Practice Squad Announced

[SteelBuckeye]

Shula won 2 Super Bowls without Marino, the Bills were a small finesse team that got destroyed by bigger, better NFC teams.

Again, name one thing Tomlin does well.

Shula didn't win anything WITH Marino, a franchise QB. Levy couldn't win WITH Kelly, a franchise QB. Quit trying to move the marker (i.e. change the terms of your argument) it only makes you seem petulant.

Let's see, Tomlin is a great at delegating to his assistant coaches so that they have the power and responsibility to do their jobs. His Winning percentage so far is extremely high, so I'd say he's pretty good at winning (don't forget, he has 2 Super Bowl rings having EARNED one as the DB coach at Tampa Bay). He's hella good at recognizing WR talent. He's secure enough in his coaching ability that he has hired not one, not two, but three ex-head coaches on his staff. He's won 50% of the Super Bowls his teams have appeared in with him as a Head Coach (that's doing something pretty good). He's never had a losing season.

Enough already ... the man may not be to your liking we get that (how could we not with your constant whining), but he's done a better job than you give him credit for even if he hasn't been perfect.

 

[bigtwnvin]

I'm still curious about Villanueva. At 6'9" a poster suggests the Steelers want to develop him into a Tackle? I get that he played T and WR in college but what is his weight? The opportunity for a Tackle eligible play is another dynamic as well. What the he'll, forget WR's line up TE' s and a full backfield and get one on one matchups with undersized DB's!
Villanueva was an Army Ranger that did tours in A-stan? Out freaking standing! Can't wait until he gets a jersey!

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'm still curious about Villanueva. At 6'9" a poster suggests the Steelers want to develop him into a Tackle? I get that he played T and WR in college but what is his weight? The opportunity for a Tackle eligible play is another dynamic as well. What the he'll, forget WR's line up TE' s and a full backfield and get one on one matchups with undersized DB's!
Villanueva was an Army Ranger that did tours in A-stan? Out freaking standing! Can't wait until he gets a jersey!

Intriguing prospect and a good story, but if a tackle goes down, you figure they'll be signing a FA rather than promoting Villanueva from the PS.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

 

[slashsteel]

Intriguing prospect and a good story, but if a tackle goes down, you figure they'll be signing a FA rather than promoting Villanueva from the PS.

I tend to agree somewhat, unless he progresses under the FO's watchful eye.

Steelers seem to like that experience factor, sometimes to a fault.

 

[jitter77]

Shula didn't win anything WITH Marino, a franchise QB. Levy couldn't win WITH Kelly, a franchise QB. Quit trying to move the marker (i.e. change the terms of your argument) it only makes you seem petulant.

Let's see, Tomlin is a great at delegating to his assistant coaches so that they have the power and responsibility to do their jobs. His Winning percentage so far is extremely high, so I'd say he's pretty good at winning (don't forget, he has 2 Super Bowl rings having EARNED one as the DB coach at Tampa Bay). He's hella good at recognizing WR talent. He's secure enough in his coaching ability that he has hired not one, not two, but three ex-head coaches on his staff. He's won 50% of the Super Bowls his teams have appeared in with him as a Head Coach (that's doing something pretty good). He's never had a losing season.

Enough already ... the man may not be to your liking we get that (how could we not with your constant whining), but he's done a better job than you give him credit for even if he hasn't been perfect.

I think Tomlin lets his assistants run the team. That's all fine if it works. However at some point he has to step in and over ride them. Also if he was such a good dB coach then why are our dbs subpar? When was the last time we drafted a good db? As for receiver talent other than brown who was so great. Sanders was OK but could not stay healthy and most wanted him gone. Sweed was well documented, wheaton is unknown, Wallace was over rated and a punk, and Bryant is hurt and seems to lack ball skills.

Tomlins game planning, time management, many looks of cluelessness, and poor drafting make him a poor coach. You could give any coach an all world D, franchise Qb, and veteran leadership and win a SB and have a high win percentage. Also we see the same problems year after year. No o line depth/poor play, poor cb play, and now the D is in rebuild mode and we are lacking there due to poor drafting. I am just not seeing what Tomlin does well.

 

[slashsteel]

I think Tomlin lets his assistants run the team. That's all fine if it works. However at some point he has to step in and over ride them. Also if he was such a good dB coach then why are our dbs subpar? When was the last time we drafted a good db? As for receiver talent other than brown who was so great. Sanders was OK but could not stay healthy and most wanted him gone. Sweed was well documented, wheaton is unknown, Wallace was over rated and a punk, and Bryant is hurt and seems to lack ball skills.

Tomlins game planning, time management, many looks of cluelessness, and poor drafting make him a poor coach. You could give any coach an all world D, franchise Qb, and veteran leadership and win a SB and have a high win percentage. Also we see the same problems year after year. No o line depth/poor play, poor cb play, and now the D is in rebuild mode and we are lacking there due to poor drafting. I am just not seeing what Tomlin does well.

Ummmm not have a losing season perhaps?

 

[SteelerFan448]

Also if he was such a good dB coach then why are our dbs subpar? When was the last time we drafted a good db?

Ike Taylor - 4th round
Cortez Allen - 4th round
William Gay - 5th round
Antwon Blake - undrafted
Brice McCain - 6th round
B.W. Webb - 4th round

Troy Polamalu - 1st round
Mike Mitchell - 2nd round
Will Allen - 4th round
Shamarko Thomas - 4th round
Robert Golden - undrafted

You'll find diamonds in the rough, but if you want to find elite talent, you tend to have to invest higher draft picks in the position.

 

[jitter77]

We have not had a losing season, but the team is teetering. Also we have lost a lot of talent the last few years and the coaching / drafting has not filled the void. I think the team has underachieved as a whole since Tomlin has been here. The team plays consistently uninspired. Every team has a couple games where they seem like they just go through the motions, but the steelers the last few years have seemed to be lazier than the norm.

I know we have not drafted dbs high (other than troy), but it's hard to say where that call is coming from. I would think Tomlin has draft input, but none of us know for sure. At some point they need to bite the bullet and draft a decent cb

 

[SteelerFan448]

We have not had a losing season, but the team is teetering.

You could easily argue that being mediocre is worse than being bad. At least when you're bad, you can turn it around quickly by adding an elite talent to the roster (not advocating tanking for draft positions).

 

[SteelBuckeye]

So, as far as DB TALENT, we are presupposing that Tomlin drafts in a vacuum? That the scouting department, position coach, Colbert and last but not least the owner don't have a say in who is drafting? Possibly in Colbert and Rooney an overriding say? Also, the argument was presented that Tomlin hasn't developed any DBs. I would have thought that's why we have a DB coach. If not, they must just have Lake hanging around for sentimental reasons. On the flip side, Brown was a good find and his receivers coaches have brought the best out in him. Wallace was good for the team while he was here. He wasn't a finished product by any means, but it's not like he was chopped liver either. Sanders was an ok wide receiver who was limited not by his potential, but by his injury history (I know, that's Tomlin's fault too). Bryant has been in one freaking camp. Think we could actually give the kid time to develop before we say he's reached his apex?

Weird, on this board I find myself defending a HC who I think is above average, but not great because all I see on here is that he's utter and total dog ****. The facts don't support that he's an "all time great", but they sure as hell don't support that he's a drooling moron walking around with some "confused look on his face" all the time either.

The hatred for this guy is so over the top on this board that he gets held solely accountable for all aspects of the team from the freaking draft, to the decisions of his RBs to go out and smoke a blunt before a game. Like Tomlin was there egging them on. The draft is a process to which he has input, not total control. Same with many personnel decisions. Salary cap? Colbert and Khan (sp), but to hear many tell it, Tomlin's the one who handles that. Offensive gameplan? Look to Haley. Defensive gameplan? Look to D.L. Now Tomlin ultimately has to approve those game plans and therefore bears some responsibility for their success or failure. However, if these guys aren't competent enough to put together the plans in the first place, why the hell are they here? And on what basis do they, Colbert, and Rooney get a pass for the 8-8 seasons?

 

[Drink IRON City]

So, as far as DB TALENT, we are presupposing that Tomlin drafts in a vacuum? That the scouting department, position coach, Colbert and last but not least the owner don't have a say in who is drafting? Possibly in Colbert and Rooney an overriding say? Also, the argument was presented that Tomlin hasn't developed any DBs. I would have thought that's why we have a DB coach. If not, they must just have Lake hanging around for sentimental reasons. On the flip side, Brown was a good find and his receivers coaches have brought the best out in him. Wallace was good for the team while he was here. He wasn't a finished product by any means, but it's not like he was chopped liver either. Sanders was an ok wide receiver who was limited not by his potential, but by his injury history (I know, that's Tomlin's fault too). Bryant has been in one freaking camp. Think we could actually give the kid time to develop before we say he's reached his apex?

Weird, on this board I find myself defending a HC who I think is above average, but not great because all I see on here is that he's utter and total dog ****. The facts don't support that he's an "all time great", but they sure as hell don't support that he's a drooling moron walking around with some "confused look on his face" all the time either.

The hatred for this guy is so over the top on this board that he gets held solely accountable for all aspects of the team from the freaking draft, to the decisions of his RBs to go out and smoke a blunt before a game. Like Tomlin was there egging them on. The draft is a process to which he has input, not total control. Same with many personnel decisions. Salary cap? Colbert and Khan (sp), but to hear many tell it, Tomlin's the one who handles that. Offensive gameplan? Look to Haley. Defensive gameplan? Look to D.L. Now Tomlin ultimately has to approve those game plans and therefore bears some responsibility for their success or failure. However, if these guys aren't competent enough to put together the plans in the first place, why the hell are they here? And on what basis do they, Colbert, and Rooney get a pass for the 8-8 seasons?

To much sense! Accountability is often held higher to the non-accountable. Tomlin is the head coach, thus most believe he is accountable for everything. To a degree, he is, but realistically, he is not. Many here think they could do better, I'd like to see it. Coarse I'd have to own a billion dollar franchise to achieve that. For now, I'm sticking with what we have got. Is there better out there, yes, is there worse out there, yes. Bash Tomlin, but give a name of whom is BETTER, and why he should be the next Pittsburgh Steelers coach.



Salute the nation

 

[SteelBuckeye]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Drink IRON City again.

 

[bermudasteel]

I thought Franco retired in the 70's???

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Bringing up Rivers does not help the pro Tomlin argument. You are missing one big point with Rivers. He is playing for his 3rd head coach. The Chargers fired 2 coaches because they couldn't win enough with Rivers.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Bringing up Rivers does not help the pro Tomlin argument. You are missing one big point with Rivers. He is playing for his 3rd head coach. The Chargers fired 2 coaches because they couldn't win enough with Rivers.

Go back and read the posts. I didn't bring up Rivers, I only responded to the argument presented and showed that bringing up River's doesn't help the Anti-Tomlin argument. You are correct in that the Chargers fired 2 Head Coaches while Rivers has been the starting QB. But, your point is a red herring that has no similarity to the Steelers situation over that same period. A period that saw the Steelers with Tomlin as HC, earn a .634 winning percentage, 30 games over .500, 71-41 record.

As an aside, Schottenheimer wasn't fired because he couldn't win with Rivers. Rivers was only his starting QB for one year and they went 14-2. If I remember correctly, Schottenheimer was fired because he lost a Cowher/Donahue type power struggle with the GM.

 

[Wingman]

So tell me about making the playoffs his first six seasons, oh never mind that was not Tomlin.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

So tell me about making the playoffs his first six seasons, oh never mind that was not Tomlin.

You sir are absolutely correct. That was not Tomlin. Of course Tomlin would be hard pressed to meet the expectations raised by the person who did. Expectations that should include missing the playoffs in five of the next 9 years with records that included 7-9, 6-10, 9-7 (winning record, but missed playoffs), 6-10 and 8-8. Why according to some around here, that speaks of a Coach who for at least 1/3 of his career was beyond mediocre. Tell me who that coach was again ....

Btw ... if we are using non-playoff years to describe mediocrity then Tomlin has missed the playoffs about 45% of the time in comparison to the above mentioned coach's 33% of the time. Of course, he has the same amount of conference championships and Super Bowl wins. But, fair is fair and it is only equitable to mention this. If we are using losing seasons as defining mediocrity or below the line performance, the previous coach had 4 of those (1 coming in his first 7 years on the job) compared to Tomlin's 0 in the first 7 years on the job.

And finally, it appears that on CHN missed the playoffs at a pace that is about equal to Tomlin's current pace; having missed the playoffs in 11 of his 23 years as a HC (4 of those years with a franchise QB).

 

[Stryker]

So tell me about making the playoffs his first six seasons, oh never mind that was not Tomlin.

How many AFC Championship games did we win in those first 6 seasons?

 

[antdrewjosh]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SteelBuckeye again.

 

[Stryker]

I thought Franco retired in the 70's???

He was retired by the steelers in 1983 but played an extra season in Seattle. Ugh...

I did meet him signing autographs at a Sams club in the Pittsburgh area before the 2005 superbowl. My business partner was a seahawks fan and I of course was a Steelers fan, and I went up to franco with a seahawks and steelers hats. I told him, the reason why my partner was a seahawks fan is because you were his favorite player, and he became a seahawks fan when you went to play for them. Franco looked up and without missing a beat, he said, "He should switch back".

Classic Franco!

 

[blitzburghv5]

When has Phillip Rivers ever won anything and was considered a franchise QB . Its telling that you compare Ben to Rivers anda head coach as dumb as Tomlin, Norv Turner, who unlike the useless Tomlin is at least a great coordinator.

IN closing enjoy the medio rity and bad football the Steelers now play under the moron. It will not change unless he is fired, either way he has set the franchise back to the point that we are done winning championships much less division titles after the Cowher players got old and retired.

300+ posts and at LEAST 80% of them negative with profane woven tirades attached.

This **** is so worn out.............you and that "43% and Mediocre" whack *** argument you keep injecting into your Anti-Tomlin argument