Only way he is coming back is if he gets another contract. And if that’s without some serious playoff wins. Time for a break for me.
Having watched these games last two weeks
- Thread starter SteelerSask2
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2014
- Messages
- 12,663
- Reaction score
- 16,938
- Points
- 113
Best case scenario for next year.
Fautanu is back and is a stud at RT. Frazier and McCormick get even better inside. Broderick Jones, finally able to play LT, has a breakout season and the steelers have one of the best OL in the NFL.
Warren is lead back and they draft or sign a solid backup. Steelers have an excellent run game.
Justin Fields starts and Arthur Smith leans into the RPO and they use an offense similar to what the Eagles and Ravens are doing. Fields run threat makes the run game even tougher to defend and means defenses can't play as many complex coverages. Easier reads for Fields.
Steelers sign a real #1 WR who can also block. Maybe they trade for Aiyuk a year late or sign Tee Higgins. This makes it much easier for all other WRs to get open.
Steelers draft or sign a good CB to start opposite Porter. Add to the DL depth. Queen and Payton WIlson are better in year 2.
Play Minkah at Safety instead of all the way back like he's returning a punt.
Defense solid again. Offense much improved. Fields turns a corner in an offense designed for him and they are real contenders.
Most importantly, Mike Tomlin backs off and allows his coaches to coach with very little interference.
None of those things are impossible, except for the last one.
Fautanu is back and is a stud at RT. Frazier and McCormick get even better inside. Broderick Jones, finally able to play LT, has a breakout season and the steelers have one of the best OL in the NFL.
Warren is lead back and they draft or sign a solid backup. Steelers have an excellent run game.
Justin Fields starts and Arthur Smith leans into the RPO and they use an offense similar to what the Eagles and Ravens are doing. Fields run threat makes the run game even tougher to defend and means defenses can't play as many complex coverages. Easier reads for Fields.
Steelers sign a real #1 WR who can also block. Maybe they trade for Aiyuk a year late or sign Tee Higgins. This makes it much easier for all other WRs to get open.
Steelers draft or sign a good CB to start opposite Porter. Add to the DL depth. Queen and Payton WIlson are better in year 2.
Play Minkah at Safety instead of all the way back like he's returning a punt.
Defense solid again. Offense much improved. Fields turns a corner in an offense designed for him and they are real contenders.
Most importantly, Mike Tomlin backs off and allows his coaches to coach with very little interference.
None of those things are impossible, except for the last one.
None are impossible but the last one agreed. However it is a lot it's and ands. Lots.
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2024
- Messages
- 1,132
- Reaction score
- 636
- Points
- 113
Fields will all of a sudden learn defenses, progressions and accuracy? I'm skeptical
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
- Messages
- 1,690
- Reaction score
- 2,699
- Points
- 113
I'm hoping Tomlin is on his last Steelers contract.
I'm hoping he keeps his non-losing streak intact.
And sadly, I think he also keeps his no playoff wins since 2016 intact as well.
I'm hoping Art the Deuce moves on and Dan the Deuce takes over.
And we can whine, moan, and fetch ALL we want.
Tomlin isn't getting fired or traded.
We can only all hope that he doesn't get another contract renewal in 2027 when this one concludes.
That is our only ray of sunshine at this moment, because Lord knows we aren't winning anything with either Art II or Tomlin at the wheel.
And the jury is still out on Khan.
Not sure how much a voice he actually has over Rooney/Tomlin on things.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction score
- 2,339
- Points
- 113
I think Khan is doing great. I don't look at it as much as WHO he has draft, as that has just as much to do with Tomlin, but what he's doing to get these guys. Really the only questionable move he's made was the trade for Mike Williams. I think it was a good trade, but it might have been one that Tomlin wasn't completely on board with, and thus he wasted away on the sidelines while Van Jefferson ate up snaps doing pretty much nothing.
But he didn't give up much to move up and grab Jones, a swap of firsts and a 4th. Got Justin Fields for a 6th, and even a 4th would have been solid. Preston Smith was a 7th round pick. He got a 6th round pick out of Kendrick Green, fleeced the Bears in the Claypool trade. I think that's his biggest asset. He can negotiate with the best, and usually comes away pretty clean.
I suspect a similar hectic off season. Tomlin knows he us getting squeezed and it will be more chips in. Hoping it doesn't end scorched earth for the next regime.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 4,089
- Reaction score
- 7,856
- Points
- 113
Because they have an owner who wants to stack Lombardi trophies...Like Dan Rooney wanted. We have an owner who likes money.
- Joined
- May 1, 2015
- Messages
- 72
- Reaction score
- 102
- Points
- 33
I keep asking myself every time there is a 4th and short during these recent playoff games WWTD (What Would Tomlin Do) in the same situation. In every case, the answer is either punt or field goal regardless of the situation or time left in the game and there would be zero hesitation with the decision.
I see people argue that Tomlin does more with less talent. I would argue that it's talent he put together, so he should get more responsibility for that, but I can be persuaded to agree in some cases. Where I struggle with Tomlin are the years of watching his in-game decisions and lack of in-game adjustments. Tomlin may be a good guy and a decent coach, but when you compare him to great coaches regarding player development, game prep, and in-game adjustments, he does not compare to the really good/great coaches.
In short, he is a great guy to have for continued average to slightly above average results with the talent available since he is a better than average coach. However, he has not consistently shown the ability to do more then average outside of the first few years with Cower's players and coaching staff. For those OK with average, I guess he's a good choice.
I see people argue that Tomlin does more with less talent. I would argue that it's talent he put together, so he should get more responsibility for that, but I can be persuaded to agree in some cases. Where I struggle with Tomlin are the years of watching his in-game decisions and lack of in-game adjustments. Tomlin may be a good guy and a decent coach, but when you compare him to great coaches regarding player development, game prep, and in-game adjustments, he does not compare to the really good/great coaches.
In short, he is a great guy to have for continued average to slightly above average results with the talent available since he is a better than average coach. However, he has not consistently shown the ability to do more then average outside of the first few years with Cower's players and coaching staff. For those OK with average, I guess he's a good choice.
- Joined
- May 1, 2015
- Messages
- 72
- Reaction score
- 102
- Points
- 33
This is my issue. The team won a few games with Fields, but barely scored any points. The offense was stuck in the mud. The majority of this was on coaching and their conservative play calling. Some of this is on Fields.
If the Steelers bring back Fields, they need to bring in and pay a proven QB coach that can develop someone like Fields. The team will have to also do what the Ravens did and implement a full system based on Field's abilities. I just don't know if Fields is worth keeping around with the existing coaching staff. I definitely would not break the bank to keep him based on what I saw last year.
Steelersfan84
Regular Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2024
- Messages
- 806
- Reaction score
- 629
- Points
- 93
And that's what will keep us from winning.
When you read what Edleman wrote about linebackers covering three slots (which is 100% accurate) and how he knew he'd get six catches. And how they are still doing the same. The outside noise is eventually going to become deafening.
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2014
- Messages
- 12,663
- Reaction score
- 16,938
- Points
- 113
Lamar won a ton of games without reading defenses. It's really only been the last season and a half that he's done it. Lamar had a team go all in on his strengths and change their whole offense to fit him. That's why he went late in the draft. That's why he didn't attract a bunch of free agent offers. You don't just bring him in to run your offense, you have to change it all to fit him.
The steelers can do that with Fields. Arthur Smith's system is built around running the ball and play action with lots of bootlegs. It would not be difficult to add some RPO to that mix.
I believe that Smith was mandated to install an offense for Russ. Then Russ was injured and Fields had to start. Tomlin always planned to go back to Russ as soon as he was able. If Tomlin allows Smith to fit the offense to Fields, it could be very simply in terms of reads.
The Bears set Fields up to fail. If he was on the Ravens or Eagles, I bet Fields would be a pro bowler.
One last thing on Fields. He's still really young
Fields 25 years old
Burrow 28
Lamar 27
Kyler Murray 27
Herbert 26
Hurts 26
Love 26
Pickett 26
Lawrence 25
Penix 24
Bo Nix 24
Jayden Daniels 24
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
- Messages
- 16,517
- Reaction score
- 19,584
- Points
- 113
Philadelphia and Baltimore are excellent examples of teams that build systems around their talent. Fields age is another key factor. He may be limited, but where else are you going to get a 25-year old QB with legit top-10 physical skills. Football is more than just that part of the game, but you can build a system around this guy so he can at least be an average NFL QB.
If you think about it the Steelers aren’t in Fields best interests. Because he should know now that if he starts and plays well it is no guarantee the Steelers will continue to give him the nod. Last season should be his blueprint to understand what resigning could mean.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction score
- 2,339
- Points
- 113
If you remove Wilson from the scenario, that changes everything.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction score
- 2,339
- Points
- 113
They scored 20, 27, 20, 32 in his last four starts. Once they both got a pretty good feel for each other.
The five game losing streak they didn't score over 17 pts. Fields wasn't the issue. Lack of a true WR2, a blocking scheme that makes no sense and an OL coach that can't even get a Pro Bowl player to look good (Seumalo), not to mention predictable play-calling based on personnel on the field. Fields was the only reason we were able to get points in the redzone while he was the starter. 5 rushing TD's in 6 games, that's more than his rookie year and his last year as a Bear, and only 3 behind his high in his second year.
if we remove wilson, and sign Gabriel,,,,,,,, what then
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction score
- 2,339
- Points
- 113
As in the Oregon QB? Fields has nothing to worry about...
yes
Nothing to worry about because he will be gone before we pick?
Or because he's had so much success in the NFL?
There is a good reason Rooney gave Tomlin a 3 year extension.
Tom Landry owns the NFL record for non losing seasons at 21.
Three more non losing seasons for Tomlin will surpass Belichek’s 19 and ties Landry at 21.
Keep your chins up Steelers Nation, good times ahead!
Tom Landry owns the NFL record for non losing seasons at 21.
Three more non losing seasons for Tomlin will surpass Belichek’s 19 and ties Landry at 21.
Keep your chins up Steelers Nation, good times ahead!
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Messages
- 2,332
- Reaction score
- 2,339
- Points
- 113
Because Gabriel is no threat to start anytime soon, especially on the Steelers. He's undersized, I've seen 3 different heights listed for him (5'10", 5'11", 6.0"), slight frame 210 lbs is the heaviest I've seen him listed. And he's a spread offense QB. He's also already 24, and would be 25 before the end of his rookie year. Fields just turned 25 and has NFL experience. I'm not seeing him being a better prospect than Fields.
That was going on long before Edleman got to NE too, remember LB's trying to cover Welker and Hogan.