LeBeau resigning as Steelers defensive coordinator

[stillers4me]

I agree that they let him resign rather than fire him.

[st33lersguy]

It was time, glad he recognized it. You're accomplishments will never be forgotten LeBeau.

[fansince'76]

It was time, glad he recognized it. You're accomplishments will never be forgotten LeBeau.

As others in this thread have already pointed out, I don't think he recognized it so much as they let him resign as opposed to being fired. Ten bucks says he's the Cardinals' DC next year.

[Dwinsgames]

is anyone else concerned THIS is probably what we are looking at as the DC ?

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...0-5783de6c9210

[Heinz Hitman]

He was probably tired of having crap players to work with the last 2 or 3 years. Hopefully Colbert does a better job this year in the draft and free agency...

[Steelman]

Man, I guess I saw this coming but it still hurt when I got the notification on my phone. Coach Dad is one of the best, I wish him luck in his next endeavors, probably with Arizona.


I'm not high on Butler, would rather see us bring in a solid crop of DC's to interview. We need a guy who has a track record of tutoring and bringing up young players.

[NCSteeler]

This may seal a four way retirement party with Harrison, Ike, Troy and Keisel


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[fansince'76]

is anyone else concerned THIS is probably what we are looking at as the DC ?

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...0-5783de6c9210

It gives me no more pause than LeBeau maintaining that Troy and Ike playing somehow made our defense better this past season...

[Shoes]

Best wishes to Dick, I'm not sold at all on Butler….bring in some competition.

[Dwinsgames]

good article here on Lebeau http://steelcurtainrising.com/2015/0...medium=twitter

[X-Terminator]

a Recipe is only as good as its list of ingredients ... same can be said for defenses

we traveled this road before " post Lebeau " and it didnt work out so well ...

This day was coming anyway, whether anyone likes it or not. LeBeau is 77 years old. He's not going to coach forever.

[Dwinsgames]

This day was coming anyway, whether anyone likes it or not. LeBeau is 77 years old. He's not going to coach forever.

as Ben won't QB forever either .... point is you don't give those guys away for nothing you keep them or get a return on them because lord knows if they have the proper weapons you sure as hell do not want to face them

[X-Terminator]

as Ben won't QB forever either .... point is you don't give those guys away for nothing you keep them or get a return on them because lord knows if they have the proper weapons you sure as hell do not want to face them

And the flip side of that is that the Steelers know LeBeau's defense inside and out, and know where the weaknesses are.

Say he goes to AZ. So what? A, he's in the NFC, which means B, they'd only face him once every 4 years, next year included. They could meet in the SB, but as long as Seattle, GB and Dallas stay strong, it will be difficult for them to get there.

I don't have an issue with this. Clearly the Steelers want to go in a different direction, and I'm fine with that. I just have doubts that Butler is the guy for the job.

[Dwinsgames]

I just have doubts that Butler is the guy for the job.

as do I ....

1) he is not going to be as good as his teacher , students rarely are

2) he will inherrit the same broken system because of the lack of ingredients 2 CBs 1 FS perhaps 1 SS and at the very minimum 1 OLB that can actually rush the passer ....

3) still uncertain NT spot albeit there is Hope for McCullers

so hand him a broken cog and expect it to work better is a pipe dream IMO

[steelreserve]

I'm very thankful for everything he did for this team, and that will always be my first and foremost thought of him.

That aside, at present, it's time for a change and I think we all know why.

Sure, there are questions about whether the next guy can do the job. But I also have a bit of hope that we will no be so rigidly married to a defensive scheme that we obviously do not have the players to pull off.

If Butler is his own man and willing to do some serious tinkering for the long-term betterment of the team, then that breath of fresh air will be a good thing. If he's strictly a carbon copy of LeBeau's thought process and philosophy, only less talented, then things are going to get worse before they get better.

[KeiselPower99]

as do I ....

1) he is not going to be as good as his teacher , students rarely are

2) he will inherrit the same broken system because of the lack of ingredients 2 CBs 1 FS perhaps 1 SS and at the very minimum 1 OLB that can actually rush the passer ....

3) still uncertain NT spot albeit there is Hope for McCullers

so hand him a broken cog and expect it to work better is a pipe dream IMO

Maybe Butler will take the defense and scheme and bring it into this era of football. Its easy to sit here and be nit picky about a guy but maybe he has his own ideas on how to hide the defensive problems. Yes the defense needs help and better players but no matter who you hire its the same problem.

[86WARD]

Agree with most of the people here.

Not happy to see LeBeau go...but I think it was time. I would rather see them explore some outside candidates before "handing" the job to Butler. Not sold on him as the DC...never have loved the idea. Troy, Ike, Silverback and Diesel are most likely gone...agree with that as well.

[salamander]

Wow... honestly was not expecting that but I am very grateful he was our DC and I wish him the best.

[Psycho Ward 86]

as do I ....

1) he is not going to be as good as his teacher , students rarely are

2) he will inherrit the same broken system because of the lack of ingredients 2 CBs 1 FS perhaps 1 SS and at the very minimum 1 OLB that can actually rush the passer ....

3) still uncertain NT spot albeit there is Hope for McCullers

so hand him a broken cog and expect it to work better is a pipe dream IMO

1) Uh, i dont think anyone is expecting Butler to top arguably the best defensive coordinator of all time. that being said, with this statement and the last statement in your post, in addition to your pessimism towards Butler, you seem to be implying that anyone that ran our defense this season not named dick lebeau would have produced an even crappier defense. i disagree, but that doesnt mean im depreciating the legendary defenses he created here and the contributions he made to the game of football in general. Thats not an endorsement of Keith Butler, as i have no idea what to expect of him. And as for students rarely being better than their teachers? Thats 100% selective and up in the air. Depends on what student-teacher pairs you're looking at. Although that probably falls true between Lebeau and Butler. Kind of hard to top the best ever.

2) We have no idea if he is or isnt even going to use the same system we had in place. Yes, he's been here for a long time. Yes, Dick Lebeau is no doubt an influence on him. That doesnt mean he has the creativity of a rock. Last time I checked he has an impressive pedigree based on him churning out linebackers that became very good or overachieved greatly such as Jamir Miller, Wali Rainer, Barry Minter, Earl Holmes, Joey Porter, Larry Foote, Lawrence Timmons, James Harrison, James Farrior, Clark Haggans, Lamaar Woodley, Vince Williams, etc.

Albeit this is all assuming that he is actually going to be our next DC.

3) Theres uncertainty, but not at the starting spot, and a lot of promise for the next body on the depth chart. Not nearly enough uncertainty that we should be drafting high here. CB, S, TE, OLB, and DE (for depth) all seem like bigger priorities.

is anyone else concerned THIS is probably what we are looking at as the DC ?

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...0-5783de6c9210

i dont know what you were expecting to hear in a press conference about a newly drafted player. Lots of negative things? Of course not. No one drafts someone with the intention of them not being a good player. Dick Lebeau almost always talks good about his players even if theyre awful. Veterans and rookies alike. Saxon said Archer "is as tough as any kid around." What's he supposed to say? "He sucks, we overdrafted him and immediately regretted the pick when we put it in." No, its just lip service.

[Drazo85]

Is there any chance Carnel Lake would be considered for LeBeau's replacement?

[zulater]

According to Jim Wexall LeBeau was surprised when Tomlin told him his services were no longer required. So they can call it whatever they want, but he was fired. Sad day. I honestly thought they'd bring him back for one more year. Thought given the lack of talent they did some nice things later in the season. Tell me how many teams are winning playing Antwon Blake and Brice McCain for a majority of your plays?

[Psycho Ward 86]

Is there any chance Carnel Lake would be considered for LeBeau's replacement?

he seems way to green in the coaching world to do it yet

[Shoes]

Is there any chance Carnel Lake would be considered for LeBeau's replacement?

It's better to go outside the team imo.

[Psycho Ward 86]

According to Jim Wexall LeBeau was surprised when Tomlin told him his services were no longer required. So they can call it whatever they want, but he was fired. Sad day. I honestly thought they'd bring him back for one more year. Thought given the lack of talent they did some nice things later in the season. Tell me how many teams are winning playing Antwon Blake and Brice McCain for a majority of your plays?

Very few, but its possible. Dean Pees, Todd Bowles, and Jim O'Neill all did a great job under much more difficult circumstances. Again, not an endorsement of Butler or depreciation of Lebeau. I think its grown hard for steeler fans like me to accept anything less than excellence from possibly the best to ever do it.

[Moose]

Hey new DC ....." Get rid of that DAMN 5 yrd cushion by the CB's " !

[Count Steeler]

Thanks for the memories Mr. LeBeau. Godspeed in your next endeavor.

[Dwinsgames]

fans (and front office ) better hope Buters version of Lebeaus system is closer to Ray Hortons version than Jim Hasletts

[Devilsdancefloor]

the more i think about this the one thing that is eating at me WHY no press conference and have a Mr Rooney announce and have coach dad talk for a a few minutes, but i agree he will be a DC with BA

[SteelerFanInStl]

I really hope that the Steelers don't just hand the job to Butler. They need to bring candidates in for interviews and give the job to the most qualified person. I'm not sure that Butler would be that person.

[86WARD]

the more i think about this the one thing that is eating at me WHY no press conference and have a Mr Rooney announce and have coach dad talk for a a few minutes, but i agree he will be a DC with BA

Because he was flat out fired. That simple.

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Yet Danny Smith is still employed...lol. Fucking Tomlin...