LeBeau to the Cards?

[burrrton]

Bodes well for the Cards if true- the dude has made a career out of creating perpetually strong defenses:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... cuss-union

[kalibane]

If he's coming in to supplement the staff sure. But not if it means he's replacing Todd Bowles. LeBeau is arguably the best defensive assistant coach of all time. He's now 77 and running a defensive model that had it's hey day in the mid 90's.

He'll be a downgrade from Bowles and from Ray Horton before him. Not scared of LeBeau.

[burrrton]

I don't claim any familiarity with the Cards' situation so trust your judgment, Kal.

I just know I've been thinking "Will you retire already?" for a long time watching PIT's defense always seemingly strong (and not being able to stomach the Steelers).

[RiverDog]

If he's coming in to supplement the staff sure. But not if it means he's replacing Todd Bowles. LeBeau is arguably the best defensive assistant coach of all time. He's now 77 and running a defensive model that had it's hey day in the mid 90's.

He'll be a downgrade from Bowles and from Ray Horton before him. Not scared of LeBeau.

Agreed. And he wasn't a bad player, either.

I can't remember his name, but Philly's former DC would rank right up there, too, as would Tom Landry.

[kalibane]

You're talking about Jimmie Johnson from Philly? The Seahawks actually owe a little to that guy, he was a huge proponent of big corners. He was a lot more blitz crazy but Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor were the prototype Sherman and Browner in my mind.

[RiverDog]

You're talking about Jimmie Johnson from Philly? The Seahawks actually owe a little to that guy, he was a huge proponent of big corners. He was a lot more blitz crazy but Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor were the prototype Sherman and Browner in my mind.

Yea, that's him. The late, great Jimmie Johnson. And yea, he did like to blitz.

When it comes to assistant coaches, without a doubt the two most widely renown coaches ever to coach as assistants on the same team coached for Allie Sherman of the New York Giants in the late 50's. You might not recognize their names, though.

[monkey]

If he's coming in to supplement the staff sure. But not if it means he's replacing Todd Bowles. LeBeau is arguably the best defensive assistant coach of all time. He's now 77 and running a defensive model that had it's hey day in the mid 90's.

He'll be a downgrade from Bowles and from Ray Horton before him. Not scared of LeBeau.

Exactly.
LeBeau is a defensive genius who is now well past his prime. The game is passing him by as we speak.
His defensive scheme was designed specifically to stop so called "west coast" offenses. While most teams have integrated at least some "west coast" principals and plays into their offenses, fewer and fewer teams are running true, pure "west coast" offenses. (I would argue that none of them are).
That doesn't mean his defensive scheme, his zone blitzes etc... aren't useful anymore, it's just a matter of the game has progressed beyond him in many ways, and will continue to do so.

I'd put LeBeau into the Hall of Fame tomorrow if he retired though, he's been that great a coach!

[Zorn76]

He'd fit right in with Tom Moore and Tom Pratt. The Cards are putting Arizona retirement aged people to work:)

[kalibane]

And Todd Bowles has been reported to have been hired by the Jets so I guess LeBeau will be the replacement? Good news on two fronts. LeBeau is a downgrade from Bowles and Jets were all over Dan Quinn so scratch that.