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Randy Fichtner Expected to be New OC

For whatever it's worth (Florio warning!)

Some think Mike Munchak may still end up being the OC in Pittsburgh
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-may-still-end-up-being-the-oc-in-pittsburgh/

The stresses of Scooptown citizenship can cause plenty of carts to end up in front of horses, and there are multiple reports that Steelers quarterback coach Randy Fichtner will end up becoming the new offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. But all of the reports hedge the bets just enough to avoid the risk of being dead wrong.

Indeed, some league insiders are wondering whether the new offensive coordinator will instead be offensive line coach and former Titans head coach Mike Munchak. Munchak bailed on a chance to sit for a second interview with the Cardinals; apparently, that decision didn’t result from Munchak being told someone else would be getting the job. The Cardinals, we’re told, regarded Munchak as an attractive candidate.

So why not proceed? It could be that Munchak ends up running the offense in Pittsburgh, with Fichtner remaining the quarterbacks coach.

Munchak doesn’t get the credit he should for turning the offensive line from a consistent liability into a consistent strength. As one source recently observed, the Steelers would be “screwed” without him.

So either he passed on a chance to coach the Cardinals because he’s staying at Pittsburgh in the same job, or because he’s getting a bump to a new job. Either way, answers likely will be coming sooner than later.
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Tibs said:
Not saying it's not true, but I wonder if you could provide more info on where you're getting this from?
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I guess I make the mistake of reading the local Pittsburgh papers online. I have read it many times on there where they said Tomlin is all over the D. The 50% number was my own creation but I wouldn't be surprised if it's higher. As someone else also said, Tomlin won't fire Butler because then he will be exposed as the fool with these dumb D schemes and not Butler.
 
The playoff game aside I think the defensive issues are a combination of youth and lack of depth (some of which are injury related). There are definite talent needs on the defensive side of the ball but I’m willing to give the current defensive staff another year to work with these guys.



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TDX27 said:
The 50% number was my own creation but I wouldn't be surprised if it's higher. As someone else also said, Tomlin won't fire Butler because then he will be exposed as the fool with these dumb D schemes and not Butler.
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Ultimately Tomlin is responsible for everything, offense, defense and special teams. But this rush to blame the defensive breakdowns on Tomlin and call it 'his' defense is just another excuse for some run-of-the-mill Tomlin bashing.

Sorry, this doesn't sound like Mike Tomlin's defense to me.

As much credit as the players are given, the genius behind their success is defensive coordinator Keith Butler. After a successful twelve-year tenure as a linebacker coach under the legendary Dick Lebeau, Butler became the Steelers’ defensive coordinator in January 2015 upon Lebeau’s resignation. Since that time, Butler has gone through great lengths to re-establish the Steelers aggressive ‘Blitzburgh’ style, with his variety of defensive fronts and various blitzes.

http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com...butler-displays-variety-3-4-defensive-fronts/
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When Bob Labriola of Steelers.com spoke to Butler this week, he asked him what his plan was for the defensive system. Here’s a great quote from Butler that gives hope for the upcoming season:

I would consider myself a whatever-it-takes-to-win guy. If it’s a 3-4, that’s fine, if that fits your players. I think you have to be able to fit your defense around the players you have. With what offenses are doing nowadays in the National Football League, they’re playing a lot of three wide receivers and a tight end and a running back, for the most part. In those situations, we’re going to be in kind of a 4-3 anyway, but we’re still going to be able to run the 3-4 also. It gives you a little bit more versatility, I think.
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It is time that the Steelers make a concerted effort toward a real hybrid scheme. LeBeau lived and died with the 3-4 and had the personnel that fit. Unfortunately, when offenses started to spread the defense out, the lack of playmakers was really exposed.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330585-why-keith-butler-was-perfect-hire-for-steelers-defense
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You can question how effective Keith Butler has been, Sunday night certainly won’t go in his resume, but he’s definitely been adding new wrinkles to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. Against the Green Bay Packers, we wrote how Butler brought back the amoeba defense. Against the Baltimore Ravens, he did something totally new.

Three times, Butler ran a 3-2-6 dime package. Three defensive linemen, two linebackers – both OLBs – and six defensive backs as part of their dime package.

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2017/12/film-room-keith-butler-busts-brand-new-defense/
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Pros (for keeping Butler as DC)

– Creative personnel groupings, matchup/gameplan specific (11 in total this year)
– Problem solver who used skillset of entire roster to overcome injuries and maximize his talent against opposing offenses
– Scraps what doesn’t work, goes back to the drawing board with it, and tweaks it. Doesn’t continue to do what doesn’t work from a schematic standpoint
– Has a distinctly different defense than Dick LeBeau, stepped out of his shadow
– Introduced new blitz concepts, slowly gotten rid of old, sometimes outdated, LeBeau fire zones
– Seems to be well-liked and respected by players
– Simplified scheme when he became DC, allowed rookies to get on the field and make immediate impact, something LeBeau’s system never allowed for, adjusted to changing tides of the league
– Top production in some key areas: 1st in sacks in 2017, 7th in points per game (best since 2012), and red zone defenses have been impressive two of three years
– Had to deal with injury to Ryan Shazier, dramatically shaking up how the defense operates

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2018/01/kozora-keith-butler-should-kept-another-season/
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With the departure of Dick Lebeau in 2015, there was speculation that Mike Tomlin might have more influence on the Steelers’ defense. Tomlin’s background is in Cover-2 schemes. While the team has incorporated some of that into their scheme, we see here that the zone blitz is still an integral part of the defense. I’d hesitate to define the Steelers’ defense as leaning toward any particular scheme. They truly are a hybrid.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...enses-keith-butler-dick-lebeau-zone-blitz-nfl
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There are other fundamental changes in the works. Under Butler, the Steelers' defensive linemen have switched from a two-gap to a one-gap approach. In a two-gap scheme, a defensive lineman is responsible for covering the gaps on either side of his offensive counterpart. He engages the offensive lineman, reads which way the ball is going, then fills the proper gap. In a more aggressive one-gap scheme, the defensive lineman fires off the line of scrimmage and commits to a specific hole, penetrating the gap and, ideally, disrupting a play in the offensive backfield.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-pittsburgh-steelers-20150815-column.html
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steelers DC Keith Butler clear on what he wants: Four-man rush and flexibility in coverage (man, matchup zone, traditional zone)</p>— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/875034769129705476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We have to be able to be cover, we have to be able to do that,” Butler said. “And we have to get a four-man rush and still play our base defense and still put push pressure on the quarterback in passing situations.”


The Steelers did plenty of good things in Year 1 under Butler, who implemented a one-gap scheme and installed some cover-2 elements.
http://www.timesonline.com/9d63afac-58f8-11e6-a25b-ab7046384b17.html
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Tibs said:
For whatever it's worth (Florio warning!)

Some think Mike Munchak may still end up being the OC in Pittsburgh
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-may-still-end-up-being-the-oc-in-pittsburgh/
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From that article:

Munchak doesn’t get the credit he should for turning the offensive line from a consistent liability into a consistent strength. As one source recently observed, the Steelers would be “screwed” without him.
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Munchak is literally recognized as the best coach on the Steelers staff by everyone that knows the team. What the heck is Florio talking about? Also, the Steelers wouldn't be "screwed" without him. He developed these guys into being some of the best in the league. They wouldn't be as good without him, but also wouldn't all of a sudden start to suck.
 
Tibs said:
Ultimately Tomlin is responsible for everything, offense, defense and special teams. But this rush to blame the defensive breakdowns on Tomlin and call it 'his' defense is just another excuse for some run-of-the-mill Tomlin bashing.

Sorry, this doesn't sound like Mike Tomlin's defense to me.













<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steelers DC Keith Butler clear on what he wants: Four-man rush and flexibility in coverage (man, matchup zone, traditional zone)</p>— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/875034769129705476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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x
I'm not a Tomlin basher, so wrong answer. I get my information from reading it more than a few times from local Pittsburgh sportscasters. Your text at the end kind of helps prove what I said. If Butler wants a four man rush and flexibility, why hasn't he had that since he took over? We have rushed 2 DL and only 3 guys total a ton of the times over his tenure so far.
 
Atlsteelers said:
What will he bring that Haley didn't? Just curious.
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The ability to talk face to face with Ben.................................. and more than likely a lot less drama..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Salute the nation
 
Looks like Fichtner will be the choice. I'm cool with it, especially if Munchak is cool with returning as OL coach. And let's not forget, Fichtner - like coach Mann - was an original Tomlin hire and the two go way back.


Randy Fichtner - C - Steelers

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Steelers are expected to hire QBs coach Randy Fichtner as their offensive coordinator.

According to Dulac, Fichtner's promotion is "pending final approval of his contract." This comes hours after it was announced the Steelers would not be retaining Todd Haley, who was at the end of his contract. Fichtner is known to have a strong relationship with Ben Roethlisberger and even served as a buffer between Ben and Haley when the two weren't getting along this past season. The Steelers also considered Mike Munchak for their OC position, but instead he'll remain in his current role as the team's OL coach. Fichtner has served on Mike Tomlin's staff since 2007.
 
So if Fichtner is promoted does Charlie Batch come back as the QB coach?
 
Tibs said:
Looks like Fichtner will be the choice. I'm cool with it, especially if Munchak is cool with returning as OL coach.


Randy Fichtner - C - Steelers

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Steelers are expected to hire QBs coach Randy Fichtner as their offensive coordinator.

According to Dulac, Fichtner's promotion is "pending final approval of his contract." This comes hours after it was announced the Steelers would not be retaining Todd Haley, who was at the end of his contract. Fichtner is known to have a strong relationship with Ben Roethlisberger and even served as a buffer between Ben and Haley when the two weren't getting along this past season. The Steelers also considered Mike Munchak for their OC position, but instead he'll remain in his current role as the team's OL coach. Fichtner has served on Mike Tomlin's staff since 2007.
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Well, gonna have to work on a new set of phrases to use when I don't like how the Offense is performing.
"**** you Fichner"
"There goes Field Goal Fich again"
"I see Randy Rubbish is calling the plays again" ... lol, j/k, I hope I never have to use any of those ... or the others I'm likely to come up with by mid-season.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Well, gonna have to work on a new set of phrases to use when I don't like how the Offense is performing.
"**** you Fichner"
"There goes Field Goal Fich again"
"I see Randy Rubbish is calling the plays again" ... lol, j/k, I hope I never have to use any of those ... or the others I'm likely to come up with by mid-season.
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******* Fich fail.

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If they don't fix the defense it won't matter what the offense does. Sunday was exhibit A, and their offense is trash.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Well, gonna have to work on a new set of phrases to use when I don't like how the Offense is performing.
"**** you Fichner"
"There goes Field Goal Fich again"
"I see Randy Rubbish is calling the plays again" ... lol, j/k, I hope I never have to use any of those ... or the others I'm likely to come up with by mid-season.
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Run Randy Run

Fitchner spinxster. (Spell).

WTF was that????

Just to add a few



Salute the nation
 
Drink IRON City said:
Run Randy Run

Fitchner spinxster. (Spell).

WTF was that????

Just to add a few



Salute the nation
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Dandy Randy
Ben's Sock Puppet
Aaand, for the first time we see the dreaded Bubble Screen, "Jesus H, mawther ******, didn't he learn a damned thing these last 6 years? ******' Haley Clone."
 
Drink IRON City said:
Run Randy Run

Fitchner spinxster. (Spell).

WTF was that????

Just to add a few



Salute the nation
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If we come up short again next year ( not highly unlikely with Butler and Tomlin still here)

salty fans can call him

The Fich that stole Xmas.
 
Fichtner > Haley. An upgrade. How much remains to be seen.
 
TDX27 said:
Wonder if Munchak will feel slighted now and leave.
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I heard that Art told him he would be the head coach if Tomlin ***** the bed again next season. He should pull the trigger right now.
 
As long as he.......

1. Reduces the "Bubble Screen" use by 90%
2. Introduces "Play/Action" into the offensive scheme
3. Introduces the "QB sneak" back into the offensive scheme
3. Uses the slant in appropriate situations
4. Keeps a back in the backfield on short yardage plays
5. Goes North/South in short yardage situations.

.......I'll be good.
 
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