Mike Tomlin is stepping down from the Steelers

Wouldn't bother me one bit.

 

I think it was mutual. I think possibly a bit like Noll's departure where it's obvious some changes need to be made, and Tomlin is resistant and protective of his buddies on the coaching staff.

 

You don't go from talking about your "passion for the game of football" just a week ago to resigning your position without someone suggesting change was needed.

Tomlin likely looked at his roster with 14 players at 30+ years old, no franchise QB, a couple of assistants with expiring contracts and decided he didn't want to stick around to complete a rebuild. This is likely a 3 year project, minimum.

 

I think this could be a part of it. I think there was pressure from different sides. Both professional and personal life. Coach is still relatively young.

 

You know, the strange thing is that Tomlin really has not looked his normal self.
I had said something a few months ago that he isn't bringing the fire he normally does.
Hindsight is always 20-20. I think that game against Green Bay made his mind up.
I also think he said a lot of things that were just phrases. You cannot tip your hand early as a leader.
I also think that those close knew it too...
Tomlin commands a mega ton of respect from players, coaches and those around the sport.

 

Yep! Thanks for leaving the Steelers in such great shape.

It's going to suck from a competitive standpoint, but I'm excited for the new direction.

 

The owner didn't have a choice, the team quit on him and their franchise QB wanted him gone. If it was just Jackson then maybe you could have tried to deal him away but you can't trade 50 guys who quit on him and wanted him gone.

 

A couple of things happened the last few seasons that took some of his moxie away. The hiring/firing of Matt Canada. What the fans and media did to that guy (MC) probably shocked Tomlin for its venom. But it was Tomlin that put Canada in the position he did so he was responsible for dealing with it. Then the failure of Pickett and his exit put a smudge on the franchise and its Rd1 QBs. Then having to deal with Pickens antics and answering questions in every presser. Yes, they knew Pickens college history but Tomlin likely overestimated his ability to keep Pickens focused. Or he simply didn't want to deal with it. And last, but certainly not least, the "Fire Tomlin" chants likely hit his psyche. Even the most hardened coaches aren't immune to public outcry.

 

They don't get Aaron Rodgers if Tomlin wasn't the HC.

 

We haven't done a very good job of trying to find a franchise QB though.
We drafted Mason, who Ben hated right away and said it wasn't his job to mentor him. That's not ideal. He was not likely to ever pan out anyway.
We drafted Pickett, who probably went earlier than he should have. Wasn't a great prospect. We paired him with a horrible offensive coordinator and gave him zero chance of success.
Everyone else were just journeymen.
Then they decided to go with Fields, who they obviously had very little faith in because they basically moved on from him before he ever started a game for them.
They snapped up Russell Wilson, who 2 other teams wanted nothing to do with.
Then they went to a 40+ year old QB.

They haven't really done themselves a lot of favours, and considering Tomlin is heavily involved in personnel decisions, how much of that is on him?

 

They wanted Fields to return in 2025, but he took more guaranteed money from the Jets.

 

Tomlin spoke repeatedly about 'having a process', 'we follow a process', ' trust the process'. But in the end, if that process repeatedly failed in the most important part of the season then what are you really left with to build upon?

If I'm Rooney early this week, I'm asking Tomlin; "What needs to happen next?", "What will you do differently to get a different result?"

 

Ho

God bless ya on being 53!

Here's to more!

 

Russell Wilson is terrible, Fields was benched for him, yet they wanted him back? That makes no sense.
Hopefully this mentality goes away with Tomlin leaving. Bringing in awful QB's is not much of a solution, unless you're drafting someone high and just need to buy time until they're ready.

 

I actually don't have a problem with the Steelers QB approach after Roethlisberger. The Pickett pick was a chance they couldn't pass on. Then they went for veterans to help in the transition but also focused on the trenches and other holes. This team isn't just a QB away from a SB appearance.
The alternative was the Bengals approach. Draft a franchise QB and then scramble to assemble a team around him before the QB financial squeeze and the window closes. The way it's going for them they might only get one more shot at a SB and then have to blow things up again.

 

Frankly, I don't care what their record is next year. I just want to see that we're moving in a new positive direction. This stagnation has damn near killed me.

 

Look at Chicago, NE, Seattle, etc.
Pair a good QB with a good coach and great things can happen.
We may not be a QB away from going to the Superbowl, but get a good QB and address other issues as needed and yeah, we could absolutely be back in the SB in the near future.
Ben Johnson went into Chicago, made a bunch of changes and has his team in the 2nd round. Same with Vrabel.
Very few people would have claimed they were SB contenders last year.

Change can happen very, very fast with the right people in place. Scheme can do a lot for the Oline. A good QB can do a lot for the Oline. Playmakers can do a lot for the Oline.
We have used a lot of capital on the OL without a lot of results.

 

Agreed. I understand why people are bringing him up, but that doesn't seem to be a good fit.

 

Last time there were 3 main candidates after Cowher's departure: Russ Grimm, Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Tomlin.

I wonder how many there will be this time around.

 

And what's your point Ben Johnson wasn't coming to Pittsburgh with no franchise QB in place.

 

Chicago has talent, young talent. They had 14 picks in the top 50 of the last 4 drafts,.... including the number 1 overall pick.

 

Grimm and Whisenhubt were never really contenders.