Steelers notebook: Dick LeBeau wants to return

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

You mean the historical LeBeau two to three year player development cycle? You really think that is what we need going forward?

It's really moot because the Rooney's are going to let LeBeau stay as long as he wants no matter what the performance.

Come on O...Young players have seen the field...But that isn't want I am talking about. The majority of those holes will be filled by people on the roster headed into camp. They will assume new roles. They have already been under DL. Stability goes a long way when you pencil in multiple new starters on a side of the football. The challenge will be the new guys coming in behind them that could push. Even if you use my prediction of Harrison, Hampton, Foote, and possibly Keisel being gone....Worilds-Carter, McClendon-Ta'Amu, Spence-Sylvester, and Heyward are sitting right behind them for 2013. The Steelers make sure they have competition by holding on to their own FAs. I expect an OLB & possibly an ILB in the draft and with coaching they could end up being the ones who win out. That is healthy and to be honest needed. I also expect a S and with Troy not being able to stay on the field...He may have to get up to speed very quickly. Regardless of that...He will be a starter come 2014. Learning behind Polamalu, Clark, and DL will be vital in his early development.

Turnover is going to be on defense over the next two years. I think it would be beneficial keeping as much stability on the staff as possible for 2013. DL leaving in 2014 will be an easier transition for the next in line with players schooled under DL over 2013.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Troy, the guy that many called "Bustamalu" his rookie year? As a rookie, he looked slow and was often out of position. He did not play well which is why he did not see the field often.

Bustamalu was coined due to him riding the pine behind the likes of Mike Logan.

[phillyesq]

Bustamalu was coined due to him riding the pine behind the likes of Mike Logan.

Troy really did not start to come on until late in his second year.

[Oviedo]

Come on O...Young players have seen the field...But that isn't want I am talking about. The majority of those holes will be filled by people on the roster headed into camp. They will assume new roles. They have already been under DL. Stability goes a long way when you pencil in multiple new starters on a side of the football. The challenge will be the new guys coming in behind them that could push. Even if you use my prediction of Harrison, Hampton, Foote, and possibly Keisel being gone....Worilds-Carter, McClendon-Ta'Amu, Spence-Sylvester, and Heyward are sitting right behind them for 2013. The Steelers make sure they have competition by holding on to their own FAs. I expect an OLB & possibly an ILB in the draft and with coaching they could end up being the ones who win out. That is healthy and to be honest needed. I also expect a S and with Troy not being able to stay on the field...He may have to get up to speed very quickly. Regardless of that...He will be a starter come 2014. Learning behind Polamalu, Clark, and DL will be vital in his early development.

Turnover is going to be on defense over the next two years. I think it would be beneficial keeping as much stability on the staff as possible for 2013. DL leaving in 2014 will be an easier transition for the next in line with players schooled under DL over 2013.

Look at our current roster and where are we stronger with more depth? on The Def Line or at LB? Our roster and some possible cap cuts indicate our LB group isn't deep enough or dominant enough for a LB centric defense and it will take years to rebuild it to where it was just two years ago.

[hawaiiansteel]

Tomlin all but guarantees that LeBeau will be back



It promises to be a busy season for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin after an 8-8 season. (AP file photo)

Wed Jan 2, 2013.
By Mike Bires

PITTSBURGH – During his season-in-review press conference today, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin heaped praise on Dick LeBeau but didn’t exactly return the favor in regards to Todd Haley.

Tomlin said it’s too early to speculate if there will be any changes on his coaching. He will meet with assistants later this week and early next week.

But when told that LeBeau wants to return as defensive coordinator, Tomlin said, “I think everybody is aware that I’m happy with the work of Dick LeBeau. A special man, a special coach.”

But when asked about Haley, Tomlin said "It was about 8-8, like all of us. I’m a black-and-white kind of a guy. He was an 8-8 coordinator. I was an 8-8 head coach. I don’t think that’s what either of us desire to be.”

The only assistant Tomlin has to replace is offensive line coach Sean Kugler, who is leaving to become the head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso. Kugler cleaned out his office at team headquarters this morning.

Kugler will not be taking any Steelers assistants with him to UTEP.

Tomlin is meeting with his team for the final time at 2 p.m. today and will start a series of exit meetings with his players. Some of those exit meetings will be held later today and them resume on Wednesday and continue on Thursday.

As far as the 2012 season that ended with an 8-8 non-playoff record, “We didn’t do enough particularly in the closing moments of close football games.”

[URL]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/steelers/tomlin-all-but-guarantees-that-lebeau-will-be-back/article_b37b7fd8-5373-11e2-b4fa-0019bb30f31a.html[/URL]

[Sugar]

"2007 #1, 2008 #1, 2009 #5 2010 #2 2011 #1 2012 #1! Thats the Steelers defense ranking over the last 6 years so to anybody out there that says Dick LeBeau doesn't know what hes doing and is too old, obviously don't know what they talking about!!!!!!" Thus speaks James Harrison (on FB)