Instantly within the 1992 season — which occurred to be his third season within the NFL and first season as a starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers — Barry Foster confirmed simply how particular a season it was going to be within the Steelers’ sixtieth yr of existence.
Foster, who in the end went on to set the single-season franchise speeding report with 1,690 yards and 11 touchdowns on 390 carries and completed second within the NFL MVP voting that season, opened up the 1992 season with a bang, speeding for 107 yards and a landing on 26 carries within the season opener on the highway in opposition to the Houston Oilers, a recreation which the Steelers gained 29-24.
Driving excessive after a breakout efficiency — simply his second profession 100-yard efficiency of his profession — Foster returned house to Three Rivers Stadium for a Week 2 matchup in opposition to the New York Jets, which occurred to be Invoice Cowher’s house debut because the Steelers’ head coach.
Because of Foster, Cowher’s house debut was a serious success.
Foster rushed for a career-high 190 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, main the Steelers to a convincing 27-10 win over the Jets, serving to spark the Steelers to a moderately profitable 11-5 season.
Rapidly that September 13 at Three Rivers Stadium, Foster confirmed simply how good of a day it was going to be behind an offensive line that includes left deal with John Jackson, left guard Duval Love, middle Dermontti Dawson, proper guard Carlton Haselrig, and proper deal with Justin Strzelczyk.
Foster, a fullback in faculty at Arkansas, had some critical wheels in house, gliding round the correct finish right here the massive achieve. Try Haselrig in house, and the job extensive receiver Jeff Graham does on the boundary to seal off defenders and provides Foster the nook.
Within the second quarter Foster discovered the top zone for the primary time, working behind terrific blocks from Merril Hoge, tight finish Adrian Cooper and extensive receiver Dwight Stone to seek out the top zone from 23 yards out.
Take a look at the best way the correct facet of the road in Haselrig and Strzelczyk fold the Jets’ entrance down in direction of the soccer, opening up an enormous lane for Foster to skip proper by way of on his approach to the top zone. What many Steelers’ followers would do to see that sort of blocking within the trenches as soon as once more..
Tied 10-10 on the half on account of a Michael Brim 77-yard pick-six of Neil O’Donnell (stunning, I do know), and a 28-yard area objective from Gary Anderson, issues remained tied into the fourth quarter when Foster stepped up as soon as once more.
Try the contact steadiness and energy early within the run to get by way of a would-be deal with for loss. From there, he has the velocity to run away from everybody. I really like the trouble right here from Strzelczyk utterly turning the Jets’ defender round, after which Hoge downfield getting a push on the Jets’ defensive again to show him round, giving Foster entry to house.
What a run.
Late within the recreation, it turned the Foster present because the Steelers wore down the Jets’ entrance seven due to some punishing runs from Foster.
One-hundred and ninety yards later, Foster carried the Steelers to a win on the identical day that O’Donnell accomplished simply 11 passes and threw two interceptions, whereas the Steelers’ protection acquired a 65-yard pick-six from Larry Griffin off of Browning Nagle, who got here into the sport for a disgraced Ken O’Brien, who threw three interceptions in his first 4 go makes an attempt.
In fact, this efficiency in opposition to the Jets launched Foster on his approach to an MVP-caliber yr, one that’s nonetheless held in excessive regard in Steelers’ historical past.
