Butler-LeBeau Have Strained Relationship Over DC Job

[SteelerFan448]

No matter what you think about LeBeau vs. Butler, Butler is walking in at a good time in terms of development of the defense.

He has guys like McLendon, Heyward, Timmons and Gay who are proven commodities. Add in veterans such as Moats and Mitchell and he has a foundation in place. The problem then becomes all of the young players, but unlike previous years, he doesn't need to rely on rookies for production. Many of these guys are going into their second or third years in the league and are supposed to break out this year.

Tuitt - 2nd round pick in year two.
Shazier - 1st round pick in year two.
Jones - 1st round pick in year three.
Allen - Flashed early in career, injuries messed him up physically and mentally. Has the talent to at least start, even if he isn't a star.
Thomas - 4th round pick in year three.

Combine this with a simplified playbook, at least according to DK http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/06/19/friday-insider-butler-playbook-back-to-basics/, and it is a perfect storm for an improved first year under Butler.

 

[Vader]

Also...he was LeBeau's friend way before he even knew Tomlin so the " of course he is a Tomlin friend " is just clueless bullshit.

I thought Butler and Tomlin were friends from before either came to the NFL? Not that it matters to me because I'm not even sure Tomlin was the one that fired DL.

 

[Spike]

The defense needed a spark after finishing 26th in sacks, tied for 25th in interceptions and 27th in passing yards allowed last season.

The defense needs players that can pass rush and cover the pass, those are all still question marks, no matter who is running the defense.

 

[SteelChip]

I thought Butler and Tomlin were friends from before either came to the NFL? Not that it matters to me because I'm not even sure Tomlin was the one that fired DL.

Tomlin......

College

Tomlin's coaching career began in 1995 as the wide receiver coach at Virginia Military Institute under former West Virginia University head coach Bill Stewart. He spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, where he worked with the defensive backs and special teams. Following a brief stint on the University of Tennessee at Martin's coaching staff, Tomlin was hired by Arkansas State University in 1997 to coach its defensive backs. Tomlin stayed there for two seasons, before being hired as defensive backs coach by the University of Cincinnati.

Tomlin was hired as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001
Tomlin was selected by Vikings' head coach Brad Childress to be his defensive coordinator in 2006.[2][3]
Tomlin became the sixteenth Steelers head coach on January 22, 2007,

Butler........

Butler played college football at the University of Memphis
Butler was selected 36th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1978 NFL Draft.

Butler began his coaching career at Memphis in 1990, coaching linebackers and later expanding his role to cover defensive ends and special teams by 1997. He was an architect of a surprise 3-4 defensive scheme which led to Memphis's shocking 1996 upset of the #6 Tennessee Volunteers, led by junior quarterback Peyton Manning. He then moved to Arkansas State in 1998 to serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

His professional coaching debut came as a linebackers coach for the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999. He was the only assistant coach retained after a staff turnover in 2001 and coached the next two seasons under Butch Davis, mentoring the expansion club's first ever Pro Bowl selection, linebacker Jamir Miller.

Butler moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003

If there's a connection I can't see it Vader.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Tomlin......

College

Tomlin's coaching career began in 1995 as the wide receiver coach at Virginia Military Institute under former West Virginia University head coach Bill Stewart. He spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, where he worked with the defensive backs and special teams. Following a brief stint on the University of Tennessee at Martin's coaching staff, Tomlin was hired by Arkansas State University in 1997 to coach its defensive backs. Tomlin stayed there for two seasons, before being hired as defensive backs coach by the University of Cincinnati.

Tomlin was hired as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001
Tomlin was selected by Vikings' head coach Brad Childress to be his defensive coordinator in 2006.[2][3]
Tomlin became the sixteenth Steelers head coach on January 22, 2007,

Butler........

Butler played college football at the University of Memphis
Butler was selected 36th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1978 NFL Draft.

Butler began his coaching career at Memphis in 1990, coaching linebackers and later expanding his role to cover defensive ends and special teams by 1997. He was an architect of a surprise 3-4 defensive scheme which led to Memphis's shocking 1996 upset of the #6 Tennessee Volunteers, led by junior quarterback Peyton Manning. He then moved to Arkansas State in 1998 to serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

His professional coaching debut came as a linebackers coach for the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999. He was the only assistant coach retained after a staff turnover in 2001 and coached the next two seasons under Butch Davis, mentoring the expansion club's first ever Pro Bowl selection, linebacker Jamir Miller.

Butler moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003

If there's a connection I can't see it Vader.

Not sure if not seeing a connection is sarcasm or not ... but, both Tomlin and Butler were on the Memphis coaching staff in '96 and both were on the Ark. St. staff in '98. Don't know that two years on the same staff, during one of which Tomlin was a lowly grad assistant, was enough to say "life-long friends", but it at least meant they knew each other when Tomlin got here.

 

[FAB802]

As long as they get rid of the ten yard cushions on third and three I'm good with whoever it is. Dick LeBeau may very well be the best DC of all time and he helped make this team what it was during his run here. If the FO thought it was time to give Butler his chance then it is what it is. Good luck to him trying to fill those shoes.

 

[SteelChip]

Not sure if not seeing a connection is sarcasm or not ... but, both Tomlin and Butler were on the Memphis coaching staff in '96 and both were on the Ark. St. staff in '98. Don't know that two years on the same staff, during one of which Tomlin was a lowly grad assistant, was enough to say "life-long friends", but it at least meant they knew each other when Tomlin got here.

I missed that entirely, how I don't know.....My bad. I heard it again from the game last night that they were indeed at least long time acquaintances that were on two school teams together, if not indeed friends. I think the time frames were so far apart that I ignored the fact that there were a couple overlapping years there..at both schools.

I'll go take my nap now and leave the board discussions to the people without mental lapses.

 

[black and gold apex]

We still need some playmakers on defense no matter who leads the ship. Dick's scheme did not seem to work, yet we had no rushers, no one who could be in position to make interceptions or get any type turnover. If change will help then so be it but I still believe Tomlin needs to have this team better prepared against teams on paper we should beat and learn to change in second half when we LOOK on the TV as we make no changes in game plan.

 

[skline00]

Butler, Porter etc will put fire back into the D AND use younger guys to attack. Mistakes will be made but I just didn't see the same fire with DL. I also forgot Carnell Lake.

we may make a few more mistakes at first over pursuing, but we will get back to tough, attacking Stiller defense. I think DL was getting too predictable.

 

[Hines57]

As long as they get rid of the ten yard cushions on third and three I'm good with whoever it is. Dick LeBeau may very well be the best DC of all time and he helped make this team what it was during his run here. If the FO thought it was time to give Butler his chance then it is what it is. Good luck to him trying to fill those shoes.

Good luck there. Looks like they're going to let people make plays in front of them and hope to tackle short of the yard marker. That/'s what I saw last night. More zone to come.