James Harrison: Blame Steelers Players, Not Dick LeBeau

By Jack Crosby | Oct 17, 2014

Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) is greeted by teammates as he takes the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

A lot of criticism has been thrown the way of legendary Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau as of late, but James Harrison wants you to know that he and the players are to blame, not the coach.

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Last Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped to 3-3 on the season when they were more or less run off the field by the Cleveland Browns, 31-10. It was just the third time in the last 23 meetings that Pittsburgh had lost to Cleveland, and given the final score, the realization is beginning to set in that this defense does not mimic past dominant Steelers units.

With that has come some criticism that has been cast right in the direction of legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Obviously, the talk is that the game has passed him by and it might be time for him to hang up the clipboard and whistle.

James Harrison has something to say about that.

The veteran linebacker, who recently rejoined the team this season after one year with the Bengals, stuck right up for LeBeau, stating that the problem is not him, rather he and the other defensive players are the ones not executing the game plan.

“I hear coach LeBeau, a lot of people say he’s too old. That’s bull. The defense works. Players have to play the defense. Period. It’s on the players,” Harrison said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Let’s be plain and honest, let’s cut out all the bull — it’s about you dominating your man, period. That’s all there is to it. That is what Aaron Smith did. That’s what Casey Hampton did. That’s what they did. They dominated.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if the Steelers have the pieces in place at the moment to dominate as this defense once did, like Harrison pointed out.

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