The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly working a deal that would make former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau their new linebackers coach.
LeBeau, 77, spent the past 11 seasons with Pittsburgh, where his defenses were feared predominantly because of linebacker play—edge rushers, especially. Names like James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and Joey Porter were known as some of the top edge rushers in the league. They blossomed into premier pass rushers coming off the edge under LeBeau.
No group of edge rushers in the NFL had more sacks during his time in Pittsburgh than LeBeau’s Steelers (295.5 from 2004 through 2014).
Some lasted longer than others, and some—like current Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds—have only just begun to make a name for themselves.
In Arizona, LeBeau inherits a ragtag bunch of linebackers who have collectively under-performed as pass-rushers throughout their careers.
As of now, the Cardinals have only three outside linebackers under contract for the 2015 season: Matt Shaughnessy, a run-stuffing former 4-3 defensive end who translated well into Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme but still is not a pass-rusher; Lorenzo Alexander, a career special teams player who only recently earned playing time at linebacker but who is also not known as a pass-rusher; and young Alex Okafor, who led the team with eight sacks despite playing in only 13 games this season.
General manager Steve Keim has yet to hire a replacement for Bowles, who took the vacant head coaching spot left by Rex Ryan with the New York Jets. Whereas Bowles’ blitzes came from everywhere and you never knew where pressure was coming from on any given play, with LeBeau coaching the linebackers, you know from where pressure will be generated no matter who Keim hires to run the defense.
LeBeau’s edge rushers create the pressure. Can he salvage one of the worst linebacking corps in the NFL? Will he have suspended star inside linebacker Daryl Washington at his disposal in 2015?
That’s a question for another time. Just know the future of the Cardinals linebacking corps is looking up with this Hall of Famer now coaching it.
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