Hearing from Butler I think things will be different. ..

[Captain Lemming]

No one has ever said LeBeau wasn't great for a time. The difference in opinions is that some acknowledge he quit being great and you can't be successful in the NFL being all sentimental about the past. LeBeau was awesome with one group of players he had but he could not translate that to another group and our player development on the Defensive side of the ball was either poor or players were not put into the position of success.

One group of players? Really?
Hey OV I KNOW the defense got old but I don't think anybody on our last number one defense was around in 1995.
As old as he is, Troy was playing PeeWee at some grade school in So Cal when DL led a defense WITHOUT ITS BEST PLAYER (Woodson) to a Super Bowl.

Truth is, during this transition no coach on the planet could have done better. We had a bad mix of age and inexperience with ONE good PLAYER (Timmons) in his prime.

The way you talk talent makes no difference. If ALL YOU NEED is the right coach just pay the coach, let all free agents walk. Why worry about the draft?

[Slapstick]

Obviously, those links were not very strong because they went no where...hah!

Because Dick LeBeau went where HE wanted to go...

[feltdizz]

One group of players? Really?
Hey OV I KNOW the defense got old but I don't think anybody on our last number one defense was around in 1995.
As old as he is, Troy was playing PeeWee at some grade school in So Cal when DL led a defense WITHOUT ITS BEST PLAYER (Woodson) to a Super Bowl.

Truth is, during this transition no coach on the planet could have done better. We had a bad mix of age and inexperience with ONE good PLAYER (Timmons) in his prime.

The way you talk talent makes no difference. If ALL YOU NEED is the right coach just pay the coach, let all free agents walk. Why worry about the draft?

no...

DL is a great coach but you can't say no other coach could do what he did with this group. There are other good DC's and we have no idea if another guy could do a better job.

[Slapstick]

You can base it upon what other coaches did with similarly talented groups. Nobody has done what LeBeau did. That is why he is special.

Truthfully, I'm not sad he's gone. But to act as though he isn't one of a kind is just ridiculous.

[BURGH86STEEL]

no...

DL is a great coach but you can't say no other coach could do what he did with this group. There are other good DC's and we have no idea if another guy could do a better job.

The Steelers defensive players haven't been good enough the past few years. Coaches don't usually make that much of a difference unless their players are good enough.

One reason why they probably let Lebeau go was age. He was coaching from year to year. It's likely that he wouldn't be around to complete a rebuild job. They also needed to find out about Butler before they loss him to another team. Butler is young enough to help complete the rebuild job. That is, unless the defense develops into a great unit from years 1 to 3. Under that circumstance Butler will probably be offered a HC job.

I don't see how much better a job Butler can do unless the players get better. As always, health will be a huge factor. I don't believe the scheme will change much. The decision making on game days might change. Will Butler be good enough at making decisions under pressure? Only time will tell.

[RuthlessBurgher]

In my closet at home, I have 2 NFL jerseys that aren't Steeler jerseys (sounds blasphemous, I know). One is a Eagles jersey that I bought for my wife as a tribute after a close friend (who was a huge Eagles fan) died unexpectedly. It's customized with our deceased friend's last name on it. The other is a Lions jersey, with LeBeau's name on it. I've gotten more compliments from Steeler fans at Heinz Field wearing the LeBeau jersey (by far) than any of the Steeler jerseys I own. Although there was one guy at a Penn State game a few years ago (who approached me from the front and therefore could not see the name plate) who asked my why I was wearing a Jahvid Best jersey.

[Oviedo]

LeBeau is a special PERSON.

Special coach? Not when you break him down and hold him accountable for his own career.

Welcome to the board. Lived in El Paso for several year and go there on business. Enjoyed it.

[Slapstick]

If you didn't figure it out, that was our buddy Crash....who is also quite a special person.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

If you didn't figure it out, that was our buddy Crash....who is also quite a special person.

There may be no one else alive who has as many different message board names as he.

[Captain Lemming]

Responsible for his own career Crash?
Oh he is responsible alright.
THE ONLY MAN ON EARTH not named Rooney who shares "responsibility" for EVERY SINGLE POST 70s Steelers Super Bowl appearance.

[Slapstick]

Now, all he'll have to do to upstage you is examine their respective careers and find fault in every one of their mistakes, thereby invalidating anything that they have ever accomplished.

[Slapstick]

Nope. Not exactly.

[RobinCole]

DuhDuh can't be sick beats. He spells DL's name right.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

I know I'm missing something, sorry ... but weren't Ben, Hines, Heath etc. on all three post 70s teams? If so ... are we just talking coaches?

[Slapstick]

Look who Duhduh quoted...first clue to his true identity...

SASF: he is also counting the 1995 SB XXX team...