Steelers search for special teams coach

[mesaSteeler]

Steelers search for special teams coach
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...nt_662550.html
By Scott Brown
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 16, 2010

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin interviewed a second candidate, Al Everest, for the job of special-teams coordinator Friday and got word that he won't have to find a new linebackers coach.

Keith Butler, who has been the Steelers' linebackers coach since 2003, turned down an offer to become defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.

Butler returning to the Steelers makes it evident where the line starts when it comes to the eventual successor to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

The Steelers coaching staff has had a lot of moving parts with the team hiring offensive line coach Sean Kugler earlier this week and Butler interviewing with the Dolphins.

"Happy that Keith's (Butler) coming back and excited about our new offensive line coach," Steelers president Art Rooney II said. "So far so good in terms of what's happening with the staff."

Two spots remain open. The Steelers turned to Everest in an attempt to fill one of them after Bobby April took the job of special-teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.

Tomlin had met with April last weekend.

Everest has coached special teams for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals during his 13 seasons in the NFL.

San Francisco didn't re-sign Everest after struggling in the return game in 2009 and finishing 26th in the NFL in average starting field position (24.8).

In addition to a special teams coach, the Steelers also have to hire a quarterbacks coach.

The Steelers will have at least four new assistant coaches next season.

Tomlin had kept his staff intact after each of his first two seasons as coach of the Steelers.

"I would worry if we were having, say, massive changes, but it's really unusual in this league for a coaching staff to stay together with no changes for more than two or three years," Rooney II said of the turnover. "So, I think we're going through normal kinds of changes, and I think for the most part, it's going to turn out to be positive."

Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

[Psyychoward86]

Al Everest....


couldnt find much about him, but here's a couple of good words that ive found:

1) 36 years of coaching experience

2) When he was special teams coach of the 49ers, he made KR Allen Rossum, P Andy Lee, and ST Michael Robinson pro-bowl alternates. Allen Rossum had his best year as a KR by far under Al Everest, and Andy Lee has NOW become a pro-bowl punter this year. In 2004, five of Everest's players won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards. In 2002, his unit had three touchdown returns and five blocked kicks..

3) From 2000-2005 as the ST coordinator for the Saints, he coached 3 more pro-bowlers. in 2002, he was named Special Teams Coach of the Year. His special teams unit with the Saints ranked near the top of the league in all categories.

4) If my sources are correct, he was also a head coach in Italy and won the Italian Championship

I bolded the more intriguing things about him...

Sources: http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=433371
http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/...iew.php?id=754

[supa_fly_steeler]

i'll take any ST Coach that turns those 4th string linebackers that are pussies and dont tackle to real men who deal big hits

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Thanks Psychoward86, Everest sounds like he has some experience and either didnt have the players in the return game, or didnt adapt well last year to the elimination of the 3 man wedge blocking. If his units can cover kickoffs that no longer have wedge blocking......that will be an improvement if he were to land in Pittsburgh.

[Psyychoward86]

I really would not mind having a Former Special Teams Coach of the Year on this team....

San Fran was 23rd in the league in the return game, maybe that's why he got the boot?

[MasterOfPuppets]

why don't they just pick up the guy the iggles fired?

[SMR]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

why don't they just pick up the guy the iggles fired?

I prefer the Steelers not just pick any guy up, fired or not, but Al Everet does sound promising.

[Psyychoward86]

What do u guys know about this "Pagac" guy from the Vikings?

[SteelerNation12]

I heard the Bucs ST coach wants out or something. He has done wonders for the ST unit. I would love to get him.

[Psyychoward86]

Originally Posted by SteelerNation12

I heard the Bucs ST coach wants out or something. He has done wonders for the ST unit. I would love to get him.

link?