Game 1 Press Conference vs Browns
- Thread starter Stryker
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Please point to a comment from me where I blame Tomlin for a bad pass or a poor coverage. Let me save you the effort - there is no such comment.
However, can we agree that the head coach is directly responsible for the team's level of preparation, attention to detail, and the effort exhibited? This is not major league baseball - the season has 16 freaking games. EVERY game counts, and the Steelers' clear and indisputable propensity to show up flat, disorganized and sloppy in the crucial first 20 minutes of games is a reflection of the head coach.
How many times, exactly, are we going to have to suffer through blown timeouts because the Steelers cannot get the right personnel on the field in the 1st quarter, or an opposing offense which marches up and down the field against the Steelers in the first half by using quick passes or draw plays or screen passes or 4 receiver formations or whatever, where the coaches and players later say they were "surprised" by that approach?
The head coach is responsible for overseeing the team, including adjustments when the opposition "surprises" the Steelers with an approach that seemingly everybody but the head coach could foresee.
Further, I reject the theory that Tomlin is not responsible for the offensive, defensive and special teams preparation, and instead those responsibilities belong to Todd Haley, Dick Lebeau, and Danny Smith. Seriously, if the head coach is not responsible for all aspects of the team, and those duties instead fall to the respective coaches, then why don't all NFL teams save millions of dollars and simply have a cardboard cut-out positioned on the sidelines? After all, the coordinators will still be there to run the offense, defense and special teams - why waste all that money on a head coach?
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Idioteque
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Very faulty logic. Teams make mistakes and poor decisions absolutely all of the time. Blaine Gabbert was a great college QB who started for the Jaguars for most of three seasons, until it became clear he was not a good QB. That's one of thousands and thousands and thousands of poor decisions NFL teams have made and continue to make. Just because a team made a call, doesn't make it the correct call.
Here's a question that's been asked on here before: do you ever criticize the President or governor, or your boss at work? Have you ever watched a movie or heard an album and said, "I don't think that's any good?" Seems to me you're not qualified to form those opinions. I guess none of us should ever form opinions on any topic we've never done for a living.
Is Tomlin a "poor decision"? I don't know; I can only look at the facts and form a semi-educated opinion. And Tomlin's coaching has been so cartoonish - and our team has slid so deeply into mediocrity - that nobody on this board has been able to refute most of it.
Then I say we shut the board down now. I mean, what's the point of it existing? Us morons sitting around, giving educated opinions is absolutely pointless. Anyone discussing any topic in which they've never been a top-level professional is just an idiot.
Do you suggest that the Rooneys would be likely to fire a coach who was struggling or not doing a good job? If so, then I disagree. The Steelers have had 3 coaches since 1969.
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Idioteque
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This. From the posts on this board, one would think a head coach has no job whatsoever. The defense has gone from league-best to below-average? That's on the players. The gameplans never adjust? That's on Haley and LeBeau. The offensive line still sucks? That's on the players and the line coach. The team shows poor effort and preparation in most games? That's on the players. The subpar drafting? That's on Colbert, and besides, every team screws up draft picks so who cares? The timeouts and awful clock management and silly challenges? Eh, so what, every coach makes mistakes. And hey, we still went 8-8!
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but that is the very reason this board is here. so people like us can voice our opinions. its just some of us really believe that we know better than guys that actually do it for a living.
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Idioteque
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Weird, I haven't seen anyone make that claim. All I've seen people do is point out that the team has gone steadily downhill in recent years, and point to evidence - Tomlin's been here for 7+ years, so it's a good sample size - of completely idiotic coaching. And nobody on the other side is making much of an argument at all.
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ok. so what? If that indiviual brings tangible points to the table, what does that matter??
Administrative offices
Pittsburgh Steelers
3400 South Water Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2349
Phone: (412) 432-7800
Fax: (412) 432-7878
(resumes can be sent to Human Resources at above address and will not be accepted via email - we do not have an online listing of openings - for positions at Heinz Field please visit http://www.steelers.com/tickets-and-stadium/employment.html)
That's a good place to start for those who wish to directly impact the employment status of Tomlin, Haley, Colbert, Lebeau etc.
Pittsburgh Steelers
3400 South Water Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2349
Phone: (412) 432-7800
Fax: (412) 432-7878
(resumes can be sent to Human Resources at above address and will not be accepted via email - we do not have an online listing of openings - for positions at Heinz Field please visit http://www.steelers.com/tickets-and-stadium/employment.html)
That's a good place to start for those who wish to directly impact the employment status of Tomlin, Haley, Colbert, Lebeau etc.
LMAO!! Karma to you! I want to see how many of these message board coach experts actually put in a resume for the job.
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I don't understand the question. did I say it matters? it is good conversation. but that is all it really is conversation. my point is we are all bystanders on a message board. we can all voice our opinions on an topic we want. everyone can agree, disagree, ignore whatever but when it comes down to it. what do we know compared to the guys that own the team? if they want Tomlin as a coach, then he probably isn't as bad as some of us think he is. My opinion is I would much rather have Cowher as a coach vrs Tomlin. but I don't spend all day every day dwelling about it. others can, its their choice.
You mean the Rooneys own the team and will hire or fire whomever they feel like? Independent of who on the message boards supports _____________ or who wants ______________ fired? They don't even take the time to read what we post on these boards? But, that would make the board ... what ... for entertainment and discussion? Not to be taken too seriously? Just another part of the internet? OMG ... this is a REVELATION. My world is shattered. (sarcasm off)
Good points Blitz.
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TAS
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You must have been a fan of the team since what? 2013?
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Idioteque
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Yes/no question - have you ever voted?
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Idioteque
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So, in other words, an NFL GM is inherently, automatically, inarguably smarter and/or a better football mind than anyone who's not?
Again, this could've been said about Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Leaf as well. It seems your contention is that the team is infallible when compared to us turds, and that if they saw something special in Jamain Stephens that a non-GM didn't see, they were STILL right for taking him in the first, and anyone who didn't like the guy was STILL wrong and/or out of place for noticing it.
Can't get on board with that.
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Again, this could've been said about Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Leaf as well. It seems your contention is that the team is infallible when compared to us turds, and that if they saw something special in Jamain Stephens that a non-GM didn't see, they were STILL right for taking him in the first, and anyone who didn't like the guy was STILL wrong and/or out of place for noticing it.
Can't get on board with that.[/QUOTE]
I think the rooneys record stands on its own. and yes I do think Colbert is smarter at running a football team than any of us on this board.
we have a lot of very smart football minded people on this board you of course are included in that , but when it comes to running the steelers I will take Colbert anyday of the week compared to anyone here
Of course, it's a right and obligation that I have served to protect for others so of course I'd do so myself.
Actually, the point that you haven't addressed is that the decision as to who is the HC of the Pittsburgh Steelers is not a "democratic" decision. The fans don't get a vote. So, whether the Rooneys are inherently more or less intelligent than the rest of us does not matter. The call is theirs. It's fun to debate or second guess. But, that's really about all we can do.
Doesn't matter if you get the answers you desire from the "Tomlin supporters". Doesn't matter whether you can point to 50 gaffs Tomlin has made. Doesn't matter whether you think he, the Rooneys and Colbert sit around with dumbstruck expressions on their faces all week and don't do **** to field the best, most prepared team they can. It just doesn't matter.
We are limited to discussions, debate and opinion. And unlike "voting" you can't "vote" the Rooneys, Tomlin or Colbert out of the positions they hold.
So, I hope the season is a great one. I trust that if it is not, changes will be made. If it isn't and they are not, I will probably rant and rave along with the rest of you. All the while knowing there isn't much I can do if no changes are made.
Doesn't matter if you get the answers you desire from the "Tomlin supporters". Doesn't matter whether you can point to 50 gaffs Tomlin has made. Doesn't matter whether you think he, the Rooneys and Colbert sit around with dumbstruck expressions on their faces all week and don't do **** to field the best, most prepared team they can. It just doesn't matter.
We are limited to discussions, debate and opinion. And unlike "voting" you can't "vote" the Rooneys, Tomlin or Colbert out of the positions they hold.
So, I hope the season is a great one. I trust that if it is not, changes will be made. If it isn't and they are not, I will probably rant and rave along with the rest of you. All the while knowing there isn't much I can do if no changes are made.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SteelBuckeye again.
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Idioteque
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Sure, but have they not made tons of mistakes like every human in history has? Passing on Marino? All of the first-round busts? The many coaches they ran through pre-1969? I don't see why it's irrational to think that they goofed with Tomlin, seeing as how every team (hell, every company and every professional throughout history) has made hundreds of business and personnel mistakes.
By saying "I'll trust whatever the organization decides to go with," you're stating that you assume their choice is the right one, simply because they made it. And by saying "I think they screwed up here," I'm NOT stating that I'm a better GM than Colbert is. Let me use Gabbert again here. I thought Gabbert would be a crappy NFL QB, and the Jaguars apparently disagreed. Ultimately, I was right, and the Jaguars were wrong. Of course, they've been right more guys than I have, but in that instance I was correct in my evaluation and they were wrong. No, that doesn't mean I'm better at their jobs than they are, but it does mean that it's fair to question their decision-making, just like we do the President and our bosses on a daily basis. Do you have any opinions on Obama? By this line of reasoning, we should all abandon any disagreements we have with his Presidency and just assume he knows the right paths much, much better than we do.
That's fine. I'm not as qualified as Colbert, nor do I have a career's worth of time spent in the NFL learning firsthand. I get all of that, and I'm not here to claim that I could do this or that better than who's in charge.
No team or fanbase ENJOYS repeatedly firing their handpicked coaches and starting the entire process anew. But to me, the bigger threat to building and maintaining a successful team is complacency. As stupid as the Browns and Bills are for firing coaches like it's a bodily function, it's equally (or perhaps more) stupid to rest on your laurels with a Jeff Fisher or a Lovie Smith or a Mike Smith and win 7-10 games a year but never truly compete. To figure, "Well, we're rarely a truly awful team, and sometimes we even win a playoff game or two, so it would be stupid to fire the coach and rebuild. Let's just hope our players suddenly get better overnight and the rest of our division takes a step backward. THEN we'll compete." In the NFL, being mediocre is the worst position to be in. Even worse than being terrible for a year here and there. When you're terrible, you get to stock up on some top-tier draft picks and rebuild the team in whatever image you see fit. You draw easier schedules. You have better perspective in separating the wheat from the chaff. When you're mediocre, you're picking in the middle rounds every year. You're treading water with basically the same nucleus of players, unless you strike gold with the 16th pick several times.
As for my feelings on Tomlin's future, I've been kind of up in the air. On the one hand, I disagree with the Bills and Browns model, which is to fire your coaching staff and rebuild your roster after every bad season. There are so many factors in the air that just making one or two sudden, drastic changes isn't always the right answer. I do think we need a regime change, in that I think Tomlin is incompetent on gamedays and has presided over a huge dropoff in talent and, in my opinion, team effort. But I don't think that firing Tomlin just for the sake of firing Tomlin was or is now the way to go; I think a clear plan (and a great successor) is essential. Personally, were I a Rooney, I would have placed him on strict notice following the 2011 season. Yes, I know we went 12-4 and made the playoffs, but W-L record is often a poor indicator of how good a team is and the direction they're heading. Tomlin's mismanagement of Ben down the stretch, coupled with the humiliating and preventable Tebow loss, was a pretty strong indicator for me. Those factors, plus his clear and inarguable lack of gameday coaching acumen, would have been enough for me to call him into my office and explain that certain things need to change, or else. And after the 2012 collapse, yes, I would have sought out a replacement. I would have looked at the available options - and there were good ones: Marc Trestman, Gus Bradley, Chip Kelly, and Mike McCoy all got HC jobs that year, and Bill O'Brien took the Texans job this year - and made a change.
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Idioteque
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Do you have this ready to copy/paste several times a day? LOL. Talk about begging for e-friends.
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Idioteque
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That's not even close to my point; I'm talking about the concept of discussing or even GASP! second-guessing those in charge. Forget about voting - have you ever held a political opinion? Have you ever agreed/disagreed with the government? If so, I'd ask how DARE you have the GALL to question a guy like Barack Obama, who has been a politician for years and years? I know you served in the military, but you've never sat in on classified Pentagon matters. You've never met the world leaders and seen the classified documents Obama has. You don't have a team of advisors and experts like Obama does. Did you vote for/against the guy? You shouldn't have been allowed to - you weren't privy to all of the information atop the government.
According to your logic, the leaders are the leaders and they automatically make the right choices. I guess we should eliminate democracy in America, since Joe Blow's educated, evidence-based opinions carry zero weight. I guess your boss should never be questioned, since you're just a lowly employee and couldn't possibly make an educated decision like he can.
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Idioteque
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It's just an example; let's not shoot in our pants.