whiz and the offense

[19ward86]

just picture this, cowher retires after repeated sb win. whiz gets head coach job and video game to learn. a defensive backround coach is what the steelers have underwent for the last 38 years, whiz... a offensive cooridinator. will our offense become a bigger part of the franchise?good question? have to throw this out there, dick lebeau is like 263 yrs old and i wonder when Mr. Dick "Zoneblitz" Lebeau will retire.

[The_Professor]

My main concern if Cowher should retire would be his player-evaluation talent and its result on the strength of our drafts. Whiz could run the offense as well as coach, Russ Grimm is a great coach as well, and LeBeau is obviously wholly capable as D-coordinator. While I realize Colbert has a lot to do with the Steelers' success in drafting, Cowher seems to be an integral part of that decision-making team. LeBeau basically controls the defense now, so that would not be my main concern should Cowher leave.

[tony hipchest]

unless someone prematurely hires lebeau like the jets did mangina. darren perry is the perfect candidate to replace lebeau as d coord. i think he will prove to be head coach worthy in the next 5 years though. he has played in and coached under 2 of the undisputed best defensive coaches in the game today.

[19ward86]

lebeau wont be a coach for too much longer,in 5 yrs he will be like 75. i do think whiz can handle the head coaching job and the offense but i wonder if the offense will be a bigger part of the game.

[Midnightwriter07]

I have to agree with Perry possibly taking over the D.C role. I mean he has been learning from one of the best in the business. The only problem i have is that he is the one coaching the defensive backs and that is where our weak spot is... so not positive if has to do with him or the playes themselves. But is something to think about

[BIGBENFASTWILLIE]

I think if the whiz becomes head coach the offense will open up big time...Until we get a big back like the Bus...which how many of them are there?????We are going to have to open up the offense anyway.....
Whiz would love it....and it would look it was all his doing when infact....The offense is ready now..

[Haiku_Dirtt]

Frankly I think LeBeau will leave this world coaching football. Firstly why would he want to go anywhere else when you have perhaps the best safety in the NFL. It gives him the leverage to dream up the schemes we see.

If he ever had plans to retire then I'd think he be done. Grooming his successor is probably ongoing with Perry. Over the next few years he may give Darren a greater role until LeBeau eventually is renamed a "Consultant." But I'm thinking he'll die coaching one way or another.

[AZ_Steeler]

LeBeau leaving/retiring has always been my biggest fear. When he left the Steelers the first time the defense was never really the same until he came back. I had forgot about Perry being the DB coach, but Midnight makes a great point,

Originally Posted by Midnightwriter07

The only problem i have is that he is the one coaching the defensive backs and that is where our weak spot is... so not positive if has to do with him or the playes themselves.

IMHO I think the issue has been with the players themselves. The Steelers have had some great corners, but unfortunately they weren't all on the team at the same time plus an individual can only cover one side of the field at a time. If you look at the corners from most recently you can see Perry has taken these late draft picks and really turned them into great corners, with Ike probably moving into the elite catecory assuming he continues to improve on last year and catches a few more of those dropped balls.

Perry would be a great fit for DC assuming he has been taking everything in and learning from LeBeau.

As for the offense and the Whiz taking over as HC, I can't picture him taking away from the Steelers what has been their trademark for years, the running game! In 03 the Steelers tried to go pass and what did they finish 6-10 or something? When it comes down to it, you need to have a offensive time consuming game plan to keep your defense fresh and off the field. Championships are won from ball control and stopping defenses, and yes of course you need an offense that can get the ball in the endzone.

I'm not sure what the Steelers were last year for the pass/run ratio, but with Whiz as HC we could see the number of pass plays go up, but once the lead is established I think he'll take a page from Cowhers playbook and bring out the running game to consume the clock.

[Black@Gold Forever32]

I said months ago Darren Perry would be the next Steelers DC. He would be a great choice. He has played and coached under the system. For Whiz as the next head coach. I would love it. I love Steelers football you know running the football and playing great defense. But I'm so interested in seeing an offensive mind as our head coach. I think it would be great.