I'll take it from you since that's logical and it seems you were around to actually witness Maynard ball.. respect.
Thanks, don't get me wrong. I think today's game is much more exciting in many ways than when I grew up, but I also recognize the difference in the game between then and now. The it really helps when looking at players and stats to break things down in to several eras. and athletes today are more 'fit' than those of the past due to better diets, exercise science and the fact they make enough that they don't 'moonlight' in the offseason to make ends meet and therefore can train pretty much year around. Not to mention improvements to player safety, though sometimes I think it goes a little too far in some regards (but at least there are no 'in the grasp' calls...god that was the worst rule in football EVER) The 'Stone age' which would be before 1950. Prior to that players mostly all played two way, aka offense and defense, and the passing game was erratic at best. The 'modern age' 1950-1977. QB's were established as the primary play callers and passers, the game was very vertical in nature in terms of passing and completion percentages were low and interceptions were high. 1974 Goal posts were moved to the back of the endzone. 1978 the big year of rule changes. Offensive linemen were allowed to extend their arms and use their hands, thus greatly improving pass blocking and giving QB's more time to throw the ball. Defenders were no longer allowed to make contact with a receiver past 5 yards, prior to that a defender could just about do anything short of grabbing and tackling a receiver on their routes (it's why there were almost no small receivers prior to 1978, they couldn't survive). I think today's game is a much better product than the game then, but I think in some ways the game was more 'fun' back then...
WTH O-lineman couldn't extend their arms or use their hands????? how were they blocking ? the sacks must've been up like crazy back then.
If you want to see a good study sometime, look at the amount of quality QB's in the 70's compared to the 80's. It's literally like night and day. The amount of concussions and injuries for quarterbacks back then was bonkers (and playing on Astroturf didn't help either, that stuff was as rough as a freeway.)
That's crazy... i almost want to go back and judge some of the legendary sack artist from back then differently now lol.
Yeah. Shows how important good offensive lineman were back then. I was watching footage of John Hannah blocking from the mid-seventies. His arms resembled a seal pummeling another water mammal to death!
It's why O-linemen before 1978 were all 'little' guys, you needed to be quick and agile in order to keep your body between the defender and the QB. before 1978 it was a very different game.
It was fine last year at the end without him, which is why so many people were fine with letting him walk. But so far this year he's looked much better than Sheldon, which makes it tough.
Same here, didn't really appreciate him as much as I should have until the mid 70's when I had a better grasp on the overall game (I was 8 in 69, that almost sounds like a dirty joke actually).
yeah it was a very different game back then. Players played through concussions, broken bones, I'm sure with torn cartilage and other injuries, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying modern players should play through those but back in those days that's how it was done and it really factored in to performance on the field and really shortened the careers, and I'm sure in some cases lifespans, of a lot of players. It still sickens me to watch the injury Namath suffered in either 71 in an exhibition game that basically ended his career. he was never the same QB after the broken wrist in 70 and the broken leg in 71. He just didn't have the same velocity and accuracy he'd had before. It's a shame because he was just hitting his stride as a mature player. In today's game this would have been a massive fine, probable suspension.
Left - to - right: Sunny Jurgensen, QB, Pro Football Hall of Fame, age: 81 - still living Pete Retzlaff, HB/TE/WR, 5x Pro Bowl, MVP '65, age: 84 - still living Timmy Brown, RB, 3x All Pro, former actor, age 78 - still living Tommy McDonald, WR, Pro Football Hall of Fame, age 81 - still living
Marshall is easily one of the best Jets receivers of my era. Walker retired the year I was born. I always like Keyshawn and Chrebet growing up.
There has been some speculation that the extra protective equipment actually contributed to a style of play yielding more serious injuries. Players feel invincible and play more reckless/aggressive, versus being fundamentally sound. I'm not sure if that could ever be proven, but there could be some validity to it. You're probably not leading with your helmet if you only have a piece of leather strapped to your head.
Wesley was a great Jet could have been a hall of famer with 2 good eyes, he dropped a lot of passes early in his career
