The Butler difference

[RuthlessBurgher]

As I have said, good coaching is about making the players you have successful not running a system for the players you wish you still had. As I said in the initial post, Butler, and Tomlin, gets this and we saw improvements last year because of it.

Well, then, based on the young personnel that we have in our front 7 right now, Butler should really be running a base 4-3 now rather than a 3-4 for players he wishes he still had.

Cam Heyward is not Aaron Smith. He would be better rushing the passer as a strongside DE in a 4-3 than a 5-technique 3-4 end.

Javon Hargrave is not Casey Hampton. He would be better as a 1-technique NT in a 4-3 collapsing the pocket than a 0-technique NT in a 3-4 plugging the middle.

Stephon Tuitt is not Brett Keisel. He would be better as a penetrating 3-technique in a 4-3 than a 5-technique 3-4 DE.

Bud Dupree is not Lamarr Woodley. He would be better with his hand on the ground and attacking the QB's blind side as a weakside 4-3 DE than a stand-up 3-4 OLB on the strong side.

Jarvis Jones is not James Harrison. He would be better holding the edge against the run as a 4-3 Sam backer than trying to beat LT's around the edge as a 3-4 weakside OLB.

Ryan Shazier is not James Farrior. He would be better playing a Derrick Brooks like role as a 4-3 Will backer where he would have more of an opportunity to make sideline-to-sideline plays than attempting to take on guards as an ILB in a 3-4.

[Slapstick]

Well, that would be the 4-3 under alignment...if the Steelers went with a 4-3 over alignment (Dallas Cowboys, back in the day as well as Mike Zimmer's defenses...also, I believe, what Cincy currently runs...)...

There, Cam Heyward would be a weak side DE, Hargrave would be a 1-tech NT, Tuitt would be the 3-tech on Hargrave's left (instead of his right) and Dupree would be a DE on the strong side, possibly standing up...which is not that much different than they do now...which would make sense since Butler coached that 4-3 Dallas defense in Cleveland, years ago...

[Oviedo]

Well, then, based on the young personnel that we have in our front 7 right now, Butler should really be running a base 4-3 now rather than a 3-4 for players he wishes he still had.

Cam Heyward is not Aaron Smith. He would be better rushing the passer as a strongside DE in a 4-3 than a 5-technique 3-4 end.

Javon Hargrave is not Casey Hampton. He would be better as a 1-technique NT in a 4-3 collapsing the pocket than a 0-technique NT in a 3-4 plugging the middle.

Stephon Tuitt is not Brett Keisel. He would be better as a penetrating 3-technique in a 4-3 than a 5-technique 3-4 DE.

Bud Dupree is not Lamarr Woodley. He would be better with his hand on the ground and attacking the QB's blind side as a weakside 4-3 DE than a stand-up 3-4 OLB on the strong side.

Jarvis Jones is not James Harrison. He would be better holding the edge against the run as a 4-3 Sam backer than trying to beat LT's around the edge as a 3-4 weakside OLB.

Ryan Shazier is not James Farrior. He would be better playing a Derrick Brooks like role as a 4-3 Will backer where he would have more of an opportunity to make sideline-to-sideline plays than attempting to take on guards as an ILB in a 3-4.

You're right. Last year was the first step.

[squidkid]

when butler has a run of a dozen years with a top 7 defense(roughly), then i'll give him some credit with the ' simplified defense that young guys can grasp' concept

[squidkid]

As I have said, good coaching is about making the players you have successful not running a system for the players you wish you still had. As I said in the initial post, Butler, and Tomlin, gets this and we saw improvements last year because of it.

why didnt tomlin do this his previous 10 years then?

[papillon]

As these young guys grasp the defense Butler will make it more complex because they will be able to grasp it and communicate it to all 11 players.

Pappy

[Captain Lemming]

when butler has a run of a dozen years with a top 7 defense(roughly), then i'll give him some credit with the ' simplified defense that young guys can grasp' concept

I cannot believe that me and Squid agree but this post is MONEY dude.
Lebeaus defense was SO COMPLEX that for a decade rookies could not crack the lineup of our TOP RANKED defense. Would have been nice inserting more youth especially WITH ALL THOSE DEEP PLAYOFF RUNS AND SUPERBOWLS which were tiring for those veterans.

We can only hope that we continue to have a defense were rookies starting is commonplace like the leagues bottomfeeders.

Or perhaps that Lebeau "stench" might have rubbed off on Butler, and as these players mature into perennial pro-bowlers leading us to superbowls he might stop giving rookies a chance like DL did during his first 9 years on this run?

We can only hope he NEVER has a defense that is so good a boatload of raw rookies cant break into the starting lineup at will.