In this retrospective series, we'll use 20/20 hindsight to play General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers to review past NFL Drafts - focusing primarily on top 2-3 selections - as well as any personnel decisions year-by-year and redraft or implement trades based on the Steelers roster at the time.
General rule: Any "redrafted" pick will generally fall within a 15-pick range and trade propositions being realistic and attainable.
Steelers situation and needs:
The Steelers just repeated as Super Bowl Champion after finishing 12-4 vs. the hardest schedule of any Super Bowl Champion in NFL history (Strength of Schedule: 1979 Steelers 135-121; .527% vs. 2008 Steelers 134.5-120; .525%) the tune around the City of Champions was "1 for the thumb in '81", but the reality was different and Chuck Noll knew it. The Steelers had not drafted particularly well from 1975-1979 and while they did not need to then, it was about to catch up with them. The defensive core was getting old and the cracks were just about to show. This team was in need of an infusion of young talent.
1980 Steelers Draft: 1st Round - #28 Overall; 2nd Round - #35, 44 Overall
The Steelers drafted QB Mark Malone from Arizona State. Malone was a top-level athlete (even competing to represent the U.S. in the Olympics as a decathlete) and there was consideration about him playing other positions – evidenced by how his 90-yard TD reception as a rookie would not be exceeded in the Steelers record book for over 30 years until Mike Wallace hauled in a 95-yard TD in 2011. But as Terry Bradshaw had emerged as arguably the NFL’s best QB, it was clear the Steelers did not draft Malone to be the heir apparent. Malone went through injuries that robbed him of the athleticism that made him attractive with the #1 pick, and on QB talent alone he failed to win the starting QB position vs. Cliff Stoudt in 1983 or vs. David Woodley in 1984 (though he would finish the season as Woodley found his way into the Chuck Noll doghouse). His minimal highlights (beating the 15-1 San Francisco 49ers in 1984, setting the Steelers post-season passing yardage record in AFC Championship (336 yards) vs. the Miami Dolphins and tying a franchise record of 5-TD passes in a game vs. the Indianapolis Colts were nothing compared to his shortcomings.
A rare trade made in 1977 for OT Gordon Gravelle gave the Steelers the 35th overall pick. It was one of only 3 trades the Steelers made that impacted the top 3 rounds during the decade of the 1980s, was spent on LB Bob Kohrs – who like Malone, was an Arizona State Sun Devil. Whatever scout made those recommendations unlikely nominated for any awards. Kohrs started only 6 games in his career, recovered 3 fumbles and had 3.5 sacks in 6 starts before retiring after 1985. DE John Goodman was taken with the Steelers other 2nd round pick (56th overall), but also retired after the 1985 season with only 7 sacks in 64 games.
Grade: D-
- The 1980's Steelers Draft was saved by drafting Craig Wolfley, Tunch Ilkin, and Frank Pollard. As Ilkin is arguably the best OT in team history, he saved the draft from a complete F, but no one can offset Malone.
Redrafting 1980:
The Steelers use the top 2 picks to draft LB Matt Millen from Penn State and DE Rulon Jones from Utah State. Millen was a consummate professional who steadied 3 teams at inside LB in winning 4 Super Bowls. Jones was a former All-Pro DE who could have easily been the transition DE for Joe Greene as he finished a strong career with 52.5 sacks. Lastly, the Steelers should have drafted LeRoy Irvin at CB to begin the Mel Blount transition. He could have been a big special teams performer with his speed as a kickoff returner and the solid CB finished a career with 35 INTs.
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
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