Legendary Steelers CB Mel Blount Once Laid Out A Surprised Raiders WR: 'If You Were On The Ground, You Could Not Catch A Pass'

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense of the 1970s was known for its incredible toughness. It started in the middle with the Steel Curtain, consisting of Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White, but also notably included Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Donnie Shell, Andy Russell, and Mel Blount. Everyone talks about how "mean" Greene was, both aggressive and intimidating, or how scary Lambert could be. But according to some opponents, the one you really had to watch out for was Blount. 

Blount's path to the NFL was a testament to his resilience and determination. Born into poverty on an onion farm in rural Vidalia, Georgia, before the town became famous for said onions, he overcame his humble beginnings to become a Hall of Fame player. A talented multi-sport athlete, Blount was fortunate to attend Southern University, a prestigious Historically Black College or University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Here, the Steelers, led by the legendary scout Bill Nunn, discovered Blount and drafted him in the third round in 1970. 

He was not an overnight sensation. Despite being the prototypical size for a cornerback during that time, 6'3" and 205 pounds, he struggled. It took Blount time to settle into the NFL. Initially, fans booed him more than applauded him. They even called him the "laughingstock of the secondary." But soon, Blount came into his own, and not only did he become a fan favorite, he became a nightmare for opposing offenses. 

In his book Facing The Pittsburgh Steelers, author Sean Deveney shares stories of what it was like to line up across from some of the best players in history, including Blount. He tells a story from Mike Siani, a wide receiver who played for the then-Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Colts. Siani had the good fortune of playing his first professional game against the Steelers. 

"I wasn't even starting, Cliff Branch was starting on one side and Freddy Biletnikoff was starting on the other side. I substituted, I went in and out. I did not even know who I was playing against or how good the guy was I was playing against. It happened to be Mel Blount, who turns out to be a Hall of Famer."

Siani tells Deveney that the Raiders were losing badly when he went in the first time, 27-7, and he was glad to catch a few passes and make two touchdowns. He said he finished the game with four catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. While the Raiders tried to rally, the Steelers won 34-28.

He reminds readers that back then, there were no bump rules. You could get hit anywhere on the field and in just about any way the defender wanted. Siani said the defensive players, of course, took full advantage of this. 

"The first time I saw Mel, he was so big, I thought he was a linebacker. I thought the only way I was going to get by this guy was to beat him at the line of scrimmage because he was one yard off the ball right in my face. It was not a gentle little nudge he gave you. It was like a right cross to the chin or left cross, depending on which side you tried to get by him on. It was more like a clothesline, he would hit you right between your chin and your shoulder pads. There were times I didn't get by him, there were times I wound up lying on the ground. That was the way they played defense. They figured if you were on the ground, you could not catch a pass; you were not going to get one thrown to you."

According to Siani, Blount wasn't a trash talker. Unlike some of his teammates, he didn't shout obscenities at you or curse. He would just knock you down and walk off; "business-like" is how he described him. He added that they might have had "Mean Joe Greene," but they also had "Mean Mel Blount," and he hated catching passes against him. 

While Blount may have been one of the quieter players, Siani's description is accurate. Blount was so aggressive that the NFL literally changed the game because of him. He was known for a bump-and-run style of play where he harassed receivers, making contact continuously while they ran down the field. It is called the "Mel Blount Rule," which says that no defensive back can make contact with an offensive player outside of five yards from the line of scrimmage. 

Do The Steelers Have A Next Generation Mel Blount?

It is impossible to fully compare players from the 1970s with players today, especially on defense. As Deveney said, the rules back then were vastly different, almost non-existent. So, while many of the physical traits of the game have changed, the spirit of those players lives on.