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Merril Hoge Shares Mike Tomlin’s Biggest Flaw As Head Coach

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Steelersfan43, Jan 17, 2026 at 9:48 AM.

  1. Shortfinal

    Shortfinal Well-Known Member

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    stubborn and plain arrogant.
     
  2. IrishDave

    IrishDave Well-Known Member

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    Well Tomlin was either scared to hire any coaches that might outshine him or too stupid to know a good assistant coach to hire....so which one is it?....either way Tomlin fails.
     
  3. Mr.wizard

    Mr.wizard Well-Known Member

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    He had Arians, Haley, Smith, Munchak and Flores all on his staff and all were Head Coaches. Not exactly what you would do if you were afraid of being replaced internally. Also I have to wonder how Tomlin won so many games for so long in a league that is inredibly difficult to do so. According to fans he couldnt hire a staff or lead a staff, he didnt know X's and O's, couldnt develope players, and yet he is 9th winningest coach of all time.
     
  4. OX1947

    OX1947 Well-Known Member

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    Semantics have run out on this subject. The results of the last 15 years tell the story better than anyone’s opinions or feelings.

    If Mike Tomlin coached anywhere but the Pittsburgh Steelers, that includes all professional sports teams in America, he would have never lasted half way through that 15 years.
     
  5. Bubbahotep

    Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

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    One thing you aren't considering; what was Tomlin's staff budget from Rooney? If the owner doesn't want to pay top dollar for top coaches then that is a problem. Example, Harbaugh negotiated a $10M staff budget with the NYG. I don't think money will be a problem for him trying to find assistants.
     
  6. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    we will know more in the future
     
  7. feltdeez

    feltdeez Well-Known Member

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    True.. but this is the Steelers so the next HC will get a long leash as well.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. feltdeez

    feltdeez Well-Known Member

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    Don’t let facts get in the way, lol.
     
  9. TGH

    TGH Well-Known Member

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    He stuck to Steelers' consistency. That's what he inherited. That was the Rooney direction too. It's an organizational misjudgment on what wins. I don't think it was solely his decision, although it is clear that he was big on familiarity, but it was not just him.
     
  10. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    Wait. Wait. You’re saying that a coach who prefers veteran players also prefers veteran coaches? Huh. Fracking weird.
     
  11. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

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    I can see you are blow away by this revelation. :lolol:
     
  12. AtlSteel

    AtlSteel Well-Known Member

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    Belichick coordinators were in high demand - Crennel, Mangini, McDaniels, O'Brien, Patricia, Flores, Judge, Daboll, Mayo. They weren't successful, but the league valued coaches who coached under Belichick.
     
  13. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    My mind is blown. Just can’t believe the galaxy brain on Hoge.

    He will probably lead the resistance when AI takes over.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  14. SteelerGlenn

    SteelerGlenn

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    Classic insecure control freak.
     
  15. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    This whole thing is kind of stupid.

    Does Tomlin really strike you as a guy who runs from challenges?

    Is there any NFL coach who isn’t a control freak? Sorta the job description.

    Tomlin clearly preferred a small group of highly experienced coaches over a sprawling staff of inexperienced coaches.

    It’s not some complicated three layers deep thing.

    Tomlin was always talking about veteran players and veteran coaches.

    Y’all are making this too hard.
     
  16. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    No problem with the veteran coaches, but the problem was the quality.
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  17. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    Sure. That’s a different discussion.

    Hiring bad coaches is different than not hiring coaches because you’re scared or whatever nonsense people like to talk about.
     
  18. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    upload_2026-1-18_16-30-48.gif

    19 years and primarily promoted from within. Doesn’t exactly equate to highly experienced coaches.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  19. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Ouch
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  20. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    Haley
    Arians
    munchak
    The DL coach was here for decades
    Faulkner has been coaching since before Tomlin
    Austin
    Danny Smith

    those are just off the top of my head. All those dudes are coaching lifers who were coaching for years
     
  21. SDOT

    SDOT Well-Known Member

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    It was done on purpose by organization and Tomlin.

    1) They didn’t want anybody with a real football IQ in the room to challenge him. Hence why Flores and Todd Haley were quickly pushed out.

    2) They were used as blame/fire fodder. Butler, Randy, Matt Canada, etc. It bought Tomlin another 10 years of mediocrity. Everybody blaming them instead of the root of the issue.

    Nobody who was desirable and had a future in the league would take all the blame and go away quietly. So they hired nobodies who would just be happy getting a gig way above their qualifications, abilities, and getting a big payday. You finally get it?
     
  22. JKLTO

    JKLTO Well-Known Member

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    Between that, his inability to properly develop or discipline problematic players, and literally not having a damn clue about how to use time outs, challenges or replays for all 19 years of his tenure, he certainly had his downsides.
     
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  23. jeh1856

    jeh1856 We want in so we can bark to go out again

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    I’ll add this to your top ten list
     
  24. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    When people talk about Tomlin putting together a poor staff they are primarily talking about his coordinators and in 19 years Haley and Smith were the only established hires and Haley was pushed on him by Rooney. Smith was probably his pick but Im sure with the continued failures on offense he was instructed to bring in a legit OC. Never hired a legit DC.

    Arians was a Cowher holdover.

    Munch was a great hire.
     
  25. OX1947

    OX1947 Well-Known Member

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    That’s why they need to make sure they pick someone who can develop and not continue to screw up timeouts every single game and guide his players into knowing time and possession so they can learn to run out of bounds to save timeouts when the opportunity presents itself.
     

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