Home 2013 Regular Season The Dick LeBeau Debate Rages On

The Dick LeBeau Debate Rages On

by Steeldad

LeBeau*Grabs the mic as it comes from the ceiling.* Ladies and Gentlemen!! In this corner we have those that believe Steelers’ Defensive Coordinator can do no wrong and is being blamed for defensive lapses only because of poor personnel.

In the other corner we have the fans who believe LeBeau’s system has grown old, tired and predictable and that it’s time for change.

*Releases the mic and says “Let’s get it on!“*

For me personally this battle is as close to a moot point as one could be because Dick LeBeau will only leave when Dick LeBeau is ready. The Rooney’s will not want to look like bad guys kicking the old man to the street so he’s there are long as he wants to be in my opinion.

This doesn’t mean I will stop the debate however.

I understand the pro-DLB people who say he hasn’t suddenly forgotten to coach. I agree with that 100% and I also understand the personnel isn’t what it once was either so I can take those things into consideration.

The problem is that the style of 3-4 defense DLB is running requires top of the line personnel and this team doesn’t have it. It’s old, slow and inexperienced in too many places.

“Tackling the ball” as DLB has his secondary do is no longer effective in the game of professional football today. The offense already has too many advantages and allowing guys to continuously catch 8 to 10 yards outs and hooks because our defensive backs are so far off just doesn’t fly anymore.

Why are the DBs so far off in the first place you ask? Because the defense is designed to bring pressure which means the secondary doesn’t have to cover as long. When you don’t get pressure, you force guys to cover who aren’t used to covering for so long.

The result? The defense gives up big plays and the Steelers have given up tons of them this season.

In order to counter that problem, DLB has chosen to blitz much less. This means he has opted for more guys in coverage. The result hasn’t changed much unfortunately. My feeling is that you need to take risks and if you’re going down then go down swinging.

Bring six or bring seven and force the quarterback to make a much quicker decision than what we are forcing him to do now. Doing this might even force the offense to stay away from these deep throws off five and seven-step drops that are killing us.

One of the other arguments against DLB leaving is that nothing will change if he does. This assumes that linebackers’ coach Keith Butler will be his replacement. I couldn’t disagree more with this sentiment.

How do we know that Butler wouldn’t change things significantly despite staying with the 3-4? Perhaps he would require more of the cornerbacks and perhaps he would bring new packages of blitzes. Just because he has coached with DLB for many season doesn’t automatically make him a clone.

Supporters want to constantly throw “number one rankings” out to provide evidence for DLB and they like to use the players love and respect for him as well.

If you haven’t noticed, the NFL has changed. This is no longer the 1970’s and frankly, it’s no longer the 2000’s either. Defensive rankings mean nothing if you aren’t creating turnovers and you aren’t getting to the quarterback.

This team hasn’t been able to do either consistently for three years running.

I like and respect everything that Dick LeBeau has done for the Steelers and for the game of professional football but that doesn’t mean I can’t be critical. The time is perfect for a change with this team going nowhere for the second straight year.

And to think I haven’t even mentioned the fourth quarter failures yet either…. *Ding! This round is over.*

Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard Mondays on Trib-Live Radio at 630pm ET talking Steelers and is a blogger for ESPN 970 in Pittsburgh.

 

 

 

You may also like

6 comments

Blkandgold4life December 11, 2013 - 3:45 am

IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT..BUT IF YOU’RE NOT GETTING PRESSURE, YOU CANT AFFORD TO PLAY SO SOFT WITH THE DBs..can’t understand why they continue playing 10*12 yards off the ball..then another 10 yard back peddle. Any NFL QB can take advantage of that

j.hackers December 11, 2013 - 11:58 am

i’ll tell you what debate should be raging on is the smell of brown steppjng out of bounds. don’t think it can’t happen. dinner with opponent night before, exchanging jersy after game tweeting sweet things all week. STINKS!!!!!

steeldad December 14, 2013 - 9:33 pm

I have to admit, the smiling and laughing Brown was doing with Wallace just moments after his team was essentially knocked out of the playoffs bothered me too. Unfortunately I’ve also realized today’s athlete lacks the emotion and passion of guys years ago. Money and famed has changed them. I don’t blame them either. It’s the influence of agents and marketing people. Me first….

robert henderson December 16, 2013 - 9:11 pm

Keith Butler’s contract is over at the end of the season. Promote him or lose him especially if Whiz gets another head coaching gig. IT’S HIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve December 16, 2013 - 10:07 pm

Bud really? Clearly you don’t know football, his system isn’t fail the players are. Look at our secondary we get toasted a lot on the long ball and are backers are not as good nor is our line. because the talent has declined Worilds is terrible should have kept Harrison. Hood isnt what they thought he could be , Kiesel is on his last leg and Hampton’s replacement is terrible too. Troy does not do the things he used to cause he gets hurt when he does as well as Woodley. I still can not see where Ike Taylor is so good as everyone claims he gets beat a lot. The system is fine but you need the talent to pull it off.

steeldad December 16, 2013 - 11:17 pm

There’s no question the talent level has dropped on LeBeau’s defense but that helps prove my point about his scheme. The way he runs the 3-4, you have to have elite talent at the LB positions and arguably in the secondary. That talent isn’t there and the defense has struggled. They have given up big plays and tons of yardage not just due to the age or lack of talent but because teams around the AFC know LeBeau’s tendencies. Just ask the Patriots.

LeBeau is a fine coach and I have great respect for him but it is time for something new and I believe LB coach Keith Butler is the guy. He’ll retain the 3-4 but will alter it enough to make it his own.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.