Best NFL Players of All Time: Mel Blount. Ranking the Top Players in History. Place a bet on an NFL football game now.
Best NFL Players of All Time: Mel Blount
It would be simple to examine the career of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount and conclude that he was a solid player who profited from having elite players on the defense in front of him, like Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and L.C. Greenwood. Having those stars around and a superb defensive coordinator in Bud Carson, who created the attacking scheme the Steelers displayed for the whole 1970s, did help him. However, comparing Blount’s skill level to that of Iron Chef Mario Batali’s cooking would be inaccurate.
Though Hall of Famer Willie Brown deserves credit for creating the concept of bump-and-run coverage by a cornerback, Blount made it better. Blount was an incredible athlete who could outpace almost everyone he came across on the football field and even outleaped Olympic hurdler Renaldo Nehemiah while donning street shoes.
His teammates said he had the appearance of a world-class athlete. Former Steelers quarterback Terry Hanratty said of Mel, “That’s what Mel had: size, speed, quickness, and toughness.” Blount could quickly catch up to you even if he missed, so you were in danger if you allowed him to beat you without restraint. Many receivers who were in Mel’s region had short arms.
Blount’s desire to be the best player on the field each and every time he stepped on a uniform was just as significant as his physical prowess.
He declared, “I didn’t want to be second to anyone.” “I wanted to establish the benchmarks for my role.”
Blount’s skill amazed even Ham, one of the best linebackers of his day. Mel Blount is the model for creating a cornerback, according to Ham. “I participated in numerous Pro Bowls.” He’s the best cornerback I’ve ever seen. I have never seen an athlete as amazing as he was. You could take one wide receiver and write him off with Mel. He was capable of handling any player in the league.
However, Blount did not have much success in the NFL right away. He wasn’t accustomed to the mentality of the NFL because he played at Southern University. Receivers might exploit him with double moves and use his athleticism against him. But he was a different player after he made the decision to study the subtleties of the cornerback position. Blount stated, “I was emotional and got upset when I got beat up.” However, when I entered my first offseason, I understood that defeating me merely presented an opportunity for me to grow. I read every play and discovered the plot. And I spoke with Bud, hearing everything he had to say. It appeared to be effective.
When Blount did not allow a touchdown to be gained during the 1972 season, everything began to come together. He became the first cornerback to win this honor three years later when the Associated Press named him the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Blount made five appearances to the Pro Bowl during his career, recording 57 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries.
However, Blount’s professional tale is not best told by stats. His ability to pick off the ball and display superb hands may have demonstrated that he could win games, but his signature was his ability to cover and tackle. It became virtually a no-contest once he realized how NFL offenses operated. He was more psychologically astute than nearly all of his rivals, and his physical superiority gave him the upper hand. He often devoured elite receivers such as Cliff Branch, Isaac Curtis, and Fred Biletnikoff.
The NFL concluded that defensive domination was bad for the game because of Blount’s effective bump-and-run coverage. The consequence was a modification in the rules, which prohibited Blount from bumping receivers after they passed the ve-yard line.
While Blount responded and revised his strategy, Steelers head coach Chuck Noll lamented the regulation change. He began to play the trail technique, allowing the receiver to pass him before accelerating to a speed that would allow him to intercept or deflect the throw.
It’s likely that Blount’s hunger was the secret to his long-term success on the field. He was among the hardest practicing players to ever don a Steelers uniform, honing his craft daily against Steelers greats John Stallworth and Lynn Swann. If either receiver ever caught a ball against him during a scrimmage, he took it personally.
Blount had a strong desire to succeed each and every time he took the field. The driving force behind his 14-year career has been his desire to prevent anyone from using him as a springboard. “There was nobody I couldn’t cover if the scales were in balance,” he remarked. That’s what inspired and drove me to achieve my level of excellence. I stood in front of 50,000 spectators in person and millions more on television. I wished to avoid embarrassing myself.
Blount almost never experienced that.
Best NFL Players of All Time: Mel Blount Stats
Regular Season
Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Sk | AV |
1970 | 22 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
1971 | 23 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
1972 | 24 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 75 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 0.5 | 9 |
1973 | 25 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 82 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
1974 | 26 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 74 | 1 | 52 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
1975 | 27 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 121 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
1976 | 28 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 75 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
1977 | 29 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 65 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
1978 | 30 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 16 | 15 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
1979 | 31 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
1980 | 32 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
1981 | 33 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 106 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
1982 | 34 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
1983 | 35 | PIT | RCB | 47 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Career | 200 | 189 | 57 | 736 | 2 | 52 | 3 | 13 | 105 | 2 | 0.5 | 128 |
Playoffs
Year | Age | Tm | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Sk |
1972 | 24 | PIT | RCB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
1973 | 25 | PIT | RCB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
1974 | 26 | PIT | RCB | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1975*+ | 27 | PIT | RCB | 3 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1976* | 28 | PIT | RCB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
1978* | 30 | PIT | RCB | 3 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1979* | 31 | PIT | RCB | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
1982 | 34 | PIT | RCB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
1983 | 35 | PIT | RCB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Career | 19 | 19 | 4 | 59 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
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