Last week, one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ previous general manager candidates, Doug Whaley, made comments about Steelers legend, Jack Ham, stating on 93.7 The Fan that Ham would be a “special teams backup” in today’s NFL.
Steelers.com
As mind-boggling as Whaley's comments were, Ham had to respond, didn't he? After all, one of his strengths was defending the passing game, posting 37 career interceptions as a linebacker in a league where passing wasn't as prominent as it is in today's game.
Doug Whaley doesn't think Jack Ham would have cut it in today's NFL!
— The Fan Morning Show (@FanMorningShow) May 18, 2022
PODCAST PAGE: https://t.co/lMGXSgz0JJ pic.twitter.com/Bp2KRUJLnp
Specifically, Whaley stated, “Jack Ham would be a special teams backup. He was 215 pounds… Give me his physical dimensions. He’s 6’2”, 210-215.”
Ham responded to the comments via 105.9 The X:
“I was a little upset about it. I would take advantage of all the things that are out there in 2022 and use them to my advantage. I don’t think [Whaley] knows what kind of a player I would be in this era. If you froze me in time in the 1970's and [I] tried to play today — of course, you can’t do that. But I would adapt very easily to this game.”
Steelers.com
Ham continued:
“We are talking about totally different eras,” Ham said. “I retired 40 years ago. 1982. If I was playing today’s game with the nutrition they have, the weight training involved today, the way the passing game is going, that was one of my strengths as well. I would take advantage of all of those things, and I think I would be able to play in today’s game and be just as effective.”
Ham discussed why he would be just as effective in today's game due to his ability to defend the passing game.
“I loved the passing game,” Ham said. “I ended up with 37 interceptions (five post-season) as a linebacker, and [in] today’s game, that weak side linebacker is part safety, part linebacker and that would be a perfect position for me in today’s game.”
Ham is right! He was a "hybrid linebacker" before the term seemed to be coined. Ham touched on how training and the regimen has changed in today's NFL.
“When I ended at Penn State, the bowls, I didn’t go to the combines and learn how to run 40-yard dashes for time like they do today. They are training for the combine. We never did that. We got drafted months after college football was over, and all they went on was your tape."
Photo by Penn State/Collegiate Images via Getty Images
“I was a good athlete. And I think the combine would’ve showed, with all the misdirection drills that they have, and the 40-yard dash — I would have trained for it as well,” Ham explained. “I ran a 4.6 at Penn State and also in Pittsburgh as well. I would’ve adapted. All the cone drills, that was a strength for me as well. I would’ve done well. I think that in this day and age, I would’ve played as well as I did in the 1970's.”
New Steelers GM Omar Khan stated that former GM Kevin Colbert taught him, "When Joe Greene speaks, you listen." You should never disrespect the Steelers legends that paved the way!
What do yinz think? Do you agree with the Steelers legend himself? Would Ham be just as effective today as he was in the past? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
#SteelerNation
