Productive Steelers drafts after the early to mid '70s.

[saturdaysarebetter]

As I'm going through reading Tales From the Pittsburgh Steelers Sidelines by Dale Grdnic, I came across two draft years after the great early to mid '70s drafts in which the Steelers had very solid drafts.


In 1977, the Steelers drafted Robin Cole, Sydney Thornton, Jimmy Smith, Ted Petersen, Cliff Stoudt, Steve Courson, and Dirt Winston and would sign Tony Dungy as a free agent. No superstars but that was a solid draft as they all contributed in future years and to two more Super Bowls.


The 1987 draft the Steelers picked Rod Woodson, Delton Hall, Thomas Everett, Hardy Nickerson, Tim Johnson, Greg Lloyd, and Merril Hoge.


Everybody talks about the 1974 draft as being the best ever and it certainly was, and the 1969, '70, '71 and '72 drafts in which we built the foundation of a dynasty and drafted future Hall of Famers, but the '77 and '87 drafts were very productive and don't get mentioned enough.

[Edman]

In terms of modern-day drafts, You really can't beat the 2002 class. Kendall Simmons, Antwaan Randle El, Chris Hope, Larry Foote, Verron Haynes, Brett Kiesel, and James Harrison as undrafted.

And if things continue and develop at this rate it's going, the 2022 class may be the best. At least the best I've seen in my lifetime. 2023 looks like another winner.

[tube517]

I know you are looking at after but they don't talk about 1971 enough:

Frank Lewis
Jack Ham
Gerry Mullins
Dwight White
Larry Brown
Ernie Holmes

That's a HOFer at OLB, almost half the O-line and half of the Steel Curtain DL. White and Holmes were just as scary as Mean Joe and LC.
Lewis was a starting WR before Swann/Stallworth.

[Hawkman]

In terms of modern-day drafts, You really can't beat the 2002 class. Kendall Simmons, Antwaan Randle El, Chris Hope, Larry Foote, Verron Haynes, Brett Kiesel, and James Harrison as undrafted.

And if things continue and develop at this rate it's going, the 2022 class may be the best. At least the best I've seen in my lifetime. 2023 looks like another winner.

I had forgotten everyone who was drafted in 2002. That was a seriously good class. Simmons was really good except he had to battle diabetes. It’s hard to maintain a big body, when you’re not supposed to load up on carbs……every day.

[Dwinsgames]

The 1987 draft the Steelers picked Rod Woodson, Delton Hall, Thomas Everett, Hardy Nickerson, Tim Johnson, Greg Lloyd, and Merril Hoge.




3 defensive backs and all 3 played quite a bit of ball ... Belton Delton Hall what a nickname

[Steeler-in-west]

I like the 90’ draft, maybe a bit overlooked cause there are no HOF’ers (Green and Foster went to a couple pro bowls), then of course there’s everyone’s favorite QB (apologies to teegre). still a productive draft.

Eric Green, Neil O’Donnell, Chris Calloway, Barry Foster, Justin Stzrelzcyk

[Hawkman]

I like the 90’ draft, maybe a bit overlooked cause there are no HOF’ers (Green and Foster went to a couple pro bowls), then of course there’s everyone’s favorite QB (apologies to teegre). still a productive draft.

Eric Green, Neil O’Donnell, Chris Calloway, Barry Foster, Justin Stzrelzcyk

Agreed! It’s cool that people are are posting draft classes that I have completely forgotten……not the players, just when they were drafted. It’s obviously easier to follow the draft these days. Eric Green was a beast…7 TDs in his rookie year.

[tube517]

I like the 90’ draft, maybe a bit overlooked cause there are no HOF’ers (Green and Foster went to a couple pro bowls), then of course there’s everyone’s favorite QB (apologies to teegre). still a productive draft.

Eric Green, Neil O’Donnell, Chris Calloway, Barry Foster, Justin Stzrelzcyk

So Cowher won with Chuck Noll's players???? :chuckle:

[pczach]

So Cowher won with Chuck Noll's players???? :chuckle:



Exactly. Just don't mention that to the Cowher worshipers that bitch about Tomlin only winning with Cowher's players. They don't like that. :lol:

[tube517]

1992 Draft (Cowher's first) was a good one. 3 Pro Bowlers and another quality starter.

Leon Searcy, Levon Kirkland, Joel Steed, Darren Perry

[ALLD]

You can grade the draft on the team's future performance. It's widely accepted that the 1976 Steelers had the best defense in NFL history to never win a championship due to injuries on offense.

[Steeler-in-west]

So Cowher won with Chuck Noll's players???? :chuckle:

ha! He did, so is Noll the only Steelers coach who built his team literally from the ground up?

[Mojouw]

1992 Draft (Cowher's first) was a good one. 3 Pro Bowlers and another quality starter.

Leon Searcy, Levon Kirkland, Joel Steed, Darren Perry

Wasn't that Tom Donahoe's first time at the GM controls? I think that was always the issue, Donahue ran the draft and Cowher wanted to do that...led to Donahue leaving in the late 90's....I think I have that right....

No Idea. it would be interesting to see what others know/remember about that power dynamic.

Anyway. that is a good draft!

[pczach]

Wasn't that Tom Donahoe's first time at the GM controls? I think that was always the issue, Donahue ran the draft and Cowher wanted to do that...led to Donahue leaving in the late 90's....I think I have that right....

No Idea. it would be interesting to see what others know/remember about that power dynamic.

Anyway. that is a good draft!



Cowher put pressure on the ownership because he wanted more power and Tom Donahoe stepped aside. I think Donahoe was a great mind and was responsible for a lot of the Steelers talent before he even got to a position of power, and he went on to other teams to help them build rosters.

He went to the Bills for several years. He was hired by the Eagles as a Senior Advisor in 2012 and was elevated to Senior Director of Player Personnel in 2015 when they fired Chip Kelly. He and the Eagles parted ways in 2022, but he had his hand in a Super Bowl win and his fingerprints are also on the existing team that went to the Super Bowl last season. He's done alright for himself as a personnel guy.

I was a huge fan of Donahoe, and thought him leaving could have been disastrous, but luckily, Keven Colbert came on the scene and he and Cowher had a better relationship.

[Mojouw]

Cowher put pressure on the ownership because he wanted more power and Tom Donahoe stepped aside. I think Donahoe was a great mind and was responsible for a lot of the Steelers talent before he even got to a position of power, and he went on to other teams to help them build rosters.

He went to the Bills for several years. He was hired by the Eagles as a Senior Advisor in 2012 and was elevated to Senior Director of Player Personnel in 2015 when they fired Chip Kelly. He and the Eagles parted ways in 2022, but he had his hand in a Super Bowl win and his fingerprints are also on the existing team that went to the Super Bowl last season. He's done alright for himself as a personnel guy.

I was a huge fan of Donahoe, and thought him leaving could have been disastrous, but luckily, Keven Colbert came on the scene and he and Cowher had a better relationship.

Ok. that is sorta how I remembered it. I also remember being impressed with Donahoe's ability to spot talent. Kind of an under the radar guy you don't see get enough love in discussions of the NFL execs over the years.

Fans give the Rooney's a great deal of crap. But someone in that family still has an eye for talent. Noll to Cowher to Tomlin. Donahoe to Colbert to Khan. That's impressive. Hard to find another organization with that track record of not only non-disasterous hires but actually impressive hires.

[pczach]

Ok. that is sorta how I remembered it. I also remember being impressed with Donahoe's ability to spot talent. Kind of an under the radar guy you don't see get enough love in discussions of the NFL execs over the years.

Fans give the Rooney's a great deal of crap. But someone in that family still has an eye for talent. Noll to Cowher to Tomlin. Donahoe to Colbert to Khan. That's impressive. Hard to find another organization with that track record of not only non-disasterous hires but actually impressive hires.



When you lay it out there like that, it is easy to see why the team is so successful. It is also why it is so painful to listen to the negative forces that are constantly bashing the Rooneys, the GM, the Head Coach, etc... This organization and ownership is literally the model that every other team is trying to create. They all try, but none have pulled it off over an extended period of time to the extent that the Steelers have.

- - - Updated - - -


Ok. that is sorta how I remembered it. I also remember being impressed with Donahoe's ability to spot talent. Kind of an under the radar guy you don't see get enough love in discussions of the NFL execs over the years.

Fans give the Rooney's a great deal of crap. But someone in that family still has an eye for talent. Noll to Cowher to Tomlin. Donahoe to Colbert to Khan. That's impressive. Hard to find another organization with that track record of not only non-disasterous hires but actually impressive hires.



When you lay it out there like that, it is easy to see why the team is so successful. It is also why it is so painful to listen to the negative forces that are constantly bashing the Rooneys, the GM, the Head Coach, etc... This organization and ownership is literally the model that every other team is trying to create. They all try, but none have pulled it off over an extended period of time to the extent that the Steelers have.

[ALLD]

Ok. that is sorta how I remembered it. I also remember being impressed with Donahoe's ability to spot talent. Kind of an under the radar guy you don't see get enough love in discussions of the NFL execs over the years.

Fans give the Rooney's a great deal of crap. But someone in that family still has an eye for talent. Noll to Cowher to Tomlin. Donahoe to Colbert to Khan. That's impressive. Hard to find another organization with that track record of not only non-disasterous hires but actually impressive hires.

It was Dan Rooney. Read his book.

[Steeler-in-west]

Agreed! It’s cool that people are are posting draft classes that I have completely forgotten……not the players, just when they were drafted. It’s obviously easier to follow the draft these days. Eric Green was a beast…7 TDs in his rookie year.

So was Barry Foster, for a short while. I think he and Bam Morris get lost in the shuffle between Franco and Jerome Bettis

[Steeler-in-west]

It was Dan Rooney. Read his book.

Dan Rooney chose Noll, but as far as drafting the right players, i think it was a joint decision between Noll, Dunn, and Dick Haley

[86WARD]

So was Barry Foster, for a short while. I think he and Bam Morris get lost in the shuffle between Franco and Jerome Bettis

I’m a big Barry Foster fan. I loved watching him play.

[tube517]

I’m a big Barry Foster fan. I loved watching him play.Barry "Bananas" Foster was perfect for Cowhers style of football. Too bad he got hurt and then lost interest in football

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk