Author: Christina Tina Rivers

Throwback Thursday: 3 NFL Draft steals by Steelers in the 1980s

Steel City Underground takes fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times and players in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us in our “Steelers Throwback Thursday” series as we revisit these moments.

Modern fans point to the older Pittsburgh Steelers fans as living in the past, but some of the best players ever fielded by the black and gold played long before the 2020s. This week, we throwback to the 1980s and look at three players that turned out to be NFL Draft steals for Pittsburgh. These players were all drafted in later rounds but outperformed once they were signed and on the field for the Steelers.

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David Little

After earning consensus All-American honors as a Florida Gator in 1980, the Steelers selected the linebacker in the seventh round (pick 183) in the 1981 NFL Draft. Little earned a spot as a starting inside linebacker for Pittsburgh in his fourth season with the team, playing alongside Robin Cole, primarily.

In 1985, Little started all 16 games for the first time in his twelve-season career with the Steelers and became a steady force on the field, eventually starting in 89 straight games. This same season, Little led the team in tackles with 114. He would lead the Steelers in that stat an additional four seasons and was known for being tenacious in short-yardage and goal line stops.

Following the 1990 season, Little was selected to his first Pro Bowl. In 179 games played, Little also recorded 9.0 sacks, 10 interceptions, and 11 fumble recoveries.

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Greg Lloyd

Mister “I wasn’t hired for my disposition” –  referencing a t-shirt Lloyd once wore at training camp in 1993 – attended Fort Valley State University (a historically black university in Fort Valley, Georgia). A three-time All-SIAC and three-tine team Defensive MVP, Lloyd was named SIAC Player of the Year and Sheridan All-American his senior season.

From a small conference and missing an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in one knee, Lloyd did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine but did play in the Heritage Bowl. Steelers scout Tom Donahoe, who flew to Atlanta before driving to Fort Valley, worked Lloyd out after Steelers scouts watched college tape that showed his ability to get a little nasty while also having great sideline-to-sideline ability.

The Steelers selected Lloyd in the sixth round (pick 150 overall) in the 1987 NFL Draft behind 27 other linebackers drafted that same year.

Although he missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a serious knee injury, and much of the 1988 season, Lloyd became one of the starting outside linebackers in 1989 opposite Bryan Hinkle. Lloyd was emotional and stepped into a leadership role on the defense over the remainder of his 12 seasons in Pittsburgh.

Lloyd was named to three NFL All-Pro teams and five Pro Bowls while with the Steelers and played a role in helping Chad Brown and Jason Gildon fine tune their linebacker play.

He finished his career with the Carolina Panthers (1998) before retiring from the league, but he helped continue the legacy that the Steelers had developed at fielding dominating, fearsome linebackers that had continued for decades.

His place in Steelers history was cemented when the team inducted him into their Hall of Honor in 2020.

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Tunch Ilken

Most Steelers fans knew Ilken as a member of broadcast teams before his untimely death from complications of ALS in September 2021. Many know him for his play.

The Turkish-American Chicago native was a scholarship player at Indiana State University. Ilken became a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree. Believed by many scouts at the time to be a longshot to be a starting offensive linemen, the Steelers saw raw talent and selected Ilken in the sixth round (pick 165) of the 1980 NFL Draft.

Ilken had competition in training camp but made the roster as a versatile tackle (on both sides of the line) that could also play center and guard. Some would say that Ilken helped create the Steelers’ now-known desire for offensive linemen who can play multiple positions.

Truly rotational, Ilken was mainly utilized at tackle by the Steelers. In 176 games, he helped protect Terry Bradshaw, Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, and other Steelers quarterbacks while run blocking for Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Walter Abercrombie, and Barry Foster, to name a few.

Ilken was a two-time Pro Bowler, became a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team and is in the Steelers Hall of Honor.

Summary

All three of these players went from low placement in the NFL Draft to legendary status, becoming draft steals for the Steelers. All three are known for becoming team leaders and among the best players in the league during their respective careers.

Throwback Thursday: 3 NFL Draft steals by Steelers in the 1980s appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Re-evaluation: Steelers relied heavily on running backs

Steel City Underground presents a post-2024 NFL season re-evaluation of each positional group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in this series, highlighting the standout player or players among each group.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to operate a run-heavy offense in 2024; Art Rooney II was determined that the black and gold would be known for relying heavily on their running backs. The results were mixed throughout the season as many opposing defenses knew Arthur Smith, in his first year as the Steelers offensive coordinator, would draw up schemes that factored-in grinding out yards the old fashioned way: by chewing up turf via the run.

Running Backs: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, Aaron Shampklin

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Harris and Warren

The Steelers opted not to utilize the fifth-year option on Najee Harris’ contract, and it certainly looked – at times – like Harris took that as a challenge. For the fourth straight season, Harris carried the ball at least 1,000 yards (263 carries for 1,043 yards in 2024). That earned the former first-rounder a spot alongside just 13 other players in NFL history to meet that mark.

Warren, a former undrafted free agent who broke onto the scene at training camp in 2022, was highly complimentary to Harris in 2024. With a different run style, Warren often provided a punch offensively and finished the season with 120 carries for 511 yards. Warren did miss two games due to a hamstring injury

Other than George Pickens, the Harris/Warren pairing scored the most yards for the entire Pittsburgh offense.

The Steelers are in a bit of a tricky situation in regard to Harris and Warren. Warren has recently been tendered, but Harris will hit the free agent market if the meetings underway with him and his agent do not go well.

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Run support

Behind their current offensive line, the running backs struggled to gain big runs due to opponents stacking the box. The young line was tested often, and if the front can’t get the push necessary to open run lanes, it is very difficult to develop a rhythm in the run game. Fans witnessed this throughout last season.

To change things up, Cordarrelle Patterson was sent in but earned just 32 carries (135 yards) in 13 games. Patterson assisted – as did Warren at times – in handling kick and punt return duties.

Aaron Shampklin got just six carries when both Warren and Patterson were on the sidelines with injuries.

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RBs in the passing game

Somewhat surprisingly, the Steelers utilized their running backs in pass situations often. In receptions, the top players targeted by Justin Fields and Russell Wilson were (in order of number of targets) Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, Calvin Austin, Harris, Warren, Van Jefferson, Darnell Washington, and Patterson.

The Steelers offseason will be an interesting period as the team makes decisions on the future of their running back group. Will they re-sign Harris? Will they add a young running back via the NFL Draft?

Whatever decisions they make, they’ll need to beef up their offensive line in order to find success in the run game moving forward. Without efficient, effective blocking, the running backs – regardless of who is on the roster – will continue to struggle to gain more than three to five yards per carry.

 

Re-evaluation: Steelers relied heavily on running backs appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Plays of the Year: T.J. Watt wrecks Falcons in Week 1

Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t play their Defensive Player of the Year candidate – the guy who’s led the NFL in sacks three out of the last four seasons – during the 2024 NFL preseason. His readiness in Week 1 of the regular season was unquestioned, however, as he got heated and wrecked the Falcons on numerous plays throughout the game the Steelers won, 18-10.

In the Falcons’ first offensive series, T.J. Watt got into the backfield and ran along the back side of the Falcons offensive line to drag Bijan Robinson down for a three-yard loss, illustrating he isn’t just a quarterback hunter.

With just 41 seconds on the clock before halftime, Watt strip-sacked Kirk Cousins on an explosive play that resulted in Watt recovering the ball at the Pittsburgh 23, a loss of 7 yards on the play. Officials, who later admitted to Watt that they’d made an error on the call, threw a flag for offsides on Watt. Visibly upset, Watt petitioned that he’d timed the snap perfectly and even appeared to head coach Mike Tomlin. The Falcons scored a touchdown in the subsequent play.

To say that the results got Watt in a revenge type of mood is an understatement.

On Atlanta’s opening offensive series of the second half, an ill-timed snap resulted in the ball hitting a crossing receiver and being recovered by Watt who’d gotten off the snap like a lightning bolt. Nine plays later, the Steelers went ahead 12-10 on a Chris Boswell field goal.

Although Watt continued to be disruptive, his final curtain call came when the Falcons got the ball with 28 seconds left in the game, down 18-10. Their attempt to make a last-ditch comeback was thwarted when Watt sacked Cousins for a loss of nine yards and time ran out on the game clock. Watt literally made a bow after the play (and game had ended) to the crowd who was filled with Steelers fans.

Watt finished the game with four tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, and 3 QB hits, as well as a fumble recovery. His pressure also helped set up the two interceptions his teammates snagged off of Cousins.

Plays of the Year: T.J. Watt wrecks Falcons in Week 1 appeared first on Steel City Underground.