I’ve probably written something like this dozens of times over the last 15 years (mostly in the last five) but I will always believe a coach can be in one place too long. I’ve thought in recent seasons that Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was closing in on this or had reached this point. Following today’s loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild-Card Game, maybe Najee Harris convinced me.
Harris has never been one to be shy about speaking his mind. He’s a bright young man who seems to give careful consideration to what he says but I can’t help but wonder if he didn’t say “the quiet part out loud.” Harris said the Steelers need more structure and in-house rules. In his interview posted by 93.7 The Fan, Harris appears to be referencing a more disciplined situation when he was at Alabama under Nick Saban. Whether you feel this a damning indictment of Tomlin is your business but I tend to think it is.
One could easily suggest that Harris has “sour grapes.” Later this spring the Steelers have to decide whether to give him his fifth year option and there’s no question that it’s not a slam dunk. While my gut tells me he’ll get it, the decision won’t come without serious thought. But Harris also wasn’t named a captain just one year after he served in that capacity. I get the feeling however that this isn’t what is going on here.
TOMLIN POSTSEASON
8-10 Career Record
5 Straight Losses
31 or more points given up in the last 5 playoff games
3-7 in his last 10 Playoff Games
We’ve discussed many times on the SCB Steelers Podcast that Mike Tomlin was the perfect coach when he came in back in 2007. Bill Cowher was leaving behind a veteran-laden team that had won a Super Bowl just two years prior. With all of those seasoned veterans like Brett Keisel, Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward in the locker room, all Tomlin needed to do was coach. But when those players started to retire, Tomlin had to not only coach but now he had to tend to discipline and structure. Remember when Tomlin removed the pool table and ping pong table from the locker room? That’s not exactly building a foundation of structure and discipline.
None of this means that Mike Tomlin isn’t a good football coach. You don’t win the amount of games he has over 17 years and not know what the hell you’re doing. But what it does suggest is exactly what I’ve been saying for a few years in that maybe it’s time for change. At the podium tonight after the game ESPN’s Brooke Pryor asked Tomlin about his future. He immediately left the podium without comment. While personally I don’t think that’s the time for that question, Tomlin’s reaction probably wasn’t the best one to have. It could have meant something or it could have meant nothing.
What I do know is that Najee Harris said something that many have wondered about and if the players are saying it then maybe there’s something to it. If it was the “quiet part out loud” then we will know in a matter of days.
