Age: 26
5th
season in pro football, 1st with Colts
College: Texas
Christian
Height: 6’0” Weight: 190
Prelude:
Blackwood was
an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1971 and ’72. Chosen by the Denver
Broncos in the ninth round of the 1973 NFL draft, he was waived prior to the
season but signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was primarily used on
special teams, including returning punts. Following three seasons as a backup
safety for the Bengals, Blackwood moved on to the Seattle Seahawks in the 1976
expansion draft. After an undistinguished year, he was waived prior to the ’77
season and picked up by the Colts. Thus far, he had started a total of seven
games and intercepted two passes in four NFL seasons. Blackwood moved into the
lineup at free safety with surprising results.
1977 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 10 [1]
Most
interceptions, game – 3 vs. NY Jets 11/20
Int. return yards
– 163 [2]
Most int.
return yards, game – 64 (on 3 int.) vs. NY Jets 11/20
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 4
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 1
Yards – 24
TDs – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 7
Yards – 22
Average per
return – 3.1
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 10 yards
Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff vs.
Oakland)
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 2
Kickoff
returns – 1
Kickoff
return yards – 17
Punt returns
– 2
Punt return
yards – 6
Punt return
avg. – 3.0
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
2nd
team All-NFL: AP
Colts went 10-4
to finish first in the AFC East while finishing second in the NFL in
interceptions (30). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (37-31).
Aftermath:
Blackwood
intercepted four passes in 1978, returning two of them for touchdowns, and had
another four in ’79. He lost his starting job in 1980 and moved on to the Miami
Dolphins in 1981, where he teamed with his brother Glenn as part of an
outstanding safety tandem and enjoyed his greatest notoriety. Blackwood spent the
last six years of his career with the Dolphins, before being waived in 1986. He
ended up intercepting 35 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and
recovering 15 fumbles. 19 of the interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries
occurred while with the Colts. He also returned 69 punts for a 4.6-yard average
and 20 kickoffs with a 20.2 average.
--
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
