What to do with Keith Butler?

His contract is up after this season, his defense is much improved with the additional talent they brought in. Butler also is the Steelers OLB coach, barring a late season collapse and this team makes the playoffs, I think they bring Butler back in 2020. Watt and Dupree are having their best seasons of their career, they have a real OLB coach now in Butler, not that fool Porter.

 

The resurgence of the D this year and Butler's entrenchment with the team probably means he will be back. I'm not a fan of his but I just think that's how its going to play out.

 

So are you saying you don't have a "clue" what to do with the "Butler"? Well just last week he was an accomplice to a murder in the "Kitchen" with a 1000 "Watt" motor.

 

He is likely gone I am afraid. Teryl Austin being a Seinor Defensive Assistant likely has more meaning than others believe. He is likely next in line to supplant Butler given his background.

 

He has done a good job and got an effective system working. We don’t need to start over. Sign DuPree and lets be there next year

 

Harrison might still be a better option, Sign Javon.

 

Also worth remembering that Butler took on LB coaching as well because Tomlin was having more of a hand in the running of the defense.

Looking at the evidence:
Years with Butler in charge = frustrating misuse of talent.
One season with Austin and Tomlin more explicitly involved = vastly improved defense. Obviously that's not all on coaching, but more than one thing had to change for the improvements we've seen.

I don't think that looks good for Butler. Unless he wants to drop down to LB coach again.

 

If KB is largely overseeing the defence still then I see no need for change. If he is the DC in name only and others are responsible for the bulk of the improved defence then they should let him go. Only management truly know.

I will say in agreement with others there has been a huge improvement in the OLB play since he took that role over from porter. If he was willing to step back in to that role I think everybody would be happy with that. I expect if he loses the DC gig he will want to move on though.

 

They reported Tomlin drew up how to stop the Brown’s on the chalkboard during halftime....

This is Tomlin’s defense. I think Butler is gone, although I will give him credit for the improvement of Bud Dupree. After Porter left both our OLB’s started to take off. It’s not a coincidence.

 

When the head coach has to take over and make adjustments the DC ain't cutting it just like years prior. Also just like years prior the backers even under butler struggled. They brought in a LB coach for a week to beat the patriots. This is duprees 5th year option. Butler has been here through it all. He has to go and no he is not responsible for the better LB play all of a sudden. Get rid of this guy and watch someone that can really run a defense. Enough already. ​

 

What defense has austin coached that was ranked top 10, he hasnt proved anything as a DC to be hailed as the second coming, if we are going to change DCs at least sign one that has a proven record, austin is mediocre at best.....

 

I kind of agree. Bring back Dick and let him play with this talent on defense.

 

I would agree Butler should come back. It looked like he was going in the wrong direction but thankfully he is trending upward at this time.

 

Incorrect.


Back in 2015, he was considered to be a top coaching candidate. Furthermore, in his first season in Detriot which was 2014, the Lions were 3rd in PPG, 1st in Rush yards allowed and 1st in rush yards per game. However, given the fact that Suh left shortly thereafter, the defense did not recover from that.


In Pittsburgh, he has far superior talent than he ever has had. Who is to say he cannot improve this defense to new heights. Teryl Austin's situation is VASTLY differentt than what Chicago has experienced via Vic Fangio.

 

Wade Phillips may be looking for a job next year, has he coached a 3-4 defense?

 

is that supposed to be green....Heck yea, he'd be a great hire imo

 

After the first quarter of the season, most wanted him run out on a rail. He doesn't know how to scheme or make adjustments. Now he's a golden boy. lol

In all seriousness, if Butler goes, If Rivera doesn't get an HC job, he might be worth looking at as a DC.

 

I think Butler is doing a good job as the LB Coach.

They said at the beginning of the season that Tomlin was going to take over as DC and be in charge of calling the defensive plays, and that Butler was going to go back to coaching the LB position.

Butler may be getting paid as the DC, but he has been demoted to a position coach; he will be gone as soon as his contract is up.

 

My memory isn't that great anymore, killed too many braincells. I do remember he coached Denver & the Cowgirls but wasn't positive about what they ran.

 

everytime i read the title i think it's an old horse that needs to be put down or something lol

 

The Rams defense sucks, the Ravens ran all over them, they can keep Grandpa Wade.

 

Minkah isn't calling the defense, or coaching the OLBs like Butler is. They have won games even when Minkah hasn't made those splash plays.

 

Wasn't there a rumor kicking around a couple of years ago that Tomlin wanted Butler gone, but the Rooneys refused to let him go? Not sure how much truth there was to it.

I really don't know about Butler. Whether he's back or not depends on how in charge he's actually been this year. If the D is being controlled by others then he's almost certainly done. If not I'm sure they'll try and bring him back.

 

I think that Butler will not be the DC next year, predicted by not having his contract renewed. Who do you like if he goes to lb coach or moves on?