The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for their fierce defenses. From the Steel Curtain in the 1970s, to Blitzburgh in the 1990s, and every defense since, they have struck fear in the hearts of their opponents. This is thanks to exceptional coaching and the incredibly tough men that make up these units.
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Former Steelers LBs Kevin Greene (91) and Greg Lloyd (95) were the best pair of outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense.
Steelers defenders are known for their aggressive play, throwing their bodies in harm's way to bring down their targets. However, that style of play does come with a downside: penalties. At one point, linebacker James Harrison was treated like a villain in the NFL, incurring flags and fines at every turn.
The NFL has diligently worked to promote increased player safety over the past several years. Every year, a new penalty is added, and they all seem to make the defense's job even harder. This year is no exception; the new ban on the "hip-drop tackle" has drawn sharp criticism from current and former players.
Ike Taylor, a cornerback for the Steelers for 12 seasons, co-hosts the Bleav In Steelers Podcast with reporter Mark Bergin. On a recent episode, Bergin asked Taylor what he thinks of the elimination of the hip-drop tackle. Taylor said that the hip-drop didn't exist when he played, but they did deal with a rule change.
"They changed targeting for us because we was putting a lot of people to sleep. A lot of people was going to sleep when they were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. We said, 'You know what, since y'all got a target rule, and y'all want to fine us, we just going to start breaking ACLs, that's all we going to start doing.' Mark, I promise you, a few guys on other teams, when they saw what we was putting on tape, they said just put me to sleep 'cause I need that knee. I'm talking about grown men snoring on the field 'cause they are asleep."
Taylor, who now works for the Steelers as a scout, said he understands the concern; he's not speaking out against the rule change. To him, it makes logical sense; you can't bear that much weight on a single leg, no matter how strong you are, and that is causing injury.
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Former Steelers cornerback, Ike Taylor (#24) tackles former Arizona Cardinals wideout, Larry Fitzgerald (#11) in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida.
Bergin commented that he was surprised to hear Taylor speak out in favor of the ban. The idea that safety is not equally enforced between the offense and the defense is part of what frustrates Bergin. Taylor thinks the issue is more than just a single move. He added that he believes the league must teach players how to tackle again.
"I think guys just need to get back to fundamentals when it comes down to tackling. I think guys break down too early in space. You know we was taught, which ain't really taught no more, you shoot your shot and I shoot my shot, I know I got five or six other guys trying to shoot their shot. The more you breakdown, the more you're getting set up by the offensive player. When I played, wasn't nobody worrying about no hip-drop because we was going through people," shared Taylor.
Taylor said they never give the offensive players time to set them up. They would initiate a tackle when the offensive player "stuttered." This prevented them from having any time to think; the defender would immediately accelerate.
Steelers Defense Acted Like The Sand Man
Taylor said that any football fan can watch video of some of the crazy hits of his era, particularly the 2008 Steelers defense. Bergin and Taylor listed some of the biggest hits of all-time, including anything Ryan Clark did, and when Taylor knocked Miami Dolphins quarterback Pat White down as he attempted to pick up a first down. Taylor has shared that the defense felt it was a bigger deal to knock someone out than to catch an interception.
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Steelers' Ryan Clark (#25) knocks out Baltimore Raven's Willis McGahee (#23) in the AFC Championship game in January, 2009.
These hits weren't limited only to the defense; the offense had some tough blockers, too, and probably no one was as tough as wide receiver Hines Ward. That same 2008 season, Ward broke the jaw of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers during a huge block.
This walk down memory lane reminded Taylor of a segment they used to have on ESPN called Jacked Up! It featured the hardest, most vicious hits in the NFL in the prior week. The segment was ultimately canceled in light of concerns regarding head injuries in the NFL; they didn't want to glorify those hits. Taylor said that the Steelers would hold the top three spots every week, and they were proud of it.
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