Gritz Blitzed

The Daredevils knock off the Gunslingers

LAKEVIEW, AL - Nothing is more Southern than grits. Nothing is more synonymous with an aggressive defense than the blitz. In 1977 Southern Rock was at its peak and in the NFL, the Deep South's Atlanta Falcons were playing defense at the highest level since World War II. The Falcons were in their 12th year in the league. They would finish the season at 7–7 and not make the playoffs, but they are still known for their nasty defense and their famous nickname. Although the Falcons' offense struggled, the defense was dominant. The '77 Falcons defense only allowed 129 points which established the all-time NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 14-game season. Atlanta's 3,242 total yards allowed were second-fewest in the league, and their 1,384 passing yards allowed was by far the best in the NFL. The defense surrendered only 9.2 points per game which stilll remains a modern day record. A Week 4 game summary from the season read, "The Atlanta Falcons with the NFL's leading defensive unit, have now allowed just 19 points in four games while climbing to the top of the NFC West with a 3-1 record. A 39-yard touchdown pass from Scott Hunter to Alfred Jenkins was the only score in the game". The most famous personality on the '77 Falcons was the defensive coordinator, Jerry Glanville, who installed the swarming style of play that became known as the "Grits Blitz". Opposing teams scored seven, or fewer points, in half of their games and scored more than 16 points only twice. Atlanta's defense intercepted 26 passes, allowed just nine touchdown passes and recovered 22 fumbles. Despite its status as the stingiest defense since the 1944 New York Giants, the Falcons sent only two defenders to the Pro Bowl in cornerback Rolland Lawrence and defensive end Claude Humphrey. The 1976 Falcons possessed one of the worst defenses in the league (22.3 PPG) and largely fell apart in 1978 (18.1 PPG), therefore making the 1977 defense a proverbial "one-hit wonder". In Week 6 of the BDFL, the league paid tribute to Southern Rock with a whole slate of classic match-ups, but the biggest eye-catcher was the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (Same/Blitz) knocking off the previously undefeated North Florida Gunslingers (.38 Special/Cheetahs) 31-19. And on Monday Night Football, the Tampa Outlaws (Same/PowerSleds) shot down the Black Oak Tuskers (Black Oak Arkansas/Sloth Monsters) 52-25.

Jackie Blue by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1975)