Our Defense making an impression on the Steel Curtain

[c_hawkbob]

Asked how these Seahawks would have fared in the 1970s, Wagner almost shouted through the phone from Pittsburgh.

“Oh, they would have killed people!” Wagner said. “No question.”

Read more here: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2015/01/09/pittsburgh-steel-curtain-s-mike-wagner-this-seahawks-defense-closest-ive-seen-a-team-play-defense-the-way-we-did/#storylink=cpy

Goosebumps!

[Bird Droppings]

Thanks, ChalkBob.

Excellent detailed story covering several historic defenses.

The clock tells me I'm nearing the two minute warning when I realize by son's first jersey choice was a "Steel Curtain" choice, and that was nearly 40 years ago!

It's a "don't look back" perspective for those who lived NFL in those days.

While thy are "IT" around this little one room shack, you can be bettin that a zillion 12 jerseys are gonna get sold around the world after the Hawks win the next two, and are enshrined as a top 5
defense of all time.

Five years ago the Hawks did not boast even an all NFC West top performer at any position.

The Schneid and PC put a mighty big motor on this war canoe heading up the river toward the day before GroundHog Day

We're focused on looking forward, not back, hoping history repeats itself.

zoom

[obiken]

No way we shut down offenses like Pittsburgh. Our DL doesn't even compare, now the back end ok. Where was Cliffy and Mikey against Fig bar while he lit up Simon like a Xmas tree?? I think we get it done this week C-bob because we can run on the packers who play a 3-4 without Raji in the middle. However, if we have to play NE with Gray back its over. We all better hope for a Colt win.
To say we compare on the lines like the 85 Bears, Curtain, or Doomsday is a joke, sorry. Our DL was WAY better last year.

[mykc14]

No way we shut down offenses like Pittsburgh. Our DL doesn't even compare, now the back end ok. Where was Cliffy and Mikey against Fig bar while he lit up Simon like a Xmas tree?? I think we get it done this week C-bob because we can run on the packers who play a 3-4 without Raji in the middle. However, if we have to play NE with Gray back its over. We all better hope for a Colt win.
To say we compare on the lines like the 85 Bears, Curtain, or Doomsday is a joke, sorry. Our DL was WAY better last year.

Wow, I wouldn't go that far. First of all it was a player from the 'Curtain' who was comparing us to them. Looking at it statistically it isn't a 'joke.' In fact there is an argument to be made that we have played better considering the rules and the types of offenses that we have to face compared to those teams. Many people are going to just dismiss it without looking at the stats and eras. I have no problem with anybody saying that we aren't the best ever but just completely dismissing it as a 'joke' seems extreme. As far as us having no chance against NE that's fine. Earlier this year we didn't have a chance to make it to the playoffs. We didn't have a chance to get the #1 seed. Last year we didn't have a chance to beat the Broncos. Come on! We are the best team in the NFL, SB Champs and you are saying we don't have a chance, SMDH? We have to get there first, which won't be easy, but really?

[burrrton]

Our DL was WAY better last year.

They had more sacks, but gave up a half yard more per rushing attempt.

I don't necessarily disagree, and I have no idea how they'd compare to past eras, but by what metric are you saying they were "WAY" better?

[kalibane]

Always better in the good old days right Obi? You have to put things in perspective. There have been 3 MAJOR rule changes since the Steel Curtain was at the height of it's powers.

1. Head slap was legal. (This was true for 3 of the 4 Steeler Superbowl teams).
2. No five yard chuck rule.
3. Offensive linemen were not allowed to extend their arms when blocking.

Since the 1985 bears there have been multiple rules protecting the QB and WRs coming over the middle.

So you're telling me that if Sherman and Maxwell were allowed to manhandle WRs down the field, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin could head slap offensive linemen who were not allowed to extend their arms to block them and Kam Chancellor could blow up everything coming across the middle that they wouldn't have matched just about every statistical measure of those 1970s Steeler teams? Please.

Don't let nostalgia get in the way of the greatness before your eyes. It's like being the cranky old guy telling everyone that no one makes good music anymore and while you're at it get off my lawn.

Adjusted for era this defense is ever bit as impressive as any defense that has graced the field.

Only one other defense has been the number 1 defense in points allowed and yards allowed in back to back years: The 1985-1986 Bears 46 defense.

First defense since the 1969-1971 Vikings (Purple People Eaters) to be #1 in defensive scoring for 3 straight years.

Are they the best ever? Who knows. But I do know this. It's absolutely responsible to compare them to the greats. Talking about the best defenses ever and not including the 2013/2014 Seahawks in the conversation is the joke.

[HumanCockroach]

No way we shut down offenses like Pittsburgh. Our DL doesn't even compare, now the back end ok. Where was Cliffy and Mikey against Fig bar while he lit up Simon like a Xmas tree?? I think we get it done this week C-bob because we can run on the packers who play a 3-4 without Raji in the middle. However, if we have to play NE with Gray back its over. We all better hope for a Colt win.
To say we compare on the lines like the 85 Bears, Curtain, or Doomsday is a joke, sorry. Our DL was WAY better last year.

Horse meet water and all that... Seattlites *sigh* what you going to do?

[Bird Droppings]

ObibenKenobi, you are off visiting back to the future where the rules are aimed at offense, not defense.

That was a DBack from those magnificent Steeler teams that made the comments that precipitated this thread.

Compared to what?

The game ain't the same, and Wagner noted that.

And, what, Ditka's comments mean nothing either?


zoom

[c_hawkbob]

It's jus' Obi bein' Obi ... ain't no thang.

[monkey]

No way we shut down offenses like Pittsburgh. Our DL doesn't even compare, now the back end ok. Where was Cliffy and Mikey against Fig bar while he lit up Simon like a Xmas tree?? I think we get it done this week C-bob because we can run on the packers who play a 3-4 without Raji in the middle. However, if we have to play NE with Gray back its over. We all better hope for a Colt win.
To say we compare on the lines like the 85 Bears, Curtain, or Doomsday is a joke, sorry. Our DL was WAY better last year.

...
I have no words other than, you're entitled to your opinion...

[Hawktown]

No way we shut down offenses like Pittsburgh. Our DL doesn't even compare, now the back end ok. Where was Cliffy and Mikey against Fig bar while he lit up Simon like a Xmas tree?? I think we get it done this week C-bob because we can run on the packers who play a 3-4 without Raji in the middle. However, if we have to play NE with Gray back its over. We all better hope for a Colt win.
To say we compare on the lines like the 85 Bears, Curtain, or Doomsday is a joke, sorry. Our DL was WAY better last year.

I'm not even sure at this point how a fan of this team could make a statement like this one??? I know this is Obi's style but with what the hawks have accomplished, i just don't see how anyone could say it's over for them with any team in the league. Obviously any given sunday but come on man, lol.

[Zorn76]

obi - We all still love you, man.

[obiken]

Thanks Zorny. I was not trying to be obnoxious, NO doubt on the back end we are one of the best, but on the DL sorry we are not the 85 Bears or the SC. The scary thing is may have one of the last great defense out there, due to rule changes, the cap ect. Our defense is great, no doubt about that. Pittsburgh had 4 HOFamers on that team and more that should have been there we have 3. IF you don't count Bobby Wagner. Lambert, Ham, and Russell, can cover ANY LB group of all time.

[kalibane]

Obi...

remind me again how many hall of famers the 1985 Chicago Bears had on their team? Oh that's right 3, Singletary, Hampton and Dent (And Dent is borderline IMO because I don't think he's in if the TEAM he was on wasn't so iconic).

Dude come on the nostalgia bias is ridiculous. The 70's are defined by the Steelers as far as defense. In the 80s the Bears and the gold standard. The 90's I guess it would be the Giants. The Aughts it's the Ravens and Bucs. When people talk about this decade the dominant defense that people will talk about will be the Seahawks.

It's not about how many hall of famers you have. It's about what you are able to do as a unit relative to the era you are playing in and the Seahawks are as impressive as anyone given the rules they have to play under. The Steelers wouldn't have been as statistically dominant if they had to play under todays rules.

[RiverDog]

The one thing that separates the Steel Curtain from us is Lombardi's. They won 4 Super Bowls in 6 years, which IMO is one of if not the greatest team accomplishment in pro football history, but even that isn't a fair comparison due to the effect free agency has on our ability to keep players together, something Chuck Knoll never had to worry about.

Once again, we're comparing apples vs. oranges.

[burrrton]

even that isn't a fair comparison due to the effect free agency has on our ability to keep players together, something Chuck Knoll never had to worry about.

Yep- even Bradshaw made a point of that talking about our D on one of the pregame shows. Something like "We were able to win four SBs in 6 years but that was the same team the whole time, not at all like it is now."

[RiverDog]

Yep- even Bradshaw made a point of that talking about our D on one of the pregame shows. Something like "We were able to win four SBs in 6 years but that was the same team the whole time, not at all like it is now."

Do you think that Bradshaw thought of that all by himself or did someone feed him the line?

[burrrton]

Do you think that Bradshaw thought of that all by himself or did someone feed him the line?

I have no opinion.

[kalibane]

Do you think that Bradshaw thought of that all by himself or did someone feed him the line?

Bradshaw is a smart guy. He gets over by playing the role of the clueless hick.

[c_hawkbob]

Yep- even Bradshaw made a point of that talking about our D on one of the pregame shows. Something like "We were able to win four SBs in 6 years but that was the same team the whole time, not at all like it is now."

Do you think that Bradshaw thought of that all by himself or did someone feed him the line?

That's not a line, that's an honest evaluation. I saw him say it, he wasn't being fed anything, it was part of the conversation they were having comparing the two defenses.

[RiverDog]

Braddshaw is a smart guy. He gets over by playing the role of the clueless hick.

Terry Bradshaw couldn't spell the word "cat" if you spotted him the 'c' and the 'a'.

Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, 1979.

[kalibane]

"I just did three bumps of cocaine at halftime" - Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson

No year because I made the quote up... but seriously the Steelers and the Cowboys were the biggest rivalry of the 70's (a rivalry that the Steelers got the better of) and Hollywood Henderson was snorting liquefied cocaine from an inhaler during games. Not exactly the most trustworthy source.

[RiverDog]

"I just did three bumps of cocaine at halftime" - Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson

No year because I made the quote up... but seriously the Steelers and the Cowboys were the biggest rivalry of the 70's (a rivalry that the Steelers got the better of) and Hollywood Henderson was snorting liquefied cocaine from an inhaler during games. Not exactly the most trustworthy source.

Yea, I know all about Hollywood. But he's essentially right about Bradshaw, and he's not the only one to have commented publicly about Bradshaw's lack of intelligence. The guy is dumb Goober. He had a very shallow learning curve when he first broke in to the league and probably would not have survived as a starting quarterback in today's world of instant gratification. If I recall, Bradshaw scored something like a 15 on the Wonderlic.