Pittsburgh Sports Buzz: The Linebackers

If Penn State is known as Linebacker U, The Pittsburgh Steelers should be known as the best postgraduate study institution. Not the catchiest of phrases but nothing is more true. The Steelers have quite a long list of unbelievable linebackers. Where did it start. Since my memory only goes back to the 70's and of course that is when the Steelers started piling up wins and championships, that would obviously be the logical starting point. But, the argument could be made for a 1960's guy who also played in the 70's, Andy Russell. Russell was drafted in 1963 and played 12 seasons for the Steelers. He was a member of the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams and was team MVP in 1971. Maybe Russell started the tradition.

As they say the rest is history.
Despite Penn State's recent issues they produced one of the most legendary linebackers in Steeler history. In 1971 the Steelers drafted Jack Ham. He was a very talented athlete, tough and had picture perfect technique. Ham's parents supposedly named him Jack Ham, short for jackhammer. In 1974 he was joined by another Jack who equaled Ham's toughness and possibly took it to another level, Jack Lambert out of Kent State. If you look Lambert up on the internet you'll come across many pictures and youtube videos, none of them describe Lambert any better than what he did to Cliff Harris in a game against the Cowboys. Roy Gerela had just missed a field goal in Super Bowl X. Cliff Harris made the mistake of rubbing it in Gerela's face and giving him a little pat on the head. That didn't fly with Lambert, who would run through fire to make a play or stand up for his teammates. Lambert went over to Harris, picked him up and body slammed him. Big mistake for Harris.
That was Lambert's second year in the league.