Steelers Coach Dick Lebeau headed to HOF

http://www.steelers.com/article/117096/

Being an avid follower of Dick Lebeau's defensive mind, it's definitely good to see him [Coach Lebeau] being honored for his on the field accomplishments in the NFL.

 PITTSBURGH ─ Known to contemporary NFL fans as the mastermind behind the Steelers defensive successes of the past 18 seasons, Dick LeBeau was honored with the highest individual award in professional football when Pro Football Hall of Fame announced him today as a member of its Class of 2010 for his 14-year career as a player.

LeBeau is part of a seven-member class that also includes offensive guard Russ Grimm, linebacker Ricky Jackson, running back Floyd Little, defensive tackle John Randle, wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back Emmitt Smith.

 

In August 2009, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee had named LeBeau and Little as finalists for the Class of 2010, and then they both received at least 80 percent of today’s vote by the overall selection committee to be elected.
 

“I would like to congratulate Dick on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Steelers’ President Art Rooney II said. “Few men in the history of the NFL have contributed more to the league as a player and coach than Dick LeBeau during his 51 years in the league. All of us with the Steelers are thrilled with his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010.”

'Steel' A Believer?

The Pittsburgh Steelers that we are witnessing this season, are NOT the 2008-2009 Superbowl Champions.
Yes! Ben Rothlisberger is still the starting QB,
Yes! Mike Tomlin is still the Head Coach,
Yes! Our Defense is still top 10 in the NFL,
So doesn't it look like we should have the same results?
Thats a big negative...To the average fan or fool who doesn't really know the game of football, or should i say in a perfect world, the Steelers would win the superbowl and come back (this season) and win every game. It hasn't been the perfect season for the Pittsburgh Steelers and unfortunately it hasn't been very promising either. To start out the year with lets just say "The Biggest Injury" of our season Troy Polomaulu goes down with a knee injury, and hasn't fully recovered from that injury missing 9 games this season. Defensively we've changed--letting our former starting CB go to the Arizona Cardinals, which puts us in a position to promote another player to the new role as a starter.
William Gay - who has played very well throughout his career as a nickel and dime back, was made a starter at the beginning of the season, but since taking on this new role Gay has been exposed week in and week out.
Not to turn all of our focus on one man, this team has been plagued with injury throughout this season, but what has plagued the team worst than injury seems to be the lack of play for the entire 60 minutes. Last season it was clear to see that the reason that the Pittsburgh Steelers were so successful was because they were able to win the close games and prevail those tough losses that they have accumulated this season.

2008 - Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) they were undefeated in the division and had identical records at home (6-2) & on the road (6-2)
2009 - Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)* don't travel well (2-5) and have been punished in their division (4-6).

Of course -- from a fan's perspective when you lose to the worst teams in the League, you pretty much suck, but it's not about who they lost to as much it is about how they lost.
In 2005 the Steelers were (7-5) before going on to win their 5th superbowl title, this year the Steelers are (7-7) coming into a "Must Win" against the other Wildcard fighting Baltimore Ravens (8-6) the Steelers have a chance to possibly turn this ugly season into a not-so dissapointing one. Having not as much control over their destiny as they did a couple weeks back, they are still riding for that last playoff spot and they have to win out the rest of this season to stay alive.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to end this season without a playoff berth, for the sake of the Steeler Nation -- they can't lose this week's game against Baltimore.

Prediction: Steelers 17-13

MotR's Week 11 NFL Picks

Selections:

Which team will win the game? (My selections are in bold.)
11/19 8:20 PM	NFL	Miami Dolphins	Carolina Panthers (-3.5)
11/22 1:00 PM	CBS	Cleveland Browns	Detroit Lions (-3.5)
11/22 1:00 PM	FOX	San Francisco 49ers (+6.5)	Green Bay Packers
11/22 1:00 PM	CBS	Pittsburgh Steelers (-9.5)	Kansas City Chiefs
11/22 1:00 PM	FOX	Washington Redskins (+11.5)	Dallas Cowboys
11/22 1:00 PM	FOX	Atlanta Falcons (+6.5)	New York Giants
11/22 1:00 PM	FOX	New Orleans Saints (-11.5)	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11/22 1:00 PM	CBS	Buffalo Bills	Jacksonville Jaguars (-8.5)
11/22 1:00 PM	CBS	Indianapolis Colts (+0.5)	Baltimore Ravens
11/22 1:00 PM	FOX	Seattle Seahawks	Minnesota Vikings (-11.5)
11/22 4:05 PM	FOX	Arizona Cardinals (-8.5)	St. Louis Rams
11/22 4:15 PM	CBS	San Diego Chargers (-2.5)	Denver Broncos
11/22 4:15 PM	CBS	Cincinnati Bengals (-9.5)	Oakland Raiders
11/22 4:15 PM	CBS	New York Jets	New England Patriots (-10.5)
11/22 8:20 PM	NBC	Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5)	Chicago Bears
11/23 8:30 PM	ESPN	Tennessee Titans	Houston Texans (-4.5)

Tiebreakers:

What will the final score be?
Tennessee Titans	21
Houston Texans	27

What If: LeBron James was in the NFL?

Lets just entertain the notion that LeBron James was going to play in the NFL, and if so what kind of addition would he be for the Cleveland Browns. Could Lebron James be the scoring machine he is in the NBA in the NFL? 


ESPN reports: Browns would give Cav's James a shot.

LeBron James:

Height: 6-8  Weight: 250 lbs 

Avg: 27.8 ppg

Currently this 2009-10 season the Cleveland Browns rank dead last in the NFL in Offense (32nd in NFL). In the past 3 seasons the Browns offense has ranked among the League's worst in 2006 (31st in NFL) and 2008 (31st in NFL).

While in 2007 they were ranked among the leagues best (8th overall in NFL yardage). The Cleveland Browns haven't had the best of luck this season, they do have a bright star in wide reciever Joshua Cribbs who at 6-1, 215 lbs has been the only real bright spot on the Browns roster since their Playoff run in 2007.

Now although LeBron hasn't played football since high school his size and athleticism would be a big addition to the Browns offense, following the path of basketball players that switch to football (Tony Gonzales & Antonio Gates).


Notable stats:
Cleveland Browns

• rank 32nd in Total Yards on Offense 
• Averaging a mere 8.7 points per game (last in the NFL) 
• has 78 total points (in 9 NFL games) 
• only have 3 TDs recieving

Lebron James

• Height 6-8 
• Weight 250 
• Averages 27.8 points per game 
• 44 inch vertical jump (Randy Moss has 51 inch vertical)

NFL Players that used to 'Hoop':
Tony Gonzalez 6-5 , 243 lbs
Antonio Gates 6-4 , 260 lbs
Terrell Owens 6-3 , 224 lbs
Randy Moss    6-4 , 210 lbs


With the height alone Lebron would be the tallest skill player on the roster, athletically he would be a BEAST, what corner under 6' would want to have the duty of watching this man.?He presents a mis-match because he has the ability to jump so high, and If he was to goto the NFL, he would probably line up as a WR (Wide Reciever) or TE (Tight End) history shows that he could very well be a star at either of those positions.  The question that would remain until game day would ultimately be, how much of a real factor would he be and could he take the punishment weekly that NFL players go through? If you were to give me the coaching position over the Browns to add Lebron James to the roster, whose to say he couldn't turn the lackluster Cleveland Browns offense into a more formidable opponent. 

Bottom Line - LeBron's never gonna trade his hoop shoes for cleats, but you gotta love his character.