Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

NFL

Williams, John L.

sky93-94 jl williamsCards: 1993-1994 Skybox Colors, Skybox 1992, ProSet 1989, Fleer 1990
Acquired: 2014 TTM, C/o Home
Sent:  3/9     Received: 4/11    (31 days)
Failure: 2013, C/o Home

Recruited by future NFL head coach Mike Shannahan to play tailback at Florida in 1981- Shanahan was enamored with John L. Williams talent remarking at one point, “He can do it all.” The Gators were stacked at runningback though, with future NFLers Lorenzo Hampton and Neal Anderson already seeing touches in the backfield, so Williams, who wanted to start in some capacity, demonstrated soft hands and solid blocking and moved to fullback. After splitting time with future NFLer James Jones, Williams became the fulltime starter at fullback in his Sophomore year. Over his career at Florida, John L. piled up over 2,400 yards rushing and at the time a school record 92 receptions out of the backfield.

Because of the lack of respect given to the fullback position and not sky92 jl williamspiling up eye-popping numbers for the Gators, Williams was not considered first round talent. John L. though wowed scouts as a combine wonder and shot up draft boards as a highly sought after once in a lifetime fullback, beating out names in individual drills such as Bo Jackson and finishing second to only Neal Anderson in the 40 yard dash. With teams aggressively positioning to grab Williams, the Seahawks approached the podium and took John L. with the 15th pick of the first round in the 1985 draft.

Stepping into the Seahawks backfield, Williams helped alleviate the pressure off of tailback Curt Warner and provided a nice safety valve for quarterback Dave Kreig in the ‘Ground Chuck’ offense. Seattle was finally able to turn the corner and make the playoffs.  Williams rushed for a career high 877 yards and 4 TDs in 1988 as part of the Seahawks’ diversified rushing attack. An intergral part of the Seahawks offense, John L. led the NFL in receptions from the backfield with 76 in 1989, and his 58 catches in 1988 were the first time anybody ever led the team in receptions other than Steve Largent since the franchise had been founded.

With Warner departing to the LA Rams in 1990, and both Krieg andflr90 jl williams future HoF receiver Largent both in the twilight of their Seattle careers, Williams was leaned on heavily by the team. He’d finish with a career high 699 yards receiving in 1990, and back to back 700+ yards rushing season in 1990 and 1991. The Seahawks went through a coaching change in 1992 bringing in Head Coach Tom Flores and Offensive Coordinator Larry Kennan. Out was the ‘Ground Chuck’ style offense, and in was a more West Coast oriented approach. While Williams saw less time rushing the ball, he still was an important part of the passing game, especially as the team was crumbling offensively due to lack of star power beyond Williams and Brian Blades. At quarterback the team struggled mightily with Dan McGwire, Rick Mirer, and Stan Gelbaugh all taking snaps.

John L. was mercifully allowed to depart via free agency in 1994 to the Pittsbugh Steelers and replaced the venerable Meril Hoge at fullback.  There he enjoyed his final two seasons playing for the black and gold, culminating in his first and only SuperBowl appearance (SuperBowl XXX) at the conclusion of the 1995 season. pset89 jl williamsHe’d retire after the season citing the wear and tear on his body. His 546 receptions, was the second highest total recorded at the time, by a runnningback/ fullback, behind only Roger Craig.  Over his career he earned two Pro Bowl nods for the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

Afterwards John L. returned back to his homestate of Florida. He owned a nightclub for a while then dabbled in coaching briefly with former teammate Kerwin Bell at the High School level. He’s also been named one of the Gator Greats and inducted into his Alma Mater’s HoF.  He’s remembered well by the Seahawk faithful, and Williams in turn returned in 2008 to raise the 12th Man Flag in Seattle.  Like many great players before him, I can only envision John L. in his Seahawk threads, and typically eschew his final days in Pittsburgh. Williams is featured in all 3 Tecmo Bowl games, oddly appearing as a tight end in the original release. In the future installments, he’s a popcorn back along the lines of Leroy Hoard.

 

G/Gs  149/133   Rush 1245   Yds 5006   Avg 4.0   Td 18   Lg 48   |
Rec 546   Yds 4656   Avg 8.5   Td 19  Lg 75t

NFL, WLAF

Johnson, Jason

ultwlaf92 jjohnsonCards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent: 2/17    Received: 3/4  (14 days)

Jason Johnson played wide receiver and runningback for the Illinois State Firebirds. He’d be a free agent find of the Denver Broncos in 1988. After spending the first half of the season on injured reserve, he’d return 14 kick offs for 292 yards in 8 games. The Steelers signed Johnson in 1989, and again he’d be relegated to primarily kick and punt return duties.Later Jason would have a try out with the New Orleans Saints but not make the squad.

In 1991, Jason was drafted by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF in the 3rd round of the league’s positional draft. As Mike Perez‘s favorite target, the speedy receiver caught 38 balls for 635 yards and 4 touchdowns.   Against the Skyhawks that season, he’d catch a 59 yard bomb to set up the go ahead score.  Johnson also stepped up as Frankfurt’s primary punt returner, fielding 24 kicks for 89 yards. Jason even saw time as an emergency defensive back, intercepting one pass and returning it 17 yards.  While the Galaxy finished 7-3, the team did not make the playoffs in 1991.

pset91 jjohnsonHe’d return to the Galaxy for the 1992 season, but with Perez splitting time with Alex Espinoza behind a leaky offensive line, Johnson saw less looks and consequently- less targets, and the team slumped. Still Jason managed to haul in 22 receptions for 268 yards and a 47 yard touchdown, before the league went on hiatus after the season.

He returned back stateside after that, and his hometown of Gary, Indiana. He worked his way into coaching, and is now a head coach at West Side High School.  He wrote me a really nice note on the back of the envelope, telling me that his son was soon going to be in the NFL and that he himself loves Austin and is looking forward to moving here when he retires.

NFL  Rec   1          Yds  6         Avg 6.0        Td 0        Lg 6    |
KR  17     Yds 335       Avg 19.7         Td  0         Lg 34
Pr  3         Yds 27          Avg 9.0           Td  0         Lg 13

WLAF  Rec 60       Yds   903        Avg 15.1       Td   5          Lg  59
Kr     5           Yds   107        Avg   21.4          Td 0               Lg 26
Pr    24         Yds      89        Avg  3.7              Td 0               Lg 15

 

NFL

Miller, Heath “Big Money”

dor&s10 hmillerCards: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009, 2010
Acquired: 2013 TTM, C/o Home
Sent:  12/10/13  Received: 2/4/14  ( days)

Heath Miller was an impressive specimen who played for the University of Virginia and at the time of his graduation was recognized as the nation’s top TE prospect, eclipsing many of the school’s records for statistical performance from his position. Miller slipped to the 30th pick of the 2005 draft, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Surprisingly, despite the team’s rich history of staunch running games and play action systems, the tight end had never been an integral part of Pittsburgh’s offensive attack. Miller has been a favorite target of Ben Rothlisberger since his rookie season, and was a key offensive addition to the team’s Super Bowl victory that year. He’s quietly moved up the career charts for the team, and in 9 years has already moved into 3rd place, as of 2013.  Heath has earned Pro Bowl nods for both his 2009 season, when he had a career high 76 receptions, and his 2012 campaign, when he recorded a career high 816 yards and 8 TDs.  Teams have taken note of Big Money, and have slowed his production by stymieing him with double teams.

Chock this one up to impatience. It looks like Heath just throws his autograph requests into a pile and then signs sporadically from there. Case in point, the response time I got from him. I have seen Miller sign in as little as 6 days. I even had friends who sent after me and got their cards signed and returned weeks before me. Evidence also from Sportscollectors.net, suggested that he is a highly reliable signer, but does so after garnering a pile together. I must have been at the bottom of that bin as I had to wait the longest of the particular group.  I really like the Rookies & Stars releases from 2009 and 2010. It’s a shame that they moved so quickly away from this excitingly abstract look to something more compositionally unoriginal, such as their 2011 release, but I guess that was at their discretion.