Green Bay Packers (2-0) 17, St. Louis Cardinals (1-1) 0
Sunday September 23rd 1962 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers pitched their first shutout in the Braves' baseball park Sunday - and they needed it. Green Bay's offense met tremendous resistance from the souped-up Cardinals and managed just one field goal in the first half and two touchdowns in the second. But the Bays' big and mobile defense put on a marvelous performance, allowing the Cards beyond the midfield area just once all day. The final score was 17 to 0 and this was a good old fashioned rock 'em sock 'em defensive struggle before a standing room crowd of 44,885 in County Stadium. The scene now shifts back to Green Bay for a blue plate special - Packers vs. Bears. Pro football's bitterest rivals will take perfect 2-0 records into the showdown in City Stadium. Green Bay's offense, encouraged plenty by the tough defensers, had to work hard for its 17 marks, 11 of which were scored by Paul Hornung. Big Jim Taylor turned the tide with his powerful smashes in the second half, cracking the Cards' rugged defense for 122 yards for the day. Quarterback Bart Star was under considerable rush, including red-dogging defensive halfbacks, but he managed TD drives of 80 yards in 12 plays and 66 yards in five plays. Hornung's 13-yard field goal followed a 37-yard advance. Hornung scored the first TD on a three-yard run in the third period and Starr hurled a 19-yard pass to Max McGee for the final sixer in the fourth quarter. But the defense was the story and, incidentally, this was the Packers' second shutout in their last three for-real games. They blanked the Giants in the playoff and then allowed one TD - on a broken pattern at that - in the victory over the Vikings a week ago. The Cards' two big guns were stopped cold. John David Crow made only nine yards in nine carries, and Sonny Randle, the slick pass catching end, caught his first and only pass, a five-yarder, late in the fourth period. St. Louis' rushing game was boiled down to 16 yards. Mal Hammack was the only other ball carrier to gain yardage. The visitors passed for 172 yards, with Sam Etcheverry hitting 15 of 30, but most of it came on short harmless swing passes. Etcheverry lost 31 yards attempting to pass under a hard charge from Hank Jordan, Bill Quinlan, Willie Davis, Dave Hanner, Dan Currie, Bill Forester and Ray Nitschke. The defensive backfield, Jess Whittenton, Willie Wood, Hank Gremminger and Herb Adderley, did the rest. Forester, Jordan and and Whittenton recovered fumbles and Whittenton and Gremminger made interceptions. The Packers' offense got into scoring position four times in the first half, reaching the Card 20, 17, 30 and 13 but Starr twice has passes intercepted and lost the ball on a fumble before Hornung hit the field goal in the fourth trip. Starr came out with 14 completions in 26 attempts for 173 yards, with Boyd Dowler catching five for 82 yards. The Bays' big offense gunner was Taylor who moved 162 yards the 27 times he had his hands on the ball. Jim punished the Card defense, with his hard-hitting. He rushed his 122 yards in 23 carries and his thrusts up the middle helped the Bays loosen up the Card defense and thus make their passing work. Jim caught four passes for 40 yards. The Packers didn't lack for scoring opportunities in the first period. An interference penalty on Pat Fischer on the Bays' first play of the game, a Starr to Dowler pass, put the Bays on the Card 32. Taylor ran twice and caught a pass for a 12-yard total gain to the 20 but three plays later Billy Stacy recovered Starr's fumble. After an exchange of punts, Forester recovered Etcheverry's fumble and the Bays were on the Cards' 17. On the second play Starr's pass to McGee near the goal posts was intercepted by Hill. Starr got a drive going on the next offensive shot, completing a 23-yarder to Dowler and a 14-yarder to McGee, but his third pass, aimed at
Ron Kramer, was intercepted by Stacy. A short punt by Etcheverry gave the Bays position at midfield early in the second period. Starr helped the field goal drive along with an 11-yard run and then passed to Dowler for 6 and 10-yard gains to the 13. The attack stalled on the six and Hornung made his field goal from the 13 at 7:17.
REGRET GAMBLING
The Cards did some gambling and lived to regret it on the next series. They had a fourth and one on their own 35 and they tried it, rather than punt. Hammack crashed three yards for a first down and it must have riled the Pack defense. Etcheverry was thrown for 10 and 16 yard losses on successive pass attempts. On his third pass Whittenton intercepted a pass aimed at Randle. Just before the half Jerry Perry tried a 56-yard field goal but it was shot. The Bays took the second half kickoff and scored on an 80-yard march. Taylor and Hornung led off with 19 yards on the ground. Starr then threw to Taylor on a screener for 18 to reach midfield. Then in the big plays Starr threw to Kramer for 11 and Taylor bolted 13 to the 11. From there Hornung hit for four, Taylor four and Hornung the last three at 7:05. Paul converted and it was 10-0. The defense got the ball right back on Whittenton's recovery when Hammack was bumped hard by Forester. Taylor picked off 28 yards in three straight carries to the Card 36. Starr hurled to Dowler for 11 but the next three plays produced by five yards and Hornung missed a field goal from the 27. The kick was low and wide. A punt exchange opened the fourth period and the Bays got their last drive started from their own 34. Hornung led off with an eight-yard pass to Kramer. Starr, after Taylor made three, fired a strike up the middle to Dowler for a 31-yard gain to the Card 24. After Taylor made five, McGee, who had been out since the second frame with an injury, caught Starr's pass between the goal posts and left Hill sprawling for a 19-yard TD. Hornung's conversion made it 17-0. Near the end, the Cards lost the ball on downs on their own 35 but they got the ball back when Don Owens recovered Starr's fumble. The Cardinals made their deepest penetration of the day, reaching the Packers' 22 on an interference penalty, but the shutout was preserved when Gremminger intercepted on the 2 and returned 20 yards. Earl Gros closed out the day with a four-yard run.
ST. LOUIS - 0 0 0 0 - 0
GREEN BAY - 0 3 7 7 - 17
ST. LOUIS GREEN BAY
First Downs 11 20
Rushing-Yards-TD 18-16-0 37-171-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 33-17-156-0-2 27-15-181-1-2
Sack Yards Lost 41 18
Total Yards 131 334
Fumbles-lost 4-3 2-2
Turnovers 5 4
Yards penalized 2-39 5-54
SCORING
2nd - GB - Paul Hornung, 13-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
3rd - GB - Hornung, 3-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 10-0
4th - GB - Max McGee, 19-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 17-0
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Jim Taylor 23-122, Paul Hornung 11-34 1 TD, Bart Starr 1-11, Earl Gros 1-5, Tom Moore 1-(-1)
ST. LOUIS - John David Crow 9-9, Mal Hammack 6-7, Sam Etcheverry 2-0, Joe Childress 1-0
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 26-14-173 1 TD 2 INT, Paul Hornung 1-1-8
ST. LOUIS - Sam Etcheverrry 30-15-124 2 INT, John David Crow 3-2-32
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Boyd Dowler 5-82, Jim Taylor 4-40, Ron Kramer 4-26, Max McGee 2-33 1 TD
ST. LOUIS - Bobby Joe Conrad 7-76, Taz Anderson 3-40, Joe Childress 2-17, Sonny Randle 2-13, John David Crow 2-8, Mal Hammack 1-2
PACKERS 'FOUND' CARDS IN 2ND HALF; DEFENSE 'SUPERB'
SEPT 24 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - With apologies to the late Commodore Perry, the Packers might well have proclaimed here Sunday afternoon, "We have found the enemy and they are ours." For it was their second half "discovery" of the Cardinals, parlayed with an incredibly savage defense, they forged their bruising 17-0 conquest of the Missourians in capacious Milwaukee County Stadium, a particularly affable Vince Lombardi imparted shortly after this happy project had been completed. Holding forth from a comfortable perch atop an equipment trunk in the Packer dressing room, Lombardi announced, "Their defense upset us in the beginning. We had a helluva time trying to find 'em (the Cardinal defenders). They did a lot of stunting in there." Vince, who explained, "We knew they would be tough defensively," said, "It was new to us. We haven't seen it before this year." The Packers found the answer with exemplary dispatch. "We adjusted between halves," Lombardi revealed. "In the second half, we zone blocked and area blocked - the boys picked 'em up real well." Could a quarterback make this type of adjustment on the field? "No," was the prompt reply. "We tried to make adjustments on the sidelines, the same that we made at the half, but we weren't very successful. We had to put it on the board." The Packer headmaster was understandably aglow over his defense. "The whole defense played superbly, really," he said, unmistakable admiration in his tone. "That's what you have to have," Vince noted significantly, "a whole team." Offensively, he observed, "we had a lot of receivers open in the first half - we just weren't hitting them. Bart (Starr) had more time to pass than he realized. He threw too quickly a couple of times. And, of course, that pass to Max McGee in the first quarter should have been a touchdown. It was a perfect pass - right through his hands." McGee, he added in reply to a question, "is all right." (Removed from combat after being shaken up in the second quarter, he returned in time to spear a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Starr) "I don't know about Ron Gassert, and I won't until tomorrow," Lombardi said. "He has a knee injury." Gassert is a rookie defensive lineman from Virginia. At this point, a weary Jerry Kramer passed by en route to the shower. "Nice going, Jerry," Lombardi told him. "That's the way to hang in there son." Turning back to the press corps, Vince reported, "That boy had a 104 temperature the other day," Kramer, suffering from a strep throat and the flu, had been confined to bed from Thursday through Saturday. Did he still have a few things to do with this team? somebody asked. "Yes," was the reply, but when pressed to elaborate, Vince understandably declined to pursue the subject. What about the Bears? "I don't know about the Bears." Lombardi responded, his smile evaporating as he pondered next Sunday's big assignment at City Stadium. "I won't know until I see the pictures."...Scholarly, thoughtful Wally Lemm, discoursing in the Cardinal dressing room at the other end of the stadium, informed his audience, "The Packers played 100 percent better today than they did last week, judging by the film of their game against the Vikings. In fact, that game last week made us think we could beat them," he added somewhat soberly. "We felt maybe Green Bay is ripe to be beaten. I still feel that way," Lemm went on. "The law of averages is bound to catch up with them." This did not mean, however, that the former Carroll mentor was not highly impressed with the defending world champions. "They are the best balanced team in football," Wally volunteered. "They have a fine running offense, a fine passing offense, a fine defense against both a running and passing attack. And they have good kicking. What more is there? All you can do is wait for them to grow old." Lemm, who said "we had the most trouble with Jordan (Hank) and a lot with Willie Davis, too," pronounced himself satisfied with his harried quarterback, Sam Etcheverry. "I thought Sam did a good job today. When he had time, he picked his receivers well. Remember, he came from Canadian football, and then last year the Cards played the double wing. This year, of course, we're using the T. So he's had a lot of adjustments to make. He's going to be all right." The Cards' major offensive problem, he added, "is we don't have a Taylor, although Hammack (Mel) is as good a blocker as Tayor or better." Wally also was "satisfied with the defense, to a certain extent. We had a few errors but, by and large, it kept us in the ball game." In explanation of the Cards' penchant for "stunting," Wally pointed out. "They were doing it a lot last year and had a lot of success with it. When you find a defense that works, stick with it." Had he keyed the Cards' defense on the Pack's Boyd Dowler? he was asked. "There is no key to a defense when you are facing Dowler, Max McGee, Ron Kramer, Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor," he said wryly. "As far as playing the percentages is concerned, though, we felt we had to rush Starr all the time or else we had to double up on Dowler." Offensively, "we didn't feel we could do much deep against them," Lemm said. "You're not going to beat Whittenton deep, you're not going to beat Gremminger deep and I doubt very much if you're going to beat Adderley deep." "As I said," Wally concluded ruefully, "this is the best balanced team in football. Father time is the only thing that's going to beat the Packers."...A somewhat subdued Etcheverry, fresh from one of the longest afternoons in his long pro career, compared the Packers' bruising defense to that of the Detroit Lions. "It's hard to say which is better," he said thoughtfully. "Detroit's got a tough defense, too. All I know is the Packers' is damned tough."...ROYAL ERROR: The first booboo of the afternoon occurred before the combatants took the field. The scoreboard's opening, "Fan-A-Gram," proclaimed, "Hail to the champion Packers, long may they reign."...BEAR STORY: Massive Bill Wightkin, former Chicago Bear defensive stalwart, and George J. Halas, nephew of owner-coach George S. Halas and son of chief scout Walter Halas, diagrammed the action for study by the Bears' brain trust. G.J. issued a friendly "warning' to the Pack. "We're keeping our fingers crossed today," he said. "If we can win (they did, 27-23), the Packers better look out next week."...FAINT HEATED: Wayne Milner, veteran Washington Redskins scout, on duty in the press box, confided with an anxious grin, "I'm afraid to look anymore," after discovering the 'Skins had taken a 7-0 lead over the mighty Cleveland Browns in the first quarter. His fears proved groundless, the Washingtons
ultimately squeezing out a 17-16 upset victory...TWO IN EVERY CROWD?: Two obstreperous fans, streaking past dumbfounded gendarmes, dashed out onto the field with 1:21 remaining in the game to shake hands with Willie Davis and Dan Currie. Then, as quickly as they had come, the interlopers wheeled back up into the stands without a hand being laid on them.
'WILLIE DAVIS HIT 'EM BEFORE I DID,' JORDAN
SEPT 24 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Genial (to all but the enemy) Hank Jordan, the object of much back-slapping and many felicitations, jammed a pair of shoulder pads into his duffle bag and parried all plaudits deftly. "Willie Davis was hitting 'em before I got to 'em," the far-ranging all-pro, surrounded by eager reporters in front of his locker, asserted in his best Virginia drawl. Be that as it may (and there can be no doubt the militant Davis had left more than a few contusions upon the person of Cardinal quarterback Sam Etcheverry), it was the rocket-like Jordan who had prompted Cardinal coach Wally Lemm to exclaim, "That Jordan is everywhere - and he does everything." Had he not felt some compassion, particularly when the issue was no longer in doubt, for the beleaguered Etcheverry? "Hardly," Hank snorted mildly. "I wish I could have hit him a couple of more times." "He gets rid of that ball real fast," Jordan, one of Paul Brown's biggest contributions to the Packer cause, noted in this connection. "He throws in a hurry." "I'm glad of one thing," he went on. "Our defense has pride in itself, just like the offense. Everybody helps everybody else. That's what makes a ball club." Offering an illustration, he recalled, "One time I got knocked back about five yards. And Dave Hanner, Bill Quinlan rushed in there. Was I glad to see that. And that's what I mean - we all try to help each other." Jarring Jim Taylor, who had surprisingly little success in the first two quarters, attributed his subsequent renaissance to "hitting quicker and a lot sharper in the second half." The bayou bronco added, "We just got to zone blocking in the second half, and they changed their defense. They weren't red-dogging so much and the red dogs were not real hard to pick up." Taking note of those early troubles, blocking star Forrest Gregg said, "They were doing a lot of jumping around in there and we weren't picking 'em up. They were getting to our passer a little bit - they were shooting in a little more than we could handle." Impressed with the Big Red, the big Texan appended, with some fervor, "They come at you all the time. They're a real good defensive team." One of the Pack's casualties, Mac McGee, reported, "I'm okay. I got hit in the back of the head and went fuzzy for a while. I just had to get the cobwebs out." And a somewhat wan Jerry Kramer, bound for a shave, confessed to being "real tired." Kramer, who was fighting an ominous 104 temperature as late as Saturday, said wearily, "I've been in bed for the last three days and sweating all the time. I'm just thoroughly wrung out."
PACKERS DOING THEIR SHUTOUT-SHOPPING EARLY
SEPT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers did their shutout-shopping early this year. Since Vince Lombardi came upon the scene and started molding the Packers from the defense on up, the Packers have observed each year with a shutout victory. They blanked the Redskins 21-0 in the ninth game in 1959, the 49ers 13-0 in the 11th game in 1960, the Bears 24-0 in the third game in 1961 and the Cards 17-0 in the second game this year. And, lest we forget, there was that 37-0 blanking of the Giants in the championship game last Dec. 31. That makes for five shutouts. But enough of the "blanks." Let's look at the notebook on the Packer-Card game. Here are the circled notations we made during the action...GOOD TACKLE: Giant John Crow was coming at Jess Whittenton, not a giant, full blast after taking a short pass from Sam Etcheverry in first quarter. Jess unloaded a low block and Crow went up and down...LUCKY: Norm Beal, back to field Boyd Dowler's punt in the first quarter, signaled for a fair catch but the ball popped right out of his arms. It went out of bounds and the Pack didn't have a chance to recover...GIMME THE BALL: Dowler caught a pass from Bart Starr for 23 yards and was hauled down on the Cardinal 47. The official, in a real business-like style, grabbed the ball from Boyd and set it on the 48. Boyd, just as business-like, grabbed it from the official and set it on the 47. The official had the last grab - on the 48...EX-TEAMMATES: One of the big crashes of the day came between Beal and Ed Blaine, who were teammates at Missouri last year. Beal was returning Willie Wood's kickoff after Paul Hornung's field goal when Blaine hit Norm head on. Beal limped off but returned later on the platoons...PACKERS MAD: With the ball on their own 35 and fourth down, the Cardinals gambled for a first down and made it on Mal Hammack's three-yard plunge. The enraged defense threw Etcheverry back 26 yards in two play and on Play 3 Jess Whittenton intercepted Sam's pass aimed at Sonny Randle...SAFETY BLITZED: When Starr threw a quickie to Ron Kramer in the TD drive in the third period, the Cardinals had a safetyman (Larry Wilson) go into the line after Starr...GROS TACKLED, GASSERT OUT: When Triplett returned Wood's kickoff after the Pack's first TD, Earl Gros, the offense fullback, made a good tackle on Triplett. On the play, Ron Gassert re-injured his knee and left the game...PILING: When Paul Hornung ran off right tackle in the third period he was downed without ceremony by a group of Cards. Just about the time it was quite obvious Hornung couldn't move Ed Henke piled into Paul. And it was another example of one of pro football's unnecessary dangers...MCGEE READY: Max McGee, hurt in the second quarter, was doing calisthenics on the sidelines early in the fourth period shortly before returning to action. His replacement, Lew Carpenter, was shaken up going for a pass and McGee returned on the next series to catch the final TD pass...107 - "Jim Taylor now has 107 yards," press box announcer Leo Zeutzius called out as Jim gained 5 yards in the fourth frame.
UNBEATEN BEARS CONFRONT PACKERS
SEPT 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - This is Bear Week. And Vince Lombardi came up with an "angle" for today's opus which will be short out of respect to the fist fight in Chicago tonight. "Do you know," the Packer coach asked, "that everybody we've played has been unbeaten?" The first three opponents haven't lost a game, thus adding to the challenge facing the defending champions. The Vikings, of course, were "unbeaten" in the opener - before they came to Green Bay, and so where the Cardinals before they ran into the Pack in Milwaukee. The Cards had beaten the Eagles in their opener. And now the Bears also happen to be unbeaten - thanks to their clean sweep of the west coast. The Packer-Bear game is one of two battles of the unbeatens in the Western Division Sunday. The Lions and Colts, also sporting 2-0s, meet in Baltimore. The Bears? "It's the usual Bear problem and to make it tougher they're riding high. They've got momentum," Lombardi said, referring to Halas U's 30-14 win over the 49ers and 27-23 triumph over the Rams. Lombardi and aides Phil Bengtson, Norb Hecker, Bill Austin, Red Cochran and Tom Fears put in a long Monday viewing pictures of the 17-0 win over the Cards and plotting for the Bear game. Monday is an off day for the players, but they were back today for a meeting this morning, a light workout, and then another meeting at which Scout Wally Cruice told of the Bear-Ram game...MATCHED COMMENTS: Lombardi's reaction to the Cardinal pictures matched his comments after the game. The films showed that the "defense was very good." The play of the defense was the highlight of the game, with the Cards winding up with only 16 yards rushing. As to the offense, Lombardi said that "our offense was damned good. We stopped ourselves when we got down there but it wasn't overall - just a few individual things." The Bays came out with a couple of injuries - tackle Ron Gassert and end Max McGee, but both of them are okay today. Thus, the squad will be in good physical condition for the Bears.
PACKERS' JORDAN CALLS PRIDE KEY TO CLUB'S TOUGH DEFENSE
SEPT 25 (Kaukauna) - "Pride is the main reason the Packer defense is doing so well," Henry Jordan said at the 27th annual Lions Club banquet for the Kaukauna High School football team Monday night. Over 150 Lions, school officials and athletes attended the program held at the Elks Club. Jordan, one of the main cogs in Green Bay's defensive front line, was about as timely a guest speaker as could be asked for after his outstanding game against the St. Louis Cardinals. However, just as he did after the game, Jordan was quick to push off any praise to the other members of the unit. "If you get a lot of tackles, it means the opposition is running through your hole so they figure you're the weakest link in the defense," Hank said with half a smile on his face...DRAFTED BY BROWNS: Jordan, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1957, compared himself to linebacker Ray Nitschke in this manner: "When Nitschke is on the football field, he is the meanest man there is. When he can't find anyone else to hit, sometimes he hits me. Myself, I try to avoid looking for trouble." Someone asked what would happen if and when the Packers lose a game. Jordan replied that the team doesn't think about losing but made his point when he referred to a saying Coach Vince Lombardi has: "Losing is not so bad, but you better not lose." Jordan cautioned the high school athletes about paying attention to their studies. He cited the importance of getting good marks in high school to assure themselves of a chance at a top notch college education. Hank pointed out that now that he is playing professional football he finds himself doing more actual studying than when he was in college classes.
FLOYD SHOULD HAVE HAD PACK'S DEFENSE
SEPT 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If Patterson only had a defense like the Packers, but the Bays had better keep it because the big Liston-like Bears, who are also known as the Monsters of the Midway, are coming to our town Sunday. Green Bay is leading the NFL in seven defensive departments, the result of allowing just one touchdown in the first two for-real engagements this year. The Bears, of course, have noticed this and undoubtedly have been reminded of the same by Coach George Halas. On the other side of the fence, Coach Vince Lombardi has noted and undoubtedly informed his charges that the Bears are one of the higher scoring teams in the league - 57 marks in two games. Here's where the Pack ranks first on defense with the next best in parens: Points - Seven (Browns 24); First Downs - 25 (Lions 26); First Downs Passing - 12 (Vikings 12); Total Yardage - 308 (Browns 503); Passing Yardage - 163 (49ers 263); Rushes - 47 (Lions 49); Interceptions - 7 (Browns 6). The Bears lead in the matter of returning intercepted passes. They stole five passes and ran them back 110 yards. The Bays returned their interceptions 81 yards. Next to the payoff points, the most amazing Packer defensive accomplishment is the yardage permitted, 308. They allowed 145 rushing, which ranks second to the Lions' 119, and 162 passing. Offensively, the Packers lead the league in four departments - like so: First Downs Rushing - 21 (Browns 20); Yards Interceptions Returned - 0 (Bears, Lions 0); Opponents Fumbles - 6 (Bears, Lions 6); Opponents Fumbles Recovered - 5 (Lions 4). The Bears, the defense is hereby informed, leads in 11 departments: Rushing
Yards 395; Rushes 76; Yards Per Rush 5.2; Yard Lost Pass Attempts 12; Punts 13; Punt Returns 8; Fumbles 1; Opponents Fumbles 6; Touchdowns by Rushing 6; Touchdowns by Rushing 7; Passes Had Intercepted 0; and Interceptions Returned 0. Those are all impressive figures on this side of the Wisconsin line and it's especially noteworthy that Billy Wade hasn't had a pass intercepted yet. It also can be pointed out that the only other no-interception passer is Milt Plum of the Lions, who will be here Oct. 7. The noted John Unitas has had four intercepted in his two starts, while Bart Starr had two stolen - both last Sunday. Wade has thrown 41 passes, Plum 52, Unitas 56 and Starr 40...Papa Halas was asked in Los Angeles the other day (by Times scribe Mal Florence) if he thought the Packers were a cinch to win their third straight divisional title. Said George: "They aren't celestial. They don't walk on water, yet. The Packers are a good football team, but not that good." Also, Florence noted that the Bears didn't red dog (rush linebackers at the passer) any of their preseason foes but rushed the cleats off 49er QB John Brodie. How come, George? "We stressed pass coverage in exhibition games," Halas answered. The Bears threw 49er QBs back 64 yards.
BEARS STUDY THREE FILMS: OFFENSE, DEFENSE, X-RAY
SEPT 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "The Bears are looking at three sets of films these days - offense, defense and x-rays. We have three or four players at Illinois Masonic every week. I've been giving out clinical reports instead of..." That was some of the word from Dan Desmond, the Bears' affable publicity chief who was in Green Baytown Wednesday to inform and service the press, radio and TV folks on his favorite subject, the Bears. You might think the presence of a tub thumper before a perennial sellout - such as the Packer-Bear game in City Stadium Sunday - would be an un-necessary. But such is not the case. People are vitally interested in the problems confronting the Packers. Desmond, of course, knows all about the Pack's problems, namely Papa George Halas' Bears...INJURY BUSINESS: One of the unusuals this year is the Bears' injury business - as you might guess from Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. "It started in the All Star scrimmage. We lost two good players - Brown and Mullins. And then it continued during the non-league season and by the time we played you fellas in Milwaukee we had our best three ends out - Coia, Ditka and Morris. And about that time we ran into that virus. About that time Cadile broke his leg. He was a good rookie. Casares ran well in the opener against the 49ers but Monday night his leg started bothering him and he never did play against the Rams. Bivins started at fullback (behind Casares) in Los Angeles and on the second play he got his ankle stepped on. Then Marconi came in and did very well (92 yards). Galimore also hurt his ankle and Bivins came in for him for awhile in the third quarter. We also got a look at young Billy Martin, too, and he set up one touchdown and scored another. Ditka re-injured his groin against the Rams. We have five players in the doubtful category for the Packers - Bivins and Galimore with ankle injuries, Casares and Williams, legs, and Ditka with that groin. They'll play but they are doubtful as to a 100 percent effort. George has been philosophical about the whole thing now and he's sure it can't get any worse. One thing, he doesn't want to take any chances in these early games because he could ruin the club for the rest of the season. Do you know that this is the first time since 1950 that we've won our first two games. And this is the fifth time we've swept the coast series. We feel very fortunate winning our first two games. We play our first four on the road and that's a tough schedule. After you we play at Minnesota. There was nothing to suggest in our exhibition season that we had a bad club. We were right in all of our games (they lost all five) and very easily could have won them all. Four rookies made out club - Bull, McRae, O'Bradovich and Martin. Bull plays both ways and McRae is in the defensive backfield. He's a good tackler. O'Bradovich is 255 and fast. Martin got 28 yards in 7 runs and the touchdown. He set up another with a 38-yard punt return. Leggett was out last year, you know, but he's off to a good start. Kilcullen has been giving us a good job, though he also is among the injured. Adams was a fullback last year you remember. He started this year as a replacement for Ditka and Morris and caught a 59-yard touchdown pass in Los Angeles. Here's something. Marconi was given the game ball after our win over the Rams. And Wade got the ball after our win out there last year. Those ex-Rams are doing well." And there you are. On the home front, the Packers put on the pads today for a tussle with the sleds, the tackling dummy and just about anything standing in their way. Coach Vince Lombardi sent the Bays through a fast-moving drill Wednesday. Enthusiasm was the keynote!
BEAR HOPES HINGE ON RECOVERY OF CRIPPLES
SEPT 27 (Chicago Tribune) - With only three more days in which to complete preparations of any surprises for the unbeaten Packers in Green Bay on Sunday, the undefeated Chicago Bears still were more concerned over Trainer Ed Rozy's progress reports yesterday than they were in zone defenses, cross blocks and red-dogs. Success against the champions in the 87th game of professional football's oldest rivalry will depend largely on the rate of recovery of five regulars - Rick Casares, Bill George, Fred Williams, Willie Galimore and Mike Ditka...BIVINS PROBABLY OUT: There are several other members of the Bear cast, including Charlie Bivins, who could be added to this list. But the first five are the men around whom virtually all of the Bears' early season plans had been built. Bivins may be the only Bear unable to face Green Bay. Merely facing the Packers, however, is not going to make the difference if the Bears entertain any lofty hopes of achieving what would be something of a modern National league record - three consecutive triumphs on the road. The difference will hinge on how close the convalescents can come to giving a 100 percent performance. In this instance, there is small consolation in the fact that most of these cripples also were ailing when the Bears trimmed the 49ers and Rams on the recent coast trip...OFFENSIVE LINE CITED: Things could be worst, however. It could be 1961, when the Bears didn't have rookie Billy Martin and Ronnie Bull, veteran fullback Joe Marconi, and tackle Earl Leggett to take up some of the slack, and when they were attempting to operate with two rookies and an inexperienced sophomore in the offensive line. The improvement in the offensive line has been one of the major factors in the Bears' success so far. While the Bears are being measured for bandages and special protective pads, the Packers, from all reports, are as healthy as ad models in physical culture magazines. Jim Taylor is pressing Cleveland's Jim Brown for the league rushing lead, and the defense has intercepted seven passes and surrendered only seven points, 308 yards and 25 first downs in two games. Things are so rosy in the Packer camp, one observer reports, that Coach Vince Lombardi can't find anything about which to complain and the informant suggest this is an all-time record, especially for Lombardi.
CAROLINE HURT, BIVINS OUT OF PACKER GAME
SEPT 28 (Chicago Tribune) - The Chicago Bears, already a 13 point underdog, ran into further trouble yesterday in their preparations for Sunday's invasion of Green Bay when J.C. Caroline's name was added to the list of cripples and doubtful participants. Caroline, a veteran defensive back and one of the team's best open field tacklers, joins a long line of patients in Trainer Ed Rozy's "strain department." The former Illinois star has a pulled muscle which in all probability will keep him out of Sunday's contest...ONLY FOUR DEEP BACKS: His loss leaves the Bears with only four deep backs and makes it imperative that Ronnie Bull, the rookie from Baylor, go both ways. Earlier in the week, Coach George Halas had announced Bull would make his debut as an offensive player to back up Willie Galimore more at left halfback. Charlie Bivins, Galimore's relief and also a capable reserve fullback, has been definitely eliminated as a possible participant in Sunday's contest...WON'T TAKE
CHANCES: Halas accepted the latest blow just about as you would expect a man with 43 years of experience as a coach to react. He took it in stride, a sensible approach under the circumstances since there is nothing he can do about it. Halas and his Bears have not conceded to the Packers, one of the greatest machines in football history. Halas is not likely, however, to take much of a chance with his cripples so early in the season. It will be better for the Bears to leave Green Bay 2 and 1 with all hands still on the mend, than to defeat the Packers and come away permanently crippled. There are 11 games left after Sunday.
BEARS EAGER TO PLAY 'BEAT THE CHAMP'
SEPT 28 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Everybody wants to beat the champ! The Packers were warned thusly by everybody from Commissioner Pete Rozelle down to Charlie Strazzer last winter-spring and Coach Vince Lombardi and his cohorts have duly accepted and posted such warnings in their collective noggins. The Vikings played like maniacs against Green Bay in the opener and somebody said there was such a letdown in Minnesota last Sunday that the Colts had no trouble (34-7). The Cardinals were aroused to amazing heights for their game in Milwaukee. They fought the Pack down to 17 points - just three in the first 37 minutes. If you think the Vikes and Cards were killing themselves to knock off the champ, what do you think the Bears will be doing to our boys in City Stadium Sunday? The Bears have two other reasons for beating the champ. First off, they are locked in a four-way tie with the Pack, Colts and Lions with 2-0 records. And secondly, the Bears and Packers happen to be the bitterest rivals in the history of pro football. Wally Cruice, the Packer scout, noted the other day on his weekly visit to GB that "everybody is waiting for the Packers. But the tradition of this game makes it more so." This is the 87th Packer-Bear game in a series that started in 1921 when both members were charter members of the NFL...The Bears came up with a sixth injured player today - Bill George, the defense captain and linebacker who has a "neck." He joins Mike Ditka, Fred Williams, Willie Galimore, Charley Bivins and Rick Casares in the injury department. Bear Publicist Dan Desmond, during his visit here Wednesday, reported on the five players but didn't say anything about George. The wire services reported on George today and George Halas Jr. verified it via phone...Chicago may use Ronnie Bull on offense some Sunday. The sparkling rookie who tackles so hard on defense may work behind Galimore and Bivins, although young Billy Martin won a left half job by his good work in the victory over the Rams last Sunday. Martin scored a touchdown and set up another. On defense, Bull backs up both Rich Petitbon at left safety and Dave Whitsell at right corner. Petitbon, incidentally, is leading the Bears with two interceptions. He has returned them 56 yards, tops in the league. Three Packers have two steals apiece - Hank Gremminger, Herb Adderley and Willie Wood...All these stories about Bear injuries must amuse you hunters, who know that a wounded Bear is much more dangerous than a well one...The Bears will fly to Green Bay for the first time. It's not because of the railroad strike. They arranged for a United Airlines charter before the strike. They'll headquarter at the Hotel Northland...Do you know how scarce tickets are for Sunday's game? Packer ticket director Earl Falck asked Packer publicist Tom Miller if he had any spare tickets the other day. And when the ticket director can't scare up even one, things are tough (and wonderful). Actually, the stadium was sold out last spring...The Packers and Bears both have good air arms. Yet, the teams don't have a receiver among the top 10 in the league. Terry Barr of Detroit is leading the catchers with 12 while six players are tied for the "bottom" with nine. On the other end, Bart Starr ranked eighth in passing while the Bears' Billy Wade is 13th. Starr has completed 21 of 40 for 281 yards, two touchdowns, 2 interceptions. Wade has completed 20 out of 41 for 252 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions...Thursday was Toughening Up Day for the Pack. That's the day they put on the pads and hit the sleds before running through offense and defensive plays. The Bays are in fine physical condition. Ron Gassert is running on his gimpy leg and that's about it. John Roach's jaw soreness has cleared up.
BEARS LOSE BILL GEORGE FOR BATTLE WITH PACKERS
SEPT 29 (Chicago Tribune) - Bill George, veteran co-captain and defensive signal caller for the Chicago Bears, was declared out of tomorrow's Green Bay game by Coach George Halas at the end of yesterday's drill.
George is the second of a long list of Bear cripples definitely eliminated as a participant in the contest between the unbeaten rivals. Charlie Bivins, one of the Bears' chief running back threats, was scratched two days ago. Bivins has a leg injury sustained in the 27 to 23 triumph in Los Angeles last Sunday. George is suffering from a back ailment, which apparently was aggravated in the Rams game. Roger Leclerc, the Bears' placekicking specialist, will replace George, one of football's outstanding linebackers. Ronnie Bull, a rookie from Baylor, will replace Bivins. The Bears fly to Green Bay today after a morning workout.
PACK PACKS FOUR TONS OF BEEF
SEPT 29 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Quick now, how much do the Packers weigh? The whole 36! It may not be important but just in case you run into a hidden camera or a quiz somewhere, the Bays scale out at 8,130 pounds - slightly over four tons of beef. What about the Bears? The Midway Monsters pack 7,958 pounds, which gives the Pack a 172-pound edge if you put all 72 players on the field and let 'em fight it out. The average Packer weighs 225 pounds, the average Bear 221. The Pack's 11 starting offensive players (Bob Skoronski or Norm Masters at tackle) weigh 2,520 pounds. And that's 92 more than the 11 Bear offensive openers. Green Bay's 11 starting defensive players carry 2,505 pounds against the Bears' 2,454 - a difference of 51. The Packers' Front Four in their defensive line pack an even 1,000 pounds - give or take a glass of water or two. The Bears' FF packs 993 pounds. You've heard about the Big Back offense, which
Vince Lombardi made famous? The Packers' backfield weighs 850 pounds - Jim Taylor 215, Paul Hornung 215, Boyd Dowler 220 and Bart Starr 200. The Bears' offensive backfield weighs 797 pounds - as follows: Rick Casares 225, Johnny Morris 180, Willie Galimore 187, and Bill Wade 205. Thus, Casares has a 10-pound edge on Taylor at fullback, Hornung outweighs Galimore by 28 pounds at left half, Dowler out-packs Morris by 40 pounds at right half (flanker) and Wade outweighs Starr by 5 pounds at quarterback. Both teams are blessed with fine linebackers - and heavy ones. The Bears' Bill George, Joe Fortunato and Larry Morris weighs 690 pounds against the 715 pounds packed by Green Bay's Bill Forester, Dan Currie and Ray Nitschke. George goes 235, L. Morris 230 and Forester 225. Forester and Currie are each listed at 240 and Nitschke 235. The Bears were to fly in (first time ever) about 3 o'clock this afternoon after a morning drill in Chicago. The Packers also worked this a.m. PS - Kickoff Sunday afternoon is at 1:06. Don't be late!
HISTORIC '41 BEAR-PACKER CLASH
SEPT 29 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It's Bear weekend again! Once more, as they have so often over the past four decades, professional football's oldest and most bitter rivals collide in City Stadium for the 87th time tomorrow with the leadership of the Western Division riding on the outcome. Battling for the Big Casino is an old story with these fierce competitors, and more than once the championship of pro football, has hinged on the outcome of their meetings. Never, however, was the fight so keen and the prize so great as 21 years ago, in 1941, when two of the greatest clubs football had so far produced fought it out over extra distance to decide the Western Division and, to all intents and purposes, the world title. The 1941 Packers were one of the greatest squads in the club's long history. So. too, were the Chicago Bears, whose domination of the scene earned them the enviable nickname that year of "Monsters of the Midway."...NOBODY ELSE CLOSE: Nobody else came close to matching the two, and they were the only teams in the league capable of standing up to each other. The result was one of the most titanic series of struggles in the history of the NFL. Champions themselves in 1939 but dethroned by the Bears in 1940, the '41 Packers were about as close to a dream team as the game had yet produced. With the passing combination of Cecil Isbell and Don Hutson at its peak, with a corps of runners that included Larry Craig, Lou Brock, Clarke Hinkle, Ed Jankowski, Hal Van Every, Tony Canadeo and Joe Laws, the Green Bay running and passing attack was as brilliant as any in the game. Clearing the way up front were such Packer immortals as Baby Ray, Bill Lee, Buckets Goldenberg, Pete Tinsley, Russ Letlow, Charley Brock and George Svendsen, with plenty of others to take their places. If and when the running game stalled or Hutson was blanketed, Isbell could always zero in on such pass receivers as the rest of his backfield and Carl Mulleneaux, Harry Jacunski, Ed Frutig and Ray Riddick on the flanks. In fact, that 1941 team had only one weakness. It played in the same division as the Bears...EXPLOSIVE BEARS: With a horde of ball carriers that include Hugh Gallarneau, Ray Nolting, George McAfee, Norm Standlee, Bill Osmanksi, Bob Swisher, Gary Flamiglietti and Scooter McLean plus Sid Luckman to direct and throw, Papa Halas had an attack that could and did explode at any moment. Such a herd of backs would have been hard enough to stop under any conditions. It was tougher with such bulldozers in the line as Joe Stydahar, George Musso, Danny Fortmann, Ray Bray, Ed Kolman, Lee Artoe and Bulldog Turner, to say nothing of the likes of Ken Kavanaugh, Dick Plasman, Hamp Pool, Bob Nowaskey and John Siegal at the ends. To make it even tougher, the two clubs had battled to a virtual standoff for 20 years. In 44 meetings, the record stood at 21 for the Bears and 19 for the Packers with four ties. The difference had only been established the previous season when the Bears took two from the Pack, just enough to separate the locals from the pro crown. The Packers had won their first two games in 1941 while the Bears hadn't seen league action when they collided in City Stadium on Sept. 28 before a sellout crowd of 24,876. The house was in an uproar all afternoon before the Bears came from behind in the final quarter for a 25-17 decision after the Packers had overcome a 15-point deficit to take a 17-15 lead...LOOKED BLACK: Things look black when the Bears roared away to a 15-0 lead on a 44-yard scoring pass from McAfee to Ken Kavanaugh, Bob Snyder's 25-yard field goal and Scooter McLean's 13-yard burst through the middle, but the Packers came roaring back. Isbell and Hutson collaborated on a 45-yard scoring pass to break the Packer ice. A few plays later the Bays were very much back in the game as Hal Van Every recovered a fumble and Hinkle key-holed a 39-yard placement. Back swarmed the Packers again, 60 yards this time, to a touchdown by Hinkle and a 17-15 lead. Fifty seconds later, however, the Bears regained the lead for good. McAfee raced 51 yards with the kickoff to the Green Bay 49 and three plays later breezed around left end for 13 and a touchdown. The Pack threatened throughout the final quarter but a desperate Bear defense thwarted them. With three minutes left to play, Snyder booted an insurance field goal from 34 yards out...MET AGAIN: Both teams continued to bulldoze all opposition until they found themselves face to face again in Wrigley Field on Nov. 2. The Bears had won five in a row while piling up 209 points while the Packers were right behind with a 6-1 record. Before a stunned Chicago crowd of 46,484, the inspired Packers shackled the hitherto awesome Bear attack, outclassed them for three periods and staved off a last quarter rally for a 16-14 upset. Much of the credit belonged to a Packer lineman who never even suited up. Russ Letlow, injured before the season began, took on the job of scouting the Bears and did such a thorough job that Lambeau and his staff fashioned a defense which held the Bears to only 25 yards and three first downs in the first half. The Packers scored the first time they got the ball. The drive spanned 63 yards and ended in the Bear end zone when Isbell slid off tackle for the last couple of yards. A brilliant air and ground assault continued to threaten throughout the first half but couldn't connect again until the third quarter when Isbell flipped a 36 yard toss to Lou Brock following Svendsen's fumble recovery. The Pack made it 16-0 on a 44-yard placement by Hinkle...BEARS CAUGHT FIRE: At this point the previously frustrated Bears caught fire, clawing their way 63 yards to a touchdown by Standlee early in the final period. Minutes later McAfee ran an interception back 55 yards to the Green Bay 15 and Nolting went in for the TD. In the last six minutes neither team was able to threaten again. Thereafter the two powerhouses matched victory for victory down to the wire, the Bears pulling even with the Packers for Western Division honors by trouncing the Chicago Cardinals on the last day of the season after the Packers had previously finished their schedule. Midway of the final contest came word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. With the ancient enemies tied at 10-1 apiece, the stage was set for the first playoff in NFL history. It came on chilled, snow-bordered Wrigley Field on Dec. 14 and the Bears clinched the championship playoff slot with a 33-14 verdict...NIGHTMARE QUARTER: If the Pack could have expunged the second quarter from the record, it would have been a different story. For three-fourths of the game, Green Bay outplayed the bears, but in threat second period the Monsters were a perfect football juggernaut as they swept through and over the shell-shocked Packers for 24 points. Green Bay got an early jump on a touchdown by Hinkle after Gallarneau fumbled the opening kickoff and Charlie Schultz recovered on the Bear 19, but Gallarneau quickly redeemed himself by carting a punt back 82 yards for a score. From then on until the end of the half, it was no contest as the Bears powered to three more touchdowns and a field goal to take an insurmountable 30-7 lead. The Packers recovered during intermission and outscored the Bears the rest of the way but it was too late. Green Bay scored on an Isbell-Van Every aerial and the Bears added a Snyder field goal in the last quarter.
ACHING BEARS BATTLE HEALTHY PACKERS IN GREEN BAY
SEPT 29 (Chicago Tribune) - The vanguard of 38,669 lucky ticket holders to tomorrow's scheduled obsequies in City Stadium moved gleefully on this picturesque little metropolis tonight. From every surrounding hamlet, dairy farm and cherry orchard, they came to participate in a wake for the Chicago Bears. Mangled like a thumb run thru a hydromatic gear shift, the Bears are expected to succumb peaceably before the onrush of Green Bay's unbeaten Packers, beginning almost instantly with the kickoff at 2:06 o'clock Chicago time. Under the circumstances, the least Packer loyalists could do for an old respected rival was hoist a beaker in reverent salute. And they were doing it with a relish. Some even, at great personal risk, were saying nice things about "poor old George Halas."...THEIR 87TH MEETING: This was to be the big game of the season, the 87th in the NFL's oldest rivalry, and the one to which the Bears, themselves unbeaten, had been looking toward. But all manner of misfortune overtook them on their triumphant charge thru California and they came winging into town tonight on a crutch and a prayer. Two very important members of their cast - Charley Bivins and Bill George - were definitely labeled as noncombatant and four others hardly were fit to dress. George did not even make the trip to Green Bay. Only Mike Ditka was sufficiently recovered to be rated as a certain participant, but even he might not start against Hornung, Taylor, Jordan and company. If he doesn't, John Adams will be at right end...MARTIN MAY GET CHANCE: Indications were that Willie Galimore, one of football's best running backs, also might not be asked to risk a new set of bandages against the Packers' opening charge. Halas, on arrival here today, said that unless there is a definite improvement overnight, Galimore will be a "very doubtful" starter. Bill Martin, a refugee from the Marines and the University of Minnesota, may be at Galimore's left halfback spot. Martin revealed a surprising ability to negotiate a major league defense last week when thrust into the lineup against the Rams in Los Angeles. After Martin comes Ronnie Bull, an All-American from Baylor, who has yet to make his pro debut on offense, Bull also will see action on defense. The most severe blow, however, was the loss of George, one of football's outstanding linebackers and nearly every pros' nominee as the game's finest defensive signal caller. George is still troubled by a bad back, injured first in an automobile accident last summer on Edens highway. In his absence, Roger Leclerc will call the signals and back up the middle. Leclerc is the only spare linebacker on the roster. Should anything happen to Larry Morris, Joe Fortunato or Leclerc, Ed O'Bradovich, a 255-pound rookie defensive end, probably would draw the short straw.
BAYS 'AIM' OFFENSE; BIVINS, GEORGE OUT
SEPT 30 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Will the Packers' offense break loose against the Bears in City Stadium today? The Bays' scoring machine - best in the league last year - seems to be getting the brunt of that "beat the champ" business each Sunday. Bart Starr's platoon was limited to 51 points in the first two games and it was enough thanks to extremely excellent play by the Bays' big defense, which allowed only 7 markers in the 34-7 win over the Vikings and 17-0 shutout of the Cardinals. But the Bears are likely to be exceptionally ferocious - as they usually are, and the Packer offense thus will have to be at its breaking-loose best. The winner today will go into a first place tie with the winner of the Colt-Lion game in the Western Division, NFL, standings. The four teams involved have a gaudy 2-0 records. Kickoff in this 87th Packer-Bear crash will be at 1:06 and a sellout crowd of 38,669 lucky ticket holders will be on hand. Those unable to get in can hear it on WJPG. The game will be TV'd back to Chicagoland. The Bears move into Green Bay after two successful weeks in sunny California where they whipped the 49ers and Rams. That's a fine stroke of business but there was a price. Out of today's game will be the Bears' defensive captain and middle linebacker Bill George, one of the best in the business, and sophomore offensive halfback Charley Bivins. George didn't make the trip due to his back injury. The Bears have four other injured players who are ticketed for action - Mike Ditka, Fred Williams, Willie Galimore and Rick Casares. Galimore is reportedly "hobbling." The others likely will see considerable play. Roger Leclerc, the Bears' fourth linebacker, will play in George's spot. Ronnie Bull and Billy Martin, two good rookies, will back up Galimore. Bear Coach George Halas has said he doesn't want to risk ruining the Bears for the season at the expense of winning one game. Packer Coach Vince Lombardi looks at the Bear injuries with tongue in cheek. Aside from injuries, the fact that the Packers are favored and what not, this is still a Packer-Bear game and everything goes out the window when these ancient rivals collide. They start from scratch at the opening whistle. Starr would like to come in with a bell-ringer but the Bears' defense are usually surprising. He has his ground aces, Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor in good working order - plus glue-fingered Ron Kramer, Boyd Dowler and Max McGee. The Bears can red-dog the socks off anybody and that's where fellers like Bob
Skoronski, Norm Masters, Fuzzy Thurston, Jerry Kramer, Jim Ringo and Forrest Gregg show their wares..."SCORE OR ELSE": It could add up to a case of "score or else" for GB. The Bears were stubborn as blazes here last year, but the defense was wonderful, a 24-0 win. In the replay in Chicago, the Pack scored a quick 31 and then prayed while the Bears ran up 28. Green Bay's defense, with two shutouts in its last three for-blood games, will be faced with typical Bear zest, which adds up to tough blocking. Billy Wade has had some excellent days vs. GB as a Ram and even in Chicago last year. Wade figures to be a better Bear this year since last year was his first in Chicago. Due to the injury problem, the Bear offense could be slightly shuffled and/or different. The Bears are developing a good bench via the draft and trades. If Rick Casares doesn't pound, they can use Joe Marconi, a big blaster who carried the load last week. Young Billy Martin can flash his speed if Willie Galimore is hampered.
