The First Cowboys' Designated Pass Rusher Who Became MVP

[Blackrain]

• I get the impression that Sam Williams is a football junkie like Micah Parsons.
  • The video of him when he came to Dallas and was instantly bonded with Dan Quinn.
    • Quinn: Did you sleep well?
    • SW: No, I just wanted to get back in here.
    • Quinn: Me too.
  • Also, watching extensive game footage of SW he appears to have studied a lot of film of both of opponents and of NFL pass rushers.

Yep I'm with you I can't wait to see Quinn mold this guy into a quarterback destroying weapon.

There was no doing that with Gregory his mind was not completely on football. He was way too easily distracted.

A sad case that just couldn't keep his eye on the prize

 

[Pantone282C]

Harvey Martin, Too Tall Jones, Randy White...Monster Ball.

4:20 in the video, Charlie Waters is standing over the QB, either talking smack or checking to see he was okay. My guess is the former.

 

[Runwildboys]

I could definitely believe that's what he said. lol

 

[Pantone282C]

I could definitely believe that's what he said. lol

What a defense with that bunch. Those guys talked the talk because they walked the walk.

 

[exciter]

Back in the glory days of yesteryear, in 1973, the Cowboys drafted a speed pass rusher out of East Texas State named Harvey Martin. In training game, the coaches saw a talented defensive end, 6'5" with long arms and a sub 4.6 40 speed. They said he needed to more aggressive on the field and the rookie listened. He started to show he was the best pash rushing DE on the team, but Tom Landry never started rookies.

Thus, Landry made him the designated pass rusher and for two years, he led the team in sacks. He was instant lightning on an older DL. In 1974, Too Tall Jones was the #1 pick in the draft and he also for one year became a designated pass rusher. They called the duo Lightning and Thunder.

In 1975, both became starters on a team with the best draft haul in history. They charged the team into the Super Bowl.

Harvey Martin became THE pass rush terror every opposing team dreaded to see. He was a leader on the field, fiery and put some emotion to the new Doomsday Defense.

In 1977, Harvey had a career year with 23 sacks in 14 games. Next to him was Randy White who also has double digit sacks. Harvey was voted the NFL defensive MVP in 1977 and helped the Boys to win the Super Bowl. He was unstoppable all year long including the Super Bowl. For those who remember Demarcus Ware's best year, Harvey Martin's in 1977 was to me the greatest pass-rushing RDE or any position performance in Cowboys' history.

This year, we just drafted Sam Williams who wants to be known as De Williams. Watching this Williams pass rushing prowess reminds me of the Harvey Martin who became the idol of so many young Cowboys fans back in the glory days of yesteryear.

I didn’t really get to see Martin till later in his career, being in Louisiana I’ve seen Williams on a couple of occasions and he reminded me a lot of Trent Cole from the Eagles. If he’s anything like Cole on this level I’ll be more than happy!

 

[Bullflop]

Harvey Martin and Randy White were my favorite defensive players back in the C'boys glory days! Man, they could really bring the heat!

As I recall, early in his career, Ernie Stautner was disenchanted with Harvey and told him he was too nice! After that, HM became a Monster!!

 

[john van brocklin]

Back in the glory days of yesteryear, in 1973, the Cowboys drafted a speed pass rusher out of East Texas State named Harvey Martin. In training game, the coaches saw a talented defensive end, 6'5" with long arms and a sub 4.6 40 speed. They said he needed to more aggressive on the field and the rookie listened. He started to show he was the best pash rushing DE on the team, but Tom Landry never started rookies.

Thus, Landry made him the designated pass rusher and for two years, he led the team in sacks. He was instant lightning on an older DL. In 1974, Too Tall Jones was the #1 pick in the draft and he also for one year became a designated pass rusher. They called the duo Lightning and Thunder.

In 1975, both became starters on a team with the best draft haul in history. They charged the team into the Super Bowl.

Harvey Martin became THE pass rush terror every opposing team dreaded to see. He was a leader on the field, fiery and put some emotion to the new Doomsday Defense.

In 1977, Harvey had a career year with 23 sacks in 14 games. Next to him was Randy White who also has double digit sacks. Harvey was voted the NFL defensive MVP in 1977 and helped the Boys to win the Super Bowl. He was unstoppable all year long including the Super Bowl. For those who remember Demarcus Ware's best year, Harvey Martin's in 1977 was to me the greatest pass-rushing RDE or any position performance in Cowboys' history.

This year, we just drafted Sam Williams who wants to be known as De Williams. Watching this Williams pass rushing prowess reminds me of the Harvey Martin who became the idol of so many young Cowboys fans back in the glory days of yesteryear.

Ahhhhh
Yesteryear when we dominated
Doomsday
Oh the memories

 

[plasticman]

Don't know if this has been mentioned....

There were actually two duos. Martin and Jones wasn't Thunder and Lightning. Together, they were the Lightning who came in on obvious passing 3rd downs.

The Thunder was the run defending DE starters, Larry Cole and Pat Toomay. They would play on 1st and 2nd down and if it was 3rd and short. They were the Thunder. During 3rd and long and sometimes 2nd and long they would send in Lightning, their two young pass rushers. It was exciting to watch this new strategy.

If Tom Landry didn't outright invent a new concept he refined it and made it more effective.

 

[plasticman]

Martin was a force from Day #1.

With guys like Harvey and Micah, they reveal themselves almost instantly. You could tell the first time you saw Martin play that he was going to be special. It was fun to watch because the prior Landry DE's had always been great run stoppers but the flex wasn't designed to maximize pass rush capabilities. The line reacted more like a traditional 3-4 where they held their place and relied on keys.

I think that when it comes to aggressive pass rush, it's not something that can be taught. You either have it or you don't and you can tell right away.

 

[muck4doo]

Back in the glory days of yesteryear, in 1973, the Cowboys drafted a speed pass rusher out of East Texas State named Harvey Martin. In training game, the coaches saw a talented defensive end, 6'5" with long arms and a sub 4.6 40 speed. They said he needed to more aggressive on the field and the rookie listened. He started to show he was the best pash rushing DE on the team, but Tom Landry never started rookies.

Thus, Landry made him the designated pass rusher and for two years, he led the team in sacks. He was instant lightning on an older DL. In 1974, Too Tall Jones was the #1 pick in the draft and he also for one year became a designated pass rusher. They called the duo Lightning and Thunder.

In 1975, both became starters on a team with the best draft haul in history. They charged the team into the Super Bowl.

Harvey Martin became THE pass rush terror every opposing team dreaded to see. He was a leader on the field, fiery and put some emotion to the new Doomsday Defense.

In 1977, Harvey had a career year with 23 sacks in 14 games. Next to him was Randy White who also has double digit sacks. Harvey was voted the NFL defensive MVP in 1977 and helped the Boys to win the Super Bowl. He was unstoppable all year long including the Super Bowl. For those who remember Demarcus Ware's best year, Harvey Martin's in 1977 was to me the greatest pass-rushing RDE or any position performance in Cowboys' history.

This year, we just drafted Sam Williams who wants to be known as De Williams. Watching this Williams pass rushing prowess reminds me of the Harvey Martin who became the idol of so many young Cowboys fans back in the glory days of yesteryear.

I love this so much.

 

[cowboyec]

for my money...the greatest de duo of all the times...
ED TOO TALL JONES
HARVEY MARTIN

 

[SFloridaCowboy]

for my money...the greatest de duo of all the times...
ED TOO TALL JONES
HARVEY MARTIN

Amen. Watch the Hail Mary game, last one minute of the game. My Too Tall Jones closed out the game with two sacks. His arms looked like ten feet long. That is money. Everson Walls' INT's were largely the product of Too Tall with his long arms and widest wingspan in NFL history forcing opposing QB's to throw higher, leading to more air time, to allow the ball hawk to pull down the INT's. The 1981 team nailed over 30 INT's.

 

[cowboyec]

Amen. Watch the Hail Mary game, last one minute of the game. My Too Tall Jones closed out the game with two sacks. His arms looked like ten feet long. That is money. Everson Walls' INT's were largely the product of Too Tall with his long arms and widest wingspan in NFL history forcing opposing QB's to throw higher, leading to more air time, to allow the ball hawk to pull down the INT's. The 1981 team nailed over 30 INT's.

best run defender from the de spot i ever saw.

 

[plymkr]

• I get the impression that Sam Williams is a football junkie like Micah Parsons.
  • The video of him when he came to Dallas and was instantly bonded with Dan Quinn.
    • Quinn: Did you sleep well?
    • SW: No, I just wanted to get back in here.
    • Quinn: Me too.
  • Also, watching extensive game footage of SW he appears to have studied a lot of film of both of opponents and of NFL pass rushers.

Nice. We need more football junkies and less HotBoyz.

 

[Motorola]

Nice. We need more football junkies and less HotBoyz.

Now that Gregory is gone, it's time for Armstrong to assert himself.
(Quinn - help make it happen!)

 

[Hawkeye19]

It’s crazy to me that Harvey Martin is not in the HOF or even the Cowboys ring of honor.

 

[plasticman]

It’s crazy to me that Harvey Martin is not in the HOF or even the Cowboys ring of honor.

Absolutely. But there are worse snubs.....

Chuck Howley

Cornell Green

John Niland

Check out their careers and tell me why they aren't in the HOF when lesser players are.

R