PITTSBURGH — Keith Butler didn't exactly dumb things down when he took over for Dick LeBeau Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator last winter.
Maybe streamlined is the better word.
LeBeau's intricate 3-4 scheme was notorious for its ability to flummox young players even as the Hall of Famer spent a decade overseeing the "Steel Curtain 2.0." In a perfect world, Butler admits he'd love to give his young players a couple of years to learn before sending them into the fray.
The Steelers don't have that kind of time. And maybe they don't need it.
Lost in the concern over Ben Roethlisberger's sprained left knee, an injury that leaves one of the league's best offenses in the hands of Michael Vick — yes, that Michael Vick — starting with Thursday night's game against struggling Baltimore (0-3) is that Pittsburgh's revamped defense might be coming along more quickly than expected.