It's easy to say the Steelers should force defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to retire. He is 77, an advanced age in a business that is grueling even for young men. Of greater significance, his defense has slipped badly the past few seasons and is the biggest reason the team could miss the playoffs for a third consecutive year if it loses today to the Cincinnati Bengals. The defense keeps giving up big plays, one after another.
LeBeau appears to know his time with the Steelers could be ending. He was unusually testy in a brief interview Thursday when asked if he wants to come back next season. Each of the past several Decembers, he has said, without hesitation, he wants to coach another year "as long as they want me." Once, in an unusually rough season because of injuries and poor play, he added, "I would never bail out on these players."
There was none of that this time.
"The only thing that we can talk about here is our football team and getting ready for a football game," LeBeau said. "I don't give it any thought. I haven't given it any thought in the past 10 years that we talked about it. It's something that's to be decided down the road. It's not the topic of any conversation right now. We're in a pennant fight."
It's hard to like the Steelers' chances because of their defense. It doesn't rush the passer well; it has just 21 sacks in 12 games after getting only one in the past two games. It doesn't force turnovers; it caused just one in the past three games. It can't prevent big plays; it has given up nine runs of at least 20 yards and 25 passes of at least 25 yards, including 11 of at least 40 yards. It is allowing 6.0 yards per play, which ranks 29th in the NFL.
LeBeau is sensitive to criticism of his defense, pointing out it ranks 12th in the league in yards allowed. Statistically, that's true. But does the defense pass the eye test? Even LeBeau acknowledged, "We gotta get better."
If improvement doesn't happen today and in the final three regular-season games, it's easy to imagine coach Mike Tomlin making or being forced by management to make staff changes. Those changes could include LeBeau, a Hall of Famer and coaching legend. Pro football is a brutal business.
But LeBeau is the least of the Steelers' defensive problems. General manager Kevin Colbert and Tomlin deserve more blame. They haven't given LeBeau many good players. How many on the defense would you describe as championship-caliber players? Cam Heyward? He gets better every week. Lawrence Timmons? He has been solid for years. But after those two?
Bad luck has been a factor. The Steelers drafted Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones No. 1 in the past two NFL drafts. Neither has been able to stay healthy. Nor has Sharmarko Thomas, a fourth-round pick in 2013. Sean Spence missed his first two seasons because of a major knee injury after being drafted No. 3 in 2012. "No one controls or picks when you get injured," LeBeau said.
But there have been too many bad personnel decisions by Colbert and Tomlin. The Steelers still haven't replaced nose tackle Casey Hampton, who wasn't re-signed after the 2012 season. They brought in free agents Mike Mitchell and Cam Thomas after last season, and neither has done much. They elected not to pay cornerback Keenan Lewis after the 2012 season and gave big money to Cortez Allen before this season. Lewis is starting and playing well for the New Orleans Saints. Allen quickly lost his starting job and can't get back on the field. In the Tomlin era, the team hasn't made cornerback a position of importance in the draft, never taking one higher than the third round.
The Steelers waited too long -- after this season started -- to bring back veterans Brett Keisel and James Harrison. Keisel was effective before his season-ending triceps injury last Sunday. Harrison, who is expected to miss the game today because of a knee injury, might be the team's best pass rusher.
There should be plenty of defensive changes before next season. Jason Worilds, Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, Keisel and Harrison aren't expected back. Who knows about Mitchell, Thomas and Allen?
Considering how bad the defense has been, change is necessary. Change is good. Change can only help.
LeBeau won't say that, of course. It's no wonder the players love playing for him and adore him as a person. He'll never publicly criticize them.
"The idea is to get in the playoffs and win a championship," LeBeau said. "We've still got every chance in the world to do that."
LeBeau said figuring out a way to stop the Bengals is the only thing on his mind. He said he has no special thoughts about going back to Cincinnati, where he was head coach from 2000-02 and had a 12-33 record. It was his only shot as a head coach.
"I really don't think about it," LeBeau said. "I'm a Pittsburgh guy. Look at what's happened to me here in the last 10-11 years. The best things in my professional career have happened here."
Fair or unfair, right or wrong, it's possible, if not likely, this will be LeBeau's final trip to Cincinnati as a Steelers coach. He made it clear that also wasn't a topic of conversation.
"I wouldn't think about it even if I knew it was. So what?" he said, fairly growling.
These are tough times for the Steelers defense. These are tense times for the man who runs it.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Cook and Poni" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.