Age: 31
10th
season in pro football & with Raiders
College: Miami
(FL)
Height: 5’11” Weight: 210
Prelude:
Banaszak was chosen
by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL draft and, after seeing scant
action as a rookie, played well when given an opportunity in ’67 due to a
broken ankle suffered by HB Clem Daniels. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry while
rushing for 376 yards and was a capable blocker. Still, he remained a backup, able
to play at both halfback and fullback amid a good group of running backs over
the next several seasons. He finally moved into the starting lineup in 1971 and
carried 137 times for 563 yards (4.1 avg.) and 8 TDs. But he returned to a
backup role and had a total of 144 carries over the next three seasons, for 608
yards (4.2 avg.) and six touchdowns while catching 25 passes for 158 yards.
1975 Season Summary
Appeared and
in all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 187
[15]
Most
attempts, game – 27 (for 116 yds.) vs. Atlanta 11/30
Yards – 672 [20]
Most yards,
game – 116 yards (on 27 carries) vs. Atlanta 11/30
Average gain
– 3.6
TDs – 16 [1,
tied with O.J. Simpson]
100-yard
rushing games – 1
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 10
Most
receptions, game – 2 (for 15 yds.) at San Diego 10/5, (for 3 yds.) at Kansas
City 10/12, (for 22 yds.) vs. Kansas City 12/21
Yards – 64
Most yards,
game – 22 (on 2 catches) vs. Kansas City 12/21
Average gain
– 6.4
TDs – 0
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 2
Yards – 24
Average per
return – 12.0
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 19 yards
Scoring
TDs – 16 [3]
Points – 96 [5,
tied with Jan Stenerud]
Postseason: 2 G
Rushing
attempts – 25
Most rushing
attempts, game – 17 vs. Cincinnati, AFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards
– 95
Most rushing
yards, game – 62 vs. Cincinnati, AFC Divisional playoff
Average gain
rushing – 3.8
Rushing TDs –
1
Pass
receptions – 2
Most pass
receptions, game – 2 at Pittsburgh, AFC Championship
Pass
receiving yards – 12
Most pass
receiving yards, game – 12 at Pittsburgh, AFC Championship
Average yards
per reception – 6.0
Pass
Receiving TDs – 0
Kickoff
returns – 1
Kickoff
return yards – 15
Kickoff
return TDs – 0
Raiders went 11-3
to finish first in the AFC West while tying with the Baltimore Colts for most
rushing touchdowns (28). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Cincinnati Bengals
(31-28). Lost AFC Championship to Pittsburgh Steelers (16-10).
Aftermath:
Banaszak
followed up with 370 rushing yards in 1976, splitting time with HB Clarence
Davis as he handled the short-yardage situations and contributed to a NFL title
with two touchdown carries in the Super Bowl win over Minnesota. His long
career as a valuable part-time cog in the backfield came to an end in 1978
after 13 seasons. Banaszak rushed for 3772 yards on 964 carries (3.9 avg.) and
caught 121 passes for another 1022 yards (8.4 avg.), scoring a total of 52 TDs
(47 rushing, five receiving).
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
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