Butler is the new Steelers DC !!!

[Litos]

I have a valid point. If you want to really increase black head coaches in the NFL, you must ensure they are getting coord. gigs as well. It's not that complicated to grasp.

how complicated is to you to understand the team wanted him since along time before? So you go and do a couple more interviews just to cover a rule when you know who you are signing since 4 years ago?

 

[thesteelcity]

Argument goes both ways, with truth on both sides. A DC who connects with his players and simplifies things so they can play without having to think too much can get the same group of players to play much better. I am really hoping Butler doesn't need to feed his ego instead of feeding his family. Dick was far past the point where he could not let ego demands impact him. That is why he ran such a complicated system: to prove what a genius he must be. So we ended up with a program that made young guys worthless, and that is a losing model in the modern day. I really think this is part of why DL is gone: He was being pressured to use young guys earlier and he hated it. You have to be on the "I love Dick and worship him" ship before you get to play.

I heard NO ego when KB was ask what getting the position meant to him. Sounds pretty humble, motivated and grounded. Furthermore, did you ever hear Ike Taylor talk about Dick Lebeau? Ike doesn't BS or pull punches. He loves that man. He is one of many current or former Steelers that would go through a brick wall for DL. For the past 3 days, you hear countless stories of what kind of man and coach he is. There is no worship agreement needed before anyone played. Either they are ready or not. Pretty simple.

 

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

I'm OK with Butler......

Even though he played his whole career with the Seahawks.

 

[Idioteque]

It's not like the guy knows nothing about defense; he was an early architect of a successful Tampa-2. What concerns me about his Xs and Os capability is the fact that by accounts he's JUST NOW exerting himself into the defense. I know LeBeau is a borderline legend, but damn. You're the HC, handpicked with a (small) defensive background, and you're just now part of the defensive scheme braintrust?

I think we have some potential pieces for a good 4-3 base. If we devote high picks from the next two drafts to the D, we have a manageable rebuilding window:

LE Heyward - a little weak and can get pushed around, but gets his feet wet as an edge rusher facing RTs
NT McCullers/prospect platoon as a space-eater
UT Tuitt - shooting gaps; I think he could be an All-Pro in this role
RE high draft pick - a premium edge prospect
WLB Timmons - can roam in space and find the ball with less responsibility, supply real pass pressure with less attention from blockers, and on the weak side his man coverage deficiencies are hidden
MLB Spence/Williams platoon while we evaluate them and/or look for a long-term
SLB Shazier

 

[POP]

how complicated is to you to understand the team wanted him since along time before? So you go and do a couple more interviews just to cover a rule when you know who you are signing since 4 years ago?

Good point, I actually
agree

 

[POP]

It's not like the guy knows nothing about defense; he was an early architect of a successful Tampa-2. What concerns me about his Xs and Os capability is the fact that by accounts he's JUST NOW exerting himself into the defense. I know LeBeau is a borderline legend, but damn. You're the HC, handpicked with a (small) defensive background, and you're just now part of the defensive scheme braintrust?

I think we have some potential pieces for a good 4-3 base. If we devote high picks from the next two drafts to the D, we have a manageable rebuilding window:

LE Heyward - a little weak and can get pushed around, but gets his feet wet as an edge rusher facing RTs
NT McCullers/prospect platoon as a space-eater
UT Tuitt - shooting gaps; I think he could be an All-Pro in this role
RE high draft pick - a premium edge prospect
WLB Timmons - can roam in space and find the ball with less responsibility, supply real pass pressure with less attention from blockers, and on the weak side his man coverage deficiencies are hidden
MLB Spence/Williams platoon while we evaluate them and/or look for a long-term
SLB Shazier

Excellent analysis but no comment on Shazier,

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

I can't believe so many people are shocked by the Butler move. I mean he has been promised this job, we all knew they were going to give it to him based on how loyal the ownership is. Also I don't get how people think that because the last few years our D has sucked and he was here so we are still gonna suck. Maybe people want to forget how good it was while he was here too, been here since 2003 and more then one team has tried to make him their DC!

The problem with this defense is an older Ike and Troy, Clark got washed up and is gone and studs like Hampton and Smith who helped make a 3-4 defense great are gone and we have not replace a single one of these guys! We need better talent, like Butler said in his interview it is all on the players not the scheme. Tomlin and Colbert need to get their **** together and get us some talent on the defensive side of the ball. They have done it on the offensive side now time to fix the defense.

 

[21STEELERS21]

When we were the #1 defense, the key factor was Ike could take the other teams #1 receiver and nullify him.
We need that level of corner again, I hope it's our #1 pick.

 

[Litos]

When we were the #1 defense, the key factor was Ike could take the other teams #1 receiver and nullify him.
We need that level of corner again, I hope it's our #1 pick.

Yeap but the team also had real pass rushers, able to win one on one battles

 

[obxsteeler]

I have a valid point. If you want to really increase black head coaches in the NFL, you must ensure they are getting coord. gigs as well. It's not that complicated to grasp.

The Steelers have never had a problem or perception of bias in picking coaches. Dungy was the first black coordinator hired (and probably fired). They just never made it an issue in their selections-just felt others should do the same. Maybe some day some fans will even reach the point where they can mention the Tomlin hiring w/o bringing up the Rooney rule and face that they just picked who they considered was the best coach.

 

[blitzburghv5]

Yeah his incredible resume and years of being a top DC swayed the Steelers, oh wait , he had one year as DC and had the worst pass defense in the NFL. We all know why he was hired.

Say it then...go ahead...say why Tomlin was hired....we are waiting

 

[Steelz]

Mike Tomlin was hired because he was/is the best man for the job. Probably the smartest thing the Rooney's did was picking him over Grimm and Whisenhunt.

 

[BLITZ]

I always thought Grimm would have made a better HC that Wiz. had he been the choice I think I would have been happy with it. We definitely would not have lost our identity as a football team.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Mike Tomlin was hired because he was/is the best man for the job. Probably the smartest thing the Rooney's did was picking him over Grimm and Whisenhunt.

That's true as far as it goes but they should keep him out of the draft process though.
Remember, this is the guy who did everything he could to keep Max Starks off the field after the FO signed him to big money and all Max did was keep coming back like herpes and consistently being their best LT for years. It is apparent that except for WR's and RB's he can't evaluate talent for ****.

 

[TDX27]

Butler's interview yesterday said they will play a lot of 4-3 but will not abandon the 3-4. They will play both based on the situation and that he felt the league offenses have dictated more of a 4-3 due to 3 WR's, 1 TE and 1 RB sets.

 

[Spike]

he felt the league offenses have dictated more of a 4-3 due to 3 WR's, 1 TE and 1 RB sets.

that's nice - but our current players are barely effective in the 3-4 and we don't have the dominant blue chip pass rushing DE's that it takes to make the 4-3 great

blow it up and start over, I think that's what he's really saying

 

[blitzburghv5]

You can wait all you want, name another head coach that was hired by a great franchise like the Steelers with such a mediocre and thin resume, I' ll wait.

Ron Rivera....(whom the Steelers interviewed BEFORE Tomlin) Rivera had two years of experience as a DC in Chicago before he was interviewed by Pitt, AZ and Dallas. Another name...George Seifert.....go look at his pre-49er head coaching resume...you wouldnt think it was close to impressive

But please tell me again, why did the Rooneys hire Tomlin....you can say it.....many folks here have THOUGHT IT, but not many if any have had to guts to ACTUALLY SAY IT.....go ahead...and say it.....dont be chicken **** now, when you rose to become the ROOSTER !!!

 

[Steelr4evr]

When we were the #1 defense, the key factor was Ike could take the other teams #1 receiver and nullify him.
We need that level of corner again, I hope it's our #1 pick.

It won't matter without a pass rush. That is number one! It is a must. The same goes for a stud NT in a 3-4.

 

[Litos]

that's nice - but our current players are barely effective in the 3-4 and we don't have the dominant blue chip pass rushing DE's that it takes to make the 4-3 great

blow it up and start over, I think that's what he's really saying

Couldn't heyward be that blue chip pass rusher if he plays DE? I think he has the tools to disrupt a shitload of plays if he is given rushing duties on a 4-3.

 

[Coryea]

Couldn't heyward be that blue chip pass rusher if he plays DE? I think he has the tools to disrupt a shitload of plays if he is given rushing duties on a 4-3.

I don't think, unless he lost 20lbs or so and got alot quicker, he's more of a mauler, and not that quick first step guy like Freeney, Mathis, or Ware, etc.

 

[GMC]

Q. In your mind, is it the scheme or the players?

A. It’s always the players. It always is the players. I’ve never seen a good coach without good players. In that case, you need to be able to teach guys to do what you expect them to do, and they have to have a clear understanding so they don’t have to think about it too much. They can react a little more quickly, so we can appear to be faster on the field.

Q. What about an area where it might have to improve?

A. I’m going to leave that up to the head coach and the scouting department to handle that. You have guys who play on defense and they leave it all out there for you, and I really don’t want to be critical of any of them right now. I’d rather do that in private, not in public.

The problem has been identified, the question is what will be done to correct it? Hopefully we see quite a few new faces on defense this year.

 

[Spike]

Players will make or break Steelers' new coordinator

Taylor, speaking on 93.7 The Fan, said he could see the Steelers becoming “more versatile” and more of a “hybrid” of various schemes, like the Patriots.

Butler knows the truth, though, and he spoke it when asked if success is more dependent on the scheme or players.

“It's always the players,” he said. “I've never seen a good coach without good players.”

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/7556291-74/lebeau-butler-players#axzz3OjAB77So

 

[TDX27]

He also said he wouldn't criticize any of the players in public. He said that will take place behind closed doors. That's how it should be done.

 

[Spike]

Couldn't heyward be that blue chip pass rusher if he plays DE?

I think he has the tools to disrupt a shitload of plays if he is given rushing duties on a 4-3.

no

maybe with J.J. Watt on the other side

 

[blitzburghv5]

This gonna be a defense-centric draft...we MIGHT draft two offensive players out of the lot.................one being a tackle for sure.