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August 2, 2010
There was a time, back in the Gibbs Glory Days, when the Washington Redskins were thought of as a big team. The relative size of the offensive line Gibbs and offensive line guru Joe Bugel constructed in front of battering ram running back John Riggins might not turn heads by today's standards, but back then it was a different story.
From the Washington Post in 1982:
"Bugel likes his players big, so the first thing you notice about the Hogs is their size. The line averages 273 pounds, and will get even larger when Starke, who is small for a tackle (260 pounds), retires and is replaced by Laster, 290. Grimm is playing at 270, Bostic 255 and May at 288 after falling to 255 last year."
I remember reading something by a long-time NFL writer (whose name escapes me) back in those days, talking about how Gibbs, Riggins and the Redskins' power running game had (paraphrasing) taken the NFL by the scruff of the neck and dragged it kicking and screaming back to the good old days ... to when the league was about who was bigger, faster, stronger and more aggressive.
The Hogs redefined how football was played in the 80's and how the football has looked at offensive lines ever since. Back then the term "Hogs" was cute. Today it is part of the lexicon. Go to any high school football game on a Friday night and listen to the crowd. If you don't hear at least one Dad in the stands clench his teeth and growl about "the hogs inside," I'll buy next time we meet.
The Redskins offensive line was not only better coached, prepared and motivated than their opponents, they were also just plain bigger.
Apparently, size matters.
Don't think so? Joe Gibbs was once asked why he favored his team wearing white so much. He made some comment about it being cooler in the hot August and Septermber sun, and I think suggested it was easier for his quarterback to find his receivers downfield in white. But then he added what always seemed to me was the real reason...
CLICK HERE to read more
There was a time, back in the Gibbs Glory Days, when the Washington Redskins were thought of as a big team. The relative size of the offensive line Gibbs and offensive line guru Joe Bugel constructed in front of battering ram running back John Riggins might not turn heads by today's standards, but back then it was a different story.
From the Washington Post in 1982:
"Bugel likes his players big, so the first thing you notice about the Hogs is their size. The line averages 273 pounds, and will get even larger when Starke, who is small for a tackle (260 pounds), retires and is replaced by Laster, 290. Grimm is playing at 270, Bostic 255 and May at 288 after falling to 255 last year."
I remember reading something by a long-time NFL writer (whose name escapes me) back in those days, talking about how Gibbs, Riggins and the Redskins' power running game had (paraphrasing) taken the NFL by the scruff of the neck and dragged it kicking and screaming back to the good old days ... to when the league was about who was bigger, faster, stronger and more aggressive.
The Hogs redefined how football was played in the 80's and how the football has looked at offensive lines ever since. Back then the term "Hogs" was cute. Today it is part of the lexicon. Go to any high school football game on a Friday night and listen to the crowd. If you don't hear at least one Dad in the stands clench his teeth and growl about "the hogs inside," I'll buy next time we meet.
The Redskins offensive line was not only better coached, prepared and motivated than their opponents, they were also just plain bigger.
Apparently, size matters.
Don't think so? Joe Gibbs was once asked why he favored his team wearing white so much. He made some comment about it being cooler in the hot August and Septermber sun, and I think suggested it was easier for his quarterback to find his receivers downfield in white. But then he added what always seemed to me was the real reason...
CLICK HERE to read more
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