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Reasons for Steelers Super Bowl drought: Part one

By Eric Hassel

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: The Pittsburgh Steelers line up on offense against the Arizona Cardinals defense during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: The Pittsburgh Steelers line up on offense against the Arizona Cardinals defense during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 24: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets up after sacking Kellen Clemens #10 of hte St. Louis Rams during the game on December 24, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 27-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 24: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets up after sacking Kellen Clemens #10 of hte St. Louis Rams during the game on December 24, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 27-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

A defensive captain and an All-Pro offensive lineman

2011 Draft

After the Super Bowl loss in 2010, hope was, once again, renewed with the impending 2011 draft.  Honestly, only two players from that draft class have made or did make an impact on our success-Cameron Heyward and Marcus Gilbert. Heyward has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and was named All-Pro once after the 2017 season in which he recorded (12) sacks. He is the leader on defense.

Gilbert started thirteen games as a rookie and  (87) out of (88) in his Steelers career.  He was a rock on the right side on the offensive line.  Unfortunately, he played in only (25) games in his final (3) seasons with us. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round pick in this year’s (2019) draft.

2012 Draft

After a devastating overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round, hope was rekindled with the 2012 draft.  Like the 2011 draft class, only two players stand out-David DeCastro and Kelvin Beachum.

Having been named to the Pro Bowl (4) consecutive seasons and having been named an All-Pro twice, DeCastro has established himself as one of the best guards in the NFL.  He and Pouncey lead what is arguably one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Beachum was a seventh-round pick, who started (39) out of the (44) games in which he played.  He took over the left tackle spot after Max Starks left after the 2012 season, even though Mike Adams was drafted in the second round of the same draft as Beachum.

Just to recap, the draft classes of 2011 and 2012 yielded four players who either contributed to or are contributing to the team; that’s not good if you ask me.

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