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1971 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Record: 6-8-0, Finished 2nd in AFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 246 points (17.6/g), 17th of 26 in the NFL.
Allowed 292 points (20.9/g), 17th.
Differential of -46 points (-3.3/g), 16th.
Expected W-L: 5.6-8.4.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential -7 (-0.5/g), 19th.
Simple Rating System: Total -3.6, Offense: -1.8, Defense: -1.8, SoS: -0.3, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by Chuck Noll (6-8-0)
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1971 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | Terry Bradshaw | 23 | 1 | 13 | 203 for 373, 2,259 yards, 13 td, 22 int, & 53 rushes for 247 yards and 5 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 1st pick / 1970 |
| RB | Preston Pearson | 26 | 4 | 0 | 131 rushes for 605 yards, 0 td, & 20 catches for 246 yards and 2 td | Baltimore Colts / 12th / 298th pick / 1967 |
| FB | John Fuqua | 25 | 2 | 0 | 155 rushes for 625 yards, 4 td, & 49 catches for 427 yards and 1 td | New York Giants / 11th / 273rd pick / 1969 |
| WR | Ron Shanklin | 23 | 1 | 0 | 49 catches for 652 yards, 6 td, & 2 rushes for 1 yards and 0 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 28th pick / 1970 |
| WR | Dave L. Smith | 24 | 1 | 0 | 47 catches for 663 yards, 5 td, & 1 rush for -10 yards and 0 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 184th pick / 1970 |
| TE | Bob Adams | 25 | 2 | 0 | 20 catches for 160 yards, 0 td | |
| LT | Jon Kolb | 24 | 2 | 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 56th pick / 1969 |
|
| LG | Sam Davis | 27 | 4 | 12 | ||
| C | Ray Mansfield | 30 | 8 | 0 | Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 18th pick / 1963 |
|
| C | Jim Clack | 24 | Rook | 0 | ||
| RG | Bruce Van Dyke | 27 | 5 | 0 | Kansas City Chiefs / 15th / 133rd pick / 1966 |
|
| RT | John Brown | 32 | 9 | 0 | Cleveland Browns / 4th / 55th pick / 1961 |
|
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | L.C. Greenwood | 25 | 2 | 14 | 0 interceptions, 5 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 10th / 238th pick / 1969 |
| LDT | Joe Greene* | 25 | 2 | 14 | 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 4th pick / 1969 |
| RDT | Lloyd Voss | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | New York Jets / 2nd / 11th pick / 1964 |
| RDT | Ben McGee | 32 | 7 | 0 | New York Jets / 5th / 35th pick / 1964 |
|
| RDE | Dwight White | 22 | Rook | 0 | 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 104th pick / 1971 |
| LLB | Jack Ham | 23 | Rook | 14 | 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 34th pick / 1971 |
| MLB | Chuck Allen | 32 | 10 | 0 | 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | San Diego Chargers / 28th / 223rd pick / 1961 |
| RLB | Andy Russell* | 30 | 8 | 0 | 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 16th / 220th pick / 1963 |
| LCB | John Rowser | 27 | 4 | 0 | 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 78th pick / 1967 |
| RCB | Mel Blount | 23 | 1 | 9 | 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 53rd pick / 1970 |
| RCB | Lee Calland | 30 | 8 | 0 | 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| SS | Mike Wagner | 22 | Rook | 0 | 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 11th / 268th pick / 1971 |
| FS | Glen Edwards | 24 | Rook | 6 | 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | |
| FS | Ocie Austin | 24 | 3 | 0 | Baltimore Colts / 10th / 257th pick / 1968 |
|
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Roy Gerela | 23 | 2 | 0 | 17 of 27 field goals & 27 of 27 extra points | Houston Oilers / 4th / 96th pick / 1969 |
| P | Bobby Walden | 33 | 7 | 0 | 79 punts for a 43.7 average, 0 blocked | Houston Oilers / 4th / 32nd pick / 1961 |
| PR | Jon Staggers | 23 | 1 | 0 | 31 punt returns for a 8.5 average and 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 105th pick / 1970 |
| KR | Jim Brumfield | 24 | Rook | 0 | 12 kick returns for a 22.6 average and 0 td | New Orleans Saints / 10th / 244th pick / 1970 |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Bob Adams | 25 | TE-T | 14 | 0 | 225 | 6-2 | Pacific | 8/15/1946 | 2 | |
| 58 | Chuck Allen | 32 | LB | 10 | 0 | 225 | 6-1 | Washington | 9/7/1939 | 10 | San Diego Chargers / 28th / 223rd pick / 1961 |
| 49 | Ralph Anderson | 22 | DB | 7 | 0 | 180 | 6-2 | West Texas A&M | 4/3/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 126th pick / 1971 |
| 76 | Bert Askson | 26 | DE-TE | 11 | 0 | 223 | 6-3 | Texas Southern | 12/16/1945 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 14th / 340th pick / 1970 |
| 28 | Ocie Austin | 24 | DB | 14 | 0 | 200 | 6-3 | Utah State | 1/8/1947 | 3 | Baltimore Colts / 10th / 257th pick / 1968 |
| 46 | Warren Bankston | 24 | RB-TE | 14 | 0 | 235 | 6-4 | Tulane | 7/22/1947 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1969 |
| 37 | Chuck Beatty | 25 | DB | 3 | 0 | 200 | 6-2 | North Texas | 2/8/1946 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 7th / 160th pick / 1969 |
| 20 | Rocky Bleier | 25 | RB | 6 | 0 | 210 | 5-11 | Notre Dame | 3/5/1946 | 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 16th / 417th pick / 1968 |
| 47 | Mel Blount | 23 | DB | 14 | 9 | 205 | 6-3 | Southern | 4/10/1948 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 53rd pick / 1970 |
| 12 | Terry Bradshaw | 23 | QB | 14 | 13 | 215 | 6-3 | Louisiana Tech | 9/2/1948 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 1st pick / 1970 |
| 74 | John Brown | 32 | T | 14 | 0 | 248 | 6-2 | Syracuse | 6/9/1939 | 9 | Cleveland Browns / 4th / 55th pick / 1961 |
| 87 | Larry Brown | 22 | T-TE | 13 | 0 | 246 | 6-4 | Kansas | 6/16/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 106th pick / 1971 |
| 36 | Jim Brumfield | 24 | RB | 14 | 0 | 195 | 6-1 | Indiana State | 9/4/1947 | Rook | New Orleans Saints / 10th / 244th pick / 1970 |
| 44 | Lee Calland | 30 | DB | 13 | 0 | 190 | 6-0 | Louisville | 9/14/1941 | 8 | |
| 50 | Jim Clack | 24 | C-G | 14 | 0 | 250 | 6-3 | Wake Forest | 10/26/1947 | Rook | |
| 53 | Henry Davis | 29 | LB | 14 | 0 | 235 | 6-3 | Grambling State | 11/8/1942 | 3 | New York Giants / 11th / 288th pick / 1968 |
| 57 | Sam Davis | 27 | G | 12 | 12 | 255 | 6-1 | Allen | 7/5/1944 | 4 | |
| 27 | Glen Edwards | 24 | DB | 8 | 6 | 185 | 6-0 | Florida A&M | 7/31/1947 | Rook | |
| 33 | John Fuqua | 25 | RB | 12 | 0 | 205 | 5-11 | Morgan State | 9/12/1946 | 2 | New York Giants / 11th / 273rd pick / 1969 |
| 10 | Roy Gerela | 23 | K | 14 | 0 | 185 | 5-10 | New Mexico State | 4/2/1948 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 96th pick / 1969 |
| 75 | Joe Greene* | 25 | DT | 14 | 14 | 275 | 6-4 | North Texas | 9/24/1946 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 4th pick / 1969 |
| 68 | L.C. Greenwood | 25 | DE | 14 | 14 | 245 | 6-6 | Ark-Pine Bluff | 9/8/1946 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 10th / 238th pick / 1969 |
| 59 | Jack Ham | 23 | LB | 14 | 14 | 225 | 6-1 | Penn State | 12/23/1948 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 34th pick / 1971 |
| 5 | Terry Hanratty | 23 | QB | 6 | 1 | 210 | 6-1 | Notre Dame | 1/19/1948 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 30th pick / 1969 |
| 77 | Mel Holmes | 21 | G-T | 14 | 0 | 251 | 6-3 | North Carolina A&T | 1/22/1950 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 112th pick / 1971 |
| 82 | Dennis Hughes | 23 | TE | 7 | 0 | 225 | 6-1 | Georgia | 2/22/1948 | 1 | |
| 55 | Jon Kolb | 24 | T-C | 14 | 14 | 262 | 6-2 | Oklahoma State | 8/30/1947 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 56th pick / 1969 |
| 16 | Bob Leahy | 24 | QB | 1 | 0 | 205 | 6-2 | Connecticut,Emporia State | 9/5/1947 | Rook | |
| 43 | Frank Lewis | 24 | WR | 9 | 0 | 196 | 6-1 | Grambling State | 7/4/1947 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 8th pick / 1971 |
| 56 | Ray Mansfield | 30 | C-DT-LB | 14 | 0 | 250 | 6-3 | Washington | 1/21/1941 | 8 | Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 18th pick / 1963 |
| 51 | Bobby Maples | 29 | C-LB | 3 | 0 | 250 | 6-3 | Baylor | 12/28/1942 | 6 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 26th pick / 1965 |
| 60 | Ben McGee | 32 | DE-DT | 13 | 0 | 250 | 6-3 | Jackson State | 1/26/1939 | 7 | New York Jets / 5th / 35th pick / 1964 |
| 72 | Gerry Mullins | 22 | G-T | 14 | 0 | 244 | 6-3 | USC | 8/24/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 86th pick / 1971 |
| 26 | Preston Pearson | 26 | RB | 14 | 0 | 205 | 6-1 | Illinois | 1/17/1945 | 4 | Baltimore Colts / 12th / 298th pick / 1967 |
| 48 | John Rowser | 27 | DB | 12 | 0 | 190 | 6-1 | Michigan | 4/24/1944 | 4 | Green Bay Packers / 3rd / 78th pick / 1967 |
| 34 | Andy Russell* | 30 | LB | 14 | 0 | 225 | 6-2 | Missouri | 10/29/1941 | 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 16th / 220th pick / 1963 |
| 25 | Ron Shanklin | 23 | WR | 14 | 0 | 183 | 6-1 | North Texas | 1/21/1948 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 28th pick / 1970 |
| 73 | Rick Sharp | 23 | T | 3 | 0 | 265 | 6-3 | Washington | 6/1/1948 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 12th / 288th pick / 1970 |
| 88 | Dave L. Smith | 24 | WR | 14 | 0 | 205 | 6-2 | Indiana (PA),Waynesburg | 5/18/1947 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 184th pick / 1970 |
| 2 | Jon Staggers | 23 | WR | 14 | 0 | 185 | 5-10 | Missouri | 12/14/1948 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 105th pick / 1970 |
| 61 | Brian Stenger | 24 | LB | 14 | 0 | 241 | 6-4 | Notre Dame | 1/16/1947 | 2 | |
| 66 | Bruce Van Dyke | 27 | G | 12 | 0 | 255 | 6-2 | Missouri | 8/6/1944 | 5 | Kansas City Chiefs / 15th / 133rd pick / 1966 |
| 65 | Lloyd Voss | 29 | DE-DT | 13 | 0 | 256 | 6-4 | Nebraska | 2/13/1942 | 7 | New York Jets / 2nd / 11th pick / 1964 |
| 23 | Mike Wagner | 22 | DB | 12 | 0 | 210 | 6-1 | Western Illinois | 6/22/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 11th / 268th pick / 1971 |
| 39 | Bobby Walden | 33 | P | 14 | 0 | 190 | 6-0 | Georgia | 3/9/1938 | 7 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 32nd pick / 1961 |
| 78 | Dwight White | 22 | DE | 14 | 0 | 255 | 6-4 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 7/30/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 104th pick / 1971 |
| 31 | Al Young | 22 | WR | 1 | 0 | 195 | 6-1 | South Carolina State | 8/24/1949 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 13th / 320th pick / 1971 |
| Team Total | 25.3 | 14 | 222.6 | 6-1.9 | 2.6 |