In this retrospective series, we'll use 20/20 hindsight to play General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers to review past drafts - focusing primarily on top 2-3 selections - and 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:
- Mark Malone and David Woodley split starts/snaps for a second straight season in 1985 and QB was a turnover disaster with 27 INTs and 6 fumbles.
- While Malone had 13 TDs compared to Woodley’s 6, it is misleading as 5 TDs came from one game.
- By the end of 1985, Woodley had completely fallen out of favor with Chuck Noll and Scott Campbell passed him on the depth chart.
- The Steelers were quickly falling behind the rest of the AFC Central Division and endured the first losing season since 1971.
- Louis Lipps was the only stand out performer as he set the franchise record for TDs (15) and had his career highs in catches/yards (59 receptions, 1,134 yards) - his first and only 1,000-yard season - 3 of his TDs came from rushing/returns.
- The 1985 Steelers were exactly what their record said they were: a mediocre 7-9.
[incontent2]
The Highest Pick Draft Pick in 15 years - was a monumental miss.
1986 Steelers Draft: 1st Round - #9 Overall; 2nd Round - #36 Overall
Former Offensive Line Coach Hal Hunter labeled John "Rhino" Rienstra as the “next” John Hannah, which is foolish, but then BLESTO scout Tom Donahoe listed Rienstra as undersized with poor footwork, and a 3rd or 4th round pick. While many factors are at play, injuries and even true mental issues – once again the Steelers scouting was failing. Although Tunch Ilkin described Rienstra as one of the most committed players he’s ever seen, breaking his foot the first day of camp after a 24-day holdout didn’t endear himself to Chuck Noll.
2nd round pick Gerald Williams was not a dominant DL for the Steelers but was a solid starter and set the standard for what the Steelers would expect out of a NT until Joel Steed took over for him in the mid-90s.
The Steelers finally attempted to address the QB position, selecting Walter "Bubby" Brister in round 3.
Grade: D
- Brister and Williams were the only Steelers to last more than 2 years on the Steelers roster and this continuing trend was starting to become a real concern.
- Myron Cope once called him "the indominable Bubby Brister" and he did help transition them to a playoff team, though the Steelers seemed adamant about "being comfortable with the QB position" in round 1.
- I'm glad Rienstra found peace after going through personal turmoil, but you just can't blow the #9 overall pick when you're falling behind the rest of the division so rapidly.
[incontent3]
Redrafting 1986: I still don't care, I wanted Chuck
Despite the fact he was a "bust" with the Detroit Lions, when the Steelers passed on QB Chuck Long and publicly said they were comfortable with their QB position - I personally still can not understand it. Long met every measurable: 6'4", 220 lbs, Big Ten Player of the Year, and Heisman Trophy runner up (when that actually meant something). I would still give the Steelers a "pass" on this pick even if he failed with the Steelers (25 years later I'm still in denial, believing that he would have succeeded in Pittsburgh)
Alan Faneca and David DeCastro have proven you can find Hall of Fame level guards later in the draft. The value on the guard position just does not have the same intrinsic value as other positions. So why the Steelers use their highest pick on an undersized guard #9 overall is something I will never understand - especially considering it was the highest pick for the franchise since 1971.
A better selection given the players available and building the team on the offensive line would have been OT position with Will Wolford. All-around fullback talent John L. Williams was available, but he was not really fitting the Steelers need for a playmaker at a skill position.
While on the board in later rounds still were Pat Swilling, Charles Haley and especially David Fulcher (who should have been taken over Brister), it was another series of missed opportunities to a team devoid of playmakers.
Thoughts or opinions? Leave a comment below.
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