Steelers sign

Rooney: We’ll Remain A 3-4 Under Butler

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Steelers president Art Rooney II spoke with local media today about the state of the team, and made one thing perfectly clear: the Steelers will remain a 3-4 defense under Keith Butler.

Many fans hoped or expected the defensive scheme to change when Dick LeBeau stepped away, but as Butler indicated last week, and Rooney confirms this morning, the team will remain a 3-4 defense.

https://twitter.com/EdBouchette/status/557931430559621121

“I don’t see any dramatic changes to the design of the defense,” said Rooney. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Surely Butler will put his stamp on the defense, but after coaching under LeBeau for so long, very little change should be expected.

Art II said that improving the defense during the offseason is a priority, but praised the unit for improving throughout last season. “All things considered, and with some of the personnel changes that we went through, over the course of the season they got better and that’s what you strive to do.”

When asked about former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, Rooney said he was sorry to see him go. “It was a difficult situation,” said Rooney via Kaboly of the Trib. “Personally, I would’ve loved to see Dick stay. Look, Dick made a decision. The words he used to describe what he wanted to do were his words. I am not going to dispute that. Those were the words he used”

“I was sorry to see Dick go, but as we all know, these things happen in this business,” he added.

 

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Senior Bowl Official Weigh In Measurements

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Senior Bowl week kicked off today with the annual meat market weigh ins. Basically, players from the North and South squads are herded like cattle and weighed/measured in their underwear, in front of media and NFL staff onlookers. Many take pictures.

https://twitter.com/seniorbowl/status/557553216376684546

Here are the results of today’s weigh ins.

North

[wpdatatable id=36]

South

[wpdatatable id=37]

 

Dick LeBeau Pittsburgh Steelers

Report: Arizona Finalizing Deal With Dick LeBeau…As Linebacker’s Coach

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Since former Steelers defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau “resigned” a week and a half ago, the writing has been all over the wall indicating his move to Arizona.  According to Alex Marvez, the two sides are finalizing a deal for LeBeau to become Arizona’s new linebacker’s coach.

https://twitter.com/alexmarvez/status/557760503339286529

As inevitable as the move to Arizona seemed, taking a role as a linebacker’s coach is pretty unexpected. Linebacker’s coach is a pretty big drop off from defensive coordinator or defensive consultant in Arizona. It will be interesting to see exactly what role he ultimately plays in Arizona.

Gary_Kubiak_in_2008

Broncos Announce Gary Kubiak As New Head Coach

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Gary Kubiak has been hired as the new Denver Broncos head coach.

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/557277216657010689

This announcement comes just a little over a week after Kubiak announced that he was not interested in leaving Baltimore. How quickly things change. Kubiak’s departure totals five members of the Ravens coaching staff to leave so far this offseason. Quarterback’s Coach Rick Dennison, Assistant Head Coach/Secondary Coach Steve Spagnola, Tight Ends Coach Brian Pariani, and Quality Control Coach Jay Harbaugh have all taken positions outside of Baltimore.

Kubiak is no stranger to the Broncos. He was quarterback’s coach and offensive coordinator from 1995-2005.

It’s not a stretch of the imagination to say that Kubiak’s departure is a big loss to the Ravens. Finding an offensive coordinator of his caliber will be a very tall task.

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NFL Investigating Patriots For Deflating Balls

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The New England Patriots are reportedly being investigated by the NFL for under inflating their game balls during yesterday’s victory over the Colts.

https://twitter.com/bkravitz/status/557189134234959872

According to a league source, via ProFootballTalk, several irregular balls were removed from the game yesterday. The phrase “DeflateGate” is being thrown around.

The NFL rule book mandates that each team makes 12 balls available for inspection before kickoff. The home team must make 12 backup balls available, and the visiting team may bring another 12 backup balls for games to be played outdoors.

While this is a newsworthy story, it wasn’t the difference between a win and a loss yesterday. The Colts looked like a high school team yesterday, and a softer ball didn’t help LeGarrette Blount run for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Here is footage from the game where the refs stopped play due to the balls.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”PatsDeflateBalls”]

Hopefully a political cartoonist somewhere is drawing Bill Belichick in the Evil Emperor’s robes, waiving his hand at two refs saying, “these aren’t the balls your looking for…”.

Dick LeBeau Pittsburgh Steelers

Obituary Says That LeBeau’s Departure Contributed To Woman’s Death

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Eleanor Gallagher’s obituary starts off like many other obits do. The 81 year old great-grandmother of Nanticoke, PA “peacefully passed away surrounded by family and friends”. It’s not until the 5th paragraph where things begin to get a little weird.

According to the obituary, Ms. Gallagher’s family thinks that former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s departure played a part in the 81 year old’s death.

“Eleanor was a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and the family firmly believes that the recent separation of Dick LeBeau and the Steelers’ poor performance this season might have inadvertently contributed to her demise,” the family wrote in her obituary.

To be fair, the Steelers did win the division and make the playoffs. If LeBeau’s “resignation” did contribute to premature deaths, I can only imagine how many babies were brought into this world as a result of Arians’ “retirement”.

In all seriousness, I’ve suggested before that being a Steelers fan does take time off your life. Rest in peace, Ms. Gallagher.

shawn lemon

CFL DE Shawn Lemon Reportedly To Sign With Steelers

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Earlier in the week I reported that the Steelers were hosting a couple CFL prospects for tryouts. Well, according to the Calgary Sun, the Steelers will be adding Lemon to their offseason roster.

https://twitter.com/SUNMitchell/status/556214976252092417

The 6’3, 251 lb pass rusher will be released by the Stampeders before he officially becomes a free agent in February, so that he can sign with the Steelers, according to sources. Lemon registered 13 sacks last year, and tied the CFL record of 8 forced fumbles.

It was not made clear when the signing would reportedly happen. Here are some of Lemon’s CFL highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TStkAvjDTws

steelers draft

Mel Kiper Jr, Daniel Jeremiah Release First Mock Drafts

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It’s that time of year again. The time where the experts (and non-experts) start cranking out mock drafts. ESPN draft guru Mel Kipper Jr. has released his highly anticipated mock draft version 1.0, and he has the Steelers taking Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson at No. 22.

If you thought CB was the “cool pick” last year, this year it’s going to be off the hook. Nonetheless, most of Steeler Nation probably will applaud at a first round CB, regardless of who he is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaxVwD-HvNU

Johnson is 6′ 0″, 175 lbs and started 41 games at Wake Forrest. I’ll do a complete report on Johnson, and other potential Steelers CB prospects in the future. The Steelers haven’t taken a CB in the first round since 1997 when they drafted Chad Scott.

Jeremiah has the Steelers taking Gerrod Holliman in the first round. Holliman is a free safety out of Louisville. The 6’0, 201 lbs defensive back saw his first year as starter in 2014, and recorded 14 interceptions. 14. He’s hard to watch honestly, because a) he looks a little lost at times (at least in the games I’ve seen so far) and b) he doesn’t look like he’s a fan of tackling in run support.

Of course these and other expert mocks will most likely change in the coming weeks and months, but it’s interesting to get a feel for who these big name media guys think the Steelers should select with the 22nd pick.

steelers

Steelers Sign OT Mitchell Van Dyk To Futures Contract

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The Steelers have added another player to their off-season roster this week. Former Rams offensive tackle Mitchell Van Dyk has been signed to a reserve/futures contract.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/555831813416185856

https://twitter.com/Mitch64psu/status/555445064927694848

Van Dyk was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. The Portland State OT is 6’7″, 313 lb and did 14 bench reps at his Pro Day.

He spent the summer with St. Louis and did about how you’d expect a 7th round lineman to do in preseason.

isaiah lewis

Steelers Sign S Isaiah Lewis To Futures Contract

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The Steelers have signed former Bengals SS Isaiah Lewis to a reserve/futures contract.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/555133824523186176

Lewis is 5’10, 208 lbs. The Bengals signed the former Michigan State safety as an undrafted free agent last spring, but waived him before the season began last August. Lewis began his college career as a nickel corner, but started at SS for the last 3 years.

Lewis was projected to be a mid round prospect going into his senior year, but an arthroscopic knee surgery early in the season effected his play, and subsequently his draft stock. Here are some of his highlights from Michigan State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQJPe0N8_XM