1966 New York Giants Outlook

"The road back to respectability was a swift one, as Allie Sherman steered the Giants from last place in 1964 to a tie for second place in '65. But they don't have an automatic return-trip ticket to the winner's circle, and will probably wind up a plus season in third place.
Although the Giants put the term 'Baby Bulls' into the language, and indeed, it was the Bulls who contributed to their resurgence, the most responsible single party had to be Earl Morrall, the liberated quarterback. Not until Morrall joined the team from Detroit late in the training season was Sherman able to implement anything resembling an offense.
With Morrall's experienced hand at the controls, rookie bull Tucker Frederickson and sophomore bull Steve Thurlow rammed enemy barricades for more than 1,000 yards. The Giants also trotted Ernie Koy, Chuck Mercein and Smith Reed out of the pen on occasion, and this quintet gives them what is perhaps the best set of running backs in the East. Frederickson already has the look of All-Pro about him, and Koy could come into his own this year.
During the Giant transition last year, a metamorphosis was taking place in the end corps. Homer Jones suddenly spurted onto the scene with a spectacular rookie performance at split end, moving ahead of Del Shofner. The only previous reservation about Jones was his ability to run patterns correctly, but now that he has them mastered he should be even better in '66. Joe Morrison, the team's best - and clutch- receiver last year, will be back at flanker, with Aaron Thomas at tight end. Shofner still rates a call if he decides to come back, and new ones to watch for include Bob Lacey, a flanker from the taxi squad, and Roger Reynolds, who made an impressive debut a couple of years ago before going into the Army. The best of the college kids is Freeman White, the No. 9 draft choice who broke all existing pass catching marks as an All-America at Nebraska last year.
If Rosey Brown doesn't return this season, the Giants are going to be hard-pressed to replace him at left tackle. The top candidate is Francis Peay, the No. 1 draft choice, a 6-4 250-pounder from Missouri. Pete Case and Bookie Bolin are the holdover guards, and Greg Larson and Bob Scholtz will battle it out at center. Right tackle is also a problem, with the inexperienced Jim Moran getting the first crack. There isn't any depth to speak of in the line.
The same uncertainty exists in the defensive front four, where only defensive captain Jim Katcavage is sure to play. John LoVetere must test his knee in combat. Rosey Davis is still learning what a defensive end should and should not do, and Lou Slaby plays a fair tackle for a converted middle linebacker. The big hope is that either Don Davis, the 6-6 280-pound tackle from Los Angeles State, or Jim Prestel, acquired from the Vikings, will be able to make the grade.
The linebacking will be much stronger at the outset this time around than it was last year, now that Jerry Hillebrand has begun to fulfill the promise he showed as a rookie four years ago. Flanking him will be Jim Carroll and Olen Underwood, who made impressive rookie debuts in '65, and Bill Swain, a real find when he came to New York from the Vikings last season.
There's a good balance of experience and youth in the defensive backfield, with old pros Dick Lynch and Jimmy Patton complementing second-year men Spider Lockhart and Henry Carr. And Giant placekicking, a scandal in '65, should take a big step forward with the surprise addition of Pete Gogolak, former pride of the AFL."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

"They had to improve when 100 points shuffled in from Buffalo."

-Berry Stainback, Pro Football Almanac 1966

Despite Line Holes To Plug, The Giants Have Tremendous Young Backs On Offense And Defense ... Plus 100 Points From The NFL
"On the New York Giants' tentative depth chart, prepared March 1, 1966, was a notation- 'Placekicking: Merceain, Timberlake, Hillebrand.' In New York last season these men were responsible for bringing suspense back into the try for an extra point. Of course, they also made the art of field goal kicking archaic, a regular old anachronism. Based on this bit of knowledge, we were going to pick the Giants to finish fourth this season.
But, Holy Place Kickers! On May 17, the Giants suddenly announced they had a new placement specialist, imported from Hungary by way of Cornell, Buffalo and the American Football League. That would be Pete Gogolak, who played out his option with the Buffalo Bills and signed on with New York because he said it offers more hotels to manage, which is what he really wants to do. The legal ramifications may yet come.
On the surface, the Giants are big winners. Gogolack should add some 100 points to their season-scoring total. Pete has a kicking style only a brother could love (and his does, as you'll note in the Redskin rundown) and effectiveness which his only his own team can love. He is one of the best place kickers in pro football, having been the AFL's second-highest scorer the last two years. His soccer approach also produces lengthy kickoffs.
It should be noted that even with Gogolak we may be picking the Giants higher than they deserve. This a team with gaping holes in both lines. On offense, guards Pete Case and Bookie Bolin are the only solid performers. Center Greg Larson is first-rate when healthy, as is tackle Rosey Brown. But Larson didn't gain full mobility of his knee after a serious operation prior the '65 season, and Brown's future is clouded by a mysterious ailment he came down with after the last Pro Bowl game. Bob Scholtz is adequate at center. However, a rookie, Francis Peay, is the lone real tackle prospect. All the experts say the 6-4, 250-pound No. 1 draft choice from Missouri will make it big his first season ... but at both tackles?
The defensive line returns exactly one regular, Jim Katcavage. The hope is for John LoVetere's knee to be sound again and for ex-linebacker Lou Slaby to make the transition to 'the pit' up front. The Giants did draft several top prospects, led by 6-6, 260-pound Don Davis of Los Angeles State, 235-pound Bill  Briggs of Iowa, 248-pound Charlie Harper of Oklahoma State, 240-pound Bill Matan of Kansas State and 237-pound Jeff Smith of USC. But at this point, they are only names and weights.
The rest of the defense is mostly young and likely to get younger since Giant coaches appear to like Willie Williams' speed over Dick Lynch's experience at cornerback. This unit helped make up for lack of experience last season with its enthusiasm (a euphemism for whomping opponents). Henry Carr and Carl Lockhart, secondary regulars on the left side as rookies, made numerous mistakes, which they often recovered from with pure speed, but they learned. The same was generally true with young linebackers Olen Underwood, Jim Carroll and Jerry Hildebrand.
This wasn't the end of the Giant rookies last year, though. Except for second-year halfback Steve Thurlow, all the running backs were rookies- Tucker Frederickson, Ernie Koy, Chuck Mercein and a 215-pound speedster from Alcorn A&M named Smith Reed. Frederickson was the best, a certain superstar of the future, rushing for 659 yards. Despite bothersome injuries, Thurlow came on well, too. But the quick and rugged Koy could steal the halfback job this season.
New York's best move last year was in trading for veteran quarterback Earl Morrall, a solid performer who settled the youngsters and who should bring them much further this year. He has an outstanding set of receivers in Joe Morrison, Aaron Thomas, Homer Jones, Del Shofner (if he doesn't retire), Bob Crespino and two rookies, Roger Reynolds and Nebraska star Freeman White, a 6-5, 225-pounder.
Coach Allie Sherman showed his brass when he started trading away old Giants a few years back, and when he went with a dozen rookies last season. His judgment proved ultimately to be right. This season the building continues, and now Sherman has a consistent place kicker to make the job easier. Welcome to the hotel business, Pete."

-Berry Stainback, Pro Football Almanac 1966


1966 New York Giants Preseason Roster
63 Bookie Bolin (G) Mississippi
*  Steve Bowman (HB) Alabama
79 Roosevelt Brown (T) Morgan State
28 Henry Carr (DB) Arizona State
60 Jim Carroll (LB) Notre Dame
65 Pete Case (G) Georgia
46 Clarence Childs (DB) Florida A&M
*  Mike Cicolella (LB) Dayton
63 Glen Condren (DE) Oklahoma
86 Tom Costello (LB) Dayton
89 Bob Crespino (E) Mississippi
*  Don Davis (DT) Los Angeles State
74 Roger Davis (G) Syracuse
77 Roosevelt Davis (DE) Tennessee A & I
*  Gary Eickman (DT) Illinois
24 Tucker Frederickson (FB) Auburn
*  Jim Fulgham (DT) Mississippi
Pete Gogolak (K) Cornell
*  Charles Harper (DT) Oklahoma State
*  Phil Harris (DB) Texas
26 Wendell Harris (DB) LSU
*  Dick Herzing (DT) Drake
87 Jerry Hillebrand (LB) Colorado
*  Will Hudgins (T) New Mexico State
45 Homer Jones (E) Texas Southern
75 Jim Katcavage (DE) Dayton
23 Ernie Koy (HB) Texas
80 Bob Lacey (E) North Carolina
78 Roger LaLonde (DT) Muskingum
53 Greg Larson (C) Minnesota
43 Carl Lockhart (DB) North Texas State
76 John LoVetere (DT) Compton CC
22 Dick Lynch (DB) Notre Dame
*  Bill Matan (DE) Kansas State
*  Howard McCard (G) Syracuse
*  Bob Meeker (T) Notre Dame
29 Chuck Mercein (FB) Yale
*  Randy Minniear (HB) Purdue
71 Jim Moran (T) Idaho
11 Earl Morrall (QB) Michigan State
40 Joe Morrison (E) Cincinnati
20 Jim Patton (S) Mississippi
*  Francis Peay (T) Missouri
*  Bob Post (QB) Kings Point
Jim Prestel (DT) Idaho
33 Smith Reed (HB) Alcorn A & M
*Roger Reynolds (E) Bowling Green
55 Bob Scholtz (C) Notre Dame
85 Del Shofner (E) Baylor
51 Lou Slaby (DT) Pittsburgh
*  Randy Staten (G) Minnesota
52 Bill Swain (LB) Oregon
88 Aaron Thomas (E) Oregon State
*  Owen Thomas (G) New Mexico State
27 Steve Thurlow (HB) Stanford
18 Bob Timberlake (QB) Michigan
54 Olen Underwood (LB) Texas
Larry Vargo (DB) Detroit
*  Lucien Veneziano (DT) C.W. Post
21 Allan Webb (DB) Arnold
*  Joe Wellborn (C) Texas A & M
*  Freeman White (E) Nebraska
*  Cliff Wilder (E) Iowa
41 Willie Williams (DB) Grambling
19 Gary Wood (QB) Cornell
Maury Youmans (DE) Syracuse
*  Willie Young (G) Grambling

* rookie

-Pro Football 1966


1966 New York Giants Preseason Depth Charts
Offense
QB - Earl Morrall (Michigan State) 11, Gary Wood (Cornell) 19, Bob Timberlake (Michigan) 18
HB - Steve Thurlow (Stanford) 27, Ernie Koy (Texas) 23, Smith Reed (Alcorn A & M) 33 
FB - Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24, Chuck Mercein (Yale) 29   
SE - Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45, Del Shofner (Baylor) 85, Roger Reynolds (Bowling Green)*
T - Roosevelt Brown (Morgan State) 79, Francis Peay (Missouri)*
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65
C - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53, Bob Scholtz (Notre Dame) 55
G - Bookie Bolin (Mississippi) 63, Roger Davis (Syracuse) 74
T - John McDowell (St. John's-Minnesota) 70, Jim Moran (Idaho) 71
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88, Bob Crespino (Mississippi) 89, Freeman White (Nebraska)*
FL - Joe Morrison (Cinncinati) 40, Bob Lacey (North Carolina) 80

Defense
DE - Jim Katcavage (Dayton) 75, Don Davis (Los Angeles State)*     
DT - John LoVetere (Compton CC) 76, Lou Slaby (Pittsburgh) 51
DT - Jim Prestel (Idaho), Roger LaLonde (Muskingum) 78, Jim Fulgham (Mississippi)* 
DE - Roosevelt Davis (Tennessee A & I) 77
LB -  Jim Carroll (Notre Dame) 60, Tom Costello (Dayton) 86
MLB - Jerry Hillebrand (Colorado) 87, Jeff Smith (USC)*
LB - Olen Underwood (Texas) 54, Bill Swain (Oregon) 52
CB - Carl Lockhart (North Texas State) 43, Phil Harris (Texas)*
S - Henry Carr Arizona State 28, Clarence Childs (Florida A&M) 46, Larry Vargo (Detroit)
S - Jim Patton (Mississippi) 20, Wendell Harris (LSU) 26
CB - Dick Lynch (Notre Dame) 22, Willie Williams (Grambling) 41

*rookie

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

Offense
QB - Earl Morrall (Michigan State) 11, Gary Wood (Cornell) 19, Bob Timberlake (Michigan) 18
HB -  Steve Thurlow (Stanford) 27, Ernie Koy (Texas) 23, Smith Reed (Alcorn A&M) 33
FB - Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24, Allen Jacobs (Utah) 30
SE - Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45, Del Shofner (Baylor) 85
T - Roosevelt Brown (Morgan State) 79, Willie Young (Grambling)*
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65, Darrell Dess (North Carolina State) 62
C - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53, Bob Scholtz (Notre Dame) 55
G - Bookie Bolin (Mississippi) 63, Charlie Harper (Oklahoma State)*
T - Francis Peay (Missouri)*, Roger Anderson (Virginia Union) 73
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88, Bob Crespino (Mississippi) 89, Freeman White (Nebraska)*
FL - Joe Morrison (Cinncinati) 40

Defense
DE - Jim Katcavage (Dayton) 75   
DT - John LoVetere (Compton CC) 76, Jim Moran (Idaho) 74
DT - Lou Slaby (Pittsburgh) 51, Don Davis (Los Angeles State)*
DE - Rosey Davis (Tennessee State) 77
LB - Jerry Hillebrand (Colorado) 87, Tom Costello (Dayton) 54
MLB - Jim Carroll (Notre Dame) 60, Mike Ciccolella (Dayton)*
LB - Bill Swain (Oregon) 52, Jeff Smith (USC)*
CB - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43
S - Henry Carr (Arizona State) 28, Allan Webb (Arnold) 21
S - Jim Patton (Mississippi) 20, Phil Harris (Texas)*
CB - Dick Lynch (Notre Dame) 22, Clarence Childs (Florida A&M) 48

K - Pete Gogolak (Cornell) 3
P - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
KR - Clarence Childs (Florida A&M) 48
PR - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43

*rookie


1966 New York Giants Profile Summary
Head Coach - Allie Sherman

QB - Earl Morrall (Michigan State) 11
HB -  Steve Thurlow (Stanford) 27
HB - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
HB - Dan Lewis (Wisconsin) 41
FB - Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24
FL - Joe Morrison (Cinncinati) 40
SE - Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88
C - Bob Scholtz (Notre Dame) 55
G - Bookie Bolin (Mississippi) 63
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65
T - Roosevelt Brown (Morgan State) 79
T - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53

DT - John LoVetere (Compton CC) 76
DT - Lou Slaby (Pittsburgh) 51
DE - Jim Katcavage (Dayton) 75
DE - Rosey Davis (Tennessee State) 77
MLB - Jim Carroll (Notre Dame) 60
LB - Jerry Hillebrand (Colorado) 87
LB - Bill Swain (Oregon) 52
CB - Dick Lynch (Notre Dame) 22
CB - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43
CB - Clarence Childs (Florida A&M) 48
S - Jim Patton (Mississippi) 20
S - Henry Carr (Arizona State) 28
S - Wendell Harris (LSU) 26

K - Pete Gogolak (Cornell) 3
P - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
KR - Clarence Childs (Florida A&M) 48
PR - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43