The Pittsburgh Steelers employed the best center in NFL history from 1974 to 1988. Mike Webster was voted the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) by a panel of 50 experts at ESPN. Webster is the only offensive lineman in NFL history to win four Super Bowls and be named a first-team All-Pro more than four times. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.
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Steelers Mike Webster against the Los Angeles Raiders December 16, 1984
Webster finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers let him go after the 1988 season in favor of a second-year player, Dermontti Dawson who had spent his rookie season next to Webster at right guard. The former second-round pick stepped into the center role and started every game for the Steelers for the next 10 seasons. Dawson played in Super Bowl XXX and was named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and selected as the first team All-Pro center for six of those seasons.
On Thursday, Craig Wolfley, a member of the Steelers All-Century team and a color analyst on their radio broadcast team, joined The Berm Pit Podcast hosted by former US Marine Scott Sirverts. Sirverts asked Wolfley to play a name association game, and after joking that he may not be the best at that type of game because of his 12 concussions, he was hit with Dawson's name.
"Dermontti changed the position. Prior to Dermontti, you never pulled the center. Everybody else, when you pull somebody, you pulled the guard, lesser so a tackle. We pulled the tackles a lot because we trapped with everybody. Jon Kolb was one of the initiators of that because Jon Kolb was a great tackle and he was very agile and fast as well as very strong. Dermontti Dawson changed because he was so quick, so fast. He could snap the ball and pull around the corner and you saw that manifested later on in guys like Maurkice Pouncey."
Wolfley had the opportunity to play alongside both Hall of Fame centers during his career. Webster is the best in NFL history, but their former teammate put substantial weight on Dawson's very different skill set at the position. Sirverts didn't ask Wolfley who was better, but based on his answers, it would have been an interesting follow-up question.
The Berm Pit Podcast
Steelers All Century guard provides insight on Dermontti Dawson on The Berm Pit podcast.
The Steelers current game analyst on their radio broadcasts' observation about Dawson as the blueprint the Steelers used when they selected Maurkice Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft provides some insight into what he might have answered.
"The other thing about Dermontti Dawson was they let him go with the nose tackle," Wolfley continued. "Normally, you double team and you got responsibilities on the back side, weak side, and you sit to the side of the center. They didn't with Dermontti. They just said, 'Let him go, he's going to dominate the nose tackle. Don't worry about it.' So you had an extra blocker for pass protection. Dermontti Dawson changed the position of center."
Dawson finished fourth in the ESPN 50 expert's voting, five votes behind Jim Otto (13 votes) from the Oakland Raiders and the NFL's last true 60-minute man, the Philadelphia Eagles center and linebacker Chuck Bednarik (11 Votes). No centers who have played since Dawson retired received any of the 50 expert votes.
yahoosports.com
Steelers great Dermontti Dawson.
Near the end of his thoughts on his Dawson's Hall of Fame Career. Wolfley suggested that his former teammate had a secret talent that his fellow offensive lineman truly appreciated.
"By the way he was a great, great baker of gourmet chocolate chip cookies," Wolfley told Sirverts. "He could make some, Dermontti was awesome."
Steelers' Priority In The 2024 Offseason Is To Find The Next Great Center To Solidify The Offensive Line
Omar Khan will be responsible for finding the long-term answer the Steelers have been searching for at center since Pouncey retired after the 2020 campaign. Kevin Colbert selected Kendrick Green and then signed Mason Cole to fill Pouncey's shoes, but came up noticeably short. Khan released Cole after the 2023 season, which will likely force the Steelers to sign a veteran free agent like Connor Williams, Lloyd Cushenberry or the newly available Mitch Morse.
UO Athletics / GoDucks.com
University of Oregon Center Jackson Powers-Johnson gets ready to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage to his quarterback Bo Nix (#10) during a Ducks' home football game.
They could turn to the NFL draft and select the consensus best center available, Jackson Powers-Johnson, in the first round or choose between Zach Frazier and Sedrick Van Pran on the second day of the draft. The Steelers have to make a choice, and luckily, Khan, Mike Tomlin, and Andy Weidl have multiple good options to choose from. It is imperative for Kenny Pickett's development to work with the next great Steelers' center. The baking skills are optional.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you agree that Dawson changed how the game is played at center? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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