- Joined
- Apr 7, 2014
- Messages
- 2,542
- Reaction score
- 4,985
- Points
- 93
In this retrospective series, we’ll use 20/20 hindsight to play General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers to review past drafts – focusing primarily on top 2-3 selections – and personnel decisions year-by-year and redraft or implement trades based on the Steelers roster at the time.
General rule: Any “redrafted” pick will generally fall within a 15-pick range and trade propositions being realistic and attainable.
The Steelers offense was operating at a high level as Terry Bradshaw put up another solid year, although there were injuries to Franco Harris, his 6-year streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and the Steelers missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Father time caught up with Rocky Bleier who endured his worst season as a starter and retired after the season. The defense finished outside the top 10 for the first time since 1972, with huge holes to fill after the retirement of Steel Curtain cornerstones Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood.
1981 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #17 Overall; 2nd Round – #44 Overall
Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to rebuild the Steel Curtain during the 1980’s and Keith Gary was the first defensive end the Steelers drafted in the 1st round since Joe Greene. While Gary was not necessarily a “bust”, he opted to play his first two seasons in the Canadian Football League and would not join the Steelers until 1983. He was a good pass-rusher, but never took over the full-time starting role in 6 seasons, and despite his 25 sacks, he’s best remembered for a gruesome face mask on Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson that completely snapped the QBs neck and left him without a feeling from the neck down resulting in a very scary few minutes. One could only imagine the punishment by the NFL for that play today. Gary would only play 6 seasons for the Steelers and the general consensus is that he left a lot of potential on the field.
With the 44th pick, the Steelers drafted cornerback Anthony Washington from Fresno State. He played only two seasons with the Steelers before being released and playing as a reserve on the Washington Redskins two Super Bowl runs and calling it a career in leu of a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There may have been talent there, but something prevented him from ascending.
The Steelers best acquisition would have been from selecting guard Mark May from Pitt, despite the OL performing strongly. They could have reversed course with CB/DE dynamic by taking CB Hanford Dixon in round 1 and came back around to addressing the DE with pick #48 – Hall of Famer Howie Long. But there were several directions the Steelers could have went. Big-play RB James Brooks was available 2 picks after Dixon. If they were truly inclined for a future QB, extremely underappreciated QB Neil Lomax and future Hall of Fame LB Mike Singletary were available at the top of the 2nd round.
Consider 1981 a very “missed opportunity.”
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
General rule: Any “redrafted” pick will generally fall within a 15-pick range and trade propositions being realistic and attainable.
Steelers situation and needs:
The Steelers offense was operating at a high level as Terry Bradshaw put up another solid year, although there were injuries to Franco Harris, his 6-year streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and the Steelers missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Father time caught up with Rocky Bleier who endured his worst season as a starter and retired after the season. The defense finished outside the top 10 for the first time since 1972, with huge holes to fill after the retirement of Steel Curtain cornerstones Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood.
1981 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #17 Overall; 2nd Round – #44 Overall
Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to rebuild the Steel Curtain during the 1980’s and Keith Gary was the first defensive end the Steelers drafted in the 1st round since Joe Greene. While Gary was not necessarily a “bust”, he opted to play his first two seasons in the Canadian Football League and would not join the Steelers until 1983. He was a good pass-rusher, but never took over the full-time starting role in 6 seasons, and despite his 25 sacks, he’s best remembered for a gruesome face mask on Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson that completely snapped the QBs neck and left him without a feeling from the neck down resulting in a very scary few minutes. One could only imagine the punishment by the NFL for that play today. Gary would only play 6 seasons for the Steelers and the general consensus is that he left a lot of potential on the field.
With the 44th pick, the Steelers drafted cornerback Anthony Washington from Fresno State. He played only two seasons with the Steelers before being released and playing as a reserve on the Washington Redskins two Super Bowl runs and calling it a career in leu of a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There may have been talent there, but something prevented him from ascending.
Grade: D+
- Gary should have come to the Steelers immediately as he could have made an impact, and the drafting of LB’s Bryan Hinkle and David Little in the 5th/6th rounds gave the Steelers solid if unspectacular play the whole decade.
Redrafting 1981:
The Steelers best acquisition would have been from selecting guard Mark May from Pitt, despite the OL performing strongly. They could have reversed course with CB/DE dynamic by taking CB Hanford Dixon in round 1 and came back around to addressing the DE with pick #48 – Hall of Famer Howie Long. But there were several directions the Steelers could have went. Big-play RB James Brooks was available 2 picks after Dixon. If they were truly inclined for a future QB, extremely underappreciated QB Neil Lomax and future Hall of Fame LB Mike Singletary were available at the top of the 2nd round.
Consider 1981 a very “missed opportunity.”
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
