The 1973 Green Bay Packers - 5-7-2 (3RD - Central Division)
Head Coach: Dan Devine
1973 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-2-1)
OFF DEF
AUGUST (3-0-1) RESULT RECORD ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER
4 M-CHICAGO BEARS T 13-13 0- 0-1 47,222 Scott Hunter MacArthur Lane (42) Scott Hunter (68) Rich McGeorge (2-20)
11 G-BUFFALO BILLS W 10- 3 1- 0-1 56,267 Jerry Tagge MacArthur Lane (60) Scott Hunter (35) Len Garrett (2-26)
18 M-HOUSTON OILERS W 33-14 2- 0-1 47,302 Scott Hunter Don Highsmith (73) Scott Hunter (107) Jon Staggers (2-58)
26 at Kansas City Chiefs W 21-16 3- 0-1 75,231 Jerry Tagge MacArthur Lane (60) Jerry Tagge (59) Rich McGeorge (2-26)
SEPTEMBER (0-2)
1 G-PITTSBURGH STEELERS L 22-30 3- 1-1 56,267 Scott Hunter Don Highsmith (35) Jim Del Gaizo (76) Barry Smith (4-53)
8 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10-13 3- 2-1 55,863 Scott Hunter John Brockington (60) Scott Hunter (78) MacArthur Lane (4-16)
1973 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
SEPTEMBER (1-1-1)
17 M-NEW YORK JETS (0-0) W 23- 7 1- 0-0 47,124 155 98 69 200 Scott Hunter John Brockington (73) Scott Hunter (107) MacArthur Lane (2-32)
23 G-DETROIT LIONS (0-1) T 13-13 1- 0-1 55,495 176 101 110 82 Scott Hunter John Brockington (118) Scott Hunter (80) Barry Smith (4-72)
30 at Minnesota Vikings (2-0) L 3-11 1- 1-1 48,176 90 70 206 78 Jim Del Gaizo John Brockington (58) Scott Hunter (44) MacArthur Lane (3-36)
OCTOBER (1-2-1)
7 at New York Giants (1-1-1) W 16-14 2- 1-1 70,050 125 75 57 174 Jim Del Gaizo John Brockington (71) Scott Hunter (86) MacArthur Lane (3-43)
14 M-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-1) T 10-10 2- 1-2 46,583 169 146 96 53 Scott Hunter John Brockington (106) Jim Del Gaizo (89) MacArthur Lane (4-38)
21 at Los Angeles Rams (5-0) L 7-24 2- 2-2 80,558 35 28 244 134 Scott Hunter John Brockington (18) Scott Hunter (48) Jon Staggers (2-30)
28 at Detroit Lions (1-4-1) L 0-34 2- 3-2 43,616 60 3 263 66 Jim Del Gaizo John Brockington (33) Jim Del Gaizo (33) Leland Glass (2-18)
NOVEMBER (1-3)
4 G-CHICAGO BEARS (2-5) L 17-31 2- 4-2 53,231 110 -12 230 107 Scott Hunter John Brockington (66) Scott Hunter (17) MacArthur Lane (3-17)
11 G-ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (3-4-1) W 25-21 3- 4-2 52,922 243 62 71 187 Jerry Tagge John Brockington (137) Jerry Tagge (67) Jon Staggers (3-30)
18 at New England Patriots (2-7) L 24-33 3- 5-2 60,525 75 263 116 340 Jerry Tagge Brockington/Williams (35)Jerry Tagge (267) Jon Staggers (4-87)
26 at San Francisco 49ers (3-7) L 6-20 3- 6-2 49,244 131 124 174 94 Jerry Tagge John Brockington (89) Jerry Tagge (107) Rich McGeorge (2-41)
DECEMBER (2-1)
2 M-NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-7) W 30-10 4- 6-2 46,092 154 105 100 156 Jerry Tagge John Brockington (74) Jerry Tagge (109) MacArthur Lane (4-41)
8 G-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-2) L 7-31 4- 7-2 53,830 152 148 138 83 Jerry Tagge John Brockington (124) Jerry Tagge (98) Barry Smith (4-55)
16 at Chicago Bears (3-10) W 21- 0 5- 7-2 29,157 298 72 125 68 Jerry Tagge John Brockington (142) Jerry Tagge (72) Jon Staggers (3-72)
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee
1973 IN REVIEW
Any possibility that the Green Bay Packers would repeat as Central Division champions ended abruptly during a three-game stretch that left the team shaken and searching for answers. The club, unfortunately, did not address many of the problems down the stretch and stumbled to a 5-7-2 record and a third-place finish in the division. After hovering in second place for most of the first five weeks, the Packers were thrashed by the Rams, Lions and Bears in consecutive weeks. The Rams' Fred Dryer overpowered Malcolm Snider to register two fourth quarter safeties in the Rams' 24-7 win, and quarterback Bobby Douglass ran for 100 yards and four touchdowns in the Bears' 31-17 triumph. In between, the Lions tossed a 34-0 shutout for good measure.
THE QUARTERBACKING CAROUSEL OF 1973
To say the Packers had a hard hill to climb in repeating as division champs would be an understatement when examining the quarterbacking situation. Green Bay would use three starters during the season, and none of them would throw more than two touchdowns passes. Scott Hunter would be given the first shot at leading the team. Coming off a division title, Hunter was expected to mature into Bart Starr's legitimate successor. He started the first two games of the season, a win over the Saints and a tie with the Lions. He completed 12 of 25 passes with one touchdown. Head coach Dan Devine showed his short leash, by pulling Hunter in the second half of the Lions' game and putting in Jim Del Gaizo. The team had sent two second round picks to Miami for the promising prospect. Apparently, Devine saw enough to tab Del Gaizo as the starter for Week Three. Against Minnesota, Del Gaizo went 4-for-14 before Hunter was put back in an 11-3 loss. The following week, Del Gaizo started against the Giants and completed one of four passes for minus-four years. Hunter came in and went 6-for-7 to lead the Packers to a 16-14 win. Hunter won the starting spot back for the next two weeks. He was 6-for-11 against the Cbiefs, before Del Gaizo came back in. He tossed a 26-yard touchdown to Jon Staggers, but was also intercepted twice in a 10-10 tie. The next week, Hunter was a dismal 4-for-10 with an interception as the Rams routed the Packers, 24-7. Devine took one more shot with Del Gaizo, and the results were disastrous. With the team clinging to its playoff hopes (2-2-2), Del Gaizo was 5-for-9 before suffering a shoulder injury in the third quarter. Hunter came on and completed only one of ten attempts for minus-four yards and one interception. Detroit would roll, 34-0, and Del Gaizo would be out for a month. Hunter would be given one more start, on November 4 against the Bears. His numbers were atrocious, as he completed only three of 15 passes for 17 yards. He did throw a 5-yard touchdown to MacArthur Lane in a 31-17 loss. Hunter and Del Gaizo would never start again in Green Bay. Jerry Tagge was given the starts down the stretch, going 3-3 as the season slipped away. He would start the first six games of 1974, before the John Hadl era began.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
Hise Austin 27 CB 6- 4 195 Prairie View 1 1 22 9 1973 Draft-8th round
Ken Bowman 57 C 6- 3 245 Wisconsin 10 10 30 14 1964 Draft-8th round
Kent Branstetter 71 T 6- 3 260 Houston 1 1 24 9 1973 FA
John Brockington 42 RB 6- 1 230 Ohio State 3 3 24 14 1971 Draft-1st round
Aaron Brown 74 DE 6- 5 270 Minnesota 1 7 29 8 1973 Trade-Kan City
Bob Brown 78 DE 6- 5 280 Ark-Pine Bluff 8 8 33 14 1966 FA
Willie Buchanon 28 CB 6- 0 190 San Diego State 2 2 22 6 1972 Draft-1st round
Fred Carr 53 LB 6- 5 240 Texas-El Paso 6 6 27 14 1968 Draft-1st round
Jim Carter 50 LB 6- 3 245 Minnesota 4 4 24 14 1970 Draft-3rd round
Jim Del Gaizo 12 QB 6- 1 198 Tampa 1 2 26 8 1973 Trade-Miami
Mike Donohoe 86 TE 6- 3 230 San Francisco 1 4 28 13 1973 FA-Atl (1971)
Ken Ellis 48 CB 5-10 195 Southern 4 4 25 14 1970 Draft-4th round
Len Garrett 88 TE 6- 3 230 N.Mex Highlands 3 3 25 2 1971 Draft-15th round
Gale Gillingham 68 G 6- 3 265 Minnesota 8 8 29 14 1966 Draft-1st round
Leland Glass 46 WR 6- 0 185 Oregon 2 2 22 12 1972 Draft-8th round
Les Goodman 25 RB 5-11 206 Yankton 1 1 23 6 1973 FA
Dick Gordon 85 WR 5-11 190 Michigan State 1 9 29 2 1973 FA-Los Angeles
Charlie Hall 21 CB 6- 1 190 Pittsburgh 3 3 25 13 1971 Draft-3rd round
Bill Hayhoe 77 T 6- 8 260 USC 5 5 26 6 1969 Draft-5th round
Larry Hefner 51 LB 6- 2 230 Clemson 2 2 24 14 1972 Draft-14th round
Don Highsmith 32 RB 6- 0 200 Michigan State 1 4 25 7 1973 Trade-Oakland
Jim Hill 39 S 6- 2 195 Texas A&I 2 5 26 13 1972 Trade-San Diego
Dick Himes 72 T 6- 4 260 Ohio State 6 6 27 14 1968 Draft-3rd round
Scott Hunter 16 QB 6- 2 210 Alabama 3 3 25 8 1971 Draft-6th round
Noel Jenke 55 LB 6- 1 225 Minnesota 1 3 25 2 1973 FA-Atlanta (1972)
Larry Krause 30 RB 6- 0 208 St. Norbert 3 3 25 14 1970 Draft-17th round
MacArthur Lane 36 RB 6- 1 220 Utah State 2 6 31 13 1972 Trade-St. Louis
Bill Lueck 62 G 6- 3 235 Arizona 6 6 27 14 1968 Draft-1st round
Chester Marcol 13 K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale 2 2 23 14 1972 Draft-2nd round
Al Matthews 29 DB 5-11 190 Texas A&I 4 4 25 14 1970 Draft-2nd round
Tom MacLeod 56 LB 6- 3 235 Minnesota 1 1 22 11 1973 Draft-3rd round
Ron McBride 24 RB 6- 0 200 Missouri 1 1 24 1 1973 FA
Larry McCarren 54 C 6- 3 240 Illinois 1 1 21 5 1973 Draft-12th round
Mike McCoy 76 DT 6- 5 285 Notre Dame 4 4 24 14 1970 Draft-1st round
Rich McGeorge 81 TE 6- 4 230 Elon 4 4 24 14 1970 Draft-1st round
Carleton Oats 73 DT 6- 3 260 Florida A&M 1 9 31 8 1973 Trade-Oakland
Dave Pureifory 75 DE 6- 1 250 E. Michigan 2 2 24 13 1972 Draft-6th round
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
Alden Roche 87 DE 6- 4 255 Southern 3 4 28 13 1971 Trade-Denver
Barry Smith 80 WR 6- 1 190 Florida State 1 1 22 14 1973 Draft-1st round
Perry Smith 45 CB 6- 1 195 Colorado State 1 1 22 8 1973 FA-Oakland
Malcolm Snider 67 G 6- 4 250 Stanford 2 5 26 14 1972 Trade-Atlanta
Jon Staggers 22 WR 5-10 180 Missouri 2 4 24 14 1972 FA-Pitt (1971)
Paul Staroba 85 WR 6- 3 204 Michigan 1 2 24 2 1973 FA-Washington
Jerry Tagge 17 QB 6- 2 215 Nebraska 2 2 23 7 1972 Draft-1st round
Ike Thomas 37 CB 6- 2 195 Bishop 2 3 25 13 1972 Trade-Dallas
Tom Toner 59 LB 6- 3 235 Idaho State 1 1 23 14 1973 Draft-6th round
Ron Widby 20 P 6- 4 220 Tennessee 2 6 28 12 1972 Trade-Dallas
Clarence Williams 83 DE 6- 5 255 Prairie View 4 4 26 14 1970 Trade-Dallas
Perry Williams 31 RB 6- 2 225 Purdue 5 5 26 14 1969 Draft-4th round
Cal Withrow 74 C 6- 0 230 Kentucky 3 4 28 14 1971 Trade-San Diego
Keith Wortman 65 G 6- 2 250 Nebraska 2 2 23 8 1972 Draft-10th round
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
1973 PACKERS DRAFT (January 30-31, 1973)
RND-PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1 - 21 Barry Smith WR Florida State
2 - 46 Traded to Dallas in Ike Thomas/Ron Widby trade
3 - 74 Tom MacLeod LB Minnesota
4 - 99 Traded to Los Angeles in Tommy Crutcher trade
5 - 124 Traded to Oakland in Carleton Oats trade
6 - 152 Tom Toner LB Idaho State
7 - 177 John Muller G/T Iowa
8 - 202 Hise Austin DB/WR Prairie View
9 - 230 Rick Brown LB South Carolina
10 - 255 Larry Allen S/LB Illinois
11 - 280 Phil Engle G South Dakota State
12 - 308 Larry McCarren C Illinois
13 - 333 Tim Alderson S Minnesota
14 - 358 Jim Anderson DT Northwestern
15 - 386 Reg Echols WR UCLA
16 - 411 Keith Pretty TE Western Michigan
17 - 436 Harold Sampson DT Southern
1973 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS
JAN 25 - Traded DT Vern Vanoy and a 1973 5th-round draft choice to OAKLAND for DT Carleton Oats
JAN 30 - Traded OT Francis Peay to KANSAS CITY for DE Aaron Brown
JAN 30 - Traded LB Dave Robinson to WASHINGTON for a 1975 2nd-round draft choice
JUL 13 - Traded RB Bob Hudson to OAKLAND for RB Don Highsmith. Sold RB Demery Brandon to OAKLAND.
AUG 22 - Traded a 1974 2nd-round draft choice and a 1975 2nd-round draft choice to MIAMI for QB Jim Del Gaizo
SEPT 25 - Traded TE Len Garrett to NEW ORLEANS for a 1974 8th-round draft choice