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1988 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Record: 5-11-0, Finished 4th in AFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 336 points (21.0/g), 13th of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 421 points (26.3/g), 28th.
Differential of -85 points (-5.3/g), 24th.
Expected W-L: 5.9-10.1.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential -6 (-0.4/g), 22nd.
Coached by Chuck Noll (5-11-0)
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1988 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
Glossary · ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+), · CSV · PRE · Hide Non-primary Starters| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | Bubby Brister | 26 | 2 | 13 | 175 for 370, 2,634 yards, 11 td, 14 int, & 45 rushes for 209 yards and 6 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 67th pick / 1986 |
| RB | Warren Williams | 23 | Rook | 8 | 87 rushes for 409 yards, 0 td, & 11 catches for 66 yards and 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 155th pick / 1988 |
| RB | Dwight Stone | 24 | 1 | 6 | 40 rushes for 127 yards, 0 td, & 11 catches for 196 yards and 1 td | |
| FB | Merril Hoge | 23 | 1 | 8 | 170 rushes for 705 yards, 3 td, & 50 catches for 487 yards and 3 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 10th / 261st pick / 1987 |
| FB | Earnest Jackson | 29 | 5 | 6 | 74 rushes for 315 yards, 3 td, & 9 catches for 84 yards and 0 td | San Diego Chargers / 8th / 202nd pick / 1983 |
| WR | Louis Lipps | 26 | 4 | 16 | 50 catches for 973 yards, 5 td, & 6 rushes for 129 yards and 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 23rd pick / 1984 |
| WR | Weegie Thompson | 27 | 4 | 11 | 16 catches for 370 yards, 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 108th pick / 1984 |
| WR | Charles Lockett | 23 | 1 | 5 | 22 catches for 365 yards, 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 66th pick / 1987 |
| TE | Preston Gothard | 26 | 3 | 15 | 12 catches for 121 yards, 1 td | |
| LT | Craig Wolfley | 30 | 8 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 138th pick / 1980 |
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| LG | Brian Blankenship | 25 | 1 | 12 | 1 fumble recovered | |
| C | Mike Webster | 36 | 14 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 125th pick / 1974 |
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| RG | Terry Long | 29 | 4 | 11 | 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 111th pick / 1984 |
| RG | Dermontti Dawson | 23 | Rook | 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 44th pick / 1988 |
|
| RT | Tunch Ilkin* | 31 | 8 | 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 165th pick / 1980 |
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| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Tim Johnson | 23 | 1 | 12 | 4.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 141st pick / 1987 |
| LDE | Aaron Jones | 22 | Rook | 12 | 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 18th pick / 1988 |
| LDE | Ben Thomas | 27 | 3 | 5 | 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | New England Patriots / 2nd / 56th pick / 1985 |
| NT | Gerald Williams | 25 | 2 | 16 | 3.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 36th pick / 1986 |
| RDE | Keith Gary | 29 | 5 | 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 17th pick / 1981 |
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| RDE | Tim Johnson | 23 | 1 | 12 | 4.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 141st pick / 1987 |
| LOLB | Bryan Hinkle | 29 | 6 | 13 | 0.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 156th pick / 1981 |
| LILB | David Little | 29 | 7 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 7th / 183rd pick / 1981 |
| RILB | Hardy Nickerson | 23 | 1 | 10 | 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 122nd pick / 1987 |
| ROLB | Aaron Jones | 22 | Rook | 12 | 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 18th pick / 1988 |
| ROLB | Gregg Carr | 26 | 3 | 5 | 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 160th pick / 1985 |
| LCB | Dwayne Woodruff | 31 | 9 | 13 | 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 161st pick / 1979 |
| RCB | Rod Woodson | 23 | 1 | 16 | 0.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 10th pick / 1987 |
| SS | Cornell Gowdy | 25 | 2 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | |
| FS | Thomas Everett | 24 | 1 | 12 | 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 94th pick / 1987 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Gary Anderson | 29 | 6 | 0 | 28 of 36 field goals & 34 of 35 extra points | Buffalo Bills / 7th / 171st pick / 1982 |
| P | Harry Newsome | 25 | 3 | 0 | 65 punts for a 45.4 average, 6 blocked | Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 214th pick / 1985 |
| PR | Rod Woodson | 23 | 1 | 16 | 33 punt returns for a 8.5 average and 0 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 10th pick / 1987 |
| KR | Rod Woodson | 23 | 1 | 16 | 37 kick returns for a 23.0 average and 1 td | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 10th pick / 1987 |
| Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Anderson | 29 | K | 16 | 0 | 193 | 5-11 | Syracuse | 7/16/1959 | 6 | Buffalo Bills / 7th / 171st pick / 1982 |
| Todd Blackledge | 27 | QB | 3 | 3 | 225 | 6-3 | Penn State | 2/25/1961 | 5 | Kansas City Chiefs / 1st / 7th pick / 1983 |
| Brian Blankenship | 25 | G | 13 | 12 | 286 | 6-1 | Nebraska,Nebraska-Omaha | 4/7/1963 | 1 | |
| Steve Bono | 26 | QB | 2 | 0 | 215 | 6-4 | UCLA | 5/11/1962 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 142nd pick / 1985 |
| Jim Boyle | 26 | T | 6 | 0 | 270 | 6-5 | Tulane | 7/27/1962 | 1 | Miami Dolphins / 9th / 250th pick / 1984 |
| Bubby Brister | 26 | QB | 13 | 13 | 205 | 6-3 | La-Monroe,Tulane | 8/15/1962 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 67th pick / 1986 |
| Gregg Carr | 26 | LB | 13 | 5 | 219 | 6-2 | Auburn | 3/31/1962 | 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 160th pick / 1985 |
| Rodney Carter | 24 | RB | 14 | 1 | 218 | 6-0 | Purdue | 10/30/1964 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 7th / 175th pick / 1986 |
| Joey Clinkscales | 24 | WR | 4 | 0 | 199 | 6-0 | Tennessee | 5/21/1964 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 9th / 233rd pick / 1987 |
| Dermontti Dawson | 23 | C-G | 8 | 5 | 288 | 6-2 | Kentucky | 6/17/1965 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 44th pick / 1988 |
| Thomas Everett | 24 | DB | 14 | 12 | 190 | 5-9 | Baylor | 11/21/1964 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 94th pick / 1987 |
| Lorenzo Freeman | 24 | NT-DT | 13 | 2 | 300 | 6-5 | Pittsburgh | 5/23/1964 | 1 | Green Bay Packers / 4th / 89th pick / 1987 |
| Keith Gary | 29 | DE | 15 | 9 | 263 | 6-3 | Ferrum,Oklahoma | 9/14/1959 | 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 17th pick / 1981 |
| Preston Gothard | 26 | TE | 16 | 15 | 239 | 6-4 | Alabama | 2/23/1962 | 3 | |
| Cornell Gowdy | 25 | DB | 16 | 14 | 196 | 6-1 | Morgan State | 10/2/1963 | 2 | |
| Larry Griffin | 25 | DB | 15 | 3 | 197 | 6-0 | North Carolina | 1/11/1963 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 8th / 199th pick / 1986 |
| Delton Hall | 23 | DB | 14 | 4 | 205 | 6-1 | Clemson | 1/16/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 38th pick / 1987 |
| Anthony Henton | 25 | LB | 16 | 4 | 218 | 6-1 | Troy State | 7/27/1963 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 9th / 234th pick / 1986 |
| Bryan Hinkle | 29 | LB | 13 | 13 | 222 | 6-1 | Oregon | 6/4/1959 | 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 156th pick / 1981 |
| Mike Hinnant | 22 | TE | 16 | 1 | 268 | 6-3 | Temple | 9/8/1966 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 211th pick / 1988 |
| Merril Hoge | 23 | RB | 16 | 8 | 225 | 6-2 | Idaho State | 1/26/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 10th / 261st pick / 1987 |
| Tunch Ilkin* | 31 | T-G-C | 16 | 16 | 263 | 6-3 | Indiana State | 9/23/1957 | 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 165th pick / 1980 |
| Earnest Jackson | 29 | RB | 12 | 6 | 213 | 5-9 | Texas A&M | 12/18/1959 | 5 | San Diego Chargers / 8th / 202nd pick / 1983 |
| John Jackson | 23 | T | 16 | 0 | 297 | 6-6 | Eastern Kentucky | 1/4/1965 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 10th / 252nd pick / 1988 |
| Tim Johnson | 23 | DT-DE | 15 | 12 | 275 | 6-3 | Penn State | 1/29/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 141st pick / 1987 |
| Troy Johnson | 26 | WR | 14 | 0 | 180 | 6-1 | Southeastern Louisiana,Southern | 10/20/1962 | 2 | |
| Aaron Jones | 22 | DE-LB | 15 | 12 | 261 | 6-5 | Eastern Kentucky | 12/18/1966 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 18th pick / 1988 |
| Darin Jordan | 24 | LB-DE | 15 | 2 | 242 | 6-1 | Northeastern | 12/4/1964 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 121st pick / 1988 |
| Chuck Lanza | 24 | C | 16 | 0 | 263 | 6-2 | Notre Dame | 9/20/1964 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 70th pick / 1988 |
| Greg Lee | 23 | DB | 16 | 0 | 207 | 6-1 | Arkansas State | 1/15/1965 | Rook | |
| Louis Lipps | 26 | WR | 16 | 16 | 190 | 5-10 | Southern Miss | 8/9/1962 | 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 23rd pick / 1984 |
| David Little | 29 | LB | 16 | 14 | 232 | 6-1 | Florida | 1/3/1959 | 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 7th / 183rd pick / 1981 |
| Greg Lloyd | 23 | LB | 9 | 4 | 228 | 6-2 | Fort Valley State | 5/26/1965 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 150th pick / 1987 |
| Charles Lockett | 23 | WR | 16 | 5 | 178 | 6-0 | Long Beach State | 10/1/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 3rd / 66th pick / 1987 |
| Terry Long | 29 | G | 12 | 11 | 272 | 5-11 | East Carolina | 7/21/1959 | 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 111th pick / 1984 |
| Jeff Markland | 23 | TE | 1 | 0 | 245 | 6-3 | Illinois | 11/16/1965 | Rook | |
| Harry Newsome | 25 | P | 16 | 0 | 192 | 6-0 | Wake Forest | 1/25/1963 | 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 214th pick / 1985 |
| Hardy Nickerson | 23 | LB | 15 | 10 | 230 | 6-2 | California | 9/1/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 122nd pick / 1987 |
| Frank Pollard | 31 | RB | 10 | 3 | 218 | 5-10 | Baylor | 6/15/1957 | 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 11th / 305th pick / 1980 |
| Rollin Putzier | 23 | DT-NT | 5 | 0 | 279 | 6-4 | Oregon | 12/10/1965 | Rook | Green Bay Packers / 4th / 88th pick / 1988 |
| Jerry Reese | 24 | DE | 15 | 0 | 267 | 6-2 | Kentucky | 7/11/1964 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 128th pick / 1988 |
| John Rienstra | 25 | G | 5 | 4 | 273 | 6-5 | Temple | 3/22/1963 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 9th pick / 1986 |
| Lupe Sanchez | 27 | DB | 16 | 2 | 192 | 5-10 | UCLA | 10/28/1961 | 2 | Kansas City Chiefs / 2nd / 34th pick / 1984 Supp |
| Dwight Stone | 24 | WR-RB | 16 | 6 | 191 | 6-0 | Middle Tenn. State | 1/28/1964 | 1 | |
| Tyronne Stowe | 23 | LB | 10 | 4 | 250 | 6-2 | Rutgers | 5/30/1965 | 1 | |
| Ben Thomas | 27 | DE-NT | 8 | 5 | 280 | 6-4 | Auburn | 7/2/1961 | 3 | New England Patriots / 2nd / 56th pick / 1985 |
| Weegie Thompson | 27 | WR | 16 | 11 | 212 | 6-6 | Florida State | 3/21/1961 | 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 108th pick / 1984 |
| Mike Webster | 36 | C-G | 16 | 16 | 255 | 6-1 | Wisconsin | 3/18/1952 | 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 125th pick / 1974 |
| Gerald Williams | 25 | NT-DE-DT | 16 | 16 | 290 | 6-3 | Auburn | 9/8/1963 | 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 2nd / 36th pick / 1986 |
| Warren Williams | 23 | RB | 15 | 8 | 209 | 6-0 | Miami (FL) | 7/29/1965 | Rook | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 155th pick / 1988 |
| Craig Wolfley | 30 | G-T | 16 | 16 | 265 | 6-1 | Syracuse | 5/19/1958 | 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 138th pick / 1980 |
| Dwayne Woodruff | 31 | DB | 14 | 13 | 198 | 5-11 | Louisville | 2/18/1957 | 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 161st pick / 1979 |
| Rod Woodson | 23 | DB | 16 | 16 | 205 | 5-11 | Purdue | 3/10/1965 | 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 10th pick / 1987 |
| Team Total | 25.6 | 16 | 233.8 | 6-1.6 | 2.6 |