Rooney: LeBeau’s role would have changed
PITTSBURGH – Had defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau decided to return to the Steelers in 2015, it would have been in a different role.
According to team president Art Rooney II, LeBeau was offered the opportunity to return to the Steelers but he would not have been defensive coordinator, a position the team wanted to give to linebackers coach Keith Butler.
Butler was officially hired as LeBeau’s replacement last week after the latter resigned Jan. 10, a day after a meeting with head coach Mike Tomlin.
“Yeah, I think so,” said Rooney when asked if LeBeau’s role would have been different if he returned. “But he made his decision. I respect his decision.”
LeBeau announced his resignation in the Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen in his hometown, but said he was not retiring.
“I had a great run in Pittsburgh,” LeBeau said. “I’m grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh.”
Fox Sports reported the 77-year-old LeBeau is nearing an agreement to join the coaching staff of former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in Arizona as linebackers coach.
Ironically, Arians announced his retirement from the Steelers following the 2011 season, only to become offensive coordinator at Indianapolis the following season. He became Arizona’s head coach in 2013.
LeBeau, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, served two stints as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator (1995-96 and 2004-14) and the team advanced to the Super Bowl four times in those spans, winning twice. His defenses led the NFL in fewest yards allowed five times. They were in the top 10 in total defense 11 times.
“Dick was really somebody that made a tremendous contribution over many years,” Rooney said. “It was a pleasure to have him here. I really enjoyed working with him for so many years. I am sorry to see him go. But these things happen. Sometimes you just have to move on. We appreciate everything that he did.”
Rooney said the Steelers expect no big defensive changes under Butler, who has been with the team since 2003. That would include the team sticking with its 3-4 defense.
“I am not sure I see anything dramatic other than to acknowledge that the game is changing,” Rooney said. “Every year, there are new wrinkles that defensive coordinators have to adjust to. Keeping up with offenses these days is a real challenge. I don’t expect any dramatic changes to kind of the foundation or our defense.”
But he would like to see improvement. The Steelers’ defense ranked 18th in the NFL in total yards and points allowed this season and were 26th in sacks with only 33.
“We need to be able to pressure the quarterback more consistently,” Rooney said. “Some of the games that we were successful in this season, we were able to do that. I think that’s the key to stopping these high-powered offenses. You have to be able to pressure the quarterback. That’s an area we have to get better. We need to create some more turnovers, those kind of things. Those are the areas I think we have to focus on.”
Rooney said the Steelers are in the process of evaluating their players and have not made a final decision on the respective fates of veterans Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel or James Harrison. … Rooney said the Steelers want to re-sign linebacker Jason Worilds, a potential free agent. Worilds played under the transition tag in 2014 for $9.75 million. … Rooney called cornerback Cortez Allen’s 2014 season “disappointing,” but added he is optimistic Allen can bounce back in 2015. Allen was signed to a five-year, $26-million contract extension last August.