Trib-Review Ranks Steelers SB Winners - 78 Team #1

[harrison'samonster]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Agreed you can only compare teamns to others in the era in which they played but humans have not evolved much in 40 years - with weight training and whatever "supplements" today's NFL players are using I am assuming the 70s players would bulk up to comparable weights and be physicaly comparable to toady's players - it is not as if the game in the 70s was slow white folks only

Very good point. Also add the round-the-year training that today's players get and I don't doubt that the players of the past would be able to compete with the players of today.

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by harrison'samonster

Very good point. Also add the round-the-year training that today's players get and I don't doubt that the players of the past would be able to compete with the players of today.

I wonder how huge dick butkus would have been with today's supplements lol. wasn't be like 270 lbs playing way back when? dude was a monster, looked like a gorilla playing against midgets

[austinfrench76]

I agree. That team was unreal!

[SteelerEmpire]

Originally Posted by VaDave

It's hard to compare teams 30 years apart. Some how I don't think a 220lb like Jim Clack would be real effective landing a trap block on 350lb Casey Hampton....

Truth be told, different game/different era/different player build. As much fun as it is to imagine, in reality, there is no comparison. Our current team would beat them to smithereenes.....not saying the 70's crew wouldn't make a respectable showing, but eventually the size and power of today's better equiped, better trained, much larger, and faster players, would win in a rout.

I think if you 1) put say the 78' team against the 2005 team for 10 games and 2) implemented the old rules for 5 games, and the new rules for 5 games, the 78' teams wins 6 or 7. They just seemed too have the one primary advantage to win games: " heart". The 70's team was "kill or be killed" for "every" game. I just don't see that in these newer guys at that 70's level. But I think there would be some close games.

[VaDave]

Just for the record, Jim Clack had trouble maintaining weight at 220 lbs, consuming in mega amounts of food calories daily AND anobolic steroids. (ref "About Three Bricks Shy of a Load").

Steroids are more effective than today's supplements ( like deer antlers) at adding muscle mass, and they were not outlawed. Steroids also had a side benefit, roid rage.

I met Joe Greene in the National Record Mart at 5th and Liberty back in 1976, and thought he was the biggest person I'd ever seen, @ 6'4" & 270lbs.... Some of the guys today, are closing in on a 100lbs more and 4 inches taller. I don't think better food and training would have added another 50-70lbs and 4 inches to Greene's frame for him to play in today's game., certainly not at DT.

One other point, I'm not so sure that with these players playing at the weight they do, is conducive to maintaining proper joint and muscle health. They have built themselves up to the point where they are violating the laws of physics exceeding their engineering capacity, which is why we see all of these muscle pulls, tears and ligament issues.

[harrison'samonster]

Originally Posted by VaDave

Just for the record, Jim Clack had trouble maintaining weight at 220 lbs, consuming in mega amounts of food calories daily AND anobolic steroids. (ref "About Three Bricks Shy of a Load").

Steroids are more effective than today's supplements ( like deer antlers) at adding muscle mass, and they were not outlawed. Steroids also had a side benefit, roid rage.

a lot of good points but I have to disagree, it's not just the food and steroids that bulk ppl up but also the training methods. Fact is we'll never know and it's fun to debate the question.

[steelfury02]

Originally Posted by VaDave

Just for the record, Jim Clack had trouble maintaining weight at 220 lbs, consuming in mega amounts of food calories daily AND anobolic steroids. (ref "About Three Bricks Shy of a Load").

Steroids are more effective than today's supplements ( like deer antlers) at adding muscle mass, and they were not outlawed. Steroids also had a side benefit, roid rage.

I met Joe Greene in the National Record Mart at 5th and Liberty back in 1976, and thought he was the biggest person I'd ever seen, @ 6'4" & 270lbs.... Some of the guys today, are closing in on a 100lbs more and 4 inches taller. I don't think better food and training would have added another 50-70lbs and 4 inches to Greene's frame for him to play in today's game., certainly not at DT.

One other point, I'm not so sure that with these players playing at the weight they do, is conducive to maintaining proper joint and muscle health. They have built themselves up to the point where they are violating the laws of physics exceeding their engineering capacity, which is why we see all of these muscle pulls, tears and ligament issues.

you make a fantastic point - I actually think due to the emergence of the passing game, we are going to see speedier, athletic, leaner guys on the defensive side of the ball - def a transition at what we're looking for on the D-line. Being taller with long arms is being sought over bulk and power. Now - that said, the taller guys are taller, and the faster guys are faster, and the hits are at higher speeds IMO - so yea, while we will see different body types now than in the past 10-20 seasons, there will be more damage just because of evolution, also - because the league is mandating less "football-ready" conditioning - aka if you aren't practicing taking a pounding as much before the season starts, you are seeing teams not being conditioned for it until later in the season.

[maddog78]

Originally Posted by pete74

It's funny how much I love the Steelers I still have not seen a single game from the Bradshaw era. It was before my time but iI always wanted to watch those games

I downloaded the entire 1978 AFC Championship against Houston from youtube, but unfortunately I don't see it on youtube anymore.

That's probably why I downloaded it. I also have all four of the first Super Bowls on DVD, of varying quality.

[VaDave]

Originally Posted by harrison'samonster

a lot of good points but I have to disagree, it's not just the food and steroids that bulk ppl up but also the training methods. Fact is we'll never know and it's fun to debate the question.

No doubt training regimins have improved over the last 40 years, but back in the 70s there was more of an emphasis on speed ( what there was of it) and power over size. You're right, it is fun to think about it.

[VaDave]

Originally Posted by steelfury02

you make a fantastic point - I actually think due to the emergence of the passing game, we are going to see speedier, athletic, leaner guys on the defensive side of the ball - def a transition at what we're looking for on the D-line. Being taller with long arms is being sought over bulk and power. Now - that said, the taller guys are taller, and the faster guys are faster, and the hits are at higher speeds IMO - so yea, while we will see different body types now than in the past 10-20 seasons, there will be more damage just because of evolution, also - because the league is mandating less "football-ready" conditioning - aka if you aren't practicing taking a pounding as much before the season starts, you are seeing teams not being conditioned for it until later in the season.

Did anybody tell Ngata????? LOL!!!