Lebeau Defenses not Championship Defenses

[WokeUpWithaWoodley]

Again let me say I'm a big fan of lebeau and wouldn't trade him for anyone else, but let me pose a question

In there prime, would smith, kiesel, Hampton, Harrison, farrior, Woodley, timmons, Troy, Ike, Clark be pro bowl caliber players on any other team that ran a 3-4?

And would lebeau defenses be just as successful meaning top 5 year in year out on any other team?

What I'm trying to get at is that our defense has been so reluctant to have all those great players under lebeau and without those guys we wouldn't be top 5 every year because of lebeaus scheme. It has a lot to do with the players you have. It's just some people well most don't want to blame anything on lebeau when in reality there should be some blame. Because as everyone saw when Harrison, Woodley, Troy, Ike were hurt we didn't look like a great defense.

So what are your thoughts to the 2 questions?

[harrison'samonster]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

In there prime, would smith, kiesel, Hampton, Harrison, farrior, Woodley, timmons, Troy, Ike, Clark be pro bowl caliber players on any other team that ran a 3-4?

And would lebeau defenses be just as successful meaning top 5 year in year out on any other team?

My answer would be, like all good coaches, if Lebeau has the pieces then his schemes will work.

Would these Steeler players be pro-bowl caliber on other 3-4 teams? I think Troy would have been on any team. Same for Harrison in his prime (unblockable). Final answer: same as the second question, all the pieces fit and make the defense.

I do know that Lebeau has put together top ranked defenses that helped to beat top ranked offenses consistantly throughout the regular seasons, playoff games, and 2 Super Bowls.

[desertsteel]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

Again let me say I'm a big fan of lebeau and wouldn't trade him for anyone else, but let me pose a question

In there prime, would smith, kiesel, Hampton, Harrison, farrior, Woodley, timmons, Troy, Ike, Clark be pro bowl caliber players on any other team that ran a 3-4?

Only 3 on that list were pro bowlers and I think they would have been on any other 3-4. TP and JH on any defense and CH on any 3-4.

[WokeUpWithaWoodley]

Originally Posted by desertsteel

Only 3 on that list were pro bowlers and I think they would have been on any other 3-4. TP and JH on any defense and CH on any 3-4.

Pro bowl caliber doesnt mean actuallt got voted

[lloydwoodson]

To answer WokeUp's question I think that some of those players would probably be more likely to go to the Pro Bowl with another team. 3-4 DE don't usally get to the Pro Bowl they occupy blockers. If Smith and Keisel played 4-3 DE they would have a better shot at the Pro Bowl. Smith made it one year.

Also, LeBeau's conservative "tackle the catch" scheme (which I think is largely Tomlin's MO from his Tampa 2 days) does not put cornerbacks in a position to intercept many passes. Pro Bowls are popularity and stats contests. Clark and Taylor would not get to many regardless of which team they played for but they might have a better shot in a more aggressive defense.

Side note: "My philosophy is really out of the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers playbook,” said Dungy during media interviews while at Super Bowl XLI. “That is why I have to laugh when I hear 'Tampa 2'. Chuck Noll and Bud Carson — that is where it came from, I changed very little."

[VaDave]

Actually, the catch the ball part goes back to when LeBeau was at Philidelphia under DIck Vermiel and he hasn't changed it one iota since.

[desertsteel]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

Pro bowl caliber doesnt mean actuallt got voted

True, but as homers we could say that about any player. Like Ike for example. As long as he has bricks for hands, he is not truly pro bowl caliber. Btw, I don't see him getting better at catching the ball at this stage of his career.

Here is all we need for a championship defense IMO:

Above Average players who fit system 50% (e.g., LM, IT)
Average players who fit system 25% (e.g. ZH, CA)
Playmaker/ Pro Bowler players (e.g., TP, JH)

I mean the Chiefs have 5 pro bowlers and 2 wins. We don't need a star-studded defense. We obviously need more of the Above Average players and seem to have a couple vacancies in the Playmaker roles due to age and injury.