Dawson re-defined his position

[Palmetto Steel]

Dawson re-defined his position
1-30-2012
By Teresa Varley - Steelers.com

It takes a special player, a special person, to replace a legend. You have to be confident and a leader. You have to be unique, have to bring something to the table that will make you stand out. And above all, you have to produce, because that’s all that really matters to those other guys in the locker room.

2012_Dawson_Dermontti_Misc_2.jpgDermontti Dawson did all of that when he went from being the Steelers’ second-round draft pick in 1988 to the team’s starting center in 1989 by taking over for Mike Webster. As history can tell it now, one legend replaced another.

Dawson brought to the position something no other center ever had, the ability to pull after snapping the ball.

“Dermontti was the only guy I can remember who could snap the ball and pull and make the block,” said former Steelers cornerback and Hall of Famer Mel Blount. “He just had tremendous talent, a good guy and good athlete.”

Blount is hoping that Dawson’s ability to change and evolve the position will result in him ending up in his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2012 will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 4 during a Hall of Fame special on NFL Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dawson is one of 15 modern-era candidates who are on the ballot, along with Jack Butler and Dick Stanfel, who were selected in August 2011 as senior candidates by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee, which reviews the qualifications of players whose careers took place more than 25 years ago.

Besides Dawson, the other modern-era finalists are Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Edward DeBartolo Jr., Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, and Aeneas Williams.

From this list of 17, between four and seven will be elected into the Class of 2012.

Dawson has been down this road before, as a finalist in each of the last three years as well.

“The way I approach it, if I’m selected, then I’m selected. If I’m not, I’m not,” said Dawson. “At least I’m a finalist so I have another opportunity. I just take it one day at a time. That’s it.”

Dawson, who played for the Steelers from 1988-2000, is considered one of the best to play the game but has the disadvantage of being at a position where he doesn’t have statistics to help make his case.

“I think that’s part of it,” said Dawson. “That is a hard thing for offensive linemen. It’s supposed to be based on what you did as a player, what you contributed to the game. We are not stat guys, except for jumping offside or holding, those are the only stats we have. Everything is about stats and that makes it tougher for offensive linemen to get in there.

“You have only had a handful of centers to get in the Hall of Fame. The percentage is very low when it comes to offensive linemen.”

Dan Dierdorf, a former offensive tackle and currently a CBS color analyst, is one of the 53 offensive linemen in the 267-member Hall of Fame, and he believes Dawson is worthy of becoming the 12th center enshrined.

“I think he should be in there,” said Dierdorf. “It’s harder for an offensive lineman because it’s subjective. You don’t have a stat sheet that the voters can rely on. I don’t have a doubt that pretty soon Dermontti is going to be in there because he is worthy.”

Jerome Bettis played five seasons with Dawson and is hoping that the voters can see past the lack of statistics for an offensive lineman.

“That is the difficult part,” said Bettis, who would like nothing more than to be inducted with Dawson. “You need a unbiased group to look at what the offensive linemen have done in their careers and give them what they deserve. I think historically they have been overshadowed by the premiere positions and as a result I don’t think they have gotten their just due in the Hall of Fame. Everybody looks at touchdowns and passes and receptions and that type of thing. The blocking gets pushed away into the background.

“He’s probably the best lineman I have ever played with. There are two guys – Dermontti and Jackie Slater (from the Rams). They are two guys who were incredible. I think Dermontti is the greatest center to ever play the game.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Dawson-re-defined-his-position/b404bee9-0e4f-438a-802c-cba42f6a99db

[bdeff]

I was too young to appreciate Webster, I grew up with Dirt and understood what he did was exceptional!

[exNCite]

I was too young to appreciate Webster, I grew up with Dirt and understood what he did was exceptional!

And before Webby, you had Ray Mansfield. (****, I'm getting old. ) All 3 when playing were considered the best at their position.

[Hambert5958]

And before Webby, you had Ray Mansfield. (****, I'm getting old. ) All 3 when playing were considered the best at their position.

You and me both, exNCite, those guys were great. The Steelers have been blessed with having great centers thru the years.....Pouncey continues that tradition.....

[Kipper]

Dawson re-defined his position
1-30-2012
By Teresa Varley - Steelers.com

It takes a special player, a special person, to replace a legend. You have to be confident and a leader. You have to be unique, have to bring something to the table that will make you stand out. And above all, you have to produce, because that’s all that really matters to those other guys in the locker room.

2012_Dawson_Dermontti_Misc_2.jpgDermontti Dawson did all of that when he went from being the Steelers’ second-round draft pick in 1988 to the team’s starting center in 1989 by taking over for Mike Webster. As history can tell it now, one legend replaced another.

Dawson brought to the position something no other center ever had, the ability to pull after snapping the ball.

“Dermontti was the only guy I can remember who could snap the ball and pull and make the block,” said former Steelers cornerback and Hall of Famer Mel Blount. “He just had tremendous talent, a good guy and good athlete.”

Blount is hoping that Dawson’s ability to change and evolve the position will result in him ending up in his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2012 will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 4 during a Hall of Fame special on NFL Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dawson is one of 15 modern-era candidates who are on the ballot, along with Jack Butler and Dick Stanfel, who were selected in August 2011 as senior candidates by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee, which reviews the qualifications of players whose careers took place more than 25 years ago.

Besides Dawson, the other modern-era finalists are Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Edward DeBartolo Jr., Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, and Aeneas Williams.

From this list of 17, between four and seven will be elected into the Class of 2012.

Dawson has been down this road before, as a finalist in each of the last three years as well.

“The way I approach it, if I’m selected, then I’m selected. If I’m not, I’m not,” said Dawson. “At least I’m a finalist so I have another opportunity. I just take it one day at a time. That’s it.”

Dawson, who played for the Steelers from 1988-2000, is considered one of the best to play the game but has the disadvantage of being at a position where he doesn’t have statistics to help make his case.

“I think that’s part of it,” said Dawson. “That is a hard thing for offensive linemen. It’s supposed to be based on what you did as a player, what you contributed to the game. We are not stat guys, except for jumping offside or holding, those are the only stats we have. Everything is about stats and that makes it tougher for offensive linemen to get in there.

“You have only had a handful of centers to get in the Hall of Fame. The percentage is very low when it comes to offensive linemen.”

Dan Dierdorf, a former offensive tackle and currently a CBS color analyst, is one of the 53 offensive linemen in the 267-member Hall of Fame, and he believes Dawson is worthy of becoming the 12th center enshrined.

“I think he should be in there,” said Dierdorf. “It’s harder for an offensive lineman because it’s subjective. You don’t have a stat sheet that the voters can rely on. I don’t have a doubt that pretty soon Dermontti is going to be in there because he is worthy.”

Jerome Bettis played five seasons with Dawson and is hoping that the voters can see past the lack of statistics for an offensive lineman.

“That is the difficult part,” said Bettis, who would like nothing more than to be inducted with Dawson. “You need a unbiased group to look at what the offensive linemen have done in their careers and give them what they deserve. I think historically they have been overshadowed by the premiere positions and as a result I don’t think they have gotten their just due in the Hall of Fame. Everybody looks at touchdowns and passes and receptions and that type of thing. The blocking gets pushed away into the background.

“He’s probably the best lineman I have ever played with. There are two guys – Dermontti and Jackie Slater (from the Rams). They are two guys who were incredible. I think Dermontti is the greatest center to ever play the game.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Dawson-re-defined-his-position/b404bee9-0e4f-438a-802c-cba42f6a99db

Abuse of the Highlight button... abuse of the highlight button....

[bdeff]

You and me both, exNCite, those guys were great. The Steelers have been blessed with having great centers thru the years.....Pouncey continues that tradition.....

Only exceptions were Sean mahan and Justin Hartwig.....and Mahan was so bad that Hartwig was an upgrade...