Myles Jack says he was waiting for the Steelers to panic

[Ron Burgundy]

We should know after this weekend whether Tomlin has truly mastered the art of finishing at least .500 It could be his, and perhaps even the entire NFL's, greatest season of mediocrity ever.

I'm hoping for a tie with the Stains because I predicted 8-8-1 this season.
Never a losing season. Greatest coach ever.

Tomlin's a good coach, I like him, I've accepted he's here until he retires. I know years ago I wanted the Steelers to make a change just as the Penguins did with Bylsma and eventually landed Sullivan. Two more Stanley Cups. The Steelers had the talent and I think a different message at the top gets one more. That time is gone now.

However, I still expect playoff wins. One and done has become the tune in the playoffs and that isn't good enough. I really want to see Tomlin elevate his coaching staff, especially with Pickett on his rookie deal. We've got four more years of a prime window to win with a QB on a rookie contract. The skill positions are young and cheap as well. Make it happen.

This. Besides X's and O's, Shades does a lousy job of hiring assistants and not getting rid of bad assistants. I've come to the conclusion that he's pathologically averse to change. All his hires are either internal promotions or if they're from outside, they're someone he knows (Canaduh, Flores).
I've been in business for a long time like many of you here. Anyone you hire is either going to be an internal promotion or external hire. There are pros and cons to both approaches but doing either one exclusively always ends up being a bad thing.

 

[madinsomniac]

He is a “player’s coach”, no doubt about that. This team would play through hell for him and not think twice about it. That takes great coaching to get that on a player personal basis.

He has trouble with the Xs & Os of football, evident many times as shown on the field Of p[lay. There is also concern on his management of coaching personal / talent evaluation to a degree / …

One of the biggest issues is his non-hot-seat persona. This may not be Coach Tomlin’s fault but he is a benefactor of it. There is no accountability to on field coaching results thus making him extremely complacent in his ways. Couple that with the Rooney Rule and he has a guaranteed job with few consequences.

That above paragraph is a lot of why he gets so much “non-love” from the dedicated deep fans. The common fan base love him, but the deeper base fan sees’ through the curtain so to speak. This message board STEELERNATION.COM is compraised of the “deeper” fan base, thus having a deeper sense of football knowledge. That is why he gets so much negative here And justfully so to a degree.

I do not have any problems with the MAN on any level. I fully do think his time is nearing an end after 24’ and justfully so. I also think he will have troubles duplicating elsewhere what he has done here.


Salute the nation

Look the cynic in me saw this coming a while back…for a while now Tomlins seasons have been broken into two halfs.. either starting magnificently and fading down the stretch or starting slowly and making a furious run at the playoffs at the end…

It parallel’s his typical games too… the tomlin era is defined by irrational late game collapses as well as utterly preposterous comebacks

That cleveland playoff game that we were down 28-0 in the first half? We even made a game of that monstrosity.. we were within two scores in the third before we inexplicably punted at midfield on 4th and 1 and basically punted on the game… but that game was very tomlinesque… we came out totally flat and not ready against an inferior team then turned it on too late.. the opposite happens when we are rolling then go too conservative and take our foot off the gas, letting the opponent get back in the game…

The bottom line is Cowhers teams prided themselves on being “60 minute men”…Tomlins teams are between 24 minute men and maybe 47 minute men

 

[Ron Burgundy]

The bottom line is Cowhers teams prided themselves on being “60 minute men”…Tomlins teams are between 24 minute men and maybe 47 minute men

Cowher didn’t win a Super Bowl until he got out of his own way and got away from MartyBall/TurtleBall and kept his foot on the gas. Tomlin’s approach is somewhat different but the results are the same, lots of regular season wins but when you face consistently good teams in the playoffs, not so much. Averaging 17.5 ppg isn’t going to get you very far in the playoffs because come playoff time this defense isn’t going to hold opponents under 20.

 

[steel dino]

My stance remains on the guy. He isn't a bottom feeder but he isn't the one to get the Steelers where they need to go. When they play the better teams and can figure out how to be competitive without embarrassing displays of football, then I would be ok with him overall. That horse with a limp looks good coming in 17th out of 32 horses. But that limp won't be getting you any photo finish victories and more often than not you won't even place. We can pet it and tell it well done, but the time to put it out to pasture has come and gone. I enjoy the show but await the day the owner gives the apple and sends it on its way.


Giddy up

A horse that limps....usually gets shot...

But I see your point.

 

[slashsteel]

A horse that limps....usually gets shot...

But I see your point.

Not on my farm he wouldn't!

Yeah I am one of those annoying animal lovers.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Perhaps "the Steeler way" is the reason that no one is panicking. Tomlin knows his job is safe, his coaches know their jobs are safe, so why Panick? Tomlin teams have spiraled into the depths before, albeit usually at the end of a season rather than at the beginning, and no one loses their jobs until the regular season concludes or lose the first post-season game. The Steeler way is to never fire anyone mid-season. period.

So why did the Steelers start 2-6?

1. Veteran QB still learning new offense
2. Insert Rookie QB, limit playbook
3. Newly acquired offensive line still gelling
4. Najee playing injured
5. TJ injured and defensive production falls dramatically


What could have prevented this 2-6 start?

1 & 2. Drafting/acquiring Ben's replacement a few years before. we all saw it coming and Rudolph wasn't it. (More of a GM AND HC decision)
3. Not ignore the offensive line the last 10 years in the draft. (More of a GM AND HC decision)
4. Bench Najee and let him heal, make the damn decision (Definitely HC decision)
5. TJ has been hurt and out of games, and the Steelers lose. You let Melvin Ingram go mid-season last year because you weren't rotating him in enough, which was stupid as ****. (Nobody on the squad this year was a Melvin Ingram type. And, since Ingram was only signed to a one year deal, he wasn't going to be here this year to rotate in. Not getting a competent backup falls on both the HC and GM.

Most of this was preventable, and it falls on Tomlin. Tomlin caused this **** show situation and now fans want to prop him up as a ******* savior of the season. NAH! I dont think so skippy.

Your post makes it seem as if a majority of the issues you cite fall solely on Tomlin. I don't know if you meant it this way or not. Conversely, of the five points you make, only 1 is one that doesn't include both the GM and HC as equally responsible/negligent. I'm not saying that Tomlin doesn't bear his share of blame for those points only that when it comes to personnel, most folks act like Tomlin alone makes those decisions. When, in fact, the GM is a big part of the process and should bear his share of the blame for negligent decisions.

 

[slashsteel]

Your post makes it seem as if a majority of the issues you cite fall solely on Tomlin. I don't know if you meant it this way or not. Conversely, of the five points you make, only 1 is one that doesn't include both the GM and HC as equally responsible/negligent. I'm not saying that Tomlin doesn't bear his share of blame for those points only that when it comes to personnel, most folks act like Tomlin alone makes those decisions. When, in fact, the GM is a big part of the process and should bear his share of the blame for negligent decisions.

Correct the decision process is multifold as far as players roster. But in game decision making is all Mike. The coaching aspect all Mike. We have been around long enough to know that a great head coach can do great things for a team. A good head coach will do good things. Which is where we are at IMO. A good coach that has some good qualities but not enough great qualities to get you where your team wants to ultimately go. I think this is a fair assessment...

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Correct the decision process is multifold as far as players roster. But in game decision making is all Mike. The coaching aspect all Mike. We have been around long enough to know that a great head coach can do great things for a team. A good head coach will do good things. Which is where we are at IMO. A good coach that has some good qualities but not enough great qualities to get you where your team wants to ultimately go. I think this is a fair assessment...

The problem is, there are no great coaches in the NFL anymore. And to be fair, I wonder if there ever really were. The guys we call "greats" had a lot of advantages over the last few generations of coaches. They played in a smaller league. That meant that there was more talent available for them to choose from. They didn't have FA. That meant that when they hit on great players, they were able to keep them as long as they wanted to/as long as the player was great. They played shorter season. I have no data to support it, but, I'll bet that meant that the injury rate was lower.
As for the Tomlin debate. We all know his strengths and weaknesses. He'll still be here as long as he wants. So, I guess we'd better hope that he and the GM hit on the next few drafts like it appears he and Colbert hit on the last one. Because he's going to need some great players to overcome some of his in-game decision making.

Edit: And Belicheck cheated. So, I don't consider him one of the "Greats". Just a cheating *******

 

[Badcat]

Your post makes it seem as if a majority of the issues you cite fall solely on Tomlin. I don't know if you meant it this way or not. Conversely, of the five points you make, only 1 is one that doesn't include both the GM and HC as equally responsible/negligent. I'm not saying that Tomlin doesn't bear his share of blame for those points only that when it comes to personnel, most folks act like Tomlin alone makes those decisions. When, in fact, the GM is a big part of the process and should bear his share of the blame for negligent decisions.

Not all of it, but he certainly deserves his fair share of it.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Not all of it, but he certainly deserves his fair share of it.

Of course he does. As does the GM. And to the extent he influences personnel decisions, the owner. "Fair share" being the operative term.

 

[steel dino]

The problem is, there are no great coaches in the NFL anymore. And to be fair, I wonder if there ever really were. The guys we call "greats" had a lot of advantages over the last few generations of coaches. They played in a smaller league. That meant that there was more talent available for them to choose from. They didn't have FA. That meant that when they hit on great players, they were able to keep them as long as they wanted to/as long as the player was great. They played shorter season. I have no data to support it, but, I'll bet that meant that the injury rate was lower.
As for the Tomlin debate. We all know his strengths and weaknesses. He'll still be here as long as he wants. So, I guess we'd better hope that he and the GM hit on the next few drafts like it appears he and Colbert hit on the last one. Because he's going to need some great players to overcome some of his in-game decision making.

Edit: And Belicheck cheated. So, I don't consider him one of the "Greats". Just a cheating *******

The word "great" whether used as an adjective, noun, or adverb is overused, and really is only used as a comparator to others within the same type of work, athletic abilities, mental capacities, musical talents, etc...

It would be more relevant to say "much better than others" within a certain subset...

 

[SteelBuckeye]

The word "great" whether used as an adjective, noun, or adverb is overused, and really is only used as a comparator to others within the same type of work, athletic abilities, mental capacities, musical talents, etc...

It would be more relevant to say "much better than others" within a certain subset...

OK ... The problem is that there are no coaches today who are "much better than others" within the subset of NFL caliber coaches.

 

[Troglodyte]

Let’s be honest, 6-2 over the past 8 games is nice and all, but the Steelers have beaten teams with mediocre QBs.

 

[steel dino]

OK ... The problem is that there are no coaches today who are "much better than others" within the subset of NFL caliber coaches.

Not sure I am aligned with that Mr Buckeye......

 

[CoolieMan]

Cleveland Browns fans have to wonder why their team can’t be like Pittsburgh – Terry Pluto

After the first eight games of the 2022 season, Pittsburgh was 2-6. The Browns were 3-5. Look where they are now.

www.cleveland.com

THE TOMLIN FACTOR

Pittsburgh continually finds a way to win games and remain in playoff contention. If the Steelers beat the Browns Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin will finish his 16th season in Pittsburgh without a losing record.
Tomlin has critics. They will point out his teams are never bad, but what have they done in the playoffs lately? Pittsburgh lost to Cleveland in 2020 – the Browns only postseason win since the franchise returned in 1999.
The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016. They are on a four-game postseason losing streak.
All true.
But it’s also true that the Steelers are like gum on the sole of your shoe. They are annoying. It feels like you can’t get rid of them. And just when you think they’re gone – especially in the regular season – they still can make your life miserable as they push for the playoffs.
I want the Browns to be a team like that – a team that consistently keeps fans engaged and finds ways to win games when it seems that shouldn’t happen.
It goes back to what GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski outlined as their vision for the Browns: Smart, tough, accountable. Since the 11-5 record in 2020 and their first season together, this regime is 15-18.

THE DREADED PITTSBURGH TRIP

Since the team returned in 1999, this is the ninth time the Browns have ended their season in Pittsburgh.
The record in those first eight games? You got it. The Browns are 0-8 in the Pittsburgh finale.
Those games also ended the Cleveland head coaching careers of the following: Mike Pettine (2015), Rob Chudzinski (2013), Pat Shurmur (2012), Eric Mangini (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2008).

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Cleveland Browns fans have to wonder why their team can’t be like Pittsburgh – Terry Pluto

After the first eight games of the 2022 season, Pittsburgh was 2-6. The Browns were 3-5. Look where they are now.

www.cleveland.com

THE TOMLIN FACTOR

Pittsburgh continually finds a way to win games and remain in playoff contention. If the Steelers beat the Browns Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin will finish his 16th season in Pittsburgh without a losing record.
Tomlin has critics. They will point out his teams are never bad, but what have they done in the playoffs lately? Pittsburgh lost to Cleveland in 2020 – the Browns only postseason win since the franchise returned in 1999.
The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016. They are on a four-game postseason losing streak.
All true.
But it’s also true that the Steelers are like gum on the sole of your shoe. They are annoying. It feels like you can’t get rid of them. And just when you think they’re gone – especially in the regular season – they still can make your life miserable as they push for the playoffs.
I want the Browns to be a team like that – a team that consistently keeps fans engaged and finds ways to win games when it seems that shouldn’t happen.
It goes back to what GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski outlined as their vision for the Browns: Smart, tough, accountable. Since the 11-5 record in 2020 and their first season together, this regime is 15-18.

THE DREADED PITTSBURGH TRIP

Since the team returned in 1999, this is the ninth time the Browns have ended their season in Pittsburgh.
The record in those first eight games? You got it. The Browns are 0-8 in the Pittsburgh finale.
Those games also ended the Cleveland head coaching careers of the following: Mike Pettine (2015), Rob Chudzinski (2013), Pat Shurmur (2012), Eric Mangini (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2008).

Remember when it seemed like every year the last game was against the Stains? And every year losing that game heralded the end for their recently hired HC. Good times!!

 

[SteelerFan448]

Mike Tomlin years 1-5
55-25 regular season
5-3 playoffs (4 appearances; 2 AFC Championship games; 1 Super Bowl)

Mike Tomlin years 6-10
48-32 regular season
3-3 playoffs (3 appearances)

Mike Tomlin years 11-15
51-28-2 regular season
0-3 playoffs (3 appearances)

Mike Tomlin year 16
8-8

The regular season consistency is there. The playoff performances have been getting worse and worse. Also, the Steelers will have fewer than 10 wins for four of the past five seasons. That's beginning to venture into Jeff Fisher territory. Again, I think Tomlin is an overall good head coach, but his staffs are at times flat out bad.

 

[SteelerSask2]

I've said it a million times. If Tomlin would surround himself with top people he would be fine. Instead it's bottom feeders which is why he had the big initial success and then has faded badly. Top quality assistants replaced by ****** yes men.

 

[madinsomniac]

Meh Im pretty sure at this point they just hate adhering to any statistical probability just to make me look stupid lol… years they have some huge chance of making the playoffs heading into the stretch, they find a way to blow it… years they are DOA by midseason they find a way to squeak in… I’m beginning to think they just hate math and logic… “hey lets start 2-6 and lose to EVERY SINGLE TEAM except the chargers in the wild card picture… then lets make the playoffs anyhow because **** it”

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Mike Tomlin years 1-5
55-25 regular season
5-3 playoffs (4 appearances; 2 AFC Championship games; 1 Super Bowl)

Mike Tomlin years 6-10
48-32 regular season
3-3 playoffs (3 appearances)

Mike Tomlin years 11-15
51-28-2 regular season
0-3 playoffs (3 appearances)

Mike Tomlin year 16
8-8

The regular season consistency is there. The playoff performances have been getting worse and worse. Also, the Steelers will have fewer than 10 wins for four of the past five seasons. That's beginning to venture into Jeff Fisher territory. Again, I think Tomlin is an overall good head coach, but his staffs are at times flat out bad.

So is it an ego thing or does he just suck *** with nepotism in his coaching hires or is he just awful at coaching evaluations…it matters not

Let the new FO being in the next batch and see if he can do some post season damage since we all know he ain’t going anywhere

At any rate the post season incompetence must end

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I think Tomlin is an overall good head coach, but his staffs are at times flat out bad.

The first part of this statement is something even the harshest Tomlin critic likely agrees with, but there's no denying his role in the second half of it either.

 

[bermudasteel]

The problem is, there are no great coaches in the NFL anymore. And to be fair, I wonder if there ever really were. The guys we call "greats" had a lot of advantages over the last few generations of coaches. They played in a smaller league. That meant that there was more talent available for them to choose from. They didn't have FA. That meant that when they hit on great players, they were able to keep them as long as they wanted to/as long as the player was great. They played shorter season. I have no data to support it, but, I'll bet that meant that the injury rate was lower.
As for the Tomlin debate. We all know his strengths and weaknesses. He'll still be here as long as he wants. So, I guess we'd better hope that he and the GM hit on the next few drafts like it appears he and Colbert hit on the last one. Because he's going to need some great players to overcome some of his in-game decision making.

Edit: And Belicheck cheated. So, I don't consider him one of the "Greats". Just a cheating *******

Well I'm simply this sermonette in one word...

"Obviously".

 

[bermudasteel]

Let’s be honest, 6-2 over the past 8 games is nice and all, but the Steelers have beaten teams with mediocre QBs.

They also went 2-6 after losing TJ for those games. Minkah and some other key defensive players were out in some of those games too.

Tribby and Kenny weren't making great decisions at QB either.

I wonder who's idea it was to trade Claypool to Chicago mid-season??? Coach Tomlin couldn't be THAT savvy--- could he???

Lest ye all forget...

The past two seasons we've been pitted against the perennial Superbowl champions in the Bengals and the Bills for the first game of the season. We destroyed both teams when we played them.

Give Coach Tomlin his grief when it's necessary because he is not perfect; but to simply not give him some well deserved credit after losing the best QB this team has ever seen and still having a mediocre record... well, that family, is nothing short of a miracle.

Now who's gonna make me a sammich???

 

[Omar10213245]

They also went 2-6 after losing TJ for those games. Minkah and some other key defensive players were out in some of those games too.

Tribby and Kenny weren't making great decisions at QB either.

I wonder who's idea it was to trade Claypool to Chicago mid-season??? Coach Tomlin couldn't be THAT savvy--- could he???

Lest ye all forget...

The past two seasons we've been pitted against the perennial Superbowl champions in the Bengals and the Bills for the first game of the season. We destroyed both teams when we played them.

Give Coach Tomlin his grief when it's necessary because he is not perfect; but to simply not give him some well deserved credit after losing the best QB this team has ever seen and still having a mediocre record... well, that family, is nothing short of a miracle.

Now who's gonna make me a sammich???

We didnt destroy the Bengals in the 1st week of the seaaon. It took every miracle possible to come out of that game with a victory

 

[bermudasteel]

We didnt destroy the Bengals in the 1st week of the seaaon. It took every miracle possible to come out of that game with a victory

Joe Burrow disagrees with you...