Remembering the Steelers' Joel Steed

by Blitzburgh on Apr 9, 2008 12:05 PM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

I mentioned in my introductory blurb to acrollet's post that I was interested in some Steelers talk today. Though there's no real developments to speak of, I thought I'd start what I hope is a series of posts in the future from all of us about some of our favorite players from years past. I'll start it off with former NT Joel Steed. Before there was Casey Hampton and his incredible ability to clog up running lanes in the middle, there was Joel Steed, an equally large and intimidating force in the trenches. Steed, who was drafted in 1992 by the Steelers in the 3rd Round out of Colorado, spent his entire nine year career in the 'Burgh before hanging it up after the 1999 season. Though he didn't get much recognition at the time, probably because he was playing alongside Kevin Greene, Gregg Lloyd, Rod Woodson, Carnell Lake, Levon Kirkland and other big-name stars, Steed, like Hampton, cleared the way for much of those guys' success. Let's take a look at the Steelers' ability to stop the run during the Joel Steed era:

League Rank Against The Run:
1992 = 17th
1993 = 3rd
1994 = 7th
1995 = 2nd
1996 = 3rd
1997 = 1st (Steed's 1st and only Pro Bowl year)
1998 = 13th
1999 = 26th (alas, time for the organization to bring in younger, fresher blood in the middle)

Does that look like a man that you would want to be tackled by? Didn't think so

The one blemish on Steed's career, that honestly I had totally forgotten about, was his 4 game suspension in 1995 for a steroids violation. First of all, interesting to get that confirmation that steroids were making their way through the league that early on (though truthfully, they were probably around far earlier), and secondly, it's interesting that the penalties for doing so were very much similar to what they are now. The NFL is lauded for its drug-testing program now, but interesting to see that some system was in place over a decade ago, and that the basic structure doesn't really seem to be all that different now than it was then.

But that's not the point of this piece. This was supposed to be a short tribute to one of the key components to our defense in the 1990s. Sure, it wasn't the 'Steel Curtain' then, but it was a fantastic unit that had many players come and go at many positions. One of the mainstays though, was Joel Steed, a great player and a 'true' Steeler.

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Steroids

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the NFL has had their drug testing policy in place since the 80s. I believe that it was in response to the use that began in the 70s. The most well known user was Lyle Alzado, although I'm sure there were many more, since it didn't yet carry the stigma that it does today. And, it was early in the time at it was used so the adverse effects were not as well known. Again, Alzado is the more well known example. IIRC, the cancer and heart problems that caused his death was believed to be caused by prolonged steroid use.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alzado

Here's a link to ESPN SportsCentury on him:

http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Alzado_Lyle.html

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steed

Well, enough about peripheral info. I have to admit I don't remember Steed that well. I guess I was focused on the guys who got all the attention, like Greene, Lloyd, and Woodson. Based on those numbers, it looks like he was great NT for us for many years.

I like this idea of looking back at past players. I'm into history, anyway, so I'm looking forward to more posts like this.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 9, 2008 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joel Steed

Awesome name (a little scarier than "Casey Hampton", I must admit), and a great football player. I don't think he got much recognition because 3-4 defenses weren't that common then and no one realized what happened to a 3-4 defense without a good NT. Obviously the talent around him contributed as well.

by BadMaafala on Apr 9, 2008 1:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mr. Steed

I remember my 5th-grade teacher, a Browns fan (and also an MSU grad, so we butted heads quite a bit) always gushed about Steed, except when the Browns played the Steelers...then he cursed him, haha.

by Romain El 82 on Apr 9, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Number 93

Wow-that's a blast from the past. Steed was a great NT for us. Sadly I forgot about him with how great we have had it with Casey. Anyone remember who of DE's were? Ray Seals and...?

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 9, 2008 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Steed

anchored possibly the best Steelers D since the curtain. The front 3 was dominant. If we had kept that front together we may have won a SB before XL. Steed, Big Ray Seals and Brenston Buckner were the starting 3 that went to XXX. Greg Lloyd the Destructor with Kevin Greene, Levon Kirkland, Chad Brown and Jerry O at LB with Carnell Lake and Woodson at DB. That D so deserved to win a championship and every one of them should have kicked the crap out of horse face O'Donnell when their careers ended ringless. (Except 26)
Steed was unsung because of KG, Rod, Lake and Lloyd already on the same D. As Hampton proves it all starts with the NT in the 3/4. Steed only made 1 Pro Bowl but could have made 4.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Apr 9, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

wow that's a hell of a defense

I forgot about all of those guys playing at the same time. Talk about an unstoppable front 7. Hampton might be the only guy who starts in that group of DL and LB from the current roster.

by cgolden on Apr 10, 2008 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jerry O!

I feel horrible forgetting about him.He was the Steelers "Rudy" He was under-everything. We all know the LBs of the 90, but he was a tough guy. What ended his cheer neck injury

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 9, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs