Roller coasters are very popular for a number of reasons. They take the rider on a thrill ride that features high rates of speed, quick and violent turns, literally corkscrewing through the air before one final climatic combination of everything and then the sudden stop. Since Mike Tomlin took over the Steelers in 2007, I’ve been with him on the roller coaster every step of the way. Based on what I saw Sunday night, I can no longer keep riding.
I do my very best not to have knee-jerk reactions. As angry, embarrassed and disappointed as I was all day yesterday, I remained patient and I told myself to think and not react like an idiot. So here I am some 36 hours after the failure in Foxborough and I’m honestly not feeling any different. I keep coming back to the constant thought of “what has changed with Mike Tomlin that I’m supposed to be excited about?” These are the same issues that have plagued his teams for years.
Tomlin told us afterwards his team was “not ready for primetime.” OK, you’re playing the defending champions on the night they raise their sixth Super Bowl banner but how can you not be more ready for this game? It’s the season opener! It’s on national television! Not ready for Primetime? Give me a break.
But then the game itself turned into a microcosm of recent Steelers’ games in New England. The offensive gameplan centered around Ben Roethlisberger getting rid of the ball so fast that he didn’t even want to get through his progressions. The running game was based on outside runs which is asinine against one of the faster defenses in football. In essence, Tomlin and Randy Fichtner were taking the one massive strength they had in their offensive line and took it out of the game. Look no further than the inability to gain a yard on third or fourth and short or the decision to not even try to get a yard on fourth and goal down by 20. Stop singing the praises of this offensive line if you aren’t actually going to use them.
The amusement park that has become Tomlin’s defensive coaching staff was again beaten by the Patriots in all of the same ways it has been before. Short crossing routes over the middle, timely runs to pick up five and six yards and then the deep ball that splits the safeties or in a couple of cases, just floats past them. No adjustments. No alterations in personnel. It was often like watching a little kid swing and miss at a pinata over and over expecting to hit it but not even being close. In fact what it has become is insanity.
I have had my moments in the past where I found fault with a lot of what Mike Tomlin has done or didn’t do but I always stuck by him and gave him the benefit of the doubt. It will not surprise me at all to see this team win on Sunday and still end up 10-6 but my confidence in that has been shaken to the core. One game should never define a season but after what I witnessed on Sunday night I’m struggling not to do just that.
Some coaches can wear out their welcome. The message gets stale and the players no longer buy into what the coach is preaching. I’m starting to believe this is happening in Pittsburgh. I can’t stay on this Tomlin roller coaster much longer. The enjoyment that was once there has been replaced by complacency and poor preparation. I really hope I’m wrong but either way it’s time for me to get off this ride.
Photo credit timedaily.net
46 comments
Your easy to criticize someone so here’s my comment to you. Why don’t you apply for the position and see how well you do. If you don’t want to do it then shut up!
Sadly the Super Bowl window has closed, we have gone “Back to the mid 80s” the last year of Bradshaw and the year after Miami beat us in our last AFC Championship game in the Noll years. Just like football had changed and left Noll behind, it’s now left Tomlin and the Steelers front office behind, meanwhile Bellichick has like 4 possible HOFers on his 6 winning teams, and he keeps changing personnel and style to take full advantage of the rules (some call it cheating) and winning.
Damn Tony – Don’t be such a dick . He has a valid point about Tomlin. That was a disgrace of a game plan and in game coaching . He still has no clue when to challenge a play . He really has no clue how to beat the PATS ……. and if you cant do that the rest doesnt matter
So Tony are you happy with the organization? If you are there is something wrong with your thinking. I have said it since Tomlin got the job that he wasn’t suited for it. I mean he was a secondary guru and we have gotten beat deep since the packers beat us in the super bowl. Its time for a change but I will say this after munchak has gone theres no one on the staff that can do it better so buckle up its going to be a rocky ride.
I have to agree he has taken a great team and turned it into a mediocre team at best he needs to go
Okay Steeler Fans if Tomlin is fitted to be the Steelers Coach who is? I don’t want the responses of another McVay or some guy like that I want actual names and no McCarthy does not count cause he drove Rodgers mad and guess what he would do the same thing again with Ben. Since every person on this site whether it be a fan or writer thinks there smarter than Tomlin get your lazy couch potato selves off your butts and you be the head coach for the Steelers and should you fail which let’s be honest it would happen very quickly you would then appreciate how lucky the Steelers are to have Tomlin.
Why do we have to have a name Vitto ? You are dumber than Tony . Tomlin sucked Sunday night and so did all the players . Butler – Fichner- Bazooza Joe special teams coach … they all sucked. A HS coach could have done as well . Did you even watch the game? Tomlin doesn’t get a free pass for that one .
You need to name a name because changing for change sake is not a reason to get rid of a coach. Otherwise you’re the Clowns or the Jets. Come up with a legitimate solution and then you will be listened to. I agree about the change part, but I still believe it’s a personnel problem. We don’t have the players to match the Pats. Tomlin AND the players do not get a pass. That being said, Shazier may have helped, but we can’t keep looking backwards.
Now. If there was to be a big change, I think it should be a major rebuild. I believe we have a good young QB with a good O line and some good offensive weapons. Defense is the problem, so we definitely need a rebuild there. Starting from DC.
Who knows??? It doesn’t matter. Unless the ship gets turned around pdq, We need a change! When the gameplan isn’t working, you make changes! You dont have to be a coach to know that. Still Tomlin deserves more time. He’s earned that in my opinion.
Then why do you even bother complaining if you can’t name somebody who would be better served as HC for the Steelers? If I ask this question to 10, 100 or 1000 Steeler fans here would the typical response “I don’t know just as long as it’s not Tomlin”.
Vittorio Di Stazio Jr. I Love You ????
You’re evolution of thought toward Tomlin has taken almost the exact course as mine. Watching games where I know we got out coached, playing down to competition, team not hyped for big games, etc… I defended Tomlin to the naysayers. I can’t anymore. I can’t stop thinking we has an entire offseason to prepare for the Pats, & this is what we got. I’m done too
Been diehard fan since before first Super Bowl victory. I decided after last year’s collapse that I’m done until Tomlin goes. He brings checkers to a chess match.
TOMLIN MUST GO FOR US TO GET BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then name a better option for the Steelers than Tomlin but none of you people actually give out any names your answer is the same as always and will stay the same until you actually provide 1 or more better coaching candidates and that answer is this “Somebody not named Tomlin”. Hey I got a great idea for every Steeler Fan on this site: you come up with a gameplan for both the Offense and Defense vs the Pats and present it to the Steeler Coaching Staff or better yet you can run the show yourselves since it’s so freaking obvious you Steeler Fans believe your better and smarter than Tomlin which if that was true none of you naysayers would be venting about the Steelers or there Coach to begin with.
I’ll make it simple for the even most idiotic Steeler Fan out there who comments on the Steelers: Since your all freaking geniuses YOU BE THE HEAD COACH.
Vitto how can I become coach of the steelers please tell me I can do what Tomlin does which is walk around and do nothing.
It is not up to the consuming public to come up with a replacement. It is up to the team ownership to recognize that the product being put on the field is not performing as intended and search for the replacement. Said replacement may well have proved his mettle on another team and would relish the opportunity to take the reins. If the Rooneys haven’t already begun that quest, I would be pretty damned surprised. Their need for excellence is every bit as acute as Steeler Nation’s.
Omg you sound like a complete idiot. It’s not our job to find the replacement moron. And by the way who was Mike tomlin before we hired him. You couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. And stop saying oh “you should coach”. That’s what an imbecile says who can’t have a SERIOUS discussion. And for replacement. Hmmm. Let’s see a great organization with a hall of fame qb. I’m sure no good candidates would step up. But since you need names here you go. Urban Myer Lincoln Riley tom herman. More ok. David shaw chris peterson. How about mike munchak who we let go . Or how about josh mcdaniels who just shredded us. Any more.
Tomlin has to go sorry and the head coach has to be someone we never heard of tomlin will be 500 this year but its becoming the same ol same ol for ppl who wanna say who do.you want as the head coach than you coach the team thats ridiculous cause he has failed new coach new voice period.
Allow me to throw out Myer, Lincoln Riley, Tom Herman, David Shaw and Peterson for these reasons: Urban would only come back if the USC job opens up, Herman and Riley have a better shot of winning a National Championship and fare better in College than in the Pro’s. Shaw ain’t leaving Stanford because as his wife has said “find me a better place to live than Palo Alto”, Peterson has his dream job with Huskies and isn’t leaving anytime soon. The Steelers didn’t let go of Mucnchak, he left to be closer to his family or did you forget that, heck Mike said that himself. McDaniel’s has a greater chance of becoming the next Pats coach than he does coming here.
I’m the imbecile when clearly everybody else who clamors for Tomlin to be let go can’t name a good replacement to save there own life. There is no such thing as a serious discussion when it comes to Tomlin, it’s fans venting instead of talking. Hey I get that fans are frustrated with the constant losing to the Pats but let me ask you this Bryan why don’t you ask teams like the Jets or the Bills how hard it is to beat Brady and the Pats or how about the Chiefs, they lost 2 times last season to the Pats. It’s hard to beat the Pats because they play Chess at a master level while the rest of the league is playing chess at a amateur level or there playing a different game altogether.
I remember when no one knew who Bill Cowher or Mike Tomlin were. The next head coach for Pittsburgh will likely be someone we are not talking about. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. the coaching staff had over six weeks to prepare for New England and failed miserably. It is time for a new voice and a new coaching philosophy.
If i were hiring a new coach my first phone call would go to Kellen Moore. He’s just a great young coach who really has his shit together. BTW our next Head Football coach in all likely hood will not be coaching Ben. And if he were it wouldn’t be for very long.
Wow vitt I didn’t know you knew the plans of all those college coaches. And you know the personal lives of others amazing. I think you should be in charge. What an asswipe. Can’t even discuss because your such an idiot. Keep on believing in Tomlin. Your right. Hes AWESOME. I mean not being ready for opening night primetime against the defending champs. Yeah that’s acceptable. Let’s just be happy.
And oh by the way vitt. Are you SERIOUSLY comparing us to the bills the jets and the dolphins. Are you fucking kidding me. So we should just be happy to the shit kicked out of us. I can see how far you got in life. And by the way just gave a tip of the iceberg of names. Yet you say oh give me names. Then I do and you say the same thing. “There’s no fixing stupid”.
Bryan Kelsey you are right on. That Vit dude is happy with Tomlins mediocrity and fears change more than anything. If we don’t make a change, we will continue to be the same team we’ve gotten for almost a decade. Yes, Tomlin isn’t horrible but the Steelers still demand better than what he delivers.
You all can scream and yell to fire Mike Tomlin but what’s the reality? He’d be the best coach in the league if there wasn’t the greatest dynasty in NFL history happening right now. Everyone needs to calm themselves and hope we get another chance to play them.
Our best chance at a Superbowl has past Ben like most aging QB’s their play diminishes over time. There will be some flashes of days gone by. But right now Ben is a lot like Peyton Manning his last 2 years a whole bunch of passes around the line of scrimmage. And if your a smart cookie like we know who defensing it is easy without a run game. We have a nice group of fine young players, I don’t think our QB of the future is on the roster right now. But some new energetic coaches and a young stud at QB is what this team needs. We should watch and enjoy this version of the Steelers, but don’t expect a title . I personally like and would target getting the kid from Clemson at QB.
Gee you have it all figured out don’t you Bob. You can’t compare Ben to Manning it’s not even a fair comparison. Manning had literally no Arm Strength left to begin with in his last season where as Ben still has plenty of fireballs left in that Right Arm of his. If the Pats are going to play 8 man back which happened Sunday Night where else can you throw the ball? See when the Steelers lose like they did it’s because of game planning such as to many short passes behind the LOS when it’s used by literally every team, heck the Pats were the team that ran those passes to perfection but because the result was a blowout it’s not a good idea.
For years Ben hardly ever used the short passes and ended up holding the ball to long and would get hurt and now within the last 6 years Ben has changed his game so the ball came out faster and now it’s a bad thing how?
Some truths then, Ben never was a good deep ball passer. Ben strength has always been his ability to extend plays and hit a wide open receiver. Truth, Fireballs you must have drank a dozen or so if that’s what you saw. Truth, the Pats stacked the line stopped the run and said you can’t beat me. I have a good friend who’s son works for the Patriots in player development. He told me 3 years ago that the Steelers talent was far Superior to there’s. And that the difference was that Belichick is light years ahead of Tomlin in regards to coaching. Like i said we will straighten things out but this team has limitations in both the ability of their players and coaches.
We complain and become disgruntled because we’re steeler fans. A legacy of winning. Not an empty pit your stomach when we don’t even make the playoffs. We’re not in charge of finding a head coach, I believe that’s the owner’s job and what an intelligent comment that if you wanna complain about the head coach then you should Become the head coach. If we want adamant about winning we might as well be Browns fans.
For the people that continue to say if not Tomlin than who? My response to you is this! No one heard of Tomlin after Bill suddenly retired! People were asking who was going to get the gig! Tomlin wasn’t close to being a top candidate. There are soo many teams that have done well with fresh new coach! Eagles won SB rookie coach, Falcons went to the SB with coach you never heard of, Chargers new coach doing well, Rams rookie coach oh and he has more coaches getting gigs from his coaching tree than Tomlin in 15 plus years.
You can excuse loosing to Bill I guess but what’s not excusable is having a loosing record versus sub 500 teams when you play them. What happens is when you loose to these bad teams you miss out on the opportunity for home field versus say the Pats in the playoff and the Steelers loose again. Time has passed him and the league has changed and adapted he hasn’t! If you loose talent in hat has drama you have to make up for loss of talent with great coaching. If not you get what we saw Sunday night!
Hey Reggie the Falcons HC was well known before he took over the Falcons but I guess that slipped your mind didn’t it? Yeah all those guys who came from McVay are in year 1 so how about you come to me in about 5-10 years and tell me then if Kingsbury, Taylor and LaFleur have succeeded.
We have the two least imaginative, innovative or sorry to say intelligent coordinators in the AFC. They don’t game plann for opponents. You would think they don’t even watch film. Now with less talent they. We going to be horribly exposed. It think the OC might be able to adjust. Butler has been shown to be completely incompetent, LeBeau’s stupid cousin. But, they are white so they will escape blame.
I would say that it’s time for a new GM bc clearly his old philosophy of not paying anyone besides the qb isn’t working. They should’ve gave Bell his money and he “GM” should’ve sat all 3 of the B’s down and said no one is leaving nor being traded. Let’s work this out as men. Ben stop talking about your guys on your radio show, Brown stay off social media and Bell your going to be paid. But no they want to keep throwing money at Ben.
Bell wanted more guaranteed money and that wasn’t going to happen and guess how that turned out for him? Brown is incapable of staying off Social Media so why even try to tell him otherwise. Ben has a right to call out any offensive player he chooses and why it’s such a big deal I will never understand. Ben is more valuable to the Steelers than Bell and Brown and to further my point look at all the RB’s and WR’s that have been with the Steelers since Ben came in to the league back 04. You can replace a RB as literally it’s done every year and WR’s are the same as the Steelers have found and made WR’s with a snap of there fingers. Find me another Brees, Manning, Elway, Marino, Big Ben or Rivers and I guarantee you will find that list to be impossible.
Rex Ryan is suited for this JOB
Keith Butler is still game planning for TEs who are out for the season with injuries. Mike Tomlin actually said at halftime. We’re not making any adjustments. It’s not the game plan it’s the execution. That is why we need a new staff. He has no ability to adjust. I feel bad for Ben he wasted his best years with this clown.
Be careful what you wish for… Anyone remember what happened to Pitt basketball when everyone got tired of Jamie Dixon’s brand of coaching?
I coach junior high football and I’m smart enough not to try to cover the opposing teams best WRs with linebackers while my best DBs cover running backs.
The Steelers defense has been struggling with a the same issues since week 2 of 2018. They had an entire off season o prepare for the Pats and come up with ways to deal with empty sets…and what did they do? Nothing but try the same old thing that didn’t work last year.
Also on offense…3rd & 1 and 4th & 1 on multiple occasions and come out with 4 or 5 WRs and Ben in shot gun. Snap the ball backwards 4 yds to try to gain 3 feet forward? And run Conner wide and/or without a lead blocker. You have one of the best offensive lines in football and a fullback. I get that you can’t do the same thing every time, but when spreading them out didn’t work (multiple times) maybe the best solution is the simplest. Go with a heavy set… 2 TEs and a fullback and pound the ball between the tackles behind David DeCastro and have Rosie Nix lead Conner through the hole. If you can’t pick up one yard doing that, then you’re just not very good and you might as well start scouting for the 2020 draft.
Alright this article got me thinking if i were to nuke the Steelers coaching staff. And have the funds to go out and get young replacements who would i target. First as i said earlier i really like Kellen Moore as the next 15 year head coach. Now for the assistants and i know this is just fantasy but here i go. DB’s coach Terrence Brown, Scouting Bryan Carrington, O-coordinator Neal Brown, D-coordinator Jeremy Pruitt QB coach Scott Scatterfield. Some these names aren’t readily recognizable but they are the best young talent out there and would be great in Pittsburgh. It’s not that hard to have a fresh idea or we all know the definition of insanity. I also think that saying ” well you go be Head Coach” is pretty much 5th grade stuff.
I am a Georgia football fan. I got so tired of hearing this same argument about keeping a head coach. Fans would say we should be happy with Richt because who else could we get that would be better. Even though we could never win the big game and lost to teams clearly less talented than the us. Sounds familiar huh. Tomlin is overmatched against the top coaches and doesn’t get the team ready for the sub 500 teams. It’s time for a change. We know it won’t happen this year but it needs to. I think Ben has one more run left in him, but not with Tomlin at the reins.
Hey Tony, spoken like a true Tomlin nuthugger. Did you even watch the game and the embarrassment of calls and decisions that were made. I don’t know who made less sense, Tomlin or your dumbass
I totally agree…We have seen our highs and are seeing our lows. Coach Tomlin can not get them over the hurdles to win the big one. Sure, he has a superbowl win, but let’s look back. It was a Cowher inherited team that won it. We have had so much talent there and where did we go? Nowhere. These guys are all being paid the “Big Bucks”, so yes they should be accountable, including the coaches. It’s time for a new era, time to get off this roller coaster. We have seen some great players and what happened,,,,nothing. Not ready for primetime- what an excuse, a sad one at that. Open your eyes people…we are on the down slide. 2 years ago should have been our superbowl and we couldn’t make it, so why are will still riding this coaster? Pittsburgh has a winning tradition, so let’s get it back on track.
sad to say its time to move on.tomlin cant win the big one.replacement?? honestly dont know yet.answer this at end of season.there will be lots of resumes in the off season.
Let’s pass behind the line of scrimmage or run every first down.
It’s the same bs over and over. 3rd and 8 we get 5. While other teams come in and throw first down at the 8yrd mark and need 2. Time to wake up!!!! We have all the right players to get the job done. Team needs to move on from Mike Tomlin and coaches alike. We need the jaw or someone like him. You get out of line miss a play , you get a foot in your ass.
One other thing. NE hit and disrupted our receivers all night. I didnt see us hit one reciever of the line which gave Brady what he needed. Vance got knocked back 5 yards on one play. Anyone can see we cant sack the QB if the recivers run theirs route untouched