The star of the unit, Mark Gastineau, was a hard-charging, gregarious player who recorded a then-NFL-record 22 sacks in 1984. In 1986, the Giants, led by these defensive stars, went 14-2. ", His initials. On the football field, the defense of the Denver Broncos consumed quarterbacks and provided hope to a city long in the ranks of losing. During the 1978-79 season, Pittsburgh allowed the third-fewest points in NFL history, giving up only 195 in 16 games. The Bears defense was led by head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. For his ability to use the "force" to visualize himself making any catch. Coached by the stoic Bud Grant, the defenses of the Minnesota Vikings dominated football in the late 1960s and 1970s. During the 1960s the team was lead by Bob Lily and defensive back Herb Adderly, both of whom were named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade team. Baltimore Sun". A self-assigned nickname given during the December 18th, 2022 game between Lawrence's. 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Pruyne, National Football League Players Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NFL_nicknames&oldid=1142337263, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with dead external links from May 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2013, Pages using navbox columns without the first column, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, How he was as difficult to tackle as a freight train; "A" is a reference to his surname initial. Harvey Martin dominated offensive linemen and was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade team. They also know that the quarterback is the captain of the unit, the one who gets most of the credit for success and most of the blame for failure. 54: 1982 @Redskins, @SuperBowl XVII Champions #HTTR: #NFL100 Greatest Teams on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/pHZUq8wlc4. Given both because of his ability to break long runs and because it rhymes with his last name. A sham marriage and alleged theft threatened to break him again", "Joe Namath - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "CNNSI.com Pro Football Ex-Olympic star, Cowboy Bob Hayes dies Friday September 20, 2002 02:32 AM", "How Houston Oilers legend Bum Phillips really got his name", "Falcons miss RB Michael "The Burner" Turner in the red zone", "Butch & Sundance The Miami Dolphins' Jim Kiick And Larry Csonka Have Gone Separate Ways Since They Ambled Into Miami 21 Years Ago On Their Way To Forging One Of The Greatest Football Teams Ever", "Captain Checkdown Has A Sidekick In Spiller", "Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach & original Captain Comeback sees same genius in Eli Manning", "Elroy 'Crazy Legs' Hirsch dies at age 80", "Danny Dimes! The uniform was such a . The New York Mets franchise got off to an inauspicious start, finishing no better than ninth in the 10-team National League during their first seven seasons on play. A part-time job he once held delivering ice in his hometown of, His choice of footwear at a time when most players wore black cleats. Belichick's defensive game plan can be viewed in the Hall of Fame (along with his nearly identical one from Super Bowl XXXVI). Combined, Page, Eller and Marshall tallied an astounding 412.5 sacks during their careers. The Oreo : 2006/2007 Saints had an all black defensive line, all white linebacking core, and all black secondary. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Miami Dolphins running back duo from 1968 to 1974; named after. (NFL Films)FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/5OqpYmn5AjJET X: https://t.co/pqEImVyzzA pic.twitter.com/ujeR3vSvTm. Back when he was famous only for his football skills, O.J. The Flyers suffered a second-half collapse in the 1993-94 season and slow start in 1994-95, but once the high-scoring, physical forward line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg came together, Philadelphia took off. The Dallas Cowboys' defense earned its nickname as it keyed a run to five Super Bowls between 1971 and 1979 (including wins in 1972 and 1978). 1st Dragoon Guards. It has been used for Joe Flacco for his cool demeanor, especially during the postseason. Some nicknames captured their effectiveness. Others said it was just aggressive. Green Bay's offensive line finished sixth in our 2019 rankings, anchored by left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has taken over for Joe Thomas as the best pass-protecting tackle in the league. A reference to mobster. The Dolphin defense was the first to not allow their opposing offense to score in a Super Bowl. From his peculiar childhood habit of seasoning corn flakes with black pepper. The quartet, comprised of Rosey Grier, Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Merlin Olson, imposed their will on opposing offenses. Defensive coordinator Belichick limited the Bills high-flying attack by dropping seven and eight men in coverage. New York Jetsfront four, early 1980s; Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. Flame brain. Seven Blocks Of Granite Term associated with the powerful offensive line of 1936 Fordham Rams, anchored by the ferocious Vince Lombardi and coached by Jim Crowley. The Russian Jewish immigrant spent his childhood in Brooklyn, and also went by the anglicized name "Johnny Barsha.". In 1973, he broke the single-game rushing record and became the first player to total 2,000 yards in a season. It is the unique blend of humor, originality, and bravado found only in the NFL. Went on to lead Vikings to a win in Philadelphia, against Michael Vick and the Eagles playing a must-win game. As for Red Hogs, I guess this gets a mention because some believe. Because of his short legs, he appeared to waddle like a duck. Alaska: The Last Frontier. 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The biggest problem Pro Football Focus has with the Raiders is at center with Andre James, who is a complete unknown. 1 linebacker corps of all time, the New Orleans Saints "Dome Patrol" featured the only linebacker unit to have all four members elected to the same Pro Bowl. Sometimes tight ends will be referred to as offensive linemen, if they line up tight to the line of scrimmage. Today the name Purple People Eaters stirs a fond memory in the hearts and minds of many NFL fans. The Rams' vaunted defensive line, which consisted of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy, was once hailed by Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus as the greatest defensive line of all time. All great NFL defenses strike fear into the hearts of their offensive counterparts. Name bestowed after Moats laid a clean, but particularly devastating hit on, Carolina Panthers running back duo from 2008 to 2014, previously known as Smash and Dash, Hodges, in addition to his football playing, is a world-class champion, Allusion to an incident which allegedly occurred when he was in college as well as a take on one-time teammate Jerome Bettis' nickname, "The Bus", Play on his first name, Eli, and the word. Arkansas: The Natural State, Land of Opportunity . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By John . The Cowboys offensive line of Doug Free (68), Zack Martin (70), Ronald Leary (65), Travis Frederick (72) and Tyron Smith (77) was once the most dominating unit in the NFL. Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice coined the term in 1924 to describe the hard-running Notre Dame backfield of quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, fullback Elmer Layden and halfbacks Jim Crowley and Don Miller. That changed for awhile in the early 80s with the arrival of the New York Sack Exchange. The nickname was given by a Denver-area distributor of Orange Crush soda, and it helped propel the Broncos to national recognition. Visit Us 4201 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 glentunnel to christchurch FREE QUOTE. The '77 Cowboys defense also included the 6-foot-9 Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, who in 2019 declared Doomsday the greatest defensive unit of all time. korbell plus refill apotea; jake hess death; lithonia shop light model 1233 It's like planking, but dumber. It starts with C Barrett Jones. The Colts were our top-ranked offensive line last season, and they didn't disappoint. I'm almost positive that you're assigning them to the border and that although you create the offensive line you're not assigning any units to it. what is the bite force of a baboon. The No-Name Defense held opponents to 11 points per game during the season. He's your friend who's always busy on the phone. Joe Montana's ability to remain calm in pressure situations earned him the nickname. It was the beginning of a fad which lasts to this day. One of the many nicknames the left-handed quarterback acquired during his playing career; he was obese his entire adult life and weighed an average of 300 pounds during his playing career (he was approximately 400 pounds at the time of his premature death). It happened in Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts in which Howley intercepted two passes and forced a fumble (tackles were not yet recorded, but observers estimated Howley had 15 or more). It's pressure also contributed to three interceptions, as Pittsburgh won its second of four Super Bowls during the decade. The Chicago Bears are going to see some big changes on the offensive line this season. Lovingly called Spiderman, due to his last name. Doomsday indeed, if a losing player actually won MVP in a title game. All Rights Reserved. It symbolizes the first great era of Broncos football, an era that included the franchise's first trip to the Super Bowl. In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, the Dolphins, led by the "Killer B's" defense (Bob Baumhower, Bill Barnett, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, Glenn Blackwood, Charles Bowser, Doug Betters, and Bob Brudzinskisix of the team's eleven starters), held five of their nine opponents to 14 or fewer points en route to Miami's fourth Super Bowl appearance. That was probably true, as only one member of that defense -- linebacker Nick Buoniconti -- is in the Hall of Fame. crimecon 2022 speakers. Because of his powerback style of playcompared to a truck that ran on diesel. Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. After becoming a valuable part of the offensive line rotation in 2019, the LSU product appeared in 14 games with three starts. This nickname for the 1919 White Sox came from an incident that led to life-time bans for eight players and left a black mark on baseball. "C'mon, you mothers," Foreman told the group, "give us a yard.". Home/News/Sports/NFL News/ Ranking the greatest unit nicknames in NFL history: Steel Curtain, Doomsday, Orange Crush among all-time best. Left tackle Anthony Munoz is regarded by many as the best offensive lineman in the history of the sport, and right guard Max Montoya was a 4x Pro Bowler in the late 80's and was established as. As time evolved the Cowboys continued their defensive excellence and the Doomsday name continued to stick with them. His stunning plays combined with his number, 80, After the early 20th century multimedia hero, His style of diving into receivers and diving into pass paths for interception, and for Polamalu's Polynesian ancestry, A play off the nickname of William "The Refrigerator" Perry whom the, A reference to his last name and to the cartoon and movie. Olsen is flanked in Canton by Jones, who tallied 173.5 sacks during his legendary career. This group was exceptionally durable last season, with all five of them logging north of 1,1100 snaps worth of . #7. identifiedasbeingdisrespectful Jun 11, 2016 @ 9:56am. 2nd Armored Division, US Army: The 2nd Armored Division was active from 1940 to 1995 and was once commanded by Gen. Patton. His first initial and jersey number combined, also for his deep play ability. If excellence in defensive football is measured by preventing your opponent from scoring as many points as your team in a given game, then the 1972 Dolphins defense was the best ever. The original Doomsday Defense was led by cornerbacks Herb Adderley, Mel Renfro and linebackers Chuck Howley, Dave Edwards and Lee Roy Jordan. With running back Derrick Henry leading the . The Four Horsemen. For his defensive coordinator Bennett hired Jerry Glanville. This is a tribute to those aptly named units and the legacy their names provide to this day. c.1802. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Nickname given due to his long hair and thick beard resembling a common depiction of, Bestowed in 1980, well after his (very brief) NFL playing career ended, when Parcells was an assistant with the, Tupa took advantage of the legalization of the, Orton bore a resemblance to Uncle Rico, a washed-up former high school backup quarterback in the movie. The Giants cruised to Super Bowl XXI. The most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. Glanville installed a swarming, attacking, blitzing defense which came after the quarterback on every single play. USC rode its rowdy defense to the 1970 Rose Bowl victory. The Cowboys field the NFL's best offensive line when everyone is healthy, but Tyron Smith is all of a sudden back to dealing with nagging injuries. For his devastatingly big hitting ability. Ask, and ye shall receive (which is to say, 'NEVER ASK') Just like George Costanza in Seinfeld wanted to be called T-bone and ended up being named after a gorilla; the harder you fight a nickname, the more your buddies and pals will make you 'wear' it. They are remembered through the decades and recalled with fondness at their clever title, memorable players, and menacing presence. What's perhaps the most amazing thing about this offensive line is that Wolverines have utilized six different lineups because of injuries up front. The '72 Dolphins defense -- which boasted the league's top-ranked unit during the regular season -- did not allow a single point in Super Bowl VII. Outside of the team's home market LDT was, and is, sometimes used to differentiate the player from Lawrence Taylor (L.T. Ed "Too Tall" Jones gave the Cowboys a menacing front four. . At 69 and 290lb, Lipscomb, a professional wrestler during the offseason, was one of the largest players in professional football during the 1950s. The "Steel Curtain" nickname came from PIttsburgh radio station WTAE, which held a contest in 1971 to name the defense. As time evolved the Cowboys continued their defensive excellence and the Doomsday name continued to stick with them. Cowboy," making the All-Decade team for the 70s and eventually the Hall of Fame. Ranking the top 10 overall, and then ranking each conference's situations. It's the offseason, and while you're probably itching to read yet another Aaron Rodgers story, we invite you to check out our ranking our the top unit nicknames in NFL history. However, most football fans know the term as referring to the phenomenal Bear defenses of the 1980s - specifically the 1985 Bears. Here's a listing of the often colorful nicknames of the 50 states. New Orleans Saints The Broncos of the 70s sported Popsicle orange uniforms. Season stats (via PFF): 4 sacks, 1 hit, 9 hurries, 14 pressures, 0 penalties (12 games) Whitehair has been a staple on the Bears' offensive line, where he's been one of the more dependable . Because of his ability to carry tacklers on his back like a "bus". ", "Martellus Bennett: Martellus Bennett believes he's the complete package for Chicago Bears", "Why Seahawks' Jamal Adams and Saints' Michael Thomas are suddenly underrated superstars", "Phil Robertson and Terry Bradshaw to Attend Thursday's Football Game", "A Passel Of Pro Football Immortals Recall The Early Days Of The Game", "Anthony Dixon on why he's now 'Boobie Dixon' on Bills' official roster", "Depression almost ended the life of ex-NFL QB Erik Kramer. His hard-hitting, game-changing play style. Rated by NFL Network as the No. Fittingly, the MVP of Miami's first Super Bowl win was a defensive player: safety Jack Scott, whose two interceptions helped the Dolphins secure the franchise's first Super Bowl win. Bestowed in college, Huerta was renowned for keeping his composure (staying cool) in stressful situations. The '77 Falcons offense was horridly bad. Through the NFL's first 102 seasons, several units were so memorable that a nickname was bestowed upon them. Unfortunately for them, the Cowboys' defense was historically good that day, as Dallas forced eight turnovers in a 17-point win. Patrick lays out a great case of why the forgotten defense of the 1977 Falcons might be the best ever. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:15. The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive lineincluding stalwarts like Mike Webster, Jon Kolb, Ray Mansfield, and Sam Davishelped blaze a trail for running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, and kept quarterback Terry Bradshaw safe during their epic run of four Super Bowl victories in six years. When the "Great Eight" started together, the team had a .784 winning percentage. On every play, the offense will have at least five offensive linemen, which consists of: One center, two offensive guards (one on each side of the center) and two offensive tackles (one to the outside of each guard). In its regular season finale, the Wild Bunch intercepted UCLA quarterback Dennis Dummit five times and knocked him to the ground at least 12 more in a 14-12 win. The season the New York Sack Exchange cemented itself and the organization finally made it back to the playoffs. Ranking the greatest unit nicknames in NFL history: Steel Curtain, Doomsday, Orange Crush among all-time best - CBSSports.com These nicknames stand out from the rest These nicknames stand. The punt returner had a scattershot running style akin to a, For his ability to defeat tight coverage, even double coverage, and make big plays. He traded away many draft picks -- including seven to his former team, the Rams -- in exchange for six veterans. In 1940, Chicago beat Washington 73-0 in the championship game, the biggest margin of victory in league history. For his speed, and his spectacular and graceful moves. The group spent two seasons together (from 1989 to 1991) and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.