On the Steelers: Playoff loss still has LeBeau talking
September 7, 2012
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Steelers will open the season with a rematch of last year's playoff game against Denver, except this time the Broncos have Peyton Manning under center.
The Sunday night spotlight in Denver no doubt will shine brightly on Peyton Manning's debut, but the air of Tim Tebow's throw on the first play of overtime Jan. 8 still hangs over Pittsburgh.
As many times as he tried Thursday, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could not turn the clock to 2012. So he put the topic to rest by taking the blame for the defensive strategy that helped allow the 80-yard touchdown catch by Demaryius Thomas (pictured left) that sunk the Steelers, 29-23, in that playoff game.
He said they were in what he called "cover 9," which others have called an "inverted cover 2." Basically, it was nine defenders crowded around the line of scrimmage to stop what they believed would be a running play on first down.
LeBeau was asked if the defense planned something on that play specifically because Tebow was at quarterback that they might not do against Manning.
"I doubt if we'd be in that particular defense again because the coordinator didn't call a very damn good defense,'' LeBeau said.
Only two in the secondary defended for a possible pass, and there was no deep safety. Tebow hit Thomas on a quick slant over the middle that he turned into an 80-yard touchdown.
"Let me tell you something," LeBeau said. "Over the years I've made a lot of bad calls and I'm man enough to step up and say it and when a play ends the game, ends your season, that can't be a very good call."
He did not let his players off the hook, either.
"That's a big, talented wide receiver. The thing was, we have to get the guy on the ground. You're not going to stop every pass, but you got to tackle the catch and that's something we didn't do on that play and, consequently, we're talking about 2012 now."
And now, instead of Tebow, they're talking about Manning throwing to players such as Thomas, Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley. The Broncos also have a good ground game with Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno.
Some Steelers defenders spent more time preparing for the Broncos by watching old video of Manning's Colts. Larry Foote said the players have not watched video from their playoff loss in Denver.
"There's no need to watch it. It's a different system. You're not going to study what they don't run."
They're running the same offense Manning ran in Indianapolis, LeBeau said.
"Let me be the devil's advocate. If you had Peyton Manning, how much of a different offense would you put in? You're going to get Peyton Manning's offense."
And, yes, LeBeau has watched video of the playoff loss in Denver several times.
"You learn from your mistakes,'' he explained. "You look at it, you look at everything, This isn't a business where you stick your head in the sand and hope it gets better. ... And there is some carryover because the coaching staff hasn't changed. And the running game, I don't think the running game is going to change."
One thing may change, though. Don't look for too much of that plain, old "cover 9" call Sunday night.
"It wasn't a very good call,'' LeBeau said.
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