Gerry: LeBeau works his magic

Thursday, 08 November 2012 19:15

Written by Gerry Dulac

Any more questions about whether defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau needs to retire?

Or if the game has passed him by?

Please.

The Steelers defense has climbed to No. 1 overall and No. 1 against the pass in the league, which seems amazing in itself after blowing fourth-quarter leads in their losses to the Broncos, Raiders and Titans. Even more amazing if that they’ve done it without Pro Bowl S Troy Polamalu and without any significant sack production from their outside linebackers, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

Injuries have prevented them from being the feared and productive tandem that terrorized opposing quarterbacks from 2008-20210. In those three seasons, Harrison (36 ½) and Woodley (35) combined for 71 ½ sacks – more than any other linebacker tandem.

But, Harrison and Woodley each finished with nine sacks last season because they combined to miss 10 games -- six by Woodley. It was the main reason the Steelers finished with only 35 sacks, their lowest total since 1990.

It hasn't been much better this year. The duo has combined for only four sacks – three by Woodley – while Harrison tries to regain some semblance of the form that made him the NFL’s defensive player of the year in 2008. He missed the entire preseason and the first three games of the regular season with a knee injury.

The lack of pressure is partly the reason the team has only eight takeaways, second fewest in the NFL. And yet, LeBeau has worked his magic and pieced together a scheme that has the Steelers residing where they always seem to reside – at the top of the league in defense.