Countdown to Camp: 63
As we look ahead to training camp in late July, we're going to take a daily retrospective look back at some random people, moments and games from Jets history...
The Current 63
Austin Golson is a versatile lineman, who the Jets picked up as an undrafted free agent last month. He's performed well as a pass blocker, but perhaps needs to improve his strength to be an effective run blocker at the NFL level.
The Greatest
The Jets traded up to number four to pick up DeWayne Robertson and he was regarded as a major disappointment despite being a consistent starter who had some excellent performances. Robertson wasn't really a scheme fit after Herm Edwards' departure and had his career shortened by a serious knee condition, but he's probably better than any of the other players in team history to have worn the number 63 jersey.
Here's Robertson in action:
The other 63's
Ted Banker, JP Machado, John Hennessy...
The '63 season
In 1963, the Jets became the Jets for the first time, having started off their existence as the New York Titans. This was also Weeb Ewbank's first year as head coach and their last year at the Polo Grounds before moving to Shea Stadium. They went 5-8-1.
Don Maynard caught nine touchdown passes, mostly from Dick Wood who threw 18 of them. Bake Turner added six and also had a thousand-yard season to earn AFL all-star honors. Despite modest stats, running back Bill Mathis was also an all-star.
On defense, Larry Grantham was the team's only all-AFL selection, while Bill Baird and Dainard Paulson paced the team with six interceptions each.
With the 63rd pick
Two great picks at number 63 were safety Erik McMillan and linebacker Mo Lewis, two of the best at their respective positions in team history. Each had a knack for scoring defensive touchdowns as Lewis had five in his career and McMillan had seven in five years as a Jet.
Here's one of Lewis' touchdowns:
All the way for 63
Santana Moss was a frustrating player as a Jet, often going sideways instead of up the field on his punt returns. However, every now and then he would break one. His 63-yarder gave the Jets the lead over Cleveland in 2002 after just 39 seconds, but the Jets ended up losing 24-21 to drop to 2-5 on the year. They still somehow won the division.
Let us know if there's any connections to 63 that we missed...