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Top 5 steelers per position the Outside Linebackers.

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Top 5 steelers per position the Outside Linebackers.

I want to finish this up before camp starts. We have had amazing talent at outside linebacker. Picking only five will be hard.

1 ) Ham. Could play the run, pass, blitz, and was extremely quick with a high football IQ. Always around the ball, Hamm recovered lots of fumbles and intercepted 32 passes

2 ) Harrison. NFL defensive MVP in his prime. Great vs the run, a terror on the blitz. Had to knock out power. Could have saved us in the super bowl with his 99-yard interception return. If Arizona scored there...

3 ) Porter. - An excellent blitz and cover linebacker. Run defense was just okay.

4 ) Lloyd. Lloyd really wasn't a top sack man, nor was he a top coverage person. He could hit like hell, forced fumbles and intimidate as well as anyone.

5 ) Greene. A sack man, and decent vs the run. He might have ranked higher if he played on the Steelers a bit longer

Honourable mention: Gildon, Russell, Merriweather, and Brown
 
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Ham
Harrison
Lloyd
Porter
Greene

I flipped Lloyd and Porter. I think Lloyd could have put up big sack numbers if given the opportunity to do so. Based on the talent we had on defense during his time, it wasn't needed from him. I disagree with you that Lloyd was not a coverage person. He was. His sack numbers were lower because he often played Middle linebacker on passing downs, because of his coverage ability. He was our fastest linebacker at the time. Lloyd was an exceptionally athletic player and could do it all.
 
Jarvis Jones (to date)
Gildon (over stayed / play)
Worilds. (Sudden retirement)





Salute the nation
 
I have a tough time believing that a Harrison or Lloyd, in their prime, wouldn't go down as even better than Ham on those 70's teams. I don't have much recollection of watching Ham play so it's hard to judge.

Plus, Ham had insane talent all around him: a furious pass rush and excellent DB play.

I am going to mostly ignore longevity and base this one on their play in their prime.

1. Harrison. Sorry, out of all the possible great OLBs, I don't see ANYONE as dominant as a Steeler than Deebo. He was a human wrecking ball out there, and when he tackles you, you freaking know it. He hits harder than ANYONE on this list.

2. Lloyd. All the above is also true about Lloyd. Someone said Lloyd wasn't a great pass rusher. I disagree. Wasn't he voted most fear defender in the NFL at one point? QBs were scared shitless by him.

3. Ham. His #'s illustrate him belonging here.

4. Porter. Peezy didn't really punish like Harrison and Lloyd, but he could get to the QB.

5. Greene - very accomplished pass rusher. He and Lloyd made for a fabulous pair.
 
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Ham was almost perfect. Almost never out of position, got a ton of interceptions for his position, and the best tackler you ever saw, in an era when there were some really brutal run games.

Some info on Ham from - http://cover32.com/2014/06/26/the-unsung-hall-of-fame-pittsburgh-steelers-linebacker-jack-ham/

Starting in 1971, when he was a second round pick out of Penn State, to 1982, when he retired from the NFL to pursue broadcasting, Ham had maybe the most consistent career of the nine legendary Hall of Fame players who came through Pittsburgh at that time.

Ham made the Pro Bowl eight times, was named First Team All-Pro six times, made the 1970s All-Decade Team, and, maybe the greatest honor of all, Ham was voted to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994.

For his career, Ham recorded 53 takeaways (32 INTs and 21 fumble recoveries), and according to his Wikipedia page, that’s the all-time high for a non-defensive back.
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Yah, Ham was the best. They didn't record sacks until what? 1982 or something.
Putting a physical specimen like Harrison into the 70s wouldn't be fair. He would've dominated cause he wouldve been bigger stronger and faster then anyone.

And coach for the love of God - spell Jack Ham's name correct.
 
CharlesDavenport said:
Ham was almost perfect. Almost never out of position, got a ton of interceptions for his position, and the best tackler you ever saw, in an era when there were some really brutal run games.

Some info on Ham from - http://cover32.com/2014/06/26/the-unsung-hall-of-fame-pittsburgh-steelers-linebacker-jack-ham/
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Ham's interception total is unbelievable. He had 7 in '72 (four fumble recoveries that year as well), 5 in '74 and 4 in '77. I think for his consistency, you have to put Ham first, but if you are talking about a guy when he is at the top of his game, then it goes to Harrison. What I think that we can take from the top guys at the position is that the Steelers need to find a guy with the initials JH.
 
Ham - He stood the test of time.
Harrison- Changed the momentum of a SB. No other Steelers LBer was held as much as he was. Only a shorter career keeps him from number 1.
Porter- Greene had a more productive career, but Porter stayed longer. Plus Peezy was playoff gold on a SB run.
Greene- Best pure sack artist Steelers ever had. Not playing long for the Steelers keeps him lower for me than some might rate him.
Lloyd- Would have been rated higher with a longer career................
 
In no particular order:

Jack Lambert
Jack Ham
Levon Kirkland
Kevin Green
James Harrison
 
AvonOhioSteeler said:
Ham
Harrison
Lloyd
Porter
Greene

I flipped Lloyd and Porter. I think Lloyd could have put up big sack numbers if given the opportunity to do so. Based on the talent we had on defense during his time, it wasn't needed from him. I disagree with you that Lloyd was not a coverage person. He was. His sack numbers were lower because he often played Middle linebacker on passing downs, because of his coverage ability. He was our fastest linebacker at the time. Lloyd was an exceptionally athletic player and could do it all.
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you're exactly right he did play mlb on passing downs because of his cover skills. he was a great all around linebacker
 
Steelerfan81 said:
Yah, Ham was the best. They didn't record sacks until what? 1982 or something.
Putting a physical specimen like Harrison into the 70s wouldn't be fair. He would've dominated cause he wouldve been bigger stronger and faster then anyone.

And coach for the love of God - spell Jack Ham's name correct.
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Dobre Shunka?
 
1. Harrison---he changed the game of football as we know it
2: Ham---Legend, always hear about how smart he was as a player
3: Lloyd--Mean *** mofo. Hard hitter, great all around player
4: Porter---Who ride?!!!
5: Greene/Woodley toss up--- A lot to do with Greene was one of my faves as a kid. Always thought he was crazy. But Woodley in 2008. That 2008 defense was special too
 
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I assume everyone realizes the OLB position is totally different in the 4/3 and the 3/4. Ham was probably the best 4/3 OLB to ever play let alone the best Steeler-and that's true 45 years later. I'd say Russell and Cole are a distant 2 and 3 as Steelers. Harrison is the best 3/4 OLB the Steelers have ever had but doesn't rank as high as Ham all time. Just glad we had them both.
 
Steelerfan81 said:
Yah, Ham was the best. They didn't record sacks until what? 1982 or something.
Putting a physical specimen like Harrison into the 70s wouldn't be fair. He would've dominated cause he wouldve been bigger stronger and faster then anyone.

And coach for the love of God - spell Jack Ham's name correct.
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Pop ...does this mean Coach isn't a "REAL" fan?
 
Black & Gold Bleeder said:
Good list coach.

BUT

Replace Porter with Gildon.
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Gildon was a very good player for several years, but in his prime, he was elite only when he had players like Chad Brown and Joey Porter across from him.

In the years between Brown and Porter as starters at ROLB (1997-1999) Gildon was a very average player.

As for ranking the Steelers all time OLBs, one basically has to separate the 4-3 era from the 3-4 era of team history, as they're really different positions with different responsibilities.

Ham was probably the best all around OLB in the history of the game, not just that of the Steelers.

Harrison, Lloyd and Porter were the best of the 3-4 era. Lloyd and Porter were the best in coverage, but Harrison was the best rushing the passer and defending the run.

Plus, Harrison had that amazing 100 yd TD in the Super Bowl against the Cardinals, which was basically the difference in the game.

I guess if you're looking at the overall best Steelers' OLB, you're likely looking at either Harrison or Ham. Ham was probably the better overall player, but Harrison probably impacted the game more, given his skill set within a much more pass oriented era.

Harrison and Ham are pretty much 1a/1b to me.
 
Gildon's embarrassing years remove him from mention. Late in his career, he got tooled too many times by little guys running him back 5-10 yards behind the QB and out of the play.
 
Black & Gold Bleeder said:
Still the leader in career sacks on steelers. Like him or not that's saying something
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It is saying something, but not for to much longer........... Gildon does get respect along the way, JUST not elite respect due to his sub par years.




Salute the nation
 
Black & Gold Bleeder said:
Still the leader in career sacks on steelers. Like him or not that's saying something
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Gildon was a very good and consistent player for years.

Why does he lead the team in all-time sacks?

Easy answer, the Steelers let Greene, and Brown go, and cut Porter for nothing! Greene and Porter had plenty left to offer after they left the team.

Moving on to CB's, then P's and finally safties.

After that, I'll tally up the fan votes at each position.
 
Ham was athletic and intelligent

The Steelers currently have 23 former players, coaches or contributors in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and that number will increase to 24 later this summer when Kevin Greene is inducted as a member of the Class of 2016. In advance of his induction Steelers.com will share the stories of the 23 Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jack Ham
Linebacker (1971-82)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: 1988


Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham
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The Steelers selected Jack Ham in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft and the consistent, steady linebacker played his entire 12-year career in the black and gold.

Ham earned a starting job right out of the gate at left outside linebacker as a rookie after picking off three passes in the preseason finale that year. He held onto the starting role through his entire career, showing his durability by missing only four games in his first 10 seasons.

Ham was named the Football News Defensive Player of the Year in 1975, and was selected to eight straight Pro Bowls. He was named All-Pro six times and All-AFC seven times.

The intelligent linebacker who changed the way the position was played outside, was a key component in the Steelers run to their first championship in Super Bowl IX when he returned an interception 19 yards to the Oakland nine-yard line in the 1974 AFC Championship game to put the Steelers in position to score the go-ahead touchdown and advance to the Super Bowl.

Ham, who played in five AFC Championship games, was a key component during the team's Super Bowl years, and while he played in Super Bowl IX, X and XIII, he missed Super Bowl XIV because of injuries.

He retired after the 1982 season with 25 sacks, 21 fumble recoveries and 32 interceptions to his credit. The combined 53 takeaways are the most ever by a non-defensive back. Ham was All-Pro six times, All-AFC seven times and selected to the Pro Bowl eight time.


PHOTOS: Steelers in the HOF - Jack Ham
He was also named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, the NFL All-Time Team, the Steelers 75th Anniversary Team and the NFL's Team of the Decade for the 1970s.

Ham also earned a spot on the coveted Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Team alongside linebacker Lawrence Taylor.


Andy Russell, who occupied the middle linebacker spot while Jack Lambert held down the other outside spot, wrote about Ham and a game against the San Diego Chargers in 1975. The Steelers had a comfortable lead, when both players were substituted for to give them a rest. As they stood on the sidelines talking about Ham's involvement in the coal business, the Chargers intercepted and returned the ball to the three-yard. Ham was sent back into the game to try and secure a shutout.

"The first play the Chargers ran was a sweep to the right," wrote Russell. "Bad idea. Ham took their giant tight end, threw him aside, speared the runner behind the line of scrimmage causing him to fumble, which of course Jack recovered. As he slowly walked off the field, he casually flipped the ball to the ref. Returning to our position on the sideline, Jack turned to me smiling and said, 'Where was I?'"

The Steelers won the game, 37-0. The rest, as they say, is history.
 
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