fellow into a violent play wrecker. The Bills' right linebacker plays with such fury that he has been credited with several clean knockouts during his five years in the league. It was Mike who knocked Keith Lincoln (now a teammate) out of the 1964 title game with his savage tackle, and it was Mike who last year flattened KC quarterback Pete Beathard with a head-on tackle.
Big and rough, he grew to his present 240 pounds after joining the Bills in 1962 weighing only 210. In addition to his good size, Mike is probably one of the fastest linebackers in either league. He started out as an offensive end."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"The hard-hitting linebacker has been an All-Pro selection for the past three seasons. Unlike most linebackers, Mike is extremely strong on running plays."
-1967 Topps No. 29
JOHN TRACEY
Linebacker
No. 51
Texas A & M
John once again joined with Jacobs and Stratton to give the Bills one of the most feared linebacking corps in the American Football League. He played every game and was an AFL All-Star selection for the second consecutive year. He was AP second-team All-AFL in 1965.
An offensive end at Texas Tech, John led the Southwest Conference in receptions (37) and receiving yardage (466) and was third in yards per reception (12.6) as a senior.
Middle Linebacker
No. 64
Bradley
"A real student of the game, Harry is the defensive signal-caller for the Buffalo Bills. He is a member of the rock-em, sock-em school of football and is one of the hardest hitters in professional football."
-1967 Topps No. 23
MIKE STRATTON
Linebacker
No. 58
Tennessee
"Put a football suit on Mike Stratton and you transform him from a quiet, unobtrusive fellow into a violent play wrecker. The Bills' right linebacker plays with such fury that he has been credited with several clean knockouts during his five years in the league. It was Mike who knocked Keith Lincoln (now a teammate) out of the 1964 title game with his savage tackle, and it was Mike who last year flattened KC quarterback Pete Beathard with a head-on tackle.
Big and rough, he grew to his present 240 pounds after joining the Bills in 1962 weighing only 210. In addition to his good size, Mike is probably one of the fastest linebackers in either league. He started out as an offensive end."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"The hard-hitting linebacker has been an All-Pro selection for the past three seasons. Unlike most linebackers, Mike is extremely strong on running plays."
-1967 Topps No. 29
JOHN TRACEY
Linebacker
No. 51
Texas A & M
John once again joined with Jacobs and Stratton to give the Bills one of the most feared linebacking corps in the American Football League. He played every game and was an AFL All-Star selection for the second consecutive year. He was AP second-team All-AFL in 1965.
An offensive end at Texas Tech, John led the Southwest Conference in receptions (37) and receiving yardage (466) and was third in yards per reception (12.6) as a senior.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
1967 Profiles: Jack Kemp and Tom Flores
JACK KEMP
Quarterback
No. 15
Occidental
"There are quarterbacks in the league who are flashier than Jack Kemp, throw the ball for better completion percentages, and are superior playcallers. But the one thing Jack has over all of them is his ability to win - which is something he has been doing for the Bills for the last three years. And before that, he directed the Chargers to two titles in a row, placing him in five championship games in seven years.
Possessed with perhaps the strongest throwing arm in football, Jack was hampered last year by what turned out to be a torn muscle in his right elbow. Still, he completed 168 passes out of 389 attempts for 2,451 yards and 11 touchdowns and a .427 percentage. His playcalling improved, too.
In 1965, he was the AFL's Most Valuable Player."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"The longball-throwing veteran was the American Football League's Player of the Year in 1965. A crafty general, Jack is a strong running threat."
-1967 Topps No. 24
"Who was the leading passer for the Bills in 1966? Jackie Kemp."
-1967 Topps No. 16
"Who completed Buffalo's longest pass play? Jackie Kemp to Glenn Bass- 94 yards."
-1967 Topps No. 22
TOM FLORES
Quarterback
No. 16
Pacific
"Bearing the passing load will be Tom Flores, the 26-year-old quarterback out of Fresno, California. Tom completed a league high of 54 per cent of his forwards in 1960 and turned in 12 touchdowns.
Accurate and quick at picking his target, he was among the country's total offense leaders as a collegian."
-1961 Pro Football Handbook
"Co-captain of the Raiders, Tom is fulfilling the brilliant promise he showed at the College of the Pacific. Although he played only two years in college, he was fourth nationally in total offense in 1956 and sixth in 1957. Tom ranks third in the all-time Pacific passing records with 2,099 yards and a 50.2 completion record.
He is surely one of the brightest new stars of professional football."
-1961 Fleer No. 188
"Starting the 1960 season as a sub, he rallied the Raiders from doormats to respectable contenders. Flores' 54% pass completion mark was tops in the AFL."
-1961 Topps No. 186
"Not one voice has ever been raised against the ability of Tom Flores, the fine passer who finished just below George Blanda in the 1961 tables. The [Fresno native] fired 190 completions in 366 attempts, gaining 2,176 yards. This 25-year-old overcame a serious shoulder injury to make the grade and was No. 1 in percentage completed as a 1960 rookie.
Flores has the uncanny skill of making use of his pass-blockers."
-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook
"Oakland picked Tom up strictly as a gamble, as he was forced to quit Canadian football because of a chronic bad shoulder. However, Flores fooled the medics when he completed 54% of his passes in 1960 to rank first in that department, and 52% in 1961, second only to Babe Parilli of Boston. One-hundred-ninety of Flores' passes were caught in 1961, out of 366 attempts, for 2,158 yards. Only 5% of his aerials were intercepted, third lowest in the AFL.
Tom heaved 15 touchdown passes last season, as compared to 12 the year before. He was rated the second best quarterback in the American Football League."
-1962 Fleer No. 68
"Illness prevented Tom Flores from again acquiring the role of quarterback in 1962, and he was forced to the sidelines for the complete season. He's had an unusual run of bad luck since coming into the league and was forced to overcome a serious shoulder injury before being able to earn a job as a 1960 rookie.
Flores was the most accurate of passers as a yearling, leading the circuit in percentage completed. Out of Fresno, California, this 26-year-old fireball was the No. 2 passer in '61, topped only by George Blanda.
Flores says he learned more by watching games as a spectator last season and insists he'll be able to apply this education in 1963."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Tom Flores wasn't expected to lend too much to the Raider offense. After all, the slinger from Fresno had missed all of 1962 with a weakening lung infection and there was some question about his strength and desire. However, the 26-year-old rebounded so well last year that he closed as the No. 2 AFL passer, completing 113 of 247 forwards for 2,101 yards and setting the league mark for yards gained per completion (18.6). Flores was the best of all as a 1960 rookie when he was the most accurate with a 54 per cent passing figure."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"No longer a question-mark, Tom Flores looms as the regular quarterback for the Raiders this season. His average of 18.59 yards per completion set an AFL record last year as he hit 113 of 247 passes for 20 touchdowns and 2,101 yards, ranking second to Tobin Rote of the Chargers. Sidelined by a lung infection in 1962, Flores bounced back with a great season while alternating with Cotton Davidson. This season, though, he's slated to be the regular.
Out of the University of the Pacific, he's an AFL pureblood."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"An all-around athlete, Tom was a quarterback in football, a guard in basketball and a pitcher in baseball for his California high school. During his first A.F.L. season, he led the league's quarterbacks with a 54% completion record.
Last year, Tom set a club record when he threw 20 touchdown passes. He threw a 93-yard touchdown bomb to set an Oakland mark."
-1964 Topps No. 139
"Renewed strength and confidence helped Tom Flores to wind up the 1964 campaign impressively. His winning touchdown toss in the final four seconds of the Buffalo game gave the Raiders a 16-13 victory, and he also fired three touchdowns in their 21-20 win over the Chargers. Overall, Tom completed 98 passes for 1,391 yards and seven touchdowns last year, sharing the quarterbacking duties with Cotton Davidson. A lung infection kept him out for the entire 1962 season.
Tom's cool under pressure and can throw the long bomb."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Tom is exceptionally cool under fire and is an outstanding long thrower. His best season was in 1963 when he finished second in the quarterback standings. He owns the club record for the longest touchdowns pass ... 93 yards.
Tom was told to forget about football for good after undergoing a shoulder operation in 1959. He battled his way back and now is considered to be one of the finest throwers in the AFL."
-1965 Topps No. 139
"Tom has a rifle arm and one of the lowest pass interception records [sic]. Last season, he was third in the league in pass completions.
The veteran signal caller was obtained from the Oakland Raiders."
-1967 Topps No. 16
Quarterback
No. 15
Occidental
"There are quarterbacks in the league who are flashier than Jack Kemp, throw the ball for better completion percentages, and are superior playcallers. But the one thing Jack has over all of them is his ability to win - which is something he has been doing for the Bills for the last three years. And before that, he directed the Chargers to two titles in a row, placing him in five championship games in seven years.
Possessed with perhaps the strongest throwing arm in football, Jack was hampered last year by what turned out to be a torn muscle in his right elbow. Still, he completed 168 passes out of 389 attempts for 2,451 yards and 11 touchdowns and a .427 percentage. His playcalling improved, too.
In 1965, he was the AFL's Most Valuable Player."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"The longball-throwing veteran was the American Football League's Player of the Year in 1965. A crafty general, Jack is a strong running threat."
-1967 Topps No. 24
"Who was the leading passer for the Bills in 1966? Jackie Kemp."
-1967 Topps No. 16
"Who completed Buffalo's longest pass play? Jackie Kemp to Glenn Bass- 94 yards."
-1967 Topps No. 22
TOM FLORES
Quarterback
No. 16
Pacific
"Bearing the passing load will be Tom Flores, the 26-year-old quarterback out of Fresno, California. Tom completed a league high of 54 per cent of his forwards in 1960 and turned in 12 touchdowns.
Accurate and quick at picking his target, he was among the country's total offense leaders as a collegian."
-1961 Pro Football Handbook
"Co-captain of the Raiders, Tom is fulfilling the brilliant promise he showed at the College of the Pacific. Although he played only two years in college, he was fourth nationally in total offense in 1956 and sixth in 1957. Tom ranks third in the all-time Pacific passing records with 2,099 yards and a 50.2 completion record.
He is surely one of the brightest new stars of professional football."
-1961 Fleer No. 188
"Starting the 1960 season as a sub, he rallied the Raiders from doormats to respectable contenders. Flores' 54% pass completion mark was tops in the AFL."
-1961 Topps No. 186
"Not one voice has ever been raised against the ability of Tom Flores, the fine passer who finished just below George Blanda in the 1961 tables. The [Fresno native] fired 190 completions in 366 attempts, gaining 2,176 yards. This 25-year-old overcame a serious shoulder injury to make the grade and was No. 1 in percentage completed as a 1960 rookie.
Flores has the uncanny skill of making use of his pass-blockers."
-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook
"Oakland picked Tom up strictly as a gamble, as he was forced to quit Canadian football because of a chronic bad shoulder. However, Flores fooled the medics when he completed 54% of his passes in 1960 to rank first in that department, and 52% in 1961, second only to Babe Parilli of Boston. One-hundred-ninety of Flores' passes were caught in 1961, out of 366 attempts, for 2,158 yards. Only 5% of his aerials were intercepted, third lowest in the AFL.
Tom heaved 15 touchdown passes last season, as compared to 12 the year before. He was rated the second best quarterback in the American Football League."
-1962 Fleer No. 68
"Illness prevented Tom Flores from again acquiring the role of quarterback in 1962, and he was forced to the sidelines for the complete season. He's had an unusual run of bad luck since coming into the league and was forced to overcome a serious shoulder injury before being able to earn a job as a 1960 rookie.
Flores was the most accurate of passers as a yearling, leading the circuit in percentage completed. Out of Fresno, California, this 26-year-old fireball was the No. 2 passer in '61, topped only by George Blanda.
Flores says he learned more by watching games as a spectator last season and insists he'll be able to apply this education in 1963."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Tom Flores wasn't expected to lend too much to the Raider offense. After all, the slinger from Fresno had missed all of 1962 with a weakening lung infection and there was some question about his strength and desire. However, the 26-year-old rebounded so well last year that he closed as the No. 2 AFL passer, completing 113 of 247 forwards for 2,101 yards and setting the league mark for yards gained per completion (18.6). Flores was the best of all as a 1960 rookie when he was the most accurate with a 54 per cent passing figure."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"No longer a question-mark, Tom Flores looms as the regular quarterback for the Raiders this season. His average of 18.59 yards per completion set an AFL record last year as he hit 113 of 247 passes for 20 touchdowns and 2,101 yards, ranking second to Tobin Rote of the Chargers. Sidelined by a lung infection in 1962, Flores bounced back with a great season while alternating with Cotton Davidson. This season, though, he's slated to be the regular.
Out of the University of the Pacific, he's an AFL pureblood."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"An all-around athlete, Tom was a quarterback in football, a guard in basketball and a pitcher in baseball for his California high school. During his first A.F.L. season, he led the league's quarterbacks with a 54% completion record.
Last year, Tom set a club record when he threw 20 touchdown passes. He threw a 93-yard touchdown bomb to set an Oakland mark."
-1964 Topps No. 139
"Renewed strength and confidence helped Tom Flores to wind up the 1964 campaign impressively. His winning touchdown toss in the final four seconds of the Buffalo game gave the Raiders a 16-13 victory, and he also fired three touchdowns in their 21-20 win over the Chargers. Overall, Tom completed 98 passes for 1,391 yards and seven touchdowns last year, sharing the quarterbacking duties with Cotton Davidson. A lung infection kept him out for the entire 1962 season.
Tom's cool under pressure and can throw the long bomb."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Tom is exceptionally cool under fire and is an outstanding long thrower. His best season was in 1963 when he finished second in the quarterback standings. He owns the club record for the longest touchdowns pass ... 93 yards.
Tom was told to forget about football for good after undergoing a shoulder operation in 1959. He battled his way back and now is considered to be one of the finest throwers in the AFL."
-1965 Topps No. 139
"Tom has a rifle arm and one of the lowest pass interception records [sic]. Last season, he was third in the league in pass completions.
The veteran signal caller was obtained from the Oakland Raiders."
-1967 Topps No. 16
Thursday, September 4, 2014
1967 Profile: Joe Collier
Head Coach
"Attuned to a coaching philosophy subscribed to only by winners, Joe Collier says, 'Sit and wait for the teams in this league to catch you and they'll trample you to death.' Having inherited the Eastern powerhouse Bills last season and having led them to another division title, Collier has not been one to sit on his success. Instead, he has gone out during the off-season and instituted trades to bolster sagging positions. The acquisition of such established operatives as Keith Lincoln, Art Powell, Mike Mercer and Tom Flores reflects the thinking of a man who intends staying right where he started - on top.
Collier was an assistant under Lou Saban for four years, the man who blueprinted the defenses that in the last three seasons held the opposition to just 15 touchdowns on the ground. He was the popular choice to succeed Saban when Saban elected to depart Buffalo.
'I can't remember when I didn't plan on a coaching career,' says Collier. As best as he can recall, it started back when he attended Rock Island High School in Illinois. He later was a star end at Northwestern and was drafted by the New York Giants. But he preferred to enter coaching instead, and in 1960 joined the Patriots as an assistant. Two years later, he joined the Bills."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Attuned to a coaching philosophy subscribed to only by winners, Joe Collier says, 'Sit and wait for the teams in this league to catch you and they'll trample you to death.' Having inherited the Eastern powerhouse Bills last season and having led them to another division title, Collier has not been one to sit on his success. Instead, he has gone out during the off-season and instituted trades to bolster sagging positions. The acquisition of such established operatives as Keith Lincoln, Art Powell, Mike Mercer and Tom Flores reflects the thinking of a man who intends staying right where he started - on top.
Collier was an assistant under Lou Saban for four years, the man who blueprinted the defenses that in the last three seasons held the opposition to just 15 touchdowns on the ground. He was the popular choice to succeed Saban when Saban elected to depart Buffalo.
'I can't remember when I didn't plan on a coaching career,' says Collier. As best as he can recall, it started back when he attended Rock Island High School in Illinois. He later was a star end at Northwestern and was drafted by the New York Giants. But he preferred to enter coaching instead, and in 1960 joined the Patriots as an assistant. Two years later, he joined the Bills."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
1967 Buffalo Bills Outlook
"Last year, people were writing obits to the Bills. This year, the same people are singing their praises and openly predicting a fourth consecutive Eastern Division title - and maybe more.
How can they miss? Of course, questions like this preceded such disastrous flops as the Edsel and the Titanic, but the Bills have something going for them the others didn't - they are proven winners. More than that, the 1967 model is a vast improvement over the 1966 team. Off-season trades have improved their passing and running attacks, and they added points when they acquired place kicker Mike Mercer from Kansas City.
One of Buffalo's many constants is its quarterback, Jack Kemp. He may not rank as the best in the league, but he keeps on winning. That's enough. Jack tore a muscle in his right elbow last season, but he spent the summer throwing the ball in California and reported that the arm felt fine. Tom Flores, acquired in the big trade with Oakland, switches places with the departed Daryle Lamonica as the No. 2 man. His edge over Lamonica is that he's a better passer, and was good enough to guide the Raiders to a winning record.
The 1966 Bills completed 15 touchdown passes; only Denver with 12 had fewer. To end this drought the Bills acquired All-Pro split end Art Powell, who was the key man in the deal with Oakland. Powell will give the passing game some much needed legs, as well as allow Bobby Crockett to develop at his own pace. Crockett caught 31 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last year. On the other side of the field, flanker Elbert Dubenion should be twice as effective with another old pro in the lineup, and Paul Costa, who caught 27 passes for 400 yards last year, is solid at tight end. The holdovers at end are Ed Rutkowski, Charley Warner and Charley Ferguson; the new men are John Pitts, the Bills No. 1 draft choice from Arizona State, and Jerry Seither, the No. 9 pick from Kent State.
A year ago, the Bills were operating with unknown factors in the backfield; not anymore. Bobby Burnett came so fast at halfback that he was voted the league's Rookie of the Year, and fullback Wray Carlton enjoyed his finest season. Now the Bills have added Keith Lincoln, the ex-San Diego great, to their backfield as swing man; Keith can be used at either halfback or fullback and give the ground game extra drive. Then there's Allen Smith, who looked promising at halfback as a rookie, and veteran fullback Jack Spikes to round things out. This year's batch of recruits includes Randy Wheeler (Georgia), Vern Moore (Central State) and Allen's brother Grover Smith (Ft. Valley State).
Up front, the momentum for the attack is provided by the best offensive line in the East. Stew Barber and Dick Hudson are the tackles, Billy Shaw and Joe O'Donnell are the guards and Al Bemiller is the center. The Bills seem to have more depth here than they did last year. Wayne Desutter and rookies George Gaiser (SMU) and Jim LeMoine (Utah State) are the extra tackles, ex-taxi squader Charley Turner and rookie Gary Bugenhagen (Syracuse) are the new guards, and Bob Schmidt is the backup center if he doesn't retire. Otherwise, Jim Baffico, who has been up before, will move in. If young Gaiser makes it at tackle, the Bills will shift DeSutter to defense.
There wasn't a tougher defense to run against last than Buffalo's front four. It should be the same story this season, even though the Bills lost end Tom Day to San Diego in the trade for Lincoln. Ron McDole will be back at the other end, and Tom Sestak and Jim Dunaway will return at tackle. Often in the past, this was the threesome that did the rushing, leaving Day back to work with the linebackers. To fill the other end, the Bills have Remi Prudhomme, a 6-4, 245-pound strongman who worked as a guard in his rookie season. The Bills are seeking depth on this line and have as candidates Don Thiesen and Ernie Lashutka, who are being brought up from the taxi squad, and rookies Malcolm Williams (Parsons College), Ernie Ames (Kent State) and Bob Bonner (Southern U.).
The quality and ferocity of the pass rush allows the Bills' topflight corps of linebackers to lay back and protect against the pass. Mike Stratton, Harry Jacobs and John Tracey form one of the ablest units around. If they need help, there are experienced reserves like Paul McGuire, Marty Schottenheimer and Paul Guidry.
Behind them is the brilliant secondary composed of Tommy Janik and George Byrd at the corners and Hagood Clarke and George Saimes at the safeties. But nobody's job is safe. There's bound to be a tough battle waged at left corner by second-year man Charley King, who is rated as speedier than Janik; and Booker Edgerson, recovered from knee surgery, will try to win back the other job at right corner. The other job-seekers are Charley King's brother, Tony, who taxied last year, and rookies Tommy Croft (Louisiana Tech), Grant Martinson (Utah State), Tommy Luke (Mississippi) and Mike Irwin (Penn State)."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
IN BRIEF
Probable 1967 Finish: 1st
Strengths: an improved offense, aided by the additions of Keith Lincoln and Art Powell, and the best overall defense in the league.
Biggest Needs: depth in the defensive line and another running back.
1966 finish: 1st
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
ADD POWELL, MERCER AND LINCOLN TO THE BILLS AND WHAT DO YOU GET? A VERY CLOSE GAME IN THIS SEASON'S SUPER BOWL.
"The rich get richer; they really do. The Bills, who have won three consecutive Eastern Division titles, should be the most improved team in the AFL- mainly because of three off-season trades. From the league champion Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo re-acquired Mike Mercer, the most accurate field goal man in pro football last year(21 out of 30), who had been loaned to Kansas City for the '66 season. From the San Diego Chargers, the Bills got Keith Lincoln, an outstanding runner who can play either halfback or fullback. And from the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo got All-AFL split end Art Powell and quarterback Tom Flores. The personnel price paid for these four players was not exorbitant: defensive end Tom Day to San Diego, quarterback Daryle Lamonica and split end Glenn Bass to Oakland. Buffalo also gave up draft picks but, on the pre-season balance at least, coach Joe Collier seems to have gotten the best of it.
Basically, Collier traded in order to 'turn on' his offense. Consider the offensive backfield, for example. Last year Buffalo had only two good set backs- 225-fullback Wray Carlton and 197-pound rookie halfback Bobby Burnett, and Burnett had little background as a blocker or outside runner. But by season's end, Bobby was the AFL's Rookie-of-the-Year- and its fourth-ranking rusher, with 766 yards gained on 187 carries. Good as he is, however, Burnett may find himself displaced by Lincoln, who is bigger (at 215 pounds), just as fast and more experienced (seven years as a pro). It's a delicious problem for Collier, who also will pick from among veteran Jack Spikes and young backs Allen and Grover Smith (they're brothers), Vern Moore, Randy Wheeler, Bill Bailey and Doug Goodwin.
Despite that division championship, quarterback Jack Kemp did not have a good '66 season, unless you consider a .427 completion average good- which Kemp doesn't. Now, however, Jack has even better receivers to shoot at: Powell, flanker Elbert Dubenion and tight end Paul Costa, all of whom can go long. Powell, with those great hands and moves, will probably push last year's rookie spread end, Bobby Crockett, onto the bench. Charley Warner has been moved from defensive cornerback to play behind Dubenion at flanker, and the Bills think they have a top prospect in John Pitts, a 6-5, 212-pound pass-catcher from Arizona State.
Buffalo has only one weakness in its defensive line- at right end, where Tom Day played. Day was a terrifying pass rusher who'd just as soon garrot a quarterback as look at him (ask Joe Namath). Remi Prudhomme, a 259-pounder in his second pro season, will replace Day- unless a trade is swung. Over on the other end, the Bills are well satisfied with 278-pound Ron McDole, while the defensive tackles, 270-pound Tom Sestak and 297-pound Jim Dunaway, are as good as any tandem in the game.
Buffalo's linebackers know each other as well as they know their wives; it's eight-year pro Harry Jacobs in the middle, with Mike Stratton (six pro years) at outside right and John Tracey (nine years) at outside left. But the Bills would not be shocked if Marty Schottenheimer, in his third season, came on to take Jacobs' job. The secondary is set, with All-League Butch Byrd and Tom Janik at the corners, and All-League George Saimes and Hagood Clarke at safety.
The Bills have their complete interior line back on offense: tackles Dick Hudson and Stew Barber, guards Billy Shaw and Joe O'Donnell, and center Al Bemiller. Coach Collier calls the 262-pound Hudson 'a match for any man he plays opposite,' while Shaw, 258-pounds, is perhaps the best blocking guard in the league. Rookie Dick Cunningham of Arkansas, 220 pounds, will be worked at guard, behind O'Donnell, while 240-pound Gary Bugenhagen of Syracuse will be tried at both guard and tackle. Veteran Bob Schmidt will support Bemiller at center, although Schmidt, a nine-year pro, has been talking about retirement.
Mercer and last year's placekicker, Booth Lusteg, are both available- but only one will stick. Bet on Mercer, since he also can punt- and since Lusteg disturbed the Bills by blowing some key field goals last season. In general, this is a highly experienced team. There are some good new faces- offensive lineman Jim LeMoine of Utah State and defensive end Tom Rhoads of Notre Dame, to mention just two- but it will be tough for a rookie to crack the Buffalo lineup. The Bills backed into their division title when New York beat Boston for them. This year, though, there will be no backing and filling. The Buffalo Bills will win it, easily."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1967
1967 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON ROSTER
* Ernie Ames (DT) Kent State
* Bill Bailey (FB) Cincinnati
77 Stew Barber (T) Penn State
50 Al Bemiller (C) Syracuse
* Robert Bonner (DT) Southern
* Gary Bugenhagen (G) Syracuse
21 Bob Burnett (HB) Arkansas
42 Butch Byrd (DB) Boston University
30 Wray Carlton (FB) Duke
* George Carter (SE) St. Bonaventure
45 Hagood Clarke (DB) Florida
82 Paul Costa (E) Notre Dame
83 Bobby Crockett (E) Arkansas
* Tom Croft (RS) Louisiana Tech
* Dick Cunningham (G) Arkansas
71 Wayne DeSutter (T) Western Illinois
44 Elbert Dubenion (FL) Bluffton
78 Jim Dunaway (DT) Mississippi
24 Booker Edgerson (DB) Western Illinois
80 Charley Ferguson (E) Tennessee State
* Howard Finley (LC)[sic] Tennessee A & I
Tom Flores (QB) Pacific
George Gaiser (T) SMU
35 Doug Goodwin (FB) Maryland State
59 Paul Guidry (LB) McNeese State
79 Dick Hudson (T) Memphis State
* Mike Irwin (LS) Penn State
64 Harry Jacobs (LB) Bradley
27 Tom Janik (DB) Texas A & I
15 Jack Kemp (QB) Occidental
47 Charley King (DB) Purdue
* Tony King (LS) Findlay
* Greg Lashutka (DE) Ohio State
* Jim LeMoine (T) Utah State
Keith Lincoln (HB) Washington State
* Tommy Luke (LS) Mississippi
5 Booth Lusteg (K) Connecticut
55 Paul Maguire (LB) The Citadel
* Grant Martinson (RS) Utah State
72 Ron McDole (DE) Nebraska
Mike Mercer (K) Arizona State
75 Dudley Meredith (DT) Lamar Tech
Vern Moore (HB) Central State
67 Joe O'Donnell (G) Michigan
* John Pitts (FL) Arizona State
Art Powell (SE) San Jose State
65 Remi Prudhomme (DE) LSU
* Tom Rhoads (LB) Notre Dame
40 Ed Rutkowski (E) Notre Dame
26 George Saimes (DB) Michigan State
57 Henry Schmidt (C) USC
56 Marty Schottenheimer (LB) Pittsburgh
* Jerry Seither (TE) Kent State
70 Tom Sestak (DT) McNeese State
66 Billy Shaw (G) Georgia Tech
34 Allen Smith (HB) Fort Valley State
* Grover Smith (HB) Fort Valley State
32 Jack Spikes (FB) Texas Christian
58 Mike Stratton (LB) Tennessee
* Don Thiessen (DE) Reedley JC
* Paul Tomich (T) Drake
51 John Tracey (LB) Texas A & M
* Charlie Turner (G) Ohio
22 Charley Warner (DB) Prairie View
* Randy Wheeler (HB) Georgia
* Bill Wilkerson (DE) Texas Western
* Malcolm Williams (DE) Parson
* rookie
-Pro Football 1967
1967 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON DEPTH CHARTS
OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific)
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21, Allen Smith (Fort Valley State) 34
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30, Keith Lincoln (Washington State), Jack Spikes (Texas Christian) 32
SE - Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83, Art Powell (San Jose)
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Jim LeMoine (Utah State)*
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, Charlie Turner (Ohio)*
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Dick Cunningham (Arkansas)*
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79, Wayne DeSutter (Western Illinois) 71
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Charley Warner (Prarie View) 22, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, Greg Lashutka (Ohio State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70, Ernie Ames (Kent State)*
DE - Remi Prudhomme (LSU) 65, Dan Thiessen (Reedley JC)*
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51, Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 56
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27, Charley King (Purdue) 47
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45, Tony King (Findlay)*
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Tom Croft (Louisiana Tech)*
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24
* rookie
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific) 16, Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21, Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20, Allen Smith (Fort Valley State) 34
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30, Jack Spikes (Texas Christian) 32
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84, Billy Masters (LSU) 87, Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Dick Cunningham (Arkansas) 62
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, Jim LeMoine (Utah State)*
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50, Bob Schmidt (Minnesota) 57
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Gary Bugenhagen (Syracuse)*
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79, Wayne DeSutter (Western Illinois) 71
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, Greg Lashutka (Ohio State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70
DE - Remi Prudhomme (LSU) 65, Tom Rhoads (Notre Dame)*
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51, Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 56
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27, Charlie King (Purdue) 47
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24
SPECIALISTS
K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7, Booth Lusteg (Connecticut) 5
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Charlie King (Purdue) 47, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
PR - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
* rookie
1967 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary
Head Coach - Joe Collier
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15
QB - Tom Flores (Pacific) 16
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21
HB - Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44
FL - Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
FL - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72
DE - Howard Kindig (Los Angeles State) 73
DE - Tom Rhoads (Notre Dame) 86
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51
LB - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27
CB - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45
K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
KR - Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
PR - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
How can they miss? Of course, questions like this preceded such disastrous flops as the Edsel and the Titanic, but the Bills have something going for them the others didn't - they are proven winners. More than that, the 1967 model is a vast improvement over the 1966 team. Off-season trades have improved their passing and running attacks, and they added points when they acquired place kicker Mike Mercer from Kansas City.
One of Buffalo's many constants is its quarterback, Jack Kemp. He may not rank as the best in the league, but he keeps on winning. That's enough. Jack tore a muscle in his right elbow last season, but he spent the summer throwing the ball in California and reported that the arm felt fine. Tom Flores, acquired in the big trade with Oakland, switches places with the departed Daryle Lamonica as the No. 2 man. His edge over Lamonica is that he's a better passer, and was good enough to guide the Raiders to a winning record.
The 1966 Bills completed 15 touchdown passes; only Denver with 12 had fewer. To end this drought the Bills acquired All-Pro split end Art Powell, who was the key man in the deal with Oakland. Powell will give the passing game some much needed legs, as well as allow Bobby Crockett to develop at his own pace. Crockett caught 31 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last year. On the other side of the field, flanker Elbert Dubenion should be twice as effective with another old pro in the lineup, and Paul Costa, who caught 27 passes for 400 yards last year, is solid at tight end. The holdovers at end are Ed Rutkowski, Charley Warner and Charley Ferguson; the new men are John Pitts, the Bills No. 1 draft choice from Arizona State, and Jerry Seither, the No. 9 pick from Kent State.
A year ago, the Bills were operating with unknown factors in the backfield; not anymore. Bobby Burnett came so fast at halfback that he was voted the league's Rookie of the Year, and fullback Wray Carlton enjoyed his finest season. Now the Bills have added Keith Lincoln, the ex-San Diego great, to their backfield as swing man; Keith can be used at either halfback or fullback and give the ground game extra drive. Then there's Allen Smith, who looked promising at halfback as a rookie, and veteran fullback Jack Spikes to round things out. This year's batch of recruits includes Randy Wheeler (Georgia), Vern Moore (Central State) and Allen's brother Grover Smith (Ft. Valley State).
Up front, the momentum for the attack is provided by the best offensive line in the East. Stew Barber and Dick Hudson are the tackles, Billy Shaw and Joe O'Donnell are the guards and Al Bemiller is the center. The Bills seem to have more depth here than they did last year. Wayne Desutter and rookies George Gaiser (SMU) and Jim LeMoine (Utah State) are the extra tackles, ex-taxi squader Charley Turner and rookie Gary Bugenhagen (Syracuse) are the new guards, and Bob Schmidt is the backup center if he doesn't retire. Otherwise, Jim Baffico, who has been up before, will move in. If young Gaiser makes it at tackle, the Bills will shift DeSutter to defense.
There wasn't a tougher defense to run against last than Buffalo's front four. It should be the same story this season, even though the Bills lost end Tom Day to San Diego in the trade for Lincoln. Ron McDole will be back at the other end, and Tom Sestak and Jim Dunaway will return at tackle. Often in the past, this was the threesome that did the rushing, leaving Day back to work with the linebackers. To fill the other end, the Bills have Remi Prudhomme, a 6-4, 245-pound strongman who worked as a guard in his rookie season. The Bills are seeking depth on this line and have as candidates Don Thiesen and Ernie Lashutka, who are being brought up from the taxi squad, and rookies Malcolm Williams (Parsons College), Ernie Ames (Kent State) and Bob Bonner (Southern U.).
The quality and ferocity of the pass rush allows the Bills' topflight corps of linebackers to lay back and protect against the pass. Mike Stratton, Harry Jacobs and John Tracey form one of the ablest units around. If they need help, there are experienced reserves like Paul McGuire, Marty Schottenheimer and Paul Guidry.
Behind them is the brilliant secondary composed of Tommy Janik and George Byrd at the corners and Hagood Clarke and George Saimes at the safeties. But nobody's job is safe. There's bound to be a tough battle waged at left corner by second-year man Charley King, who is rated as speedier than Janik; and Booker Edgerson, recovered from knee surgery, will try to win back the other job at right corner. The other job-seekers are Charley King's brother, Tony, who taxied last year, and rookies Tommy Croft (Louisiana Tech), Grant Martinson (Utah State), Tommy Luke (Mississippi) and Mike Irwin (Penn State)."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
IN BRIEF
Probable 1967 Finish: 1st
Strengths: an improved offense, aided by the additions of Keith Lincoln and Art Powell, and the best overall defense in the league.
Biggest Needs: depth in the defensive line and another running back.
1966 finish: 1st
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
ADD POWELL, MERCER AND LINCOLN TO THE BILLS AND WHAT DO YOU GET? A VERY CLOSE GAME IN THIS SEASON'S SUPER BOWL.
"The rich get richer; they really do. The Bills, who have won three consecutive Eastern Division titles, should be the most improved team in the AFL- mainly because of three off-season trades. From the league champion Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo re-acquired Mike Mercer, the most accurate field goal man in pro football last year(21 out of 30), who had been loaned to Kansas City for the '66 season. From the San Diego Chargers, the Bills got Keith Lincoln, an outstanding runner who can play either halfback or fullback. And from the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo got All-AFL split end Art Powell and quarterback Tom Flores. The personnel price paid for these four players was not exorbitant: defensive end Tom Day to San Diego, quarterback Daryle Lamonica and split end Glenn Bass to Oakland. Buffalo also gave up draft picks but, on the pre-season balance at least, coach Joe Collier seems to have gotten the best of it.
Basically, Collier traded in order to 'turn on' his offense. Consider the offensive backfield, for example. Last year Buffalo had only two good set backs- 225-fullback Wray Carlton and 197-pound rookie halfback Bobby Burnett, and Burnett had little background as a blocker or outside runner. But by season's end, Bobby was the AFL's Rookie-of-the-Year- and its fourth-ranking rusher, with 766 yards gained on 187 carries. Good as he is, however, Burnett may find himself displaced by Lincoln, who is bigger (at 215 pounds), just as fast and more experienced (seven years as a pro). It's a delicious problem for Collier, who also will pick from among veteran Jack Spikes and young backs Allen and Grover Smith (they're brothers), Vern Moore, Randy Wheeler, Bill Bailey and Doug Goodwin.
Despite that division championship, quarterback Jack Kemp did not have a good '66 season, unless you consider a .427 completion average good- which Kemp doesn't. Now, however, Jack has even better receivers to shoot at: Powell, flanker Elbert Dubenion and tight end Paul Costa, all of whom can go long. Powell, with those great hands and moves, will probably push last year's rookie spread end, Bobby Crockett, onto the bench. Charley Warner has been moved from defensive cornerback to play behind Dubenion at flanker, and the Bills think they have a top prospect in John Pitts, a 6-5, 212-pound pass-catcher from Arizona State.
Buffalo has only one weakness in its defensive line- at right end, where Tom Day played. Day was a terrifying pass rusher who'd just as soon garrot a quarterback as look at him (ask Joe Namath). Remi Prudhomme, a 259-pounder in his second pro season, will replace Day- unless a trade is swung. Over on the other end, the Bills are well satisfied with 278-pound Ron McDole, while the defensive tackles, 270-pound Tom Sestak and 297-pound Jim Dunaway, are as good as any tandem in the game.
Buffalo's linebackers know each other as well as they know their wives; it's eight-year pro Harry Jacobs in the middle, with Mike Stratton (six pro years) at outside right and John Tracey (nine years) at outside left. But the Bills would not be shocked if Marty Schottenheimer, in his third season, came on to take Jacobs' job. The secondary is set, with All-League Butch Byrd and Tom Janik at the corners, and All-League George Saimes and Hagood Clarke at safety.
The Bills have their complete interior line back on offense: tackles Dick Hudson and Stew Barber, guards Billy Shaw and Joe O'Donnell, and center Al Bemiller. Coach Collier calls the 262-pound Hudson 'a match for any man he plays opposite,' while Shaw, 258-pounds, is perhaps the best blocking guard in the league. Rookie Dick Cunningham of Arkansas, 220 pounds, will be worked at guard, behind O'Donnell, while 240-pound Gary Bugenhagen of Syracuse will be tried at both guard and tackle. Veteran Bob Schmidt will support Bemiller at center, although Schmidt, a nine-year pro, has been talking about retirement.
Mercer and last year's placekicker, Booth Lusteg, are both available- but only one will stick. Bet on Mercer, since he also can punt- and since Lusteg disturbed the Bills by blowing some key field goals last season. In general, this is a highly experienced team. There are some good new faces- offensive lineman Jim LeMoine of Utah State and defensive end Tom Rhoads of Notre Dame, to mention just two- but it will be tough for a rookie to crack the Buffalo lineup. The Bills backed into their division title when New York beat Boston for them. This year, though, there will be no backing and filling. The Buffalo Bills will win it, easily."
-Dick Kaplan, Pro Football Almanac 1967
1967 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON ROSTER
* Ernie Ames (DT) Kent State
* Bill Bailey (FB) Cincinnati
77 Stew Barber (T) Penn State
50 Al Bemiller (C) Syracuse
* Robert Bonner (DT) Southern
* Gary Bugenhagen (G) Syracuse
21 Bob Burnett (HB) Arkansas
42 Butch Byrd (DB) Boston University
30 Wray Carlton (FB) Duke
* George Carter (SE) St. Bonaventure
45 Hagood Clarke (DB) Florida
82 Paul Costa (E) Notre Dame
83 Bobby Crockett (E) Arkansas
* Tom Croft (RS) Louisiana Tech
* Dick Cunningham (G) Arkansas
71 Wayne DeSutter (T) Western Illinois
44 Elbert Dubenion (FL) Bluffton
78 Jim Dunaway (DT) Mississippi
24 Booker Edgerson (DB) Western Illinois
80 Charley Ferguson (E) Tennessee State
* Howard Finley (LC)[sic] Tennessee A & I
Tom Flores (QB) Pacific
George Gaiser (T) SMU
35 Doug Goodwin (FB) Maryland State
59 Paul Guidry (LB) McNeese State
79 Dick Hudson (T) Memphis State
* Mike Irwin (LS) Penn State
64 Harry Jacobs (LB) Bradley
27 Tom Janik (DB) Texas A & I
15 Jack Kemp (QB) Occidental
47 Charley King (DB) Purdue
* Tony King (LS) Findlay
* Greg Lashutka (DE) Ohio State
* Jim LeMoine (T) Utah State
Keith Lincoln (HB) Washington State
* Tommy Luke (LS) Mississippi
5 Booth Lusteg (K) Connecticut
55 Paul Maguire (LB) The Citadel
* Grant Martinson (RS) Utah State
72 Ron McDole (DE) Nebraska
Mike Mercer (K) Arizona State
75 Dudley Meredith (DT) Lamar Tech
Vern Moore (HB) Central State
67 Joe O'Donnell (G) Michigan
* John Pitts (FL) Arizona State
Art Powell (SE) San Jose State
65 Remi Prudhomme (DE) LSU
* Tom Rhoads (LB) Notre Dame
40 Ed Rutkowski (E) Notre Dame
26 George Saimes (DB) Michigan State
57 Henry Schmidt (C) USC
56 Marty Schottenheimer (LB) Pittsburgh
* Jerry Seither (TE) Kent State
70 Tom Sestak (DT) McNeese State
66 Billy Shaw (G) Georgia Tech
34 Allen Smith (HB) Fort Valley State
* Grover Smith (HB) Fort Valley State
32 Jack Spikes (FB) Texas Christian
58 Mike Stratton (LB) Tennessee
* Don Thiessen (DE) Reedley JC
* Paul Tomich (T) Drake
51 John Tracey (LB) Texas A & M
* Charlie Turner (G) Ohio
22 Charley Warner (DB) Prairie View
* Randy Wheeler (HB) Georgia
* Bill Wilkerson (DE) Texas Western
* Malcolm Williams (DE) Parson
* rookie
-Pro Football 1967
1967 BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON DEPTH CHARTS
OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific)
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21, Allen Smith (Fort Valley State) 34
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30, Keith Lincoln (Washington State), Jack Spikes (Texas Christian) 32
SE - Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83, Art Powell (San Jose)
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Jim LeMoine (Utah State)*
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, Charlie Turner (Ohio)*
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Dick Cunningham (Arkansas)*
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79, Wayne DeSutter (Western Illinois) 71
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Charley Warner (Prarie View) 22, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, Greg Lashutka (Ohio State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70, Ernie Ames (Kent State)*
DE - Remi Prudhomme (LSU) 65, Dan Thiessen (Reedley JC)*
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51, Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 56
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27, Charley King (Purdue) 47
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45, Tony King (Findlay)*
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Tom Croft (Louisiana Tech)*
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24
* rookie
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
OFFENSE
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15, Tom Flores (Pacific) 16, Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21, Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20, Allen Smith (Fort Valley State) 34
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30, Jack Spikes (Texas Christian) 32
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84, Billy Masters (LSU) 87, Bobby Crockett (Arkansas) 83
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77, Dick Cunningham (Arkansas) 62
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66, Jim LeMoine (Utah State)*
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50, Bob Schmidt (Minnesota) 57
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67, Gary Bugenhagen (Syracuse)*
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79, Wayne DeSutter (Western Illinois) 71
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82, Charley Ferguson (Tennessee State) 80
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
DEFENSE
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72, Greg Lashutka (Ohio State)*
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78, Dudley Meredith (Lamar Tech) 75
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70
DE - Remi Prudhomme (LSU) 65, Tom Rhoads (Notre Dame)*
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51, Paul Guidry (McNeese State) 59
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64, Marty Schottenheimer (Pittsburgh) 56
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58, Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27, Charlie King (Purdue) 47
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45, John Pitts (Arizona State)*
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42, Booker Edgerson (Western Illinois) 24
SPECIALISTS
K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7, Booth Lusteg (Connecticut) 5
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Charlie King (Purdue) 47, Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
PR - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
* rookie
1967 Buffalo Bills Profile Summary
Head Coach - Joe Collier
QB - Jack Kemp (Occidental) 15
QB - Tom Flores (Pacific) 16
HB - Bobby Burnett (Arkansas) 21
HB - Keith Lincoln (Washington State) 20
FB - Wray Carlton (Duke) 30
FL - Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton) 44
FL - Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
FL - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
SE - Art Powell (San Jose) 84
TE - Paul Costa (Notre Dame) 82
C - Al Bemiller (Syracuse) 50
G - Billy Shaw (Georgia Tech) 66
G - Joe O'Donnell (Michigan) 67
T - Stew Barber (Penn State) 77
T - Dick Hudson (Memphis State) 79
DT - Tom Sestak (McNeese State) 70
DT - Jim Dunaway (Mississippi) 78
DE - Ron McDole (Nebraska) 72
DE - Howard Kindig (Los Angeles State) 73
DE - Tom Rhoads (Notre Dame) 86
MLB - Harry Jacobs (Bradley) 64
LB - Mike Stratton (Tennessee) 58
LB - John Tracey (Texas A & M) 51
LB - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
CB - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
CB - Tom Janik (Texas A & I) 27
CB - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
S - George Saimes (Michigan State) 26
S - Hagood Clarke (Florida) 45
K - Mike Mercer (Arizona State) 7
P - Paul Maguire (The Citadel) 55
KR - Charley Warner (Prairie View) 22
KR - Ed Rutkowski (Notre Dame) 40
PR - Butch Byrd (Boston University) 42
Monday, September 1, 2014
1966 Bills Offensive Line Profiles
DAVE BEHRMAN
Center
No. 60
Michigan State
"Quarterbacks like to work over big Dave because he snaps an easy ball to handle and then quickly positions himself to afford the signal-caller blocking protection. His coach is most impressed by his agility. Defensive linemen fear working opposite big Dave."
-1966 Topps No. 18
BILLY SHAW
Guard
No. 66
Georgia Tech
"If Billy Shaw thinks Tom Sestak is tough, then listen to what Houston Antwine, the wagon-lifting defensive tackle of the Boston Patriots, thinks about Shaw: 'I wouldn't want to be around if he gets much better.' Right now, Captain Billy is considered the outstanding offensive guard in his league. He's got size, 6-2, 250, but more important, he's got the speed to pull out ahead of the ball carrier on running plays, and the desire to tangle with the enormous defensive tackles he must keep off the quarterback's neck.
Shaw is beginning his sixth year with the Bills and has been an All-AFL two seasons in a row. He was an All-America at Georgia Tech."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"The big guard is a coach's dream. Billy has great speed and agility. Big No. 66 can often be seen in front of a running back cutting down would-be tacklers. He is the offensive team captain.
Billy played in the 1961 Coaches' All-American Game."
-1966 Topps No. 29
AL BEMILLER
Guard
No. 50
Syracuse
"Al Bemiller is the swing man of the Buffalo offensive line this year. A congenital back injury may compel regular center Dave Behrman to quit the game. If so, the 6-3, 260-pound Bemiller will take his place. The switch will be no sweat for him. Al was a center on those famous Syracuse powerhouses of the late 1950's. The last couple of seasons, he has been playing right guard in order to make room for Behrman.
He's an outstanding blocker who gives the passer good protection, and is especially skilled at the finesse or 'influence' block, which takes more guile than beef."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Highly touted as a rookie in 1961, Al has more than lived up to expectations. Exceptionally quick, Al often leads the way for sweeping backs by cutting down would-be tacklers. He is a perfectionist.
Al was an All-East selection at Syracuse."
-1966 Topps No. 19
STEW BARBER
Offensive Tackle
No. 77
Penn State
"Pro football coaches can be as indecisive as anyone else on occasion. For example, in 1961, when Stew Barber was a rookie out of Penn State, he played linebacker at 228 pounds. When he reported at a new tonnage in 1962, however, it was for a new job. The coaching staff had decided to make him an offensive tackle. So Stew stuffed himself and got up to his present 251 pounds - which is still not overweight for a tackle.
But he manages, even he's a champion worrier about his job. Still, you'll find his name on most All-AFL teams."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"The Bills were severely jolted last year when their All-Star tackle was injured. However, Stew's knee is completely healed and he is ready to resume his duties in 1966.
Originally a linebacker, Stew was the Bills' No. 4 draft choice in 1961."
-1966 Topps No. 16
DICK HUDSON
Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Memphis State
"A good tackle is one that gets the jump on the opposition. Dick is extremely quick, and many times during the season has opened holes in the enemy line to allow Buffalo backs to pop through for long gains.
Dick was obtained from San Diego."
-1966 Topps No. 25
Center
No. 60
Michigan State
"Quarterbacks like to work over big Dave because he snaps an easy ball to handle and then quickly positions himself to afford the signal-caller blocking protection. His coach is most impressed by his agility. Defensive linemen fear working opposite big Dave."
-1966 Topps No. 18
BILLY SHAW
Guard
No. 66
Georgia Tech
"If Billy Shaw thinks Tom Sestak is tough, then listen to what Houston Antwine, the wagon-lifting defensive tackle of the Boston Patriots, thinks about Shaw: 'I wouldn't want to be around if he gets much better.' Right now, Captain Billy is considered the outstanding offensive guard in his league. He's got size, 6-2, 250, but more important, he's got the speed to pull out ahead of the ball carrier on running plays, and the desire to tangle with the enormous defensive tackles he must keep off the quarterback's neck.
Shaw is beginning his sixth year with the Bills and has been an All-AFL two seasons in a row. He was an All-America at Georgia Tech."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"The big guard is a coach's dream. Billy has great speed and agility. Big No. 66 can often be seen in front of a running back cutting down would-be tacklers. He is the offensive team captain.
Billy played in the 1961 Coaches' All-American Game."
-1966 Topps No. 29
AL BEMILLER
Guard
No. 50
Syracuse
"Al Bemiller is the swing man of the Buffalo offensive line this year. A congenital back injury may compel regular center Dave Behrman to quit the game. If so, the 6-3, 260-pound Bemiller will take his place. The switch will be no sweat for him. Al was a center on those famous Syracuse powerhouses of the late 1950's. The last couple of seasons, he has been playing right guard in order to make room for Behrman.
He's an outstanding blocker who gives the passer good protection, and is especially skilled at the finesse or 'influence' block, which takes more guile than beef."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Highly touted as a rookie in 1961, Al has more than lived up to expectations. Exceptionally quick, Al often leads the way for sweeping backs by cutting down would-be tacklers. He is a perfectionist.
Al was an All-East selection at Syracuse."
-1966 Topps No. 19
STEW BARBER
Offensive Tackle
No. 77
Penn State
"Pro football coaches can be as indecisive as anyone else on occasion. For example, in 1961, when Stew Barber was a rookie out of Penn State, he played linebacker at 228 pounds. When he reported at a new tonnage in 1962, however, it was for a new job. The coaching staff had decided to make him an offensive tackle. So Stew stuffed himself and got up to his present 251 pounds - which is still not overweight for a tackle.
But he manages, even he's a champion worrier about his job. Still, you'll find his name on most All-AFL teams."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"The Bills were severely jolted last year when their All-Star tackle was injured. However, Stew's knee is completely healed and he is ready to resume his duties in 1966.
Originally a linebacker, Stew was the Bills' No. 4 draft choice in 1961."
-1966 Topps No. 16
DICK HUDSON
Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Memphis State
"A good tackle is one that gets the jump on the opposition. Dick is extremely quick, and many times during the season has opened holes in the enemy line to allow Buffalo backs to pop through for long gains.
Dick was obtained from San Diego."
-1966 Topps No. 25
1966 Profile: Paul Costa
Tight End
No. 82
Notre Dame
"If Paul Costa occasionally makes mistakes at tight end, don't shower him with your game program. Paul was an end in high school, but at Notre Dame he was knocked around from halfback to fullback to tackle. Last year, his first in pro ball, he all but pushed veteran Ernie Warlick out of a job.
Paul is a superb physical specimen at 6-5 and 256 pounds. You would think that would make him a slowpoke, but get this: he has run 50 yards in 5.6 seconds, then turned around and run another 50 in the identical time.
He's coming fast."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
No. 82
Notre Dame
"If Paul Costa occasionally makes mistakes at tight end, don't shower him with your game program. Paul was an end in high school, but at Notre Dame he was knocked around from halfback to fullback to tackle. Last year, his first in pro ball, he all but pushed veteran Ernie Warlick out of a job.
Paul is a superb physical specimen at 6-5 and 256 pounds. You would think that would make him a slowpoke, but get this: he has run 50 yards in 5.6 seconds, then turned around and run another 50 in the identical time.
He's coming fast."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
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