Steelers’ Stand Spurs 30-0 Win
Their names are as easy to pronounce as they are hard to forget. From left to right, it’s Greenwood, Greene, Holmes and White. But, as far as the Baltimore Colts were concerned, they could have been four jolly green giants named Fe, Fi, Fo and Fum. The Colts, bless their intrepid nature, made acquaintances with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front four yesterday and staggered away from the experience flatter than a crabcake. All the foursome did was sack Marty Domres and Bert Jones six times for 54 yards, force Domres from the game in the first quarter with a bruised shoulder and bruised ribs and turn in an awesome second-quarter, goal-line stand. The result was a 30-0 Steeler victory before 48,890 (1,460 no shows) of the faithful at Three Rivers Stadium. It was the locals’ first shutout since the 12th game of the 1972 season (also 30-0 but vs. Cleveland) and the Colts’ worst whipping in seven regular-season games or since Miami blitzed them, 44-0, last November. “We were sluggish at the start,” admitted defensive end Dwight White. “I don’t know why, but we were. The goal-line stand kinda shook us up and got us truckin’. No one likes to play a goal-line defense because it means the other team is so close to scoring, but, when you survive it, it usually has a definite impact on the outcome.” The fact that the Colts, 17-point underdogs, even overlooked a possible game-tying field goal in favor of Bill Olds’ third straight unsuccessful kamikaze mission into the middle of the Steelers’ defense surprised nearly everyone. But not Joe Greene. “I looked upon their decision as a sign of respect,” he observed. “They knew a field goal would not win the game and they probably knew their chances for getting back down into position to score a touchdown weren’t too good. So, they went for it.” “If you can’t knock it in from there,” said Baltimore head coach Howard Schnellenberger, “you don’t deserve it. I thought about the field goal for a long time, but we didn’t know how often we’d be back down there.” Baltimore moved into scoring range this way: On a fourth and one from the Colts 30, David Lee punted to rookie Lynn Swann at the Pittsburgh 31. Only the Steelers No. 1 draft choice fumbled and rookie wide receiver Tim (Yogi’s kid) Berra covered. Given fresh life, the Colts drove to the seven with Jones’ 27-yard pitch to flanker Glenn Doughty the big gainer. On first and goal from the seven, Lydell Mitchell slipped through the middle for five. Olds struggled for one. Olds then slanted toward right tackle only to be crushed by White and rookie middle linebacker Jack Lambert among others. Fourth down was a repeat performance with Ernie Holmes making the first hot before Lambert applied the brakes. “Our penetration was good on those last two plays,” admitted L.C. Greenwood. “When you get the penetration, your chances of success are better.” “That was the turning point,” Steeler head coach Chuck Noll conceded. “From then on we were alert and on the go at all times. The sluggishness disappeared and we played, especially on defense, very well.”