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25 Responses to “Atlanta Falcons’ Grits Blitz Defense”
I admire defenses … I admire defenses prior to the 1978 NFL before the rule changes where you couldn’t touch a receiver after 5 yrds(steel curtain,no-name,etc),but you can’t really compre defenses after the change.Can you just imagine what the 1985 Chicago Bears 46 Defense could have accomplished under these rules?
@juszookie26 … @juszookie26 Glavville’s Gritz Blitz gave up an NFL record 9.2 points per game, still an NFL record. The rules back then did favor defenses but their SCHEDULE back then was against what, at the time, were pretty good offenses. They really did EARN that 9.2 points per game average.
Of the starting DL, … Of the starting DL, Jim Bailey, legendary Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey #87(@1:48, 1:51, 2:28, 3:48, 3:58), Jeff Merrow #75 (@0:51,1:54,3:51), & Mike Lewis #69(@2:31, 2:32, 3:44), NONE were shorter than 6-4! 1977 #1 draft pick #74 (6′5″) Wilson Faumunia (@0:52, 0:58, 0:59, 1:50), was a talent. Merrow #75 was a street fighter type who helped give Atlanta defense its personality. Merrow was a superior pass rusher with quickness & against the run, he did well by simply playing with reckless abandon
#54 “Captain Crazy” … #54 “Captain Crazy” Fulton Kuykendall was the old-fashioned, blood-and-guts guy among the linebackers. He found a way to get to the ball carrier, and was a competitor and a big hitter. While playing the run was his strong suit, being 6-5 had its advantages against the pass in zone coverages. Above all, he was rugged, and his consistency and powdering tackles returned valuable dividends to the Falcons. He was highly intense and willing to play with pain even in his twilight years.
I don’t know this … I don’t know this defense realized they were not going to win late in the year. They were in a playoff race and had the tiebreaker against Chicago for defeating them 16-10 in week #6, but in week # 12 they lossed to Patriots 16-10, and the next week they lossed to the Rams 23-7 to disqualify them from playoffs. Now this defense had a legitimate schedule of legitimate offenses for opponents. That is something the 1972 Dolphins,1985 Bears,or 2000 Ravens did not really have as much as this one had.
Any team that did … Any team that did what this defense did in 4 games against the then dangerous Los Angeles Rams, and a 49er team with Jim Plunkett throwing to Gene Wahington with Delvin Williams and Wilbur Jackson in the backfield earned their stats. They had 4 more games against Minnesota, New England, Chicago, and Washington. Did they have a couple more against Archie Manning? These were not easy offenses to defend against, although the playoff-bound Bears were more of a running team obviously.
You could flip that … You could flip that logic. A good offense gives the defense a rest… thus making it better (see the 1985 Bears).
The truth is, the 1977 Falcons defense was:
1) Almost always playing from behind
2) Starting to realize that they weren’t going to win late in the season.
3) On the field since the O couldn’t do jack squat.
A good offense would have propelled this team into the playoffs and got them recognition. However, a bad offense (which it was) just makes the defense look even greater.
This defense really … This defense really did it. Other teams in their division did not have bad offenses. The Rams were just flat out dangerous back then,and the 49ers had Plunkett throwing to Gene Washington,and Delvin Williams running the ball. Whatever New Orleans had, they still Archie Manning in his prime throwing to Henry Childs,so they had a half-way legitimate offense.From there,the other opponents, Vikings,Bears,Patriots,and Redskins were all formidable offenses. History should not overlook the Gritz-Blitz
If they had an … If they had an offense they would be called the greatest defense of all time, and think about this in a 4 game stretch the Falcon defense gave up 16 points and went 2-2.
Jerry Glanville’s grits blitz.
The 1985 Bears 46 …
The 1985 Bears 46 Defense would’ve set the bar so high under these rules that NO future defenses would’ve matched!
I admire defenses …
I admire defenses prior to the 1978 NFL before the rule changes where you couldn’t touch a receiver after 5 yrds(steel curtain,no-name,etc),but you can’t really compre defenses after the change.Can you just imagine what the 1985 Chicago Bears 46 Defense could have accomplished under these rules?
@ethanga62890 Now I …
@ethanga62890 Now I see you are correct. Claude Humphrey was a finalist for the class of 2009.
@plntntvzn …
@plntntvzn unfortuantely he is not
go to the hall of fame site
@ethanga62890 But …
@ethanga62890 But he is in the hall of fame, as part of the class of 2009.
@plntntvzn Claude …
@plntntvzn Claude isn’t a HoFer although he should be.
None of you all …
None of you all have commented on that commercial featuring the suburban (football) mom.
I was barely in the world at the time of the commercial, but I have to admit that lady looked nice.
@juszookie26 …
@juszookie26 Glavville’s Gritz Blitz gave up an NFL record 9.2 points per game, still an NFL record. The rules back then did favor defenses but their SCHEDULE back then was against what, at the time, were pretty good offenses. They really did EARN that 9.2 points per game average.
They played only 14 …
They played only 14 games a season back then, instead of the 16 games nowadays!!
Of the starting DL, …
Of the starting DL, Jim Bailey, legendary Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey #87(@1:48, 1:51, 2:28, 3:48, 3:58), Jeff Merrow #75 (@0:51,1:54,3:51), & Mike Lewis #69(@2:31, 2:32, 3:44), NONE were shorter than 6-4! 1977 #1 draft pick #74 (6′5″) Wilson Faumunia (@0:52, 0:58, 0:59, 1:50), was a talent. Merrow #75 was a street fighter type who helped give Atlanta defense its personality. Merrow was a superior pass rusher with quickness & against the run, he did well by simply playing with reckless abandon
#54 “Captain Crazy” …
#54 “Captain Crazy” Fulton Kuykendall was the old-fashioned, blood-and-guts guy among the linebackers. He found a way to get to the ball carrier, and was a competitor and a big hitter. While playing the run was his strong suit, being 6-5 had its advantages against the pass in zone coverages. Above all, he was rugged, and his consistency and powdering tackles returned valuable dividends to the Falcons. He was highly intense and willing to play with pain even in his twilight years.
I don’t know this …
I don’t know this defense realized they were not going to win late in the year. They were in a playoff race and had the tiebreaker against Chicago for defeating them 16-10 in week #6, but in week # 12 they lossed to Patriots 16-10, and the next week they lossed to the Rams 23-7 to disqualify them from playoffs. Now this defense had a legitimate schedule of legitimate offenses for opponents. That is something the 1972 Dolphins,1985 Bears,or 2000 Ravens did not really have as much as this one had.
Any team that did …
Any team that did what this defense did in 4 games against the then dangerous Los Angeles Rams, and a 49er team with Jim Plunkett throwing to Gene Wahington with Delvin Williams and Wilbur Jackson in the backfield earned their stats. They had 4 more games against Minnesota, New England, Chicago, and Washington. Did they have a couple more against Archie Manning? These were not easy offenses to defend against, although the playoff-bound Bears were more of a running team obviously.
You could flip that …
You could flip that logic. A good offense gives the defense a rest… thus making it better (see the 1985 Bears).
The truth is, the 1977 Falcons defense was:
1) Almost always playing from behind
2) Starting to realize that they weren’t going to win late in the season.
3) On the field since the O couldn’t do jack squat.
A good offense would have propelled this team into the playoffs and got them recognition. However, a bad offense (which it was) just makes the defense look even greater.
they held 2 teams …
they held 2 teams to under 100 total yards and lost holy hell
9 MEN ! 9 MEN ! …
9 MEN ! 9 MEN ! !!
This defense really …
This defense really did it. Other teams in their division did not have bad offenses. The Rams were just flat out dangerous back then,and the 49ers had Plunkett throwing to Gene Washington,and Delvin Williams running the ball. Whatever New Orleans had, they still Archie Manning in his prime throwing to Henry Childs,so they had a half-way legitimate offense.From there,the other opponents, Vikings,Bears,Patriots,and Redskins were all formidable offenses. History should not overlook the Gritz-Blitz
Captain Crazy …
Captain Crazy Fulton Kuykendall, man that brings back memories!
If they had an …
If they had an offense they would be called the greatest defense of all time, and think about this in a 4 game stretch the Falcon defense gave up 16 points and went 2-2.
9 IN DA TRENCH …
9 IN DA TRENCH NICCA!
ROFL GYEA!
didn’t Jerry …
didn’t Jerry Glanville change the Falcons uniforms from those cool ones to those black ones?
2:41is insane 9 in …
2:41is insane 9 in box wow
1:32 on look at …
1:32 on look at those de-cleating hits. those aren’t just tackles, those hits knocked men off thier feet.
W W W . 50U . ORG …
W W W . 50U . ORG Downlaod in Different Formats MP3, Mp4, FLV and 3GP
yeah, the Red ones …
yeah, the Red ones were great. Should be brought back