Dick LeBeau and Steelers agree to part ways

[SteelBucks]

Big mistake.... Sorry Dick Lebeau that you couldn't make chicken soup out of chicken crap

I agree. You can polish a turd but it's still a turd.

Thanks for the memories Coach LeBeau!

[Silicor]

I loved Coach L, but it is time. He may have a few years left in him, but there is no escaping father time. Let's get our new coach and start the transition. With the offense we have now, we can still win during the transition.

[Slapstick]

For those worried about Butler being "more of the same", his influences run deeper than just LeBeau...

Butler thrived in Tom Catlin's 3-4 defense in Seattle...Butler was described as an extension of Catlin on the field...Catlin learned the 3-4 from Bud Wilkinson...

As a coach, Butler first worked for Joe Lee Dunn...who basically invented the 3-3-5 defense and blitzed a bajillion different ways...

Butler also has 4-3 experience gained in Memphis after Dunn left and in Cleveland with Romeo Crennel and Butch Davis...

He had lots of football experience before coming to Pittsburgh...if he's the guy, I hope he soaked up everything that he could from Coach LeBeau and adds it to his own philosophy, scheme and defensive calls...

[SS Laser]

If Butler get his chance things will change IMO. If Butler is the new DC it will be very interesting to see who is the LB's coach. Porter maybe or a "Tomlin guy"? Also Starlifter said He is not inspired with confidence for next season. Is that because there will be a new DC or because of the players on the roster right now? I feel just a tad better with a move of some sort and excited for the draft and FA. Will try to come back to this thread and see how the DC change with the draft/FA work out. It was time for a shake up some were on D with this being a bad Steelers D. There is still a ton more work to do this off season before I will feel good about this D. Have a feeling I may not feel better till middle or even late next season to see how this move and others play out good or bad.

[hawaiiansteel]

If Butler get his chance things will change IMO. If Butler is the new DC it will be very interesting to see who is the LB's coach. Porter maybe or a "Tomlin guy"?

I think that Jerry Olsavsky should have the inside track...

[Shoe]

It's unfortunate you take this position like anyone on this board had anything to do with this. The organization and the football professionals made this decision, not fans on the internet. Everything comes to an end and clearly our defense has slipped the past several years.

We have no idea what discussions took place within the organization. Perhaps he was told changes had to be made and he refused. Perhaps he has been told that for awhile and was stubborn. We will likely never know, but this organization would not make a tough decision like this unless they felt there were real issues to making the team better.

LeBeau had a good run in his time here and now the next guy, whoever that is, needs to do a better job. But don't vent on other fans like they somehow made this happen. That is just ridiculous.

Exactly!
Get off your high horse, birtikidis... as if the fans had anything to do with this. In any case, the man is 77-years old. In three years, he'll be 80. EIGHTY.

When has there ever been an 80-year old man in the NFL as a coach of any kind, let alone a coordinator. By all accounts, DL the person is an awesome individual and someone who will be missed. But it is not like we are giving away the next Bill Belichick here. Arians will hire him in AZ.

[WVSteelerfan]

Butler has a ton of background from different schemes he has been involved with in the past. Personally I look for his defense to be ultra-aggressive. Don't be surprised to see some 3-3 looks with Shazier dropping out to the edge as a DB, allowing him to cover a back or TE or blitz off the corner. I think Shazier is gonna be seen all over the field. Maybe not like Troy used to, but he is athletic enough to do more than line up 3 yds behind the nose tackle. Blitzes are gonna come from everywhere. QB pressure is gonna be a focus point. I think backend coverage is gonna be tweeked in certain situations depending on the call up front, down and distance. Hopefully they go to a 1 gap responsibility more than a 2 gap. That will allow everyone to play faster and more aggressive.

[Chadman]

For those worried about Butler being "more of the same", his influences run deeper than just LeBeau...

Butler thrived in Tom Catlin's 3-4 defense in Seattle...Butler was described as an extension of Catlin on the field...Catlin learned the 3-4 from Bud Wilkinson...

As a coach, Butler first worked for Joe Lee Dunn...who basically invented the 3-3-5 defense and blitzed a bajillion different ways...

Butler also has 4-3 experience gained in Memphis after Dunn left and in Cleveland with Romeo Crennel and Butch Davis...

He had lots of football experience before coming to Pittsburgh...if he's the guy, I hope he soaked up everything that he could from Coach LeBeau and adds it to his own philosophy, scheme and defensive calls...

Interestingly- in 1998 at Memphis, Butler was D-coordinator while one M.Tomlin served as DB coach - not like the two have completely different backgrounds.

[buccoray61]

I would expect it will be Butler. We will know very soon. If it's Butler,I would imagine the would make the announcement soon,if there's silence,something might be brewing.

[Shawn]

There will not be a switch in scheme or any major up haul. What I suspect is that Butler will simplify what they do in order to get younger guys on the field quicker. He will throw in his own flavor and touches. But, to the naked eye it won't look much different. There won't be any switch to a 4-3. That would take a major overhaul and teams with a franchise QB who went 11-5 don't dismantle a system. Sorry O.

[Shawn]

Butler has a ton of background from different schemes he has been involved with in the past. Personally I look for his defense to be ultra-aggressive. Don't be surprised to see some 3-3 looks with Shazier dropping out to the edge as a DB, allowing him to cover a back or TE or blitz off the corner. I think Shazier is gonna be seen all over the field. Maybe not like Troy used to, but he is athletic enough to do more than line up 3 yds behind the nose tackle. Blitzes are gonna come from everywhere. QB pressure is gonna be a focus point. I think backend coverage is gonna be tweeked in certain situations depending on the call up front, down and distance. Hopefully they go to a 1 gap responsibility more than a 2 gap. That will allow everyone to play faster and more aggressive.

I think this is money.

[squidkid]

someone had to be the scapegoat.

[NorthCoast]

What they managed to pull off this season with the troubles they had, no coach should have had to go. Well, maybe the ones that thought Cortez Allen, Mike Mitchell were go to guys. And maybe our last two number one picks were reasons to be fired up at Lebeau, Tomlin or Colbert. That's just it though. We really don't know who decides what. Maybe it was Lebeau pounding his fist that these guys were the guys he wanted ? Maybe they all agreed. In any event, Lebeau should have remained.

If LeBeau was part of the player selection process, then this could be a sign that he has slipped in his evaluation process.

[feltdizz]

someone had to be the scapegoat.

if we put up our defensive stats the last 3 years and didnt put a name next to the defense I'm pretty sure most fans would want the DC fired.

The only reason DL stayed this long is because his name is Lebeau.. any other DC would have been let got last year.

[NorthCoast]

Alex Kozora @Alex_Kozora -

Understand it's a business but disappointed LeBeau's departure is so unceremonious. Just never thought it'd happen this way. #Steelers

[URL]https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora[/URL]

My experience is that when parting happens this way it is never really "mutual". One party got their wish and one didn't.