A closer look at Steve Largent’s legacy

Published on June 14, 2011 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

Let’s see, there were the 100 touchdown catches, the 819 receptions and the 13,089 receiving yards.

In the litany of statistics Steve Largent compiled during his Hall of Fame career with the Seahawks, those are the most lasting – and each was the NFL’s all-time record when he retired after the 1989 season.

The favorite double-take entry on his resume always has been the fact that Largent led the team in receptions for 12 consecutive seasons (1976-1987). Think about that for a second. The club has had 12 other players lead the team in receptions in the 23 seasons since Largent’s streak was snapped – Brian Blades (five times), Darrel Jackson (four), John L. Williams (three), Joey Galloway (three), Bobby Engram (two), Derrick Mayes, Koren Robinson, John Carlson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Mike Williams (one each) and Sean Dawkins and Ricky Watters (shared the lead).

The favorite until now, that is. While doing some research for something that is only partially Largent related, this new are-you-kidding-me nugget was uncovered: In 1979, when Largent scored nine touchdowns, he averaged 36.3 yards on those scoring plays; and in 1978, when he had eight TDs, the average per scoring play was 36.1.

Largent also soared around the 30-yard average in 1980 (30.2 on six scoring catches); 1977 (28.3 on 10 scoring catches); and 1981 (27.1 on nine scoring catches).

This from the receiver that former Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes used to jokingly refer to as “The Caucasian Clydesdale.”

Unbelievable. Unfathomable. Unheard of. Underrated.

Even for someone with Largent’s lengthy list of achievements, those scoring averages burst through the barricades of previous perceptions to present a whole new avenue in dissecting the greatness that was Steve Largent. In fact, after Largent torched Hayes and the Raiders one season, the loquacious Lester altered his every-mention moniker to “The Great Steve Largent” the following season.

But wait, there’s more. When Largent caught his career-high 12 TD passes in 1984, they came in just 10 games. That’s right. He didn’t have a scoring catch in the first four games, or the final two.

Yes, 49 of his 100 scoring catches went for 19 or fewer yards, but he also had 17 from 20-29 yards, 19 from 30-39, nine from 40-49 and six of 50-plus – including a 74-yarder and a 67-yarder.

Here’s a look at how Largent compiled those 100 TD catches, and his average on the scoring plays in each season:

1976: 4 touchdowns, 7.5-yard average

1977: 10 touchdowns, 28.3-yard average

1978: 8 touchdowns, 36.1-yard average

1979: 9 touchdowns, 36.3-yard average

1980: 6 touchdowns, 30.2-yard average

1981: 9 touchdowns, 27.1-yard average

1982: 3 touchdowns, 15.3-yard average

1983: 11 touchdowns, 25.4-yard average

1984: 12 touchdowns, 17.5-yard average

1985: 6 touchdowns, 11.2-yard average

1986: 9 touchdowns, 16.4-yard average

1987: 8 touchdowns, 16.3-yard average

1988: 2 touchdowns, 25.0-yard average

1989: 3 touchdowns, 21.3-yard average

Put it all together and what do you get? An average of 23.5 yards on 100 touchdown catches – with the average ballooned to 31.5 yards on 42 TD catches from 1977-81.

Tags: Barricades, Bobby Engram, Clydesdale, Consecutive Seasons, Derrick Mayes, Fame Career, hall of fame, Joey Galloway, John Carlson, John L Williams, Koren Robinson, Lester Hayes, Litany, Moniker, Receiving Yards, Ricky Watters, Sean Dawkins, Steve Largent, T J Houshmandzadeh, Time Record