jetophile and others - I started to say the same thing earlier in my response to Biggs, but googled the 1985 Jets, and their starting OL was Reggie McElroy (LT), Jim Sweeney (LG), Joe Fields (C), Dan Alexander (RG), Marvin Powell (RT). Is it just the ravages of time, or wasn't that OL pretty good? Maybe it's just because I remember their names, the Jets were pretty good, and McNeil and Hector managed to pile up some rushing yards. Was it better in run blocking than pass blocking? What does everyone think?
Most of those guys were still in their prime. Andre Tippett should donate a portion of his NFL earnings to Ken. It's a tough question to answer because 1985 the amount of teams that were killing the QB was off the charts. 6 Teams had 60 or more sacks. 10 50 or more and 20 teams were 40 or over. Compare that to this past year where only 3 teams were over 50 and 12 over 40. Different game today.
H'mm what does hurdles or triple jump have to do with playing FB?. As for a genius HC go blame the NYJs owner for hiring a dummy instead of a genius
I think your use of greatest is way, way off target. Maybe good would define him would be OK but great sorry he does not fit that bill
Hurdles and triple jump = fast and athletic. Other than those, nothing at all with being a football player.
that line was pretty good and the jets as a collective group even led the league in rushing with Dierking , Gaines, Kevin Long and Tom Newton,,,,,how do u like them apples ?
I'd say those were some pretty tasty apples. I don't remember Newton at all. I didn't get to see Dierking, Gaines or Long much as that 1977-1985 period was a real dark hole for me in terms of seeing the Jets. After I graduated college I taught public school for a couple of years in a small town in the eastern part of NC. The "local" (none in town or within an hour's drive) TV stations never showed any Jets games. I then moved back to my hometown for 3 years, but worked 4 different part-time jobs at the same time, and hardly got to watch any football at all. I did manage to see the Jets a few times during those 3 years. I then went to graduate school in Texas (SMU) and they NEVER showed the Jets in Dallas or Austin. At least I got to see the SMU Mustangs win a bunch of games on the way to their national championship with the likes of Eric Dickerson, Craig James, Michael Carter and Russell Carter (the latter of Jets infamy). It wasn't until I moved to NYC in April 1986 that I finally started getting to see the Jets games every week (quite a few in person at that dung heap Giants Stadium).
When you think of the skilled position players the Jets had in the mid 80’s... they could be some of the best the team ever produced. QB- Kenny O (top 2 QB in Jets history) RB- Freeman McNeil (2nd best in Jets history) TE- Mickey Shuler (Best TE in Jets history) WR- Toooooon and Walker ( #3 and #5 in my book) I have Maynard, Sauer as 1,2 Keyshawn at 4 and Wayne at 6. Coles is my number 7
Tom Newton # 44 I believe,,,ps Bruce Harper was also part of that mix at one time but I could be wrong
Lance Mehl does not get enough credit,,,,,,and Freeman was my favorite right up there with Walker and Klecko--honorable mention to James Hasty
