Steelers Following 1974 Blueprint with Quarterback Change
PITTSBURGH — A change behind center required receivers rolling with the punches.
Third-year quarterback Joe Gilliam started the initial six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the team’s Super Bowl IX-winning season in 1974. Despite going 4-1-1 during that stretch, the Steelers turned back to Terry Bradshaw the rest of the way, save for a Week 10 matchup where Terry Hanratty operated the offense.
Hall of Fame wideouts Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were both new to the professional game at the time and told Steelers Now they tried to stay within themselves through the switch in passers.
“You have to worry about the things you can control and your role in that game,” Swann said. “My role was not to pick the quarterback. My role was to catch a pass.”
“I had to adjust to whatever quarterback was in there,” Stallworth said. “I’m a rookie. My playing time is limited. Lynn and I both had limited playing time. We had to make the adjustments. We had routes. We tried to be as consistent as we could, but it was hard to get to know a quarterback and that quarterback to get to know you with those changes.”
Who was at quarterback didn’t impact Pittsburgh’s running game as much. Franco Harris rushed for 1,006 yards that year. Rocky Bleier had another 373.
“We can hand the ball off,” Stallworth said. “The offensive line has jelled. (With) Rocky and Franco, we were handing the ball off and they were playing well.”
Much like the Steelers did in 1974, they’re making a switch at quarterback through six weeks this year. Justin Fields went 4-2, including a 32-13 road win against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. Veteran Russell Wilson will step in against the New York Jets.
Stallworth feels that the team’s pass-catchers should take a similar approach as he and Swann had 50 years earlier. Swann agreed.
“My advice to them would be to be consistent in the things that they (are) doing, the routes that they’re running,” Stallworth said. “Guys can see that, whether they are the guys actually throwing the pass or the guy who’s looking at what’s going on. Consistency … I think is the key.”
“Regardless of which quarterback is in there, regardless of who’s on the offensive line, the receiver’s job is to go out and run the route, read the defense, get open, and catch the ball,” Swann said.
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