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50 years later, 1971 Draft

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Vox Ferrum, Apr 17, 2021.

  1. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    We frequently talk about the historic '74 draft, but if that draft was the icing on the cake the '71 draft provided key ingredients for that cake.

    Frank Lewis, Jack Ham, Gerry Mullins, Dwight White, Larry Brown, Ernie Holmes, Mike Wagner, and UDA signing Glenn Edwards.

    8 Sb starters. If '69 (Joe Green) and '70 (Terry Bradshaw) provided the key's to the O and D, '71 was perhaps motor that started pushing us to the top.

    Incredible drafting.
     
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  2. steel machine

    steel machine Well-Known Member

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    As a young boy I'd go to Pitt Stadium in the 60's and watch the Steelers pretty much take an ass whipping. I never saw them win a game when I went. I went to a pre-season game in Philly and was right next to the tunnel. A rookie named Joe Green came out of the tunnel and my brother-in-law said to me that that guy right there is going to make the Steelers a force. Not in my wildest dreams did I think it was going to be as good as the 70's went.
     
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  3. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    beautiful story and thought. What sold this 13 YO(at the time) was Franco and his amazing rookie year, got on that train and never looked back. The passion dips a bit as the years go by, but think I could take a fist to the gut just to hear Myron Cope say triple Yoi! one more time, lol.
     
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  4. defva

    defva Well-Known Member

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    Had a great scouting team back then. Only big missed was probably Marino
     
  5. MojaveDesertPghFan

    MojaveDesertPghFan

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    While the wooden bleacher seats at Pitt Stadium were pretty uncomfortable, even as a boy, Forbes Field was even worse because of so many steel columns/beams blocking the views of the football field layout. Never made it to TRS but was fortunate to travel back and attend the 1st Steeler game (pre-season) at Heinz and then walked over to catch the Bucs for night game in their 1st year at PNC. Steelers and Bucs both won. What a day to remember. Even during the 70's, Steelers still had a tough time on the Left Coast, except when it mattered for the 1980 SB.
     
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  6. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure there were others, but that one was so obvious and had such long-lasting ramifications, that we all tend to focus on it. That was toward the end of the era. They drafted poorly more often than not in the '80s.

    The 1971 rookie class was great, but it still doesn't come close to 1974. You just can't top drafting four Hall of Fame players and picking up a fifth as an undrafted free agent. It is the greatest draft by any one team in NFL history. I'm not sure any others come close.
     
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  7. defva

    defva Well-Known Member

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    One name ... Bill Nunn
     
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  8. Steel Hog

    Steel Hog Well-Known Member

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    For a split second I thought you were going to say while near the tunnel you gave him a coke and he gave you a jersey.
     
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  9. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    These are all great stories, please keep them coming!
     
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  10. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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  11. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    1969 draft gave us the foundation for the 4 Super Bowls
     
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  12. Vox Ferrum

    Vox Ferrum Well-Known Member

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    Green, Kolb, and Greenwood Pretty good start
     
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