Is Dick Lebeau Done?

[flippy]

We can't get any pressure on the QB.

We've gone from one of the best Ds to one of the worst overnight.

How can you face Tyler Palko and not pressure him? The biggest weakness on this team by far is that for several years now, we haven't been getting consistent pressure on the opposing team's QB.

Yet we stick with the same system and same game plans week in and week out.

Sure, Dick Lebeau has minimal on his defense. Simply no one out there that dominates play in and play out and creates constant disruption.

And without any superstar player on D any more, passive play calling won't cut it.

We're at a point where we need a coach who can manufacture pressure with his play calling to cover up for his player's lack of talent. And it seems like Dick has coasted on superior talent for his past success. And now that he has no stud pass rushers, he doesn't know what to do.

I'm at the point where I think Lebeau coud send 11 guys and 5 average Olinemen would easily block all 11 for 5+ seconds.

[phillyesq]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Were we watching the same game? The Steelers held the Chiefs to 9 points. They had a decent drive to open the game, which is not unexpected following a bye week. The Steelers only had 1 sack, but they grabbed three picks and got pretty decent pressure.

Last night was an ugly win, but reading the board, you'd think the Steelers lost.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Woodley and Harrison, not LeBeau's schemes, bring pressure. When one or both is out, you have trouble getting pressure, though I continue to be pleased with Worilds.

That said, the defense held up their end last night. Three first half turnovers and we didn't capitalize.

[Oviedo]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

He's not done but he does seem to stuggle adjusting to the loss of key players like Troy. I've always said he has too much of what he wants to do dependent on Troy and when Troy is out we get very basic.

I think it would be a good time after this season for both of our coordinators to retire and bring in some fresh perspectives.

[Eich]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

If the offense had done their job last night and scored the minimum of 2 additional TD's that they absolutely should've had, then no one is talking anything negatively about the defense today. We easily should've won that game 27-9.

Defense did their job, even without Troy and Woodley.

Offense sunk up the joint.
-Pouncey leaving the game hurt
-Wallace's butter fingers hurt
-MeMo's fumble hurt
-Ben's pick hurt
-Line still unable to give Mendy holes hurt
-All the holding calls hurt

[feltdizz]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Why the hell did we need to pressure a guy who threw 4 picks?

[phillyesq]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Why the hell did we need to pressure a guy who threw 4 picks?

[steelfin]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Unbelievable....It's interesting how two people can watch the same thing but both see things completely different....

The defense is the only reason we won that game...It surely wasnt the offense.

[flippy]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

I've been noticing for years our inability to generate pressure on opposing team's QBs. We've made many a QB look like Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers over the last few years.

Our D didn't win the game last night. Palko did. Unfortunately for KC he played horrible. And he just screwed up on his own, not due to our pressure.

And a couple of the INTs were just horrible throws to the Steelers defender.

It wasn't like we were making plays to force turnovers.

The D may have got a lot of TOs, but I don't remember them forcing any of them. Just being fortunate.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

haven't generated pressure for years?

the numbers don't back up that statement at all.

dumb thread.

[Oviedo]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

haven't generated pressure for years?

the numbers don't back up that statement at all.

dumb thread.

The past couple of years we have put pressure on the QB, but this year there is definitely a problem. When is the last time we have seen Timmons sent on an inside blitz? He is constantly being dropped back into coverage to I assume help the secondary.

James Harrison looks like a shadow of his past self this year. Not having Woodley has hurt but I think we are seeing the end of Harrison's dominance. They should consider moving him inside to take over for Farrior next season and look for another dominant pass rusher in the draft.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

haven't generated pressure for years?

the numbers don't back up that statement at all.

dumb thread.

The past couple of years we have put pressure on the QB, but this year there is definitely a problem. When is the last time we have seen Timmons sent on an inside blitz? He is constantly being dropped back into coverage to I assume help the secondary.

James Harrison looks like a shadow of his past self this year. Not having Woodley has hurt but I think we are seeing the end of Harrison's dominance. They should consider moving him inside to take over for Farrior next season and look for another dominant pass rusher in the draft.

Worilds is that man. Carter is there as well. Please, no more OLBs in the draft.

[Chadman]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

I'd say we are witnessing the transition of old to new on Defense. Plenty of Steelers D players are starting to 'get old'- they've been getting close for years, but it seems we are seeing it now.

Farrior, Smith, Hampton, Hoke, Keisel, Harrison, Polamalu & McFadden- all key players over the years, have been hampered by injury or a decline in playing level all season.

Worilds, Hood, McLendon, Heyward, Lewis, Allen & Gay have all stepped into bigger roles, earlier than their predecessors had. Not surprising- it's a lack of 'splash' plays from both groups that have this D not playing at the high level it has over the last 5 years.

Looks to me that Tomlin squeezed the orange dry on a few players & now has to shift to a 'new era' of Steelers quicker than usual. this will bring teething troubles, as we have seen.

That said, all the young guys have shown some ability- they just don't dominate yet.

Time & comfort in their role should fix that for a few of these guys.

[Lonbull]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

Flippy -

We lead the league in sacks last year.

In 2009 & 2008 we were 2nd in sacks.

This season we're 17th but I don't think there's anything wrong with LeBeau - injuries have been a major factor this season - than and our offense has given up a significant amount of turnovers.

I also think it's a bit of an optical illusion - because our Offensive Line has been bad for so long it seems like everyone else can get pressure but us.

LeBeau is fine - only three teams have allowed fewer points than LeBeau's group this season, and one of them plays in the NFC West - so I don't really count them.

L.B.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Is bad word Lebeau Done?

I don't want to speak for Flippy, but to me, a DC "generates pressure" via scheme. We get the lion's share of our pressure from Wood and Harrison beating their man one-on-one. We don't see a lot of unblocked sacks, A-gap blitzes, etc. Anyone remember a corner blitz this season before Gay's sack last night?

I cringe every time a talking head refers to the Steelers as "blitzburgh". That havoc was wreaked under the guidance of Dom Capers and hasn't been here since. We blitzed every play from different angles. It was a joy to watch, but it's been gone for a decade and a half.