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I was just watching the NFL network channel on TV. They stated that the best season any receiver had in the history of the NFL was Packer receiver Don Hutson in '42.
That year he had 74 receptions and for 1,211 yards and 17 touchdown catches in just an 11 game season! It was fascinating to watch the old game films and see how elusive and sure-handed he was as a receiver.
At 6'1" and 183 lbs., he just was not that physically big as a player.
One also has to remember the context of offensive play-calling in those days. Most NFL teams called far more running plays than passing plays.
During that '42 season, Arnie Herber was the Packers QB.
The program also showed clips of his playing extremely well as a defensive back since teams played both ways in those days. In '43 he had 8 interceptions in just 10 games.
Hutson was quoted as saying, "For every pass I catch in a game, I catch 1,000 passes in practice."
He still holds the highest career average touchdown reception per game of .85 of any receiver in the NFL.
I remember my father telling me of a game where he saw Hutson catch 4 touchdown passes in a single QUARTER!(it may have been against the Browns--I can't remember).
My Dad said that after the second touchdown, the other team put two cornerbacks on Hutson. The first one lined up directly on the line of scrimmage across from Hutson. His sole responsibility was to either hold up Hutson on the line and/or knock him off his route. The second cornerback's assginment was to actually cover Hutson if he got past the first corner. Needless to say, they did a pretty poor job of limiting Hutson to catches.
Hutson was also the team's placekicker for most of his career. He was truly one of the best all-around players the Packers have ever had.
That year he had 74 receptions and for 1,211 yards and 17 touchdown catches in just an 11 game season! It was fascinating to watch the old game films and see how elusive and sure-handed he was as a receiver.
At 6'1" and 183 lbs., he just was not that physically big as a player.
One also has to remember the context of offensive play-calling in those days. Most NFL teams called far more running plays than passing plays.
During that '42 season, Arnie Herber was the Packers QB.
The program also showed clips of his playing extremely well as a defensive back since teams played both ways in those days. In '43 he had 8 interceptions in just 10 games.
Hutson was quoted as saying, "For every pass I catch in a game, I catch 1,000 passes in practice."
He still holds the highest career average touchdown reception per game of .85 of any receiver in the NFL.
I remember my father telling me of a game where he saw Hutson catch 4 touchdown passes in a single QUARTER!(it may have been against the Browns--I can't remember).
My Dad said that after the second touchdown, the other team put two cornerbacks on Hutson. The first one lined up directly on the line of scrimmage across from Hutson. His sole responsibility was to either hold up Hutson on the line and/or knock him off his route. The second cornerback's assginment was to actually cover Hutson if he got past the first corner. Needless to say, they did a pretty poor job of limiting Hutson to catches.
Hutson was also the team's placekicker for most of his career. He was truly one of the best all-around players the Packers have ever had.
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