Breaking: Steelers Expected to Promote Teryl Austin to Defensive Coordinator

[SteelerFan448]

The Bill Cowher-led Steelers went 7-9 in 1998, 6-10 in 1999, 9-7 in 2000, 6-10 in 2003, 8-8 in 2006. No Championships, no playoffs.

The 11-5 season in 1992? One and done in playoffs, no Championship.

The 12-4 season in 1994? Knocked out in divisional round, no Championship.

The 11-5 season in 1997? Knocked out in divisional round, no Championship.

The 13-3 season in 2001? Knocked out in divisional round, no Championship.

The 15-1 season in 2004? Knocked out in divisional round, no Championship.

Bill Cowher, total AFC Championships 2, Total SB victories 1.
Mike Tomlin, total AFC Championships 2, Total SB victories 1.

Cowher 15 years, .623 winning percentage.
Tomlin 15 years, .643 winning percentage.

How the **** is Cowher an all-time great, a legend and a well-deserved Hall of Famer, while Tomlin is a rat *******, good-for-nothing, loser coach the fan base wants to run out of town with pitchforks and torches?

What a strange, strange world we live in.

Tomlin is a terrific coach. He's also underachieved in the playoffs and it's completed fair for fans to be disappointed with the Steelers playoff performance over the past decade.

Playoff Record
Cowher: 12-9 (.571)
Tomlin: 8-9 (.471)

Seasons with a Playoff Win
Cowher: 8 of 15 (8 of 10 playoff appearances)
Tomlin: 4 of 15 (4 of 10 playoff appearances)

AFC Championship Appearances
Cowher: 6
Tomlin: 3

Longest Stretch without a Playoff Win
Cowher: 3 seasons
Tomlin: 5 seasons (longest since before 1970)

Longest Playoff Losing Streak
Cowher: 2 (1992-93)
Tomlin: 3 (2010,11,14 and 2017,20,21)

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'll agree with your declines Slash but how did the decline happen?

WRs were fine until JuJu got hurt, then production slumped for everyone but DJ, who rightfully earned a pro bowl nod.

OLine was steadily improving for 10-12 weeks before the rookie wall and injuries shook that line up and it never recovered enough to be consistant, yet we still had the 4th leading rusher in the league, as a rookie.

ILBs regressed severely. Schobert was still #2 on the team in tackles, sad that Bush could barely get 5 tackles a game...

Dline lost Alualu in game 2 and never got Tuitt back, so 2/3 starters down for the season in week 2. I did like Wormley's production as well as Loudermilk's potential at LDE but NT was never fixed and we went through Buggs, before landing on Adams who was a PS Poach I believe. Still tough to get good production there, yet Heyward had his best season in a Steelers uniform, disruptive and productive.

Punter wasn't as bad as people think. He was a rookie, had some shanks, much like early Berry. His worst game, Koch (a former AP punter) had an even worse game. Lots of death in his family, and I thought he was the offensive MVP in the playoff game the way he was booming punts. I love his potential and I think he will be a strength moving forward.

The offensive line improving is one of the biggest myths this season. They had moments where they played well, but they collectively stunk from start to finish.

 

[Tibs]

Agree on that front, SteelerFan448. I've been as disappointed as anyone, these past few years. Probably even moreso back when we had the likes of Bell, AB, Martavis, et al and still coming up short. But the immense hate and piling-on Tomlin is way overboard, in my view. But yeah, I do understand where it's coming from, as far as the team underperforming come playoffs.

 

[slashsteel]

I'll agree with your declines Slash but how did the decline happen?

WRs were fine until JuJu got hurt, then production slumped for everyone but DJ, who rightfully earned a pro bowl nod.

OLine was steadily improving for 10-12 weeks before the rookie wall and injuries shook that line up and it never recovered enough to be consistant, yet we still had the 4th leading rusher in the league, as a rookie.

ILBs regressed severely. Schobert was still #2 on the team in tackles, sad that Bush could barely get 5 tackles a game...

Dline lost Alualu in game 2 and never got Tuitt back, so 2/3 starters down for the season in week 2. I did like Wormley's production as well as Loudermilk's potential at LDE but NT was never fixed and we went through Buggs, before landing on Adams who was a PS Poach I believe. Still tough to get good production there, yet Heyward had his best season in a Steelers uniform, disruptive and productive.

Punter wasn't as bad as people think. He was a rookie, had some shanks, much like early Berry. His worst game, Koch (a former AP punter) had an even worse game. Lots of death in his family, and I thought he was the offensive MVP in the playoff game the way he was booming punts. I love his potential and I think he will be a strength moving forward.

Team depends on great health far too often. The decision making put the team in the position not to be able to recover. Sitting on their hands when Alu and Tuitt went out contributed. Trotting Green out there for the majority of the season contributed. Bad free agency decisions contributed. Bad play calling on both sides of the ball contributed. If it was just an injury element teams can overcome and win a play off game or two. Hell even if nothing else stay competitive. That injury bug topic has been ongoing for how many seasons? Like I said in another thread when you handcuff your team even before game one you won't get the desired results. Look at the Rams they kept adding quality additions for over half the season. It takes the Steelers over half a season to make a decision. I feel you can no longer zoom in on one season you have to look at what the team is showing. What bad trends we see on a year to year basis. If they want to act like the smartest people in the room be the smartest people in the room. They simply just are not being smart. A long laundry list of bad to head shaking decisions. A lot more bad ones than good ones. **** the pendulum has to swing not just stay trending in one direction. Case in point when the Rams WR went down they brought in Beck. Chiefs snagged Ingram. Another bad team decision. The guy should have been rotated. Too many of the Steelers disgruntled players, some where there is a communication breakdown. As we dug we can see that hole just doesn't occupy the injured. It occupies a plethora of bad decisions.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Agree on that front, SteelerFan448. I've been as disappointed as anyone, these past few years. Probably even moreso back when we had the likes of Bell, AB, Martavis, et al and still coming up short. But the immense hate and piling-on Tomlin is way overboard, in my view. But yeah, I do understand where it's coming from, as far as the team underperforming come playoffs.

My complaints are straight forward. I think he's a good coach and he's gotten a lot of wins he shouldn't have given who's on the field. This team wasn't a playoff team this year and the squeaked in. However, the standard has become so low for a successful season. You have to win playoff games in this city and the Steelers haven't. They've grossly underachieved for 10 years with a franchise QB. They have their longest winless playoff streak in 50 years and hit an all-time low with points allowed over the past four playoff games. For being a defensive specialist, Tomlin's teams have given up 28 or more points in 8 of Tomlin's 17 playoff games.

On top of this, his staff has been subpar. There are quality coaches such a Munchak and Haley in the past and guys like Dunbar and Austin right now. But where's the depth on the staff? Where are the up and comers? Can we get a qualified NFL offensive coordinator? Fichtner is out of football. If they fired Canada, he'd be out of the NFL too.

 

[slashsteel]

Tomlin is a terrific coach. He's also underachieved in the playoffs and it's completed fair for fans to be disappointed with the Steelers playoff performance over the past decade.

Playoff Record
Cowher: 12-9 (.571)
Tomlin: 8-9 (.471)

Seasons with a Playoff Win
Cowher: 8 of 15 (8 of 10 playoff appearances)
Tomlin: 4 of 15 (4 of 10 playoff appearances)

AFC Championship Appearances
Cowher: 6
Tomlin: 3

Longest Stretch without a Playoff Win
Cowher: 3 seasons
Tomlin: 5 seasons (longest since before 1970)

Longest Playoff Losing Streak
Cowher: 2 (1992-93)
Tomlin: 3 (2010,11,14 and 2017,20,21)

Really where it starts and ends. And you won't improve on that being blown out of games.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

How the **** is Cowher an all-time great, a legend and a well-deserved Hall of Famer, while Tomlin is a rat *******, good-for-nothing, loser coach the fan base wants to run out of town with pitchforks and torches?

Cowher and Noll never went 5 consecutive years without a playoff win.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Team depends on great health far too often. The decision making put the team in the position not to be able to recover. Sitting on their hands when Alu and Tuitt went out contributed. Trotting Green out there for the majority of the season contributed. Bad free agency decisions contributed. Bad play calling on both sides of the ball contributed. If it was just an injury element teams can overcome and win a play off game or two. Hell even if nothing else stay competitive. That injury bug topic has been ongoing for how many seasons? Like I said in another thread when you handcuff your team even before game one you won't get the desired results. Look at the Rams they kept adding quality additions for over half the season. It takes the Steelers over half a season to make a decision. I feel you can no longer zoom in on one season you have to look at what the team is showing. What bad trends we see on a year to year basis. If they want to act like the smartest people in the room be the smartest people in the room. They simply just are not being smart. A long laundry list of bad to head shaking decisions. A lot more bad ones than good ones. **** the pendulum has to swing not just stay trending in one direction. Case in point when the Rams WR went down they brought in Beck. Chiefs snagged Ingram. Another bad team decision. The guy should have been rotated. Too many of the Steelers disgruntled players, some where there is a communication breakdown. As we dug we can see that hole just doesn't occupy the injured. It occupies a plethora of bad decisions.

This is huge. Look at how they've "retired" players and coaches. Free agents they've brought in haven't lasted a year before wanting out. The whole deal with James Harrison. Very poor communication from the coaching staff in probably all those situations.

 

[topseed]

Bill Cowher, total AFC Championships 2, Total SB victories 1.
Mike Tomlin, total AFC Championships 2, Total SB victories 1.

Cowher 15 years, .623 winning percentage.
Tomlin 15 years, .643 winning percentage.

How the **** is Cowher an all-time great, a legend and a well-deserved Hall of Famer, while Tomlin is a rat *******, good-for-nothing, loser coach the fan base wants to run out of town with pitchforks and torches?

What a strange, strange world we live in.

The difference is that Cowher knew 15 years was enough, and he stepped away after a mediocre final season. Too bad Tomlin won't do the same, and ride off into the sunset with Ben. MT's had a respectable career, but it's run its course in Pittsburgh.