1969 New York Giants Outlook

"The trouble with most people is that they don't take the Giants seriously. When they win, the victory is somehow tainted. When they lose, they're doing about as well as expected. This attitude has become a reflex action in the years since the Giants' last dynasty, but the fallacy behind it is that while nobody has been paying attention, the Giants have become a pretty good football team again. Not world-beaters by a long shot, but perhaps just good enough this time around to cause some sparks in the so-so Century Division.
For the Giants to make a race of it, there are certain key areas that will have to improve before the season is very old. But one place where they seem to be secure is at quarterback, which on the Giants is the private preserve of Fran Tarkenton. The man they call Fran the Scram (For goodness sake, why?) did not have as brilliant a campaign last year as he did in 1967, but he did finish fifth overall in the passing statistics, completing 54 percent of his tosses for 21 touchdowns. You wouldn't exactly say he fell on his face, would you? And Fran was hampered by a sore shoulder at mid-season, during which time the Giants lost two games. Gary Wood, who darts around more like a mosquito even than Tarkenton, is the number one spare and Gary Lane, another passer on the run, has a seat on the bench next to Wood's.
Homer Jones provides the Giants' aerial game with his electricity. His catches are the talk of the league, and his speed the despair of any cornerback who's had to chase him. Jones may line up at split end a few pounds lighter this year, after having a few sluggish bouts with dropped passes last year. Joe Morrison is listed as the starting flanker, but Allie Sherman probably realized that his versatile offensive captain was slowing down when the coach traded for Pete Gent of the Cowboys. Gent is tall and fast - and injury-prone - but if he stays healthy, he could be just the man to run those deep patterns and take some of the double-coverage pressure off Jones. Morrison can better serve the cause by coming in as a troubleshooter wherever Allie needs him at the moment. If Gent shows he can handle the job, Aaron Thomas will stay at tight end where he, too, can draw attention. Butch Wilson and Freeman White are the extras at tight end, and second-year man Joe Koontz and rookie Rich Houston from East Texas State will be trying to catch on as deep receivers.
The Giant backfield could explode this year, barring another disastrous year of injuries, which is what set them back so badly after the 1967 season. Tucker Frederickson seems convinced that his doctored knees are completely sound, and he may start running with his old abandon. Ernie Koy has become a more assured back, and he presents a lot of problems to a defensive watching Tarkenton all the time. How often Frederickson and Koy are teamed back there will depend on how good a second year Bobby Duhon has. He had a pip of a rookie campaign, with 363 yards rushing and 373 yards on pass receptions and, 'He has all the capabilities to become a top NFL back,' says Sherman. The speedster of the backfield is Ronnie Blye, who looked good in spurts last year but still shows a marked lack of consistency. Alan Jacobs, a solid blocker, and Randy Minniear, a determined runner, are back to challenge for jobs, and the rookies are John Fuqua from Morgan State, George Irby from Tuskeegee, and Harry Blackney out of the Continental League.
The offensive line also seems to be operating on all burners now. Willie Young and Steve Wright are the tackles, Pete Case and Darrell Dess are the guards, and Greg Larson is the center. But with Dess turning 33, he may begin to give way to Charlie Harper, a solid backup man for the past three seasons. More may also be heard from Rich Buzin, the 6-4, 250-pound tackle who bashed in some heads as a rookie last year. Andy Gross and Doug Van Horn are the extra guards, and Chuck Hinton the spare center.
There are bound to be some important changes on the defensive line this year - changes which should create a more aggressive pass rush. The Giants made a strong step in this direction by getting Clark Miller from the 49ers to fill a conspicuous gap at one of their defensive ends. At the other end, Jim Katcavage was intent on returning this year for one last hurrah, and his desire may be all he has left. He is going to have a whale of a battle on his hands (according to all reports) from number one draft choice Fred Dryer, a 6-6, 235-pound animal out of San Diego State, where he supposedly did everything. Sam Silas, who remembers the pass rush from his Cardinal days, and Bob Lurtsema will probably hold down the tackle jobs. Bruce Anderson and McKinley Boston, who had some good moments as a rookie last year, are reserve ends, while Jim Moran, Roger Anderson, taxi-squader Doug Chatman and rookie Lou Galiardi from Toledo will also be in the picture at tackle.
The linebacking must be better this year than it was last year if the Giants are going to be sound defensively. They have the bodies, only they were out of position most of last year while learning to play together. Tommy Crutcher should settle down in his second season in New York, and Ken Avery had better return to his rookie form of 1967. Henry Davis, the big new man in the middle last year, was as green as they come but he learned fast. The acquisition of Ralph Heck from the Falcons bolsters the linebacking, as will the presence of rookies Ray Hickl from Texas A&I, Byron Jones from West Texas State and Ken Riley of Arlington State.
It's amazing the deep secondary did as well as it did last year, with those breakdowns in the line and in the backup squad. Much of the credit must go to Bruce Maher, who came from Detroit, moved in at tight safety, and pulled the unit together. Willie Williams at right corner was the NFL's interception leader, and free safety Spider Lockhart wasn't far behind him. A better year must come from Scott Eaton, who seemed to suffer from a sophomore jinx in 1968. Returning second-year man Jim Holifield and rookie Al Brenner from Michigan State appear to be the reserves."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969

IN BRIEF
Probable 1969 Finish: 1st (Century Division)
Strengths:  a mobile offense featuring Tarkenton, Jones and some determined runners, a strong blocking line and an improved pass defense.
Biggest Needs: strengthening the defensive line, and more consistent linebacking.
1968 finish:  2nd (7-7-0)

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969


"New York Giant football fans are not noted for their patience or their singing voices, which made the last two home games of the season particularly long and unpleasant afternoons for the players and their head coach, Allie Sherman. The ever-popular with critical fans, 'Goodbye, Allie, Goodbye, Allie' was sung early and late on these cold Sundays. It was nothing new for Sherman's ears. He's been hearing the song off and on ever since the Giant glory teams of 1961, '62 and '63 faded like the paint on Yankee Stadium until Mike Burke took over the baseball team. But last season, the fifth since reconstruction operations were begun, the fans, with the help of the weather, added a new means of showing their displeasure. They revealed it in the season's final game- which the Giants were losing to the Cowboys, 28-10, when the Cowboys were having a bad day. The loyal fans utilized the snow that had recently fallen to pack into missiles and hurl at the bench. It was a particularly silly business because the fans obviously had been duped by the Giants' amazing start.
New York scored 154 points in its first four games, and even its ever determined but inadequate defense could not give up more. The Giants won all four games. After beating Pittsburgh, 34-20, they met the almost totally inept Eagles, who were without regular quarterback Norm Snead, and had a difficult time. Halfback Randy Minniear scored first for New York on a two-yard run. Alvin Hammond promptly returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards, but the Giants blocked the PAT attempt. Then fullback Izzy Lang caught one of the four passes the Eagles completed this afternoon and went 23 yards for a touchdown. Again the Giants blocked the kick. But they couldn't move the ball on offense once more, so free safety Spider Lockhart grabbed a John Huarte pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown. The Giants made their PAT and then kicked a field goal to take a 17-12 lead. Tom Woodeshick popped up the middle and went 54 yards to score. By this time the Giants had had so much practice blocking kicks that they got in front of another one. But the Eagles' 19-17 lead was short-lived. Pete Gogolak kicked a 20-yard field goal, Fran Tarkenton passed 12 yards to Joe Morrison for a touchdown and rookie halfback Bobby Duhon drove one yard for a touchdown. The final score was New York 38, Philadelphia 25.
In the first home game of the season, the Giants treated the fans to a 48-21 mauling of the Redskins. Lockhart ran back another interception, this one 47 yards for a touchdown, but by then the game was won. Tarkenton and speedy split end Homer Jones did most of the damage, combining for scoring passes that covered 82 and 56 yards. 'Jones worked the game better than any I can recall,' Tarkenton said afterward. 'If he hadn't caught a pass, he would have been outstanding because of the way he ran his pass routes. When we hit Bobby Duhon for that long one, Homer took the defenders away from Duhon.'
At home against New Orleans the following week, the Giants- except for Fran Tarkenton who threw three touchdown passes and called a fine ball-control game in the second half when the Saints were pushing to catch up- were not really sharp. Sherman did put in a new play that resulted in two scoring passes to his fullbacks, first Ernie Koy then Tucker Frederickson. The fullback sets to block the linebacker, but fakes the block and swings out of the backfield. The quarterback fakes an inside handoff to the halfback, then hits the fullback with the pass.
Through all four of these victories, however, the Giant defense was scratching and clawing and praying a lot. Opponents were gathering huge chunks of yardage but their own mistakes, such as fumbles and interceptions, were keeping them from scoring as often as the opportunities to do so presented themselves. And, of course, Tarkenton and the rest of the offense did a nice job of keeping the ball away from opponents, too.
But in game five, which figured to be an easy one, against Atlanta, the Giants were upset, 24-21. Perhaps they went to the game thinking too much about their 4-0 record and the Falcons' 0-4 mark. Yet they should have won anyway. Tarkenton completed 14 of 22 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jones and one to the finally-healthy Aaron Thomas. Tarkenton gave up one interception, though, and that ended a potential Giant victory drive. With six minutes to play, Atlanta went ahead, 24-21. Fran took over at his own ten-yard line and in 11 plays, in which he carefully mixed passes and runs, he moved to the team to Atlanta's two-yard line. There was a minute and a half on the clock when Tarkenton called the next play. It was one that had worked for a touchdown earlier, tight end Thomas cutting into the end zone behind Jones' clearout pass pattern. This time cornerback Lee Calland let Jones go and picked up Thomas. It's a shame. Tarkenton didn't see Jones behind him ... but then Fran, running in the opposite direction, didn't even see Calland. Tarkenton threw back across his body to the opposite side of the field and suddenly there was Calland with the intercept.
From that game on, the Giants played about as they realistically had been expected to. They lost to San Francisco, 26-10, beat Washington, 13-10, lost to Baltimore, 26-0, shocked the world by upsetting the Cowboys, 27-21, snuck by the Eagles, 7-6, played an outstanding game in losing to the Rams, 24-21, were massacred by the Browns, 45-10, lost to the Cardinals, 28-21, and the Cowboys, 28-10.
They finished with a 7-7 record in the Capital Division; the same record they'd compiled in '67 in the Century Division. But there was no question about the fact that the '68 Giants were a much better team. Not only did they have Pete Gogolak back from Army duty, they acquired five players who helped them tremendously and two others who promise to in the future. The immediate gains were strongside safety Bruce Maher, traded from the Lions; offensive tackle Steve Wright and linebacker Tommy Crutcher, both traded from the Packers; offensive halfback Bobby Duhon and middle linebacker Henry Davis, both picked up in the draft. Reserve offensive tackle Rich Buzin and reserve defensive end McKinley Boston looked like they could develop into solid pros.
Maher, one of the toughest, most underrated players in the league, really turned the secondary into a cohesive unit. Lockhart is an excellent free safety (as his eight interceptions last year would indicate) and Scott Eaton and Willie Williams are both very capable man-per-man coverers at the corners- when the quarterback doesn't have ten seconds to pass. Davis moved into the middle early when Vince Costello got hurt. He made a lot of rookie mistakes, but Henry is one of the fastest big men in the game and he may well become the first great black middle linebacker in football. Crutcher is a fine outside linebacker, as is his opposite number, Ken Avery, on occasion. Avery's trouble is inconsistency, but he too is young.
Unfortunately, the Giant front four was a travesty. Only tackle Bob Lurtsema showed any pass rush. He could be a very good one with capable players on his flanks. The Giants hope they have just the support he- and the team- desperately needs in their first two draft choices. Both are very large, very quick defensive ends. Fred Dryer, 6' 6", 235 pounds was the first choice out of San Diego State; Vernon Vanoy, 6' 7 1/2", 260, was drafted second out of Kansas.
Two other draft choices who could help on either offense or defense this year are flanker-defensive backs Rich Houston (No. 3 choice) of East Texas State and Al Brenner of Michigan State. But the Giant offense appears to be in pretty good shape if the running backs stay healthy for a change and if Freeman White can make the switch from defensive back to tight end, his original position in college a few years ago. This will allow Aaron Thomas to move his speed out to the flank where he'll be more effective. But whether the changes will satisfy all the Yankee Stadium singers is something else again."

-Berry Stainback, Pro Football Forecast for 1969


"STATISTICS DON'T TELL ALL" - ALLIE SHERMAN
"Although the Giants' 7-7 finish in 1968 did not represent a statistical advance over the previous year's performance (also 7-7), Head Coach Allie Sherman nevertheless detected a marked improvement in the 'maturing and development' of the ball club. 'To our minds,' says Sherman, 'statistical records do not always measure the character of a football team. This is something that must be sensed by those close to the scene.'
In short, despite playing only .500 ball and despite a rather disappointing second half of the season, Sherman feels there was progress made in 1968 and, further, he is cautiously optimistic that additional progress will be made in the forthcoming campaign. 'This is a relatively young team,' explains Allie, 'but is reaching the point in experience and savvy where it should start to establish itself. How far this program will take us in 1969, I can't say. But I do believe we will have a representative team.'
The Giants of last season, Sherman feels, developed a consistency on offense, and ability to score points and stay in every ball game. 'Our offensive line was our most consistent unit,' he says. 'It held up week after week, and fellows like Steve Wright, Pete Case, Willie Young, Greg Larson, Darrell Dess and Charlie Harper did a tremendous job.' Based on this observation, the offensive line does not appear to be a problem for 1969. The same cannot be said of the defensive front four. 'This may be the key to our entire season,' stated Allie. 'We had the worst pass rush in the league last year and we must improve it to be in contention.'
The addition of two highly regarded rookies, Fred Dryer of San Diego State, at 6-6 and 240, and Vernon Vanoy of Kansas, at 6-8 and 275 may help. But most of the pressure will fall on the returning veterans- fellows like captain Jim Katcavage and Bruce Anderson, the ends last year, and tackles Roger Anderson, Bob Lurtsema and Sam Silas. Jim Moran, returning from a year's layoff, could also be a factor.
The absence of a decent pass rush affected the rest of the defense in 1968 but Sherman feels that the linebacking was 'improved, thanks to Tommy Joe Crutcher and rookie Henry Davis,' and that the secondary was 'sounder than any time in the last three years.'
Willie Williams, who led the league with 10 interceptions, and Scott Eaton give New York speed and experience at the corners, while Bruce Maher and Spider Lockhart appear to be fixtures at safety. Maher, obtained from Detroit prior to the 1968 campaign, set a fiery example that gave his young secondary confederates new pride and desire. 'He had a wonderful effect on our ball club,' reflects Sherman. Freeman White, a spare safety last year, will be moved to tight end in 1969 but second-year man Jimmy Holifield is expected to take up the slack in White's place. Then, too, there is Al Brenner, a rookie from Michigan State with very impressive defensive credentials.
Sherman expects Crutcher (who had a painful groin injury most of last year) to be even more effective at outside linebacker this season, and the coach also looks for 'continued improvement' from Davis, who stood up well to the pressure of playing middle linebacker on a full-time basis as a rookie. Three outstanding college linebackers were drafted to help strengthen this position in 1969- Ray Hickl, Texas A & I; Byron Jones, West Texas State, and Ken Riley, Arlington State.
Offensively, as was pointed out, Sherman considers his a solid, dependable unit capable of operating effectively against the best defensive units in the NFL. Dess, at 33 and with 11 seasons behind him, is at a critical stage but he had a good year in 1968 and Sherman expects him to start again. Case, Larson and Young are all in their prime, as is back-up man Charlie Harper.
The emergence of rookie Bobby Duhon as a consistent and versatile performer brightens the Giants' backfield picture. Duhon, a reformed quarterback from Tulane, gained 362 yards rushing, 373 on pass receptions, 246 yards on kick returns (for a total of 981) and scored four touchdowns. Along with second-year man Duhon, Sherman is counting on Ernie Koy, Tucker Frederickson and Ronnie Blye to shoulder the ball carrying burden this season. Frederickson, coming back from his second major knee operation, got through the 1968 campaign unscathed and led the club in rushing with 486 yards on 142 tries for a 3.4 average. Koy was runnerup with 394 yards on 89 carries for a sparkling 4.4 average.
Blye remains the question mark at this point. Possessed with blinding speed and great natural running instincts, the ex-Notre Damer showed flashes of genuine brilliance last year- only to be slowed down by injuries and other minor mishaps. He gained 243 yards on 53 tries for a 4.6 average but the jury is still out as to whether he can be a week-in-week-out consistent running back. 'If Blye can develop that consistency,' observes Allie, 'he could be just what our attack needs- a big, fast outside runner who can turn a five-yard gain into a long touchdown. But we'll have to wait and see.'
Among the rookie draft picks, the runners with the greatest potential would seem to be George Irby, a mammoth 6-4 225-pounder from Tuskegee; John Fuqua, a 200-pound speedster from Morgan State, and Harry Blackney, 6-1 225-pounder with extensive experience in the Continental League.
The shift of Freeman White from safety to tight end gives Sherman the chance to make other moves in his receiving corps. One, for instance, could put Aaron Thomas, the incumbent tight end, at flanker with Joe Morrison, adding more speed to that position. No speed is required on the opposite side, where Homer Jones (45 for 1,057 yards, seven touchdowns and a league-leading per catch average of 23.5 yards) holds forth. Actually, the tight end position may be slightly crowded this '69 season. In addition to White and Thomas, Butch Wilson is also in the running there. Bob Crespino has retired.
The quarterback situation is what it was last year; Fran Tarkenton is the No. 1 man with Gary Wood as the first replacement and Gary Lane, the ex-Cleveland Brown, in the No. 3 spot. No quarterbacks were selected in the college draft. Tarkenton was fifth among NFL passers last season with 182 completions in 337 attempts for 2,555 yards, 21 touchdowns and a 54.0 completion percentage. A shoulder injury kept Fran below par for three games in mid-season and the Giants dropped two of those starts.
There should be better depth at certain key positions thanks to the rapid development of several young players last season. Joe Koontz, a talented receiver, can back up either Jones or Thomas. Rich Buzin, the No. 1 draft choice for 1968, is a promising offensive tackle and Doug Van Horn looked impressive in his few appearances at guard last year. On defense, McKinley Boston can be used at either end position.
Pete Gogolak, the leading scorer with 78 points last year, will again handle the place-kicking chores. The punting, which slipped badly because of Koy's 37.5 average, may get a left via the presence of No. 14 draft choice Steve Smith from Weber State, who averaged 44.2 yards as a junior and who, by the way, is said to have a field goal range of 45 yards.
There have been two changes in New York's coaching staff. Norb Hecker, former head coach at Atlanta and onetime aide to Vince Lombardi at Green Bay, is now defensive coach, replacing Swede Svare. Jim Trimble moves from offense to defense to handle the defensive line with Rosey Brown in charge of the offensive line."

-Sports Quarterly Presents The Pros Football 1969

THE INJURY REPORT
"All things considered, the Giants were not hard hit by injuries to key personnel in 1968- at least as hard hit as in the two previous seasons. Running back Randy Minniear missed most of the campaign with a jaw and cheekbone fracture, defensive back Dave Hathcock was sidelined with a knee injury sustained in training camp, and defensive tackle Jim Moran, who broke his leg in 1967, never was able to work back into shape in time for 1968. All three players are expected to be 100 per cent this time around.
Offensive tackle Steve Wright, who missed the last few games of '68 with a serious hamstring injury, is also completely healed. Three regulars underwent post-season surgery- all of it minor. Ernie Koy had a sac taken off his knee, guard Darrell Dess had bone chips removed from his knee, and defensive back Willie Williams, the NFL's leading pass interceptor, had a hernia operation."

-Sports Quarterly Presents The Pros Football 1969


1969 Giants Preseason Roster
79 Bruce Anderson (DE) Willamette
73 Roger Anderson (DT) Virginia Union
54 Ken Avery (LB) Southern Mississippi
Byron Bigbie (G) Oklahoma
* Harry Blackney (RB) Maryland
22 Ron Blye (RB) Notre Dame
82 McKinley Boston (DE) Minnesota
* Al Brenner (DB) Michigan State
83 Barry Brown (LB) Florida
77 Rich Buzin (T) Penn State
65 Pete Case (G) Georgia
58 Mike Ciccolella (LB) Dayton
* John Crenshaw (T) Shaw
89 Bob Crespino (E) Mississippi
56 Tommy Crutcher (LB) TCU
66 Henry Davis (DE) Grambling
62 Darrell Dess (G) North Carolina State
* Fred Dryer (DE) San Diego State
28 Bob Duhon (RB) Tulane
20 Scott Eaton (DB) Oregon State
Pete Emilianchick (TE) Richmond
Bob Fiorini (LB) Indiana
24 Tucker Frederickson (RB) Auburn
* John Fuqua (RB) Morgan State
Dennis Furjanic (DE) Houston
* Lou Galiardi (DT) Dayton
Charles Glenn (T) Auburn
  3 Pete Goglolak (K) Cornell
64 Andy Gross (G) Auburn
61 Charlie Harper (T) Oklahoma State
46 Dave Hathcock (DB) Memphis State
* Don Herrmann (FL) Waynesburg
* Ray Hickl (LB) Texas A & I
59 Chuck Hinton (C) Mississippi
49 Jim Holifield (DB) Jackson State
* Rich Houston (E) East Texas State
* George Irby (RB) Tuskegee
30  Allen Jacobs (RB) Utah
* Byron Jones (LB) East Texas State
45 Homer Jones (E) Texas Southern
75 Jim Katcavage (DE) Dayton
47 Joe Koontz (E) San Francisco State
23 Ernie Koy (RB) Texas
18 Gary Lane (QB) Missouri
53 Greg Larson (C) Minnesota
Jim LeClair (QB) Notre Dame
John Lium (C) Notre Dame
43 Carl Lockhart (DB) North Texas State
Tom Longo (DB) Notre Dame
Bullie Lonzo (DB) Tuskegee
71 Bob Lurtsema (DT) Western Michigan
21 Bruce Maher (DB) Detroit
Tim McCann (DT) Princeton
27 Randy Minniear (HB) Purdue
74 Jim Moran (DT) Idaho
40 Joe Morrison (E) Cincinnati
* Ken Parker (DB) Fordham
* Randy Payne (FL) Indiana State
* Dick Perrin (DB) Bowling Green
* Ken Riley (LB) Arlington State
Dick Sandler (LB) Princeton
Sam Shivers (LB) Alcorn A & M
72 Sam Silas (DT) Southern Illinois
* Steve Smith (K) Weber State
Larry Souchy (DB) Mississippi College
10 Fran Tarkenton (QB) Georgia
88 Aaron Thomas (E) Oregon State
63 Doug Van Horn (G) Ohio State
* Vern Vanoy (DE) Kansas
81 Freeman White (DB) Nebraska
41 Willie Williams (DB) Grambling
86 Butch Wilson (E) Alabama
19 Gary Wood (QB) Cornell
78 Steve Wright (T) Alabama
69 Willie Young (T) Grambling

* rookie

-Pro Football 1969


1969 Giants Preseason Depth Charts
Offense
QB - Fran Tarkenton (Georgia) 10, Gary Wood (Cornell) 19, Gary Lane (Missouri) 18
HB - Bob Duhon (Tulane) 28, Randy Minniear (Purdue) 27, Ron Blye (Notre Dame) 22, John Fuqua (Morgan State)*   
FB - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23, Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24, Allen Jacobs (Utah) 30
SE - Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45, Rich Houston (East Texas State)*
T - Willie Young (Grambling) 69, John Crenshaw (Shaw)*
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65, Andy Gross (Auburn) 64
C - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53, Chuck Hinton (Mississippi) 59
G - Darrell Dess (North Carolina State) 62, Charlie Harper (Oklahoma State) 61, Doug Van Horn (Ohio State) 63
T - Steve Wright (Alabama) 78, Richard Buzin (Penn State) 77
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88, Butch Wilson (Alabama) 86, Freeman White (Nebraska) 81
FL - Joe Morrison (Cinncinati) 40, Gent, Joe Koontz (San Francisco State) 47, Randy Payne (Indiana State)*

Defense
DE - Jim Katcavage (Dayton) 75, Fred Dryer (San Diego State)*, McKinley Boston (Minnesota) 82   
DT - Sam Silas (Southern Illinois) 72, Roger Anderson (Virginia Union) 73
DT - Bob Lurstema (Western Michigan) 71, Lou Galiardi (Dayton)* 
DE - Miller, Bruce Anderson (Willamette) 79, Chatman*
LB - Ken Avery (Southern Mississippi) 54, Ken Riley (Arlington State)*, Ralph Heck (Colorado) 55
MLB - Henry Davis (Grambling) 66, Mike Ciccolella (Dayton) 58
LB - Tommy Crutcher (TCU) 56, Ray Hickl (Texas A & I)*
CB - Scott Eaton (Oregon State) 20, Jim Holifield (Jackson State) 49
S - Bruce Maher (Detroit) 21, Al Brenner (Michigan State)*
S - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43, Dave Hathcock (Memphis) 46
CB - Willie Williams (Grambling) 41, Ken Parker (Fordham)*

*rookie

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969

Offense
QB - Fran Tarkenton (Georgia) 10, Gary Wood (Cornell) 19, Gary Lane (Missouri) 18
HB - Bob Duhon (Tulane) 28, Ron Blye (Notre Dame) 22, Randy Minniear (Purdue) 27, John Fuqua (Morgan State)*
FB - Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24, Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
SE - Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45, Rich Houston (East Texas State)*
T - Willie Young (Grambling) 69, Rich Buzin (Penn State) 77
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65
C - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53, Chuck Hinton (Mississippi) 59
G - Darrell Dess (North Carolina State) 62, Doug Van Horn (Ohio State) 63
T - Steve Wright (Alabama) 78, Charlie Harper (Oklahoma State) 61
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88, Freeman White (Nebraska) 81, Butch Wilson (Alabama) 86
FL - Joe Morrison (Cincinnati) 40

Defense
DE - Bruce Anderson (Willamette) 79, McKinley Boston (Minnesota) 82
DT - Bob Lurtsema  (Western Michigan) 71, Jim Moran (Idaho) 74 
DT - Vern Vanoy (Kansas)*, Joe Szczecko (Northwestern) 76
DE - Fred Dryer (San Diego State)*
LB - Ralph Heck (Colorado) 55, Ken Avery (Southern Mississippi) 54
MLB - Henry Davis (Grambling) 66, Mike Ciccolella (Dayton) 58
LB - Tommy Crutcher (Texas Christian) 56, Ray Hickl (Texas A & I)*
CB - Scott Eaton (Oregon State) 20, Jim Holifield (Jackson State) 49
SS - Bruce Maher (Detroit Mercy) 21, Al Brenner (Michigan State)*
FS - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43, Dave Hathcock (Memphis) 46
CB - Willie Williams (Grambling) 41

K - Pete Gogolak (Cornell) 3
P - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23, Steve Smith (Weber State)*
KR - Randy Minniear (Purdue) 27, John Fuqua (Morgan State)*
PR - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43

*rookie


1969 New York Giants Profile Summary
Head Coach - Allie Sherman

QB - Fran Tarkenton (Georgia) 10
QB - Gary Wood (Cornell) 19
QB - Milt Plum (Penn State) 16
HB - Bobby Duhon (Tulane) 28
HB - Junior Coffey (Washington) 34
FB - Tucker Frederickson (Auburn) 24
FB - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
FL - Joe Morrison (Cincinnati) 40
SE -  Homer Jones (Texas Southern) 45
TE - Aaron Thomas (Oregon State) 88
C - Greg Larson (Minnesota) 53
G - Pete Case (Georgia) 65
G - Darrell Dess (North Carolina State) 62
T -  Willie Young (Grambling) 69
T - Charlie Harper (Oklahoma State) 61

DT -  Bob Lurtsema  (Western Michigan) 71
DT - Frank Parker (Jackson State) 72
DE - Jim Katcavage (Dayton) 75
DE - Fred Dryer (San Diego State) 89
MLB - Ralph Heck (Colorado) 55
LB -  Tommy Crutcher (Texas Christian) 56
LB - Henry Davis (Grambling) 66
CB  - Willie Williams (Grambling) 41
CB - Scott Eaton (Oregon State) 20
SS - Bruce Maher (Detroit Mercy) 21
FS - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43

K - Pete Gogolak (Cornell) 3
P - Ernie Koy (Texas) 23
P - Curley Johnson (Houston) 33
KR - Bobby Duhon (Tulane) 28
PR - Spider Lockhart (North Texas) 43