Saints Defensive Lineman Bruce Clark Against Tampa Bay
Thanks to the efforts of new General Manager Jim Finks and new Head Coach Jim Mora the New Orleans Saints were going to be a vastly different team in the mid-1980s from what the NFL had been accustomed to in years past. The defense especially was beginning to come into it’s own. And while they still weren’t the calibre they would be in a few seasons, they were beginning to gain a reputation as a swarming, hard-hitting group even then.
Above we see defensive end Bruce Clark in the 1986 game against Tampa Bay after a fumble recovery. Saints Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson has just put the hit on the Bucs quarterback knocking the ball loose as Clark scoops it up. The Saints completely dominated both sides of the ball trouncing the Buccaneers 38-7. The offense ran for 4 scores and passed for another while racking up 450 yards of total offense. The defense held the Bucs in check with 5 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries.
Bruce Clark has always been one of the Saints most under-rated players of all time. He joined the Saints in 1982. Though originally, after an outstanding college career at Penn State, he was picked by Green Bay as their 1st-round pick in 1980 draft. But instead of playing for the Packers, he opted instead to go the Canadian Football League where he played 2 seasons for the Toronto Argonauts. When Clark returned to the NFL in 1982 New Orleans gave up a 1st round pick in the 1983 draft to get him. He would remain with the Saints until 1988. He was named to the 1982 NFL All-Rookie Team as well as going to the Pro Bowl in 1984.
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