Hanburger played in the era of tough linebackers in the 60's and early 70's, and fit that mold well. Yet he was also considered the prototype for the faster and more versatile linebackers necessary to defend against the increasingly more pass oriented offenses that were evolving in the NFL.
George Allen was already making adjustments in is schemes to counter the enhanced passing abilities of the era. He was the first to feature the new nickel defense in obvious passing situations in order to get more speed and coverage on the field. And he also recognized the need for a linebacker who was not a liability in those situations, who could cover TEs and and faster running backs, yet could still come up and stop the run.
Chris Hanburger suited the requirement to a T. He was a superb athelete, with great quickness and flexibility. His career 19 interceptions for 347 yds with 2 TDs are testament to his opportunism and ability to cover.
Yet he was as hard a hitter as anyone in the NFL at that time. During his era of more 'flexible' defensive rules, his clothesline tackle was a wicked and feared weapon, and again, his nose for the ball showed with 3 fumble recoveries for TDs.
But we don't have to look back in time to try to estimate his worthiness. During his career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl 9 times, the Washington Redskins' team record, and more than any other LB. Obviously his peers recognized his outstanding abilities while he was playing.
| Act Now! |
|
| Click to learn more! |
