What Role Would Dick Lebeau Play With Titans
Long time Pittsburgh Steeler defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau retired from the Steelers a few weeks back. Speculation has been that the Steelers wanted to move in a different direction. Others claim that Lebeau was just ready to retire at the age of 77.
Lebeau is credited with creating the modern day defense. Lebeau has created a masterful disguise to his aggressive zone blitzing scheme. This scheme has been a nightmare to opposing quarterbacks who know the blitz is coming, but have no idea where it is coming from. He puts pressure on the offense. He attacks the offense. It is not a sit back and react scheme.
A few days back Lebeau turned down an opportunity to coach with a long time friend in Bruce Arians. Arians is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have strong personnel that Lebeau would get the most out of. They are good on the defensive line, they have good linebackers, and they are especially good in the secondary. They are everything Lebeau likes, but they are too far away geographically. Lebeau wants to stay closer to the family. He is 77 years old.
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So now rumors are circulating that he may come to Tennessee. Titans fans would be thrilled to have Lebeau here. This past season was the worst in Titans history. Defensively the Titans were no match for any NFL team they faced. They won a total of two games. The Titans were 31st out of 32 teams agains the run in 2014. They gave up a whopping 137 yards per game, and created only 2 rushing fumbles all season.
The Titans were a little better in the passing game defense, but not much. They finished 15th in passing defense. They averaged giving up 236 yards per game, but gave up 28 passing touchdowns on the season. These statistics would have been higher if the Titans would have been in more games in the fourth quarter. The opposing teams simply ran out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground.
Ray Horton was brought in by Ken Whisenhunt to implement a 3-4 defense. He did not have 3-4 personnel, and the defense suffered for it. We will see what the Titans can do with the second pick in the upcoming draft, with the rest of their picks, and what they will do in the free agency department. All they presently need are better defensive lineman, better linebackers, and better defensive backs. Other than that they are ok. In other words, they need a defensive personnel overhaul, or put them back in the 4-3 these guys were drafted to play.
Horton is a Dick Lebeau disciple. From everything you hear these two have a great relationship. So why would Lebeau want to come here. Number one, this guy is needed here in Nashville. He would be appreciated here by the staff, by the players, and by the fans. Nashville will embrace this guy, if they see progress.
I do not think Lebeau wants to be a defensive coordinator here. I’m not sure he wants to be one anywhere. So what role could he play. Lebeau would be an invaluable consultant to Ray Horton and the Titans. He could impart his NFL wisdom from the pressbox and in film study weekly for Horton and the Titans. He has seen it all. He knows it all. He know what the offense will do to counteract his defense before the snap, and then he adjusts to that. Horton needs this guy here.
Can he be enticed to the Music City? I don’t know. Does he want to come to a team that is not exactly loaded with talent on the defensive side of the ball to finish out an NFL career that saw him star on the field and as a coach? Again, I don’t know. I think I would go play golf on Hilton Head. But he is a competitor, and competitors compete at the highest level. He may be game for one more go around.
If he is game for another NFL job, I hope he makes it to Nashville. We will welcome him to Nashville with open arms. We need some hope. It would be a start to this off-season in the right direction.