Ligashesky Fired

[SteelBucks]

Steelers fire special teams coordinator
Thursday, January 07, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin continued to make changes in his coaching staff today, firing special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Ligashesky, a McKees Rocks native, becomes the second assistant in as many days to be dismissed, joining offensive line coach Larry Zierlein.

The special teams were a major source of concern after the Steelers allowed four kickoff returns for touchdowns in a five-game span. The Steelers finished the regular season ranked 24th in punt coverage, allowing an average of 9.8 yards per return; and 30th in kick coverage, allowing an average of 24.3 yards per return, in the NFL.

It is not known who will be hired to replace Ligashesky, 46, but former Steelers special teams coach Bobby April (1994-95) is available. He waived the final two years of his contract with the Buffalo Bills, who fired the entire coaching staff this week, so he could be free to negotiate with another team.



Read more: [url="http://post-gazette.com/pg/10007/1026499-66.stm#ixzz0bwiB34KH"]http://post-gazette.com/pg/10007/102649 ... z0bwiB34KH[/url]

[phillyesq]

Ligashesky Fired

Steelers fire special teams coordinator
Thursday, January 07, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin continued to make changes in his coaching staff today, firing special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Ligashesky, a McKees Rocks native, becomes the second assistant in as many days to be dismissed, joining offensive line coach Larry Zierlein.

The special teams were a major source of concern after the Steelers allowed four kickoff returns for touchdowns in a five-game span. The Steelers finished the regular season ranked 24th in punt coverage, allowing an average of 9.8 yards per return; and 30th in kick coverage, allowing an average of 24.3 yards per return, in the NFL.

It is not known who will be hired to replace Ligashesky, 46, but former Steelers special teams coach Bobby April (1994-95) is available. He waived the final two years of his contract with the Buffalo Bills, who fired the entire coaching staff this week, so he could be free to negotiate with another team.

Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10007/1026499-66.stm#ixzz0bwh8o0KH"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10007/10 ... z0bwh8o0KH[/url]

[feltdizz]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Steelers fire special teams coordinator
Thursday, January 07, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin continued to make changes in his coaching staff today, firing special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Ligashesky, a McKees Rocks native, becomes the second assistant in as many days to be dismissed, joining offensive line coach Larry Zierlein.

The special teams were a major source of concern after the Steelers allowed four kickoff returns for touchdowns in a five-game span. The Steelers finished the regular season ranked 24th in punt coverage, allowing an average of 9.8 yards per return; and 30th in kick coverage, allowing an average of 24.3 yards per return, in the NFL.

It is not known who will be hired to replace Ligashesky, 46, but former Steelers special teams coach Bobby April (1994-95) is available. He waived the final two years of his contract with the Buffalo Bills, who fired the entire coaching staff this week, so he could be free to negotiate with another team.



Read more: [url="http://post-gazette.com/pg/10007/1026499-66.stm#ixzz0bwiB34KH"]http://post-gazette.com/pg/10007/102649 ... z0bwiB34KH[/url]

Good move...

[SteelBucks]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Good move...

Now go after Bobby April.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Has assistant special teams coach Amos Jones been fired too?

[Slapstick]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

No, I don't think that Jones has been fired....

IIRC, Ligashesky worked with the coverage and return teams while Jones worked with the specialists...

I'm not really displeased with how Skippy, Robopunter and the long snappers performed this year...

[steelblood]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Good move...

Now go after Bobby April.

Pay the man whatever he wants. Make him the highest paid special teams coach. Just do it. I don't want another castoff in here who couldn't get the job done for another NFL team.

[phillyesq]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Good move...

Now go after Bobby April.

Pay the man whatever he wants. Make him the highest paid special teams coach. Just do it. I don't want another castoff in here who couldn't get the job done for another NFL team.

According to PFT, the Redskins are after Bobby April. Something tells me the Steelers won't win that bidding war...

[Sugar]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

This seems like a reasonable move to me. IMO, a decent ST unit shouldn't allow any returns for TD's in the course of a season. One fluke may be forgivable but what we saw this year was simply unacceptable.

It's too bad, things on ST seemed to get better last year. Prior to the season I had hoped that with Logan on returns and Sepulveda back that we would have one of the better unit's in the NFL.

[feltdizz]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Good move...

Now go after Bobby April.

Pay the man whatever he wants. Make him the highest paid special teams coach. Just do it. I don't want another castoff in here who couldn't get the job done for another NFL team.

According to PFT, the Redskins are after Bobby April. Something tells me the Steelers won't win that bidding war...

well if he wants more face time and long money he needs to come here...

he will get up money their but 2 seasons from now he will be gone.

Here he has Logan, Sep, Reed(hopefully) Ben and Troy... his chances at postseason success and mythical status rest here in Pittsburgh.

Our ST's is so bad if he fixes it he gets a street named after him. Bobby April Lane

I should be pitching this to him right now.. what's his email address?

[Ghost]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

What would it be on the anger scale if Tomlin just premoted Amos Jones?

[feltdizz]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

What would it be on the anger scale if Tomlin just premoted Amos Jones?

On here.. it would be a 9

If he was given more responsibilities later in the season then I would say 5 personally....

but Rooney wise that would make sense.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

What would it be on the anger scale if Tomlin just premoted Amos Jones?

I'd rather have John Amos than Amos Jones.



Cleo McDowell wouldn't allow 4 kickoff returns for TD's.

[Sugar]

Re: Ligashesky Fired

What would it be on the anger scale if Tomlin just premoted Amos Jones?

IDK about the board, but I personally wouldn't have a problem. My understanding is that the areas that he was responsible for were fine. He's already a part of the organization so I could see a promotion coming.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers fire Ligashesky

Good move...

Now go after Bobby April.

Pay the man whatever he wants. Make him the highest paid special teams coach. Just do it. I don't want another castoff in here who couldn't get the job done for another NFL team.

According to PFT, the Redskins are after Bobby April. Something tells me the Steelers won't win that bidding war...

well if he wants more face time and long money he needs to come here...

he will get up money their but 2 seasons from now he will be gone.

Here he has Logan, Sep, Reed(hopefully) Ben and Troy... his chances at postseason success and mythical status rest here in Pittsburgh.

Our ST's is so bad if he fixes it he gets a street named after him. Bobby April Lane

I should be pitching this to him right now.. what's his email address?

Done.

[url]http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Pittsburgh&state=PA&address=%5B6700-6799%5D+April+Ln&zipcode=15236&country=US&latitude =40.316045&longitude=-79.994785&geocode=BLOCK[/url]

Right next to South Park Golf Course too. Prime real estate.