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Steelers MLB
Jack Lambert
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No, this isn’t about the Ray Lewis-led Ravens defense of 2000, which, after being
acclaimed — sometimes by themselves — as the "greatest ever," has
taken on the look of a one-shot wonder in 2001.
This season, without RB Jamal Lewis to give them plenty of time to recoup and regroup,
the Ravens’ defense became vulnerable at times.
Given the Ravens players’ "woofin’," this is something that became
evident to others before it became evident to themselves.
After a horrendous field-goal-kicking day presented the Ravens with an unearned victory
in Pittsburgh. After getting really spanked at home by the Steelers in a return match.
After giving up a 100-plus-yard day to Corey Dillon of the Bengals. After getting
blistered in Tampa Bay in a crucial late-season game, there’s a message for the
Ravens. Get real! Reputations are earned on the field, over a period of time.
Therefore, this consensus of one picks the 1976 Steelers defense as the best ever. It
simply was the best one-year unit during a period of stellar Steel Curtain dominance.
The Steelers began their quest for a "three-peat" (having won Super Bowls IX
and X) in less than an auspicious manner —losing 31-28 to Oakland, winning at home
(31-14) over the Browns, and then dropping three in a row: 30-27 at home vs. the Patriots,
17-6 in Minnesota, and 18-16 in Cleveland. It was during this time that rookie QB Mike
Kruczek, the only quarterback on the roster beside Terry Bradshaw, was pressed into
service for the injured starter.
Things turned around in Week Six. Sensing it was up to them, the Steelers’
"D" took over. Did it ever!
Led by MLB Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh limited the division-leading Bengals to two field
goals in a 23-6 win.
As he had the previous week, RB Franco Harris ran for more than 100 yards and scored
two touchdowns, as Pittsburgh threw a shutout at the Giants, 27-0.
The next week, Bradshaw played for the first time in three weeks, while the defense
gave up nothing, sacking QB Dan Fouts five times. Steelers 23, Chargers 0.
The following week, the Steelers blanked the Chiefs 45-0.
Against Miami, the Steel Curtain stretched its scoreless string to 15 consecutive
quarters before a third-quarter field goal by Garo Yepremian snapped the streak. Kruczek,
who would not throw for a touchdown all year, drove the Steelers, mostly using Harris and
RB Rocky Bleier over land, on scoring drives of 86 and 78 yards. Steelers 14, Dolphins 3.
Despite an outstanding defensive performance — Lambert recovered two fumbles,
OLB Andy Russell had an interception and young OLB Loren Toews blocked a punt for a safety
— the Oilers scored two touchdowns. It hardly mattered. Steelers 32, Oilers 16. Those
two Oilers’ six-pointers would be the only ones allowed by the Black & Gold
defenders for the rest of the regular season.
In the snow in Cincinnati, the Steelers won, 7-3, over the Bengals to move within a
game of the AFC Central Division leaders (remember, these were the Bengals of Ken Anderson
& Co., not today’s incarnation). DE Dwight White’s fumble recovery
set up the game’s only touchdown, a four-yard jaunt by Harris.
In the next game, Bradshaw was off the injured list and threw two strikes to WR Lynn
Swann. Bleier racked up three touchdowns, as the defense pitched another bagel — 42-0
over the Buccaneers.
Bradshaw continued to remain healthy and started the final game of the regular season
vs. the Oilers in the Astrodome. Joe Greene and his fellow defenders did not seem to
notice. They blanked Houston, 21-0, somewhat making up for the 16 points they allowed the
Oilers the first time around.
Over a nine-week span, the mighty Steelers defense allowed only two touchdowns.
Opponents were held to an average of a field goal a game. This was done after a 1-4 start
put the team deep in a hole and facing the added pressure of having a rookie quarterback
directing the offense much of the time. The 138 points given up in the 14-game schedule
were, by far, the lowest in the NFL in ’76. So, too, were the 3,322 yards yielded.
The Steelers seemed poised for a Super Bowl trifecta after dismantling the Bert
Jones-driven Baltimore Colts, 40-14, in their first playoff game, but both Harris
and Bleier were injured in the game. The next week, with neither of their 1,000-yard
rushers available, the Steelers lost to the Raiders in Oakland, 24-7.
Still, the Steel Curtain limited Raiders FB Mark van Eeghen to 66 yards on 22 carries,
while, paced by journeyman Reggie Harrison, the Steelers gained 72 yards rushing.
The Raiders went on to dominate (seemingly Al Davis’ favorite word) the Vikings in
Super Bowl XI, 32-14. Let the woofin’ begin.
Raiders OLB Phil Villapiano can still be seen and heard on NFL Films clips saying in
effect, "We wouldn’t be denied. They coulda’ had Franco, Rocky, Red Grange,
Bronko Nagurski, and O.J. (Simpson). We’da still beat ’em."
Really? Just one observation, Phil. Why didn’t you beat the full-strength Steelers
in the ’74 and ’75 AFC championship games when you had a chance? Let the record
show the Steelers won both of those games, 24-13 and 16-10, respectively.
Need more credentials? How about eight of the Steelers’ 11 defensive starters
being selected for that year’s Pro Bowl?
Finally, Jack Lambert said recently, "That 1976 team might have been the best
ever. I know Mr. (Art) Rooney felt that way. We just shut people down. Teams just gave up
running the ball against us."
You wouldn’t want to tell Jack Lambert that he knows not whereof he speaks, would
you? The ’76 defense rests its case.
Jim Campbell has been an observer of the pro football scene for half a century,
including stints with the Hall of Fame, NFL Properties and NFL Alumni |
