Fullback
No. 24
Auburn
"Tucker was the No. 1 draft selection in the NFL in 1965. As a rookie, he led the Giants in ball-carrying and tied for the team lead in scoring. Knee surgery kept Tucker inactive for the 1966 season."
-1968 Topps No. 135
Monday, October 6, 2014
1968 Profiles: Bob Lurstema and Sam Silas
BOB LURTSEMA
Defensive Tackle
No. 71
Western Michigan
"Off his work in the last six games of 1967, Bob Lurtsema won the coaching staff's praise as the Giants' best defensive lineman.
Bob is the hulking, blond 6-6, 250-pound tackle the Giants grabbed after the Colts were forced to cut him early last season. By his own admission, he was as confused in his first three games as a visitor caught in Times Square traffic. But he learned to read his guard after a while, and stopped going with a fake. He plugged up running plays to the inside and also learned to use his bull strength to break through to the passer.
The former Colt taxi-squader was originally signed as a free agent."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
SAM SILAS
Defensive Tackle
No. 72
Western Illinois
"A late-season surge in 1963 as a defensive replacement, fused in spirit and drive, could carry Sam Silas into a starting spot at tackle this year. Born in Homeland, Florida, the 23-year-old was just about to be dropped from the squad as a rookie when his new-found belligerence on special assignments made the coaches change their thinking.
A physical therapy graduate, Silas was a linebacker at Southern Illinois and wasn't too certain about whether he wanted to play as a pro. This attitude affected him last year before he decided to give the game a substantial attempt."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Opposing quarterbacks saw a lot of Sam Silas last season, when they went back to pass. In his three years in the league, he has developed into a top pass-rusher who really knows how to put pressure on the quarterback. Sam joined the Cardinals as a free agent when he came out of Southern Illinois University, and spent his rookie year as an understudy at defensive end. With the retirement of Don Owens, he took over as the regular left tackle, where he seems better suited.
He's a rugged 6-4, 250-pounder, and during the off-season is working on an advanced degree in physical therapy. He's picking up points massaging those enemy passers."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Sam came to the Cardinals as a free agent in 1963. He moved into a starting role the next season and hasn't been moved out.
He is a great pass rusher with fine tackling ability. He is also young and continued development is expected of him."
-1966 Philadelphia No. 166
Defensive Tackle
No. 71
Western Michigan
"Off his work in the last six games of 1967, Bob Lurtsema won the coaching staff's praise as the Giants' best defensive lineman.
Bob is the hulking, blond 6-6, 250-pound tackle the Giants grabbed after the Colts were forced to cut him early last season. By his own admission, he was as confused in his first three games as a visitor caught in Times Square traffic. But he learned to read his guard after a while, and stopped going with a fake. He plugged up running plays to the inside and also learned to use his bull strength to break through to the passer.
The former Colt taxi-squader was originally signed as a free agent."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
SAM SILAS
Defensive Tackle
No. 72
Western Illinois
"A late-season surge in 1963 as a defensive replacement, fused in spirit and drive, could carry Sam Silas into a starting spot at tackle this year. Born in Homeland, Florida, the 23-year-old was just about to be dropped from the squad as a rookie when his new-found belligerence on special assignments made the coaches change their thinking.
A physical therapy graduate, Silas was a linebacker at Southern Illinois and wasn't too certain about whether he wanted to play as a pro. This attitude affected him last year before he decided to give the game a substantial attempt."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Opposing quarterbacks saw a lot of Sam Silas last season, when they went back to pass. In his three years in the league, he has developed into a top pass-rusher who really knows how to put pressure on the quarterback. Sam joined the Cardinals as a free agent when he came out of Southern Illinois University, and spent his rookie year as an understudy at defensive end. With the retirement of Don Owens, he took over as the regular left tackle, where he seems better suited.
He's a rugged 6-4, 250-pounder, and during the off-season is working on an advanced degree in physical therapy. He's picking up points massaging those enemy passers."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Sam came to the Cardinals as a free agent in 1963. He moved into a starting role the next season and hasn't been moved out.
He is a great pass rusher with fine tackling ability. He is also young and continued development is expected of him."
-1966 Philadelphia No. 166
Saturday, October 4, 2014
1968 Giants Offensive Line Profiles
GREG LARSON
Center
No. 53
Minnesota
Greg played in all 14 games in 1967 after having been named first-team All-Conference by The Sporting News in 1966. Swift to pivot after the snap, he's a sure-shot blocker with a tremendous second effort.
DARRELL DESS
Guard
No. 62
North Carolina State
"One of Allie Sherman's chief reclamation projects last year was Darrell Dess. Traded away in 1965 after six seasons as a starter with the Giants, he returned a year later to New York, where he had always been a big favorite among his teammates and with the fans.
But he was slow regaining his old form and became discouraged. Then last summer, he walked out of training camp. He returned a short while later, however, and reached a new understanding with the coaches. Then he proceeded to win the starting job at right guard (he had always played the left side previously), and he was solid as a rock all year. He led the interference on runs to the strong side, and he provided solid protection for Fran Tarkenton.
Now in his eleventh NFL season, he played college ball at North Carolina State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
PETE CASE
Guard
No. 65
Georgia
Pete started 12 of the 14 games in which he appeared. He's one of the most effective minesweepers when he has to pull out to lead a sweep, and just as good on pass protection.
At Georgia, Pete was all-Southeastern Conference as a sophomore and team captain as a senior.
WILLIE YOUNG
Offensive Tackle
No. 69
Grambling
Starting all 14 games last year, Willie provided quarterback Fran Tarkenton with playbook-perfect pass protection. On running plays, he can deliver bell-ringing blocks to send New York backs down the field with the ball.
Overlooked in the draft, he was signed as a free agent on the recommendation of Grambling coach Eddie Robinson.
STEVE WRIGHT
Offensive Tackle
No. 78
Alabama
Steve comes to the Giants after playing all 14 games for Green Bay in each of the last four seasons. He was one of the starting tackles in the Packers' championship-winning season of 1965. Last year, he was sixth in the league with three fumble recoveries.
Center
No. 53
Minnesota
Greg played in all 14 games in 1967 after having been named first-team All-Conference by The Sporting News in 1966. Swift to pivot after the snap, he's a sure-shot blocker with a tremendous second effort.
DARRELL DESS
Guard
No. 62
North Carolina State
"One of Allie Sherman's chief reclamation projects last year was Darrell Dess. Traded away in 1965 after six seasons as a starter with the Giants, he returned a year later to New York, where he had always been a big favorite among his teammates and with the fans.
But he was slow regaining his old form and became discouraged. Then last summer, he walked out of training camp. He returned a short while later, however, and reached a new understanding with the coaches. Then he proceeded to win the starting job at right guard (he had always played the left side previously), and he was solid as a rock all year. He led the interference on runs to the strong side, and he provided solid protection for Fran Tarkenton.
Now in his eleventh NFL season, he played college ball at North Carolina State."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
PETE CASE
Guard
No. 65
Georgia
Pete started 12 of the 14 games in which he appeared. He's one of the most effective minesweepers when he has to pull out to lead a sweep, and just as good on pass protection.
At Georgia, Pete was all-Southeastern Conference as a sophomore and team captain as a senior.
WILLIE YOUNG
Offensive Tackle
No. 69
Grambling
Starting all 14 games last year, Willie provided quarterback Fran Tarkenton with playbook-perfect pass protection. On running plays, he can deliver bell-ringing blocks to send New York backs down the field with the ball.
Overlooked in the draft, he was signed as a free agent on the recommendation of Grambling coach Eddie Robinson.
STEVE WRIGHT
Offensive Tackle
No. 78
Alabama
Steve comes to the Giants after playing all 14 games for Green Bay in each of the last four seasons. He was one of the starting tackles in the Packers' championship-winning season of 1965. Last year, he was sixth in the league with three fumble recoveries.
Friday, October 3, 2014
1968 Profile: Pete Gogolak
Place Kicker
No. 3
Cornell
Although limited to nine games by military service in 1967, Pete continued to give the Giants their best field goal kicking since the days of Pat Summerall. And on kickoffs, this hotel management major from Cornell has been known to lodge opposing offenses in inhospitable field position.
Last October 29 against the Browns at Yankee Stadium, Pete's 47-yard field goal in the 4th quarter helped secure a 38-34 Giant victory.
No. 3
Cornell
Although limited to nine games by military service in 1967, Pete continued to give the Giants their best field goal kicking since the days of Pat Summerall. And on kickoffs, this hotel management major from Cornell has been known to lodge opposing offenses in inhospitable field position.
Last October 29 against the Browns at Yankee Stadium, Pete's 47-yard field goal in the 4th quarter helped secure a 38-34 Giant victory.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
1968 Profile: Aaron Thomas
Tight End
No. 88
Oregon State
"On a team boasting Homer Jones at split end, you would expect him to lead in receptions, right? Wrong. The Giants' top pass catcher last season was Aaron Thomas, their perennial old reliable at tight end. Aaron finished 11th among NFL receivers in 1967, snaring 51 passes for 877 yards and nine touchdowns.
He's more versatile than most tight ends; he is solid enough to block on running plays, and he has the speed of a wide receiver. There are few ends around who run better down-and-in patterns.
This is Aaron's eighth pro year since starting out with the 49ers in 1961."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"Last year, Aaron topped the Giants in pass receptions. This tight end was originally drafted by the 49ers and acquired by New York via a 1962 trade.
Aaron earned three letters as a senior at Oregon State."
-1968 Topps No. 109
No. 88
Oregon State
"On a team boasting Homer Jones at split end, you would expect him to lead in receptions, right? Wrong. The Giants' top pass catcher last season was Aaron Thomas, their perennial old reliable at tight end. Aaron finished 11th among NFL receivers in 1967, snaring 51 passes for 877 yards and nine touchdowns.
He's more versatile than most tight ends; he is solid enough to block on running plays, and he has the speed of a wide receiver. There are few ends around who run better down-and-in patterns.
This is Aaron's eighth pro year since starting out with the 49ers in 1961."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"Last year, Aaron topped the Giants in pass receptions. This tight end was originally drafted by the 49ers and acquired by New York via a 1962 trade.
Aaron earned three letters as a senior at Oregon State."
-1968 Topps No. 109
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
1968 Giants Defensive Back Profiles
HENRY CARR
Cornerback
No. 28
Arizona State
"One of the fastest men in pro football, Henry helped his Olympic team to two Gold medals in 1960. He averaged eight yards per carry in college as a running back. Henry set an NFL mark by running back an interception 101 yards."
-1968 Topps No. 57
WILLIE WILLIAMS
Cornerback
No. 41
Grambling
Since being drafted in 1965 along with fellow Giant defensive back Spider Lockhart, Willie has succeeded with a lot of hustle, his great speed and his whiplash tackling. His quick and elusive moves make him a tough man to pin down.
SPIDER LOCKHART
Safety-Punt Returner
No. 43
North Texas State
"The free-wheeling style of Spider Lockhart prompted the Giants to switch him from cornerback to free safety last year, and it could make a star out of him. Spider has all the assets a good safetyman needs - he has quick reactions and sure hands, is an aggressive and deadly tackler and he possesses gambler's blood. In three seasons as a pro, he's learned how to read upcoming plays.
Last year, despite an ankle injury and a brief move back to cornerback, he came up with five interceptions, giving him a career total of 15.
A spindly looking 6-1, 175-pounder, he played flanker and defensive halfback at North Texas State, and was signed by the Giants on the recommendation of former assistant coach Pop Ivy."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"Spider led the Giants in interceptions last season. This hard-hitting defensive back has been used as a reserve punter when needed."
-1968 Topps No. 83
BRUCE MAHER
Safety
No. 21
Detroit
"Bruce Maher worked his way up through special teams to his current celebrity as the Lions' ace safetyman and the club's MVP in 1965. It was only his second year as a regular in the secondary, but Bruce got there on a lot of hustle, his great speed and his whiplash tackling. The 5-11, 195-pound University of Detroit graduate came up with four interceptions last year, to give him a six-season total of nine.
In college, he deliberated between a career in pro football or in baseball with the Detroit Tigers."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
Cornerback
No. 28
Arizona State
"One of the fastest men in pro football, Henry helped his Olympic team to two Gold medals in 1960. He averaged eight yards per carry in college as a running back. Henry set an NFL mark by running back an interception 101 yards."
-1968 Topps No. 57
WILLIE WILLIAMS
Cornerback
No. 41
Grambling
Since being drafted in 1965 along with fellow Giant defensive back Spider Lockhart, Willie has succeeded with a lot of hustle, his great speed and his whiplash tackling. His quick and elusive moves make him a tough man to pin down.
SPIDER LOCKHART
Safety-Punt Returner
No. 43
North Texas State
"The free-wheeling style of Spider Lockhart prompted the Giants to switch him from cornerback to free safety last year, and it could make a star out of him. Spider has all the assets a good safetyman needs - he has quick reactions and sure hands, is an aggressive and deadly tackler and he possesses gambler's blood. In three seasons as a pro, he's learned how to read upcoming plays.
Last year, despite an ankle injury and a brief move back to cornerback, he came up with five interceptions, giving him a career total of 15.
A spindly looking 6-1, 175-pounder, he played flanker and defensive halfback at North Texas State, and was signed by the Giants on the recommendation of former assistant coach Pop Ivy."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"Spider led the Giants in interceptions last season. This hard-hitting defensive back has been used as a reserve punter when needed."
-1968 Topps No. 83
BRUCE MAHER
Safety
No. 21
Detroit
"Bruce Maher worked his way up through special teams to his current celebrity as the Lions' ace safetyman and the club's MVP in 1965. It was only his second year as a regular in the secondary, but Bruce got there on a lot of hustle, his great speed and his whiplash tackling. The 5-11, 195-pound University of Detroit graduate came up with four interceptions last year, to give him a six-season total of nine.
In college, he deliberated between a career in pro football or in baseball with the Detroit Tigers."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
Monday, September 29, 2014
1968 Giants Linebacker Profiles
VINCE COSTELLO
Middle Linebacker
No. 57
Ohio
"Giant fans, who hadn't been treated to quality middle linebacking since Sam Huff left New York, got a treat last year when Vince Costello joined the club after a successful career with the Browns. Though at 36 he's reaching the twilight stage, Vince still the fire and savvy that made him one of the best in trade.
There were times last season when he got in the way of enemy passes so instinctively that one supposed he was tuned in on the other team's huddle; he directed the Giant defense shrewdly and proved to be the perfect catalyst in pulling together a youthful and relatively inexperienced unit. And he came up with four interceptions.
Vince broke in with the Browns as an unheralded free agent from Ohio University in 1956, and starred at middle linebacker for next decade.
Maybe he'll need a little rest this year, but with his old pro's brain, he knows how to save a few steps by now."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
TOMMY CRUTCHER
Linebacker
No.56
Texas Christian
"This will introduce you to Tommy Crutcher, who looks and plays just as tough as his name sounds. Not that Tommy is entirely a stranger to football fans in general and Giant fans in particular. They've all seen enough of him as a member of the Packer suicide squads in recent seasons, usually because he was the first man to get to the ball carrier and cream him.
As the Packers' No. 4 linebacker, he saw occasional duty backing up Lee Roy Caffey, and veteran observers confess they didn't know when a substitution had been made until they saw Tommy's number - that's how close in talent he's rated to Caffey. Now the Giants have him, the prize in an off-season trade that sent offensive tackle Francis Peay to Green Bay.
A bruising 6-3, 230-pounder, Tommy played his college ball at TCU and has been in the league five years."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
KEN AVERY
Linebacker
No. 54
Southern Mississippi
"You can spot it real early with some players, and sometimes you can be fooled by what you see. But the Giants believe that Ken Avery is the real thing and that he won't disillusion them about his prospects of developing into an outstanding linebacker.
At an even six feet and 220 pounds, he is not as big as most linebackers, but he is muscular, combative, and eager. Sometimes too eager. Which is why he got fooled a couple of times last year. But the point is he learned.
Though he came to camp unheralded, he won a starting job. He immediately impressed everyone with his drops on pass coverage - vital for a linebacker - and also his strength against the running game. He not only isn't afraid to stick his nose in there, but he comes in there strong enough to bust up the interference line and then has the pursuit to finally get to the ball carrier.
The Giants drafted Ken as a future in 1966. A native New Yorker, he played his college ball at Southern Mississippi."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
Middle Linebacker
No. 57
Ohio
"Giant fans, who hadn't been treated to quality middle linebacking since Sam Huff left New York, got a treat last year when Vince Costello joined the club after a successful career with the Browns. Though at 36 he's reaching the twilight stage, Vince still the fire and savvy that made him one of the best in trade.
There were times last season when he got in the way of enemy passes so instinctively that one supposed he was tuned in on the other team's huddle; he directed the Giant defense shrewdly and proved to be the perfect catalyst in pulling together a youthful and relatively inexperienced unit. And he came up with four interceptions.
Vince broke in with the Browns as an unheralded free agent from Ohio University in 1956, and starred at middle linebacker for next decade.
Maybe he'll need a little rest this year, but with his old pro's brain, he knows how to save a few steps by now."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
TOMMY CRUTCHER
Linebacker
No.56
Texas Christian
"This will introduce you to Tommy Crutcher, who looks and plays just as tough as his name sounds. Not that Tommy is entirely a stranger to football fans in general and Giant fans in particular. They've all seen enough of him as a member of the Packer suicide squads in recent seasons, usually because he was the first man to get to the ball carrier and cream him.
As the Packers' No. 4 linebacker, he saw occasional duty backing up Lee Roy Caffey, and veteran observers confess they didn't know when a substitution had been made until they saw Tommy's number - that's how close in talent he's rated to Caffey. Now the Giants have him, the prize in an off-season trade that sent offensive tackle Francis Peay to Green Bay.
A bruising 6-3, 230-pounder, Tommy played his college ball at TCU and has been in the league five years."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
KEN AVERY
Linebacker
No. 54
Southern Mississippi
"You can spot it real early with some players, and sometimes you can be fooled by what you see. But the Giants believe that Ken Avery is the real thing and that he won't disillusion them about his prospects of developing into an outstanding linebacker.
At an even six feet and 220 pounds, he is not as big as most linebackers, but he is muscular, combative, and eager. Sometimes too eager. Which is why he got fooled a couple of times last year. But the point is he learned.
Though he came to camp unheralded, he won a starting job. He immediately impressed everyone with his drops on pass coverage - vital for a linebacker - and also his strength against the running game. He not only isn't afraid to stick his nose in there, but he comes in there strong enough to bust up the interference line and then has the pursuit to finally get to the ball carrier.
The Giants drafted Ken as a future in 1966. A native New Yorker, he played his college ball at Southern Mississippi."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
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