Keith Butler was named Steelers defensive coordinator today. A move which has been anticipated for many years. One question that has been on the minds of many Steelers fans lately is- Will Keith Butler’s scheme differ from Dick LeBeau’s scheme, and if so, how much?
Bob Labriola of Steelers.com spoke with Butler today, and asked a few questions to get a better understanding of what the new coordinator’s defensive philosophy is.
“It’s not much different than most people’s philosophy would be. We definitely have to stop the run, we have to make offenses one-dimensional if we can, and we have to put pressure on the quarterback. If we can do those things, then we can help the offense. We have to get the ball back for the offense – that’s our main goal,” said Butler.
I like it. I like it.
When asked if he’s a 3-4 guy, Butler says, “I would consider myself a whatever-it-takes-to-win guy.”
“If it’s a 3-4, that’s fine, if that fits your players. I think you have to be able to fit your defense around the players you have. With what offenses are doing nowadays in the National Football League, they’re playing a lot of three wide receivers and a tight end and a running back, for the most part. In those situations, we’re going to be in kind of a 4-3 anyway, but we’re still going to be able to run the 3-4 also. It gives you a little bit more versatility, I think.”
Sounds good. Sounds good.
Butler goes on to say that the 3-4 is important due to what offenses are doing today.
“I think there’s still a place for it is because you also have to be versatile as a defense as offenses are trying to be versatile. So we don’t want to blow it up and say we won’t run the 3-4 anymore. We will run the 3-4, but we will run some 4-3 also, in our sub-package.”
Makes sense. Though, isn’t that essentially what the Steelers have been doing defensively?
The Steelers will not hold a press conference to announce their new DC. I’m sure however that we’ll hear much more from Butler in the coming days and weeks, and will soon grow as tired as him from hearing 4-3 questions.