1977 Steelers - Why was this a “down” year for the defense?

[SeahawkFever]

I’ve noted all the stats that teams allowed on defense in 1977; the season before the rule changes.

But one team that performed worse that you’d think would’ve performed better in 1977 was the defense that is usually considered the best of that generation: The Steel Curtain.

The 77 Steelers obviously ranked only 17th by points that season with how the league played on defense, but the fact remains, the Steelers allowed 17.4 points per game.

That’s a full five points per game more than the season after, and the two seasons before.

Did they have major injuries on defense, or major departures on defense that they hadn’t replaced yet? You’d think they’d have had another season on par with the others in the surrounding years (say 12-14 points per game allowed which would have put them 5th-8th somewhere between the Redskins and Eagles)

[Gary Najman]

L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes and Mike Wagner were injured part of the season, and Loren Toews replaced the retired Andy Russell as RLB. Checking the stats, the problem was the passing degfense, as they were 22 in passing TDs allowed.

[CSKreager]

It was going to be a tough task to replicate that stretch of 28 points in 9 games

Plus everybody on defense was healthy in 1976, unlike 77

[Sonny9]

1977 Allowed 4 non offensive TDs vs 0 in 1976. 1977 did allow 375 more yards but the offense turned the ball over 18 more times.

btw - Overall scoring was down in 1977 17.2 vs 19.2 in 1976

[7DnBrnc53]

L.C. Grreenwood, Ernie Holmes and Mike Wagner were injured part of the season, and Loren Toews replaced the retired Andy Russell as RLB. Checking the stats, the problem was the passing degfense, as they were 22 in passing TDs allowed.

Not only was Wagner missing, but 1975 & 76 Pro Bowl FS Glen Edwards missed five games as well. They had Jimmy Allen start five games, which is not what you want.

[SeahawkFever]

L.C. Grreenwood, Ernie Holmes and Mike Wagner were injured part of the season, and Loren Toews replaced the retired Andy Russell as RLB. Checking the stats, the problem was the passing degfense, as they were 22 in passing TDs allowed.

Did not know that.

They are probably allowing at least 3-5 fewer points per game if those guys are all healthy.

[SeahawkFever]

1977 Allowed 4 non offensive TDs vs 0 in 1976. 1977 did allow 375 more yards but the offense turned the ball over 18 more times.

btw - Overall scoring was down in 1977 17.2 vs 19.2 in 1976

Overall scoring was down indeed; a huge part of why the Mel Blount rules were created the following season.

The fact remains that the Steelers allowed only 17.4 points per game (and had three games where they held the opponent to ten points or less) in spite of all the injuries we’ve listed.

[Jay Z]

Also psychologically I think the team was due for a letdown.

Generally teams can get "up" for defending a championship. They know how to win and want to stay on top so the effort continues.

When they do have that loss, when the Steelers lost the AFC Championship game, then unity tends to crumble the next year. Players want to get paid and they put that above the team.