Should Tomlin show Dick LeBeau the door after the season?

[bigtwnvin]

LeBeau will leave on his own terms and his resignation/ retirement will be classy. To think of the hundreds of players, coaches and organizations that he has worked and played with, it's incredible. Not to mention his "system" that so many others have utilized for their own successes.
Phenomenal doesn't begin to describe.

 

[stillwright]

LeBeau will leave on his own terms and his resignation/ retirement will be classy. To think of the hundreds of players, coaches and organizations that he
has worked and played with, it's incredible. Not to mention his "system" that so many others have utilized for their own successes.
Phenomenal doesn't begin to describe.

Unfortunately his system has been broken for numerous years now. The question is do we continue to use it in the future. And if Lebeau has the power to decide when to step down then the Rooneys are hurting this franchise as Al Davis hurt his.

 

[thesteelcity]

I don't know how much the defense's shortcomings are on Dickie, as much as personnel. They brought back players that to fill spots and play important roles when they are clearly old and breaking down. Keisel, Debo and Ike contributed so much over the years, but they were cleanup signings and that goes back to poor drafting and free agent pick-ups.
It seems that the players are not matching DL's defensive philosophy. Its a mess. Troy is done, Jarvis Jones is not a 1st round pick, Mitchell sucks, Cam Thomas is so bad, the others mentioned earlier are servicable, but are old. Not to mention, Cortez Allen's terrible contract. There are so many Band-Aids on this D, they may need to start over. If DL can't draft and sign his type of players, then why is he here? I guess it depends of how much say and influence he really has. If he does have a lot of input and they are still this bad, it may be time to move on.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

Here in my thinking, I blame most of our problems on Colbert/ownership and here is why:

If you hire a new head coach and tell him you already have assistant coaches then you are telling him he must believe in their style. So MT was hired with DL as DC and I don't think MT has bought into DL's defensive plan and therefore not getting the players we need for said plan. Who's fault is that not DL, but whoever is pulling the stings at draft time. This is the person that you want gone, not Lebeau not Haley but the person who can't draft to our needs and fits our system, JMO!

 

[black and gold apex]

Time Tomlin find some draft picks to help the defense in how the game is played today.

 

[TAS]

Here in my thinking, I blame most of our problems on Colbert/ownership and here is why:

If you hire a new head coach and tell him you already have assistant coaches then you are telling him he must believe in their style. So MT was hired with DL as DC and I don't think MT has bought into DL's defensive plan and therefore not getting the players we need for said plan. Who's fault is that not DL, but whoever is pulling the stings at draft time. This is the person that you want gone, not Lebeau not Haley but the person who can't draft to our needs and fits our system, JMO!

Than you believe tomlin should be gone. I'm fine with that too he obviously doesn't understand this defense.

 

[Wingman]

DL's defense did a good job today, scoring a touch down, and holding the other team to 20 points and stopping them in what was their last drive of the game. Good job this is a guy we need as long as he wants to stay. When the talent he has to work with improves so will his defense, and in comparison of what he has been given to what he has lost I'm surprised we are as good as we are.

 

[stillwright]

DL's defense did a good job today, scoring a touch down, and holding the other team to 20 points and stopping them in what was their last drive of the game. Good job this is a guy we need as long as he wants to stay. When the talent he has to work with improves so will his defense, and in comparison of what he has been given to what he has lost I'm surprised we are as good as we are.

I think it was one of there better games defensively...but he is set in his ways...I will be shocked if when Ike is healthy he doesn't start. And that is a very bad call.

 

[steelcan58]

LeBeau will leave on his own terms and his resignation/ retirement will be classy. To think of the hundreds of players, coaches and organizations that he has worked and played with, it's incredible. Not to mention his "system" that so many others have utilized for their own successes.
Phenomenal doesn't begin to describe.

That's how the mess in the 80s happened. Too many people left on their own terms. Sorry - it's a business.

 

[stillwright]

That's how the mess in the 80s happened. Too many people left on their own terms. Sorry - it's a business.

Agreed.... 100%!!!! I think this will be it for DL anyways. He will retire...but I have been saying that for 4 years now.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

Than you believe tomlin should be gone. I'm fine with that too he obviously doesn't understand this defense.

I believe who ever makes the call on these picks and DL is not part of it should be gone. I think DL has proven he knows his **** and to even think MT needs to show him the door is just wrong.

 

[stillwright]

I believe who ever makes the call on these picks and DL is not part of it should be gone. I think DL has proven he knows his **** and to even think MT needs to show him the door is just wrong.

So DL staying around for 8 yrs with Tombert drafting 4 -3 players....you want him to stay longer? Kind of weird. It's obvious Tombert wants to go to a 4 - 3 scheme and they don't have the power to fire DL. I think he should just retire so the team can move forward. It's obvious that with DL staying it is only delaying our movement forward to a 4 - 3 scheme on defense.

 

[Vader]

I don't think they are drafting 4-3 players to change to the 4-3 defense. That makes no sense to me. I think they are drafting them because Tombert wants to change the 3-4 into more of a pass oriented defense. They wanted to draft smaller faster lbs to keep up with the RBs and TEs that were dominating the league in the passing game. The problem is that the 3-4 is predicated on stopping the run and pressuring the QB. Which is difficult to do with smallish LBs.

 

[stillwright]

I don't think they are drafting 4-3 players to change to the 4-3 defense. That makes no sense to me. I think they are drafting them because Tombert wants to change the 3-4 into more of a pass oriented defense. They wanted to draft smaller faster lbs to keep up with the RBs and TEs that were dominating the league in the passing game. The problem is that the 3-4 is predicated on stopping the run and pressuring the QB. Which is difficult to do with smallish LBs.

Fair enough....I was just responding to the poster saying DL has zero input into the draft picks, but I guess that is another discussion.

 

[Vader]

Fair enough....I was just responding to the poster saying DL has zero input into the draft picks, but I guess that is another discussion.

I don't know how much input he has but there has been a clear change from when Cowher was here and when Tomlin took over. The drafting on defense is very different. I don't think he is shut out of the meetings but I think it is clear enough that Tomlin wanted to change the defense and has done that. I can't think of another reason for the drafting change.

 

[stillwright]

I don't know how much input he has but there has been a clear change from when Cowher was here and when Tomlin took over. The drafting on defense is very different. I don't think he is shut out of the meetings but I think it is clear enough that Tomlin wanted to change the defense and has done that. I can't think of another reason for the drafting change.

Agreed. I think though the game changed and speed was needed. I believe the reason DL stays on is because he is invested in these picks. They are different only because the game is different and DL is trying to adapt to it. I could be wrong though.

 

[Coryea]

I think it was one of there better games defensively...but he is set in his ways...I will be shocked if when Ike is healthy he doLike start't start. And that is a very bad call.

If Ike starts that is Tomlins call.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

So DL staying around for 8 yrs with Tombert drafting 4 -3 players....you want him to stay longer? Kind of weird. It's obvious Tombert wants to go to a 4 - 3 scheme and they don't have the power to fire DL. I think he should just retire so the team can move forward. It's obvious that with DL staying it is only delaying our movement forward to a 4 - 3 scheme on defense.

Well what I am saying is DL should not be blamed for this alone, when Tomlin was hired he was hired with the understanding DL is his Dcord. What has changed???? Just because our D is bad it don't all get thrown on a guy who has forgot more about football then our head coach will ever know! I think Lebeau has earned the right to retire when he wants, not be forced out. JMO

 

[stillwright]

Well what I am saying is DL should not be blamed for this alone, when Tomlin was hired he was hired with the understanding DL is his Dcord. What has changed???? Just because our D is bad it don't all get thrown on a guy who has forgot more about football then our head coach will ever know! I think Lebeau has earned the right to retire when he wants, not be forced out. JMO

I don't know of anybody on this board who has put the whole blame on DL. All I ever stated is I think he is part of the drafting process. Maybe I should put it this way. I hope he has a large say in who we draft for his defense. I hope he said bring me Jones. I can make him a better player. Bring me Shazier. I can make him a better player. I hope he thinks that he can use their skill set in his defense. if this isn't the case then we need some big changes from the top to the bottom. And i mean the very top to the very bottom.

 

[Coryea]

Tomlin has a lot of say, he himself said Bruce Davis was hand picked by himself. I don't think the DC or OC have a huge say who is drafted.

 

[stillwright]

Tomlin has a lot of say, he himself said Bruce Davis was hand picked by himself. I don't think the DC or OC have a huge say who is drafted.

I find that as crazy. Didn't we draft someone named Edwards one time and it was because our OC wanted him? I might be wrong.(and I don't mean to make this a tomlin/ Cohwer thing)

 

[Coryea]

I find that as crazy. Didn't we draft someone named Edwards one time and it was because our OC wanted him? I might be wrong.(and I don't mean to make this a tomlin/ Cohwer thing)

Tom Donahue wanted him, not exactly sure what his position was, but he was the Kevin Colbert then, he wanted Edwards, Cowher wanted Kearse.

I'm sure when they make their draft boards the OC and DC have opinions, but I don't think they have much say on draft day.

 

[stillwright]

Tom Donahue wanted him, not exactly sure what his position was, but he was the Kevin Colbert then, he wanted Edwards, Cowher wanted Kearse.

I'm sure when they make their draft boards the OC and DC have opinions, but I don't think they have much say on draft day.

I remember it was Gilbrights(spelling) first year with us and want Edward badly for his system. Or so I thought.

 

[Vader]

I remember it was Gilbrights(spelling) first year with us and want Edward badly for his system. Or so I thought.

Gilbride had just taken over for Ray Sherman. I doubt he had any say at all. Donahoe made the call and said so openly. Cowher was furious and after the season went to the Steelers org. and basically said it's either Donahoe or me.

 

[stillwright]

Gilbride had just taken over for Ray Sherman. I doubt he had any say at all. Donahoe made the call and said so openly. Cowher was furious and after the season went to the Steelers org. and basically said it's either Donahoe or me.

OK. I remember that now.