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1981 Detroit Lions
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 8-8-0, Finished 2nd in NFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 397 points (24.8/g), 4th of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 322 points (20.1/g), 13th.
Differential of 75 points (4.7/g), 6th.
Expected W-L: 9.9-6.1.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential -4 (-0.2/g), 19th.
Simple Rating System: Total 5.3, Offense: 4.8, Defense: 0.5, SoS: 0.6, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by
Monte Clark
Training Camp: Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan)
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Starters
ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),Hide Non-primary Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | ||||||
| QB | Eric Hipple | 24 | 1 | 10 | 140 for 279, 2,358 yards, 14 td, 15 int, & 41 rushes for 168 yards and 7 td | Detroit Lions / 4th / 85th pick / 1980 |
| RB | Billy Sims* | 26 | 1 | 14 | 296 rushes for 1,437 yards, 13 td, & 28 catches for 451 yards and 2 td | Detroit Lions / 1st / 1st pick / 1980 |
| FB | Dexter Bussey | 29 | 7 | 15 | 105 rushes for 446 yards, 0 td, & 18 catches for 92 yards and 0 td | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 65th pick / 1974 |
| WR | Freddie Scott | 29 | 7 | 15 | 53 catches for 1,022 yards, 5 td, & 7 rushes for 25 yards and 0 td | Baltimore Colts / 7th / 174th pick / 1974 |
| WR | Leonard Thompson | 29 | 6 | 16 | 30 catches for 550 yards, 3 td, & 10 rushes for 75 yards and 1 td | Detroit Lions / 8th / 194th pick / 1975 |
| TE | David Hill | 27 | 5 | 15 | 33 catches for 462 yards, 4 td | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 46th pick / 1976 |
| LT | Karl Baldischwiler | 25 | 3 | 16 | Miami Dolphins / 7th / 178th pick / 1978 | |
| LG | Homer Elias | 26 | 3 | 16 | 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 4th / 107th pick / 1978 |
| C | Amos Fowler | 25 | 3 | 16 | 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 5th / 121st pick / 1978 |
| RG | Russ Bolinger | 27 | 5 | 16 | 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 68th pick / 1976 |
| RT | Keith Dorney | 24 | 2 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 1st / 10th pick / 1979 |
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Dave Pureifory | 32 | 9 | 15 | Green Bay Packers / 6th / 142nd pick / 1972 | |
| LDT | William Gay | 26 | 3 | 14 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 55th pick / 1978 |
| RDT | Doug English* | 28 | 6 | 16 | 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 38th pick / 1975 |
| RDE | Al Baker | 25 | 3 | 11 | 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 40th pick / 1978 |
| LLB | Garry Cobb | 24 | 2 | 16 | 3 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Dallas Cowboys / 9th / 247th pick / 1979 |
| MLB | Ken Fantetti | 24 | 2 | 16 | 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 37th pick / 1979 |
| RLB | Stan White | 32 | 9 | 16 | 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Baltimore Colts / 17th / 438th pick / 1972 |
| LCB | Wayne Smith | 24 | 1 | 16 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 11th / 278th pick / 1980 |
| RCB | James Hunter | 27 | 5 | 12 | 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 1st / 10th pick / 1976 |
| SS | Ray Oldham | 30 | 8 | 16 | 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Baltimore Colts / 8th / 189th pick / 1973 |
| FS | Jimmy Allen | 29 | 7 | 15 | 9 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 100th pick / 1974 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Eddie Murray | 25 | 1 | 0 | 25 of 35 field goals & 46 of 46 extra points | Detroit Lions / 7th / 166th pick / 1980 |
| P | Tom Skladany* | 26 | 3 | 0 | 64 punts for a 43.5 average, 0 blocked | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 46th pick / 1977 |
| PR | Robbie Martin | 23 | Rook | 0 | 52 punt returns for a 8.7 average and 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 100th pick / 1981 |
| KR | Alvin Hall | 23 | Rook | 1 | 25 kick returns for a 21.0 average and 0 td |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | AV | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Jimmy Allen | 29 | FS | 15 | 15 | 194 | 6-2 | Pierce College (CA),UCLA | 3/6/1952 | 7 | 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 100th pick / 1974 |
| 60 | Al Baker | 25 | RDE | 11 | 11 | 265 | 6-6 | Colorado St. | 12/9/1956 | 3 | 5 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 40th pick / 1978 |
| 76 | Karl Baldischwiler | 25 | LT | 16 | 16 | 265 | 6-5 | Oklahoma | 1/19/1956 | 3 | 10 | Miami Dolphins / 7th / 178th pick / 1978 |
| 73 | Russ Bolinger | 27 | RG | 16 | 16 | 255 | 6-5 | California-Riverside,Long Beach St. | 9/10/1954 | 5 | 8 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 68th pick / 1976 |
| 27 | Luther Bradley | 26 | 16 | 0 | 195 | 6-2 | Notre Dame | 5/7/1955 | 3 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 11th pick / 1978 | |
| 24 | Dexter Bussey | 29 | FB | 16 | 15 | 195 | 6-1 | Oklahoma,Texas-Arlington | 3/11/1952 | 7 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 65th pick / 1974 |
| 31 | Ken Callicutt | 26 | 16 | 0 | 190 | 6-0 | Clemson | 8/20/1955 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 53 | Garry Cobb | 24 | LLB | 16 | 16 | 227 | 6-2 | USC | 3/16/1957 | 2 | 9 | Dallas Cowboys / 9th / 247th pick / 1979 |
| 77 | Curley Culp | 35 | 2 | 0 | 265 | 6-2 | Arizona St. | 3/10/1946 | 13 | 0 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1968 | |
| 16 | Gary Danielson | 30 | qb | 6 | 4 | 195 | 6-2 | Purdue | 9/10/1951 | 5 | 3 | |
| 45 | Jeff Delaney | 25 | 5 | 0 | 195 | 6-0 | Pittsburgh | 10/25/1956 | 1 | 0 | Los Angeles Rams / 7th / 190th pick / 1979 | |
| 72 | Chris Dieterich | 23 | 16 | 0 | 262 | 6-3 | North Carolina St. | 7/27/1958 | 1 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 6th / 140th pick / 1980 | |
| 70 | Keith Dorney | 24 | RT | 16 | 16 | 268 | 6-5 | Penn St. | 12/3/1957 | 2 | 10 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 10th pick / 1979 |
| 74 | Joe Ehrmann | 32 | dt | 4 | 2 | 260 | 6-5 | Syracuse | 3/29/1949 | 8 | 1 | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 10th pick / 1973 |
| 61 | Homer Elias | 26 | LG | 16 | 16 | 255 | 6-3 | Tennessee St. | 5/1/1955 | 3 | 8 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 107th pick / 1978 |
| 78 | Doug English* | 28 | RDT | 16 | 16 | 255 | 6-5 | Texas | 8/25/1953 | 6 | 12 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 38th pick / 1975 |
| 57 | Ken Fantetti | 24 | MLB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 6-2 | Wyoming | 4/7/1957 | 2 | 8 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 37th pick / 1979 |
| 63 | Edgar Fields | 27 | 2 | 0 | 255 | 6-2 | Texas A&M | 3/10/1954 | 4 | 0 | Atlanta Falcons / 3rd / 63rd pick / 1977 | |
| 65 | Amos Fowler | 25 | C | 16 | 16 | 250 | 6-3 | Southern Miss | 2/11/1956 | 3 | 8 | Detroit Lions / 5th / 121st pick / 1978 |
| 71 | Steve Furness | 31 | dt | 9 | 2 | 255 | 6-4 | Rhode Island | 12/5/1950 | 9 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 113th pick / 1972 |
| 79 | William Gay | 26 | LDT | 16 | 14 | 250 | 6-5 | USC | 5/28/1955 | 3 | 7 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 55th pick / 1978 |
| 66 | Tommie Ginn | 23 | 13 | 0 | 253 | 6-3 | Arkansas | 1/25/1958 | 1 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 5th / 120th pick / 1980 | |
| 26 | Hector Gray | 24 | db | 16 | 4 | 192 | 6-1 | Florida St. | 1/2/1957 | Rook | 3 | |
| 62 | Curtis Green | 24 | de | 14 | 4 | 256 | 6-3 | Alabama St. | 6/3/1957 | Rook | 3 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 46th pick / 1981 |
| 35 | Alvin Hall | 23 | KR | 16 | 1 | 193 | 5-10 | Miami (OH) | 8/12/1958 | Rook | 2 | |
| 51 | James Harrell | 24 | 16 | 0 | 224 | 6-1 | Florida | 7/19/1957 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 81 | David Hill | 27 | TE | 15 | 15 | 229 | 6-2 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 1/1/1954 | 5 | 7 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 46th pick / 1976 |
| 17 | Eric Hipple | 24 | QB | 16 | 10 | 196 | 6-2 | Utah St. | 9/16/1957 | 1 | 10 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 85th pick / 1980 |
| 28 | James Hunter | 27 | RCB | 12 | 12 | 195 | 6-3 | Grambling St. | 3/8/1954 | 5 | 5 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 10th pick / 1976 |
| 32 | Rick Kane | 27 | rb | 16 | 2 | 200 | 5-11 | Oregon,San Jose St. | 11/12/1954 | 4 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 69th pick / 1977 |
| 25 | Horace King | 28 | 16 | 0 | 208 | 5-10 | Georgia | 3/5/1953 | 6 | 2 | Detroit Lions / 6th / 141st pick / 1975 | |
| 19 | Jeff Komlo | 25 | qb | 3 | 2 | 200 | 6-2 | Delaware | 7/30/1956 | 2 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 9th / 231st pick / 1979 |
| 64 | Larry Lee | 22 | 16 | 0 | 265 | 6-2 | UCLA | 9/10/1959 | Rook | 1 | Detroit Lions / 5th / 129th pick / 1981 | |
| 48 | Robbie Martin | 23 | PR | 16 | 0 | 179 | 5-8 | Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo | 12/3/1958 | Rook | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 100th pick / 1981 |
| 3 | Eddie Murray | 25 | K | 16 | 0 | 177 | 5-10 | Tulane | 8/29/1956 | 1 | 0 | Detroit Lions / 7th / 166th pick / 1980 |
| 86 | Mark Nichols | 22 | 12 | 0 | 210 | 6-2 | San Jose St. | 10/29/1959 | Rook | 3 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 16th pick / 1981 | |
| 82 | Bob Niziolek | 23 | 4 | 0 | 220 | 6-4 | Colorado | 6/30/1958 | Rook | 0 | Detroit Lions / 8th / 211th pick / 1981 | |
| 80 | Ulysses Norris | 24 | te | 12 | 2 | 230 | 6-4 | Georgia | 1/15/1957 | 2 | 3 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 88th pick / 1979 |
| 23 | Ray Oldham | 30 | SS | 16 | 16 | 200 | 6-0 | Middle Tenn. St. | 2/23/1951 | 8 | 7 | Baltimore Colts / 8th / 189th pick / 1973 |
| 89 | Tracy Porter | 22 | 12 | 0 | 196 | 6-2 | LSU | 6/1/1959 | Rook | 1 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 99th pick / 1981 | |
| 75 | Dave Pureifory | 32 | LDE | 15 | 15 | 260 | 6-1 | East. Michigan | 7/12/1949 | 9 | 7 | Green Bay Packers / 6th / 142nd pick / 1972 |
| 87 | Freddie Scott | 29 | WR | 16 | 15 | 180 | 6-2 | Amherst | 8/5/1952 | 7 | 11 | Baltimore Colts / 7th / 174th pick / 1974 |
| 20 | Billy Sims* | 26 | RB | 14 | 14 | 212 | 6-0 | Oklahoma | 9/18/1955 | 1 | 16 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 1st pick / 1980 |
| 1 | Tom Skladany* | 26 | P | 16 | 0 | 192 | 6-0 | Ohio St. | 6/29/1955 | 3 | 0 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 46th pick / 1977 |
| 44 | Wayne Smith | 24 | LCB | 16 | 16 | 171 | 6-0 | Wisc-LaCrosse,Purdue | 5/9/1957 | 1 | 7 | Detroit Lions / 11th / 278th pick / 1980 |
| 50 | Terry Tautolo | 27 | 11 | 0 | 232 | 6-2 | UCLA | 8/30/1954 | 5 | 1 | Philadelphia Eagles / 13th / 353rd pick / 1976 | |
| 39 | Leonard Thompson | 29 | WR | 16 | 16 | 192 | 5-11 | Oklahoma St. | 7/28/1952 | 6 | 6 | Detroit Lions / 8th / 194th pick / 1975 |
| 38 | Vince Thompson | 24 | rb | 13 | 1 | 230 | 6-0 | Villanova | 2/21/1957 | Rook | 2 | |
| 55 | Tom Turnure | 24 | 16 | 0 | 250 | 6-4 | Washington | 7/9/1957 | 1 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 57th pick / 1980 | |
| 59 | Charlie Weaver | 32 | 7 | 0 | 220 | 6-2 | USC | 7/12/1949 | 10 | 1 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 48th pick / 1971 | |
| 52 | Stan White | 32 | RLB | 16 | 16 | 225 | 6-1 | Ohio St. | 10/24/1949 | 9 | 9 | Baltimore Colts / 17th / 438th pick / 1972 |
| Team Total | 26.3 | 16 | 222.9 | 6-1.9 | 3.6 |
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