View topic - LeBeau...

[zapunto Profile]

Like many on this board, I am a mild LeBeau skeptic, and when the 2008 schedule came out, I didn't think his vaunted defense would hold up over the course of the season...but through 11 weeks of the season, the Steelers rank #1 in total defense, #1 in rush defense, #1 in pass defense, and tied for first in sacks.

StillMill and others would readily point out that we're a middle of the pack defense in takeaways, but is that ever going to change? Our rush defense is very team-oriented with 2-gap linemen and linebackers who are instructed to "take on their blockers outside shoulder and spill runners back inside" kinda crap. We're primarily a zone coverage team on pass defense, because LeBeau loves to zone blitz.

This defense is built year in, year out to do exactly what it does -- abuse poorly skilled teams, and get exposed against smart, talented ones. There is always wishful thinking into hoping our defense becomes a monster at some point, but unless we overhaul our schemes, don't think it's going to happen.

-c-

[GodfatherofSoul Profile]

Like many on this board, I am a mild LeBeau skeptic, and when the 2008 schedule came out, I didn't think his vaunted defense would hold up over the course of the season...but through 11 weeks of the season, the Steelers rank #1 in total defense, #1 in rush defense, #1 in pass defense, and tied for first in sacks.

StillMill and others would readily point out that we're a middle of the pack defense in takeaways, but is that ever going to change? Our rush defense is very team-oriented with 2-gap linemen and linebackers who are instructed to "take on their blockers outside shoulder and spill runners back inside" kinda crap. We're primarily a zone coverage team on pass defense, because LeBeau loves to zone blitz.

This defense is built year in, year out to do exactly what it does -- abuse poorly skilled teams, and get exposed against smart, talented ones. There is always wishful thinking into hoping our defense becomes a monster at some point, but unless we overhaul our schemes, don't think it's going to happen.

-c-

Um, help me out here. Exactly which smart, talented team exposed this defense? The most scored against us is 24 points by the Colts and that includes Ben's gift turnovers.

[4nic8 Profile]

You should really focus your attention on Arians and the offense.

The Defense is the only reason this team has more than zero wins.

[dirtydave61 Profile]

I'll agree that at some points, LeBeau's defense can be exposed against good teams, but this year's D is one of the better ones I can recall.

With LeBeau's cover-3 zone blitz system, it's all about personnel - it's absolutely necessary to have OLBs who can pressure the QB and DLs who can take on multiple blocks and clog running lanes. When you throw a talent like Polamalu into the mix, it opens up a whole new can of worms.

Here's a summary of the defenses from this year and the previous 3 seasons and how personnel affected the ultimate results:

2005, Super Bowl win - Porter, Haggans and Harrison were productive enough to consistently get pressure on the QB. Even if they weren't getting sacks, they were consistently harassing the QB and playing with a lead thanks to a good offense and dominating run game. Polamalu was healthy and going at full speed, allowing LeBeau to further customize the entire defense around Troy by moving him all over the field and having him do everything - man coverage, zone coverage, blitzing, fake blitzing, etc.

2006, 8-8, missed the playoffs - Porter and Haggans fell off significantly, Harrison played less for whatever reason and was dinged up for much of the year. Polamalu was dinged up and wasn't able to be cut loose as much. This all equaled no pressure on the QB, left too much responsibility to the DBs and Troy wasn't able to fly around making the plays he normally makes because he wasn't as physically up to it and was forced to play more 1 dimensionally. Also, the defense was on the field all the time this year because of an inconsistent run game and atrocious play by Roethlisberger, who should have been given more time to recover after his accident and an appendectomy.

2007, 10-6, made playoffs, faltered down stretch, lost in 1st round - For the most part, the D was solid all year (ranked No. 1 in yards allowed for most of the year), but was definitely exposed by good teams who abused personnel mismatches - especially the Patriots, who exposed everyone except the Giants, and the Jaguars who played the Steelers right at the time of year when the run defense fell apart because of injuries. Haggans was mostly ineffective; Harrison was great. LaMarr Woodley was underutilized because of LeBeau's unrealistic fear of playing rookies and injuries but played great when allowed on the field. Troy was significantly reduced in ability because of injury, which entirely changed the way LeBeau called plays, and there wasn't enough other pressure on opposing QBs. The Aaron Smith injury in retrospect was the end of the defense. With shoddy run D, LeBeau was no longer able to tee off with his exotic blitzes. Also, as StillMill likes to say, there seemed to be a lot of "velcro blitzing," where the defenders latch onto their blockers or play patty cake with them. Although I don't think it was the scheme, I think it was the result of the wrong personnel and underperforming players.

2008, 7-3, ? - The D is ranked No. 1 in yards allowed again, and - I believe - is more than just a "paper league leader." This is a dynamic defense with the potential to make big plays at any time. Woodley has replaced the ineffective Haggans, and Harrison is having his best season yet. This tandem really is the best since Lloyd/Greene. They're so disruptive. Woodley is so big and fast - he's a skilled pass rusher who can run over or around you - and Harrison literally wills himself to huge games by monumental effort, not to mention he's getting freed up when teams key on Woodley. Next, Troy is 100% again, and Aaron Smith is back on the line. All this adds up to a great D. Maybe I'm going out on the limb here, but I think Woodley is the difference maker this season. When he was out for the Colts game, the Steelers got pressure on Manning, but not to the same degree as they had been getting. This resulted in a more time for a deadly passer, and luckily, he missed a lot of open receivers. My 3 gripes this year are the poor pass defense of Farrior, the underutilization of Timmons at ILB and that disgusting 8-minute drive by the Chargers yesterday.

So again, I think LeBeau is a number of things, but first and foremost, he's an innovative, legendary defensive mind. In Pittsburgh, he has been blessed with mostly great personnel that fits his system, and, I'll admit it, is lucky as hell with injuries, rookie QBs, weather and field conditions. However, you can't argue with the consistent results year in and year out. You know we're definitely spoiled in Pittsburgh when we're complaining about a perennial top 10 defense.

[stilleroo Profile]

You should really focus your attention on Arians and the offense.

The Defense is the only reason this team has more than zero wins.

I agree arians is the big problem here the defense keeps them in game I like Lebeau but Arians must go still not sold on Tomlin either

[rick723 Profile]

You should really focus your attention on Arians and the offense.

The Defense is the only reason this team has more than zero wins.

I agree arians is the big problem here the defense keeps them in game I like Lebeau but Arians must go still not sold on Tomlin either

I'm sold on Tomlin. I BET arians is on the first thing smokin out of Steeltown at the end of the season, if not before.

[Wooderson Profile]

I'm not sure about Tomlin. He makes questionable game decisions. I hope Arians is gone after the season, as well as our O-Line coach, who apparently is part of the Larry, Daryl and Daryl trio. Imagine how Arians would look if we had a competent O-line coach, that isn't busy beating his dick like it owes him money while watching porn instead of preparing the O-line for the schemes of the opposing team.

[StillRush Profile]

I really don't understand what all the griping of Lebeau's defenses is all about. I mean, they average 15 points against, 2nd in the league and certainly good enough for an average Offense to produce enough to win most games, and they're number 1 across the board in Total D, run D, Pass D and Sacks!!! What else can the man offer to all you skeptics so you can give him a break, if not some recognition for his RESULTS year in and year out. I'm not saying he's God coaching our defense, he can certainly improve, but the defense usually gives us a very good chance to come out on top every single week, injuries not withstanding. That's all you could really ask for in my book.
Arians however, well, what can I possibly add that hasn't been said already on this site. The man should be gang raped every sunday in the offseason just so he can feel how us fans feel when he's running our offense.

[Jeemie Profile]

If the Steelers had an even half-competent offense to go with this year's defense, we wouldn't hear the griping against it that we are hearing now.

Because we'd be 10-0/9-1 at this point in the season.

When your defense is only giving up 15 points a game (21 being the most it's given up), what the fuck more do you want?

But people are asking the defense to pick up the slack EVERY time the offense fucks up, and in the course of a long season, that just ain't gonna happen.