Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau spent 14 seasons as a defensive back in the NFL before moving into coaching; holding a plethora of roles for a number of franchises for 42, count them, 42 years, bringing his total NFL experience to an unbelievably impressive 56 seasons.
So, of anyone in the league, LeBeau truly understands the machinations of the NFL through and through.
He can't be entirely surprised then, as his defense, much like the current Steelers team as a whole, continues to perform in an entirely mediocre, inconsistent fashion, that questions about his job security have begun to pop up.
"LeBeau appears to know his time with the Steelers could be ending," writes Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He was unusually testy in a brief interview Thursday when asked if he wants to come back next season. Each of the past several Decembers, he has said, without hesitation, he wants to coach another year 'as long as they want me.' Once, in an unusually rough season because of injuries and poor play, he added, 'I would never bail out on these players.'
"There was none of that this time."
LeBeau's defense is ranked an altogether admirable 9th in rushing yards, but they're 23rd against the pass. They have only 21 sacks on the season, just one in the past two games.
They've only forced one turnover in the last three games and they allow too many big plays - they've given up nine runs of 20-plus yards and 25 passes of 25-plus yards.
They're also allowing 6.0 yards per play, which puts them at 29th in the league.
These are not the numbers of a Dick LeBeau defense.
Still, the usually gruff LeBeau would not soften long enough to discuss the potential of his future dismissal.
"The only thing that we can talk about here is our football team and getting ready for a football game," LeBeau said. "I don't give it any thought. I haven't given it any thought in the past 10 years that we talked about it. It's something that's to be decided down the road. It's not the topic of any conversation right now. We're in a pennant fight."
Yes, there have been injuries issues and a run of bad luck for the defense, not to mention some truly poor personnel decisions recently by GM Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin - Jarvis Jones anyone?
But this is LeBeau's unit and LeBeau's scheme, and it's simply not performing up to snuff.
There's also the issue of his advanced age - at 77, it's fair to wonder if his best days are gone and even if the game has possibly evolved beyond him.
But the biggest concern facing LeBeau, Tomlin and the defense remains their inability to play the same kind of tough, physical, smothering game that brought them so much success in the past.
At the end of the day, the numbers aren't bad, but the overall product is. The Steelers are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight season, thanks in large part to LeBeau and the defense's complete and utter lack of game-changing play.
And if things don't improve quickly, it could mean a premature end to the Steelers season, and possibly, LeBeau's illustrious NFL career.
