Quarterback, Houston
Oilers
Age: 29 (Nov.
5)
6th season
in pro football (5th active) & with Oilers
College: Baylor
Height: 6’3” Weight: 202
Prelude:
Following a
fine career at Baylor, Carlson was chosen by the Oilers in the third round of
the 1987 NFL draft. He saw no action as a rookie backup to Warren Moon during
the strike-interrupted ’87 season. Valued for his size and arm strength, he
proved to be a capable backup to Moon, starting five games when Moon suffered a
shoulder injury in 1988, when he passed for 775 yards and four touchdowns. Carlson
appeared in six games in ’89 and one in 1990 to close out the regular season,
which garnered him AFC Offensive Player of the Week recognition. Stepping in
for Moon in the postseason, the result was a loss to Cincinnati. A broken arm
sidelined Moon during the 1992 season, again necessitating Carlson’s stepping
into the starting role.
1992 Season Summary
Appeared in 11
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 227
Most attempts,
game – 36 vs. Green Bay 12/13
Completions – 149
Most
completions, game – 25 vs. Green Bay 12/13
Yards – 1710
Most yards,
game – 338 at Detroit 11/26
Completion
percentage – 65.6 [3, 1st in AFC]
Yards per
attempt – 7.5 [6]
TD passes – 9
Most TD passes,
game – 2 vs. Cleveland 11/8, at Cleveland 12/20
Interceptions –
11 [19, tied with Randall Cunningham, Jay Schroeder & Stan Gelbaugh]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at Miami 11/22, at Detroit 11/26, vs. Green Bay 12/13,
at Cleveland 12/20
Passer rating –
81.2 [12]
300-yard
passing games – 2
200-yard
passing games – 4
Rushing
Attempts – 27
Most attempts,
game – 6 (for 26 yds.) at Cleveland 12/20
Yards – 77
Most yards,
game – 26 yards (on 6 carries) at Cleveland 12/20
Average gain – 2.9
TDs – 1
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Did not appear
in postseason game
Oilers went 10-6
to finish second in the AFC Central, while leading the NFL in passing yards
(4029) and qualifying for the postseason as a wild card entry. Lost AFC Wild
Card playoff to Buffalo Bills (41-38).
Aftermath:
Moon was
briefly benched for poor play in 1993 and Carlson was also sidelined with a
groin injury. With Moon’s departure in 1994, Carlson was handed the starting
job with unsuccessful results. With questions arising as to his fragility,
Carlson retired in 1995 after failing his team physical. Over the course of
seven active seasons, mostly in a backup role, he passed for 4469 yards and 21
TDs with 28 interceptions. The Oilers went 11-8 in games that he started.
--
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
