MUNSON'S GAZETTA: NO SAFETY OR SURPRISE

We're nearing the end of our position reviews for the D. Indeed, some would argue that we already have reached it, as they fail to recognize the distinctiveness of the "nickel"(we won't; later Gazetta). I should point out for the good of the order that I attempt  to not hog the Sidebar, but things seemed slow .

I gotta say that I didn't pay all that much attention to safeties back in the day. Safeties in the '60s, 70's and 80's were more or less auxiliary corners. One of our OBNUG contributors noted(very wisely) football in the day was a DT, CB and MLB deal; now, it's a OLB, SS and FS deal. Lotta truth in  that. I wouldn't go so far as to say they were overlooked, but they werent as featured as now. Tatum of course was notorious, but if you'd seen him, and were totally objective, you'd have to admit that he was not in general "where the action is". Even as passing took over circa 1984 the safeties were simply part of the scheme, not the heart of it.

Again, Boise State was ahead of the curve. I'll tell you about Clint Sigman and a significant game-Cal Poly, 1975. Cal Poly had a RB named Gary "Night Train" Davis. Your great grandparents would get the "Night Train" ref: before grade crossings with electric lights and rails, these freight expresses would barrell through at 3:00 A. M. and you'd better not  be around.Davis was built like an inverted wedge, went around 240(or at least looked it). He could pound, and then break out, and he was tearing us a new one(incl a DT named Barry Munson-no relation). Finally we isolated Sigman on him. Sigman was the only player with stripes on his helmet, and within those stripes were tiny arrows, signifying his extraordinary hitting prowess. In those days you could get real close to the field and you could hear him hit Davis above the roar, play after play after play. Gary outweighed him 60 lbs easy(probably closer to 70);no matter. Once Sigman dialed in it was lights out Cal running game and we won on a last second toss from Stern to Holton. I can still hear those hits to this day. Davis played for Shula at Miami.

Rolly Woolsey was another great safety, almost as crazy as Sigman but a little more calculating, Maverick to Sig's Mad Hatter. Rolly had played 8 man; all those guys are nuts, natural defensive players every one of 'em(I think you could take the ball away and they wouldnt care or even notice: Paradis was an 8 man'er-the fact that we can transfer him to O speaks volumes). Rolly's hits were sagacious, effective not just for the raw kinetic energy but for the ineffable timing. He'd make you move in your seat the way watching a running back does, you'd twist and turn as he coiled tornado-like into the RB or WR. He ran back punts well too, in fact got drafted for it and got a Superbowl ring with Dallas his rookie year. 

I'll somewhat arbitrarily pick Wes Nurse as signalling the "modern" era for Bronco safeties:go ahead and pick me apart bc we'd been getting good ones for years. I like Nurse; he's class. And he clearly marks the transition from safety as panther to safety as cobra. In all the years he played I dont recall a serious mental lapse from the guy, and his physical skills were redoubtable.  On a personal note, my mom met his parents at Perkins and they were exceedingly gracious, refined  and cordial. Class brings class as they say. Tadman brought the same energy and focus, and each of the succeeding classes has raised the bar in terms of speed, skill, size and FBI(football intelligence).

Picking up an earlier theme, safeties are now the heart of the D, and no Braver-heart can be found than at our Broncos. Johnson, Venable and Iloka(I still think it sounds like  a Hawaiian law firm) are clearly on the highest level. Re-watching the TCU game, and both Oregon games, brings an appreciation for the quality of our play at that position. Once again our Broncos have proven prescient in the development of positions to confront the new realities of 2010 football. The ulitmate refinement is the nickel which I will explicate upon in a later discussion.

BONUS OBNUG POINTS:WHO CAN IDENTIFY SOURCE FOR TITLE?