Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
15 years ago
He never got the attention I think he deserved playing on during some of the dark days of the Packers.. but the guy could play ball.

Nice little article on him..

Source of Course.. 

By most accounts, pro football began to soften in the months leading up to the 1978 season. Defensive backs were no longer permitted to clobber receivers anywhere on the field, and offensive linemen were allowed to use their hands to fend off oncoming pass rushers. The age of defense was going to be no more; the new era of football a pass-friendly era had been set in motion.

But 1978 did not bring the drastic changes to the offensive landscape that most predicted it would. Teams passed the ball 26.4 times per game on average, as compared to 25.0 the year prior, and the league net average per attempt rose from just 5.2 to 5.5. Soft or not, the 1978 season was by no means an aerial party.

Instead, what can be said about that campaign is that the offensive-friendly rules attracted more defensive ingenuity. Said John Turney, a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association and one of the foremost experts on sack counts, "It was a seminal moment in football history. Teams started to blitz more, and linebackers and defensive backs got more sacks than in previous years."

Turney does not consider 1978, as a whole, one of the NFL's greatest sack seasons. It gave defenders two more games to work with thanks to the new 16-game schedule, and Turney said fewer defenders posted 15-plus sacks than had done so in the seasons prior. What is remarkable, however, is the success had that season by a pair of relative NFL newcomers Lions rookie Al "Bubba" Baker and Packers second-year standout Ezra Johnson. [img_r]https://www.beckett.com/images/pgitems/293840201.jpg[/img_r]

As most fans know, the quarterback sack did not become an official statistic until the strike-shortened 1982 season. Prior to that, teams kept their own totals, leading to much speculation as to who were the great sack artists of the 1960s and '70s when defense dominated the game.

Deacon Jones has argued he had 26 sacks in 1967 a total matched only by Coy Bacon in 1976. According to Turney, who examines the official play-by-play sheets to compile his data, both of those season totals are suspect due to teams awarding a full sack for each half-sack. By his estimation, neither player had more than Michael Strahan's official NFL record of 22, set in 2001. "Deacon would still tell you he had 26, but (Rams coach) George Allen was counting everything," Turney said.

New information discovered by Turney, however, may change history at least in an unofficial point of view.

Baker was said to have recorded 23 sacks in 1978, Johnson 20. Up to now, Turney could only confirm 21 for Baker and 17 for Johnson. Turney believes that new information provided for a five-sack game against the Buccaneers confirms Baker did indeed have 23 sacks during his rookie campaign.

What is perhaps unfortunate about this announcement is that even well researched data will not have an effect on the record books, nor will it bring any more respect to the careers of either Baker or Johnson, his runner-up in the sack race that season.

Today's elite pass rushers are the stars of the defense. They are high-dollar guys who attract endorsement deals and magazine covers. Baker and Johnson? Despite the 28 years of NFL service between them, without having the ability to take ownership of the numbers they earned neither is much more than a footnote to their respective era.

It has been said the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Johnson possessed 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash. Like Baker, he also was unofficially credited with a five-sack game in 1978 (Week 1 against Detroit). But forget about his place in NFL history. Even in Green Bay he has been largely forgotten; most Packers fans remember him more for eating a hot dog during a 1980 preseason loss to Denver than they do his rare speed or superb sophomore season. With his pre-1982 sack totals in place, there is a good chance Johnson and not Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila would stand as the team's all-time leader in the category.

Baker began his career with Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and three trips to the Pro Bowl. With his sack totals from his first four seasons, Baker would not only own the single-season NFL mark arguably the most desirable defensive record to hold but would probably rank among the top 20 all time.

In that fall of change in 1978, the league was only taking notice of how great each NFC Central pass rusher was. Nearly three decades later, the numbers that never were are starting to catch up.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Greg C.
15 years ago
I remember Ezra very well. He was probably the best player on that 1978 team that went 8-7-1 and barely missed the playoffs. He was a beast that year.
blank
dhazer
15 years ago
i remember him eating the hotdog on the bench lol
Just Imagine this for the next 6-9 years. What a ride it will be 🙂 (PS, Zero should charge for this)
UserPostedImage
dingus
15 years ago
Didn't he get a big fine for that Hazer? Loved Ezra!
blank
Fan Shout
beast (16m) : Great point Martha
beast (16m) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (2h) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (3h) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (3h) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (4h) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (7h) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (7h) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (7h) : 4rd
dfosterf (7h) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (7h) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Martha Careful (7h) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
Martha Careful (7h) : No thanks. Not a dependable guy to be in the right place and run the right route. Dumb as a box of rocks.
Zero2Cool (8h) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (8h) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (9h) : No.Absolutely not
Zero2Cool (9h) : NO NO NO NO NO NO!!1 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
dhazer (9h) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
TheKanataThrilla (9h) : Hopefully she had some comfort that her son will be live his dream when she passed away. Sad news.
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Damn that sucks
Zero2Cool (10h) : News about Derrick Harmon mom, saddening.
Zero2Cool (11h) : Mark Murphy: "I predict we will trade up once and down twice."
beast (13h) : Rip the Packers and getting the fans yelling and booing him
beast (13h) : Super competitive Bears fan and WWE "superstar" wrestler, Seth Rollins is supposed to announce a Bears pick and absolutely rip Packers
packerfanoutwest (25-Apr) : Golden
beast (25-Apr) : I want DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : And I can't be looking at my phone
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Hey I'm at work lol
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : btw, new site chat won't delete auto like
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : because everyone left like wimps
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : I am wondering if there is some type of autoclear when there isn't activity after a certain amount of time.
Mucky Tundra (24-Apr) : What happened in the chat? Me and Zero posted a few things earlier and they're all gone
dfosterf (24-Apr) : 10-15 min bs plus flyover
dfosterf (24-Apr) : Yes
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : 7pm is when this kicks off????
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : I told him. IT'S VONTE MACK , no matter what!
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : He asked me who I thought The Browns were taking.
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : 2. Would of had to wear Browns gear all week. NOPE I'll watch from my living room.
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : He wanted to know if I would go. 2 things, would have had to fly from Detroit to Green Bay. Nope
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : All expense paid trip to the draft. He will be in the Browns section. I told him to say hi to J-10VE for me 😃😃i
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : For a call from my nephew, he won an sllexp
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : Hope to see everyone in the Chat tonight!!! Go Pack Go!!!
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : Jeanty would be a great pick-up for the Bears. I see Warren mocked to them as well who I think would be a great selection.
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : GameDay Chat is open. Posting bits an tids in there.
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : Excellent Source: The Bears have a deal in place to move up to 5 if Jeanty is there.
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : Probably not until 10pm will be making pick
dfosterf (24-Apr) : But it is still not tonight. Lol
wpr (24-Apr) : Today is finally here.
dfosterf (24-Apr) : I should have put it in quotes
dfosterf (24-Apr) : It is the title of a you tube video.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
18m / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

8h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

24-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

24-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

24-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

24-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / wpr

22-Apr / Random Babble / Martha Careful

22-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.