Why can’t THE defense be the Steel Curtain?

by fanofsteel on Jun 2, 2009 3:24 PM EDT

Ask the casual football fan about the Steel Curtain and they will likely name the Pittsburg SteelersDefense. No disrespect to Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White. I recognize that the name actually belongs to the front four of the 70’s dynasty, however I think the name can be fluid or, like a surname, any time the defense rises to the name it can be passed forward. Just as the name eventually (for most fans) came to encompase the identity of the entire defense of the 70's, it could be expanded to include The Defense. The team name doesn't change from year to year or from dynasty to dynasty. The Steelers are the Steelers. Why can’t today’s defense be the Steel Curtain?

The name is very descriptive, invoking images of a mesh that is deceptively strong and impenetrable. A mesh comprised of Iron melded together with other bonding agents and hardened beyond the strength of the ingredients themselves. I believe the current team respects the history of the franchise, works hard to show their commitment to success, and has the ingredients to be the Steel Curtain.

Free your mind and believe that the Steel Curtain lives on in the only franchise that can claim the birthright of the name. I only hope that future teams can live up to the name the same way I hope that each team each year will live up to the expectations of Hard Hitting, Smash Mouth, Football with Integrity that the teams of the past have drawn fans by the millions and kept them loyal throughout many decades.

If you vote no please comment and even better give a suggested name!

Poll

Should the 2008 defense be allowed to use the Steel Curtain Name

Yes - They've earned the title

93 votes

No - They are awesome enough to deserve their own name!

74 votes

167 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I voted no

It’s the same reason I can’t start a band and name it the Beatles, someone else already thought of it. Things would get to confusing, we’d have a 2nd generation curtain, a new purple people eaters, another orange crush, another greatest show on turf. While all these are great names I find it hard to believe that we won’t come up with new ones.

Also the concept of retiring numbers seems important to think about in this situation. Pit usually doesn’t “officially” retire numbers, but the practice is common in sports. Like Jerry Rice was the best receiver, so if your a 49er you have to choose a different number because he earned that one. Well the Steel Curtain earned the right to be the only group with that name.

As far as our new defense… how about the “James Harrison will steal your lunch” defense.

it never got weird enough for me

by JerseyFresh on Jun 2, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

James Harrison will steel your lunch defense.

This is Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu getting knocked around by the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii yesterday...
Minutes later, Troy caught the ocean going over the middle and smacked it right in the mouth. The ocean fumbled, Troy recovered and ran it into the endzone. The ocean never messed with Troy again.

by paulamalu on Jun 2, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted no

Had the Steelers held the Cardinals and the Chargers under 14 points then i think they might’ve had a right. They are amazing, they are the best in the game today. But i don’t feel that they dominate the way the Steel Curtain of the 70’s did.

by Freddyd on Jun 2, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

How about "the steel fist" defense

The steel curtain name should stay with the players that earned it. i`d like to refer to our present defense as ``THE STEEL FIST`` because they can punch you in the mouth from any position, even if we`re backed up inside our own ten in the superbowl i.e. Deebo`s return for a touchdown.

by GMSteel on Jun 2, 2009 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

SteeleFist58

Was my XBox live account, before I started a legit 9-5, now I have no time for such ammusement. Damn this real world stuff. No real significance, saw your post and it made me remember a time not so long ago when I could play video games like it was my job… before my job became like my job.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jun 3, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted no

I just liked calling them Blitzburgh throughout the season.

They deserve their own name, but i dont really have any good ideas.

Bleeding Black and Gold since 1989 baby, Blitzburgh is back, time for a repeat!

by Michael Hewitt on Jun 2, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions

I voted "who gives a rats ass"

Call them whatever you want.

by worldtrip on Jun 3, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

wouldn't that be your vote on every poll?

by Chicago Steeler on Jun 3, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the Tomlinism poll

by worldtrip on Jun 3, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I vote yes

I like the thought fanofsteel. Maybe could be Steel Curtain II.

I just think the name is so appropriate, so “fitting”…it just seems right. To come up with another nickname, they always end up sounding so cheesy…so forced and contrived.

The Steel Curtain…it just works!

I also think keeping the nickname the same adds a certain sense of continuity…after all it still is the Pittsbugh Steelers!!

Points can be made either way…but I also feel it adds a touch of class, a sense of historical significance, a sense of honoring those that came before you, living up to a tradition and brother-hood by keeping the nickname current. Your not trying to replace or disrespect the players who played on those teams, just the opposite…your paying tribute and carrying on a tradition of great defense…by keeping The Steel Curtain (II ?) name alive and well and all the wonderful feelings the name conjures up.

As a thought, all the defensive players/coaches from that era could vote on it…let them decide since their the ones that matter most.

Again, I like the thought Fanof Steel! You should propose this idea (to local sports writers), and maybe even my thought of having the players/coaches from that era voting on it, and see if it takes off!!

by SteelerMike on Jun 3, 2009 2:18 AM EDT reply actions

As a fan that has seen the "real" "Steel Curtain"

These guys today are great, but not the same as the defense of the 70’s. Calling any other group of guys the “Steel Curtain” would confuse the whole of the fanbase because when you say “Steel Curtain” to guys like me, I think Lambert, Greene, Blount, etc.

It might be fun to start a thread to determine a new name for the Steelers defense leaving out “Steel Curtain” and “Blitzburgh” because they have both been used. I am sure there are some creative folks in Steelers Nation that we can come up with a catchy name that has merit. It would also be a good way to garner attention to this blog.

by Piratefan13 on Jun 3, 2009 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

For those of you who may be newer to the site we did have this discussion about midway through the season and weren’t able to really narrow down to anything concrete, perhaps we will try it again as training camp ramps up. Here are some of the previous posts to give you a few more ideas on what to name the defense. Personally I think almost all the newer names we have come up with have been incredibly cheesy.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2008/12/21/698889/let-s-try-this-again-2008

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2008/12/18/697270/defense-nickname-poll

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2008/12/18/696570/does-this-defense-need-a-n

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2009/2/24/770458/the-d-won-the-big-one-so-c

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Jun 3, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Seconded

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.

by BostonWahoo on Jun 3, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd

Let’s not start this again…

by Varmint on Jun 5, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted yes

and I actually did see the 70s defense in action. (yeah I am older than you think, I already mentioned #cougarintraining)

Anyway, I look at it as branding…it’s a tagline. Pittsburgh Steelers defense and Steel Curtain just go together, no matter the names on the uniforms (ummm, as long as they are good!)

You know that when you play the Steelers, you are gonna face a tough, hard hitting, blitzing KICK ASS defense. It is THE steel curtain.

(PS – disclaimer, I am a public relations/marketing strategist in my real life…cut me some slack..lol)

Steelergurl

by Steelergurl on Jun 3, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed 100%

Although, if a new brilliant nickname for the defense was to surface..and it was descriptive in their style of play..I would be for it.

Should have, could have, but didn't

by SunshineSteeler on Jun 3, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Identity

I voted yes- I just think the name is part of the Steelers’ identity. No different than referring to the Bears as the “Monsters of the Midway”. I recognize that the name was forged in 70’s, but the whole culture of the team hasn’t changed since then- still a defensive minded unit, through and through. Hell, even the offense has the mindset (Hines!)….Zero Tolerance!

Crush and Kill!

by jacksteel on Jun 3, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Keep the curtain

The Steelers, The Steel Curtain, it works for me as long as they rock ’em and sock ’em you can call them whatever you want, as long as you finish with Super Bowl Champions

Sea Bee

by Heckers on Jun 3, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

I Got It!!!

Man, you have no idea how long it took me to come up with this one. About two seconds actually, but never mind. The new nickname for the Steelers D is…… drumroll…. The Golden Shower Defense.

by SteelerD67 on Jun 4, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions