Pittsburgh Steelers hard-hitting Linebacker James Harrison recently made a guest appearance on Ben Roethlisberger's podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. Two-time Super Bowl Champ, Roethlisberger and his co-host Spencer T'eo, hosted the chat while watching the Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday.
Harrison, who has never been known to be mild mannered dished quite a lot on the show, including who was the biggest trash talker, how he was almost a Baltimore Raven and how his Steelers defense compares to the current defense.
ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: James Farrior #51, James Harrison #92, and Brett Keisel #99 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a defensive play against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25. (Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Roethlisberger mentioned how interesting it is to have a defensive player on the show, noting the only other they've had was Brett Keisel. He asked Harrison if he watched the whole team or primarily the defense, noting that he personally, spends all of his time watching the ball. Harrison said he doesn't watch as much football as people would expect but when he does, he watches the Steelers. Roethlisberger then asked his former teammate if there was anything about the current defense that reminds him of the defense on which he played.
Harrison said absolutely not.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison sacking Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. (Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
He said that when he played defense for the Steelers, under then-Defensive Coordinator, Dick LeBeau, the linebackers were utilized differently. Harrison said LeBeau had the linebackers not only rushing but dropping back in coverage.
"We dropped 50 percent of the time and you had to cover receivers. I haven't seen anybody cover receivers like that Dick LeBeau defense," Harrison said.
LeBeau, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, was well-known for engineering tough, hard-nosed, gritty, physical defenses. He took over the Steelers' defense in 2003 and helped them win three AFC Championships and two Super Bowls. LeBeau helped bring back a "Steel Curtain" type defense to Pittsburgh and reminded people everywhere that defense does indeed win championships.
Steelers Defense - Then and Now
Harrison commented that LeBeau's defense compared to today's defense led by Teryl Austin is like comparing chess to checkers, not necessarily bad, but vastly different.
PITTSBURGH - MAY 01: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers watches practice alongside defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau during rookie training camp at the Pittsburgh Steelers Practice Facility on May 1, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
LeBeau is considered the father of zone blitz. Harrison said that when he played for the Steelers the linebackers could go from rushing to being in man-on-man coverage. The defense was extremely complex and that is why it was so hard for quarterbacks and opposing coaches to figure out. If the players ran it exactly how LeBeau coached it, then it was likely to shut down the offense.
"Every defense has one weakness," Harrison said. "But you gotta exactly know what that is."
LeBeau made it nearly impossible for opposing teams to decipher and stop. However, if one player doesn't know what they are doing or busts their coverage, then it would break down just like any other team's defense. This was the reason Harrison said there were not usually rookies starting on the Steelers' defense.
When one player is out of position or doesn't understand the scheme it causes defensive failure. If there were issues people would say that the defense wasn't working but the reality was that the process wasn't being allowed to develop the way it is supposed to.
The complexity of the defense meant that few rookies ever started, Harrison said the exception was Kendrell Bell. Bell was freakishly talented and athletic. James Farrior was put in charge of guiding Bell and simplifying the defense for him. While all the other defenders were excepted to follow LeBeau's complicated schemes, Bell was told by Farrior which gap to hit. This allowed the more senior defenders to do what they needed and to know that Bell would attack that one gap. After he hit his gap he was told to blitz that gap if it was a run and get to the quarterback if it was a pass.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Linebacker Kendrell Bell #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers pursues the play during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on September 7, 2003, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 34-15. (Photo Credit: George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The majority of defenses today give a nod to what LeBeau started. The Steelers are not unusual in running a different kind of defense. The Steelers' defense has slipped over the past several years, particularly against the run. Now the Steelers have hired, defensive guru Brian Flores and it is slowly improving.
What did you think of Dick LeBeau's defense? Do you think the Steelers should implement some of those old schemes into today's defense? Would that even work in today's NFL? Comment below!
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