What Does a McCarthy Offense Look Like?

I think it's been reported multiple times that this never would have worked without Brady.

Because Brady would sit in meetings and take **** from Bill when he deserved it. Most elite players don't do this.

But because Brady did it, other players (who weren't the GOAT) couldn't complain about it either.

I think this is a big reason why the "Patriot Way" totally fell apart after Brady left.

Because even a great coach like Billy B isn't as important as the players. And you generally can't treat them like the coaches in the 70s (and earlier) did. Because the power dynamics are completely different now. Even if the start player doesn't get you fired (like Lamar just did with Harbaugh), they can just leave when their contract is up. And sometimes the cap means that you can't keep them even if you wanted to.

Guys like Noll (who was basically the perfect coach for that era) would have to coach totally different now than they did then.

And in today's NFL, you can only practice on the field ~ 15 hours / week. And you're only allowed 14 padded practices once the season starts (no more than 1 / week for the first 11 weeks...and no more than 3 in the last 6 weeks of the season).

For better and worse, you basically can't be a hard ass coach in the NFL anymore.

 

I'm solidly in this camp.

They were both very good coaches for long periods of time in a league that chews coaches up.

Neither of them were great coaches and I don't think either deserve to be in the Hall.

I think the bar for non-coaches should be very high. Reserved for guys who changed the game and / or presided over dynasties...especially Belichick and Reid who've done what shouldn't really be possible with UFA and a cap (although I think it's largely because they have elite QBs who are willing to play well below their fair market value).

Re: Cowher. Not only did he get in because of a special class. He was also the coach figure on one of the two main networks that pay the NFL's bills. And the guy on the other network was getting in (more fittingly IMO, even though I dislike the Cowboys). IMO the gap between Johnson and Cowher is much larger than the gap between Cowher and Tomlin (where I think it's basically a coin flip to decide who's better).

 

I agree. The real question is how would have Ben handled the Patriot way? I believe there was u ta—ed talent in Ben we never got see because he wasn’t as maniacal about being pre-armed like a Manning or Brady.

 

I disagree. Had Cowher stayed five more years there is a good chance he would have one or two more SB’s with that group. He was always missing that one caveat up until the last few years which was the franchise QB. Cowhers teams were pretty dominant for a good part of his tenure. The knock on him was the conservative play style on offense would bite home at times against really good teams. When we got Ben even though we were still conservative Ben had enough of the it factor where he could make the throw or big play when or if we needed it. Ben was great leading up to that SB in the playoffs that year beating the Colts and Broncos.

 

Who knows...but it seems like most super-talented guys don't take it well. Which is part of what made Brady special.

We know that he didn't take well to Haley pushing him. But it does sound like Haley was an *******...but I think Billy B was an ******* to players too.

 

Maybe.

And maybe if Tomlin was hired a couple years earlier he would have won an extra SB too.

The things we know are the things that actually happened. And there isn't much daylight between them. Certainly not as big a difference as there is between Cowher and Johnson.

Again, I don't think it's unreasonable to think Cowher was better than Tomlin (or that Tomlin was better than Cowher). I just don't think it's reasonable to think that one was worthy of the Hall and the other one sucked.

 

My knock on Ben is that he took 100% of the paychecks but did not give 100% of the effort like Brady and Manning

I see that as being dishonest and a waste of talent

Imagine what he could have been

 

Translation: You got owned

 

So true. He was more talented than those guys in a lot of ways.

 

I never said Cowher was worthy of the hall but had he stayed then yes. I also never said Tomlin sucked.

 

You make no sense. I clearly stated Harrison was coached up by Lebeau. I never mentioned Cowher. The whole point of the argument with Harrison was his gratitude and respect towards Lebeau and not towards Tomlin. Sheesh.

 

Again you chime in and miss the whole point. I never said Cowher was HOF worthy and nor is Tomlin. Had Cowher stayed there is a good chance he may have. The primary difference on why i prefer Cowher over Tomlins is ego. Cowher was humble enough to seek and retain really good coaching assistants and let them cook.Cowher understood where and how he could serve the organization best. Tomlin was like that in the beginning and then he became thirsty for more power and control. That really played out over the last five years. The difference in their coaching trees is telling as well and supports my point.

 

I'm not talking about what you said in that sentence.

I'm explaining what I believe the difference is between a reasonable and unreasonable take on the comparisons between Cowher and Tomlin.

Which was a continuation of the comment you responded to where I was agreeing with rule6 that Cowher and Tomlin are similar. Which is why I tried to clarify what I meant in the post you responded to (of mine).

 

Got it

 

He has 3 responses

If it’s his own thought it’s simple

Post someone else’s thought

Send a clown picture

That’s all he has

 

Well he basically used up the first two in his response to me.

 

Exactly and he was a lot better at assembling a coaching staff.

 

Imagine hating on the HC who gave you the chance to start and win DPOY

 

The difference was that Harrison simply played football for Cowher and Tomlin.

Dick LeBeau taught James Harrison how to play football, and Harrison knew how much LeBeau genuinely cared for him on a personal level as well.

Harrison loves Dick LeBeau and gives him so much credit for everything he has accomplished on the field.

 

I never claimed Tomlin was a better coach than Cowher, but I push back on dumb crap like he only won because of Cowher's players or he's another Barry Switzer.

 

same for me!

George Seifert is a better comparaison for me and I consider Seifert as a good head coach despite the failure in Carolina

 

“You’re Taking Away a Spot”: Aaron Rodgers Finally in Agreement with Mike McCarthy Over Steelers’ QB Situation

Sep 2, 2026 | 5:46 PM EDT

A week ago, Mike McCarthy left the door open to an unusual possibility. The Steelers head coach told reporters he would be willing to carry four quarterbacks on the active roster, though the final 53-man roster was still waiting to take shape. Now the dust has settled, and McCarthy has followed through. Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar have all made the cut, giving Pittsburgh a four-man quarterback room heading into the season.

Aaron Rodgers Is Helping Build the Steelers’ Future

For Rodgers, though, the setup is a little unconventional. The Steelers’ QB1 knows exactly what the decision cost the team. Sometimes, roster building means giving up something in one room to keep all the pieces you value in another. McCarthy appears willing to live with that gamble, and Rodgers acknowledged it.

“I was thinking it was a possibility, but I don’t think I’ve been on a roster with four quarterbacks,” Rodgers told reporters. “Obviously, when you do that, you’re taking away a spot from another place in the team. But at the same time, if the best 53 are going to make it, I’m not saying they did.
you solve it now
“I think those four are part of the best 53. So, I’m happy for all those guys. Obviously, looking to the future, those other three guys are going to have a chance when I’m done. And with the growth you saw with Will, and obviously with Drew being drafted so high, but also playing well in camp, I’m not surprised at all, and I’m excited about those guys’ future.”

Aaron Rodgers has already clarified that 2026 will be his last NFL season. Without a tried-and-tested QB in place, the Steelers risked spiraling into the same old conundrum they’ve faced for years. Rodgers had already mentored Will Howard when he came into the league last year, and taken a similar approach with Allar – the 3rd-round pick from this year’s Draft.
Given the promise both of them have shown, either can be the future QB1 while veteran Mason Rudolph holds down the fort as the trusted backup.

In the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Allar went 10-of-13 for 154 yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Howard, meanwhile, ran the two-minute offense and went 7-of-9 for 86 yards and a touchdown. But Week 2 against the New York Jets wasn’t pretty, as both QBs combined for 11 drives and didn’t put a single score on the board.

Even McCarthy was at a loss for words when trying to explain what changed from their preseason debut, settling for the assessment: “the details and the execution wasn’t as high.” But Week 3 wasn’t any better.

Against the Buffalo Bills, Howard went 9-of-15 for 69 yards, threw two touchdowns and a pick. Allar, meanwhile, went 9-of-18 for 88 yards and couldn’t score any points in their 28-27 loss. Allar led a scoring drive that gave Eli Heidenreich a rushing touchdown, but neither Allar nor Howard showed that they were ready for a 17-week battle against starters.

Even then, Aaron Rodgers sees progress in them
“I thought the entire camp, it was never too big for ‘em. They looked really comfortable out there, and I thought they did a lot of good things, moving the football, being efficient. Just learning experiences,” Rodgers added. “But, look at my first preseason, it was not pretty at all. I didn’t play good until about the second half of the fourth preseason game.

“So they’re definitely ahead of where I was at. Mentally, they’re grasping the offense. I’m really proud of both those guys.”

The best course of action for Mike McCarthy was to keep them on the roster so they can learn from Aaron Rodgers and Rudolph on the sidelines. But keeping them didn’t come without a cost.

Linebacker Elandon Roberts, defensive lineman Dean Lowry, and RB Travis Homer were among the 38 people cut from the 90-man roster to make room for the final 53. Had the Steelers parted ways with any of their QBs, that would’ve made room for an impact player in the other positions on their depth chart.

DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Ben Skowronek made the final 53 in the wide receiver room, but all three carry injury designations (questionable) heading into Week 1. If they had the space, they could’ve added some help at wide receiver, and that’s just one instance in a roster riddled with injuries on both sides of the ball.

But the Steelers, under Mike McCarthy, have opted to try and solve the quarterback problem once and for all. As McCarthy put it back in August, having four QBs in the room “only enhances what the regular season would look like.”

It won’t be long before we start to understand how McCarthy’s decision shapes his first regular season with the Steelers. One thing’s certain, though. As the wear and tear of the 17-week grind falls on the team, Aaron Rodgers will need all the help he can get.