stillers4me
11-13-2010, 04:51 AM
By John Harris (jharris@tribweb.com), PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Dick LeBeau is pleased with how the Steelers have adjusted to the NFL's crackdown on illegal hits.
"We didn't have any fines (Monday night at Cincinnati)," the defensive coordinator said Thursday. "That's a good thing."
In games against Cleveland and New Orleans, linebacker James Harrison was fined for illegal hits. In all, Harrison has received three fines totaling $100,000 this season.
LeBeau is more optimistic than some of his players that the seemingly blurred line between legal and illegal hits will become more clear. He said the coaching staff will continue to reinforce proper tackling techniques in accordance with the league office.
"We'll keep trying to coach within the limits of the rules as we understand them," LeBeau said. "I think we can adjust what we're teaching off what they're enforcing. You have to play the game as the rules are. They want us to lower the target of the tackle, and we're trying to teach that."
Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu said the sport has evolved to the point where big collisions — including illegal hits — are inevitable. Additional coaching is fine, he added, in agreement with LeBeau. But offenses have become more wide open, forcing defensive players to cover larger areas and therefore building momentum and delivering tackles with greater force...............
Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_709133.html
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Dick LeBeau is pleased with how the Steelers have adjusted to the NFL's crackdown on illegal hits.
"We didn't have any fines (Monday night at Cincinnati)," the defensive coordinator said Thursday. "That's a good thing."
In games against Cleveland and New Orleans, linebacker James Harrison was fined for illegal hits. In all, Harrison has received three fines totaling $100,000 this season.
LeBeau is more optimistic than some of his players that the seemingly blurred line between legal and illegal hits will become more clear. He said the coaching staff will continue to reinforce proper tackling techniques in accordance with the league office.
"We'll keep trying to coach within the limits of the rules as we understand them," LeBeau said. "I think we can adjust what we're teaching off what they're enforcing. You have to play the game as the rules are. They want us to lower the target of the tackle, and we're trying to teach that."
Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu said the sport has evolved to the point where big collisions — including illegal hits — are inevitable. Additional coaching is fine, he added, in agreement with LeBeau. But offenses have become more wide open, forcing defensive players to cover larger areas and therefore building momentum and delivering tackles with greater force...............
Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_709133.html