All-Time Pittsburgh Steelers team: Who makes the cut?
By Eric Hassel
All-Time Steelers offensive line
Left Tackle:
Jon Kolb
Kolb enjoyed a thirteen-year career, all as a Steeler. He protected the “blindside” like no other left tackle, in my opinion. While other tackles have performed admirably, namely Marvel Smith, Max Starks and, currently, Alejandro Villanueva, Kolb set the standard.
Although he was never voted to the Pro Bowl, he was a four-time Super Bowl champ, having played in sixteen playoff games. Kolb was as technically sound a left tackle as there was during his time.
Left Gaurd:
Alan Faneca
Faneca arrived in 1998 in the first round and enjoyed a stellar ten-year career for us. He was voted to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times, four times consecutively. Like Kolb, Faneca was a tactician and a mauler. Had he not left in free agency in 2008, he would have been a two-time Super Bowl champ instead of a one-time Super Bowl champ.
Center:
Mike Webster
Where do I start? Webster is, by far, my favorite player. My first Steelers jersey was a home jersey my parents bought for me when I was sixteen. I still have it and wear it on gameday. Webster enjoyed a storied career with us. He was named to nine Pro Bowls, making the trip eight times consecutively. Webster was also a five-time All-Pro selection, having been voted four times consecutively. He was a four-time Super Bowl champ and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Webster set the standard for being a Steelers center; a standard that was upheld by Dawson and, currently, by Pouncey. We may very well end up with three Hall of Fame centers. What other team would be able to make that claim?
Right Guard:
David DeCastro
In only seven seasons, David DeCastro has established himself as arguably the greatest right guard in Steelers history. Drafted in the first round in 2012, he has made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons and has been named an All-Pro twice. At this pace, DeCastro may very well find himself in the discussion of the greatest guards in NFL history.
Right Tackle:
Larry Brown
Drafted in the fifth round in 1971, Brown played TE for us for six seasons and was part of two Super Bowl championship teams as a TE. Converted to tackle in 1977, Brown would go on to win two more Super Bowls as our right tackle. Although he was voted to only one Pro Bowl, Brown was a stalwart on the right side of the O-line.