• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

Dick LeBeau Out as Defensive Coordinator

The Steelers should have a tribute for DLB at one of their home games next season. ( provided he is not with another team). The Steelers would not even sniff a super bowl without Mr. LeBeau.
 
When the HC has been drafting 4-3 style players since he's been here, it's hard to imagine that Butler is being considered as DL's replacement.

While I hate that the reason we lost to Balt is given an extension at the same time the reason we didn't is shown the door, if we do anything other than switch now to a 4-3 we will look retarded in the FO.

LeBeau was the best and had not lost anything...except well fitting players to his scheme. Haley's gameplan was the reason we lost the game, IMO.
 
we have no pass rushing DE for a 4-3, Jarvis
is to small, as is Worilds if he were brought back. I don't think you can go with Tuitt and Heyward at DE's, neither is a 4-3 pass rusher
 
DL thank you for your time and effort.............

I think these young punks errrrrr players need someone who is a little rough around the edges...............
 
When the HC has been drafting 4-3 style players since he's been here, it's hard to imagine that Butler is being considered as DL's replacement.

While I hate that the reason we lost to Balt is given an extension at the same time the reason we didn't is shown the door, if we do anything other than switch now to a 4-3 we will look retarded in the FO.

LeBeau was the best and had not lost anything...except well fitting players to his scheme. Haley's gameplan was the reason we lost the game, IMO.

If you draft some 4-3 defenders for eight years and not get rid of your DC to make the transition, either you fire your head coach GM. That is an absolutely ridiculous approach to building a defense.
 
I don't think you can go with Tuitt and Heyward at DE's, neither is a 4-3 pass rusher

One of them might be able to slime down a bit and play the strong side end, but neither would fit on the weak side, as that is where you need an extremely explosive player.
 
Ya know this makes me sad to see LeBeau go. The guy's zone blitz scheme works to perfection but without the personnel to run the damn scheme and that means OLB's who can get to the QB and besides James Harrison who is almost 37 years old the Steelers have no one on the roster who can get to the QB on the outside edges.

LeBeau became a scapegoat and it's really unfortunate and IMO it tarnishes his legacy here. He did just as much as Defensive Coordinator for the Steelers as Bud Carson did with the Steel Curtain back in the 70's. Players loved playing for the guy and I loved the fact that the guy was a Steeler through and through. Dick you will be missed by most and you certainly have the utmost respect from this Steeler fan!

Best Wishes Mr. LeBeau!

And to the st00ges on this board who are glad OMD aka Old Man Dick is gone be careful what you wish for.......a change to a 4-3 and you can void out some of our top Defensive picks in recent years and they will just not fit that scheme.
 
The Steelers should have a tribute for DLB at one of their home games next season. ( provided he is not with another team). The Steelers would not even sniff a super bowl without Mr. LeBeau.

Why? It is said with talent anyone can succeed...it is when you don't have it...The talent was here when we won those SB's...who is to say that with a different DC we couldn't of did it?
 
Ya know this makes me sad to see LeBeau go. The guy's zone blitz scheme works to perfection but without the personnel to run the damn scheme and that means OLB's who can get to the QB and besides James Harrison who is almost 37 years old the Steelers have no one on the roster who can get to the QB on the outside edges.

LeBeau became a scapegoat and it's really unfortunate and IMO it tarnishes his legacy here. He did just as much as Defensive Coordinator for the Steelers as Bud Carson did with the Steel Curtain back in the 70's. Players loved playing for the guy and I loved the fact that the guy was a Steeler through and through. Dick you will be missed by most and you certainly have the utmost respect from this Steeler fan!

Best Wishes Mr. LeBeau!

And to the st00ges on this board who are glad OMD aka Old Man Dick is gone be careful what you wish for.......a change to a 4-3 and you can void out some of our top Defensive picks in recent years and they will just not fit that scheme.

I don't care if we are worse next season....change was needed. The game changed. Unfortunately DL didn't change with it...I gladly thank him for his time here. Now this will be truly Tomlin's team. No more excuses. Bring in your guy and get to work.
 
I don't care if we are worse next season....change was needed. The game changed. Unfortunately DL didn't change with it...I gladly thank him for his time here. Now this will be truly Tomlin's team. No more excuses. Bring in your guy and get to work.

Dick is a legend and will always be loved here, but these are my sentiments, as well. Other teams are kicking *** w/o a Dick LeBeau as DC. Let's get some new blood and fire in here. Eleven years is a helluva run. I have nothing but respect for the man. Whether it was the scheme, players or both, change was needed.

Thank you, Coach LeBeau! For everything.
 
We need a complete *** hole to be our next DC. A ******* drill sargeant. I am tired of these young, soft, lazy players. Drop the ******* hammer..
 
I don't care if we are worse next season....change was needed. The game changed. Unfortunately DL didn't change with it...I gladly thank him for his time here. Now this will be truly Tomlin's team. No more excuses. Bring in your guy and get to work.

Rooney: "Mike, bring in your guy and get to work"
Tomlin: "Really, I can bring in my own guy?"
Rooney: "Sure Mike, sure. As long as that guy is Butler."
 
We need a complete *** hole to be our next DC. A ******* drill sargeant. I am tired of these young, soft, lazy players. Drop the ******* hammer..

How about quit drafting them? What young defenders do you like, which ones do you think are soft?
 
I don't care if we are worse next season....change was needed. The game changed. Unfortunately DL didn't change with it...I gladly thank him for his time here. Now this will be truly Tomlin's team. No more excuses. Bring in your guy and get to work.

yes I agree Change was needed but what you need is guys like Joey Porter, Greg Lloyd, James Harrison, Kevin Greene, Jason Gildon, Lamarr Woodley......not fineness OLB's like Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier, Jason Worilds. Speed is not what you need on the edge for a 3-4 Defense. You need nasty guys who are solid in run support and can fight through O-linemen and get to the QB. 40 times just don't matter for LB'ers in the NFL. Shazier runs what a 4.4? Give me a guy who can fight off double teams and is good in run support instead of someone super fast. In the NFL 4.8 in the 40 is good enough. The guys the Steelers have given LeBeau to work with are completely the opposite of what works for a 3-4 Defense.

So to sit there are blame LeBeau it just seems unfair to me when the guy doesn't have the players needed to make the 3-4 work.
 
Last edited:
I do not think any of the fans didn't love DL.

But the NFL changed and the Steelers had to adapt.

and sometimes in a long tenured coach players simply start tuning them out.

In no way does this take away from DLs legacy....... he had his time...........

Not sure he was the MAIN problem but it would be hard pressed to say the D was effective or close to being effective.

I loved LeBeau ( refrained from referencing him here as Dick)

just time to go in a new direction IMO a fresh look............ a different approach............
 
I am guessing a certain James Harrison and a certain Brett Keisel are going to have a thing or two to say about this move. I'm thinking they aren't going to be too complimentary of the organization if in fact he was forced out.
 
How about quit drafting them? What young defenders do you like, which ones do you think are soft?


I agree, stop drafting them. It sure as hell looks like the Ravens got the toughest LBER in last year's draft. Shazier is all finesse. I would love to see Shoulder Tackler (Mitchell) cut as well. We need to scrap the 10 yard cushions too. The defense needs to be physical in every way..
 
LeBeaus weakness has always been TE's....that's how Patriots owned us for the majority of 2000's.

We used to own the Ravens until they figured out the defenses weakness...they copied the Pats strategy and brought in Pitta and Owen Daniels. A couple TEs and the drafting of Ngata completely turned this around. This has been the main reason why the Rats have trouble with the Bengals and even the Browns 4-3 defense.

Last week on that 3rd and 13 that ****** Daniels went across again for an easy conversion (this was after the steelers Td to bring the game within a score).

LeBeaus defense need a certain kind of players to work. Players who are harder to find because everyone now days run 3-4 defenses.

Time to switch to 4-3. First order of business is drafting a couple CBS
 
I am guessing a certain James Harrison and a certain Brett Keisel are going to have a thing or two to say about this move. I'm thinking they aren't going to be too complimentary of the organization if in fact he was forced out.

And if they are a little upset ...WHO CARES. Harrison probably will not be back. Kiesel just might retire. So we move on .....finally.
 
But the NFL changed and the Steelers had to adapt.

and sometimes in a long tenured coach players simply start tuning them out.

If anything, some players may have never tuned in. I just can't buy into guys like Polamalu, Taylor, Harrison, Keisel and Timmons ever tuned out. I can buy that the young guys never bought in.
 
The game didn't pass lebeau by, that's the dumbest thing ever, give him 08 harrison and woodley and our defense is a ton better, even with this crappy secondary.
 
If anything, some players may have never tuned in. I just can't buy into guys like Polamalu, Taylor, Harrison, Keisel and Timmons ever tuned out. I can buy that the young guys never bought in.

yeah pretty much my train of thought...

The younger Jarvis Jones' of the roster who needs a kick in the *** to get pushed in the right direction............
 
Top