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Chargers by the (Jersey) Numbers: #33

 
#33 is, appropriately enough, a 3-horse race – but it’s a good one.  Three running backs who meant a lot in Charger history.  Consider carefully before voting.


Star-divide

The Non Horses

Kevin Bouie, RB

Dana Brinson, RB

Gary Brown, RB

Dedrick Dodge, S

Fred Gillett, HB/OE

Kenny Graham, S

Blanche Martin, RB

David Martin, CB

Davis Sanchez, CB

Lucious Smith, CB

John Sullivan, SS

Ken Zachary, RB 

 

The Contenders

Don_woods_medium

Don Woods, RB

In 1974, the Chargers were in dire need of a running game (as well as a good head coach, and a quarterback, and a defense, and a fan base).  Along came an unknown rookie by the name of Don Woods. 

 

Woods was drafted by the Packers, but cut before the season began.  Looking for warm bodies to hand the ball to, the Bolts snatched him up.  Woods didn’t even play until the third game of the season, but when he did, he started racking up 100 yard games -- 7 in a row – on his way to NFL Rookie of the Year honors and the team’s first 1000-yard rusher since Paul Lowe (not counting 1972 when Mike Garrett rushed for over a 1000 yards while averaging less than 4 yards a carry).  And it was another 7 years before another Charger would cross the coveted 1000 yard mark.

 

The key question then is: what happened??  Woods actually remained with the team until 1980, but injuries that set in in 1975 limited his productivity.  He never rushed for more than 515 yards in a season again.

 

Michael_turner_medium

Michael Turner, RB

In contrast to Woods, "Burner" was actually drafted by the Chargers, but his likelihood of ever becoming the featured back was limited.  Heck, it was even a longshot that he’d even make the team!

 

Turner’s stats as a Charger aren’t much to shout about (although the 5.5 yards a carry over his four years is pretty terrific), but any fan of the team over the last 5 years knows what his value was: occasionally spelling LT and making a habit of killing the Colts.

 

For me, what will keep my vote away from Turner is the fact that he couldn’t shine when the stage was the brightest.

 

Ronnie_harmon_medium

Ronnie Harmon, RB

Harmon as well was more relegated to "back up," but he served such a vital role on the teams of the early ‘90s – including the Super Bowl team – that the term "3rd down back" became a mainstay to the team’s vernacular, and his 1149 all-purpose yards actually got him selected to the Pro Bowl in 1992.

 

Unlike Turner, Harmon had little problem shining on the bright stage, as he led the team in receptions in Super Bowl XXIX, and made one of the more memorable fumble recoveries in Charger history in a playoff victory in 1992.  Plus, who could ever forget the lick he laid on a showboating Deion Sanders in the Super Bowl?

 

Anyway, you decide.

Poll
Best #33 in Charger History?
Don Woods
9 votes
Michael Turner
46 votes
Ronnie Harmon
92 votes

147 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs  |  Comment 7 comments

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Gotta love Ronnie Harmon

really one of the first true “third down backs” in football (or am I not remembering right?) The perfect complement to the big backs of Natrone Means and Marion Butts. Stole him from the Bills I believe where he wasn’t seeing the field behind Thurmon Thomas.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Aug 27, 2009 1:16 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I liked Michael Turner...BUT...

…Ronnie Harmon was one of my favorite players hands down. Yes, he personified the third down back. If the Bolts couldn’t get 10 in the first two tries, you knew #33 was going to jog in and was always a threat to get the yardage required. Quick; great hands; tough. Just a few of the adjectives one could use to describe Mr. Harmon.

The one positive thing I took from SB XXIX was that lick he laid on Mouth…er, Slime Time…er, Sanders. I was up out of my chair and excited after having little to no reason to be all game long. Sanders’ pathetic little “scoreboard” retort was funny. Showboats and while he’s dancing under the lights, #33 dropped him like a bad habit. (By the way, unless I miss my guess, Humphries was hit as he threw and the pass turned into a harmless pop-up. I could have caught that.) Never had much call for trash talking showboaters. Glad he knocked the mustard off that hot dog. :)

He was a definite bright spot in a wonderful time in Chargers history. Thank you, Ronnie Harmon. It was truly a joy to watch you play.

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state that I've finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), "Harvey"

by Derwood13 on Aug 27, 2009 2:53 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Tougher than I thought it'd be

Harmon all the way, but interesting race.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Aug 27, 2009 6:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Harmon yes, But Woods deserved more

Harmon deserves the win, but no love at all for Woods. I guess it was too long ago.

by JeromeB on Aug 27, 2009 8:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Woods had 1 good year for the chargers, Ronnie had 6…

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Aug 27, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I agreed with the Harmon selection

Harmon by far had the better career as a Charger, I just felt bad for the trouncing that Woods got in the voting from both Harmon and Turner. Turner was a better back than Woods, but he really did not accomplish more during his career as a Charger.

by JeromeB on Aug 28, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Woods does deserve more props

Yeah, sure, it was really just one good year. But he was Rookie of the Year — which no other Charger had ever done. He rushed for more yards than any other rookie before him. And he wasn’t even the featured back when the season began! Oh, and the team was lousy! It took another 7 years before Muncie came along, and it took one of the most dynamic offenses of all time to get it done!

Harmon and Turner both benefited from having quality guys around them, and they could slip in for occasional plays when they were fresh and opponents were spent.

by Andy (allfield) on Aug 28, 2009 8:03 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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