Steelers G.M. looks to 1974 for draft inspiration

[Shoes]

The Pittsburgh Steelers had perhaps the best draft in league history in 1974. They did it without the various devices that are (or at least were) currently available.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/28/steelers-g-m-looks-to-1974-for-draft-inspiration/

[Butch]

4 HOF in 4 consecutive picks and one HOF free agent. Yeah I would say someone did their homework very well.

[fansince'76]

With the Pro Days abruptly ending and private workouts and player visits canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, all teams are on a level playing field that makes the draft even more of a crapshoot than usual.

Ironically, teams might make better picks as a result. Nobody will be going ga-ga over combine numbers and athleticism only to burn high picks on guys who wind up being shitty players because their freakish athleticism doesn't actually translate into an ability to play NFL football.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Ironically, teams might make better picks as a result. Nobody will be going ga-ga over combine numbers and athleticism only to burn high picks on guys who wind up being shitty players because their freakish athleticism doesn't actually translate into an ability to play NFL football. Thanks no fun police! Ps. never mind I'm drunk!

[86WARD]

These guys will have to watch more and more actual game film then ever to make sure they know a player inside and out. Hopefully that’s what they are doing...lol. I’ve been saying this for a pretty long time: I put very little stick into the combine. If a guy can play, you’ll see it on film. Looseness of hips, 40-time, how many bench reps, it’s all secondary to what a guy can do on the field and against real competition.

Maybe in a weird way, what is happening because of the virus will be a good thing if the Steelers come out of this with some nice players.

[Dwinsgames]

with todays technology , interviews / meetings could still take place .... the limit of 30 in house could still happen without them actually coming in ..

all it would take is coordination between the league and Agents and then league and teams ...

the league could get all contact info for players from agents ...... teams could then submit a list of 30 players they want contact info on from league ....

they could then facetime or ( select your favorite app like that ) ...is it ideal , no but nothing in this process or life in general is ideal right now

[pczach]

These guys will have to watch more and more actual game film then ever to make sure they know a player inside and out. Hopefully that’s what they are doing...lol. I’ve been saying this for a pretty long time: I put very little stick into the combine. If a guy can play, you’ll see it on film. Looseness of hips, 40-time, how many bench reps, it’s all secondary to what a guy can do on the field and against real competition.

Maybe in a weird way, what is happening because of the virus will be a good thing if the Steelers come out of this with some nice players.




I agree with most of what you are saying.

The combine is a tool. It is not the determining factor in evaluating a player.

Personally, I use the data gathered at the combine to answer specific questions I have about players. For instance, if there's a player that is underused in a system, you don't get to see them doing things that they would do at the pro level very often. They have limited chances to show off athleticism or maybe they play against lesser competition. Knowing how fast they can run, how high they can jump, and measuring their short-area quickness is huge to help determine if they have the physical requirements of the position to go along with the other football traits that are apparent when watching them on film.

[st33lersguy]

They put up good points, back in the day they didn't have combines or pro days, it was all about accessing the game tape. They already have combine, combine interviews and select pro days and some of these other GMs still are complaining it's not enough for them

[Born2Steel]

For the MOST part the combine is used to determine the overall health of a prospect and more specifically answer any health related questions. These teams have already watched the game film and made a 'long list' of potential talent. Not saying Mike Tomlin has personally watched EVERY prospect on film, but as an organization they are not starting from scratch once the NFL season ends. The one on one interviews with prospects has become a very useful tool. I would say at least more useful than combine numbers. Getting an idea of a prospect's maturity level, work ethic, football knowledge, position group knowledge, etc, is a better indicator of who the player is than a 40 time/cone drill that has been practiced to the point of becoming muscle memory as much as a display of speed. BUT...You don't really get to know a player until you get into Training Camp and you see how 'teachable' he is. There is either effort plus a short learning curve or there isn't. You don't draft for backups and depth, you want draft picks to become essential parts of the plan. Which is why the 2016 draft really is a huge disappointment. BTW 2015 only has Bud remaining.

[BlackAndGold]

Fire everyone if they don't draft 4 HOF's in this draft and sign a 5th HOF as a UDFA.

[Butch]

Fire everyone if they don't draft 4 HOF's in this draft and sign a 5th HOF as a UDFA.

LOL :mob:

[Dwinsgames]

For the MOST part the combine is used to determine the overall health of a prospect and more specifically answer any health related questions. These teams have already watched the game film and made a 'long list' of potential talent. Not saying Mike Tomlin has personally watched EVERY prospect on film, but as an organization they are not starting from scratch once the NFL season ends. The one on one interviews with prospects has become a very useful tool. I would say at least more useful than combine numbers. Getting an idea of a prospect's maturity level, work ethic, football knowledge, position group knowledge, etc, is a better indicator of who the player is than a 40 time/cone drill that has been practiced to the point of becoming muscle memory as much as a display of speed. BUT...You don't really get to know a player until you get into Training Camp and you see how 'teachable' he is. There is either effort plus a short learning curve or there isn't. You don't draft for backups and depth, you want draft picks to become essential parts of the plan. Which is why the 2016 draft really is a huge disappointment. BTW 2015 only has Bud remaining.

we do see a guy or 2 every year get way over drafted because of his combine athleticism , guys who do not put up the numbers in college on the field that they seem capable of due to athletic prowess and imstead of being mid 3rd round picks go in round 1

[AtlantaDan]

The Pittsburgh Steelers had perhaps the best draft in league history in 1974. They did it without the various devices that are (or at least were) currently available.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/28/steelers-g-m-looks-to-1974-for-draft-inspiration/



"Perhaps"

Really inexcusable to have ruined that draft by picking Jimmy Allen in round 4 after Stallworth and before Webster - The Chief and Dan Rooney should have fired Art Rooney, Jr. and Bill Nunn after that

[pczach]

"Perhaps"

Really inexcusable to have ruined that draft by picking Jimmy Allen in round 4 after Stallworth and before Webster - The Chief and Dan Rooney should have fired Art Rooney, Jr. and Bill Nunn after that



Yes, this Steelers incompetence has been going on for many decades now......

[Born2Steel]

we do see a guy or 2 every year get way over drafted because of his combine athleticism , guys who do not put up the numbers in college on the field that they seem capable of due to athletic prowess and imstead of being mid 3rd round picks go in round 1

And I am sure we will see a couple this year too. Pre NFL combine and media hyping players on 1000 different outlets the face to face and film study approach built a lot of dynasty teams. It is interesting that the mid 80s is when the Steelers started seeing positive rebuild results as well though.