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The 1979 Green Bay Packers - 5-11 (4TH - Central Division)

Head Coach: Bart Starr

1979 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-1)

                                                                                                                                                               OFF     DEF

AUGUST (3-1)                              RESULT    RECORD    ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB         LEADING RUSHER           LEADING PASSER         LEADING RECEIVER

4  G-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS                  W 14-10    1- 0-0 53,994                 David Whitehurst    Eddie Lee Ivery (49)     Dennis Sproul (138)    James Lofton (3-50)

11 at Cincinnati Bengals                 L  5-20    1- 1-0 44,284                 David Whitehurst    Jim Culbreath (45)       David Whitehurst (63)  Jim Culbreath (3-22)

18 G-BUFFALO BILLS                       W  7- 6    2- 1-0 54,857                 David Whitehurst    David Whitehurst (23)    Lynn Dickey (126)      Terdell Middleton (6-47)

25 M-ATLANTA FALCONS                     W 45-35    3- 1-0 55,416                 David Whitehurst    Eric Torkelson (35)      David Whitehurst (238) Bobby Kimball (4-68)

1979 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (1-3)

2  at Chicago Bears (0-0)                L  3- 6    0- 1-0 56,515  77  72 183 117 David Whitehurst    Ivery/Middleton (24)     David Whitehurst (114) Barty Smith (5-42)

9  M-NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1)            W 28-19    1- 1-0 53,184 194 115 185 259 David Whitehurst    Steve Atkins (110)       David Whitehurst (139) Aundra Thompson (4-49)

16 G-TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)          L 10-21    1- 2-0 55,498  89 185 235 132 David Whitehurst    Barty Smith (35)         David Whitehurst (214) James Lofton (7-78)

23 at Minnesota Vikings (1-2)            L 21-27 *  1- 3-0 46,524 141 108 161 215 David Whitehurst    Terdell Middleton (90)   David Whitehurst (108) Barty Smith (3-31)

OCTOBER (2-3)

1  G-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-1)          W 27-14    2- 3-0 52,842 118 199 162 239 David Whitehurst    Terdell Middleton (80)   David Whitehurst (206) Paul Coffman (6-43)

7  at Atlanta Falcons (2-3)              L  7-25    2- 4-0 56,184 117 158 152 134 David Whitehurst    Steve Atkins (79)        David Whitehurst (209) Aundra Thompson (4-93)

14 M-DETROIT LIONS (1-5)                 W 24-16    3- 4-0 53,930 189 109  93 154 David Whitehurst    Nate Simpson (121)       David Whitehurst (132) Eric Torkelson (3-36)

21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)         L  3-21    3- 5-0 67,186  38 261 228  85 David Whitehurst    Nate Simpson (35)        David Whitehurst (261) Paul Coffman (7-106)

28 at Miami Dolphins (5-3)               L  7-27    3- 6-0 47,741  53 143 195 280 David Whitehurst    Terdell Middleton (34)   David Whitehurst (163) Paul Coffman (5-116)

NOVEMBER (1-3)

4  G-NEW YORK JETS (4-5)                 L 22-27    3- 7-0 54,201 108 287 246 136 David Whitehurst    Eric Torkelson (60)      David Whitehurst (296) James Lofton (6-114)

11 M-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-6)             W 19- 7    4- 7-0 52,706 178 115 117 230 David Whitehurst    Terdell Middleton (125)  David Whitehurst (147) James Lofton (5-99)

18 at Buffalo Bills (5-6)                L 12-19    4- 8-0 39,679  95 195 187 213 David Whitehurst    Eric Torkelson (63)      David Whitehurst (205) Paul Coffman (5-73)

25 G-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-4)           L 10-21    4- 9-0 50,023 118 213 229 118 David Whitehurst    Eric Torkelson (88)      Lynn Dickey (144)      Paul Coffman (6-50)

DECEMBER (1-2)

2  at Washington Redskins (8-5)          L 21-38    4-10-0 51,682  96 178 195 242 Lynn Dickey         Eric Torkelson (60)      Lynn Dickey (212)      Aundra Thompson (3-58)

9  G-CHICAGO BEARS (8-6)                 L 14-15    4-11-0 54,207  55 251 161 106 Lynn Dickey         Ricky Patton (35)        Lynn Dickey (283)      James Lofton (6-112)

15 at Detroit Lions (2-13)               W 18-13    5-11-0 57,376 195  92 156  72 Lynn Dickey         Ricky Patton (99)        Lynn Dickey (131)      James Lofton (3-48)

G - Green Bay  M - Milwaukee * - Overtime

1979 IN REVIEW

Coming off a winning season in 1978, the Packers were filled with optimism heading into the 1979 campaign. Unfortunately, the worst rushing defense in the league, the dismissal of a long-time member of the franchise, and a long list of injuries led to a dismal 5-11 record. For the first time, Bart Starr's future as head coach was being openly questioned. The only bright spots appeared to be the return of Lynn Dickey, the first win over Minnesota in five years, and the successful debut of Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field. Green Bay's defense allowed more than 150 yards rushing in 14 of the 16 games and the team went 3-11 in those contests. No other defense was rushed on as much (639 carries), and the 2,885 yards given up on the ground was the fourth-worst in NFL history up to this point. Defensive coordinator Dave Hanner was fired in December after 28 years with the Packers organization. As for injuries, the parade started in the first game when top draft choice Eddie Lee Ivery went down with a torn knee ligament. Mike Hunt, Barty Smith, Bobby Kimball and Steve Atkins were also lost for the season with various ailments. Mark Koncar (ankle), John Anderson (broken arm), Ezra Johnson (ankle), Mike Butler (elbow) and Terdell Middleton (shoulder) all missed significant playing time.

THE FIRST MONDAY NIGHT GAME IN GREEN BAY

The New England Patriots were a pre-season Super Bowl contender. The Green Bay Packers were coming off their first winning season in six years. The Packers, who some had picked to win the NFC Central, were off to a dismal 1-3 record, while the Pats were living up to their expectations at 3-1. And for the first time in franchise history, Monday Night Football was coming to Green Bay. The three previous Monday Night games in Wisconsin had all been played in Milwaukee, due to the simple fact that there were lights at County Stadium. The hype for the game was noticeable, especially since days before the game, the Brown County sheriff’s office received a death threat aimed at Cosell. With help from the FBI, Cosell was kept safe and sound. Green Bay came into the game in disarray. When Bart Starr chose to run out the clock late in a tie game in Minnesota the week before, a game the Vikings went on to win, he nearly had a locker-room mutiny on his hands. Star wide receiver James Lofton threw his pads into his locker during the Packers' postgame prayer and had words with Starr. He also dropped some passes observers felt he should have caught, leading a Green Bay newspaper to run a cartoon in which he was called a "ham-handed and overpaid receiver." Green Bay came into the Patriots game as 8 1/2 point underdogs. When Tim Fox intercepted a David Whitehurst pass in Packer territory and Steve Grogan threw a scoring pass to TE Russ Francis, it appeared the rout was on. Instead, it was the Patriots who turned into bumblers, with six turnovers. SS Johnnie Gray came up with the first of the Packers’ five interceptions, and the subsequent 41-yard, five-play drive ended FB Barty Smith dove a yard for the tying score. The Packers took the lead for good on a 74-yard drive that ended with a Whitehurst pass to WR Aundra Thompson. The victory was the highlight of a dismal 5-11 year. The season would continue to unravel, punctuated during a loss to the Jets at Green Bay in November. The fans booed Lofton for fumbling a fourth-quarter pass. His reply was a middle-finger slate. In a postgame TV interview, he said he was bleeped-off at the stupid bleeps in the stands. That prompted a Packers public-relations man to say of him, "He needs to grow up. He's a prima donna." As for the Patriots, they would bounce back to win their next three, but a losing streak late in the season sent them to a 9-7 record, and no playoff berth despite those lofty predictions.

NAME                NO  POS  HGT WGT COLLEGE         YR PR AG  G HOW ACQUIRED

John Anderson       59   LB 6- 3 221 Michigan         2  2 23  7 1978 Draft-1st round

Steve Atkins        32   RB 6- 0 216 Maryland         1  1 23  7 1979 Draft-2nd round

Bob Barber          70   DE 6- 3 240 Grambling        4  4 27 16 1976 Trade-Pittsburgh

Carl Barzilauskas   75   DT 6- 6 265 Indiana          2  6 28  5 1978 Trade-NY Jets

David Beverly       11    P 6- 2 180 Auburn           5  6 29 16 1975 FA-Houston

Tom Birney          19    K 6- 4 220 Michigan         1  1 23  6 1979 FA

Mike Butler         77   DE 6- 5 265 Kansas           3  3 25 14 1977 Draft-1st round

Ron Cassidy         88   WR 6- 0 175 Utah State       1  1 22  8 1979 Draft-8th round

Paul Coffman        82   TE 6- 3 218 Kansas State     2  2 23 16 1978 FA

Jim Culbreath       31   RB 6- 0 210 Oklahoma         3  3 26  4 1977 Draft-10th round

Lynn Dickey         10   QB 6- 4 220 Kansas State     3  7 28  5 1976 Trade-Houston

Mike Douglass       53   LB 6- 0 224 San Diego State  2  2 24 16 1978 Draft-5th round

Earl Edwards        73   DT 6- 6 260 Wichita State    1 11 33  9 1979 FA-Cleve (1978)

Derrel Gofourth     57    C 6- 3 260 Oklahoma State   3  3 24 16 1977 Draft-7th round

Johnnie Gray        24    S 5-11 185 Cal St-Fullerton 5  5 25 16 1975 FA

Jim Gueno           51   LB 6- 2 220 Tulane           4  4 25 16 1976 Draft-9th round

Leotis Harris       69    G 6- 1 267 Arkansas         2  2 24 15 1978 Draft-6th round

Estus Hood          38   CB 5-11 180 Illinois State   2  2 23 16 1978 Draft-3rd round

Mike Hunt           55   LB 6- 2 240 Minnesota        2  2 22  3 1978 Draft-2nd round

Eddie Lee Ivery     40   RB 6- 1 210 Georgia Tech     1  1 22  1 1979 Draft-1st round

Mel Jackson         71    G 6- 1 267 USC              4  4 25 16 1976 Draft-12th round

Charles Johnson     99   DT 6- 1 262 Maryland         1  1 22 16 1979 Draft-2nd round

Ezra Johnson        90   DE 6- 4 240 Morris Brown     3  3 23 11 1977 Draft-1st round

Sammy Johnson       39   RB 6- 1 226 North Carolina   1  6 26  3 1979 FA-Minn (1978)

Terry Jones         63   DT 6- 2 259 Alabama          2  2 22 12 1978 Draft-11th round

Bobby Kimball       85   WR 6- 1 190 Oklahoma         1  1 22  7 1979 FA

Greg Koch           68    T 6- 4 265 Arkansas         3  3 24 16 1977 Draft-2nd round

Mark Koncar         79    T 6- 5 268 Colorado         3  3 26 12 1976 Draft-1st round

Walt Landers        42   FB 6- 0 214 Clark            2  2 26  9 1978 FA

Kit Lathrop         72   DT 6- 5 253 Arizona State    1  1 23  2 1979 FA-Denver

James Lofton        80   WR 6- 3 187 Stanford         2  2 23 16 1978 Draft-1st round

Steve Luke          46    S 6- 2 205 Ohio State       5  5 25 16 1975 Draft-4th round

Chester Marcol      13    K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale        8  8 29 10 1972 Draft-2nd round

Larry McCarren      54    C 6- 3 248 Illinois         7  7 27 16 1973 Draft-12th round

Mike C. McCoy       29   CB 5-11 183 Colorado         4  4 26 16 1976 Draft-3rd round

Joe McLaughlin      62   LB 6- 1 235 Massachusetts    1  1 22  3 1979 FA

Casey Merrill       78   DE 6- 4 255 Cal-Davis        1  1 22 11 1979 FA

Terdell Middleton   37   HB 6- 0 190 Memphis State    3  3 24 14 1977 Draft-3rd round

Henry Monroe        43   DB 5-11 180 Mississippi St   1  1 22  3 1979 FA

NAME                NO  POS  HGT WGT COLLEGE         YR PR AG  G HOW ACQUIRED

Steve Odom          84   WR 5- 8 174 Utah             6  6 26  9 1974 Draft-5th round

Ricky Patton        30   RB 5-11 189 Jackson State    1  2 25  6 1979 FA-Atlanta

Paul Rudzinski      66   LB 6- 1 220 Michigan State   2  2 23 11 1978 FA

Howard Sampson      36   DB 5-10 185 Arkansas         2  2 23 16 1978 FA

Davie Simmons       61   LB 6- 4 218 North Carolina   1  1 22 16 1979 Draft-6th round

Nate Simpson        48   RB 5-11 190 Tennessee State  3  3 24 15 1977 Draft-5th round

Barty Smith         33   FB 6- 3 240 Richmond         6  6 27  6 1974 Draft-1st round

Steve Stewart       58   LB 6- 3 215 Minnesota        1  2 23  3 1979 FA-Atl (1978)

Tim Stokes          76    T 6- 5 252 Oregon           2  6 29 16 1978 Trade-Washington

Aundra Thompson     89   WR 6- 0 186 E. Texas State   3  3 26 15 1976 Draft-5th round

John Thompson       83   TE 6- 3 228 Utah State       1  1 22 16 1979 Draft-9th round

Eric Torkelson      26   RB 6- 2 194 Connecticut      6  6 27 14 1974 Draft-11th round

Walter Tullis       87   WR 6- 0 170 Delaware State   2  2 26 16 1978 FA

Wylie Turner        20   CB 5-10 182 Angelo State     1  1 22 12 1979 FA

Steve Wagner        21    S 6- 2 208 Wisconsin        4  4 25 12 1976 FA

Gary Weaver         52   LB 6- 1 225 Fresno State     5  7 30 14 1975 FA-Oak (1974)

Mike Wellman        65    C 6- 3 253 Kansas           1  1 23 16 1979 Trade-L. Angeles

David Whitehurst    17   QB 6- 2 204 Furman           3  3 24 13 1977 Draft-8th round

Rich Wingo          50   LB 6- 1 230 Alabama          1  1 23 16 1979 Draft-7th 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

1979 PACKERS DRAFT (May 3-4, 1979)

RND-PCK NAME                POS COLLEGE       NOTES

1    15 Eddie Lee Ivery      RB Georgia Tech 

2    44 Steve Atkins         RB Maryland 

3    71 Charles Johnson      DT Maryland 

4    98 Traded to New York Jets in Carl Barzilauskas trade

5   125 Traded to New York Jets in Carl Barzilauskas trade

6   153 Davie Simmons        LB North Carolina 

7a  180 Henry Monroe         DB Mississippi State 

7b  184 Rich Wingo           LB Alabama       (A)

8a  193 Ron Cassidy          WR Utah State    (B) 

8b  208 Rick Partridge        P Utah 

9   235 John Thompson        TE Utah State 

10  264 Frank Lockett        WR Nebraska 

11  290 Mark Thorson         DB Ottawa (Kan.) 

12  318 Bill Moats            P South Dakota

A-From San Diego in Willie Buchanon trade B-From San Francisco in Steve Knutson trade

Anchor 1

1979 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 26 - Traded CB Willie Buchanon to SAN DIEGO for a 1979 7th-round draft choice (LB Rich Wingo) and a 1980 1st-round selection (LB George Cumby)

AUGUST 6 - Traded an undisclosed draft choice to DALLAS for OG Mike Salzano

AUGUST 14 - Traded a 1981 5th-round draft choice to LOS ANGELES for C Mike Wellman

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