Preseason: Green Bay Packers (2-1) 21, Chicago Bears 7
Saturday August 22nd 1964 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - The Packers dented the Bears' powerful defense with 21 Paul Hornung points for an impressive 21 to 7 victory over their traditional rivals in the 15th annual Shrine classic before a record crowd of 46,920 in County Stadium Saturday night. Hornung scored a touchdown in each of the first three periods and the Bears scored in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard pass from Rudy Bukich to Gary Barnes. The blond bomber was at his best in the third game of his comeback from a year's layoff. He caught an 18-yard pass from Bart Starr for his first TD in the first quarter, ran 11 yards for his second in the second quarter, and then slashed three yards to his left for TD No. 3 in the third period. Hornung added the three extra points. The Bears were limited to two first downs by a Ray Nitschke-ignited Packer defense in the first half, but they picked up eight in the second. The visitors, who beat the Packers twice last year, controlled the ball only once all night - when they drove 80 yards for their TD. And they got help on that drive on an interference penalty on Willie Davis. The Packers wound up with 295 yards, including 173 rushing, while the Bears settled for 140. The Bays had 22 first downs, the Bears 10.
BULL, DITKA SIT OUT
Hornung finished with 58 yards rushing, tops for both teams, caught one pass for 18 yards and, of course, piled up 21 points. Jim Taylor, out last week with a back injury, ran 15 times for 47 yards. The Bears lost two of their best players early. Ron Bull, their top left half, pulled a muscle in practice and never played. Mike Ditka was hurt on the first play and stayed out for the night. The Packers held out Tom Moore due to a shoulder injury. With additional bleachers in left field, the crowd broke the previous Shrine record of 44,552 and came close to the all-time stadium record of 47,012 at the Giant game in 1961 when standing room was sold. Hornung and Nitschke were chosen as the game's most valuable by press, radio and TV after the game. The Bears got the first break of the game when Willie Wood fumbled Bobby Joe Green's punt and the Bears recovered on the Packer 35. The Packer defense stopped the Bears cold and Roger LeClerc missed a field goal from the 39. Jerry Norton and Green engaged in a punting duel with the Packer foot expert getting the edge. Green's third punt was fair caught by Wood, but the Bears stood close (with a 2-yard limit) and the Bears were penalized to the 29. The Packers scored in three plays. After Taylor ran one, Starr passed to Ron Kramer for nine yads and then hit Hornung, who was all alone, on the 12 for the TD. Hornung kicked the point and it was 7-0 with 11:49 gone in the quarter. The Bay defense quickly forced Wade and Co. to punt, and the Packers moved 66 yards in 11 plays for another TD. Starr keyed the drive himself by running 11 yards on a third down play to the 45 and on the next third down situation Starr passed to McGee for 11 to the Bear 41. Then, Taylor hit eight yards in two trips, and Hornung slammed off right tackle for nine to the 24. Starr passed to Dowler down the middle for 13 to the 11 and then Hornung fired off left tackle, behind a good block by Jerry Kramer, for the TD, evading Richie Petitbon on the six. Hornung increased his total to 14 points by converting at 4:15 of the second period.
CLOSED DOOR AGAIN
The Bears made their first first down on Wade's 15-yard pass to Johnny Morris, but the Bays closed the door again and Zeke Bratkowski took over at quarterback for the Packers, with newcomers Bob Jeter, Frank Mestnik, Elijah Pitts, Dan Grimm and Marv Fleming. Bratkowski moved the Packers from their own 20 to the Bear 26, running up five first downs, but the drive stalled when the Bays were called for clipping. With 12 seconds left, Hornung's try for a field goal from the 44 was low and wide. Bratkowski completed two passes to McGee for 13 and 11 yards and one to Bob Long for 13 yards along the way. After an exchange of punts, the Packers drove for their third touchdown, moving 80 yards in 16 plays, Hornung scoring his third TD from the three. Taylor launched the assault with 15 yards on a reverse, taking a handoff from Hornung. Starr (1 for 7) and Taylor smashed it to midfield and the Pack got a boost when Dave Whitsell was found guilty of interference on McGee
on the Bear 35. After a Bear offside, Taylor and Hornung alternated driving the ball home. Hornung slammed off left tackle and then cut wide for the TD. The Bears struck back early in the fourth quarter with Rudy Bukich making his first appearance at quarterback. They slammed 80 yards in nine plays and Bukich passed to Barnes for eight yards and the touchdown. Rick Casares, the Bears' ace fullback, entered the game for the first time and led off with a nine-yard gain. Bukich passed to Morris for 17 yards to midfield and then Willie Davis was called for interference on a pass to Casares on the Packer 27. Bukich passed to Casares 16 yards to the 11 and three plays later Barnes scored, with Jencks converting at 4:22 of the final period. Bratkowski's long pass aimed at Bob Jeter was intercepted by Bennie McRae and an exchange of punts followed. The Bears threatened on Bukich's 33-yard pass to Jencks on the Packer 35, but Hank Jordan and Lionel Aldridge hurled Bukich for an 11-yard loss and Green was forced to punt. The Packers ran out the clock with Mestnik and Pitts gaining 34 yards in seven straight rushes.
CHICAGO - 0 0 0 7 - 7
GREEN BAY - 7 7 7 0 - 21
CHICAGO GREEN BAY
First Downs 10 22
Rushing-Yards-TD 15-26-0 51-173-2
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 24-13-136-1-0 20-13-122-1-1
Sack Yards Lost 2-22 0-0
Net Passing Yards 114 122
Total Yards 140 295
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Turnovers 0 3
Yards penalized 4-36 5-63
SCORING
1st - GB - Paul Hornung, 18-yard pass from Bart Starr (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Hornung, 11-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
3rd - GB - Hornung, 3-yard run (Hornung kick) GREEN BAY 21-0
4th - CHI - Gary Barnes, 8-yard pass from Rudy Bukich (Bob Jencks kick) GREEN BAY 21-7
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Paul Hornung 12-58 2 TD, Jim Taylor 15-47, Elijah Pitts 11-37, Bart Starr 4-18, Frank Mestnik 9-13
CHICAGO - Kelton Winston 3-10, Rick Casares 1-9, Bill Martin 8-7, Joe Marconi 1-1, Charlie Bivins 1-0, Bill Wade 1-(-1)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Bart Starr 10-6-72 1 TD, Zeke Bratkowski 10-7-50 1 TD
CHICAGO - Bill Wade 14-7-52, Rudy Bukich 10-6-84 1 TD
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Max McGee 4-41, Boyd Dowler 2-24, Ron Kramer 2-19, Elijah Pitts 2-0, Paul Hornung 1-18, Bob Long 1-13, Marv Fleming 1-7
CHICAGO - Johnny Morris 3-46, Gary Barnes 2-19 1 TD, Rick Casares 2-19, Bill Martin 2-14, Bob Jencks 1-33, Charlie Bivins 1-7, Billy Martin 1-1, Kelton Winston 1-(-3)
BUBBA OFF GRID FIRST TIME IN 24 YEARS, WON'T BE BACK
AUG 23 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - For the first time in 24 football season, he wasn't on hand to answer the referee's opening whistle. Last Saturday night (Aug. 8) instead of donning football gear, he turned to the radio and at various times was tuned to the Packer-Cardinal and Cowboy-Ram games. He's Bill (Bubba) Forester, who along with his brother, Herschel, has to rate as one of the best all-time footballers ever developed in the Dallas school system. Forester, a fullback on offense in high school, led Woodrow Wilson to a city championship, winning All-City honors. He was all-Southwest Conference as a defensive linebacker at SMU in 1952. He was All-NFL as a defensive linebacker for the Packers. "Sure I kinda miss playing," said Forester, who now sells sporting good for a Dallas firm. "After 11 years in pro ball, I have to say I miss not playing. I enjoyed playing all those years. No, there is no chance of my going back." After the Packers suffered their first exhibition loss - to the Cardinals, 20-7, at New Orleans last Saturday - in 24 starts, it was figured there might be a phone call to get him back on the roster. "No, I haven't heard from them," Forester said. Bill explained the Packer defeat in the opener as just the way the ball bounced. "You know, the Packers went into the half with a 7-6 lead," he said. "They were driving for another score when Bart Starr's pass to Paul Hornung was batted in the air. It was intercepted and resulted in a Cardinal score. If the Packers had gone in for that score, the game might have been different." Bill still figures the Packers will be among the contenders for the Western division championship. "Saturday night they had the same trouble as the Cowboys. Couldn't handle the pass rush." Forester has faced any number of outstanding teams and players during his long pro football career. The best running team he ever faced? The question brought deep thought. "I don't know," he said. "Cleveland had a good running team. But I guess I'd have to say the San Francisco 49ers of several year back when they had Joe Perry and Hugh McElhenny in the same backfield. They'd split out and get with it." The best runner? "I
imagine it would be Jim Brown of Cleveland in one of those Pro Bowl games. We played the Browns in 1960 and didn't have too much trouble with Brown, but in a later Pro Bowl he certainly was hard to stop. I remember another runner several years back who had a big day against the Packers. Wilson of the Los Angeles rams gained about 270 yards against us that day." Toughest pass receiver for an outside linebacker? "Raymond Berry (an SMU-ex with Baltimore) always gives you a fit. Gail Cogdill of Detroit also is a good one."
'DON'T GET EXCITED,' VINCE CAUTIONS
AUG 23 (Milwaukee-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - "Don't get excited," Packer coach Vince Lombardi told sportswriters after the game. Lombardi cautioned that "this is a preseason game, and certainly nothing to get excited about." The coach felt the defense played "real well" throughout the game and added: "We controlled the ball in the first half and third quarter, but I don't know what happened in the fourth quarter." Paul Hornung, who scored all the Packers' points, said he pulled a muscle before the game but "it didn't bother me. But I'm glad I didn't have to break into the open. I might have stretched it."...GAME NOTES: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle addressed the Packers for 40 minutes Saturday afternoon, explaining the pension plan, the role of the athletes in the nation's sports picture and their conduct. Rozelle, who slapped a suspension on Paul Hornung and Alex Karras a year ago last spring, said he was pleased to hear of "the fine comeback of Paul Hornung, I hear he looks good." Rozelle will be in Dallas next weekend to speak to the Cowboys and watch the Cowboy-Packer game...Ronnie Bull, the Bears' starting left halfback, pulled a muscle in pregame practice and was ruled out of action. Billy Martin started in his place...Ron Kramer and Ray Nitschke were presented trophies for being selected the outstanding players in the 1963 Shrine classic. The presentation was made by Shine official Herb Mount...Linda Sue Kadlec of Hayward ruled as the queen of the '64 Shrine game. She was presented to the audience by Mount in colorful pregame ceremonies after being crowned by Diane Rae Zywicki of Manitowoc, the 1963 queen...The Bears were booed vigorously when they took the field and the starting offensive team was introduced.
PACKERS PLAY 'SPIRITED' GAME'; PLEASE - NO FLAG WAVING
AUG 24 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - If you're an excited Packer fan these days, just hark back to the Sundays of Sept. 15 and Nov. 17 of 1963. The Packers lost to the Bears on those days. And because of those two setbacks the Bears rule as champions today. So just because Green Bay beat Chicago in the Shrine Classic in Milwaukee Saturday night, there's no reason to wave flags. And come to think of it, the Packers won the 1963 Shrine game, too. The Packers played themselves a fine overall game of football, controlling the ball on offense and stifling the Bear yardmakers on defense. Coach Vince Lombardi termed the Packers play "spirited all the way." He agreed that the defense played a solid game but reminded that the Bears had some good men out of action. Ronnie Bull was hurt in pregame practice and Mike Ditka went out for the night with an injury after the first play. Bull never saw action. Their places were filled by a pair of inexperienced Billy Martins. Billy Martin the left half is a third year man while Bill Martin the tight end is a rookie. The HB Martin ran eight times for seven yards and the end Marton caught two for 14 yards. But the Packer defense was flogging all the way and the Bear offensive totals are nothing to write home about - 10 first downs, 140 yards including only 26 rushing and only 41 offensive plays (compared to the Pack's 71). The Bears picked up but two first downs in the first half and had only six offensive plays in the second quarter and eight in the third. Bill Wade quarterbacked the Bears through the first three quarters and managed four first downs - one on a personal foul penalty against the Packers. Rudy Bukich came forth in the fourth quarter - along with power fullback Rick Casares - and led the Bears on an 80-yard, 9-play touchdown march. This was the Bears' only TD drive and it was helped by a unique 25-yard penalty - an interference call on, of all people, Willie Davis. With the ball on the Packer 48-yard line, Casares drifted down the right side for a pass from Bukich. With him was Mr. Davis. This isn't a common chore for Willie, but it does happen on occasion and the big defensive back puts his speed to good use. "He really had him covered," Lombardi enthused over Davis' play. Willie admitted that "I suppose it had to be called interference because I bumped him when we went down for the ball together." Davis found some humor in the situation. "It sure was lonesome out there. I was looking around for some green jerseys." The Packer defense forced eight punts and once took the ball way on an interception by Hank Gremminger. The Packers offense responded by controlling the ball for 71 plays - and most of the second and third quarters. Bart Starr engineered the three Paul Hornung touchdown drives, and his backer-upper, Zeke Bratkowski, set some sort of record for longevity when he kept the ball for 20 straight plays covering almost 11 minutes in the second quarter. The drive started on the Packer 20 and reached as far as the Bear 26 - on Play 16, but a clipping penalty set the Bays back to the 42. With 12 seconds left in the half, Hornung wound up trying, and missing, a field goal from the 44. The Bears put themselves in hot water when they were penalized for touching Willie Wood on a fair catch of a punt, and promptly took the Pack home from 29 yards out. The Bays exploded in three plays. Taylor ran one yard to the right, Starr pitched to Ron Kramer for nine to the left and then Starr threw to Hornung to the left for the TD. Paul, all along, took the ball around the end from the 9 and galloped in. McGee was also alone in the end zone. Starr moved the Pack 66 yards in 11 plays for the second TD early in the second quarter. He came up with three key third plays to reach the Bear 24. First, Starr, needing 11 yards on a third down situation on his own 34, couldn't find a receiver and promptly ran 11 yards. Second, he hurled a third-and-eight 11-yard pass to Max McGee. Third, needing two yards, Starr sent Hornung off right tackle for nine yards. Starr, on first down, pitched a 13-yarder to Boyd Dowler and then Hornung whizzed inside left tackle for the TD. Jerry Kramer put down the big block, with Norm Masters keeping his foe in tow. The third TD drive covered 80 yards in 16 plays. It was a real head-to-head move against the Bears' strong defense and the last seven plays saw Jim Taylor and Hornung alternate, with Hornung going the final three yards off wide to the left behind a good block by Thurston. In the final seven plays, Taylor hit for 4, Hornung 7, Taylor 5, Hornung 8, Taylor 1, Hornung 2 and Hornung 2. The Bays got a lift midway in the drive on a second and 13 play when Dave Whitsell was called for interference on McGee on a pass up the middle. The Bays now have two wins in a row under their belts, having beaten the Giants 34-10 a week ago. They returned to the practice field today to get ready for a visit to Dallas this weekend.
PACKERS TRADE HENRY TO STEELERS, DROP TWO
AUG 25 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers were down to 44 players today. 24 on offense and 20 defense. The new figure was reached Monday when Coach Vince Lombardi announced the trade of veteran defensive tackle Urban Henry to the Steelers for a draft choice and the waiving of Tom O'Grady, Northwestern offensive end, and John Baker, Norfolk State defensive end. The Packers are actually one under the legal limit of 45, which must be reached today. The next mandatory cut is 43 - on Sept. 3, and the final is 40 on Sept. 8. Henry was a gift of the rams, who gave up on him because of a chronic shoulder injury. Dr. Jim Nellen, Packer team physician, outfitted Urban in a sponge collar and Henry had no trouble last year in backing up the defense line. Henry likely will step into a starting job with the Steelers. The departure of Henry leaves the defensive line with six players - the starting four of Dave Hanner, Willie Davis, Henry Jordan and sophomore Lionel Aldridge, who beat out Urban last year, and replacements Ron Kostelnik and rookie Lloyd Voss. Barring any future transactions, the defensive line would appear set. And in good hands. The Bays have six linebackers and eight defensive backs. The LBer group includes two rookies - Gene Breen and Tommy Crutcher, as well as Dan Currie, Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson and Lee Roy Caffey. Three rookies are among the eight defensive backs - Doug Hart, who was on the cab squad last year, Tom Brown and Duke Carlisle. Punter Jerry Norton has joined those three to form a second foursome behind Herb Adderley, Jess Whittenton, Hank Gremminger and Willie Wood. In all, the Packers had 12 rookies left and they are split evenly between offense and defense. Offensively, the Packers have nine interior linemen, six pass receivers, six running backs and three quarterbacks. Three rookies are among the interior stalwarts - tackles Steve Wright, who plays behind Forrest Gregg, and John McDowell, behind Norm Masters. The third, Ken Bowman, backs up Bob Skoronski at center. Sophomore Dan Grimm works behind guards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston. Bob Long is the only rookie among the receivers. He has been playing behind Max McGee at left end. The others are Ron Kramer, Boyd Dowler, Marv Fleming and Bob Jeter. In the Department of Running Back, Dwain Bean is the lone rookie. He's toiling with Jim Taylor, Paul Hornung, Elijah Pitts, Tom Moore and Frank Mestnik. The running backs have another prospect in Dennis Claridge, but the Nebraska ace has been concentrating on QB. Lombardi is impressed with Claridge's throwing and feels he has a good future as a QB. Claridge can break in gradually under Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski, who have a total of 18 years experience (nine each)...DALLAS NEXT: The Packers continued preparations for their next assignment - the Cowboys i Dallas Saturday night. O'Grady stopped in the dressing room after practice Monday and bid each players goodbye. The likeable redhead said, "I'm not giving up now. I'll make it somewhere." He had hoped to be claimed by some club in the National League. If not claimed, O'Grady said he'll try the American League.
IMAN GIVEN RELEASE BY LOS ANGELES
AUG 26 (Los Angeles) - Former Green Bay Packer Ken Iman was released by the Los Angeles Rams Tuesday as the club trimmed to the NFL player limit. Iman, who played four years with the Packers, went to the Rams in the deal that sent quarterback Zeke Bratkowski to Green Bay late last season. Iman, a center, figured to see major service with the Rams bur he broke his ankle in a preseason game. The Rams also announced the release of back Dave Thiesen of Nebraska, who started his college career at Marquette.
LOMBARDI DRIVING PACKERS HARD, VISITING SCRIBE FINDS
AUG 26 (West Dee Pere) - Vince Lombardi has the whip out this year, aroused by two defeats at the hands of the Chicago Bears, and the loss of the NFL title. Lombardi is driving his Green Bay Packers as they never have been driven before. "The first Bear game last year was the biggest disappointment of my career," said Lombardi at the training camp at St. Norbert College. "We could not have beaten them in the second game with blackjacks, but we should have won the first. We are looking forward to this year. I have been driving the boys hard. We will be in physical condition. But the big thing is pride in your work, the intangibles, the abstracts. You never know about that until the games start." Paul Hornung was the first to feel the sting of Lombardi's hard approach of 1964. The Golden Boy, reinstated after a one-year suspension for betting on games, was ordered to report in April. Running up and down the steps of the Packers' stadium pared off the pounds so that Hornung goes into the season at 212 pounds, six below his weight in 1962. "We'll sink or swim with Hornung," said Lombardi, coach-general manager of the Packers. "Paul is in fine physical condition and physically. The rest is up to him." Lombardi may throw three running backs at NFL opposition in some games. Tom Moore, who did a fine job as Hornung's replacement, has been worked as a flanker. "We did that with the Giants, you know," said Lombardi, former New York assistant coach. "We ran Frank Gifford, Alex Webster and Mel Triplett in the same backfield. I could do it real well if the occasion arises." Jim Taylor appears to have recovered completely from the hepatitis that handicapped him during the early games last season. With Taylor booming up the middle and Hornung and Moore to run to the outside, the Packers' ground attack should be the best in the league. Bart Starr will operate a ball control offense, copied so successfully by the Bears last year. Bart has fine targets in Max McGee at split end, tight end Ron Kramer and Boyd Dowler at flanker but also likes to throw to his backs more than more quarterbacks. Hornung, Moore and Taylor all are good receivers. Lombardi thinks he has come up with a real hot prospect in Dennis Claridge, a rookie quarterback from Nebraska. Originally Claridge was drafted as a running back, but he has thrown the ball so effectively that Lombardi now says, "We may groom him for quarterback in a couple of year." Zeke Bratkowski is the veteran backup man for Starr. "This is the best group of young linemen we have had in camp since I have been with the Packers," said Lombardi. "We needed reserve and I think we have them now." The front offensive line will be the same except for Bob Skoronski, formerly a tackle, who takes over Jim Ringo's old job at center. Fuzzy Thurston and Jerry Kramer are the guards, and Norm Masters and Forrest Gregg the tackles. Lee Roy Caffey, who came from Philadelphia in the deal for Earl Gros and Ringo, is giving Dan Currie a battle for a linebacker job. Ray Nitschke is set at middle linebacker and Dave Robinson on the right side. The front four of Willie Davis, Dave (Hawg) Hanner, Henry Jordan and Lionel Aldridge is set and so is the deep backfield defense of Herb Adderley and Jesse Whittenton at the corners and Hank Gremminger and Willie Wood at safety. Hornung takes over the field goal and extra point job from Jerry Kramer and Jerry Norton will do the punting. The ultimate target is the title game Dec. 27, but objective No. 1 is the opening game with the Bears Sept. 13 at Green Bay. Keep your guard up, Mr. Halas!
PERSONALITY PARADE
AUG 26 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Cyclonic Raymond Carl Nitschke, the Packers' bruising middle linebacker, is a man with a mission. Keenly aware he was not at his best in 1963, in part because of physical difficulties, the balding blond is determined to be "the best in the business" in 1964. "I know I didn't have a good year last year," he frankly admits. "I was bothered with injuries - I had a bad back and missed the All-Star game and then I hurt my right knee in our first league game against the Bears - and I guess I never did come around." Nitschke, last weekend voted the most valuable defensive player in the Midwest Shrine game for the third time in four years as a result of his abandoned exhibition in that happy 21 to 7 crunching of the aforementioned Bruins, insists '64 will be different. "Very definitely," the 27-year-old veteran declared, setting his formidable jaw. "As a team, naturally, we want to have a better year after finishing second last year and, individually, I want to have the best year possible" All systems are "go," it would appear. "I feel real good - the best I've felt in a long while," says the bespectacled Illinois alumnus, deceptively benevolent and professorial in appearance off the field. "I'm down to my playing weight right now," he pointed out, adding, "Actually, I had to gain weight. I was down to 230 when I reported. Now I'm at 235, my playing weight." His svelte silhouette is traceable, he says, to assisting his teammate Fuzzy Thurston's Valparaiso-sponsored football school for high school seniors in Pennsylvania, which involved a rigorous two-week sting in June, and "working out on my own." He undertook this somewhat spartan regimen with but one thought in mind, Nitschke explains. As all-pro choice in 1962, who was omitted from last year's various dream teams, Ray avers, "I'd like to be the best in the business. As long as you're in it, that's the only way to be." And how long is that likely to be? "When I lose my desire, I'll leave," was the ready reply. "I enjoy it - when I cease to enjoy it, I'll quit." The ex-Chicagoans, now a firmly entrenched Neufield Street resident, is not inclined to dismiss his old hometown's heroes, despite the ease with which the Packers dispatched the Midway Monsters. "The Bears will be tough at City Stadium in September," he warned. "After all, they're the world champions." He was quick to indicate, however, that he is hardly a prophet of doom, informing, "We have a lot of pride, too." Ray modestly shrugs off his second consecutive selection for the Shrine honor (he also was so recognized in 1961), observing, "I was just part of a good unit. It would go to anybody, I think the whole defense played a fine game." Nevertheless, he proudly displayed the silver bowl presented him Saturday night for winning the same recognition in 1963. "My wife," he noted with a smile, "will like that." His eyes also light up at mention of his adopted son, christened John Raymond. "He's 15 months old and has red hair and blue eyes," Ray says, adding fondly, "He's really something."
PACKERS TO TEST 'WEST COAST' IN COWBOY CONTEST
AUG 27 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers ought to get a pretty good idea of their "west coast" muscles when they meet the Cowboys in Dallas Saturday night. Dallas played three games thus far - all of them against California's Rams and 49ers. Since the Packers play four games (two each) with the Rams and 49ers during the NFL season, the Texas match might offer a minute clue to the Ram and 49er strength. Also come to think of it, the Packers also play the Cowboys in a league affair this year. Green Bay invades Dallas in the 12th game of the regulation season, Nov. 29. What's with the Cowboys? They opened with a 17-6 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles and then followed with a 34-23 victory over the 49ers in Portland, Ore. The Rams won the rematch 25-16 in another game in Portland. Larry Karl, Cowboy publicist, explained the games this way: "In the first Ram game, they threw a screwball defense, an overshifted line which amounted to a five-man line, and we hadn't done any work on it. We got our offense moving well against the 49ers, and Meredith looked good. Sonny Gibbs also played. In the second Ram game, Meredith was knocked silly in the first quarter and, although he stayed in, he never knew what was happening until almost the half. We used a rookie quarterback, John Jacobs, in the second half." Karl reports that Tommy McDonald, the slick little offensive end the Cowboys obtained from the Eagles, had been looking great. McDonald is playing left end, with Lee Folkins at right and Frank Clarke at right. Buddy Dial, the ace receiver obtained from Pittsburgh, is starting to run again in camp after an early training injury. He won't play against the Pack. The Dallas tub thumper said, "We had the best training camp in our five-year history. It has been smooth. We had only one injury and that was Dial, and a lot of progress was made." He noted that "our defense is the best we've ever had. It's still not championship caliber yet, but it's the best we've had." Cowboy Coach Tom Landry has stuck with the same group now for two straight year, and Karl says it is working as a "good unit." The defense line has George Andrie and Maury Youmans, the ex-Bear, at the ends and Jim Colvin and Bob Lilly at the tackles. The linebackers are Chuck Howley, Jerry Tubbs and Lee Roy Jordan, and the defensive backs are Cornell Green, Don Bishop, Mike Gaechter and Jim Ridlon. The Cowboys made a switch in their two running backs. Don Perkins, the left half last year, now is at fullback, and the 1963 fullback, Amos Marsh, is the left half. Perkins packs 205 pounds, Marsh 220. This is a switch. Most fullbacks are heavier than their halfback mates...The Packers fly out of Austin Straubel Field in their chartered United Airliner at 8:45 Friday morning. They'll drill in the Cotton Bowl in the afternoon...All Packer hands are in good working order except offensive guard Dan Grimm, who pulled a muscle in the Bear game...The Cowboys will be playing their first home game, and the attendance is expected to exceed the 54,500 at the Packer-Cowboys game in 1963. The Cowboys, incidentally, have had a good season box office wise and largely responsible were the trades that brough in Dial and McDonald.
'NEW' STARR RUNNING MORE, NOW BLOCKING
AUG 28 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - It was first down and 10 yards to go on the Packer 20 early in
the third quarter, with the Packers leading the Bears by 14 to zero. Bart Starr took the snap from center Bob Skoronski and rammed the ball into Paul Hornung's tummy. Hornung swung to his right and the Bear defense flowed to its left to stop what appeared to be an obvious right-side run. Suddenly, Hornung whirled his arms and handed the ball off to Jim Taylor. Quickly, you saw two groups of people hurrying past each other in opposite directions - the Packers going to their left side and the Bears moving to their left. Guards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston, who hesitated momentarily at the snap, pulled out along with Starr and formed a threesome of blockers in front of Taylor who sailed around the left end for handsome gain of 15 yards. Along with Starr? "Yes," Bart smiled the other day, "that's the one day us quarterbacks have to get out and block on just like any other player. It's our reverse play." The execution was perfect and the result proved it. Open-field blocking isn't easy for anybody - even people like the guards and halfbacks and fullbacks, who do it most every play, let alone the quarterback, who might get to throw a block a dozen times a season. "I just love to block," Starr laughed, with his fingers crossed. Incidentally, Starr has been firing out of the pocket and running like a halfback when the receivers are completely covered. Bart has been credited with nine rushing attempts in the first three games already - for 33 yards. Two were for 10-yard plus runs for key first downs...The Packers flew down here this morning in their chartered United Airlines plane. Headquartering at the Ramada Inn, the Packers worked out at the Cotton Bowl this afternoon. Kickoff Saturday against the Cowboys is 9:05 (WJPG)...Norm Masters and Bob Skoronski are playing their first "full" games since 1962. They alternated last year at left tackle, but now Masters is playing left tackle and Skoronski center. Each has put in three games thus far and masters says "it's much easier and not as tiring sitting on the bench half the time as before."...The Packers are experimenting with closed circuit television in the pressbox. Upstairs coaches Norb Hecker, Red Cochran and Tom Fears have a video tape machine in front of them as they watch the game and then, when necessary, the tape can be played back. The coaches keep in touch with the coaches on the sidelines, Vince Lombardi, Phil Bengtson and Bill Austin, by telephone...Terry Baker, the Rams' sophomore quarterback who runs exceptionally well, has been shifted to left half. Coach Harland Svare hopes to make him a left-handed Paul Hornung...There's an excellent piece on Paul Hornung in the current issue of Life Magazine, written by W.C. (Bill) Heinz, who did the Vince Lombardi book, Run To Daylight. Heinz tells about a play on which Hornung is tackled in scrimmage by a couple of Packer defensers. Dennis Claridge, the promising rookie, was at quarterback and, as Jerry Kramer told it: "Hawg (Hanner) comes up to the line and he says to Claridge, 'What count you goin' on?' Claridge says, 'On 2.' Hawg says, 'Thank you.' I thought I'd bust. I'da had to beat the count to get to him and that's why the hole closed." Hornung, who had been quoted by Heinz on taking the knocks the first time, said, "I'm glad it did. Two of them hit me and it felt good and that's what I needed to find out."...When the Packers' Golden Girls take the field in the opener Sept. 13, give them an extra cheer. They won the senior corps state championship in baton twirling at the state fair in Milwaukee the other day, GG Director Mary Jane Van Duyse reports.
PACKER ROOKIES FACE COWBOY TEST
AUG 29 (Dallas-Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Packers start down the home stretch of their dry run leading up to the 1964 NFL season in the Cotton Bowl tonight. And the contest against the Cowboys of the Eastern Division will be the last major test for the rookies - especially the five late arrivals who competed in the College All Star game. One warmup game remains after tonight - the Browns in Cleveland next Saturday night. Then, it's off to the big race, the Pack's 45th campaign in the NFL. Kickoff tonight is set for 9:05 Packerland time, and the action will be relayed via WJPG...TWO TEXANS: Appropriately, two of the still-untested All Stars are from Texas - Duke Carlisle of the University of Texas, a defensive back, and Tommy Crutcher, linebacker from TCU. Carlisle was the hero of Texas' upset victory over Naby in the Cotton Bowl last January, and he's a big favorite down here. Duke is at safety in the No. 2 defensive backfield, which is also composed of Jerry Norton, Doug Hart and Tom Brown. Crutcher is at right linebacker. The other Stars are Nebraska's Dennis Claridge, who likely will do some running at halfback and/or fullback; Ken Bowman, the Wisconsin center; and Lloyd Voss, the Nebraska lineman who is now at right defensive end. Another interesting experiment tonight will see John McDowell, the St. John rookie, at left guard behind Fuzzy Thurston. He was shifted from offensive tackle for a couple of reasons - first because Dan (Charley) Grimm has a pulled muscle and likely won't play, and second because he has enough speed and blocking ability to play the position. In addition, McDowell said he'd like to try guard. Grimm is the only injured player, although several others have minor muscle pulls including Paul Hornung, who hurt his leg just before last Saturday's win over the Bears. Hornung went out and scored all of the Bays' 21 points...COWBOYS 'UP': After losing their opening in New Orleans to the Cardinals Aug. 8, the Packers have been "more or less up" for their last two games before the home folks in Green Bay and Milwaukee. Now, the Cowboys are in the same, since they're playing their first home game of the season, and the Packers can expect some lively opposition. The Packer offense, fresh from a stiff session with the Bears' fine defense, is expected to be pressed hard by what the Cowboys claim is the best defense they've had since being organized five years ago. Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski will share the load, and Coach Vince Lombardi plans to play everybody...TO SEE MCDONALD: The Packers will look at Don Meredith, who this year has the offense to himself. The good-looking quarterback could be a star in the NFL, but he'll have to start cracking a good defense right tonight. The Cowboys next play the Bears in New Orleans. The Packers will see former Eagle Tommy McDonald, the little pass catching whiz, the first time since 1961. McDonald caught a touchdown pass in the 1960 championship game against the Packers, but had no such luck when the Bays creamed the Birds in '61...Jerry Kramer will be the next Packer to try kicking off. He was warming up his booting toe in the light Friday drill here...Bill Forester, the Packer co-captain who retired after last season, just missed seeing the Packers practice. "I got out in time to see Dad (Braisher), but I saw most of them at the Ramada (Inn) later," Forester said, adding: "I guess you'd have to say I miss it." Forester had played 11 years in Green Bay. Don McIlhenny, another former Packer, said, "Bubba really misses it. If you all had stayed down here a week (the Pack camped here a week in 1962 and 1963), I'll bet he would has asked to return."...The Packers now have played in three major Bowls this year - the Orange Bowl in Miami in January, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and now the Cotton Bowl. And it goes without saying that the Packers are the only team in pro football to perform such a fear. The question is: How can the Packers get to the Rose Bowl?...The attendance might exceed 60,000 tonight - if it didn't rain today. The natives would like some rain since they haven't had anything worth noting in two months. The temp hit 95 Friday, but it dropped to 81 at 10 Friday night.
