Memory Lane - 1976 Green Bay Packers Preview
Green Bay hired HOF QB Bart Starr in 1975 as head coach and GM hoping to restore the Packers to their prior glory. Looking back almost fifty years later, part of his lack of success derived from his inability to access player talent in the draft. In all his years at GB only one draft choice would enter the Hall of Fame, WR James Lofton.
A brief backstory to the Packers. The Pack dynasty was coming to an end, Lomardi was gone at then end of 1967, hand picked successor, Phil Bengston couldn’t carry on the torch and Dan Devine was hired in 1971 as his replacement. QB Bart Starr had retired after the 1971 season and his replacement QB Scott Hunter hadn’t developed into an adequate passer. In 1974 after a week 6 loss to the hated Bears, Devine orchestrates a desperate move to upgrade his QB position and makes one of the worst trades in Pack history. He sends 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks in 1975 & 1st and 2nd round picks in 1976 to the LA Rams for aging QB, 34 yr old John Hadl. In the six games remaining Hadl goes 3-3. In 1975, Hadl starts thirteen games, goes 4-9 with 6 TD’s and 21 INT’s.
At the end of 1975, Starr seen enough and makes a trade, sending Hadl, CB John Ellis and a 4th round pick in 1976 and a 3rd round pick in 1977 to the Houston Oilers for young QB, 27 yr old Lynn Dickey. In review, seven draft picks and a CB for a QB that won seven games for the Packers.
That is where the Packers are in the before the start of the 1976 season. An unproven QB that couldn’t beat out Dan Pastorini for the starting job in Houston. Around him will be two young RB’s that didn’t eclipse 500 yds rushing in ‘75 and no receivers that broke 500 yards.
On defense that Packers don’t look any better. They couldn’t stop the run, pressuring the QB was infrequent and couldn’t intercept the opponent. The Pack did hire defensive back coach Dick LeBeau (who would become a very good defensive coordinator in the NFL).
The 1976 draft added: T Mark Koncar, DB Mike McCoy, WR Aundra Thompson and G Melvin Jackson.
1975 Rankings
Tot Yds Off: 20
Tot Yds Def: 16
Tot Pts Scored: 20
Tot Pts Against: 13
1975 Results:
| HM | Pts | AW | Pts | OT | |||
| GB | 16 | DET | 30 | - | L | ||
| DEN | 23 | GB | 13 | - | L | ||
| GB | 07 | MIA | 31 | - | L | ||
| NO | 20 | GB | 19 | - | L | ||
| DAL | 17 | GB | 19 | - | W | ||
| GB | 13 | PIT | 16 | - | L | ||
| GB | 17 | MIN | 28 | - | L | ||
| CHI | 27 | GB | 14 | - | L | ||
| DET | 13 | GB | 10 | - | L | ||
| GB | 40 | NYG | 14 | - | W | ||
| GB | 28 | CHI | 07 | - | W | ||
| MIN | 24 | GB | 03 | - | L | ||
| LAR | 22 | GB | 05 | - | L | ||
| GB | 22 | ATL | 13 | - | W |
1976 Opening Day Roster
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE | ||||
| Player | Pos | Player | Pos | ||
| Lynn Dickey | QB | Clarence Williams | LDE | ||
| Willard Harrell | RB | Mike McCoy | LDT | ||
| John Brockington | FB | Dave Pureifory | RDT | ||
| Ken Payne | WR | Alden Roche | RDE | ||
| Steve Odom | WR | Gary Weaver | LLB | ||
| Rich McGeorge | TE | Ron Acks | MLB | ||
| Mark Koncar | LT | Fred Carr | RLB | ||
| Bruce Van Dyke | LG | Willie Buchanon | LCB | ||
| Larry McCarren | C | Mike McCoy | RCB | ||
| Gale Gillingham | RG | Charlie Hall | SS | ||
| Dick Himes | RT | Johnnie Gray | FS |
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