TLH: Cowboys vs. Vikings Yields Legendary Plays

[Hostile]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/11/02/cowboys-vs-vikings-yields-legendary-plays/

One of the greatest moments in the Dallas Cowboys History happened in the 1975 Post Season. In the Divisional Playoffs that year the Wildcard Cowboys traveled to the Twin Cities to face the NFC’s best team, the Minnesota Vikings. The 1975 Cowboys had a large contingent of rookie players nicknamed “The Dirty Dozen.” Bob Lilly had retired after 1974 and in the first round of the 1975 Draft Dallas was able to procure the 2nd pick in that Draft by trading Quarterback Craig Morton to the Giants. They used that pick to select Mr. Cowboys’ eventual replacement legend, a man who was described as half man, half monster, Randy “Manster” White.

Randy White was easily the headline player of that Draft class for the Cowboys, but not many people remember that he was a Linebacker in college at Maryland and originally he was a backup for the Cowboys. Can you imagine the fans today reacting to a backup from a first round pick? We had a little of that with Felix Jones in 2007, but nothing like what happened with Randy White who was eventually moved form LB to Defensive Tackle where he became the legend mentioned earlier.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Randy White was the 2nd overall pick was a backup until his 3rd season. The CowboysZone would have declared him a major bust and called for Jerry's head for such a blunder. Nonstop.

 

[Dodger12]

Randy White was the 2nd overall pick was a backup until his 3rd season. The CowboysZone would have declared him a major bust and called for Jerry's head for such a blunder. Nonstop.

Yes, we'd be calling for someone's head right after our trip to the Superbowl that year AND right after what may be the greatest draft in the history of the NFL. You must really love you some Jerry Jones to even remotely compare situations.

 

[Hostile]

Randy White was the 2nd overall pick was a backup until his 3rd season. The CowboysZone would have declared him a major bust and called for Jerry's head for such a blunder. Nonstop.

No kidding.

 

[mitchell2254]

I am just glad they don't have Randy Moss anymore. Watching Calvin last week reminded me of what Randy done to us regularly.

 

[Rack]

Randy White was the 2nd overall pick was a backup until his 3rd season. The CowboysZone would have declared him a major bust and called for Jerry's head for such a blunder. Nonstop.

And we'd be right to. Today's NFL isn't the same as it was in the 70's. You draft a player #2 overall in TODAY'S NFL, he better be playing right away.

 

[CooterBrown]

Randy White was a defensive tackle in college. Landry saw him as the next Dick Butkus and tried to make him a linebacker. When that wasn't working out, he moved White back to his natural position and the rest is history.

 

[Corso]

Excellent article.

Well written.

Thank you.

 

[Ashwynn]

But it was not uncommon for a draft pick to sit 2-3 years and learn from the player he will replace back in the 70's I seem to recall. Certainly with the QBs, WRs and RBs.

 

[CooterBrown]

Randy White was easily the headline player of that Draft class for the Cowboys, but not many people remember that he was a Linebacker in college at Maryland and originally he was a backup for the Cowboys.

I remember that he was NOT a linebacker in college at Maryland. Other than that, a great article.

 

[Alexander]

But it was not uncommon for a draft pick to sit 2-3 years and learn from the player he will replace back in the 70's I seem to recall. Certainly with the QBs, WRs and RBs.

Of course. Players were basically property of the team that drafted them back then.

And anyone suggesting that fans back then would be disappointed on how a draft pick performed is hardly being genuine. Most would be lucky if they knew who the first pick in the draft was.

Back then the draft was not televised. You would be fortunate if you could see the draft results at the back of your local paper's sports section. There was not nearly the micro scrutiny that there is now.

Besides, White was pushed to a completely position he had not played before, so why would fans have declared him a major bust in just two years? If anything it would be to complain that Landry was taking a player and working him out of position. Then again, the Cowboys in that era often took players and moved them to new positions to fill out depth and develop. DEs became offensive linemen, TEs became OTs, WRs became QBs and vice versa. Those teams believed in taking athletes and projecting them to new positions. Often it did not work out, which is why you see a bunch of Cowboys draft choices in that era not make it.

As much as people laud that eras draft choices (mainly because of the "Dirty Dozen"), it was not perfection, as the draft rarely is. Brandt blew numerous high draft choices. But when the team is actually winning, nobody would care, even if they knew who the draft picks were.

 

[Alexander]

I remember that he was NOT a linebacker in college at Maryland. Other than that, a great article.

He was a fullback and then defensive end at Maryland. He did play linebacker in high school.

 

[Hostile]

I remember that he was NOT a linebacker in college at Maryland. Other than that, a great article.

I actually did not know that. I went strictly off what we drafted him as. Thanks. I really appreciate it.

 

[Sarge]

I remember that he was NOT a linebacker in college at Maryland. Other than that, a great article.

This is correct.