Season 2, Episode 73 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I jump right into the continued offensive coordinator search by the Pittsburgh Steelers along with the news that linebackers coach Keith Butler has decided to stay with the Steelers instead of heading off to the Indianapolis Colts to become their new defensive coordinator. We discuss what Butler may or may not been offered and guaranteed to stay in Pittsburgh to be the successor to Dick LeBeau. Todd Haley and Alex Van Pelt are the latest names to surface that head coach Mike Tomlin might be checking into and we wonder if this Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be losing another coach on their staff as according Adam Schefter, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano plans to hire Steelers linebackers coach, Keith Butler as his new defensive coordinator. The Colts added former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians on Saturday and the three were all on the Cleveland Browns staff years ago. Butler began coaching with the Steelers under former head coach Bill Cowher and has been coaching the linebackers for the past nine seasons. He has been considered a candidate for other defensive coordinator jobs in the past, Read more [...]

By Jeremy Hritz Bob Dylan said “the times they are a changin’.” If he is following AFC North football, he may be considering a lyrical revision. It looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are not the only AFC North team that will begin the 2012 NFL season with a new coordinator. On Wednesday, Chuck Pagano, defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, accepted the head coaching position of the Indianapolis Colts, taking over for the recently fired Jim Caldwell. Pagano, in his first year as the defensive coordinator for the Ravens, lead the defense to a third overall ranking in yards allowed, Read more [...]

Ed Bouchette is confirming that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will indeed return for the 2012 season. This will be his 9th straight season running the defense since his return to the Steelers in 2004. The Steelers 2011 defense finished first in the NFL this season in both points allowed and total defense. They finished first in yards allowed per game (271.8), yards allowed per play (4.51), passing yards allowed per game (171.9) and passing yards allowed per play (5.19). The defense also finished first in first downs allowed per game (16.5). There is still no official Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked during his Monday press conference if he anticipates both defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians returning for the 2012 season and Tomlin said, "I anticipate it, but of course you know we all understand what the end of the season is about and movement is a part of it in today's NFL for both players and coaches. So were are going to work to maintain continuity like we always do. we believe that is a benefit to us, but we also understand that things could happen and we will deal with those things as they arise." Tomlin Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 63 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I get right into the final injury report report of the week for the upcoming game this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Who is in, who is out? Who plays and for how long? We discuss it. We then move on to talk about the team awards announced on Thursday. Was Antonio Brown the right choice for team MVP? Do Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace or Ike Taylor have a right to be slighted with the team vote? Who did Wallace vote for anyways? We hammer through all of that as well, plus have a few laughs in the process. In the second Read more [...]

I have tracked the TOX stat all season long as it relates to wins and losses every week in the NFL as I love the stat. Half of that stat revolves around explosive plays, plays of 20 yards or more, and the ability of teams in the NFL to not only create them on offense, but not allow them on defense. Many have criticized the Steelers run defense all year long, especially how it relates to allowing explosive runs this year. The defense allowed just 1 run last year of 20 yards or more and this year they have allowed 7. That might seem like a big deal, but it really isn't when you factor in that Read more [...]

The press conferences of Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 Team MVP Antonio Brown and Chief Award Winner James Farrior from yesterday are up on steelers.com for your viewing pleasure. Bruce Arians and Dick LeBeau both talked to the media on Thursday and here is what they had to say during their Q & A's. Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron also talked to the media yesterday and discussed the possibly blitzing Ben Roethlisberger more and how tough it is covering the Steelers receivers. Brian Baldinger does a great job breaking down some of the Steelers favorite plays and how they do it out of Read more [...]

It seems like the Pittsburgh Steelers just returned back from blacked out San Francisco and now they must turn around quickly, lick their wounds and host the 2-12 St. Louis Rams today at Heinz Field. Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not start this game due to his bad left ankle, but could be in uniform just in case of emergency. The Rams are a very depleted squad and that certainly will be just what the Steelers need on a short week. As I do every week, here are my 7 things to look for against the Rams as the Steelers look to move to 11-4 on the season along with my score prediction. No Read more [...]

Below is the defensive participation chart for the Steelers week 13 Sunday game versus the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley returned to the starting lineup, but only made it through 12 non-penalty plays before being shutdown for the day. Safety Troy Polamalu returned after missing most of the game against the Chiefs with a concussion to play 42 snaps. He gave way to Ryan Mundy late in the game after it was well out of reach. It was good to get him the extra rest. Rookie Cameron Heyward saw 9 non-penalty snaps and played both sides on the defensive line Read more [...]

The Steelers are coming off of a sluggish win last Sunday night against the Chiefs and can not expect to have the same type of performance this week against a good Cincinnati Bengals team if they expect to complete the season sweep. A solid win will go a long way in ensuring that the Bengals are knocked out of the race for the AFC North crown and will build good momentum for the team heading into a short week. A loss by the Steelers will pretty much mean that they will have to make the playoffs as a wild card team. As I do each and every week, here are 7 things to look for in the game on Sunday Read more [...]

We had Bengals beat writer Joe Reedy on The Terrible Podcast yesterday and his latest article focuses on the preparation of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton as he gets ready to face Dick LeBeau and the Steelers defense for his first time. The only rookie quarterback to beat LeBeau was the Ravens Troy Smith in the 2007 regular-season finale. Trevor Ebaugh points out on the ESPN stats blog that since 2007 the Steelers have averaged 119.4 yards per game rushing when Hines Ward plays and 101.0 in the 8 games without him during that span. With the Joe Paterno firing being the most talked about news Read more [...]

The Steelers run defense has had its problems this season, especially in the first four games, but you can't help but notice how good the pass defense has been thus far. Entering the Sunday night divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers are ranked first in passing yards allowed per game (171.6) and passing yards allowed per play (5.22). They also broke out a heavy press man coverage this past week against the New England Patriots and held the great Tom Brady to just 198 yards passing, 69 of which came on the Patriots last scoring drive. While they have allowed 10 touchdown passes Read more [...]

I hope you enjoyed the press man coverage that Dick LeBeau used almost exclusively this past Sunday against the New England Patriots because I know I certainly did. LeBeau has been visibly laying that ground work of this switch ever since James Harrison has been sidelined as the Steelers have been forced to play more dime and big nickel with 6 defensive backs over the last 4 weeks and perhaps even longer. The real early sign that LeBeau had this up his sleeve was against the Cardinals two weeks ago when rookie Cortez Allen saw the field for 10 snaps in the dime. Up until that point, Allen only Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 37 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I spend 50 minutes recapping the Steelers impressive 25-17 over the New England Patriots. We open with a nod to history and a look at what we thought might happen on Sunday. As we discussed during the week, the Steelers went to much more press coverage and multiple looks on defense and on offense the Steelers spread the Patriots and attacked much like teams often try to attack Pittsburgh. It all worked like a charm. Ben Roethlisberger put up big numbers and the Steelers were able to contain Tom Brady and the Patriots offense Read more [...]