A Nose for the End Zone: Indexing the Game's Most Efficient Scorers

NOTE: Article was published in fall 2013 (vol. 35, no. 5) edition of The Coffin Corner, the official magazine of the Professional Football Researchers Association. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/CC_2010s.htm

A Nose for the End Zone 

Indexing the Game’s Most Efficient Scorers

 

 

 

"Deacon" Dan Towler (33) scores a Rams touchdown as Marion Motley (76) of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle him in the NFL Championship Game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 23, 1951. Associated Press image.

Michael Peters ---------------------

 

What started as an article about Warren Wells, the electrifying deep-threat receiver of the Oakland Raiders in the late 1960s, turned into a “fun-with-statistics” examination of Wells and other players who scored touchdowns at fantastic rates when compared to their overall ball-handling opportunities. Note that the number of touchdowns for many of the players discussed here is not at all mind-boggling, the percentage of their receptions, rushing attempts or overall touches that resulted in scores is the fascinating aspect. Obviously, a research project such as this requires some parameters and explanations just to get started. While rushing attempts and receptions need no clarifying, the same cannot be said for what is considered to be a touch. It has been established in recent years that a touch is considered any rushing attempt, reception, punt return, or kick return. For our purposes, touches are categorized as “offensive touches” (rushes plus receptions) and “return touches” (punt returns plus kickoff returns). Compiling a list of efficient touchdown scorers also requires a way to weed out what may be considered fluky numbers, statistical anomalies or tainted numbers due to small sample size.

Fluky may not be a fair way to word it since scoring even once, let alone several times, at the professional level requires skill that few possess. But listing Mike Vrabel as the most efficient touchdown producer ever is not what we are going for here. As most will remember, Vrabel was the linebacker from 1997 to 2010 who scored 10 career touchdowns on 10 receptions as an occasional tight end and goal-line specialist. Likewise, many other defensive players of the modern era had a few shining offensive moments in niche roles: Fearsome Foursome member Lamar Lundy, who was a star basketball player at Purdue as well, scored six touchdowns on only 35 receptions in his early career with the Rams; Nolan Cromwell, a wishbone quarterback at Kansas and an outstanding free safety for the Rams, scored three rushing touchdowns on seven attempts in his role as a specialist of the holder-attempted fake field goal. And, of course, Refrigerator Perry turned his eight career touches into three touchdowns as the Bears’ gimmicky goal-line back during the mid-1980s.

Not only are those with limited opportunities being weeded out, but many of the most effective short-yardage specialist running backs will not be listed unless they toted the ball a lot. Hank Bauer is one such short-yardage specialist who deserves to be mentioned even though his number of carries and touches is not quite high enough to qualify him for inclusion. Bauer, the current radio color commentator for the Chargers, was an undrafted special-teams ace and goal-line back for San Diego from 1977 to 1982. Overall, he scored 20 career touchdowns on only 145 total touches. His 22 carries in 1979 resulted in only 28 total yards and 1.3 yards per carry, but he scored eight touchdowns, and for his career, he scored a touchdown on 13.8 percent of his rushing attempts. Among non-quarterbacks with at least 100 carries, Bauer’s touchdown-to-rushing attempt percentage is bettered only by the 14.7 percent (16/109) produced by Jerry Shipkey, an All-Pro linebacker/ fullback for the Steelers from 1948 to 1952.

Because of the similarly skewed numbers that quarterback sneaks and scrambles for touchdowns may produce, quarterbacks have also been eliminated from consideration as we compare the touchdown-to-carry percentages. Like Bauer and Shipkey, though, a few who stood out deserve to be mentioned. Johnny Lujack scored on 15.8 percent of his rushing attempts; George Ratterman, primarily in the All-America Football Conference, on 13.2 percent; Don Trull on 11.4 percent with the Oilers of the late 1960s, Mark Malone on 11.3 percent with the Steelers and the quarterback who started more AFL games than any other, Jack Kemp (11.2%). Each tucked the ball and ran at least 100 times. In chasing the ultimate goal of measuring which players scored touchdowns at the highest rates, it is also important to rely only on legitimate statistics that are accepted and archived as part of the historical record of professional football. Unfortunately, the NFL did not officially record statistics until the 1932 season, so we are left wondering whether explosive touchdown scorers of the 1920s such as Ernie Nevers and Red Grange were as proficient at getting in to the end zone as those who came later.

The tables that follow can be broken down into four categories: touchdown-to-reception percentage (TD/REC %), touchdown-to-rushing-attempt percentage (TD/RUSH %), touchdown-to-offensive-touch percentage TD/OFF %) and touchdown-to-return-touch (TD/RET %) percentage. The first is almost exclusively applied to ends and receivers, while the second is obviously exclusive to running backs, and the third is reserved for any post-1932 player who had a minimum of 75 receptions and 250 rushing attempts. Because touchdown-to-carry percentages naturally favor the short-yardage specialist, the offensive touches category is an attempt to measure overall scoring prowess when combining rushing and receiving. The obvious flaw with that tabulation is that the rare hybrid player who was both a back and receiver at times during their career easily comes out on top. Overall touches were split into separate categories—offensive touches and return touches—only because the latter percentages are so much lower that they change the dynamic and hinder the ultimate goal of measuring touchdown efficiency. Recognizing this, I included the final tables, which measure only the specialization of scoring from returns. The minimum required numbers might seem a bit arbitrary, but they were chosen essentially to ensure that any player making the cut had a multi-season career as a regular, regardless of era.

TABLE 1. Touchdown-to-Reception Percentage, 75-299 receptions (1,243 total)

Player	Career	Rec. Touchdowns	Receptions	TD/Reception %
Daryl Turner	1984-87 SEA	36	101	35.6
Ken Kavanaugh	1940-41 CHI, 1945-50 CHI	50	162	30.9%
Don Currivan	1943 CHCAR, 1944 CHI/PIT, 1945-48 BOS, 1948-49 LA	24	78	30.8%
Frank Liebel	1942-47 NYG, 1948 CHCARD	23	84	27.4%
Warren Wells	1964 DET, 1967-70 OAK	42	158	26.6%
Cloyce Box	1949-50 DET, 1952-54 DET	32	129	24.8%
Bob Shaw	1945-46 CHI/LA, 1949 LA, 1950 CHCAR	20	81	24.7%
Alyn Beals	1946-51 SF	49	211	23.2%
Ken MacAfee	1954-58 NYG, 1959 WAS, 1959 PIT	18	79	22.8%
*Bill Hewitt	1932-36 CHI, 1937-39 PHI, 1943 PHI/PIT	23	103	22.3%
Jim Smith	1977-82 PIT, 1985 RAI	25	113	22.1%
Mal Kutner	1946-50 CHCAR	31	145	21.4%
Red Hickey	1941 PIT/RAM, 1945-48 RAMS	16	75	21.3%
Hugh Taylor	1947-54 WAS	58	272	21.3%
Bill Groman	1960-62 HOU, 1963 DEN, 1964-65 BUF	36	174	20.7%
Scooter McLean	1940-47 CHI	21	103	20.4%
Rob Gronkowski	2010-12 NE	38	187	20.3%
Billy Cannon	1960-63 HOU, 1964-69 OAK, 1970 KAN	47	236	19.9%
Gloster Richardson	1967-70 KC, 1971 DAL, 1972-74 CLE	18	92	19.6%
Jim Mandich	1970-77 MIA, 1978 PIT	23	121	19.0%

 

* (Asterisk denotes a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in tables 1-7.)

 

TABLE 2. Touchdown-to-Reception Percentage, 300+ receptions (355 total)

Player	Career	Rec. Touchdowns	Receptions	TD/Reception %
Gary Collins	1962-71 CLE	70	331	21.1%
*Don Hutson	1935-45 GB	99	488	20.3%
*Paul Warfield	1964-69 CLE, 1970-74 MIA, 1976-77 CLE	85	427	19.9%
*Bob Hayes	1965-74 DAL, 1975 SF	71	371	19.1%
Sonny Randle	1959-66 CHI/STL, 1967-68 SF, 1968 DAL	65	365	17.8%
*Tommy McDonald	1957-63 PHI, 1964 DAL, 1965-66 LAR, 1967 ATL, 1968 CLE	84	495	17.0%
Art Powell	1959 PHI, 1960-62 NYT/J, 1963-66 OAK, 1967 BUF, 1968 MIN	81	479	16.9%
Mike Quick	1982-90 PHI	61	363	16.8%
Jimmy Orr	1958-60 PIT, 1961-70 BAL	66	400	16.5%
*Pete Pihos	1947-55 PHI	61	373	16.4%
Wesley Walker	1977-89 NYJ	71	438	16.2%
*Dante Lavelli	1946-56 CLE	62	386	16.1%
Kyle Rote	1951-61 NYG	48	300	16.0%
Randy Moss	1998-04 MIN, 2005-06 OAK, 2007-10 NE, 2010 MIN, 2010 TEN, 2012 SF	156	982	15.9%
*Lance Alworth	1962-70 SD, 1971-72 DAL	85	542	15.7%
Gene A. Washington	1969-77 SF, 1979 DET	60	385	15.6%
*Elroy Hirsch	1946-48 CHR, 1949-57 LAR	60	387	15.5%
*Lynn Swann	1974-82 PIT	51	336	15.2%
Bobby Walston	1951-62 PHI	46	311	14.8%
Del Shofner	1957-60 LA, 1961-67 NYG	51	349	14.6%

 

TABLE 3. Touchdown-to-Rushing Attempt Percentage, 250-599 attempts (396 total)

 

Player	Career	Rush TD	Attempts	TD/Rush %
Ickey Woods	1988-91 CIN	27	332	8.1%
Hugh Gallarneau	1941-42 CHI, 1945-47 CHI	26	343	7.6%
Tony Paige	1984-86 NYJ, 1987-89 DET, 1990-92 MIA	20	272	7.4%
Zack Crockett	1995-98 IND, 1998 JAC, 1999-06 OAK, 2007 TB	36	510	7.1%
Mike Tolbert	2008-11 SD, 2012 CAR	27	395	6.8%
David Sims	1977-79 SEA	19	293	6.5%
Robb Riddick	1981 BUF, 1983-84 BUF, 1986-88 BUF	21	330	6.4%
Ki-Jana Carter	1996-99 CIN, 2001 WAS, 2003-04 NO	20	319	6.3%
Doug Dennison	1974-78 DAL	19	306	6.2%
*George McAfee	1940-41 CHI, 1945-50 CHI	21	341	6.2%
Edgar Jones	1945 CHI, 1946-49 CLE	18	297	6.1%
Spec Sanders (QB/RB)	1946-48 NYY, 1950 NYY	33	540	6.1%
Dick Hoerner	1947-51 LA, 1953 DTX	30	506	5.9%
Buford McGee	1984-86 SD, 1987-91 LARM, 1992 GB	17	289	5.9%
William Floyd	1994-97 SF, 1998-2000 CAR	20	355	5.6%
Timmy Newsome	1980-88 DAL	19	342	5.6%
Theotis Brown	1979-81 STL, 1981-83 SEA, 1983-84 KC	30	549	5.5%
Bill Osmanski	1939-43 CHI, 1946-47 CHI	20	368	5.4%
Elijah Pitts	1961-69 GB, 1970 LAR, 1970 NO, 1971 GB	28	514	5.4%
Ernie Steele	1942-48 PHI	14	258	5.4%

 

TABLE 4. Touchdown-to-Rushing Attempt Percentage, 600+ attempts (375 total)

 

Player	Career	Rush TD	Attempts	TD/Rush%
Dan Towler	1950-55 LAR	43	672	6.4%
T.J. Duckett	2002-05 ATL, 2006 WAS, 2007 DET, 2008 SEA	44	717	6.1%
*Lenny Moore	1956-67 BAL	63	1069	5.9%
*Paul Hornung	1957-62 GB, 1964-66 GB	50	893	5.6%
Larry Kinnebrew	1983-87 CIN, 1989-90 BUF	44	779	5.6%
Don Nottingham	1971-73 BAL, 1973-77 MIA	34	611	5.6%
Brandon Jacobs	2005-11 NYG, 2012 SF	56	1083	5.2%
Don McCauley	1971-81 BAL	40	770	5.2%
*Steve Van Buren	1944-51 PHI	69	1320	5.2%
Pete Johnson	1977-83 CIN, 1984 SD, 1984 MIA	76	1489	5.1%
Ted Fritsch	1942-50 GB	31	620	5.0%
Pete Banaszak	1966-78 OAK	47	964	4.9%
Priest Holmes	1997-2000 BAL, 2001-2005 KC, 2007 KC	86	1780	4.8%
Pug Manders	1939-45 BKN, 1946 NYY, 1947 BUF	35	742	4.7%
Shaun Alexander	2000-07 SEA, 2008 WAS	100	2187	4.6%
Marion Barber	2005-10 DAL 2011 CHI	53	1156	4.6%
LaDanian Tomlinson	2001-09 SD, 2010-11 NYJ	145	3174	4.6%
Chuck Muncie	1976-80 NO, 1980-84 SD	71	1561	4.5%
Mario Bates	1994-97 NO, 1998-99 ARI, 2000 DET	38	841	4.5%
Jim Brown	1957-65 CLE	106	2359	4.5%
Brad Baxter	1989-94 NYJ	35	779	4.5%
Joe Marconi	1956-61 LA, 1962-66 CHI	30	673	4.5%
Pat Harder	1946-50 CHCAR, 1951-53 DET	33	740	4.5%

 

TABLE 5. Touchdown-to-Offensive Touch Percentage, 250 rushes + 75 receptions (523 total)

Player	Career	Touchdowns	Offensive Touches	TD/Offensive Touch %
*Charley Taylor	1964-75 WAS. 1977 WAS	90	1,091	8.2%
*Bobby Mitchell	1958-61 CLE, 1962-68 WAS	83	1,034	8.0%
*Lenny Moore	1956-67 BAL	111	1,432	7.8%
Billy Cannon	1960-63 HOU, 1964-69 OAK, 1970 KAN	64	838	7.6%
*George McAfee	1940-41 CHI, 1945-50 CHI	32	426	7.5%
Ray Mathews	1951-59 PIT, 1960 DAL	39	533	7.3%
*Doak Walker	1950-55 DET	33	461	7.2%
Billy Stone	1949-50 BAL, 1951-54 CHI	31	439	7.1%
Buford McGee	1984-86 SD, 1987-91 LA, 1992 GB	30	444	6.8%
*Frank Gifford	1952-60 NYG, 1962-64 NYG	77	1,207	6.4%
Dick Todd	1939-42 WAS, 1945-48 WAS	31	487	6.4%
Dan Reeves	1965-72 DAL	42	664	6.3%
Zack Crockett	1995-98 IND, 1998 JAC, 1999-06 OAK, 2007 TB	38	606	6.3%
Mike Tolbert	2008-11 SD, 2012 CAR	33	531	6.2%
Tony Paige	1984-86 NYJ, 1987-89 DET, 1990-92 MIA	29	469	6.2%
Joe Morrison	1959-72 NYG	65	1,072	6.1%
*Paul Hornung	1957-62 GB, 1964-66 GB	62	1,023	6.1%
Dick Hoerner	1947-51 LA, 1953 DTX	34	586	5.8%
Robb Riddick	1981 BUF, 1983-84 BUF, 1986-88 BUF	26	450	5.8%
Dub Jones	1946 MIA, 1946-47 BKN, 1948-55 CLE	41	711	5.8%

 

TABLE 6. Touchdown-to-Return Touch Percentage, 65-139 returns or minimum 3 TD (439 total)

Player	Career	Return TD	Returns	TD/Return %
*Gale Sayers	1965-71 CHI	8	118	6.8%
Goldie Sellers	1966-67 DEN, 1968-69 KC	3	46	6.5%
Jacoby Ford	2010-12 OAK	4	64	6.3%
Travis Williams	1967-70 GB, 1971 LA	7	115	6.1%
Bert Zagers	1955 WAS. 1957-58 WAS	3	54	5.6%
Raymond Clayborn	1977-89 NE, 1990-91 CLE	3	57	5.3%
Dick Todd	1939-42 WAS, 1945-48 WAS	3	64* (questionable)	4.7%
Scooter McLean	1940-47 CHI	3	65* (questionable)	4.6%
*Steve Van Buren	1944-51 PHI	5	110	4.5%
Percy Harvin	2009-12 MIN	5	114	4.4%
Patrick Peterson	2011-12 ARI	4	95	4.2%
Reggie Bush	2006-10 NO, 2011-12 MIA	4	99	4.0%
Terry Kirby	1993-95 MIA, 1996-98 SF, 1999 CLE, 2000-02 OAK	4	102	3.9%
Darrick Vaughn	2000-01 ATL, 2003 HOU	4	103	3.9%
Jon Vaughn	1991-92 NE, 1993-94 SEA, 1994 KC	4	103	3.9%
Derrick Witherspoon	1995-97 PHI	3	80	3.8%
Lenny Lyles	1958 BAL. 1959-60 SF, 1961-69 BAL	3	81	3.7%
Brad Smith	2006-10 NYJ, 2011-12 BUF	4	109	3.7%
Jerome Mathis	2005-07 HOU	3	84	3.6%
Billy Hillenbrand	1946 CHR, 1947-48 BAL	3	86	3.5%
Spec Sanders	1946-48 NYY, 1950 NYY	3	86	3.5%

† Punt and kick return statistics were not formally kept until 1941, so the two players included in this category whose careers began earlier than that season have been noted. Their combined return total is questionable, while their touchdowns are not.

TABLE 7. Touchdown-to-Return Touch Percentage, 140+ Returns (237 total)

 

Player	Career	Return TD	Returns	TD/KR %
*Jack Christiansen	1951-58 DET	8	144	5.6%
*Bobby Mitchell	1958-61 CLE, 1962-68 WAS	8	171	4.7%
*Ollie Matson	1952 CHCAR. 1954-58 CHCAR, 1959-62 LA, 1963 DET, 1964-66 PHI	9	208	4.3%
Devin Hester	2006-12 CHI	17	416	4.1%
Joey Galloway	1995-99 SEA, 2000-03 DAL, 2004-08 TB, 2009 NE, 2010 WAS	5	145	3.4%
Michael Spurlock	2006 ARI, 2007 TB, 2009 SF, 2009-11 TB, 2012 SD, 2012 JAC	5	147	3.4%
Justin Miller	2005-08 NYJ, 2008-09 OAK. 2009 NYJ. 1012 DET	5	158	3.2%
Buddy Young	1947-51 NYY, 1952 DAL, 1953-55 BAL	6	192	3.1%
Tony Horne	1998-2000 STL	4	150	2.7%
LeRoy Irvin	1980-89 LARM. 1990 DET	4	151	2.6%
Henry Ellard	1983-93 LARM, 1994-98 WAS. 1998 NE	4	154	2.6%
Lemar Parrish	1970-77 CIN, 1978-81 WAS, 1982 BUF	5	192	2.6%
Adam Jones	2005-06 TEN. 2008 DAL. 2010-12 CIN	5	195	2.6%
*Deion Sanders	1989-93 ATL, 1994 SF, 1995-99 DAL. 2000 WAS, 1004-05 BAL	9	367	2.5%
Terrence McGee	2003-12 BUF	5	207	2.4%
Timmy Brown	1959 GB, 1960-67 PHI, 1968 BAL	6	255	2.4%
Rick Upchurch	1975-83 DEN	8	343	2.3%
Freddie Solomon	1975-77 MIA, 1978-85 SF	5	209	2.2%
Abe Woodson	1958-64 SF, 1965-66 STL	7	316	2.2%
Jacoby Jones	2007-11 HOU, 2012 BAL	7	318	2.2%
Steve Smith	2001-12 CAR	6	276	2.2%
Dick Christy	1958 PIT, 1960 BOS, 1961-63 NYJ	4	184	2.2%

 Warren Wells’s amazing 42 touchdown receptions on 156 catches over a four-year period (1967–1970) turns out to be just as amazing as I had originally thought. The similarity between Wells and Daryl Turner is striking. Both had an unmatched ability to turn catches into long touchdowns, and both essentially played only four years before alcohol or drug issues ended their careers. As with a few of the leaders atop the touchdown-to-carry category, specifically Ickey Woods and Ki-Jana Carter, it’s fair to argue that their percentage is inflated because of short careers or limited carries, but it’s also fair to argue that stellar careers and many more touchdowns might have been ahead. Unlike Wells and Turner, the respective careers of Woods and Carter ended prematurely because of injuries. Simple probability and statistics explain why touchdown-to-carry percentages better than 6.0 come mostly from a bunch of modern-era goal-line backs, a couple of injury-shortened careers and a few backs who were part of what is now referred to as a committee backfield. The one number that really jumps out is “Deacon” Dan Towler’s astonishing 6.4 percent. Towler is the only one of that group who was regularly among the league leaders in rushing attempts.

While it’s true that the handful of hybrid-position players or those who switched positions—such as Charley Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, Billy Cannon and Ray Matthews—have a distinct advantage of producing a higher touchdown-to-offensive touch percentage, their numbers shouldn’t be dismissed as only a product of that. In many of their cases, their yardage and scoring production as running backs was Pro Bowl-caliber before the switch to wide receiver or tight end. As Jim Brown’s backfield mate from 1958 to 1961, Mitchell produced almost 3,000 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging a lofty 5.4 yards per carry. Likewise, Taylor was sixth in rushing yards as a rookie in 1964, and Cannon won the AFL rushing title in his second season. Obviously, though, the list here is heavy with players who spent time in the backfield as well as receiver, a handful of short-yardage specialist backs who also caught some passes, and a few (like Doak Walker, Scooter McLean, and Dan Reeves) who simply excelled at catching passes. Considering that George McAfee scored a few times as a defender and nearly cracked the top 20 in touchdown-to-return percentage as well (4/130), it’s hard to argue against him as the most efficient touchdown scorer ever. That is, if one wasn’t already convinced by his brilliant 1941 season, in which he became the only player to score six different ways in a single season. In that season, McAfee scored eight touchdowns on only 72 offensive touches, two return touchdowns on only 12 total returns and two more defensive touchdowns.

It’s no coincidence that nearly all of the single-season highest-scoring teams in pro football history are represented: the 1950 Los Angeles Rams (38.8 points per game), 2007 New England Patriots (36.8), 1961 Houston Oilers (36.6), 1941 Chicago Bears (36.0), 1948 San Francisco 49ers (35.4), 1998 Minnesota Vikings (34.8) and 2012 Patriots (34.8) all have at least one player among the leaders in one of the touchdown-efficiency categories. Both the 1998 Vikings and 2007 Patriots featured Randy Moss hauling in 17 and 23 touchdown receptions respectively. Aside from Rob Gronkowski, from the 2012 Patriots, Moss is the only 21st-century pass catcher to appear among the all-time leaders. The top scoring team in NFL history is well represented with two members of its famed Bull Elephant Backfield, Dan Towler and Dick Hoerner, and with Crazy Legs Hirsch—oddly enough in the season preceding his historic 1951 campaign, which is considered one of the best ever for a receiver. It’s interesting to note that Verda "Vitamin T." Smith, also from the 1950 Rams, had a career touchdown/return percentage of 3.0 (4/132) and his career touchdown/offensive touch percentage of 7.1 would be among the best ever if he had qualified (208 rushes/59 receptions).

Bill Groman certainly aided the 1961 Oilers’ 36 points per game with a league-leading 18 touchdowns, as did Billy Cannon, whose 15 touchdowns was second best in the AFL that season. Alyn Beals led the AAFC in touchdown receptions in all four seasons of that league’s existence, but it was his career-best 14 in 1948 that turned a good 49ers team into a scoring juggernaut. And finally, the number of players from the 1941 Chicago Bears in the above tables should awe both statisticians and historians. Considering that Ken Kavanaugh played eight full seasons and missed three during World War II, his second-best touchdown-to-reception percentage of 30.9 may be far more impressive than the leader’s 35.6. Scooter McLean, who played the role of back/receiver hybrid as effectively as anyone until Lenny Moore came along, is technically the only full-time back among the leaders in touchdown-to-reception percentage. As already discussed, George McAfee barely missed being the only player to rank in the top 20 of three different touchdown percentage categories. In addition to McLean’s touchdown-to-reception efficiency, three other backs from that Bears team have touchdown/rushing attempt percentages of 5.4 or better: Hugh Gallarneau (26/343, 7.6%), McAfee (21/341, 6.2%), and Bill Osmanski (20/368, 5.4%). Would you believe that it was another back, rookie Norm Standlee, who led the 1941 Bears in rushing attempts?                                                    

 

George McAfee, 1939. Duke University Archives image.



Michael Peters is a freelance writer and works in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.