All-Time Pittsburgh Steelers team: Who makes the cut?

All-Time Steelers defensive backs

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 1: Cliff Branch #21 of the Los Angeles Raiders runs the ball against Mel Blount #47 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional playoff game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 38-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Cornerback:

Mel Blount

Mel set the standard by which all other Steelers corners are judged.  Drafted in the third round of the 1970 draft, Blount would go on to be voted to five Pro Bowls and would be named All-Pro twice. He was the 1975 Defensive Player of the year, a four-time Super Bowl champ and was inducted into the Po Football Hall of Fame.  Blount finished his fourteen-year career with 57 interceptions; not bad for a player drafted out of Southern.

Rod Woodson

Drafted in the first round in 1987, Woodson enjoyed an exceptional ten-year career with us, intercepting 38 passes.  Woodson was voted to eleven ProBowls, earning the trip seven times with us, six times consecutively.  He was a six-time All-Pro, earning that honor five times with us.

The 1993 Defensive Player of the Year capped off his career with an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was exceptionally athletic as evidenced by the fact that he also handled kick and punt return duties during his Steelers tenure.

Carnell Lake

A converted linebacker, Lake was drafted in the second round in 1989.  Although he played most of his Steelers career at Strong Safety, he manned the corner position in 1995 when Woodson went down with an injury.  Lake proved his worth that year with his versatility.  He was voted to five Pro Bowls, making the trip four consecutive times as a Steeler.  Lake earned All-Pro honors once.  Because of his aforementioned versatility, he is our “sub-package” DB.

Safety:

Mike Wagner

Drafted in the eleventh round in 1971 out of Western Illinois, Wagner held the fort down primarily at Strong Safety, but also at Free Safety.  He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a four-time Super Bowl champ.  Starting 116 out of 119 games played, Wagner finished his Steelers career with 36 interceptions.

Troy Polamalu

A trade up in the first round of the 2003 draft yielded arguably the best Strong Safety in Steelers history.  In twelve seasons, Polamalu made eight trips to the Pro Bowl, was named All-Pro four times, was a two-time Super Bowl champ and was named the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year.

Polamalu’s instincts were second to none.  He just had a knack for diagnosing a play and being in the right spot more times than not. I am almost positive that he will one day have a bust in Canton.

What do you think of the All-Time starting lineup?  I think we could go out and win some more Super Bowls with this team. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.