SteelerNation adds a Rhino and a Bubby: Redrafting 1986

[Steeler Nation]

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.

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.

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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[Ron Burgundy]

Rienstra was a swing and a miss along with a number of other linemen drafted on both sides of the ball in the 80's (i.e. Keith Gary).
Long may have done better here but Brister was solid, if underrated, for a number of years.

 

[FSF]

Rienstra was a swing and a miss along with a number of other linemen drafted on both sides of the ball in the 80's (i.e. Keith Gary).
Long may have done better here but Brister was solid, if underrated, for a number of years.

Next up in the series is a peak behind the curtain. Artie & Chick were like Donahoe & Cowher—a huge reason why they had only 1 great draft pick in the top rounds since the 1974 draft.

 

[MeanJim]

Brister helped transition us to a playoff team? He "led" us to exactly one playoff appearance with a 9-7 record in 1989 with the NFL's number 1 defense. He was more of a hindrance than anything. Bad pick. Painful memories.
Rienstra was unfortunate. Bust. Bad pick. Didn't work out. Bummer.
Gerald Williams was a solid player on a good defense for several years. Never thought he was really big enough to play the nose, but he was our best DL for a short time. Of course Joel Steed pushed him out. Steed was one of the most underrated NFL players in history.
Funny that Will Wolford and John L. Williams were mentioned, who later became Steelers. Good players in their short time with us.

 

[insaniti]

David Decastro was a first round pick

 

[FSF]

David Decastro was a first round pick

DeCastro was the #1 rated prospect at Guard in the 2012 Draft and it wasn't even close. Reportedly he was in the top 5 on many teams Draft Boards yet he was drafted 24th.

He also stands 6'5" and 320 lbs. Alan Faneca - drafted 28th was 6'4" and 320 lbs. Even a Jeff Hartings was taken by Detroit 23rd overall and was 6'3" 216 lbs. R

Rienstra was only 6'5, 271 lbs - in line with Tom Donahoe's assessment of being undersized. The closest in size was Randall McDaniel and he was considered a world class athlete as a rookie and he was 15 lbs bigger.

The average 1st guard taken in the draft from 1986-2020 has been 26th. Most of the 1st round picks for Guards happen after the middle of the first round and over the 35 drafts since the Steelers took Rienstra #9 -- 10 years a Guard wasn't selected until at least the 2nd round and only 3x has a Guard been taken higher.

 

[insaniti]

DeCastro was the #1 rated prospect at Guard in the 2012 Draft and it wasn't even close. Reportedly he was in the top 5 on many teams Draft Boards yet he was drafted 24th.

He also stands 6'5" and 320 lbs. Alan Faneca - drafted 28th was 6'4" and 320 lbs. Even a Jeff Hartings was taken by Detroit 23rd overall and was 6'3" 216 lbs. R

Rienstra was only 6'5, 271 lbs - in line with Tom Donahoe's assessment of being undersized. The closest in size was Randall McDaniel and he was considered a world class athlete as a rookie and he was 15 lbs bigger.

The average 1st guard taken in the draft from 1986-2020 has been 26th. Most of the 1st round picks for Guards happen after the middle of the first round and over the 35 drafts since the Steelers took Rienstra #9 -- 10 years a Guard wasn't selected until at least the 2nd round and only 3x has a Guard been taken higher.

My point was the article was implying HOF talent guards could be found "later" in the draft and used Faneca and Decastro as examples...

It was the wrong wording, it's not like teams draft twice in the first round often. Later in the draft implies later rounds...

 

[Coach]

Eft 1986. 1997, now that was a heck of a draft.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Brister helped transition us to a playoff team? He "led" us to exactly one playoff appearance with a 9-7 record in 1989 with the NFL's number 1 defense. He was more of a hindrance than anything. Bad pick. Painful memories.

Bubby was an integral part of Denver winning their first Super Bowl when he filled in and won four games when Elway was injured. He had two SB rings before Cowher got one.

 

[FSF]

Bubby was an integral part of Denver winning their first Super Bowl when he filled in and won four games when Elway was injured. He had two SB rings before Cowher got one.

Brister being “integral” is subjective at best.
His 4-0 record filling in for injured Elway was on 14-2 1998 Broncos - not the 1st SB team - and came against 2 winless teams & a combined 7-21 record.

Brister didn’t exactly have to “outduel” the other QB, twice the QBs played didn’t even throw for 100 yards (Ryan Leaf, Bobby Hoying.)

The real engine of that team was 2000 yard rusher & NFL MVP Terrell Davis. He powered the Broncos to 459 yards & 5 TDs over those 4 blowout wins (twice sitting out a 20+ point 4th qtr lead).

The insinuation that Brister won 2 Super Bowls before Cowher won 1 is akin to saying Bernie Kosar won a Super Bowl before Bill Belichick after he cut him.

 

[FSF]

My point was the article was implying HOF talent guards could be found "later" in the draft and used Faneca and Decastro as examples...

It was the wrong wording, it's not like teams draft twice in the first round often. Later in the draft implies later rounds...

I could have been more clear as well. The DeCastro pick—the fact he was considered a top 5 prospect but lasted till 24th—was meant to point out that not every position is equal in priority.

Using #9 pick on a project pick (in eyes of Tom Donahoe) & on a Guard hurts.

I still — given the information available — will never understand why Chuck
Long was passed on. But it could have been a dispute between Artie & Noll & inability to work together.