Tomlin Turns the Wizard Loose

[Stlrs4Life]

Great story, let's hope it continues.

[RoethlisBURGHer]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

And it's likely that LeBeau is too old to be considered a HC candidate by other teams, regardless of his continued success. He should retire as DC of the Steelers and go on to the HOF for his combined contributions as player and coach.

I think he'll be with Pittsburgh until one of three things happens:

1. He decides to hang em up and retire.

2. He declines in health and the Steelers feel it is best for the team and LeBeau, and he is released from his contract.

3. He passes away (God forbid).

Dick LeBeau has forggoten more about defensive football than most coaches (Especially Marvin Lewis) will ever know.

[I-Want-Troy's-Hair]

Gotta give kudos to Cowher it was him that brought LeBeau back

Thank you thank you thank you thank you

[NV STEELERS 723]

As I drove to work this morning , I thought of this article I had just read....it made me think negative about Cowher, and it made me think positive about Tomlin... I remember how sad I was when Cowher left, how I felt the "unknown" when Tomlin got HC....

It brought me back to classes I've completed in college and at work...

Life changes all the time....it WILL not always be the same..It remains to be un-seen how Tomlin would have handled the 06 STEELERS.... maybe we would have made the AFC game????? We still had the same players.....

I'm glad Tomlin gave the freedom to Dick.....maybe during the "Cowher years" he wasn't ready for it!

[verks36]

great articlte

i dont think billed held him back though

[Stlrs4Life]

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/...steelers-back/Did Cowher Hold Steelers Back?

Posted Sep 20th 2007 7:25AM by JJ Cooper
Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, Pittsburgh
Bill Cowher was respected by his team, but now that he's gone, the players don't seem to be missing him too much. In fact, you're hearing a lot of players spout off about how the new coaching staff has freed up the Steelers to reach the best of their ability.

First it was the special teams players saying that the Steelers have fixed their problems because there is a more focused approach to special teams now that Cowher has been replaced by Mike Tomlin. Now a lot of the defense's stars are saying that their domination in the first two games is because Cowher's no longer around to put the handcuffs on Dick LeBeau, as Ed Bouchette explains in today's Post-Gazette.

Players and coaches, on and off the record, say LeBeau has the freedom to call what he wants, when he wants under Tomlin, a freedom he did not previously have under Cowher. "I do, I do," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "I think he's getting to call whatever he wants, and the call is sticking."

While Cowher may have been respected by his players, the defense loves LeBeau, and it's also clear that they believe he's a defensive genius who will stay a step ahead of opposing offensive coordinators. We won't know how much of a help unshackling LeBeau will be until the Steelers have faced some tougher offenses, but in the first two games, LeBeau has had the ability to throw out a little of everything. Given that chance he's been quite aggressive. Pittsburgh sent five or more pass rushers on 17 of the 31 Bills called pass plays last week, with a variety of linebacker and defensive back blitzes.



What's also apparent in the first two games is that the Steelers are playing more players on defense. In the past the backup defensive linemen would spell the starters for a few snaps each quarter, but this year they've subbed the entire defensive line for series at a time with no real dropoff. Anthony Smith and Ryan Clark are splitting time at safety and LaMarr Woodley is getting playing time as a backup outside linebacker. In addition to keeping people fresh, it also should help the Steelers depth in case of injury, as Woodley, Smith, Chris Hoke, Nick Eason and Travis Kirschke are playing enough to be ready to simply step in if someone goes down.

[steelpride12]

I was just watching the NFL network show put up your dooks and the said the nation has voted the Steelers the number one defense in the league. Wow thats crazy, but i have to agree we have created such good plays with our D!

[MasterOfPuppets]

i'll reserve my judgement untill they play some better offenses.

[jjpro11]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

i'll reserve my judgement untill they play some better offenses.

we'll know soon enough with the 49ers, cardinals and seahawks coming up. not exactly the colts or pat, but they all have multiple weapons on offense.

[Galax Steeler]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

i'll reserve my judgement untill they play some better offenses.

I agree but what I've seen so far looks pretty good.