Pittsburgh Steelers all-time team

[zagoshe]

I know there is a large contigent of Steelers fans on here so enjoy....

QB: Terry Bradshaw
RB: Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis
TE: Bennie Cunningham, Elbie Nickel
WR: Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Hines Ward
OL: Larry Brown, Dermontti Dawson, Alan Faneca, Tunch Ilkin, Jon Kolb, Mike Webster
PK: Gary Anderson
DL: Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Casey Hampton, Ernie Stautner, Dwight White
LB: Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter, Andy Russell
DB: Mel Blount, Jack Butler, Carnell Lake, Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell, Rod Woodson
P: Bobby Walden

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_534410.html

I personally think you could make an argument for Louis Lipps over Ward and I think you could make a case for either Mike Merriweather, maybe even Levon Kirkland or Hardy Nickerson over Joey Porter. Other than that, I think it is pretty good.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

What's cool is how many of those guys were teammates.

 

[zagoshe]

Here is a good question -- do you think Troy Polamalu (sp?) should be on this team?

And you are right, those 70's teams were down right scary they were so good.

 

[pallister]

Awesome, another Steelers thread!

Tunch Ilkin is the greatest name ever.

 

[outofplace]

I saw this earlier today. Don't really have any big problems with the list.

I don't think you can you put Louis Lipps ahead of Hines Ward. Lipps had a fantastic start to his career. The team's run-oriented approach and crappy quarterbacking kept his numbers down, but he was one of the top five receivers in the game in 1985.

After that, he just couldn't stay healthy. He had some decent seasons, but he didn't sustain his level of play like Ward.

I can see the argument for Merriweather, but he was only a Steeler for six seasons and he wasn't the leader that Porter was. Kirkland is a tougher call. He was a beast before he ate his way out of town and he was the best defensive player on the field in Super Bowl XXX

I'd probably go with Kirkland, but I have no problem with Porter being there. Better yet, take only one tight end and give Bennie Cunningham's spot to one of those two guys.

Zag, who do you think should be on instead of Polamalu?

 

[Boom_70]

Looking over list Mike Wagner is the only player that jumps out as missing from list. For one year Ernie Holmes was great but did not sustain it.

 

[pallister]

I don't think you can you put Louis Lipps ahead of Hines Ward. Lipps had a fantastic start to his career. The team's run-oriented approach and crappy quarterbacking kept his numbers down, but he was one of the top five receivers in the game in 1985. After that, he just couldn't stay healthy.

Getting knocked out cold by Otis Wilson during that season might have had something to do with the post-85 decline.

 

[mike311gd]

Where the **** is Slash?

 

[zagoshe]

I'd probably go with Kirkland, but I have no problem with Porter being there. Better yet, take only one tight end and give Bennie Cunningham's spot to one of those two guys.

Zag, who do you think should be on instead of Polamalu?

Not sure about Polamalu, it just doesn't seem like he has played for a long enough period of time yet to be considered on here.

I will say this -- I think one of the tight ends should be cut and Barry Foster should be added. He had a short career, but he was as good, if not better, than Bettis when he was healthy.

 

[outofplace]

I don't think you can you put Louis Lipps ahead of Hines Ward. Lipps had a fantastic start to his career. The team's run-oriented approach and crappy quarterbacking kept his numbers down, but he was one of the top five receivers in the game in 1985. After that, he just couldn't stay healthy.

Getting knocked out cold by Otis Wilson during that season might have had something to do with the post-85 decline.

Not really. Lipps had problems keeping his legs healthy, particularly hamstring pulls, as well as some off-field issues.

And Boom, Wagner is the one who popped into my head as possibly deserving of Polamalu's spot.

Zag, in 1992 Barry Foster was as good as any back the Steelers ever had not named Franco Harris. But that was his only 1,000-yard season. If Willie Parker stays healthy, he will pass Foster's career rushing total this season.

 

[Boom_70]

I don't think you can you put Louis Lipps ahead of Hines Ward. Lipps had a fantastic start to his career. The team's run-oriented approach and crappy quarterbacking kept his numbers down, but he was one of the top five receivers in the game in 1985. After that, he just couldn't stay healthy.

Getting knocked out cold by Otis Wilson during that season might have had something to do with the post-85 decline.

Not really. Lipps had problems keeping his legs healthy, particularly hamstring pulls, as well as some off-field issues.

And Boom, Wagner is the one who popped into my head as possibly deserving of Polamalu's spot.

Zag, in 1992 Barry Foster was as good as any back the Steelers ever had not named Franco Harris. But that was his only 1,000-yard season. If Willie Parker stays healthy, he will pass Foster's career rushing total this season.

Wagner and Glenn Edwards

 

[outofplace]

Boom, I could see either one over Polamalu, though neither was asked to do all the things the current Steelers ask of Polamalu.

"Pine" Edwards was tremendously physical safety. One of many reasons that defense in the '70s just beat the hell out of the opposition.

 

[Boom_70]

Boom, I could see either one over Polamalu, though neither was asked to do all the things the current Steelers ask of Polamalu.

"Pine" Edwards was tremendously physical safety. One of many reasons that defense in the '70s just beat the hell out of the opposition.

one of eleven reasons - that entire defense beat the hell out of people.

 

[zagoshe]

I met Mel Blount about a year ago. That dude would be a linebacker, perhaps a defensive end today yet he was a corner. That is a big dude and he looks like he is in good enough shape that he could still play today if he needed to. I couldn't believe how big he is and he was a monster on the field -- no wonder they changed the rules about how much a defensive end can manhandle receivers.

 

[BBJones]

Zagoshe, wasn't Mel Blount about 6-2, 195? He wouldn't even be a high school defensive end at those dimensions.

 

[zagoshe]

He was listed at 6-3, 210 I think -- but I swear he seemed like he was closer to 6-5 when I met him and I'd say he weighs about 235, 240 now and he looks like he is chiseled from a rock. He looked like he could easily put on the 20 pounds necessary and become a Jevon Kearse like guy!!

 

[BigSleeper]

What? No love for Weegie Thompson!?! :o

 

[expendable]

Where's Steely McBeam??? :o

 

[outofplace]

What? No love for Weegie Thompson!?! :o

A reminder of the rut of mediocrity that team fell into in the mid-80s. But hey....he was really tall.

 

[da man]

The list is a fraud, I tell you! I'll take Bobby Layne over Bradshaw at QB any day, and where the hell is Bullet Bill Dudley? All he did was lead the NFL in rushing, interceptions and punt return average for the '46 Steelers.

You young whippersnappers all think the NFL started in 1970. Sheesh!