What makes LeBoo's D so darn complicated?

[Oviedo]

Either the defense must change to accomodate the poor players that tomlin is drafting or the defense stays the same and tomlin stays out of the draft process

So you really believe that our Defensive Coord who is supposedly a "legend," "a genius," and who can keep his job until he dies like Paterno, but has no input into the draft process involving defensive players? Has no input or authority in the draft room? Provides no evaluations or opinions? Has no responsibilities for developing players or making adjustments to maximize the contributions of the players he has?

I hope you don't get sore knees praying to LeBeau's (will not use Leboo again in deference to a a poster I highly respect) shrine. Thank you for making the point that it is everyone's fault except the poor old man coach is a poor victim of the rest of the organization.

[TrickyDickie44]

So you really believe that our Defensive Coord who is supposedly a "legend," "a genius," and who can keep his job until he dies like Paterno, but has no input into the draft process involving defensive players? Has no input or authority in the draft room? Provides no evaluations or opinions? Has no responsibilities for developing players or making adjustments to maximize the contributions of the players he has?

I hope you don't get sore knees praying to LeBeau's (will not use Leboo again in deference to a a poster I highly respect) shrine. Thank you for making the point that it is everyone's fault except the poor old man coach is a poor victim of the rest of the organization.

The defense got tougher when LeBeau took over. Blitzburgh arrived with Dom Capers as DC, not Dick LeBeau. If anything Blitzburgh toned down it's act once Capers left.

[RuthlessBurgher]

will not use Leboo again in deference to a a poster I highly respect

Aww, shucks....thanks man. It was a minor annoyance when the outliers starting using it, but I figured I should say something once it started to become more commonplace among our regular here. Thumbs up, brother!

[squidkid]

So you really believe that our Defensive Coord who is supposedly a "legend," "a genius," and who can keep his job until he dies like Paterno, but has no input into the draft process involving defensive players? Has no input or authority in the draft room? Provides no evaluations or opinions? Has no responsibilities for developing players or making adjustments to maximize the contributions of the players he has?

I hope you don't get sore knees praying to LeBeau's (will not use Leboo again in deference to a a poster I highly respect) shrine. Thank you for making the point that it is everyone's fault except the poor old man coach is a poor victim of the rest of the organization.

not quite sure you can find me saying anywhere or ever that lebeau shouldnt be held accountable.
point being, lebeau has had great defenses for quite some time. only the last few years has the defense been mediocre or poor.
what do you think has changed the last few years? do you think tomlin has turned over all defensive drafting to DL or do you think he's taken some away?
i dont think its a coincident that this defense and team has lost its identity and toughness since tomlin has taken over.

[TrickyDickie44]

The offense inflates the defense's ranking.

Great article right here, which exposes the defense for what it truly is.

[url]http://m.nbcsports.com/content/kacsmar-dont-believe-hype-steelers-d[/url]

And Mr. Kacsmar's no huddle article is even better!

[TrickyDickie44]

Make no mistake LeBeau and Mitchell run this defense.

Stop blaming Tomlin, if anything you can blame him for giving LeBeau too much free reign and not wanting to step on the old man's toes.

[sick beats]

Since Cowher left, the natural progression of having to replace once-quality players, who left via free agency, or got old, with new players, and there was going to be a drop off regardless of LeBoo or anyone else. It happened. <shrugs shoulders>. It's something a team has to go through. In Chuck Noll's genius, was he able to make the transition with the great players of the 70's to the player's of the 80's and not miss a beat? Obviously, four Super Bowls to zero indicates a seamless transition was not accomplished. It's not that Noll forgot everything he once knew. It's just that catching lightening in a bottle just doesn't happen endlessly. The Noll teams of the 80's weren't as awful as most assume; it's just that when you go from winning 4 SBs in 6 years to never appearing in another one, it sure feels like you fell off a cliff. The most obvious downturn came at QB; the bums who followed Bradshaw were all very bad players. Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Todd Blackledge....is there any wonder we didn't sniff a SB in that decade? If you were around in those days, you'd know the D wasn't terrible, but, of course, they were no where near the Ds of the 70's in Pgh.

So, we had to go through transition again, especially on D. They tried to squeeze as many Lombardies with the players we had and then it became obvious we hit a stretch where that plan, mostly, didn't still make sense (we still have Troy, Ike, Timmons, et al). I don't blame LeBoo for that. But some blame can be laid at this propensity for having a disdain for young players. But Rooney kicked a little wing tip action to set him straight on that; LeBoo himself has verbalized that the days of playing no rookies are over. Thank you Art 2. That model is simply too antiquated for today's NFL.

[squidkid]

Make no mistake LeBeau and Mitchell run this defense.

Stop blaming Tomlin, if anything you can blame him for giving LeBeau too much free reign and not wanting to step on the old man's toes.

tomlin cant carry DL's depends. the guy was a in charge of a defense that was first against the pass but last against the run(somewhere near there) the 1 year he was a DC. other than that he was a secondary coach for a few seasons. the guy doesnt exactly have a legit defensive resume. people act like he's some 4-3 guru. the guy should know the 3-4 10x more than the 4-3. he's a figurehead. a players coach. he does the rah rah stuff while the OC and DC do their thing.
i dont think tomlin gives or takes 'reign'.

[TrickyDickie44]

Did you read the article I provided?

Let's not talk about "resumes" until you do. If anything that article exposes LeBeau for the con man he really is.

[TrickyDickie44]

FYI...It was Tomlin who ORDERED LeBeau last season, to get Cam Heyward on the field.

[Slapstick]

Rankings are a reflection of scheme...

Sacks and turnovers are a reflection of individual players...

When you have both together, you have the great Steelers' defenses of the past...

When we had Woodley and Harrison performing like they did when they were the leading sack duo in the NFL, nobody said, "LeBeau is a genius!" because those guys were getting sacks...credit went to Harrison and Woodley for making outstanding individual plays...when Troy jumped over the offensive line to stop a running back, nobody called LeBeau a genius...

When the Steelers D ranked #1 in 2012 despite aging players and decreasing talent (leading to decreasing sacks and turnovers), I called LeBeau a genius...

[TrickyDickie44]

Where did they rank in turnovers forced in 2012?

The defense gets their rank when the offense uses 80 yards of field, and time, to score the majority of their points. Thus keeping the old man's tired scheme off the field.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

The offense inflates the defense's ranking.

Great article right here, which exposes the defense for what it truly is.

[URL]http://m.nbcsports.com/content/kacsmar-dont-believe-hype-steelers-d[/URL]

Good article.

Do you think the recent addition of speedier, playmaking defenders could mark a shift away from what we've seen, with more of an emphasis on pass defense?

[NorthCoast]

I personally don't believe he is beyond criticism. I just like to see an even handed critique. You have an agenda, others have theirs and I don't think either extreme is accurate. I'm not sure at LeBeaus age if he is able to adjust mid-game. I have issue with his ability to correct and account for an O that is walking up and down the field on us. But, I don't have issue with the 3-4, nor do I believe LeBeau is senile. I think the guy is still a good coach, and part of the D woes in recent years boil down to aging talent. I am not willing to give him a complete pass but I do believe he may surprise some people this season with his innovation with some faster talent.

Recall the DET game last season? It was like watching two different games that afternoon.

First half Lions offensive drives: Downs, Punt, FG, Fumble, TD, TD, TD, FG

Second half Lions offensive drives: Punt, Punt, Fumble, INT, Downs

I would say that is quite a half time adjustment...

[MrSandman]

Recall the DET game last season? It was like watching two different games that afternoon.

First half Lions offensive drives: Downs, Punt, FG, Fumble, TD, TD, TD, FG

Second half Lions offensive drives: Punt, Punt, Fumble, INT, Downs

I would say that is quite a half time adjustment...

Not by the coaching staff. Gay, Troy, and Clark made their own adjustments on the fly, and got yelled at for it by the staff. This according to Clark on November 22 2013.