1971 Bills Defensive Line Profiles

JIM DUNAWAY

Defensive Tackle
No. 78
Mississippi
"It's been eight years since Jim Dunaway took over as defensive left tackle for the Bills, and the 6-4, 277-pounder shows few signs of slowing down. Considering his size, he has good speed and agility in addition to his quick reactions. He's extra tough on running plays.
Jim was the Bills' number two draft pick in 1963 after becoming a unanimous All-America selection at Ole Miss. A confirmed outdoorsman, Dunaway owns a 933-acre spread in Mississippi and raises cattle."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Has manned his position for eight solid campaigns. Dunaway was a second-round draft choice after an All-America career at Mississippi. He chose the young AFL despite being the No. 1 pick of the NFL Minnesota Vikings. He once refused to give up the football after blocking a field goal and running 72 yards for a touchdown.

Dunaway is a cattle rancher on a 933-acre spread in the off-season. He's interested in animal husbandry though he was an education major at Ole Miss. He's also an archeology buff. He has a wife and two children- Lani Katrina and Jason Khayyam."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

BOB TATAREK

Defensive Tackle

No. 71

Miami

A second-round draft pick who appeared in every game as a rookie in 1968 and showed promise while starting every game in '69, Bob missed ten games last season due to injuries. Fully recovered and ready to go this year, Bob stops the opposition with hard, sure tackles.

Bob was an All-American in his senior year at Miami. He played in the Liberty Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl and College All-Star Game.

AL COWLINGS

Defensive End

No. 82

USC

With Jim Dunaway the only defensive lineman left from Buffalo's AFL glory days, the Bills look to the man known as A.C. for hand-to-hand combat with opposing offensive tackles and to disrupt opposing passing attacks. Last year's number one draft choice has both the size and speed for pro stardom. He became a starting defensive end as a rookie.

Al achieved stardom at USC as part of the defense known as the Wild Bunch. He played in the 1970 Senior Bowl.

MIKE MCBATH

Defensive End

No. 76

Penn State

After starting all 14 games in 1969, Mike was used mostly on special teams last year. With the trade of Ron McDole, he has a good chance for regular end duty this season. Mike is big (6-4, 248), agile and has great intensity.

He spent three years as a defensive tackle at Penn State. He played in the Gator Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

1971 Profiles: Grant Guthrie and Spike Jones

GRANT GUTHRIE

Place Kicker

No. 7

Florida State

Grant kicked a 52-yard field goal against the Steelers last year to establish a new Bills record. On October 4 against the Jets, he kicked two field goals, including a 40-yarder, and was successful on all four of his extra-point attempts in a 34-31 Buffalo upset victory over a New York club still being led by Joe Namath. For the season, Grant was the Bills' leading scorer with 54 points.

In college Grant set all of the Florida State kicking records. As a senior, he kicked field goals of 54, 42 and 36 yards to beat Miami. He played in the  Gator Bowl, Peach Bowl and the North-South Shrine Game.

SPIKE JONES

Punter

No. 10

Georgia

"The eighth leading punter in the AFC in 1970, Spike was one of the NFL's top rookies last year.

An all-state end in high school who also participated in basketball and track, he was the varsity punter for the Georgia squad for three years and finished with a career average of 41.5 yards per punt on 194 kicks. Spike was the second leading punter in the nation in his senior year with a 43.5-yard average on 71 punts and his career mark set a new record in the Southeastern Conference. He holds the Georgia record for the longest punt with an 87-yarder in 1967.

Spike was an All-Southeastern Conference pick in 1968 and 1969 and was chosen on The Sporting News All-America Second Team in 1969. He played in the 1970 College All-Star Game and was the Oilers' fourth selection in the 1970 college draft."

-1971 Topps No. 64

1971 Profile: J.D. Hill

Wide Receiver

1st Round

Arizona State

"Tremendous prospect who should help immediately as a receiver and/or kick returner. Hill caught 58 passes for 908 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior year after being red-shirted as a junior. He was also a running back and defensive back during his college career.

Hill has blazing speed, running a 40-yard dash in 4.5 in his football shoes. He ran a 9.3 hundred more than once.

From Stockton, California, where he starred in four sports, his first name is Judge."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

1971 Profiles: O.J. Simpson and Wayne Patrick

O.J. SIMPSON

Running Back
No. 32
USC
"How much do the Bills depend on running back O.J. Simpson? Well, they didn't win any games after O.J. was knocked out by injury in the eighth game of the season. At first there was a rumor that Simpson had undergone knee surgery, but that was due to a mixup in terminology. The prize draft choice of 1969 had suffered only a knee capsule tear- not critical enough for surgery, but serious enough to keep Simpson from playing the rest of the season. It's expected that he'll be completely recovered this year.
O.J. wound up with only 488 yards and five touchdowns last season. But, in the games he played, the former USC star showed a changed attitude. He seemed more willing to pitch in on blocking and pass protection assignments in addition to carrying the ball. When he does get the ball Simpson is, according to coach Rauch, 'an every-play threat.'"

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Just when O.J. was busting out, the injury jinx smacked him and he missed six full games. But he had a fine second season, rushing for 488 yards for a 4.1-yard average and five touchdowns. He caught 10 passes and was spectacular on kickoff returns with seven for a 47.6-yard average. He ranks second among active AFC players in kickoff returns with a 30.8-yard average.

O.J. gained 697 yards rushing as a rookie after a much heralded college career at Southern Cal. He was unanimous All-America two years in a row and the Heisman Trophy winner as a senior after setting all sorts of rushing records. O.J. balked at coming to Buffalo because of the weather because of the slim chances of capitalizing on his name.

He finally signed and didn't suffer in the financial department. He has endorsements and personal appearance contracts with Chevrolet, Royal Crown Cola, ABC-TV, etc. The Bills think he will really bust out in 1971 because of their better balanced offense.

O.J. is a quiet, humble guy despite the publicity buildup. He's married with two kids and makes his off-season home in Los Angeles."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"O.J. was well on his way to a superb season for the Bills in 1970 when a knee injury shortened his year. As pro football's first selection in the 1969 draft he was the game's most heralded rookie of all time. O.J. has everything essential to be an all-time great. He's fast, shifty and durable and is a threat every time he has the ball.

In his rookie season of 1969 he led the Bills in rushing, in kickoff returns with 21 for 529 yards and a 25.2 average, and in total yardage. At USC, O.J. was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1968. He was a unanimous All-America selection as a junior and a senior in 1967 and 1968. As a senior, he led the nation in rushing with 1,709 yards on 355 carries for a 4.8-yard average.

He was rated by some as the greatest college runner ever."

-1971 Topps No. 260

WAYNE PATRICK

Fullback

No. 30

Louisville

 Wayne rushed for 131 yards against Boston, 10-11-69, including a 72-yard rush, and scored a touchdown in a 23-16 Bills victory. Known for his outstanding blocking for O.J. Simpson, he had registered a 3.9-yard average in1970 before sidelined with a shoulder injury in the ninth game of the season.

The Sophomore Back of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference in 1965, Wayne was the Louisville fullback for three varsity seasons.

1971 Profile: Haven Moses

Flanker
No. 25
San Diego State
"Marlin Briscoe may have replaced wide receiver Haven Moses as the Bills' leading pass receiver last year, but Moses was still as capable as ever, catching 39 passes for 726 yards. In his first two seasons in the pros he caught 42 (1968) and 39 (1969) passes to lead the club.
The Bills' first draft choice in '68 out of San Diego State- he never played with Dennis Shaw until last season- Moses has good speed, hands, quickness and body control. Big and muscular at 6-3 and 205 pounds, the 25-year-old pass catcher can take a lot of punishment."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Coming off another fine season- his third in three tries. Moses failed to lead the Bills in pass receiving for the first time since joining them, but his 39 catches were about par for him; he's averaged 40 receptions a year.

Moses gets good yardage for his catches- in the 19-yard class. He's a perfect flanker with speed, good hands, quickness and moves. He was a No. 1 draft choice in 1968 after a brilliant career at San Diego State. He never played with Dennis Shaw there but teamed perfectly with him last season. It was Moses who caught the key passes (four for 118 yards) as Shaw catapulted to stardom in the Jet game.

A superstitious fellow who wears the same T-shirt in all games, he's a motorbike and horseback riding enthusiast. He was a sociology major in college and is married."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"The second leading pass receiver on the Bills after leading the club in his first two seasons, Haven is possessed with good speed, hands, quickness and outstanding body control. The Buffalo coaching staff feels he could be reaching All-Pro status in 1971.

He played two years at Los Angeles Harbor Junior College before entering San Diego State. There he was a unanimous Little All-America choice in 1967 and that year he was also named to The Sporting News All-America team. A veteran of the Shrine East-West, Senior Bowl, Coaches All-America Game, and College All-Star Game, he was the Bills' first selection in the 1968 college draft. In two years at San Diego State, he caught passes for 2,169 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Haven likes to ride motorcycles."

-1971 Topps No. 112

1971 Bills Linebacker Profiles

EDGAR CHANDLER

Middle Linebacker

No. 52

Georgia

"The middle linebacking job was turned over to Edgar Chandler last year, and his outstanding play prompted coach Rauch to think of him as a 'potential longtime fixture.' Chandler, now entering his fourth year with Buffalo (he was a fourth-round draft choice in '68), has good speed and is a tough tackler. Last season Ed made off with his very first interception- including high school and college- and ran it back 59 yards for a touchdown.

An All-America tackle at Georgia, the 6-3, 235-pounder put in most of his rookie time on the special teams and then replaced the injured Paul Guidry at left linebacker midway through the '69 season."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"The Bills' fourth draft selection in 1968, Edgar's play in his rookie season was largely restricted to specialty teams and late-game work at middle linebacker. He had trouble maintaining his weight in 1968 but took over for the injured Paul Guidry at left linebacker in mid-season 1969 and played there the rest of the year, proving himself a rugged tackler and possessor of good speed. Edgar moved to middle linebacker in 1970 and became a regular at that position.

Edgar was an All-American tackle at Georgia in 1967 and was voted as the outstanding lineman in both the Liberty Bowl and in the Southeast Conference in his senior year. The captain of the Georgia team in 1967, he played in the Cotton Bowl, Liberty Bowl, North-South Game, Hula Bowl and Coaches All-America Game."

-1971 Topps No. 86

MIKE STRATTON

Linebacker
No. 58
Tennessee
"Not only did Mike Stratton's consecutive game streak end at 130 last year, but he became the first player in the Bills' 11-year history to suffer a torn Achilles' tendon. The medical reports say Stratton will be as good as new this year. If so, he won't have any trouble fighting off the competition for his right linebacking job.
Considered one of the best blitzing outside linebackers in the NFL, Mike was originally drafted out of Tennessee as a tight end. In college he played both offensive and defensive end. The Bills shifted the 6-3, 241-pounder to linebacker in his rookie year (1962)."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Senior among Bills in years of service, but just 30 years old because his pro career began at a young age. Statton played both ways as an end in college and was drafted as a potential tight end. He was moved to linebacker as a rookie and has been a starter since. He has made 17 interceptions, including six in 1962.

Last season was going fine until he sustained an ankle injury and had to miss five games. In fact, his Achilles tendon tear was the first such injury ever suffered by a Bill. It happened in a game with Baltimore with no one around him. Stratton had played 130 straight pre-season and regular-season games until then. He once played 80 games in a row, including three AFL title games, with the same set of linebackers.

He's an insurance representative in his home state and is married, with two daughters."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

PAUL GUIDRY

Linebacker

No. 59

McNeese State

"Came into his own in 1970 when he played in all games and won second-team All-AFC mention in UPI poll. Guidry was an eighth-round draft choice out of a small college who worked his way up the ranks by starring on special teams. His rise to stardom began in 1969, but then he suffered a shoulder injury halfway through the season.

Guidry reads plays well. He began his college career at LSU but transferred to McNeese where he concentrated on [playing] tight end. He wants to coach someday.

Nicknamed 'Gomer' by his teammates, he's an outdoorsman and TV game-show viewer in his spare time. He's married and has a daughter."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)

"Paul enjoyed his finest season as a pro in 1970 as he was named to the UPI second-team AFC All-Star squad. As a rookie with the Bills in 1966 he impressed the coaches with his speed, agility and ability to adjust to linebacking play. Paul was an end in college at LSU and McNeese State and was All-Gulf States Conference as an end in both his junior and senior years.

He did a fine job in his first full season as the starting left linebacker in 1968 after assuming that spot for the final four games of 1967. Paul was having his best season as a pro in 1969 when a shoulder injury sidelined him in the eighth game of the year. He came back in '70, proving he as the equipment to be the complete linebacker, including the ability to read plays.

Paul likes to watch television game shows."

-1971 Topps No. 138

"The Buffalo Bills have some 'name' players like O.J. Simpson, Dennis Shaw, Marlin Briscoe and J.D. Hill. Then there's little-publicized Guidry, the left-side linebacker. He's out of McNeese State, an eight-round draft choice in 1966 and he comes to hit.

He has a penchant for being around the ball. Quick, mobile and a contact player, he 'reads' plays well. The Bills have liked him from the outset because of his aggressive ways.

A punishing type of tackler, he's not easily handled by blockers and is getting better all the time. He looks and acts the part of a sound professional. Guidry is adept at infiltrating the blocking cordon on screen passes and breaking them up before they ever develop."

-John Steadman, from "5 Most Over-Rated and Under-Rated NFL Players" (Football Digest, December 1971)

1971 Profile: Marlin Briscoe

Wide Receiver

No. 86
Omaha
"Dennis Shaw's favorite target last season was Marlin Briscoe, who wound up as the AFC's leading pass receiver with 57 catches for 1,036 yards and eight touchdowns, and was named to the Pro Bowl squad.
Briscoe, who in 1968 started his professional career as the NFL's first black starting quarterback with Denver, joined the Bills the following year and was switched to wide receiver. The 5-11, 178-pounder, considered too small to play quarterback, adapted to his new job easily, catching 32 passes in his first two seasons with the Bills and earning the nickname 'Marlin the Magician' because of his flair for making the big play.
He has fine body control and leaping ability. And, of course, in a pinch Marlin can always fill in at quarterback."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"An unlikely pass catching leader in the AFC, having been in the position for just a year. Briscoe set 22 passing and total offense records for Omaha and was expected to become the first regular black quarterback in the pros. He did get to start for the Denver Broncos in 1968, but the experiment failed. Ironically, his best day as a pro quarterback was against the Bills- four touchdown passes and 335 yards.

Buffalo picked up Marlin as a free agent and wide receiver prospect. He ranked twenty-third among league receivers in his initial year at the position by making 32 receptions. Then came 1970 and conference leadership with 57 receptions. All-AFC, he has the legs as well as the hands, averaging an impressive 18.2 yards per reception. He's nicknamed 'Marlin the Magician' because of his big plays. He still wants to play quarterback some day but feels his height [5-11] is against him.

Marlin is a pool-shooting and crossword puzzle buff. He used to have his own sports show on radio in Omaha."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)