Who was the best offensive line coach in Steelers history?
This wouldn t seem to be a topic worth discussing let alone an issue of any real significance, especially for a franchise that in a few months will be kicking off its 89th season as a member of the National Football League. But within the boundaries of Steelers Nation over the last decade, the offensive line coach has become a high-profile individual, a lightning rod for criticism, and a man seen as having a great influence on whether the team has an effective offense.
The NFL and the AFL merged for the 1970 season, and for the bulk of the next half-century, the Steelers were at or near the top of the list in terms of rushing yards gained as a team. As evidence, consider that in the 51 NFL seasons since that 1970 NFL-AFL merger, the Steelers have finished in the top 10 in rushing 29 times, in the top 5 in rushing 17 times, and in the bottom 5 in rushing three times.