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Backfields you don't want to face either back
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Twitter: AJMckenzie94847
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00:00To get the ball.
00:00Why are you handing off to Abdul-Jabbar with 2.2 yards to carry?
00:05And there's one guy you don't want to get the ball.
00:08Anything but that. Anything but that.
00:10But those guys, you didn't want either one of them to get the ball.
00:16Tandems are great.
00:18We agree. Everyone loves a great tandem.
00:22Direct from New York on the famous Peppermint Lounge Twisters.
00:25That's a pretty dynamic combination right there.
00:28But when compiling our list, we had to draw the line at complicated couples and broadcast booth legends.
00:35I have goosebumps all over.
00:36With apologies to Bill and Monica.
00:39That's a tandem.
00:40This list is limited to the backfield.
00:43We're the best backs in the league.
00:44What defines a great backfield tandem?
00:47The two players complement each other.
00:49Complement each other.
00:50Complement each other very well.
00:51I can work with this guy.
00:52When one goes down, the other one fills in.
00:55If I'm not, he is.
00:56When I didn't go back to a tandem.
00:58I think of running backs playing together.
00:59One gets the ball this play.
01:01The other gets the ball the next play.
01:02They each block for each other.
01:04Our countdown combines talent and teamwork.
01:07We love each other.
01:08And while we couldn't include sweetness and the fridge.
01:12The legend continues.
01:14It's unfortunate to some degree that we don't have the appreciation.
01:18Our final tally will offer some surprises.
01:21I think everybody was surprised except for Bill Walsh.
01:25The number 10 backfield tandem of all time.
01:28Ernest Beiner and Kevin Mack.
01:30Good spot.
01:31Number 10?
01:32God, you guys are mean.
01:34Those guys are something else.
01:35A blue-collar backfield invaded Cleveland in the mid-80s.
01:40The Beiner-Mack combination was the classic lunch-pail combo.
01:44These are two very strong backs that cause people to miss.
01:48Look out!
01:49Come down!
01:50Not only did they work well together, but they're...
01:52They push.
01:53Back and Beiner, too.
01:55North and South runners.
01:56That's all right.
01:57I'm going to have a good line, bud.
01:58Man, they were big.
01:59They were really big at Tecmo Bowl.
02:01I don't remember Kevin Mack that much as the player.
02:03I remember him as the video game pixelated version on Tecmo Bowl.
02:13I don't remember if the real-life version of Kevin Mack was even nearly that good.
02:17He was pretty good.
02:19Kevin Mack was a guy who had not only speed...
02:2251 yards on a bolt of lightning!
02:26...but he had the power to really embarrass you.
02:28Right at the four-yard line he's hit, and he just continues to keep driving.
02:33Running over a whole bunch of oil.
02:35You could find highlights of Mack where he resembled in a frame of Jim Brown.
02:39Vince Newsom is flat on his stomach.
02:42Lights out.
02:43He was the one guy I was scared to hear.
02:46Kevin Mack rolling with all 18 wheels.
02:52For Rookie of the Year Mack, nothing could be finer than to team...
02:56Fun fact about Kevin Mack.
02:58He was from Kings Mountain, North Carolina, which is in Cleveland County.
03:03And then he played for the Cleveland, Ohio Browns.
03:06So, from Cleveland to Cleveland.
03:10But then...
03:10Ernest Beiner in the backfield.
03:12Ernest Beiner, he had to kind of shake.
03:15With one move, he could embarrass you in a quite different way.
03:20It gave you so many options to have a guy in there who could run the ball,
03:25catch the...
03:27And then block defensive behind it.
03:31He's the heart of that Cleveland offense behind, Cozart.
03:37They were the right kind of guys for that Cleveland Browns team in that town.
03:42In 1985, Beiner and Mack became the third running back tandem in NFL history
03:46to each run for 1,000 yards.
03:49It was Mack and Beiner, Beiner and Mack.
03:51Which one was going to get it?
03:53And where was he going to go?
03:54That is Kevin Mack.
03:56That's Beiner.
04:00That team was a transition team.
04:03Marley Schottenheimer took over and made it a ground team to try to win.
04:07We'll do it our way, one at a time.
04:09Let's go ahead.
04:10They remain one of only four running back tandems
04:12to achieve the 1,000-yard plateau in a season.
04:16So why aren't they number four?
04:18At least number four?
04:19Yeah, if there's only three others.
04:23So why are they stuck at number 10 on our list?
04:26Two words.
04:27The fumble.
04:39That moron Rooks or Slaughter didn't block.
04:42That's his fault.
04:44And then he looked at the ball.
04:46Unfortunately for Ernest Beiner that the ball came out.
04:49And how unkind it is for the fans of Cleveland again.
04:53If they would have won that Lombardi Trophy,
04:55it's most definitely we would have heard more about that tandem.
04:58Doesn't seem fair.
04:59Make them number four.
05:01Who do I talk to about that?
05:02What does a precision passing game have to do with our countdown?
05:06Stay tuned to find out.
05:08They opened up.
05:09Number nine backfield tandem of all time.
05:12Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell.
05:16Pretty good spot.
05:17When I think of Snell and Boozer, I think you're talking about complete bats,
05:23but very different bats.
05:24Both are fine runners and good receivers.
05:27And together they give the Jets this final pair of setbacks as it is in the NFL.
05:32Emerson Boozer was the one.
05:33Early in his career, he was being compared to Gale Sayers.
05:36And just look at the drive, balance, and speed that Boozer's got.
05:40You had this great runner and boo,
05:43and you had this sort of classic 235-pound pullback in Matt Snell.
05:48Matt Snell carried the brunt of the Jets running attack.
05:51And like Boozer, he is the most versatile setback.
05:55Matt was pure power.
05:57Big enough to hurt when he hits.
05:59Yet he had the speed to turn on.
06:01Fast enough to break away for long games.
06:04Snell was great.
06:05Boozer was an underrated player.
06:07They complemented each other very, very well.
06:10They deserve to be on your list.
06:13And they're on the list.
06:16Our number nine backfield tandem hit the stage in 1966,
06:20but job number one on the Jets was being bodyguards for Broadway Joe.
06:24If you played with Namath, you had a block.
06:27Everybody had a block.
06:28Namath has long played with protection,
06:30the best any quarterback could hope for.
06:33But blocking didn't come.
06:35All that blocking needs
06:37still through receptions.
06:39Easy to Emerson Boozer.
06:41He tried.
06:42He tried to block.
06:43He just didn't have technique.
06:45Needless to say, this is not recommended.
06:48Really?
06:48In the rookie year, I missed a block.
06:51Now I says, weep.
06:52Get that rookie out of here.
06:54He's going to get me killed.
06:56I thought he was small.
06:57But what he did is say, hey, you better learn a block.
07:03This year, Boozer scored less,
07:05but developed his blocking and receiving
07:07to become a complete runner.
07:09He redefined himself.
07:10He became a terrific blocker,
07:12which added to Matt Snell's ability
07:14to run the ball as effectively as he did.
07:16Matt Snell led the team in rushing
07:18with over 700 yards.
07:21By 1968, our number nine backfield tandem
07:23was at the top of their game
07:25as Snell and Boozer
07:26helped bulldoze the Jets
07:28all the way to Super Bowl III.
07:31Matt Snell has been the outstanding runner so far.
07:34He's in there.
07:35Clear for it.
07:37Everyone zeroed in on Namath so much
07:40that they forgot to see in that game
07:42that Snell had a very good game
07:44run on the football.
07:46What a game, Snell, in that.
07:47Running left, running right.
07:49Look, he should have been the MVP of Super Bowl III.
07:51I don't have any doubt about it.
07:53You know, scored the only touchdown,
07:54121 yards rushing in that game.
07:56And the rushing yards was set up
07:57by Emerson Boozer's blocking.
08:00Speaking of blocking,
08:01Boozer makes the key one on this running play.
08:03When you think of the Jets
08:05and you think of that great season,
08:07that Super Bowl year,
08:08the New York Jets are the world champions.
08:12They needed that running game
08:13and those two guys
08:14were just quiet, steady workers.
08:19The number eight backfield tandem of all time,
08:23Roger Craig and Tom Rathman.
08:25I knew you were on the list.
08:26The Craig-Rathman combo
08:28was truly, I think,
08:30one of exceptional athletic ability in Craig.
08:34A discouraging run for the defense
08:36by Roger Craig.
08:38And Rathman's just top,
08:40hard-hitting style.
08:42Rathman goes,
08:43dragging tacklers again.
08:44Square-hitted pullback,
08:46high-kneed halfback.
08:48Roger Craig plays football
08:49the way it's supposed to be played.
08:51There was a Nebraska Cornhusker
08:53backfield come to San Francisco.
08:56They're going to name a city after
08:57in the state of Nebraska.
08:59They were perfect in the way
09:00that they had different personalities
09:02in different styles,
09:03suiting each other.
09:04Craig behind Rathman.
09:09Rathman was, of course,
09:11the lunch pail,
09:12go-to-work guy every day.
09:14No excuses today!
09:15Everybody's got to stop!
09:16He walked in the door the first time
09:18and he had that
09:19young Nebraska-Midwest crew
09:21cut square head
09:22and he looked at it
09:22and went,
09:23now that's a fullback.
09:24Craig was the stallion.
09:26Did anybody want to take on those knees?
09:28He was busted.
09:29He delivered absolute bowling ball
09:32touchdown runs,
09:33knocking over pins of defense.
09:35Usually, they tell players
09:36to hit them low.
09:40Don't hit Roger Craig low.
09:43You might get your jaw broken
09:44by his knee.
09:46Benders.
09:46Hand off to Craig
09:47on the left tackle.
09:48Sweeps outside.
09:49He goes to the end zone!
09:51Touchdown, 49ers!
09:54They were at the forefront
09:56of Bill Walsh's offense.
09:59The 49ers of the 80s
10:01were defined
10:02by their innovative
10:02passing game.
10:04The 49ers
10:05played football
10:06to really a new level.
10:08It was the role
10:09that our number 8 tandem
10:10played within the offense
10:11that made the 49ers
10:13cutting edge.
10:14You had this bruising
10:15bat coming out of the field
10:17flattening people.
10:18Really sound,
10:19fundamental football player.
10:20Now Tom Rathman
10:21starts catching passes.
10:22He's got Rathman!
10:24He's into the end zone!
10:25Go down!
10:26In 1989,
10:27Tom Rathman
10:28caught more passes
10:29than any other
10:30running back
10:31in the NFC.
10:32Catching the football
10:33not necessarily
10:33a requirement
10:34to grasp the fullbacks.
10:36Can you believe it?
10:37I can't!
10:38If Rathman was a
10:39boy wonder
10:39among fullbacks,
10:41then Craig was
10:42a man of steel
10:43among halfbacks.
10:45I think Roger
10:46was one of the most
10:47versatile runners
10:48ever.
10:49Five years
10:49he led the team
10:50in rushing.
11:02Four years
11:02he led the team
11:03in receiving.
11:04just a tremendous
11:05individual effort
11:06to pull out with that.
11:07We know that this guy
11:08will have to cover Roger
11:09which is scary for them.
11:11We weren't used
11:12to seeing fullbacks
11:13and tailbacks
11:14together
11:15catch the ball.
11:16You've got any
11:16questions about this
11:17just hit one of these
11:18two backs
11:18along the sideline
11:19and they'll sit down
11:20three up and they're
11:21going to get you
11:21eight to ten yards.
11:24They are
11:26habitually underrated.
11:27Beginning to think
11:28we should give Nebraska
11:29a little more credit
11:30than we have with them
11:30up here.
11:31I think we should be
11:31in the top three
11:32at least in one game
11:33we went back to back
11:34together which is
11:35incredible.
11:36The 49ers
11:37become the first team
11:39to win back to back
11:40Super Bowls
11:41since
11:41top three is
11:44seeing those guys
11:45win a couple of
11:46Super Bowls
11:47I would think would
11:47get them a little
11:48higher on the list.
11:49Up next
11:50this wind is stronger
11:51than we've ever had.
11:52I hate rain though.
11:53I'm about to snow
11:54their lane.
11:55I don't know.
11:56How did Mother Nature
11:57make her way
11:58into one of our
11:59backfield tandems?
12:00Next on our list.
12:02The number seven
12:03backfield tandem
12:04of all time.
12:06Larry Zonka
12:07and Mercury Morris.
12:08Wrong.
12:10Wrong.
12:11It's the perfect
12:12backfield with
12:13Zonka,
12:14Morris,
12:15and Kick
12:15and they should
12:16be top five.
12:18Larry Zonka
12:19and Mercury Morris.
12:21Larry Zonka
12:22and Mercury Morris.
12:23This was not just
12:24a typical one-two
12:25punch tandem.
12:26This was a jab,
12:26jab, jab
12:27and then a huge
12:28uppercut from
12:29Zonka.
12:30What the
12:31Larry Zonka!
12:32Zonk was the
12:34power running back.
12:36Merck was the
12:36quick outside
12:37running dash
12:39to the goal line
12:40tail back.
12:41Led by Mercury
12:42Morris and Larry
12:43Zonka,
12:44Miami Machine
12:45continued to move
12:46goalward.
12:46There you had
12:47the classic
12:48thunder and lightning.
12:50Because Morris
12:51was quick and fast
12:53and Zonka
12:53and no one
12:54wanted to tackle.
12:55These guys
12:55came with me
12:56on a fake
12:57they know I
12:58didn't have the ball
12:59but they didn't
13:00want to have
13:00the tackle Zonka.
13:01The Dolphins
13:02were determined
13:02to send Zonka
13:03and Morris
13:04on the same
13:05successful journeys
13:06they have taken
13:07all year.
13:10Bro, let's not
13:11let's not
13:13Jimmy Kick.
13:15Miami's offense
13:15is based on
13:16their two fine
13:17runners,
13:18Larry Zonka
13:18and number
13:1921 Jim Kick.
13:20When I came
13:21there in 69
13:22to the Dolphins
13:23Jim Kick
13:23was the star
13:24of that football team.
13:25Hands off
13:26kick for the middle
13:27he's got a touchdown!
13:29In fact
13:30there was a famous
13:30poster from the era
13:32where they were
13:33dressed as
13:34Butch Cassidy
13:34and the Sundance Kid.
13:36Butch Cassidy
13:37and the Sundance Kid
13:38are alive
13:39and prospering.
13:42I was closer
13:42to Jim
13:42because we had
13:43been together longer
13:44we were roommates
13:45and all the things
13:46that go into that.
13:47Jim Kick
13:47was a spectacular
13:49player.
13:50You can imagine
13:50Coach Shuler's
13:51dilemma
13:52at that time.
13:54Kick
13:55was the guy
13:56who
13:57was the most
13:58versatile.
14:00Zonka had power
14:01and size.
14:04Mercury Morris
14:05had speed.
14:07Kick had both
14:08and he could catch
14:09which
14:09neither Zonka
14:10or Morris
14:11could do.
14:12Somehow
14:13he gets shortchanged.
14:17the touchdowns.
14:19The touchdown
14:20was Morris'
14:21fifth in the last
14:21two games
14:22and he had broken up
14:23the Butch Cassidy
14:24and Sundance Kid
14:25tandem.
14:26I started to realize
14:28the great ability
14:29of a Mercury Morris.
14:30He could break
14:31tackles
14:32but he also
14:33was very elusive.
14:34Mercury
14:34put on a great show
14:36as Morris
14:37rolled relentlessly
14:38downfield.
14:39and Zonka
14:40was the big
14:40powerful guy
14:41that always
14:42got you
14:42the touchdown.
14:43Kick was the guy
14:44on third down
14:45that could get
14:45open and catch
14:46some football.
14:47Instead of
14:48Zonka and Mercury
14:49I like to talk
14:50Zonka,
14:50Kick and Mercury
14:51because that was
14:52the best backfield
14:53in the National
14:54Football League.
14:58With Jim Kick
14:59kicking in
15:00as a complimentary
15:01back,
15:01our number seven
15:02backfield tandem
15:03terrorized defenses
15:04with a simple formula.
15:06We are going to
15:07pound your ass.
15:09And it was the
15:10What?
15:13You're going to
15:14what my what?
15:16Okay.
15:18Perfect balance
15:19and counterbalance.
15:20You go Zonka,
15:22Zonka,
15:22Zonka
15:23inside
15:23and here
15:24you pitch the ball
15:25to Mercury
15:26and Morris
15:26and he could fly.
15:28He is blessed
15:29with blazing speed
15:30that makes him
15:31a threat
15:32each time
15:32he touches the ball.
15:34When people
15:34started to
15:35overreact to that
15:36we slam them
15:37in the middle.
15:38This is what
15:39makes the partnership
15:40so successful.
15:41Defenses
15:42I don't think
15:43at that time
15:43could cope
15:44with the
15:45dramatic difference
15:47between their styles.
15:48A getabout
15:49named Morris
15:50and a bulldozer
15:51named Zonka.
15:56In 1972
15:58Zonka and Morris
15:59made history
16:00as the first
16:01ever pair
16:02of runners
16:02to rush
16:03for a thousand
16:04yards each
16:04while also
16:05powering the
16:06Dolphins
16:06to a perfect season.
16:08That's the ball game.
16:09Miami
16:10has won
16:11Super Bowl
16:1117.
16:12He and I
16:13were the quintessential
16:14concept of speed
16:15and power.
16:16Whether it was
16:17power running game
16:17or those wide swings
16:18whatever it was
16:19you really
16:20established
16:20dominance
16:21through running
16:22and that's
16:23what we did.
16:24The number
16:25six backfield
16:26tandem of all
16:27the time
16:28Keith Lincoln
16:29and Paul Lowe
16:33absolutely belong
16:34on the list.
16:35No club in the
16:35AFL's early years
16:37could equal the
16:38talent of the
16:38Chargers
16:39who won five
16:40division titles
16:41in their first
16:42six seasons.
16:43In the early
16:431960s
16:44the AFL
16:45was trying to
16:45find its footing
16:46and no one
16:47had better traction
16:48than our number
16:49six tandem.
16:50They were phenomenal.
16:52Lincoln ran
16:52crowd leaders
16:53like this one
16:54all year long.
16:54Paul Lowe
16:55takes the pitch
16:56out and he's
16:56off and running.
16:57These two guys
16:58just played
16:58off each other
16:59absolutely beautifully.
17:02Keith Lincoln
17:03as a fullback
17:04was an effective
17:05runner
17:05very fast
17:06for a fullback
17:06and Keith
17:07rips up the middle
17:08for 40 yards.
17:09You don't want
17:10to get down there
17:10around his tires
17:11because he'll
17:12run you over.
17:13He was the
17:14AFL equivalent
17:15of Paul Horning.
17:16He could do it all.
17:17He could run
17:18between the tackles
17:19also could break
17:20a tackle
17:20and get outside
17:21and was a
17:21terrific receiver
17:22out of the backfield.
17:24Swings one
17:24to Keith Lincoln
17:25in the form
17:26of Washington
17:26Stater drives
17:2715 yards
17:28before being stopped.
17:31He threw
17:31halfback options.
17:32He threw six
17:33touchdowns
17:33in his career.
17:34It'll fix it
17:35to Keith Lincoln
17:36on the run fast.
17:36Lincoln spots
17:37an all-alone
17:38Lance Alworth
17:38and Rammel
17:39make defense cannon
17:41to Luke Lincoln
17:42as he comes
17:43off the field.
17:44Paul was much
17:45smarter than I.
17:46He said,
17:47well, let Lincoln
17:47block for hand
17:48and I'll carry
17:48the ball.
17:49Lowe trying
17:50to skirt
17:50and just get
17:51breaks away
17:52Lincoln goes
17:52in the block
17:53and the play
17:54is good
17:54from 25 yards.
17:56The plays
17:56I used to love
17:57to run
17:57would be
17:58sweepstuff.
17:59I got outside
17:59I don't think
18:00anybody can catch me.
18:01Here's Paul
18:01in high gear
18:02again.
18:03Yes,
18:04in high gear.
18:05Another touchdown.
18:08The real pinnacle
18:10was 1963.
18:11They played
18:12in the championship
18:12game.
18:13They played
18:13against the
18:14Boston Patriots.
18:1551 to 10.
18:16We're the number
18:17one defensive
18:17team in the
18:18AFL that year.
18:19In the most
18:19lopsided championship
18:20game in AFL history,
18:22Lincoln and Lowe
18:23combined for over
18:24400 yards of
18:25offense in a
18:26performance that
18:27stirred a
18:28different debate.
18:29I would have
18:30loved to see
18:30the Chicago Bears
18:32in 1963.
18:33The Chicago Bears
18:34hang out in front
18:36to beat the Giants
18:36for the NFL
18:37championship.
18:38They're great
18:39defense against
18:41the San Diego
18:42Chargers with
18:43that high-powered
18:44offense.
18:45I'm not so sure
18:46the Chargers
18:46wouldn't have
18:47beaten them
18:47if they played
18:48them straight up.
18:49That's how good
18:50Lowe and Lincoln
18:51were.
18:54I think people
18:55look at the
18:55numbers that
18:56Lincoln and Lowe
18:57put up and
18:58say, ah, that
18:59was just old AFL.
19:00That's a good
19:01football team.
19:03I think that
19:04you're not giving
19:05these two guys
19:06enough credit.
19:06They were
19:07outstanding players
19:08and I believe
19:09they would have
19:09been outstanding
19:10players in any
19:11backfield, in
19:12any offense, in
19:13any league, at
19:15any time.
19:17Well, maybe.
19:19Paulo's still
19:20with us.
19:21He turns 90
19:22in September.
19:24So, mention
19:26to him.
19:27Field tandem
19:28of all time,
19:29Lenny Moore and
19:30Allen Amici.
19:32Well, you have
19:33the workhorse
19:34and you have
19:35the halfback
19:36flanker.
19:37Allen Amici
19:37on a beautiful
19:38draw play
19:38matching 15
19:39yards.
19:40Your classic
19:41Mr. Inside,
19:42Mr. Outside
19:43type of a
19:43backfield.
19:44They're off and
19:45running with
19:45Lightning Lenny
19:46Moore supplying
19:46the leg work.
19:50Our number five
19:51tandem came
19:52together because
19:52the Colts decided
19:53having two
19:54franchise backs
19:55was better than
19:56one.
19:57Allen Amici and
19:58Lenny Moore were
19:59back-to-back
19:59rookies of the
20:00year.
20:01In the 1955 draft
20:02meeting, among the
20:03Colt draft choices
20:04were an all-American
20:05Allen Amici of
20:06Wisconsin.
20:07In the next year,
20:08the draft comes
20:08around.
20:09One of the Colts
20:10coaches called
20:11Penn State and
20:13talked to Joe
20:13Paterno, who was
20:14then an assistant.
20:15Come on, take
20:15off now.
20:16Let's go.
20:17And said, what
20:18about Lenny Moore?
20:19Paterno said, if
20:21you have a chance
20:21to draft this guy
20:22and you don't,
20:24you'll regret it.
20:25One of the most
20:25exciting players to
20:26ever wear a Colt
20:27uniform, Lenny
20:29Moore from Penn
20:29State.
20:30Lenny Moore had
20:31just such swiftness
20:32and grace and the
20:33ability to find the
20:34open space.
20:36Every time Lenny
20:37Moore was given
20:38the ball, it was
20:39the beginning of a
20:40unique adventure, a
20:42classic in
20:43cleats.
20:44He was so smooth,
20:46he could lay his
20:46feet down and walk
20:48on eggs without
20:49breaking them.
20:49Hold it right
20:50there and notice,
20:51ladies and
20:51gentlemen, his
20:52feet never touch
20:53the ground.
20:54When Lenny's feet
20:55did touch the
20:56ground, they were
20:57usually planted in
20:58pay dirt.
20:59Moore set an NFL
20:59record by scoring a
21:00touchdown in 18
21:02consecutive games, a
21:03mark he still
21:04shares to this
21:05day.
21:07He's the only
21:08player in league
21:09history to have
21:10more than 40
21:11rushing touchdowns and
21:1240 receiving
21:13touchdowns.
21:14Moore scored
21:15over 100
21:15touchdowns in his
21:16career, but he
21:18did not score the
21:19He played half his
21:20career in 12 game
21:22seasons and the
21:22other half in 14
21:23game seasons.
21:24That's how good he
21:26was to have 100
21:27touchdowns.
21:28most famous touchdown
21:30in Colts history.
21:35You ask most
21:36people who know
21:37anything about pro
21:38football about Alan
21:39Amici and one image
21:41comes to mind.
21:41United States
21:42begins for Amici in the
21:44bottom of the
21:44program.
21:45Alan Amici is first
21:46to touchdown in the
21:47bottom of the
21:48bowl of the
21:49professional football
21:50champions of the
21:51world.
21:51Alan Amici was
21:52faster than people
21:54realize.
21:55His first carry in the
21:57National Football League
21:58as a rookie, he went
21:5979 yards for a
22:00touchdown against the
22:02Bears.
22:02Alan the horse
22:03Amici broke in with
22:04the Colts in 1955
22:06and now the horse
22:07broke in.
22:08When Lenny Moore
22:09came into the
22:10offense, Alan being
22:12the selfless team guy
22:13that he was, he sort
22:14of adapted a new
22:16role.
22:16He became a little
22:17bit more of a power
22:18guy.
22:18He became more of a
22:19blocker.
22:20They were truly team
22:21first guys.
22:22If you think of a
22:23Terrell Owens mindset,
22:25that's what those two
22:27didn't have.
22:28The number four
22:29fast field tandem of
22:30all, Franco Harris and
22:32Rocky Blyer.
22:35People talk about how
22:36the Steelers are one of
22:37the few teams in the
22:37NFL today that still
22:39have a true commitment
22:39to the run, but the
22:43Steelers had a bigger
22:44one.
22:44The Steeler attack is
22:46based upon a strong
22:47performance from its
22:48running back.
22:49Franco was a glider.
22:50He had that full speed
22:52at two steps.
22:52Franco Harris, reaction,
22:55acceleration, and speed.
22:57Rocky Blyer is a
22:59classic football
23:00overachiever.
23:01Unsurprisingly, most
23:02of the power supplied
23:03by half-back Rocky
23:04Blyer, number 20.
23:05Rocky had those short
23:06choppy steps, deceptive
23:08speed.
23:09Blyer's fire is
23:10quickness.
23:11To the ball and
23:12through the hole in a
23:14flipper.
23:15Very fast.
23:18Franco Harris and
23:19Rocky Blyer were a
23:20great tandem because
23:21Rocky Blyer did not
23:23have a big eagle.
23:24At first, number 20's
23:26main role was designated
23:28blocker for Franco
23:29Harris.
23:30I didn't want to be
23:31Franco.
23:32I was like a third
23:33guard.
23:34I mean, my role was
23:35that of a blocking
23:35back.
23:36The contribution Blyer
23:37has made is
23:38immeasurable.
23:39The peculiarity there
23:40is Franco was the big
23:43guy, Rocky Blyer was
23:45much smaller.
23:46Franco was a big man
23:47that really didn't play
23:49like a big man.
23:50He played like a
23:50halfback.
23:51Envision the power of a
23:52big back, blended with
23:54the open field agility of
23:56a smaller man.
23:58Physically, Franco won
23:59out over his backfield
24:00partner.
24:02But it's quite hard to
24:03question the heart of
24:04Rocky Blyer.
24:09Rocky Blyer went to
24:11Vietnam, took some
24:13shrapnel.
24:14His foot was severely
24:15damaged.
24:16They told him he would
24:17never play football again.
24:19He defied all the
24:20odds makers and he
24:22actually, much to his
24:23credit, came back from
24:24the war faster after he
24:26did all his readings.
24:27Rocky breaks the
24:28tackle, opens on the
24:29right side to tap the
24:30fire, a touchdown.
24:33People, people stubbed
24:35their toe and they
24:36missed two games now.
24:38He got better after being
24:41in a war.
24:43Rocky was admired so
24:46much by fans and
24:47teammates.
24:48They had to be
24:49inspired saying, hey,
24:50if he can do what he's
24:51doing, my little pain in
24:53my knee, that'll go away
24:54soon if I just keep
24:55playing.
24:56All year, Blyer
24:57demonstrated how far
24:59thought and determination
25:01can take a man.
25:05Blyer's backfield partner
25:07may not have been a war
25:08hero, but he did have
25:10his own army.
25:11His Italian army.
25:13Franco's Italian army
25:15had that special
25:16Myron coat flare.
25:18They came to the
25:19football games wearing
25:20battle helmets, carrying
25:22a huge Italian flag.
25:24Frank, and they called
25:25themselves Franco's
25:27Italian army.
25:28Fan clubs popped up
25:29everywhere in Pittsburgh.
25:31Even the other half of
25:32our number four back to
25:33you at 10 and had one.
25:35What do you think?
25:36I covered those teams.
25:37I'd never heard of
25:39Rocky's Flying Squirrels.
25:41I mean, Franco's
25:42Italian army is probably
25:44more well-known than the
25:45real Italian army and
25:46certainly had more
25:47success.
25:48But Rocky's Flying
25:49Squirrels?
25:50I've never heard of them.
25:56Fan clubs aside, the
25:58effectiveness of our
25:59number four backfield
26:00tandem was undeniable.
26:02The Steelers got 100-yard
26:04performances from running
26:05backs Rocky Blyer and
26:06Franco Hess.
26:07The results are the
26:08results.
26:09And certainly each back
26:10gaining 1,000 yards in a
26:12single season is absolutely
26:14amazing.
26:15Add in a purple heart, an
26:16immaculate reception, and
26:18four Super Bowl rings, it's
26:20only fitting for Franco and
26:22Rocky to rank fourth on
26:23our list.
26:28It's all about the money as
26:30we climb higher on our
26:31number three backfield
26:33tandem of all time.
26:35The Million Dollar
26:36Backfield.
26:39The Million Dollar
26:40Backfield is one of the
26:41great stories in pro
26:42football.
26:42This is the fabled
26:43Million Dollar Backfield.
26:44Number 39, Hugh
26:45The King McElhinney.
26:46Number 34, Joe The Jet
26:47Perry.
26:47Number 14, Y.A.
26:49The Bald Eagle Tittle.
26:50And number 35, John
26:52Henry Johnson.
26:52It's the only full house
26:54backfield that all four
26:55members are in the Hall of
26:56Fame.
26:57It's like having Barry
26:58Sanders and Earl
27:00Campbell and maybe John
27:01Riggins in the same
27:02backfield with John
27:03Hellwig.
27:08In the early 50s, a
27:09fledgling 49ers franchise
27:11tipped their hand and went
27:13for broke with a full house
27:15backfield.
27:16You have a great quarterback
27:17obviously in Tittle.
27:18With a name like Y.A.
27:20Tittle going for you, there
27:21would seem to be no need
27:22for further identification.
27:24You have a tremendous
27:27acceleration through the
27:28tackle, breakaway runoff.
27:30Joe The Jet
27:31Perry.
27:319-5-9-4-100 yard dash.
27:34Plays the running form and
27:35established him as the best
27:36ball carrier in the league as
27:38he completes the 55 yard
27:39touchdown, Gallup.
27:40You have one of the best
27:42blocking fullbacks the NFL
27:44has ever seen.
27:45John Henry Johnson, the
27:4625, cuts back to the
27:47court.
27:48And then you have this one
27:51of a kind broken field
27:53magician.
27:54Hugh McElhenney first
27:55through the line line and
27:56streaks downfield.
27:57The biggest problem I had
27:58was about trying to figure
27:59out how to keep all three
28:00of these guys happy.
28:02John Henry was the
28:03toughest of the group.
28:05At the 35, spins away.
28:06He's the three, spinning like a
28:08whirling damage, John Henry
28:09Johnson.
28:10If he's the champion of the
28:12world.
28:12Johnson powers his way for
28:1414 yards.
28:15I used to say, John, take
28:18it easy because, you know,
28:20they're going to get to me
28:21and take it out on me.
28:23Joe The Jet
28:24Perry was so quick off the
28:26line, Kittle's toughest
28:27job was executing the
28:29exchange.
28:30Joe The Jet
28:31Perry.
28:329 out of 10 times, he
28:34could never get around fast
28:35enough to get made of
28:37all.
28:37He's going to run right
28:38away from these lost
28:39in the France.
28:40The 49ers score again.
28:41Even in a backfield worthy
28:43of royalty, there can be
28:45only one king.
28:46Hugh McElhenney was
28:48nicknamed the king before
28:49Elvis Presley was.
28:50Hugh the King McElhenney.
28:52To San Francisco 49er fans,
28:54the name was enough to
28:55create excitement.
28:56Hugh McElhenney was the
28:58Barry Sanders of his day.
29:02Watch him on this play as
29:03he goes around left hand and
29:04leaves his way for 42 yards.
29:06He'd get the ball in the
29:07open field and there was
29:08just no telling where he
29:09was going to go with it.
29:11McElhenney is one of the
29:12great runners in pro
29:13football and he proves it
29:14right here as he takes
29:16Tittle's short pass and he
29:18looms line after line.
29:19He'd go all the way over
29:20to this side of the field
29:21and then he'd cut back to
29:22that side of the field.
29:23The West Coast version of
29:24Hurricane Hazel breaks
29:25loose.
29:26It's Hurricane Hugh
29:27McElhenney of the 49ers
29:28cutting a path for 34
29:29yards.
29:33Well, a million dollar
29:34backfield of today's game
29:36would probably sound like
29:37a couple of backups.
29:38You're taking big money
29:38there, aren't you?
29:39Did the 49ers make
29:41millionaires out of the
29:42million dollar backfield?
29:43I was close.
29:44Their combined salaries
29:45were not...
29:46The combined salaries I
29:47doubt were really $100,000.
29:49It was a name that was
29:50given to them because a
29:52sports writer on San
29:53Francisco said,
29:54these guys are like a
29:55million dollars.
29:59Up next, how did the
30:01Elmira Express...
30:02The number two backfield
30:04tandem of all time,
30:06Jim Brown and Bobby
30:07Mitchell.
30:10Welcome to another
30:11Cleveland Browns football
30:13show.
30:14Jim Brown and Bobby
30:15Mitchell, I mean, it's
30:16almost a dream come true
30:17for any coach on any
30:19team.
30:19How is your backfield not
30:20going to be better?
30:22You know, with Jim
30:22Brown.
30:23Jim Brown is powerful
30:24as well as fast.
30:26He had...
30:27I mean, he had power.
30:28You didn't see nobody
30:29knock him down.
30:30Look at the film.
30:31Jim runs over a lot of
30:32players, spins out of
30:33their arms to go 23 yards
30:35to a touchdown.
30:36Well, you almost forget
30:37about Bobby Mitchell
30:38because it was Jim Brown.
30:40But Bobby Mitchell was a
30:41heck of a football player.
30:43Touchdowns come fast when
30:44you have a fellow like
30:45Bobby Mitchell in your
30:46backfield.
30:47Bobby was sort of like
30:49filet mignon to Jim
30:51Brown's sirloin.
30:52Bobby was just served up
30:54in smaller portions, but
30:56they were always very
30:57tasty.
30:58And Mitchell's speed
30:59gets another six points
31:01for Cleveland.
31:05It's hard to view Jim as
31:07being part of a backfield
31:08tandem.
31:09But let's look at Mitchell
31:11and what he did in his
31:12career.
31:13He was actually not a high
31:14draft pick.
31:15The thinking was that
31:17Bobby Mitchell was going to
31:19stay in track.
31:20He was a Big Ten sprint
31:22champion, hurdles champion.
31:24He had very sort of loose
31:25ankles, almost floppy.
31:27Mitchell shows some of his
31:29hurtling ability, gained as
31:30a college track man.
31:32When he came to training
31:33camp, Jim Brown would
31:34challenge Bobby Mitchell to
31:36sprints.
31:37And Jim Brown was running
31:38stride for stride with
31:39Bobby Mitchell and sometimes
31:40beating him.
31:41It was the first time it
31:41really opened people's eyes
31:42as to how fast Jim Brown
31:44was.
31:45He's a big man, but he
31:46can move like lightning.
31:51Our number two backfield
31:53tandem may have taken part
31:54in some friendly competition
31:56at practice, but Paul Brown
31:58was clever enough to keep it
31:59going on game day.
32:01He would come to me just
32:03before the kickoff and would
32:05say, Bobby, I want you to
32:06take this kickoff.
32:07Get it out there.
32:07Get it out there and get the
32:09big man going.
32:09And Mitchell is off on a
32:1191-yard touchdown sprint.
32:13He would use me to push
32:16Jim.
32:17The spotlight camera focuses
32:18on Jim Brown as Cleveland's
32:21ground game comes alive.
32:22Once Mitchell got Brown going,
32:25nothing could stop Cleveland's
32:26dynamic duo.
32:28And another fancy run by
32:29Speedy Bobby.
32:31Our number two tandem turned
32:33out over five yards per carry
32:34during their four years
32:36together.
32:36Surprisingly, NFL titles eluded
32:39the Ohio twosome, forcing
32:41Paul Brown to ponder a change.
32:46At the end of the 61 season,
32:48Paul Brown traded Bobby
32:51Mitchell to the Redskins for
32:52the rights to Ernie Davis.
32:55These news, real clips of
32:56Ernie in action show you why.
32:58Unfortunately, he came down
32:59with cancer and never played
33:01it down in the NFL.
33:02I wish that Mitchell and Jim
33:03Brown could have played
33:04longer together.
33:05But the Browns thought they
33:08could even get better.
33:09Davis in the same backfield
33:11with the great Jim Brown.
33:13Wow!
33:15That may have been very special,
33:16but what they had before
33:18was pretty special, too.
33:20You had Bobby Mitchell with
33:21his pure speed, and you had
33:23Jim Brown who really had
33:24everything going for his
33:25running game.
33:26I would have loved to see that
33:28tandem stay together for a lot
33:29longer.
33:30Coming up, we reveal our
33:32number one...
33:33Mitchell at left.
33:35Horning and Taylor went out
33:36because they won championships.
33:39And now, the number one
33:41backfield tandem of all time.
33:43Paul Horning and Jim Taylor.
33:46In our business, there is no
33:48second place.
33:49Either your first or your last.
33:51Paul Horning and Jim Taylor,
33:53they got to be the number one
33:54tandem of all time.
33:56They were a great tandem.
33:57You had lightning and thunder.
33:59When we talk about lightning
34:01and Paul Horning, he was
34:02lightning in so many ways.
34:03The almost unstoppable
34:04Horning, which is a press
34:06for the touchdown.
34:07In terms of all-around skill,
34:09you haven't seen many players
34:11like Horning as a running
34:12back, as a tremendous kicker,
34:15and a guy who could throw
34:16the halfback pass.
34:17Horning on his famous pass
34:19option play.
34:20He was as effective as any
34:21one human being could be on
34:22a football field.
34:23He could do everything.
34:25Every play with Jim Taylor
34:27was an examination of his
34:28manhood.
34:29He hit the line with
34:31splintering force.
34:33Taylor goes running
34:33through the middle
34:34for the first touchdown
34:36of the game.
34:37He didn't try to go by
34:39anybody.
34:39He didn't try to finesse
34:41anybody.
34:41He tried to injure
34:43every time.
34:44He is a reminder that
34:46football is still a game
34:47for men who love violence.
34:54I would say that the number
34:55one play in our offensive
34:57category is the power sweep.
35:00The power sweep, Jim Taylor
35:02would unselfishly be out
35:03there just as effectively
35:05blocking for Horning and
35:06Horning just as effectively
35:07for Taylor.
35:08Horning throws a beautiful
35:09crossbody block on Ernie Clark.
35:11Jim opens the throttle and
35:12Taylor tallies.
35:14I've always took a lot of
35:15pride in my blocking.
35:17Blocking was very important
35:18as far as Lombardi was
35:19concerned.
35:20What we're trying to get
35:21is a seal here and a seal
35:23here.
35:23The old video of Vince
35:24Lombardi, we're going to
35:25make an alley, we're going to
35:26run here, here, right down
35:27the alley.
35:28And try to run this play
35:29in the alley.
35:31Vince Lombardi said if we
35:33can establish the Green
35:34Book Packers sweep, then
35:36teams will respect us and
35:37we're going to be a good
35:38football team.
35:39The Packers, they
35:40perfected it.
35:41It helped them achieve the
35:43success they did throughout
35:43the 60s.
35:44And the Packers have just
35:46taken the championship.
35:52Paul Horning and Jim
35:54Taylor swept their way
35:55through the 60s, winning
35:56four NFL titles along with
35:58the first ever Super Bowl.
35:59The Chiefs down to the
36:00Packers, 35 to 10.
36:02A super debut for the
36:04Super Bowl.
36:05While they had successful
36:07careers in common, our
36:09number one backfield tandem
36:10was really a bit of an odd
36:12gobble.
36:13Oh, and they were MVP in
36:15back-to-back seasons.
36:20So, Paul Horning in 61,
36:22Taylor in 62, combined for
36:25143 touchdowns in nine
36:27years.
36:29Taylor was, you know, your
36:31classic, to play with a
36:32bloody nose and knock you.
36:34I'm going to punish him.
36:36I'm going to hit the tack way
36:37harder than he's going to
36:38hit me.
36:39And Horning was the golden
36:40boy, Heisman Trophy winner,
36:42Notre Dame.
36:43I came from Notre Dame with
36:44a few awards, and I came to
36:46Green Bay with a lot of
36:47publicity.
36:48Jim Taylor was in the
36:48weight room pumping iron.
36:50Paul Horning was out nights
36:53pumping something else.
36:56Horning was the playboy.
36:58Horning was always the one
36:59who got in trouble.
37:00He certainly had very strong
37:02leadership qualities off the
37:03football field.
37:06Come on, quit laughing.
37:08Quit laughing.
37:09The boards that he brought in.
37:11If you're bad on the field,
37:12then you'd be bad off the field
37:13with the chicks, all right?
37:15He did love to score.
37:17Both on the field and off, I guess.
37:24Vince always said that I did a
37:25pretty good job when I got
37:27close to the goal line.
37:28When Horning is in there, he
37:30smells the goal line.
37:31Horning used to joke that it was
37:33Jim Taylor's job to get the
37:35Packers inside the 10-yard line.
37:37But once they got there, Horning
37:39would say to Taylor, OK, Jim,
37:40don't go in there, scorer.
37:41That's my job.
37:42Ball versus the Reds for the
37:44touchdown.
37:45Horning and I, we had the
37:46camaraderie of the football team
37:49at heart.
37:50No one was bigger than the team.
37:53Every man must be committed to
37:55excellence.
37:55Every man must be committed to
37:57victory.
38:02Taylor and Horning teamed up for
38:04150 touchdowns in Titletown before
38:07heading to their permanent home in
38:08Kent.
38:09Thank you very much.
38:11This pair of backers had
38:13everything.
38:14Power, precision, and playoff
38:16success.
38:16Now they have our top honor as the
38:20best backfield tandem of all time.
38:23When you look at what they
38:24accomplished and how well they
38:26played together, I would absolutely
38:28pick them as the greatest backfield.
38:32There you go.
38:34There you have it.
38:35Our top 10 backfield tandems of all
38:38time.
38:39You may be wondering why you didn't
38:41see many pairings from the past 20
38:43years.
38:43It may be because the era of the
38:46terrific twosome has all but eroded.
38:49We didn't see any pairs for the last
38:5120 years.
38:52The problem with ranking tandems is
38:54what era in which they played.
38:56Back in the day, you had ran split
38:58backs.
38:59Guys that can do a little bit of
39:00everything.
39:01This is what makes the partnership so
39:03successful.
39:04In today's world, teams don't run that
39:06kind of offense.
39:07Those positions have evolved into
39:09pretty much one player with the other
39:12player being the blocking guy.
39:14So the next time you're rooting for your
39:16favorite running back, show a little
39:18passion for his partner.
39:19And perhaps we'll have a new backfield
39:21tandem for our next list.
39:23Anyways,
39:23please.
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