NFC East Minnesota Gophers - Decatur Staleys News & Notes

After the initial league flurry of drafting running backs and quarterbacks Minnesota selected the first defensive player of the draft. The Gophers took a premier Middle Linebacker Joe Schmidt.

Pro Bowls 1960 +	First Team All-Pro 1960 +
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The veteran Schmidt brings stellar ability versus both the run and pass, securing the middle of the Gophers defense.

While we're talking defense, Minnesota is well stacked in that area. Flanking Schnmidt are fellow linebackers Larry Morris and Bill Forester.

Pro Bowls 1960 +	First Team All-Pro 1960 +
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Each linebacker has All-Pro credentials and fronting them are LaVerne Torczon, Volny Peters & Bill Quinlan. The Minnesota front seven is very formidable. On offense Minnesota has begun building a good offensive line. BIlly Krisher and Al Jamison protect their Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. "The Flying Dutchman" Van Brocklin is at the end of his storied career, so this is an area that Minnesota will have to address in the future. However for this year the Minnesota Gophers are one tough opponent.

The Decatur Staleys by virtue of the lottery were assigned the next to last pick of the first round. The immediate impact QB's and RB's had been consumed so that ship had sailed. Time to look elsewhere and fortunately their was a great young MLB available, Ray Nitschke.

Pro Bowls 1960 +	First Team All-Pro 1960 +
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The Middle Linebacker position is now filled for more than a decade in Decatur. As the 60's progress whenever the argument came up over who the best MLB was, Nitschke's name was always involved.

Decatur's defense is much more than one man. Impact players are dotted across the Staleys defense. Names like Lamar Lundy, Dan Currie & Jerry Norton give more than capable support for Nitschke. How about the Staleys offense you might ask? Well they're led by a Quarterback who had been retired...and would go on to play for more than a dozen more seasons George Blanda.

Pro Bowls 1960 +	First Team All-Pro 1960 +
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With the offense manned by Blanda there are some nice weapons at this disposal. Billy Cannon is a triple threat, catching passes, running and returning punts. Bill Groman is a hightly productive receiver. Bruce Bosley will provide a great building block for the Decatur offensive line for many seasons to come.