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Long time Steelers DC Dick LeBeau resigns

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Gerry Dulac ‏@gerrydulac
Dick LeBeau out as defensive coordinator. Says he and #Steelers have agreed to mutually part ways: "Time to go in a different direction."
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"I'm resigning this position, not retiring," LeBeau, 77, said. "I had a great run in Pittsburgh. I'm grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh."​
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Hopefully it's not for undisclosed health issues.

Obviously I'm far from a Steelers fan, but I have much respect for LeBeau.
 
Texan_Bill said:
Hopefully it's not for undisclosed health issues.
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Don't think so...
LeBeau just completed his 11th season in his second tour of duty with the Steelers, but he was asked to resign after meeting for several days with Coach Mike Tomlin.

“I’m resigning, I’m not retiring,” LeBeau said in an interview with the Post-Gazette after the story was first reported by the Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen. “It was a lot of great days, a lot of great years. It’s time to go in a different direction.”

During his tenure with the Steelers, LeBeau’s defense ranked No. 1 overall in the league five times and in the top five 10 times.
...
“It happens,” said LeBeau, 77, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent 56 years in the league as a player and coach. “It’s like I’m starting brand new. In this business you can end up in that position.”

LeBeau said he did not know if he will continue to coach in the NFL.

“I don’t even know, but I’m not retiring,” LeBeau said. “There might not be anyone interested.”
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ChampionTexan said:
Not sure what you're referring to here - Pittsburgh's D hasn't been top 10 in either yardage or points for the last two seasons.
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I pulled it up on the internet. NLF.COM said this (5th). I wanted to verify again and I got they were 18 (which is fine in terms of a DC).

I don't know what to tell ya. :spin:

I stand by my argument, especially to TK who simply guessed. LaBeau is awesome today, and would be tomorrow.
 
Showtime100 said:
I stand by my argument, especially to TK who simply guessed. LaBeau is awesome today, and would be tomorrow.
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I guessed??

Pittsburgh's D has not been "The Pittsburgh D" LeBeau is famous for for a long, long time. Even if their numbers were top 5, when they were needed to be stout, they weren't.

I can't remember the last time the Pittsburgh D won them a game.

& their tradition of developing LBs seem to have gone by the wayside.

I blame Tomlin myself. But it seems like they're making LeBeau the goat.
 
Playoffs said:
Don't think so...

LeBeau just completed his 11th season in his second tour of duty with the Steelers, but he was asked to resign after meeting for several days with Coach Mike Tomlin.
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Totally conflicting reports out:

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL GameDay Morning that LeBeau's resignation caught the Steelers by surprise, per sources involved in the situation.

While some in the organization were clear that LeBeau could stay as long as he wanted, the longtime coach thought it was time to go, Rapoport was told. It's believed that LeBeau, 77, wanted to depart alongside veterans such as cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu, who are unlikely to be back with Pittsburgh in 2015.

The logical heir apparent for LeBeau is Keith Butler, who the Titans tried to hire away last offseason. The Steelers blocked the move, perhaps paving the way for Butler -- the team's long-tenured linebackers coach -- to take over Pittsburgh's coordinating duties.
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Link
 
infantrycak said:
Totally conflicting reports out:
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They edited that paragraph since I posted it...
Mr. LeBeau, one of the most revered defensive coordinators in the National Football League who is regarded as the architect of the zone blitz that is copied by many other teams, agreed to resign after meetings over several days with Coach Mike Tomlin...
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Then added this inference...
The mutual parting was reminiscent of the announcement three years ago that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians had agreed to “retire” when in fact team president Art Rooney II told him he would not be offered a new contract. A week later, Mr. Arians joined the Indianapolis Colts as offensive coordinator.
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His defense finished 18th overall in the league, including 27th against the pass. The Steelers allowed 15 pass plays of 40 yards or longer, second most in the league behind the Philadelphia Eagles (18). It was the second season in a row the Steelers allowed more long pass plays than any team in the AFC...
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I'd believe the local papers over whatever is put out for Rapoport to publish. He's a public relations mimeograph.
 
Seems like there are rumors that Dom Capers might be out in Green Bay after the season. I think that would be a perfect landing spot for LeBeau, if that is the case.
 
I just hope he doesn't land as a DC in the AFC South!

Someone is going to get a helluva' coach in LeBeau.
 
michaelm said:
Seems like there are rumors that Dom Capers might be out in Green Bay after the season. I think that would be a perfect landing spot for LeBeau, if that is the case.
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Aren't they the same guy? I think they'll look for someone a little younger. Like 60-65.
 
Lucky said:
Aren't they the same guy? I think they'll look for someone a little younger. Like 60-65.
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IMO, Capers can't hold LeBeau's jock.
I think GB has could be the best team in football for the next 2-4 years with an improved defense, so I'd take LeBeau in a heartbeat if I was GM there.
 
michaelm said:
IMO, Capers can't hold LeBeau's jock.
I think GB has could be the best team in football for the next 2-4 years with an improved defense, so I'd take LeBeau in a heartbeat if I was GM there.
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Well Capers/GB's D sure had the vaunted Dallas OL looking silly yesterday.
 
infantrycak said:
Well Capers/GB's D sure had the vaunted Dallas OL looking silly yesterday.
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I agree. I wasn't insinuating that Capers is incompetent. He's a good DC, I just think Lebeau is clearly better. Maybe it's just that I prefer LeBeau's defensive style. I think the mix of zone blitz concepts results in more free rushers in general, and creates more indecision for QBs.
 
most of the problem on defense is how much emphasis the steelers have put on trying to modernize their offense under tomlin. IMO they'd be better off WITH lebeau and WITHOUT tomlin. lebeau simply hasnt had the resources he needs to keep the defense going, it's been labeled "too old" for years.

this is really surprising to me though, i thought it was a foregone conclusion to lebeau would retire a steeler.
 
thunderkyss said:
What are the odds??

LebeauWisenhut.jpg



:thinking:
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I think if LeBeau teams up with any former Steelers OC, it's more likely to be Bruce Arians. He's likely going to need a DC with Bowles as one of the more popular HC candidates, he's already expressed interest, and he's not coaching the Titans.
 
Scooter said:
most of the problem on defense is how much emphasis the steelers have put on trying to modernize their offense under tomlin. IMO they'd be better off WITH lebeau and WITHOUT tomlin. lebeau simply hasnt had the resources he needs to keep the defense going, it's been labeled "too old" for years.

this is really surprising to me though, i thought it was a foregone conclusion to lebeau would retire a steeler.
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I don't know if this is truly accurate. Look at the Steelers' drafts, they usually consist of the trenches or defense early (outside of a couple of years). Even their free agents this past year were more on defense: S, DL, WR, LB, CB, RB, WR.

LeBeau left the Steelers before, maybe he felt it was again time for a change of scenery.
 
using their current depth chart, from 2008-2013 the steelers have added 2 defensive starters through the draft. that seems extremely low to me. 2007 was a good year, and 2014 looks promising, but the rest has only shown up on offense.
 
Playoffs said:
Rumored to be the guy in Arizona when Bowles gets his HC gig.
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Man, that's just going to make the Cardinals that much better. I've really been impressed with what Bruce Arians has done with that team. LeBeau as DC could really make them into a team that gives the Seahawks a run for their money.
 
Double Barrel said:
Man, that's just going to make the Cardinals that much better. I've really been impressed with what Bruce Arians has done with that team. LeBeau as DC could really make them into a team that gives the Seahawks a run for their money.
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The Cardinals have been 5th and 7th on points under Bowles. I like LaBeau but that's an awfully thin margin for improvement. What they need is a QB and a RB.
 
infantrycak said:
The Cardinals have been 5th and 7th on points under Bowles. I like LaBeau but that's an awfully thin margin for improvement. What they need is a QB and a RB.
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Good points. I did not realize that the Cards defense was ranked so high. I guess LeBeau could be good for keeping the D strong, but they are definitely a team that needs a QB and consistent running game. I feel their pain with the QB search.
 
I actually think their D would go backwards a little bit with LeBeau, but not as far backwards as it would have with someone else.

That's not a knock on LeBeau. I just think that Bowles did a better job with that unit than just about anybody else could.
 
Well, damn

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt · 52m52 minutes ago
Looking like Dick LeBeau now heading to Titans. Always good to make the wife happy. Seems to be the case here.
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Double Barrel said:
ugh...that's horrible news if true. :freakout:
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I don't see the big deal. Ray Horton, the Titans DC, played and coached under LeBeau and runs his schemes. Until Tennessee gets better players, there's not much Horton and LeBeau can do. The Titans may have the least talented defense in the NFL.
 
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