More offseason fun - Pick best all time Steelers team

[EzraTank]

Okay let the off season fun begin...

Name your all time best Steelers team per position on offense, defense and special teams (kicking only). On most positions you can pick your starter and backup(s). For instance QB, you would say: Bradshaw, Roethlisberger or vice versa if you want Ben starting ahead of Bradshaw. For WR you pick the top five since it is such a versatile position. Since the Steelers had two different defensive eras that dominated (4-3 with the Steel curtain vs 3-4 of the modern team) use some liberty to get your best players picked even if they are "out of position". For instance Joe Greene would definitely start on today's Steelers team despite playing in a 4-3 during his career.

Let's also assume you are picking the player in their prime in their best season.

Offense:

QB (Pick 2): Bradshaw, Roethlisberger
RB (Pick 2): Franco, L. Bell (Bettis honorable mention).
FB (Pick 2): Dan Kreider, Rocky Bleier
WR (Pick 5): AB, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward
TE (Pick 2): Heath Miller, Eric Green
C (Pick 2): Dermontti Dawson, Mike Webster
LT (Pick 2): Jon Kolb, Marvel Smith
RT (Pick 2): Willie Colon, Leon Searcy
LG (Pick 2): Alan Faneca, Chris Kemoeatu
RG (Pick 2): Gerry Mullins, Ramon Foster

Defense (this one is tough because of the 4-3 vs 3-4 defensive history so just fill in the best you can):

SS (Pick 2): Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell
FS (Pick 2): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Carnell Lake
CB1 (Pick 2): Mel Blount, Joe Haden
CB2 (Pick 2): Rod Woodson, Ike Taylor
OLB1 - TJ Watt, Kevin Greene
OLB2 (Pick 2): James Harrison, Jason Gildon
ILB1 (Pick 2): Greg Lloyd, Jack Ham
ILB2 (Pick 2): Jack Lambert, Joey Porter
NT (Pick 2): Casey Hampton, Ernie Holmes
DT1 (Pick 2): Joe Greene, Cam Heyward
DT2 (Pick 2): LC Greenwood, Aaron Smith

K (Pick one): Boz
P (Pick one): Jordan Berry
P/K Returner (Pick 2 can be from above roster): Rod Woodson, Antwaan Randle El

Head Coach: Noll, Cowher

Okay, I'm sure I missed a lot of good players and I know I plugged a few in positions they didn't start at as backups but could you imagine lining up against this team all in their primes?

[Steeler-in-west]

Not putting AB ahead of Stallworth and Swann. I’d make him no 3. Stallworth was stronger and had more reach, perfect combat catching WR. Swann had great body control and hops, fearless too. I know AB had great body control and was good in traffic too but I’m going with a bit of being a good teammate and character in this evaluation.

I’d also put Iron Mike ahead of Dermonti.

always liked Bennie Cunningham and Grossman as our TE’s. I think they were always underrated but I understand putting Green as the second behind Heath

(oh yeah: HC - Noll)

[Orion]

i'm not entirely sure joe green could play on the current steelers. where would he play ? outside LB ? at 275 lbs i dont think he would be very effective on a 3-4 DL. maybe DE in a 4-3. not to mention the rule changes. his signature move was a slap to the earhole which is a penalty in todays pussy league. same with mike webster. there aren't too many 6'1" , 255lb centers. even dermonti dawson at 6'2", 290+ might struggle in todays NFL.

[86WARD]

QB (Pick 2): Bradshaw, Roethlisberger
RB (Pick 2): Bettis, Bell, Foster
FB (Pick 2): Franco Harris, Dan Kreider
WR (Pick 5): AB, Hines Ward, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Santonio Holmes
TE (Pick 2): Heath Miller, Eric Green
C (Pick 2): Dermontti Dawson, Maurkice Pouncey
LT (Pick 2): Jon Kolb, Marvel Smith
RT (Pick 2): Tunch Ilkin, Willie Colon
LG (Pick 2): Alan Faneca, Ramon Foster
RG (Pick 2): David DeCastro, Gerry Mullens

Defense (this one is tough because of the 4-3 vs 3-4 defensive history so just fill in the best you can):

FS (Pick 2): Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell
SS (Pick 2): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Carnell Lake
CB1 (Pick 2): Mel Blount, Joey Porter, Jr.
CB2 (Pick 2): Rod Woodson, Ike Taylor
OLB1 - TJ Watt, Kevin Greene
OLB2 (Pick 2): James Harrison, Greg Lloyd
ILB1 (Pick 2): LeVon Kirkland, Jack Ham
ILB2 (Pick 2): Jack Lambert, Joey Porter
NT (Pick 2): Casey Hampton, Ernie Holmes
DT1 (Pick 2): Joe Greene, Cam Heyward
DT2 (Pick 2): LC Greenwood, Aaron Smith

K (Pick one): Boz
P (Pick one): Jordan Berry
P/K Returner (Pick 2 can be from above roster): Rod Woodson, Antwaan Randle El

[El Kabong]

Okay let the off season fun begin...

Name your all time best Steelers team per position on offense, defense and special teams (kicking only). On most positions you can pick your starter and backup(s). For instance QB, you would say: Bradshaw, Roethlisberger or vice versa if you want Ben starting ahead of Bradshaw. For WR you pick the top five since it is such a versatile position. Since the Steelers had two different defensive eras that dominated (4-3 with the Steel curtain vs 3-4 of the modern team) use some liberty to get your best players picked even if they are "out of position". For instance Joe Greene would definitely start on today's Steelers team despite playing in a 4-3 during his career.

Let's also assume you are picking the player in their prime in their best season.

Offense:

QB (Pick 2): Bradshaw, Roethlisberger
RB (Pick 2): Franco, L. Bell (Bettis honorable mention).
FB (Pick 2): Dan Kreider, Rocky Bleier
WR (Pick 5): AB, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward
TE (Pick 2): Heath Miller, Eric Green
C (Pick 2): Dermontti Dawson, Mike Webster
LT (Pick 2): Jon Kolb, Marvel Smith
RT (Pick 2): Willie Colon, Leon Searcy
LG (Pick 2): Alan Faneca, Chris Kemoeatu
RG (Pick 2): Gerry Mullins, Ramon Foster

Defense (this one is tough because of the 4-3 vs 3-4 defensive history so just fill in the best you can):

FS (Pick 2): Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell
SS (Pick 2): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Carnell Lake
CB1 (Pick 2): Mel Blount, Joe Haden
CB2 (Pick 2): Rod Woodson, Ike Taylor
OLB1 - TJ Watt, Kevin Greene
OLB2 (Pick 2): James Harrison, Jason Gildon
ILB1 (Pick 2): Greg Lloyd, Jack Ham
ILB2 (Pick 2): Jack Lambert, Joey Porter
NT (Pick 2): Casey Hampton, Ernie Holmes
DT1 (Pick 2): Joe Greene, Cam Heyward
DT2 (Pick 2): LC Greenwood, Aaron Smith

K (Pick one): Boz
P (Pick one): Jordan Berry
P/K Returner (Pick 2 can be from above roster): Rod Woodson, Antwaan Randle El

Head Coach: Noll, Cowher

Okay, I'm sure I missed a lot of good players and I know I plugged a few in positions they didn't start at as backups but could you imagine lining up against this team all in their primes?

Troy and Donnie were SS's and Minkah is a FS. Or are you just fitting guys in where you can?

[DesertSteel]

I’ll work on one. No way I’ll put Bell ahead of the Bus though.

[Hawkman]

Obviously this is just offseason entertainment…..to sit down and decide favorites, I can’t do it. I loved Swann, Stallworth,and Ward. But there were so many really good receivers…..and that’s just one position….and Holmes caught the winning pass.

[Hawkman]

No reason to get in to turmoil,…but Ezra, I thought about it a lot. I like your postings.

[vasteeler]

IMO AB is WR1

[EzraTank]

i'm not entirely sure joe green could play on the current steelers. where would he play ? outside LB ? at 275 lbs i dont think he would be very effective on a 3-4 DL. maybe DE in a 4-3. not to mention the rule changes. his signature move was a slap to the earhole which is a penalty in todays pussy league. same with mike webster. there aren't too many 6'1" , 255lb centers. even dermonti dawson at 6'2", 290+ might struggle in todays NFL.

I'll give you Joe Greene, although with his talent and strength he could easily play Cam Heyward's position. But size and and weight don't always tell the story. Quickness, speed and strength are huge in offensive linemen. Look at Jon Kolb of the 70s team. He was 6'2", 262 lbs but competed regularly in the World's strongest man competitions during the offseason. In a fast trap blocking scheme getting off the ball and knocking a 330 lbs fat guy off balance is easily done.

- - - Updated - - -

Troy and Donnie were SS's and Minkah is a FS. Or are you just fitting guys in where you can?

Sorry, I had them backwards, but yeah with the changing of the style over the years some times you just have to put guys in spots you assume they could have played. Like I said the Steelers went from a 4-3 in the 70s/80's to a 3-4 in the 90s onward.

[Hawkman]

Can anyone possibly compare the 70’s team to today’s teams. I’m not sure the 70s teams actually wanted to kill the other team….but they thought about it. After the catch by Franco, the Raiders and the Steelers hated each other. The Raiders had an incredible DLine. They would stand on opponents. Steelers too. “Rough and Tumble” we always called it.

Just really hard to compare.

[tube517]

Can anyone possibly compare the 70’s team to today’s teams. I’m not sure the 70s teams actually wanted to kill the other team….but they thought about it. After the catch by Franco, the Raiders and the Steelers hated each other. The Raiders had an incredible DLine. They would stand on opponents. Steelers too. “Rough and Tumble” we always called it.

Just really hard to compare.

That was a real rivalry.

Also Cowboys Steelers of the 70s was pretty big as well. The players on each team hated each other so much that even the usually silent Chuck Noll threw shade at Tom Landry whining about losing.

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[El Kabong]

Our fiercest rivalry now is with the Ravens.

[Hawkman]

Our fiercest rivalry now is with the Ravens.

Not quite the same without Suggs and Lewis.

[Steeler-in-west]

I know the ravens are our fiercest rival, but agree with the above, I still feel the most disdain/hatred toward the cowboys when we play them,

used to despise the oilers too

[Hawkman]

I know the ravens are our fiercest rival, but agree with the above, I still feel the most disdain/hatred toward the cowboys when we play them,

used to despise the oilers too

Totally forgot about the Oilers. Tough games against them! Strange that they were in our division.

[Steeler-in-west]

Totally forgot about the Oilers. Tough games against them! Strange that they were in our division.

I think it’s because they were in the same central time zone that we were in. For those who remember it was a fierce rivalry but we mostly had the upper hand. The oilers and their fans hated us. Donnie Shell destroyed Earl Campbell on one running play to the outside. And then there was the time a Steelers fan swiped Bum Phillips cowboy hat right from his head after the AFCCG in 79. Good times. I still feel like the Steelers - Ravens rivalry is a bit more civilized in comparison

[Hawkman]

I think it’s because they were in the same central time zone that we were in. For those who remember it was a fierce rivalry but we mostly had the upper hand. The oilers and their fans hated us. Donnie Shell destroyed Earl Campbell on one running play to the outside. And then there was the time a Steelers fan swiped Bum Phillips cowboy hat right from his head after the AFCCG in 79. Good times. I still feel like the Steelers - Ravens rivalry is a bit more civilized in comparison

No question since Suggs left. Ward was always looking for someone to hit. Hopefully one of these days I get to see Steelers/Ravens in Pittsburgh.

[El Kabong]

I think it’s because they were in the same central time zone that we were in. For those who remember it was a fierce rivalry but we mostly had the upper hand. The oilers and their fans hated us. Donnie Shell destroyed Earl Campbell on one running play to the outside. And then there was the time a Steelers fan swiped Bum Phillips cowboy hat right from his head after the AFCCG in 79. Good times. I still feel like the Steelers - Ravens rivalry is a bit more civilized in comparison

Pittburgh's in the Eastern time zone.

[Steeler-in-west]

Pittburgh's in the Eastern time zone.

Ok, maybe it was a somewhat arbitrary decision , like the saints and rams being in the NFC west (previously). I suppose Baltimore is a better fit geography wise