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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.
Even after an 0-2 start, the Steelers rallied to win 8 of the next 11 games to position themselves for a Wild Card berth and a chance to win the AFC Central, until Terry Bradshaw was injured vs. the Oakland Raiders and the Steelers blew 4th quarter leads to the Raiders and Houston Oilers in losing their final 3 games with Mark Malone under center. Finishing out of the top 10 in defense for a 2nd consecutive year, it was the last season the Steelers utilized the 4-3 defense.
1982 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #12 Overall; 2nd Round – #43 Overall
The highest Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick in a decade saw them go back to the running back well 10 years after drafting Franco Harris and selected RB Walter Ambercrombie. Ambercrombie finished his unremarkable 7-year career with the Steelers amassing only 3,343 yards and 22 TDs, often serving as the #2 option to fellow Baylor alum Frank Pollard.
The Steelers 2nd round pick was OT John Meyer and he never played a game for the Steelers, made even worse considering former New York Giants RB Joe Morris was taken 2 picks later.
This pick is one the Steelers should have been willing to take the risk and trade up at least 2 slots to draft Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen. If the Oakland Raiders could have just won 1 of their final 2 games, the Steelers would have sat with that spot to take Allen (who was the 3rd RB taken) yet immediately guided the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 1983. But I would have offered the #12 pick, #43 pick and a 2nd round pick in 1983 just to trade places or move ahead of the Raiders. The Steelers obviously recognized Franco Harris was averaging 4 yards a carry but lacked the burst he once had and failed to top 1,000 yards again (987); hence they went with the 4th RB chosen in 12 picks.
1982 is an example of when playing it safe just does not cut it.
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:
Even after an 0-2 start, the Steelers rallied to win 8 of the next 11 games to position themselves for a Wild Card berth and a chance to win the AFC Central, until Terry Bradshaw was injured vs. the Oakland Raiders and the Steelers blew 4th quarter leads to the Raiders and Houston Oilers in losing their final 3 games with Mark Malone under center. Finishing out of the top 10 in defense for a 2nd consecutive year, it was the last season the Steelers utilized the 4-3 defense.
1982 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #12 Overall; 2nd Round – #43 Overall
The highest Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick in a decade saw them go back to the running back well 10 years after drafting Franco Harris and selected RB Walter Ambercrombie. Ambercrombie finished his unremarkable 7-year career with the Steelers amassing only 3,343 yards and 22 TDs, often serving as the #2 option to fellow Baylor alum Frank Pollard.
The Steelers 2nd round pick was OT John Meyer and he never played a game for the Steelers, made even worse considering former New York Giants RB Joe Morris was taken 2 picks later.
Grade: B
- This grade is generous because it’s including a pair of rookie free agents in it: Gary Anderson (arguably the best kicker in team history) and DE Keith Willis. If actually “drafted” it is graded better. Drafting future All-Pro OLB Mike Merriweather in the 3rd round — it can be argued that these were the 3 of the top 5 Steelers players of the 1980s, with Merriweather setting the team sack record in 1984 (15) that would not be broken until James Harrison in 2008.
Redrafting 1982:
This pick is one the Steelers should have been willing to take the risk and trade up at least 2 slots to draft Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen. If the Oakland Raiders could have just won 1 of their final 2 games, the Steelers would have sat with that spot to take Allen (who was the 3rd RB taken) yet immediately guided the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 1983. But I would have offered the #12 pick, #43 pick and a 2nd round pick in 1983 just to trade places or move ahead of the Raiders. The Steelers obviously recognized Franco Harris was averaging 4 yards a carry but lacked the burst he once had and failed to top 1,000 yards again (987); hence they went with the 4th RB chosen in 12 picks.
1982 is an example of when playing it safe just does not cut it.
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
