Christmas Day Game Thread

[BLITZ]

I insult myself everyday does this count?

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Did you miss the part where it was clear he was only being allowed to hire internally??

That is a fallacy
There was no mandate that he could only hire internally, guaranteed you have zero proof of that assertion as it is complete BS

His decision without such constraints

He simply is averse to competent coaches as they threaten his Mike-romanagement…he seeks and keeps incompetence and yes men…it’s quite simple

 

[NoKap#7]

You’ve got to be kidding me, Tomlin can hire whoever he wants: case in point Canada and Smith

Canada was an internal hire....he was elevates from a chief assistant position (QB Coach). I specifically stated Arthur Smith was the first hire externally in a previous post (see post #724). The least you could do is verify what people state before assuming.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

I think the perfect solution would be to send Tomlin to Carolina for 2 1st round pics. everyone would be happy. except Coach Lloyd

Canales is a better offensive mind than Mike
They don’t want him ruining Bryce

Heck that dumpster fire of a team was more competitive with both the Chiefs and Eagles…and that is pretty effing sad

At this point the flinging monkey is on the list of better offensive and defensive minds than Mr Tomlin. Alright that part was just to give the monkey some respect, haven’t heard him referenced in awhile.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Canada was an internal hire....he was elevates from a chief assistant position (QB Coach). I specifically stated Arthur Smith was the first hire externally in a previous post. The least you could do is verify what people state before assuming.

Canada was brought in from the outside to be the QB coach.

Wanna go farther back: Todd Haley was a former head coach and couldn’t have come cheaply.

The Rooneys organizational model is to defer to the head coach for all things football. If you think he would be told no to getting a few more million to get a good Coordinator you’re delusional. Tomlin is the 2nd highest paid coach in the league-that was said in the broadcast yesterday

What is well established is Tomlins desire to hire and promote from within because he doesn’t want the boat rocked-one of his many flaws. You’re probably right in that we have a low paid assistant coaching staff- but that’s because the hiring structure is controlled by Tomlin and the people he promotes don’t deserve to be highly paid for the poor job they do

 

[NoKap#7]

Canada was brought in from the outside to be the QB coach.

Wanna go farther back: Todd Haley was a former head coach and couldn’t have come cheaply.

The Rooneys organizational model is to defer to the head coach for all things football. If you think he would be told no to getting a few more million to get a good Coordinator you’re delusional. Tomlin is the 2nd highest paid coach in the league-that was said in the broadcast yesterday

What is well established is Tomlins desire to hire and promote from within because he doesn’t want the boat rocked-one of his many flaws. You’re probably right in that we have a low paid assistant coaching staff- but that’s because the hiring structure is controlled by Tomlin and the people he promotes don’t deserve to be highly paid for the poor job they do

You must have Tomlin confused with Ben when you say he wants to hire assistants to be his minions. It's well documented the struggle that took place with Haley trying to keep Ben within his scheme and Ben wanting to improvise and call his own plays...which is more then likely why they went to internal hires. I personally think Tomlin has far less to do with the offense then the defense. Even Hard Knocks seems to confirm he's not in the room during offensive film study or scripting plays.

 

[Punxsutawney]

What is well established is Tomlins desire to hire and promote from within because he doesn’t want the boat rocked-one of his many flaws. You’re probably right in that we have a low paid assistant coaching staff- but that’s because the hiring structure is controlled by Tomlin and the people he promotes don’t deserve to be highly paid for the poor job they do

The Steelers apparently have the smallest coaching staff in the league, but I tend to doubt that is entirely due to Tomlin's preference, as Rooney seems to be willing to commit only so much money to the staff.

It's become a league of specialized coaching where even the assistants have assistants, but the Steelers choose to remain in the stone age in that area.

Regardless of the reason behind it, constantly competing against larger coaching staffs probably puts the Steelers at a disadvantage in terms of attention to detail and game preparation.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

You must have Tomlin confused with Ben when you say he wants to hire assistants to be his minions. It's well documented the struggle that took place with Haley trying to keep Ben within his scheme and Ben wanting to improvise and call his own plays...which is more then likely why they went to internal hires. I personally think Tomlin has far less to do with the offense then the defense. Even Hard Knocks seems to confirm he's not in the room during offensive film study or scripting plays.

Everything you just said is something Tomlin could or could have changed if he wanted to.

He is the HEAD COACH. He bragged about having influence over targeting draft picks like Najee and Pickett and FA signings like Wilson. All failures and successes are his responsibility at the end of the day, the buck stops with him. 0 playoff wins in 7 years is a massive failure

 

[Steeltime]

Pretty sure Tomlin isn't the GM..and you know as well as everybody else that Tomlin was limited to hiring all his OCs and DCs internally until Arthur Smith was hired, because the Rooneys don't like to pay the assistants. I'm not saying it's a fact but if my back is against a wall I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Steelers organization has the smallest payroll among assistant coaches in the league.

Do we need to be reminded just how tight fisted this organization is??

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/09/13/pittsburgh-steelers-practice-amenities#:~:text=The%20Steelers%20ranked%20No.,)%2C%20training%20room%20(No.

Your claim that Mike Tomlin has little or no say in his assistant coaches is fiction. Go ahead and cite any source saying that ownership ordered Tomlin to "hire internally" to save money. Go ahead.

Oh, how about this article from January of 2022?

For all of Tomlin’s strengths over the past 15 years, putting together a strong staff could be considered his weakness, mostly because he seems to follow a formula — don’t look outside for coordinators and hire (for the most part) experience assistants, which leads to a non-existent coaching tree.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3092786/2022/01/26/inside-mike-tomlins-hiring-practices-promoting-coordinators-hiring-older-assistants-and-no-coaching-tree/

Huh ... that seems to contradict your claim 100%. Almost like you made up your comment just to continue your endless Tomlin ball-washing. An image of your contributions on this forum:

By the way, Creed was drafted in 2021 ....how would he have made Ben better when 2021 was literally Ben's last season of play? An old, noodle arm Ben that was a statue in the pocket at that?? See this how I know yall just get on here and say any damn thing. You dont even check your own comments to see if it makes sense. Y'all just be talking out the side of yall mouth throwing objects against walls and hoping it stick.

Jesus, are you seriously saying that the failure to take an elite offensive center in Ben's final season would not have helped him because he was immobile?!?

Saaaaaay ... wouldn't upgrading the offensive line with a great center be exactly what an immobile QB NEEDED?!?!?!?

It should be noted that drafting that guard to play center wasn't a boo hooed pick at the time. Let's not try and play the blame game in hindsight. Essentially a lot of picks/choices dont quite work out. That can be said about every team.

Humphrey was the best C in the draft and one of the better C prospects in a while. He was a perfect fit and fell to round 2 when a ton of mocks had him going in the 1st.

Trying to justify that idiocy with Kendrick freaking Green just makes you look dumb. Well, dumber.

If we look at who the Steelers took prior to Creed we have Najee, which was the bigger problem at 1, and Pat Freiermuth who was taken in the same rd as Creed. Najee definitely hasn't lived up to 1 status and I'm not sure if many would say Pat has lived up to 2, but those were some pressing positions of need also in that draft and I'm not sure there was anyone I can remember that objected to either of those picks.

You can't remember who protested passing over Humphrey in the 2021 draft?? Uhhh, how about me and a ton of other SN contributors?

Post in thread 'Matt’s 2021 Steelers Mock Draft v1'

Apr 15, 2021

Tough to pass on a top center in the second round.

If Creed Humphrey is there at pick #55, "rush to the podium" should be the theme.

• Steeltime

• 

Post in thread 'Draft Grades'

May 3, 2021

And a quick note on the Najee pick, which may have already been hashed out, just haven't seen it. If we don't grab Harris at #24, we would have lost out on all three blue-chip RB's (Harris, Etienne and Javonte Williams) by the time our 2nd round pick rolled around.

I don't think many second-guess the Harris pick. We question the Freiermuth pick when Creed Humphrey was available. Humphrey is very talented, shows elite athletic skills, and would be a day 1 starter at an important position. Really did not follow the thinking behind the pick. First, the importance of the position...

• Steeltime

I don't think many second-guess the Harris pick. We question the Freiermuth pick when Creed Humphrey was available. Humphrey is very talented, shows elite athletic skills, and would be a day 1 starter at an important position. Really did not follow the thinking behind the pick. First, the importance of the position, center > tight end. Second, in terms of college production, Humphrey > Freiermuth. Third, in terms of scheme fit and athletic showing, once again Humphrey > Freiermuth. Steelers want their centers to be powerful, but quick, able to pull, smart to call blocking. ... Humphrey is a guy who would take the position for the next 10 years.

 

[NoKap#7]

Everything you just said is something Tomlin could or could have changed if he wanted to.

He is the HEAD COACH. He bragged about having influence over targeting draft picks like Najee and Pickett and FA signings like Wilson. All failures and successes are his responsibility at the end of the day, the buck stops with him. 0 playoff wins in 7 years is a massive failure

...and yet besides 2017-2018 you couldn't point to another year in that time where this team had the horses to make a serious run so it's not a massive failure especially considering there's some teams that have only made the playoffs once if at all during that time. Show me where they were favored to win in any other game besides the Jaguars... I'll wait....

 

[Lunar]

I insult myself everyday does this count?

Ony if you call yourself Coolie.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

...and yet besides 2017-2018 you couldn't point to another year in that time where this team had the horses to make a serious run so it's not a massive failure especially considering there's some teams that have only made the playoffs once if at all during that time. Show me where they were favored to win in any other game besides the Jaguars... I'll wait....

My god dude: Tomlin has massive say over personnel too so if they don’t have the horses as you say that’s also on him

You show me another head coach in this league who went 7 years without wining a playoff game and kept his job-because that’s a massive and unacceptable failure

 

[Steeltime]

...and yet besides 2017-2018 you couldn't point to another year in that time where this team had the horses to make a serious run so it's not a massive failure especially considering there's some teams that have only made the playoffs once if at all during that time. Show me where they were favored to win in any other game besides the Jaguars...

Vs. Clowns at home January 2021

Pittsburgh is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Steelers vs. Browns odds from William Hill Sportsbook

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-vs-browns-odds-line-nfl-playoff-picks-2021-wild-card-predictions-from-proven-expert-whos-26-11/

Know why Coach Nolosingseason has no other games where his team was the favorite?? Because wobbling into the playoffs at 9-7 or 9-7-1 or 10-7 means a road game, where the team is going to be the underdog.

So maybe, just maybe - hear me out here - the problem is that Coach Nolosingseason is not good enough to win against genuine competition in the regular competition, loads up on patsies, gets exposed against legitimate teams, staggers/moonwalks into the playoffs and gets demolished.

 

[jiminoh]

....gets exposed against legitimate teams, staggers/moonwalks into the playoffs and gets demolished.

We tip our hats to them. We just failed to execute.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Show me where I was the first to insult you or anyone else, I’ll wait

I don’t start the insults, but I’m not going take crap from you or anyone else and am ready to fire back

Dec 15th just one of many many instances. I made a post that had nothing to do with you whatsoever and you started out by calling me an idiot. I just read almost every post you have made for 3 weeks almost 2/3rds involve you name calling or belittling someone for their opinions. Yes, I call out the haters on occasion, but you won't find 2/3rds of my posts arguing like a child and name calling back and forth. Only occasionally. You are very combative in your approach almost universally and it grates on people. Plenty have called you out for it. You aren't as bad as the poster simply named Lloyd but he could be your half-brother. Something about the name, I guess it reflects the surly attitude of the player himself.

I also will say I can be better and just try harder to ignore all the negativity and move on but man it gets more depressing in here sometimes than the game itself.

 

[Omar10213245]

Dec 15th just one of many many instances. I made a post that had nothing to do with you whatsoever and you started out by calling me an idiot. I just read almost every post you have made for 3 weeks almost 2/3rds involve you name calling or belittling someone for their opinions. Yes, I call out the haters on occasion, but you won't find 2/3rds of my posts arguing like a child and name calling back and forth. Only occasionally. You are very combative in your approach almost universally and it grates on people. Plenty have called you out for it. You aren't as bad as the poster simply named Lloyd but he could be your half-brother. Something about the name, I guess it reflects the surly attitude of the player himself.

I also will say I can be better and just try harder to ignore all the negativity and move on but man it gets more depressing in here sometimes than the game itself.

well no ******* **** it gets depressing, this team is a depressing franchise to follow/root for over the last several years, what the **** do you expect?

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

well no ******* **** it gets depressing, this team is a depressing franchise to follow/root for over the last several years, what the **** do you expect?

That is why I try to have a much more overarching view. In my life I have seen a hell of a lot more good than bad. Even the bad is pretty good in comparison to a large number of franchises. I try to keep it all in perspective. Something I think many fail to do. Yes I would love to win another but if I died tomorrow I would have no issues with what I have gotten to see from the Steelers even including this playoff drought.

 

[Omar10213245]

That is why I try to have a much more overarching view. In my life I have seen a hell of a lot more good than bad. Even the bad is pretty good in comparison to a large number of franchises. I try to keep it all in perspective. Something I think many fail to do. Yes I would love to win another but if I died tomorrow I would have no issues with what I have gotten to see from the Steelers even including this playoff drought.

Its a message board. When the team is incompetent, people are gonna gripe and vent. It is what it is.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Dec 15th just one of many many instances. I made a post that had nothing to do with you whatsoever and you started out by calling me an idiot. I just read almost every post you have made for 3 weeks almost 2/3rds involve you name calling or belittling someone for their opinions. Yes, I call out the haters on occasion, but you won't find 2/3rds of my posts arguing like a child and name calling back and forth. Only occasionally. You are very combative in your approach almost universally and it grates on people. Plenty have called you out for it. You aren't as bad as the poster simply named Lloyd but he could be your half-brother. Something about the name, I guess it reflects the surly attitude of the player himself.

I also will say I can be better and just try harder to ignore all the negativity and move on but man it gets more depressing in here sometimes than the game itself.

Dec 15th just one of many many instances. I made a post that had nothing to do with you whatsoever and you started out by calling me an idiot. I just read almost every post you have made for 3 weeks almost 2/3rds involve you name calling or belittling someone for their opinions. Yes, I call out the haters on occasion, but you won't find 2/3rds of my posts arguing like a child and name calling back and forth. Only occasionally. You are very combative in your approach almost universally and it grates on people. Plenty have called you out for it. You aren't as bad as the poster simply named Lloyd but he could be your half-brother. Something about the name, I guess it reflects the surly attitude of the player himself.

I also will say I can be better and just try harder to ignore all the negativity and move on but man it gets more depressing in here sometimes than the game itself.

You’ve slung personal crap at me long before December 15, once you do that I’m not going to feel obligated to be nice to you.

There are about 5 people that I go hard at here and they’ve all thrown the first punch. You’re one of them-the common theme with all of you is for whatever reason you can’t stand to hear criticism of Mike Tomlin when the team is clearly underperforming and just insult anyone who does in the guise you’re so above hearing criticism of him, but then your reaction is to say: hater, moron, you’re a mouth breather etc. On Decmber 15 I was called autistic. IMO it’s pretty ridiculous to come to a chat board and not hear criticism of the head coach, it goes with the territory and trust me Mike Tomlin above anyone else gets and accepts that.

If you wanna bury the hatchet just say the word and it’s done. You can respectfully defend Tomlin to continue as head coach to me and I’ll respectfully to you say he should move and call him out for the bad things going on with this team

 

[Fiji Mariner]

That is why I try to have a much more overarching view. In my life I have seen a hell of a lot more good than bad. Even the bad is pretty good in comparison to a large number of franchises. I try to keep it all in perspective. Something I think many fail to do. Yes I would love to win another but if I died tomorrow I would have no issues with what I have gotten to see from the Steelers even including this playoff drought.

The Chiefs bad is pretty good

Our bad is losing back to back home games vs 10 loss teams bad…the type of unseen before in the NFL bad

Our bad is fooling people with a 10-3 squad that finishes a season 10-7 on a five game losing streak bad

Our bad is finally playing good teams and losing by double digits over and over and over

Our bad is can’t win a playoff game in a decade bad…wait for it only a couple more years to get there and Tomlin is signed up so it’s a virtual lock

In short, our bad is not good by comparison
Unless you are comparing to the Bears, Panthers, Jets and Giants…then our bad is pretty good

Is that how far the standard has fallen?

 

[NoKap#7]

Humphrey was the best C in the draft and one of the better C prospects in a while. He was a perfect fit and fell to round 2 when a ton of mocks had him going in the 1st.

Trying to justify that idiocy with Kendrick freaking Green just makes you look dumb. Well, dumber.

I'm not sure what your point is? or where i ever justified picking Kendrick?? I certainly didn't have a problem with the puck then and I don't have a problem with the pick now. It was third rd puck and they were hoping he could be another Pouncey. It didnt wotk out. It is what it is, vut its foolish to think they valued him over Creed. Maybe if you remove the stick from up your $$a you could comprehend what I was trying to say. Kendrick is not the issue.

Kendrick was picked after Creed so in reality he is irrelevant to the conversation. I've said that several times now but a dyckhead like you is to busy trying to bring smoke and argue a moot point rather then address what I actually said. Your only issue can only be Najee at 1 or Pat at 2. You can argue amongst yourselves which picked caused the Steelers to drop the ball, but this is not on Kendrick.

I also said that i don't think Najee or Pat were terrible picks, but for sure they haven't been what Creed has been for the Chiefs. I also stated that everyone's venting at the wrong draft. The 2022 draft was far more egregious and a clusterfk of picks then 2021. This is where they truly missed out on a center. They could have drafted Tyler and moved Kendrick to his natural position at guard where he belonged, or at least was much more suited.

 

[NoKap#7]

My god dude: Tomlin has massive say over personnel too so if they don’t have the horses as you say that’s also on him

You show me another head coach in this league who went 7 years without wining a playoff game and kept his job-because that’s a massive and unacceptable failure

Steelers are not like any other organization. Why continue to bring up that tired a$$ argument? If you want to root for a team that goes through coaches like a hooker through condoms then why not become a fan of the Raiders so you can get your wish every 2 years??

 

[JMM]

Sorry I wasn't around on Christmas to preface the thread with the best Christmas song ever made. Probably why we lost. I'll try to do better next year.



Hope you and yours had a good Christmas.

Go Steelers! Looking forward to beating Cincinnati and going on to win the Super Bowel.

PS..Don't take stuff too seriously.... you'll be a lot better off.

 

[NoKap#7]

Jesus, are you seriously saying that the failure to take an elite offensive center in Ben's final season would not have helped him because he was

Yes, I'm saying even if the Steelers picked the future best center of all time it wouldn't have helped Ben push the ball down the field which is why the defenses were able to stifle the offense. I don't if you stopped watching games after the 2017-2918 season but ended elbow wasshot after 2018-2019 season. He could not push the ball down the field on a consistent basis and defenses knew it. Are you arguing that this was not the case??

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Steelers are not like any other organization. Why continue to bring up that tired a$$ argument? If you want to root for a team that goes through coaches like a hooker through condoms then why not become a fan of the Raiders so you can get your wish every 2 years??

Quite a difference between a coach every two years and a 17 year tenured coach that if has went on a streak of almost half his career without a playoff victory. I’m sure there is a happy medium in there somewhere…like say an 8 year coach goes 4 without or a 10 year goes 5 without. Do we really need to let Tomlin get to 20 years in so he can have a full decade drought?

Just comparing Mike to all previous Steeler coaches how many coaches have went 7 years without a playoff victory?

Answer: only 1 Buddy Parker and ya have to go back to the pre SB era.

Tomlin’s drought is indeed historic. I know,
I know the Steelers have a very limited number to compare to so for reference in the SB era Noll’s longest drought was 4 years right? And Cowher’s was what 3 years?

So yeah 7 years is a long time any way ya slice it.