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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.
The 1984 Steelers were “volainconsisent” as their combination of volatility and inconsistency to the point it should have created a new word for Webster’s dictionary.
They played both Super Bowl XIX participants in back-to-back weeks:
One extreme to the other:
There was no definitive starter at QB as the starters split time most of the season:
They edged out winning the AFC Central Division with a 9-7 record:
Two players set long standing team records:
They made a great playoff run:
They were good enough to be great while bad enough to be awful:
1985 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #20 Overall; 2nd Round – #47 Overall
In yet another disastrous defensive line pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Daryl “Sack Man” Sims from Wisconsin. That is about the only thing Sims had in common on the football field as T.J. Watt. While the “Sack Man” registered 3 sacks in his career as both he and 2nd round pick OT Mark Behning (who missed rookie season to broken arm) were gone from the organization after 1986.
There was a WR from the small college of Mississippi Valley State who Bill Nunn found and advised Chuck Noll to draft. Noll disregarded Nunn’s same advice on QB Dan Marino, was not eager to repeat the mistake and was enamored with Jerry Rice. Despite only playing Division 1-AA and with a 40-time of 4.6, the Steelers were convinced they had their replacement for John Stallworth. However, the aggressive San Francisco 49ers traded up to the #16 spot to snag the greatest WR of all time. The 49ers offer was their #28, #56 and #84 for the New England Patriots #16 and #75 — essentially giving up only a 2nd round pick and exchanging 1st and 3rd round picks. Noll was steadfast in his belief that it was foolish to trade draft picks for any reason. However, unlike the 1970s, they did have the exclusive resource of Nunn to HBCU schools as other teams learned from the Steelers model and began employing it. So despite easily being able to top that offer with #20, #47 and #74 (Liffort Hobley – who never played a down for the Steelers) and get the player that Noll coveted, the Steelers were left disappointed and resorted to a plan B that was much lower on their list.
“The What Could Have Been Draft Part III”
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
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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 1984 Steelers were “volainconsisent” as their combination of volatility and inconsistency to the point it should have created a new word for Webster’s dictionary.
They played both Super Bowl XIX participants in back-to-back weeks:
- The Steelers got dominated by the 14-2 Miami Dolphins in Three Rivers Stadium in Week 6.
- They end the 15-1 San Francisco 49ers bid for a perfect season winning 20-17 at Candlestick Park in Week 7.
One extreme to the other:
- Scoring 52 points (4th most in team history) vs. the San Diego Chargers in Week 13.
- Losing in OT to the 3-13 Houston Oilers (2nd worst record in the league) in Week 14.
There was no definitive starter at QB as the starters split time most of the season:
- Mark Malone (6-3) 16TDs, 17 INTs 2,137 yards, 73.4 QB rating
- David Woodley (3-4) 8 TDs, 7 INTs, 1,237 yards, 79.9 QB rating
They edged out winning the AFC Central Division with a 9-7 record:
- Defeating the defending Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Raiders on the road on the strength of two red zone interceptions by Donnie Shell.
Two players set long standing team records:
- Mike Merriweather set the single season team sack record (15) that would stand for 24 years until broken by James Harrison.
- Louis Lipps set the single season team TD record (15) that would last for 21 years until broken by Willie Parker.
They made a great playoff run:
- Taking down John Elway and the 13-3 Denver Broncos in AFC Divisional Round.
- Challenged for the AFC Championship vs. the Miami Dolphins – and while they couldn’t keep pace, the 28 points scored were the most the 14-2 Dolphins allowed all season in a winning effort.
They were good enough to be great while bad enough to be awful:
- The biggest issue coming from the weakness at QB, where the Woodley/Malone Combo generated 25 TDs but an equally bad INTs – numbers inflated by the great WR combo and only 1 win when attempting 23 passes or more.
The Year that “Could Have Been”
- Note: The 1984 team most resembling the 2021 Steelers outlook – outside of QB.
- Given the talent, commitment to the running game and solid defense, one could only imagine if Terry Bradshaw were under center for one final season, like Ben Roethlisberger has the opportunity with in 2021.
1985 Steelers Draft: 1st Round – #20 Overall; 2nd Round – #47 Overall
In yet another disastrous defensive line pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Daryl “Sack Man” Sims from Wisconsin. That is about the only thing Sims had in common on the football field as T.J. Watt. While the “Sack Man” registered 3 sacks in his career as both he and 2nd round pick OT Mark Behning (who missed rookie season to broken arm) were gone from the organization after 1986.
Grade: F
- The only player that lasted past two years from this draft was OLB Greg Carr, who was with the team till 1988 and started in 7 games. While other teams were starting to get an influx of talent from trades, USFL/CFL investments and the Supplemental Draft, the Steelers inaction towards either was the start of their downfall while their division rivals loaded up:
- Cincinnati Bengals – (Trades) RB James Brooks, T Brian Blados, WR Tim McGee, SS David Fulcher
- Houston Oilers – (CFL) QB Warren Moon; (USFL) RB Mike Rozier, DE William Fuller
- Cleveland Browns – (Supplemental) QB Bernie Kosar, (USFL) RB Kevin Mack, LB Mike Johnson, WR Gerald McNeil
Redrafting 1985: “The What Could Have Been Draft Part II”
There was a WR from the small college of Mississippi Valley State who Bill Nunn found and advised Chuck Noll to draft. Noll disregarded Nunn’s same advice on QB Dan Marino, was not eager to repeat the mistake and was enamored with Jerry Rice. Despite only playing Division 1-AA and with a 40-time of 4.6, the Steelers were convinced they had their replacement for John Stallworth. However, the aggressive San Francisco 49ers traded up to the #16 spot to snag the greatest WR of all time. The 49ers offer was their #28, #56 and #84 for the New England Patriots #16 and #75 — essentially giving up only a 2nd round pick and exchanging 1st and 3rd round picks. Noll was steadfast in his belief that it was foolish to trade draft picks for any reason. However, unlike the 1970s, they did have the exclusive resource of Nunn to HBCU schools as other teams learned from the Steelers model and began employing it. So despite easily being able to top that offer with #20, #47 and #74 (Liffort Hobley – who never played a down for the Steelers) and get the player that Noll coveted, the Steelers were left disappointed and resorted to a plan B that was much lower on their list.
“The What Could Have Been Draft Part III”
- To add insult to injury, a list of players that the risk-averse Steelers passed on included: QB Randall Cunningham, TE Mark Bavaro, WR Andre Reed, OLB Kevin Greene and RB Herschel Walker.
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
