Here Cometh The Defensive Coaching Changes: Lake Out

[bradshaw2ben]

Ray Fittipaldo @rayfitt1
37s
Carnell Lake releases a statement that says he's leaving the Steelers to spend time with his family. Had been on Tomlin's staff since 2011.

[SteeLori]

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-4/ ... d59f559290

I have decided to return to California to be able to be a part of my youngest son’s last year of high school football.

I want to thank Mr. Art Rooney II and the Rooney family, Coach Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert, the coaching staffs I have worked with throughout my time in Pittsburgh, and the entire Steelers organization. It has been a privilege and honor to play and coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I also want to thank all of the players I have coached during my seven years with the team – it truly was an honor to work with them. Finally, I would like to thank Steelers fans for their support and for being the best fans in the NFL during both my time as a player and coach.

[COR-TEN]

Yep.

Lake decided this on his own.

No way in fucking hell Tomlin "urged" him to move on.

Right?

Right?

[jeemie]

Maybe Art II “suggested it” to Mike Tomlin the way Dan suggested it to Chuck Noll back in the day...

Steelers do like to make exits look voluntary.

[Legacy User]

Good.

The amount of explosive plays given up by the secondary in the past three seasons has been unacceptable.

[Legacy User]

I have no idea if this is a good or bad thing

Variables:

Tomlin
Secondary performance
Talent level
Tomlin
Ping Pong

[bradshaw2ben]

Joey Porter next? Please? Please?

[Legacy User]

Good.

The amount of explosive plays given up by the secondary in the past three seasons has been unacceptable.

Exactly

We used to “keep them in front of you” and make the tackle.

Now they go zipping by or break multiple ghost-like attempts at tackles

How many times has Mitchell had a chance to prevent the TD but overrun the receiver, whiffed or just flat out fell?

[Orangesteel]

Good. Now we need a giant infusion of talent and depth on this defense. Is that possible?

[Legacy User]

Good. Now we need a giant infusion of talent and depth on this defense. Is that possible?

Could you structure this question in a multiple choice format?

[Legacy User]

Joey Porter next? Please? Please?

Big Gary Larson fan

[jeemie]

This is good if Tomlin/Colbert/Rooney seek the best available coach to replace him.

It's bad if they practice the nepotism they displayed in hiring Blaine Stewart.

Note- Stewart may turn out to be great...I know nothing about him...maybe he's just the detail-oriented guy to be a good quality control coach.

But all I really know about him was that Tomlin knew his dad- which shouldn't even be a factor.

[bradshaw2ben]

well, this is a little of both, Jeemie:

My dream job is to come back to the Black & God and coach those guys. They have Carnell, who started with the Steelers in 2011, the same time I started with the Raiders. We didn't end up being as good as Pittsburgh was. I know they have Carnell and he's done a great job and don't want to replace him, but I would love to don those colors one more time somehow. once a Steeler, you're always a Steeler.

Currently available DB coach.

[Legacy User]

well, this is a little of both, Jeemie:

My dream job is to come back to the Black & God and coach those guys. They have Carnell, who started with the Steelers in 2011, the same time I started with the Raiders. We didn't end up being as good as Pittsburgh was. I know they have Carnell and he's done a great job and don't want to replace him, but I would love to don those colors one more time somehow. once a Steeler, you're always a Steeler.

Currently available DB coach.

Would he be a good coach?

Why in the eff must it be a former Steeler? Hell's bells. And Lake has not done a great job.

[bradshaw2ben]

The Raiders and Steelers had almost identical number of big plays allowed in 2017:

Raiders: 59 over 20, 16 over 40
Steelers: 58 over 20, 16 over 40

[Legacy User]

Any idea how much money Lake made/stole from the Steelers?

[Legacy User]

The Raiders and Steelers had almost identical number of big plays allowed in 2017:

Raiders: 59 over 20, 16 over 40
Steelers: 58 over 20, 16 over 40

So a seamless transition?

[COR-TEN]

well, this is a little of both, Jeemie:

My dream job is to come back to the Black & God and coach those guys. They have Carnell, who started with the Steelers in 2011, the same time I started with the Raiders. We didn't end up being as good as Pittsburgh was. I know they have Carnell and he's done a great job and don't want to replace him, but I would love to don those colors one more time somehow. once a Steeler, you're always a Steeler.

Currently available DB coach.

Would he be a good coach?

Why in the eff must it be a former Steeler? Hell's bells. And Lake has not done a great job.

So the "Lake Effect" never really materialized.

At one point people here thought it was a great idea to hire Lake, and went on to espouse how much of a turn around the secondary had. Thus, the mythical "Lake Effect" was created.

I guess it was all smoke and mirrors?

[Legacy User]

I bet he could still be a better safety than Mike Mitchell.

[Legacy User]

The Raiders and Steelers had almost identical number of big plays allowed in 2017:

Raiders: 59 over 20, 16 over 40
Steelers: 58 over 20, 16 over 40

So a seamless transition?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Wouldn’t%20touch%20it%20with%20a%20barge%20pole&amp=true

[Donnie Brasco]

Burns and Davis really regressed their sophomore years. Unsure how much influence Lake had...

[Legacy User]

i dont know how much can change when the head defensive guru is still there. This is his baby, his mess. Rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

[Legacy User]

i dont know how much can change when the head defensive guru is still there. This is his baby, his mess. Rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

Good point.

Team should just have kept Carnell 'explosive play' Lake.

I hope they bring in someone with a record of developing young players. Being an ex-Steeler does not demonstrate that you can develop talent.

[bradshaw2ben]

i dont know how much can change when the head defensive guru is still there. This is his baby, his mess. Rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

It wasn't the scheme or playcalling or top-level choices as much as jimmie & joes + fundamentals and player development.

The HC is involved in all of that, but position coaches have a big impact in those areas.

[Legacy User]

i dont know how much can change when the head defensive guru is still there. This is his baby, his mess. Rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

Good point.

Team should just have kept Carnell 'explosive play' Lake.

I hope they bring in someone with a record of developing young players. Being an ex-Steeler does not demonstrate that you can develop talent.

im not saying its not a good start, it is.

[Kodiak]

kudos to Tomlin for throwing someone under the bus.

Begs the question why it took a former DB coach 6 years to figure out Lake wasn't cutting it....

[Legacy User]

kudos to Tomlin for throwing someone under the bus.

Begs the question why it took a former DB coach 6 years to figure out Lake wasn't cutting it....

is that too long of a timeframe?? Bogged down in game management 101 courses most likely.

[Stillerz Bar]

I initially liked the hire but the bottom line is that the payers did not improve over time during Lake's tenure. Leave the scheming up to the DC, for this job I want someone who will help the players continually improve tacking and ball skills.

[Obviously]

It is a step in the right direction. I want to see more steps but like B2B says, it's like that ocean liner try to make that quick turn. Just can't do it as fast as we like.

[Legacy User]

Off season forum prediction.

I put the under at 16 for how many consecutive posts any given thread will make it before a poster criticizes Tomlin.