Go away, Arizona!
Am I the only one who is getting sick and tired of the Arizona Cardinals stealing from the Pittsburgh Steelers?
In case any of you haven’t heard, the Arizona Cardinals signed Steelers’ defensive backs coach Ray Horton to become their new defensive coordinator.
Ordinarily, I would congratulate coach Horton. After all, it’s nice to see Steelers coaches get recognized for the great job that they do. But in this case, I’m not happy at all.
I recognize that Ken Whisenhunt used to coach for the Steelers. I know that he is familiar with the Steelers’ players and coaches. But does he have to go shopping within the Steelers organization every time he has an opening to fill?
At first, it was kind of funny. When Ken Whisenhunt wanted players, he always seemed to go after former Steelers. Same with coaches. Guys like Joey Porter, Alan Faneca, Russ Grimm, were all brought in by Arizona. Believe it or not, Clark Haggans still plays for the Cardinals. I’ll bet most Steelers fans thought he had retired years ago.
The Cardinals even signed guys like Isaiah Williams. Williams was at Steelers training camp last year, but he didn’t make the team. But it was still enough to make him attractive to the Cardinals. Is it any wonder we all started calling Arizona “Pittsburgh West”?
But enough is enough. There are 30 other NFL teams that the Cardinals can steal from when they need players and coaches. Moreover, there are literally hundreds of colleges that all have coaches who would love to move up to the NFL. But the Cardinals seem to think that the only place to get talent is from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They asked the Steelers for permission to interview linebackers coach Keith Butler too, but the Steelers denied their request. Good for them!
Perhaps I’m just being petty, but it just seems like Ken Whisenhunt lacks imagination. Do you mean to tell me that he can’t find a good coach anywhere except in Pittsburgh? Similarly, is he REALLY not able to find a young player who can do better than 50 year old Clark Haggans?
We all understand that you once coached in Pittsburgh, Whiz. But it’s about time you established your own identity. The Cardinals have to become more than just “Pittsburgh West”.
But until you gain the courage to chart your own path, I hear that Levon Kirkland isn’t on anyone’s roster. Maybe you can sign him too.
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I think Arizona did Mike Tomlin a favor. Nothing against Ray Horton, but I think Tomlin wanted to make a change last year but did not pull the trigger. The Steelers can use a change in coaching on this part of the defense. They can improve in the secondary and maybe this is the start of that.
1That’s a bit harsh Don. All coaches have a tendency to acquire players from their old team. That’s why the Chiefs are starting to be called Patriots West. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
And, overall, Ken hasn’t done it as much as some other coaches. And he also hasn’t started a bidding war over any Free Agents the Steelers wanted to keep. The only ones he’s picked up are ones the Steelers did not want to resign (Haggans, Morey) or those cut by other teams (Faneca (Jets), Porter (Miami)). Morey’s retired, Faneca was very cheap considering the Jets were paying most of his salary and Haggans actually had a pretty fair year for his cost. Porter will probably be cut in the offseason because his production did not mach his cost.
Yes, Grimm went with him…but after the fiasco with the NFL front office, leaking that he was going to get the job when he wasn’t…it would have been hard for him to stay. Too many hard feelings.
On the Horton hire, he obviously wants someone who knows the 3-4 system, and Pittsburgh is the ideal place to look. Butler is a very good friend of his and is highly thought of (presumably the successor for LeBeau) so I don’t begrudge him wanting to get him for his DC. Since he is so highly thought of, I am glad the Steelers refused because LeBeau won’t be around forever – but I don’t begrudge Whisenhunt wanting to hire him.
So, take a deep breathe. Arizona didn’t beat us in the SB, Green Bay did.
If you want to vent on someone, vent on Goodell and Smith. The 2 people potentially standing in the way of having football at all next year.
2John,
If you were an Arizona Cardinals fan, would you be happy with their apparent obsession with all things Steelers?
Personally, I’d be offended if I were a Cardinals fan. I wouldn’t want my team to be loaded with Steelers cast-offs. If they’re not good enough for the Steelers, then why should my team want them? I’d feel like we were constantly in the shadow of the Steelers. Frankly, I’d want my team to carve out its own identity. Right now, the Cardinals’ identity is clearly tied to the Steelers.
Maybe they’ll sign Charlie Batch to be their next quarterback.
3I have been a Steelers fan all my life. That means, other than the late 80′s, I have been used to continued excellence (or at least competitiveness).
If I were an Arizona fan, with their history of mediocity and failure…I wouldn’t be too fussed about it. Given, where they are starting from, even a Steeler’s cast off might improve the team.
As I said before, all coaches do this. Even Tomlin has done it a few times. Yes, he has done it less than Whisenhunt but he started off with a better roster.
Yes, they need to carve out their own identity but I think this simply boils down to the fact Whis wanted someone who could run a 3-4 defense and Horton, presumably, learned a thing or two from LeBeau.
Overall, it doesn’t really bother me since Whis has yet to take anyone from the Steelers that we wanted to keep.
4As long as he keeps his hands off of Butler. We need Lebeau’s protege in place for that inevitable day he retires.
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go after one of our backup QBs. Have you seen their QB play lately?
5Losing Ray Horton certainly doesn’t bother me at all…..certainly could use better coaching in DBs! I think the Steelers should also pay for his plane ticket.
Now, I will agree that KW seems to be stuck being a copy cat. I bet he has a steeler t shirt under his arizona coaching attire. But let’s also be honest here….who wouldn’t want to steal everything from the steeler defense? I just hope he wants BA too!
6Tony,
7The #1 comment that I got on the Steelers Today Facebook page was “Will Whisenhunt please steal Bruce Arians”. So you’re not the only one who had that thought.
whta about deshea townsend going to card as assistant DB’s coach? this is getting ridiculous
8I agree with John. I hoped for better for Whiz, that he might find some success in his own right, rather than shamelessly and somewhat pathetically trying to mimic the Steelers. In fairness, though, he probably would be better off with Batch than with Derek Anderson. What was he thinking with that?
9Thank you! This is getting pathetic. You’d think they could start to develop their own talent.
10