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Ed Bouchette: "It's A Bit Messy Because Dick Didn't Want To Leave"

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan)- Pittsburgh Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined Tab Douglas Sunday morning to talk about the Steelers parting ways with Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau.

Bouchette said that when Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn't come out and say that LeBeau would definitely be back next year at his season-ending press conference, that was a tip off that this might be coming.

"It's a bit messy, because Dick didn't want to leave," Bouchette said.

LeBeau officially resigned as Steelers defensive coordinator but made sure to say in his release that he is not retiring.

"He still wants to coach," Bouchette said. "It would have to be the right spot."

Bouchette says that all signs point to Linebackers Coach Keith Butler being LeBeau's replacement, but there has been no official announcement.

"I don't know what Keith Butler's defensive philosophy is, but I don't think they are just going to change to a 4-3, as some have suggested, just because Dick LeBeau is gone," Bouchette said.

Bouchette joined the KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert and John Shumway to talk more about the resignation of Dick LeBeau.

Bouchette thinks that Arizona would be a good fit for LeBeau. He said of Arizona head coach and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, "Tom Moore is on his staff and he is right around LeBeau's age and he has a linebackers coach out there who may be 80."

He adds, "Arians is certainly not afraid to hire talent, no matter what their age."

Bouchette also said he doesn't think the performance of the defense this year had anything to do with LeBeau leaving.

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