2026 Free Agent Thread

Exactly.
Like it's backbreaking work to scroll ahead anyways. LoL

 

This My friend is exactly what happened. I totally remember people doing the Seattle comparison at the time, and saying, why do we have to run such a complicated D, and Seattle can go to the SB with young players. Hell there were even many articles about it. You think I was a Tomlin fan, it was nothing compared to the Lebeau fan I was. I used to get into long freaking debates about it, and now it's funny that probably those same exact people now complain about having a more simplified D, and wish they had Lebeau. LoL. You can't win with some fans. Damn if you do, damned if you don't.

 

This.

Ben was a notorious slow starter for his entire career (notable exception was the playoff game in Denver early in his career).

At the end, I don't think he had the accuracy to excel against good defenses playing tight coverage. But then he could rack up stats when they were playing off with big leads (after crushing turnovers).

 

Agreed.

It's sad, but the economics of the league really tarnished the beauty of LeBeau's defense.

That and new rules.

And Tom ****ing Brady who was just elite at taking what the defense gave him.

 

I still love LeBeau.

Just seems like such a solid person.

Great (somewhat) recent interviews:
Terrible Podcast


All Things Covered


There's also one with Cam that I just realized exists...will listen tomorrow


Always comes across as so humble despite great accomplishments. And the love for his players just seems to shine through whenever I hear him talk.

 

I remember having just heated discussions about Lebeau's system and its complexity vs the apparent ease in which OC's and QB's abused it. I'd go round and round with people who said it can't be that tough because random rookie QB did well against it. I'd tell them the blueprint for attacking the system is out there and has little to do with the complexity of it. Running short crossing routes into the holes in the zone was easy to attack while everyone on defense had multiple roles on any given look from the offense. Some of the Patriots games against the Steelers really showed how you can force the front seven into choices that leave your primary read open. They run the dbl TE's up the seam, the outside receivers on go routes and Edelman was free on the shallow cross, every single time. You move a guy down to cover him and leave Gronk on a safety or slow ILB and it favors Gronk. The complexity of the system didnt mean was easy to defeat it just required guys to execute and know their role. Nowadays not so much.

 

Very true.

One of the interesting things is the part of FA that teams are in now. Most of the guys that any team would be glad to roster are off the market. Now it’s all about very specific fits. I’m not sure the pack had a NT on the roster after their earlier trade.

be interesting if Hargrave makes a final act transition. Wouldn’t be the first pass rushing DL that transitions to a space eating run stuffer as they age.

 

100%.

 

Roethlisberger was great in the first quarter in the first 2 years under Cowher...over 100 passing rating in 2004,and 144(!!!)in 2005...Even in 2006,his best quarter was the first...Cowher had way more urgency that Tomlin to starting fast on offense and this is not hard to do since the only time the steelers score over 7 points in the first quarter since the retirement of Roethlisberger was in week 1 in 2022 and it was because of a pick 6!

 

The new safety rule that the nfl had at the start in 2011 hurt the Dick Lebeau(and Dom capers in Green Bay) defense big time.This is no doubt about that.The receiver don't need to paid the price if you want to catch the ball in the middle of the field now

 

That did also have a bit of a impact. Not all of it, but definitely some.

 

I could get Carpl finger. Ahhh I need a nap now.

 

Don't bother responding because you're on ignore.