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 '80s was a wild time in New York City, and the Jets of that era were an extension of that . 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. 26, seventh-worst in the league. The season the New York Sack Exchange cemented itself and the organization finally made it back to the playoffs. Doomsday indeed, if a losing player actually won MVP in a title game. Once Magic Johnson arrived in 1979, the Lakers' high-scoring, fast-breaking ways took off. An all-around great athlete, he earned recognition for his abilities including 5 Pro Bowl selections, 5 total All-Pro selections, AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1983, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team honors, is in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, despite only playing for seven seasons. Chipmunk. Other nicknames include: J-Load, Hefty Lefty, Abominable Throwman, Round Mound of Touchdown, Quarter(got)back, He Ate Me, and BBQ (Big Beautiful Quarterback). A nickname that really hasn't faded over time. Denver's defense put up impressive performances over the Steelers and Raiders -- offenses that featured a combined 12 future Hall of Famers -- in the playoffs before holding their own against the Cowboys' prolific offense in Super Bowl XII. Before he was the mastermind of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, along with head coach Bill Parcells, orchestrated a cunning New York Giants defense to two Super Bowl victories. Jim Kelly was perhaps best known for running the Bills' "No-Huddle Offense", which was fast-paced and denied opposing defenses the opportunity to make timely substitutions, establishing the Buffalo Bills as one of the NFL's most successful and dangerous offenses. It's the best unit in the nation, and perhaps one of the best SEC units of all time. Belichick and Parcells instructed their defense to attack and intimidate Buffalo receivers with relentless physical punishment on every play. The nickname is credited to former Saints Head Coach Hank Stram. His speed; given to him in the beginning of the 2011 season, a play on his initials. Led by Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman (all pictured here tackling Knowshow Moreno), Seattle lowered the boom on Denver 43-8 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in history. The undefeated 1972 Dolphins had Bob Griese at quarterback, Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris at running back and Paul Warfield at receiver. #7. identifiedasbeingdisrespectful Jun 11, 2016 @ 9:56am. He set a record for penalty minutes in a season with 348 in 1973-74, only to top it a year later with 472. Borne mostly from a still-legendary 1991 recruiting class and led by a center a year older, the O-line from the perfect 12-0 season can be overlooked amid 1994's abundance of offensive riches. Ain'ts Nickname given to the New Orleans Saints after their 1980 season of 14 consecutive losses. His passion, intelligence, and vocal leadership: self-bestowed, His ability to step up at critical moments and make big plays; possibly self-bestowed. 20. Some nicknames captured their effectiveness. The game would have been a fitting 17-0 shutout if not for kicker Garo Yepremian's blocked field goal kick and subsequent botched passing attempts. Hall of Famers and Other Honors Nicknames for entire teams, whole offensive units, defensive units or special teams. The Ducks have been . Apparent reference to his large size and penchant for eating. 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 . Originally coined by the University of Chicago in 1939, the term "Monsters of the Midway" was appropriated by the NFL's Chicago Bears during the 1940s when George Halas and his monsters won four NFL titles. The intimidation and fantastic ball control on offense worked. The nickname for the offensive line was a reference to O.J. Greenwood, and menacing linemen Dwight White and Ernie Holmes, the unit led the Steelers to their first two Super Bowl wins of the decade. A play on his name, but also his role as a guard when run-blocking. While playing for the University of Miami, the tall, thin Hendricks gained the nickname The Mad Stork., Combination of maple (due to his Canadian heritage) and Megatron (due to the similarities to, Because of his physical running style and reputation for repeatedly breaking tackles, Prolific Miami Dolphins wide receiver duo of the 1980s who shared the same first name (also a reference to the, In reference to Matt Ryan's ability to have long game-winning drives under pressure (and pejoratively for Ryan's tendency to go "ice cold" during playoff games); also a play on "Natty Ice", a low-end beer brewed by, A reference to his large frame, comparing him to a, A reference to his Christian ministry as an ordained, While not many would draw comparisons between the diminutive, Given to him in reference to his big-time corner play, Given to him by Cowboys backup quarterback. He's your most boring friend. Ryan benefited from the presence of standout defense players such as Wilbur Marshall, William 'The Fridge" Perry, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton, Leslie Frazier, Otis Wilson, team captain Mike Singletary, and Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent. His first initial and jersey number combined, also for his deep play ability. The 11 players on an offensive unit are split into five categories of players: Quarterback As for Red Hogs, I guess this gets a mention because some believe. The team accrued 59 sacks, 24 interceptions, and allowed only 14.5 points per game. 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). section: | slug: ranking-the-greatest-unit-nicknames-in-nfl-history-steel-curtain-doomsday-orange-crush-among-all-time-best | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Names which are marked by an asterisk (*) are team nicknames which may have been coined by team members or local media, but never became well known to the public outside of the teams media market for a multitude of reasons, but most likely due to poor performance. Nicknames of British Units during the Napoleonic Wars. Some said the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s played dirty. It held O.J. 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. Ranking the top 10 overall, and then ranking each conference's situations. On the football field, the defense of the Denver Broncos consumed quarterbacks and provided hope to a city long in the ranks of losing. 24 car, Jeff Gordon's pit crew got a nickname of its own. Any line missing Quenton Nelson for large periods would struggle. But they also played good baseball. crimecon 2022 speakers. The Chicago Bears are going to see some big changes on the offensive line this season. Rated by NFL Network as the No. His legendary 42-yard touchdown run put Washington in front to stay. See if that helps. In the 1970s, a popular soda drink known as Orange Crush was consumed across the county. Ryan brought relentless pressure on opposing QBs, often rushing five to eight defenders on every play. Though calling it "The Mjlnir" is probably really awkward. Bestowed in childhood by his grandmother, who surmised he changed directions more often than the. ", "No. They are not the official franchise nicknames of the National Football League (NFL). Mark Gasineau, Marty Lyons, Joe Klecko and Adbul Salaam constituted the Sack Exchange. No one personified the hard-hitting Flyers of the 1970s more than Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. The famed defensive line of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy of the Los Angeles Rams was an obvious choice for this list. The unit, despite losing Salaam after the '83 season, led the Jets to back-to-back playoff appearances in 1985-86. Watching offensive linemen at the NFL combine might not be the most enjoyable thing to do on a Sunday afternoon but this is still an opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to find some draft prospects to help bolster their unit. Whether the name came from that or was in the minds of others before, we shall never know. If you recall, Buelow won the first-unit left guard role to begin the 2021 season, drew five game-opening assignments, got beat a bunch of times and watched as Ulumoo Ale and then Troy Fautanu . Bednarik is generally recognized as the last to have done so. Nicknames for individual players, coaches and personnel. Hlfdan the Generous and the Stingy with Food: This contradictory nickname . An allusion to. Their strength, which is likened to that of a. Due to his fear of flying, Lane road a night train to away games while the rest of the team flew. A team comprised of legends.The 1974 #Steelers take #43 in the #NFL100 Greatest Teams countdown. A few of them were just fun and creative while being more of a reflection of the fan base than of the actual unit. All three were French Canadians from Quebec, and they teamed to lead the Sabres to the 1975 finals, where they lost to the Flyers in six games. 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 Orange Crush's high point was the 1977 season. Football Offensive Positions. He's your friend who's always busy on the phone. What implications does it all have for NFL bettors? There have been many defensive lines known as The Fearsome Foursome. The name persisted somewhat as, although they would later qualify for the playoffs several times since then, they did not win a playoff game until their defeat of . All Rights Reserved. Redskins' offensive line coach Joe Bugel gave his unit this nickname during the 1982 training camp, and the Hogs' core of Jeff Bostic, Russ Grimm, Mark May and Joe Jacoby stayed together until the early 1990s. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Our win rate metics stack the best run-blocking, run-stopping, pass-protecting and pass-rushing players and teams in the game for the 2022 season. The Oreo : 2006/2007 Saints had an all black defensive line, all white linebacking core, and all black secondary. Bednarik worked as a concrete salesman during the NFL's offseason and was known for his hard hits and persistent endurance. The Black Sox scandal involved Chicago players throwing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. Miami's bland, yet iconic nickname was born from the Dolphins' perception that they were underrated and under-appreciated. The 1976 team featured the "Great Eight" starting position players of Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Ken Griffey and Cesar Geronimo. The unit also had historical cultural significance, as the quartet was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. The phrase "Big Baller B" was originally popularized in 2016 by the, Given to him by the 49ers locker room, suggesting he's "got some cojones to him.". New York Jetsfront four, early 1980s; Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. Then, they swept the Cardinals to win the franchise's first World Series in 85 years and lift the Curse of the Bambino. Was plagued by concussions and injuries, referencing his presumed fragility, His similarity in appearance and demeanor to the character in the movie. . Philadelphia won the Stanley Cup in each of those seasons behind intimidating defense and the superb goaltending of Bernie Parent. But the "Monsters of the Midway" moniker didn't allude to a particular unit during that point in time. NFL finds Patriots deflated 11 balls in 'Deflategate' AFC title game: report", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Atlanta Falcons", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Dallas Cowboys", "Don Shula on Patriots: 'the Spygate Thing Has Diminished What They've Accomplished', "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the LA Rams", "Sam Darnold said 'I'm seeing ghosts' during awful MNF performance and fans crushed him", "FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT: RAMS: Just Call Him 'Air Chuck', "Patriots 4-1 at bye; return to action Oct. 22", "Nickname for the Jaguars' secondary? The Blues. A group of talented home-grown prospects, the Whiz Kids won Philadelphia's first pennant in 35 years in 1950. Online Marketing For Your Business Reed was always there to make a play on the ball (i.e. Please read his brilliant analysis. It's like planking, but dumber. After shutting out their first two playoff opponents, the Bears famously embarrassed the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Simpson to a mere 49 rushing yards in the divisional round. A subset of the Wild Bunch, the Smurfs were a group of diminutive wide receivers for the Redskins in the 1980s. Nickname given due to Spygate and several other Patriots scandals. Miami Dolphins running back duo from 1968 to 1974; named after. Wallace led with his head frequently during his playing career, a tactic that in hindsight Wallace suspected may have caused brain damage later in life. 2. Johnson once joked that his often fluctuating weight was due to his frequent defecation. Departures: G/T Chuck Filiaga (transfer), C Andrew Vastardis (eligibility), G/T Andrew Stueber (eligibility) Returners: C Greg Crippen, G/T Karsen Barnhart, T Trente Jones, T Giovanni El-Hadi,. Businessman. gabriel iglesias volkswagen collection. It has been used for Joe Flacco for his cool demeanor, especially during the postseason. In 1940, Chicago beat Washington 73-0 in the championship game, the biggest margin of victory in league history. Seattle's do-everything secondary was a driving force in the Seahawks march to and victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. When a state has multiple nicknames, the official or most common state nickname is listed first. pennsylvania supreme court judges; 4618 forthbridge drive houston, tx; lincoln memorial events; chemerinsky, constitutional law syllabus Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson were all among the nation's top-100 recruits (and all but Jackson was ranked in the top nine). The hard-hitting team, which included Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount, beat the California Angels in the American League Championship Series before falling in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. 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They were led by Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller, defensive end Jim Marshall, and defensive tackle Gary Larson. A punky, rebellious, athletically gifted, smash mouth, boastful a fantastic squad. The 1985 @ChicagoBears was a very memorable team #NFL100: NFL 100 GREATEST TEAMS on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/HB93MzCrkL. Mix had a degree in law at the time he played professional football. Olsen is flanked in Canton by Jones, who tallied 173.5 sacks during his legendary career. March 2, 2023 9:59 pm ET. The great Doomsday Defense of the Dallas Cowboys likely possess the most menacing name on this list. In the NFC title game the Giants went on the road to face the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers. "Kansas Comet" was stuck on him by the Director of Sports Information at the University of Kansas. A journeyman quarterback whose NFL career was quite brief, Corcoran earned a reputation for pomposity in high school when, coming onto the field in a clean uniform after a rainstorm, he drew a cheer of "hail to the King!" 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. This is a tribute to those aptly named units and the legacy their names provide to this day. His affinity for passing the ball, particularly deep downfield, Based on his refusal to eat Rice Krispie Treats left for him by the coaching staff, Earned his nickname from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run, His ability of "snaking" around out of pressure in the pocket; also a play on the wrestler. During that time the Cowboys won two Super Bowls, played in three others, played into two NFL Championship games, and were consistently one of the top defensive teams in the NFL. Reference to the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. The most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. New York Jets fans certainly still remember the worth of the New York Sack Exchange.