Yep, stale isn’t the word. I think there is a collective responsibility here,
but as with every situation like this you look for constants. Tomlin remains
one of the best coaches and motivators in this league and you know he is going
to squeeze every last drop out of this group, but the key facts are the
Steelers are 3-8 in their last 11 playoff games, they have failed to win a
playoff game in 12 of the last 16 seasons and despite not having a losing
record in a single regular season, Tomlin’s now 8-9 in postseason play and
despite my assertion that there aren’t many groups of fans in the league who
think they have a divine right to success more than Steeler fans do, that
record needs to change in the next couple of seasons.
As good as he is, I think that he needs fresh ideas and fresh voices in the
room. The next co-ordinators must come from outside the organisation. I think
they have revamped the front office and scouting very well and as long as they
keep hold of Weidl, they are going to build a roster to contend in the next
couple of years, several people last summer were telling me they were a year
away from contending again (this was before the offense and Pickett crapped out
this season) so I think they’re still on that path. We’ve already seen the job
they did in the draft and in filling out depth on the roster, sure there are
holes, sure you need to think about some of the more senior players on the
defense and how you replace them, and the major issue with Kenny’s injury is
now that you aren’t going to find out just what you have in him now that he’s
not under six feet of Matt Canada, so there are questions there, but they did a
really solid job last summer and exceeded my expectations for year one. But as
good a motivator as Tomlin is, the groupthink has to end. It can’t be a case of
’next cubicle up’ when it comes to hiring the next OC, they need new, fresh,
innovative voices.
Tomlin should not have a job for life, that’s for sure. Here’s a question
prompted by the Belichick situation in New England and the scenarios that are
building for his departure. Say David Tepper or Josh Harris in Washington comes
calling Art Rooney. Would you consider trading Tomlin?
I’d listen to what they had to say, that’s for sure and I’d never thought I’d
ever say that about Tomlin. If he’s unwilling to change, if his stubborn streak
extends beyond pure loyalty to his assistants, then despite being as good as he
is, you have to wonder if they will ever break that ceiling of being on the
playoff bubble every season if this isn’t changed and then Art has a decision
to make, is he happy being owner of a team continuously on the fringes, or does
he want to genuinely contend?
On 5 Dec 2023, at 22:21, Streetr <stlrmn1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree with Gary, I don't see Tomlin as stale. You can see that from the
affirmation of players like Pat Pete that are thrilled to be playing for him.
That being said, there is a problem, and I think it's one of confidence and
detail on the part of the players. If they take a 2-10 team lightly, then
that's on them. Guys have to be more worried about what THEY need to do
minute by minute instead of thinking about what the standings are going to
look like after a game they have yet to play.
Mason Cole's game on Sunday was an abomination. If we see any more of that,
I think he needs to be moved out of that center job for someone who can snap
and block effectively. And Percy Harvin, man, I don't know what's wrong with
that guy. It's one good punt and 3-5 bad ones, and that's not acceptable.
Just a couple of examples, I haven't had time to watch the game again to do a
full analysis, but there were SO many points that players just failed to do
their jobs. Hopefully I can stomach watching it again to run said analysis.
On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 1:54 PM Eric Johannsen <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
If Najee had scored on 4th and 1, it's 10-3 and likely a very different
mindset for both teams from then on. The Cardinals turned that goal line
stand into a 99-yard drive and thusly knew they could win the game.
Eric in NJ
On Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 04:49:17 PM EST, gbfails1906
<gbfails1906@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:gbfails1906@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
It’s not stale.
Do you seriously not hear players who still rave about Tomlin as a coach and
a leader of men?
New England has a bad team. Bill B can’t coach himself out of that. They
stink.
The good thing about Tomlin is that even though we stink, he puts a game plan
together or team mentality that keeps us normally from getting blown out of
the stadium.
To me, the Cardinals game turned on two things…Pickett getting injured and
then the LB getting injured. I’m not saying the offensive game plan or play
calling was great. I’m saying you can’t overcome that, injuries, a turnover
and penalties and still expect to win. It doesn’t matter who you play.
Call me crazy and as bad as Pickett is playing…I think we win both the Jags
game and Cardinals game with him playing.
From: steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> <steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> on behalf of Steve Rhoton
<sprhoto@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:sprhoto@xxxxxxxxx>>
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 4:34 PM
To: steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: [steelers_pb] Tomlin
So, a question I would like to throw out to the list:
I don't think Tomlin is a bad coach - in fact he's a great coach. But there
comes a point where the message gets stale, people tune out, etc. and the
only way to get things back on track is to move on. Andy Reid in Philly,
Noll, and Our Friend Bill in New England right now are pretty good examples.
We've had multiple players this week (DJ, Warren) say they took the Cardinals
lightly this week. Is his message getting stale?
