Lebeau needs to go

we didn't dress bw webb last game and McCain got hurt, so we didn't have a lot of choice in keeping ike on the field. remember troy got dinged up too. we were in trouble replacement wise in that game and down to our last players.

 

I hear people say that we are not making adjustments or not blitzing but what is disturbing is that we blitzed Luck and colts 80% of the time but when we played the jets we hardly ever blitzed.

It's like the good teams we blitz the sorry teams we play conservative.

 

I saw this stat LeBeau has Worilds dropping into coverage 30% of the time, on the Steelers last 190 pass plays. The Steelers aren't paying him 9 million to cover people. The defense doesn't excel in any one area, and they seem to leave their CB's one on one too much against good WRs.

 

That's the thing, I just can't figure out what our defence is doing most of the time. Our game plans make no sense, although to be fair, sometimes our offensive game plans make no sense either (that infamous Cleveland game for example). It's that type of stuff that makes me believe our #1 problem is coaching. I wouldn't be against DL returning provided Tomlin was fired and the new coach wanted DL to return. DL has had a ton of success in this league, is are defensive struggles his fault, or is it something Tomlin doing that is negatively affecting DL and the defence? I don't know, but I do know I want tomlin gone, but wouldn't be against DL returning if the new coach wanted to keep him.

 

No, he was getting better before he left the Steelers. He was getting interceptions and batting balls down his last season here. I think it took him a season or two to get his feet under him. He still needs to work on defending the double move, though. That move killed him a couple games ago. But he got an INT in the same game.

 

... and held... and choked...

 

I disagree. The defense pulled three major stops in the first half. The offense couldn't score. That would have changed the complexion of the game from a strategy standpoint. Sean Payton didn't have to worry about fighting against a huge deficit. Steelers should have been up about 17-0 by the time NO got an opportunity to score.

 

I wonder if the teams with losing records prep for the Steelers the way the Steelers prep for Colts, Ravens, Patriots, etc...

The rush was getting to Brees early in the game... I'm not sure what happened after that.

 

I think DL system is too complacated for today's nfl unless you have a few mid-level veterans that can still play at a high level. Ike, Troy, Keisel and Harrison are done in my opinion after this year. Plus, with rookie contracts about 4 years it takes that long to learn the system. When they do get it down, we are not sure to retain or let them go. Perfect example is Worilds. Look how long it's taken him to see the field. And the only reason he did is because Woodley was often injured. Even Keisel stayed on the bench for a while before he got his chance.

 

Are you sure about that? I read it in the Post Gazette this week. Even if it's off a bit, Worilds should be rushing more that's why he's making 9 million and he's probably the best pass rusher on the team.

 

What I do not get is DL was one of the greatest corners but he can't find one in the draft. I would think given his knowledge of the spot he could hit a home run every other draft with DB's.

 

I remember seeing Levon Kirkland dropping back into coverage, scary.

 

OK, this has been an interesting thread...

I will admit, that some posters have made me question my unwavering support for Dick LeBeau...

I may have given him an easy out, by saying players are not doing their job...(Tackling)...

But the number one complaint I have seen, that, makes me re-think my support for him, is the lack of aggressiveness...

MAYBE he is getting too old, and too conservative, maybe not...

In my younger days, I was MUCH more aggressive...

It led to bad results...

But that was in the game of life, not FOOTBALL...

I do think Lebeau has gotten too conservative.

I don`t know why.

Players available, opponents faced? I dunno...

But I WILL say, "Live by the blitz, die by the blitz"...

And when we have brought heavy pressure, we tend to have better results...

Not JUST the Colts/Ravens, this year.

Historically,... we are a better team, when we attack the QB...

Could he be changing his ways, because of the rule changes, and the D getting penalized more,
for hitting the QB too hard, or getting P.I. calls, covering receivers????

I dunno, but that`s the only realistic explanantion I can come up with, for us abandoning our history, as an "intimidating" defense...

Hard to be "intimidating", when you get flagged for hitting people too hard...

If that`s the case, and Dick can`t figure out how to adapt, then, maybe, yeah , his time might have come...

But I won`t fault him...

I will fault the league, for making the game too difficult for the defense...

Hey... "Your job is to stop the other team from moving the ball" ...

"But don`t hit them too hard"...
"And, take it easy on the quarterbacks(That aren`t named "Ben")"...

Tuff league to adapt to, if you are a 70+ year old D-Coordinator...

I still have faith in him,

But I would understand, if he wanted to throw in the "Towel" in disgust, and let some "kid", figure out how to play "defense" in the NFL, nowadays...

GO STEELERS!!!:godell:

 

DL aint going any where.

 

I wonder at the "Lebeau doesn't adjust" idea, when our D today plays much differently than it did years ago (e.g., blitzburg). He has switched from an aggressive attacking style to almost a prevent defense from the start of the game. We can argue that it has not been effective, but he has changed. Possibly due to different personnel, different rules, or the influence of a different head coach (Does he have any influence?).

The conservative approach is especially evident when the game is close or losing. I would prefer, planning for your offense that realistically could put up 35 points a game, to take more risks and if they don't pay off, allow the offense to make up for it. But, it is almost like the defense does not trust the offense to score, so they have to play conservative to keep it close, which often backfires. Big time.

I believe the overall philosophies on offense and defense need to be coordinated, and the conservative defense does not seem to compliment the high skill level of our offense, even if they don't show up and score consistently. I'd like to see the defense unleashed, and if they get burned, at least they were fighting, rather than chasing people.

But, bottom line, Lebeau doesn't have the talent he used to. When your linebackers can't get to the QB, AND they can't cover receivers, what is a coordinator to do? Not all his fault.

 

I agree.

Also agree with the fact that DL is changing his approach according to the players he has. But then I've also said on here a few times before I find it amusing that people honestly think DL doesn't notice the DBs giving the WRs a cushion, or doesn't think it's a problem.

 

When they pry it from his cold, dead hands. Right, myron?