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.
Monday, December 23, 2019
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)