Deebo backs LeBeau: 'It's on the players'

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  • hawaiiansteel
    Legend
    • May 2008
    • 34180

    Deebo backs LeBeau: 'It's on the players'

    James Harrison backs Dick LeBeau: 'It's on the players'

    By Kevin Patra
    Around the NFL writer
    Published: Oct. 17, 2014

    The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense entered the season billed as one that would recapture its dominant form after several years of being old and slow.

    However, Dick LeBeau's unit has been gashed recently and some former members of the Black and Gold fraternity have called the defense "soft."

    The finger pointing in the Steel City has turned on the legendary coordinator, citing him as part of the problem. However, James Harrison, just three weeks returned, says those blames are flat wrong.

    "I hear coach LeBeau, a lot of people say he's too old," Harrison said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That's bull. The defense works. Players have to play the defense. Period. It's on the players."

    LeBeau knows more about defensive football than anyone standing on an NFL sideline, let alone in the stands. Harrison believes the struggles simply boil down to players not making plays.

    "Let's be plain and honest, let's cut out all the bull -- it's about you dominating your man, period," he said. "That's all there is to it. That is what Aaron Smith did. That's what Casey Hampton did. That's what they did. They dominated."

    The Steelers' defense has been one of the most disappointing units in the NFL. It's middling in just about every category, can't get consistent pressure on the quarterback and had a plethora of coverage busts and tackling errors. It's a defense that has allowed 10 passing plays of 30 yards or longer and six runs of 20 yards or longer in six games.

    The finger of blame in Pittsburgh is often cast on offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Now LeBeau is seeing digits pointed his way. If the struggles continue, coach Mike Tomlin will feel that cushy, stable Pittsburgh seat start to heat up.

    [URL]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000412176/article/james-harrison-backs-dick-lebeau-its-on-the-players[/URL]
    Steel Maniac's Time-Based Prediction: Lamar Jackson will be a bust and total flop in the NFL.

    What Actually Happened: Lamar Jackson became the youngest two-time NFL MVP winner ever.

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    Boom........Knuckle up. Punk.

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  • Mr.wizard
    Legend
    • May 2014
    • 6443

    #2
    Nope sorry James not buying that the reason we are getting gashed by the same running scheme, is because our players don't make plays against that scheme.

    Comment

    • Oviedo
      Legend
      • May 2008
      • 23590

      #3
      herein lies the problem when a man is deemed a "legend." There is no objectivity and the responsibility he has to actually do his job and put a high performing product on the field is ignored. Harrison is as over the hill as LeBeau and just another part of the problem. Just because you like his annual rendition of T'was the Night Before Christmas doesn't mean he can still do his job.

      Even if it is the players, what do you do? Wait years until you recreate the right combination of players to make the scheme successful or use a scheme that the players you actually have can execute. Excellent discussion of how Marinelli turned the Dallas defense around on the TV the other night. The first thing he did was simplify what the defense was being asked to do. That is matching scheme to the player you have not the perfect combination you want. LeBeau is too unwilling to change and change needs to be significant not cosmetic and around the edges.
      "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

      Comment

      • sick beats
        Pro Bowler
        • Dec 2013
        • 2144

        #4
        Originally posted by Oviedo
        herein lies the problem when a man is deemed a "legend." There is no objectivity and the responsibility he has to actually do his job and put a high performing product on the field is ignored. Harrison is as over the hill as LeBeau and just another part of the problem. Just because you like his annual rendition of T'was the Night Before Christmas doesn't mean he can still do his job.

        Even if it is the players, what do you do? Wait years until you recreate the right combination of players to make the scheme successful or use a scheme that the players you actually have can execute. Excellent discussion of how Marinelli turned the Dallas defense around on the TV the other night. The first thing he did was simplify what the defense was being asked to do. That is matching scheme to the player you have not the perfect combination you want. LeBeau is too unwilling to change and change needs to be significant not cosmetic and around the edges.
        $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TRUTH. But we have to suffer through while we don't have players who can fit the DL scheme. So, let's just burn years off our franchise QB in the meantime. Brilliant.

        Comment

        • BURGH86STEEL
          Legend
          • May 2008
          • 6896

          #5
          I agree, it's on the players. Players win games.

          Comment

          • Eddie Spaghetti
            Hall of Famer
            • Jul 2008
            • 4123

            #6
            i dont know of any coach that looks good when the players cant win the majority of 1 on 1s

            its not one or the other in our situation, IMO. both sides of the equation needs to be critically evaluated

            i think lebeau retires after this year, but problems will remain

            Comment

            • sick beats
              Pro Bowler
              • Dec 2013
              • 2144

              #7
              Originally posted by Eddie Spaghetti
              i dont know of any coach that looks good when the players cant win the majority of 1 on 1s

              its not one or the other in our situation, IMO. both sides of the equation needs to be critically evaluated

              i think lebeau retires after this year, but problems will remain
              Well, no fair just shrugging our shoulders and saying it's a conundrum. Someone is to blame. If our players are all so crappy that they can't win one on one battles. then Colbert, our scouts, anyone in on the acquiring players side of things has failed. Our last Super Bowl was 2010. Fine. So we couldn't stay on top forever. It happens. But we still have a franchise QB so we should be able to be contending after a few down years. Oh, so it's 2014. And we appear to be among the worst teams in the league. If you want to blame the players, then who F'd up and brought in inferior players? Ever noticed how the Steelers excel in not allowing any accountability? That is a wussy way to operate an organization. We are never allowed to know who is pulling the trigger on so many of their decisions. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." That is Rooneys' fault. I hope this kits them in the only thing they care about: their wallet.

              Comment

              • Eddie Spaghetti
                Hall of Famer
                • Jul 2008
                • 4123

                #8
                im all for blaming colbert.

                you can change all coaches you want, but if you dont have the talent it wont matter

                his decision making the last couple years has been especially suspect. cortez extension this year, drafting a stupid 3rd string QB in the 4th, signing cam thomas at all, etc..

                i really believe is pretty close to 50/50 colbert/tomlin when they make alot of these decisions. we will never know what it really is.

                Comment

                • RobinCole
                  Pro Bowler
                  • Apr 2014
                  • 1358

                  #9
                  Harrison is 36 years old, and knows this is his last year. He doesn't have to suck up to his coach or anyone else. And he doesn't strike me as the type who would say something he didn't mean. If he thought LeBeau was the problem, he just wouldn't say anything. But he did say something. He said it's on the players. I'm inclined to put some credence in what he says. Anyone is free to "buy" it or not. I doubt he gives a crap.

                  Comment

                  • sick beats
                    Pro Bowler
                    • Dec 2013
                    • 2144

                    #10
                    Originally posted by RobinCole
                    Harrison is 36 years old, and knows this is his last year. He doesn't have to suck up to his coach or anyone else. And he doesn't strike me as the type who would say something he didn't mean. If he thought LeBeau was the problem, he just wouldn't say anything. But he did say something. He said it's on the players. I'm inclined to put some credence in what he says. Anyone is free to "buy" it or not. I doubt he gives a crap.
                    I don't think he ever says anything he doesn't believe. But let's also not forget that when asked about LeBaea when he was gone, he was brought to tears saying "I really miss him." So, not surprising that he is trying to stick up for they guy.

                    Comment

                    • RuthlessBurgher
                      Legend
                      • May 2008
                      • 33208

                      #11
                      A 4-3 defense is even more reliant on d-lineman to generate pressure by beating his man one-on-one. Since that is a severe deficiency of the defensive linemen currently on this team, I think such a switch would actually make our feeble pass rush even worse (if that is possible) even further exposing our profoundly weak secondary.
                      Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.

                      Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.

                      We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.

                      We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.

                      Comment

                      • pfelix73
                        Hall of Famer
                        • Aug 2008
                        • 3418

                        #12
                        "LeBeau knows more about defensive football than anyone standing on an NFL sideline, let alone in the stands." So, all you DL haters, who would you hire to be your DC? And PLEASE don't tell me the LB coach, Butler. You want change? Then pick someone outside the organization. And realistically, like Ruthless has mentioned, pick someone who would coach the 3-4, since we don't have the players necessary to be competitive in a 4-3. My guess is, you will be hard pressed to find any candidate who has better credentials than DL.

                        I'll tell ya who you all should be talking about who is the problem, and that's the good ole GM Colbert. He's sukked recently at player personnel, FA, draft, etc. Pop Dat Thang is looking more and more like another Rainey...he sure is 'popping' it when he returns those kicks. I know its early in his career, but geez he could be another wasted 3rd round pick.
                        Last edited by pfelix73; 10-18-2014, 02:02 PM.
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                        Comment

                        • Shoe
                          Hall of Famer
                          • May 2008
                          • 4044

                          #13
                          Originally posted by BURGH86STEEL
                          I agree, it's on the players. Players win games.
                          Sure, but it is very simplistic. After all, if it is only "all about the players", what is the point of having coaches?

                          Coaches need to call the right plays, coaches put players in the right position, they need to think one or two steps ahead of the opposition. In that regard for example... how good are we on getting off the field on 3rd down? How good are we in the 2nd half (after both teams make adjustments)? I don't know these statistics BTW; I'm wondering.

                          Bottom line being: Players play, but coaches still have to coach. Both share blame on this defense.
                          I wasn't hired for my disposition.

                          Comment

                          • Steelhere10
                            Hall of Famer
                            • May 2008
                            • 3849

                            #14
                            Dickey might know more than us fans, but he must've forgot a real blitz that actually apply pressure to the Qb. 5 man blitz from a 3-4 is only minimal when 7-8 men are blocking. Cinci and Baltimore bring more pressure than this bum.
                            [url=http://img525.imageshack.us/i/steelers2010.jpg/]http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2...eelers2010.jpg[/url]

                            Comment

                            • Steelhere10
                              Hall of Famer
                              • May 2008
                              • 3849

                              #15
                              And the thing is, if he actually did it early in the game the Qb wouldn't get comfortable and think a lot of blitz looks are truly a blitz even if it's not. Please I would take Butler. Or. Rex.
                              [url=http://img525.imageshack.us/i/steelers2010.jpg/]http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2...eelers2010.jpg[/url]

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