1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerArt Rooney
General managerDick Haley
Head coachChuck Noll
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record8–7
Division place3rd AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersC Mike Webster
AP All-ProsNone
Team MVPMike Merriweather
Team ROYDelton Hall

The 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 55th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The team improved from a 6–10 record from 1986 and finishing 8–7 record and fail to reach the playoffs for a third straight season. Noll was renowned as a stoic character, but in complete contrast was his reaction to Jerry Glanville, the head coach of the Oilers. After the Steelers second meeting, Noll in the postgame handshake grabbed Glanville and told him he'd better watch out or he'd get jumped on. This was in reaction to Glanville's earlier comments on how the Oilers field was the 'house of pain' and his prediction that his players would intentionally hurt the Steelers.

1987 would also mark a "bridging the eras" moment in Steelers history, as 1987 would mark the final seasons of Hall of Famers John Stallworth and Donnie Shell while also being the rookie season of another future Hall of Famer, Rod Woodson. Alongside fellow Hall of Famer Mike Webster (who would return for 1988), Stallworth and Shell were two of the final three players on the roster that had been part of all four Super Bowl-winning teams of the 1970s, while Woodson alongside fellow rookie Greg Lloyd (who would miss the 1987 season due to injuries) would be key members of the Steelers return to prominence in the 1990s.

Offseason

[edit]

NFL draft

[edit]
Main article: 1987 NFL draft

The Steelers 1987 draft class, while not on the same level as their famous 1974 draft class, would turn out to be one of their better draft classes and by far their best in the 1980s.

Although the Steelers wanted to draft Rod Woodson to help rebuild their secondary, the team expected Woodson to be drafted before their turn at tenth overall. Head coach Chuck Noll instructed defensive coordinator Tony Dungy not to bother with a scouting report on Woodson due to his expected unavailability. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to draft Woodson after the Cleveland Browns traded for the San Diego Chargers' fifth overall pick and subsequently used selection to draft linebacker Mike Junkin, who was eventually a bust.[1] The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Kelly Stouffer (sixth overall) who ultimately never played for the Cardinals due to a contract dispute. The Buffalo Bills were the last likely team to draft Woodson, but instead used the eighth overall pick to draft linebacker Shane Conlan.[2][3]

After the team lucked out on drafting Woodson, the team would get a solid starter (and eventual team Rookie of the Year) in fellow corner Delton Hall, who would get more playing time than Woodson in 1987 due to the latter holding out for a bigger contract into the season. In addition to Woodson and Lloyd, the team also drafted future Pro Bowlers Thomas Everett and Hardy Nickerson, as well as fullback Merril Hoge, who would be a solid starter for several seasons and later gained fame as an analyst for ESPN. On the undrafted front, the team signed Dwight Stone, who would last 14 years in the NFL including eight in Pittsburgh.

1987 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 10 Rod Woodson * †  Cornerback Purdue
2 38 Delton Hall  Cornerback Clemson
3 66 Charles Lockett  Wide receiver Long Beach State
4 94 Thomas Everett *  Safety Baylor
5 122 Hardy Nickerson *  Linebacker California
6 141 Tim Johnson  Defensive tackle Penn State
6 150 Greg Lloyd *  Linebacker Fort Valley State
7 178 Chris Kelley  Tight end Akron
8 205 Charles Buchanan  Defensive end Tennessee State
9 233 Joey Clinkscales  Wide receiver Tennessee
10 261 Merril Hoge  Running back Idaho State
11 289 Paul Oswald  Center Kansas
12 317 Theo Young  Tight end Arkansas
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

[edit]
1987 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Lyneal Alston Wide receiver Southern Miss
Eric Anderson Wide receiver UTEP
Steve Apke Linebacker Pittsburgh
Warren Bone Defensive end Texas Southern
Dennis Borcky Nose tackle Memphis State
Richard Bosselmann Linebacker Cal Poly
Ralph Britt Tight end NC State
George Cimadevilla Punter East Tennessee State
Spark Clark Running Back Akron
Mike Crow Punter Northwestern State
Moses Ford Wide receiver Fayetteville State
Corey Gilmore Running back San Diego State
James Hansen Offensive tackle Utah
Joe Pizzo Quarterback Mars Hill
Mike Russo Nose tackle Penn State
Vernon Stewart Wide receiver Akron
Albert Williams Linebacker UTEP

Personnel

[edit]

Staff

[edit]
1987 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • Chairman of the board – Arthur J. Rooney
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Treasurer – Dennis P. Thimons
  • Business manager – Joe Gordon
  • Chief negotiator – James A. Boston
  • Office manager - stadium – Dan Ferens
  • Publicity director – Dan Edwards
  • Assistant publicity director – Pat Hanlon
  • Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Computer director - accounting – Jim Ellenberger
  • Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
  • Director of pro scouting – Tom Modrak
  • Talent scout – East – Tom Donahoe
  • Talent scout – Midwest – Jesse Kaye
  • Talent scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning & training coach – Walt Evans
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Thomas W. Cowan
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J.Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Trainer – Fran Feld
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Video & film director – Bob McCartney
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[4]


NFL replacement players

[edit]

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

1987 Pittsburgh Steelers replacement roster

Quarterbacks


Running backs


Wide receivers


Tight ends


Offensive linemen

  • 60 Brian Blankenship G


Defensive linemen


Linebackers


Defensive backs


Special teams

Roster

[edit]
1987 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

[5] [6] [7] [8] Reserve

Rookies in italics
100 active, 4 reserve

Preseason

[edit]

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Fri. Aug. 14 at Washington Redskins RFK Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE L 23–17 0–1
2 Sat. Aug. 22 at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 7:00 p.m. WTAE L 50–14 0–2
3 Sat. Aug. 29 at New Orleans Saints Louisiana Superdome 8:00 p.m. WTAE L 31–28 0–3
4 Sat. Sep. 5 New York Giants Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. CBS L 26–20 0–4

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sun. Sep. 13 San Francisco 49ers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 30–17 1–0
2 Sun. Sep. 20 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 34–10 1–1
3 Sun. Sep. 27 New York Jets Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 1–1
4 Sun. Oct. 4 at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 28–12 2–1
5 Sun. Oct. 11 at Los Angeles Rams Anaheim Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 31–21 2–2
6 Sun. Oct. 18 Indianapolis Colts Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 21–7 3–2
7 Sun. Oct. 25 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–20 4–2
8 Sun. Nov. 1 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 35–24 4–3
9 Sun. Nov. 8 at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 17–16 5–3
10 Sun. Nov. 15 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 23–3 5–4
11 Sun. Nov. 22 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 30–16 6–4
12 Sun. Nov. 29 New Orleans Saints Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS L 20–16 6–5
13 Sun. Dec. 6 Seattle Seahawks Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 13–9 7–5
14 Sun. Dec. 13 at San Diego Chargers Jack Murphy Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 20–16 8–5
15 Sun. Dec. 20 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC L 24–16 8–6
16 Sat. Dec. 26 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 12:30 p.m. NBC L 19–13 8–7

Game summaries

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Week 1 (Sunday September 13, 1987): vs. San Francisco 49ers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 0 3 7 7 17
Steelers 7 10 3 10 30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 2 (Sunday September 20, 1987): at Cleveland Browns

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 7 0 10
Browns 0 10 7 17 34

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 79,543
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
  • Cleveland – FG Jaeger 29
  • Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Jaeger kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
  • PIttsburgh – Shell 19 fumble return (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – McNeil 11 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)
  • Cleveland – FG Jaeger 23
  • Cleveland – Matthews 26 interception return (Jaeger kick)
  • Cleveland – Weathers 37 pass from Kosar (Jaeger kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 27, 1987): vs. New York Jets

[edit]

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 4 (Sunday October 4, 1987): at Atlanta Falcons

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 14 0 14 28
Falcons 3 0 2 7 12

at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

This game was played with replacement players.

  • Atlanta – FG Davis 27
  • Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run (Trout kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hairston 5 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
  • Atlanta – Safety, Bono penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
  • Pittsburgh – Bono 1 run (Trout kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Clinkscales 11 pass from Collier (Trout kick)
  • Atlanta – Barney 19 pass from Van Raaphorst (Davis kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 11, 1987): at Los Angeles Rams

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 7 0 7 21
Rams 7 14 7 3 31

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

  • Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 20,219
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Fred Roggin (play by play), Dave Lapham (color commentator)

This game was played with replacement players.

  • Los Angeles Rams – Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lansford kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Alston 22 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 10 pass from Bono (Trout kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – White 2 run (Lansford kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – McDonald 1 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – Moore 11 pass from Dils (Lansford kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – FG Lansford 29
  • Pittsburgh – Alston 42 pass from Collier (Trout kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 18, 1987): vs. Indianapolis Colts

[edit]
Week Six: Indianapolis Colts (2–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 7 007
Steelers 7 0 01421

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This game was played with replacement players.

Team Category Player Statistics
Colts Passing Blair Kiel 17/30, 195 Yds, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Gordon Brown 9 Rush, 32 Yds
Receiving Mark Bellini 5 Rec, 69 Yds
Steelers Passing Steve Bono 11/23, 138 Yds, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Earnest Jackson 24 Rush, 134 Yds
Receiving John Stallworth 5 Rec, 54 Yds, TD


Week 7 (Sunday October 25, 1987): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Bengals 7 7 6 0 20
Steelers 3 0 7 13 23

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 53,692
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
  • Cincinnati – Martin 41 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hall 25 run with lateral after Hinkle interception (Anderson kick)
  • Cincinnati – Jennings 9 pass from Esiason (kick failed)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
  • Pittsburgh – Stallworth 12 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20

Week 8 (Sunday November 1, 1987): at Miami Dolphins

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 14 7 3 0 24
Dolphins 0 7 14 14 35

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 52,578
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
  • Pittsburgh – Lockett 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Shell 50 interception return (Anderson kick)
  • Miami – Hardy 2 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Miami – Clayton 41 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
  • Miami – Duper 50 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
  • Miami – Clayton 33 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
  • Miami – Stradford 5 run (Reveiz kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 8, 1987): at Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 7 3 17
Chiefs 7 3 0 6 16

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 45,249
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
  • Kansas City – Maas 6 fumble return (Lowery kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 4 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 41
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 26 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 27
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 38
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 10 (Sunday November 15, 1987): vs. Houston Oilers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 3 14 6 23
Steelers 3 0 0 0 3

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 56,177
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 34
  • Houston – Duncan 14 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – D. Hill 42 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 20
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 40

Week 11 (Sunday November 22, 1987): at Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 10 7 10 30
Bengals 3 3 3 7 16

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 59,910
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 35
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
  • Pittsburgh – Woodson 45 interception return (Anderson kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 38
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 41
  • Pittsburgh – Thompson 14 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
  • CIncinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run (Breech kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Malone 42 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 29, 1987): vs. New Orleans Saints

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Saints 3 0 7 10 20
Steelers 0 14 0 2 16

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C) (Overcast)
  • Game attendance: 47,896
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Brant (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)
  • New Orleans – FG Andersen 25
  • Pittsburgh – Woodruff 33 interception return (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run (Anderson kick)
  • New Orleans – Mayes 5 run (Andersen kick)
  • New Orleans – Martin 19 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
  • New Orleans – FG Andersen 32
  • Pittsburgh – Safety, Hansen ran out of end zone

Week 13 (Sunday December 6, 1987): vs. Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 3 6 0 0 9
Steelers 3 3 0 7 13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) (Overcast)
  • Game attendance: 48,881
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Michael Jackson (color commentator)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
  • Seattle – FG Johnson 33
  • Seattle – Largent 12 pass from Krieg (pass failed)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
  • Pittsburgh – Pollard 11 run (Anderson kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 13, 1987): at San Diego Chargers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 10 3 20
Chargers 9 0 7 0 16

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Game time: 4:00 PM EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 51,605
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • San Diego – Brandon recovered blocked punt in end zone (Abbott kick)
  • San Diego – Safety, Ehin tackled Malone in end zone
  • Pittsburgh – Pollard 8 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Malone 7 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
  • San Diego – James 15 pass from Fouts (Abbott kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 20, 1987): at Houston Oilers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 3 7 3 16
Oilers 0 10 7 7 24

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 36,683
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
  • Houston – Hill 52 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 34
  • Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Houston – Pinkett 5 run (Zendejas kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
  • Houston – Hill 30 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)

Week 16 (Saturday December 26, 1987): vs. Cleveland Browns

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 3 6 3 7 19
Steelers 0 3 0 10 13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 12:30 PM EST
  • Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C) (Overcast)
  • Game attendance: 56,394
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • Cleveland – FG Bahr 31
  • Cleveland – Tennell 2 pass from Kosar (kick failed)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
  • Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
  • Cleveland – Byner 2 run (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Gowdy 45 interception return (Anderson kick)

Standings

[edit]
AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns(2) 10 5 0 .667 5–1 8–3 390 239 W3
Houston Oilers(4) 9 6 0 .600 5–1 7–4 345 349 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers 8 7 0 .533 2–4 6–5 285 299 L2
Cincinnati Bengals 4 11 0 .267 0–6 3–9 285 370 L3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rookie linebacker Mike Junkin, the Cleveland Browns' first-round pick". upi.com. November 11, 1987. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Labriola, Bob (April 5, 2011). "Getting Woodson was pure luck". steelers.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Bryan, Dave (April 28, 2015). "ARTICLE Steelers Drafted CB Rod Woodson 28 Years Ago Today". SteelersDepot.com. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  4. ^ 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  5. ^ 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  6. ^ 1988 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  7. ^ "1987 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "1987 Pittsburgh Steelers". Football @ JT-SW.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
[edit]
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