Charlie Batch Sums it Up Nicely

Cowher did not run out of steam!! His wife was dying of cancer and he had placed his priorities where they belonged....with his family that year. Once the season was over, he "quit" , "resigned" or what ever you wish to call it to take her back to NC where she could pass away in her home state in a beautiful house with a beautiful view. He did what many of us wish we could do with our family members when that time is evident. I give the man props for doing the right thing.

As for Tomlin, if he cant win with this roster, something is wrong. Either he isnt game planning against opponents right or he cant coach. Captain obvious does not have an answer and its obvious that he isnt the answer either. He was the HC of 2 Super Bowl teams, I dont give him that much credit for getting them there. You and I could have guided that team to a Super Bowl in the first few years after Cowher left.

 

How can you type that with a straight face? This roster is full of great big gaping holes. That in and of itself is why you see up and down performances. They are rebuilding an entire roster. Why is that so hard for you people to understand? When you couple that with literally 50% less practice time the reasons for our struggles should be blatantly obvious.

 

We have more talent at almost every position compared to teams that have better records. The plain and simple truth is that these players are underperforming on a weekly basis. Sometimes its the offense, sometimes its the defense and others its the entire team. Blame the players all you want, but preparation is a coaching issue.

 

Sorry pal, but that's the Homer in you talking. The only way you can compare teams with better records is if they played the exact same schedule. On offense we have two consistently very good players in Bell and Brown and a 3rd depending on which week it is in Ben. Heath is a shadow of his former self. Wheaton, DHB, and Bryant haven't proven a damn thing except that they're inconsistent.

 

i don't know if we have all this talent .. on offense maybe yes (ben bell brown heath pouncey decastro are good the rest are average or unproven , on defense we have almost nothing .. harrison timmons heiward ...period

 

I've been reading this thread with much interest and haven't chimed in because I've made my dissatisfaction with Tomlin's coaching abilities well known and don't want to rehash them here. Good points made on both sides of the debate. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I concede that the Steelers are lacking in talent. The question becomes what is Tomlin doing with the talent that he has? Is he coaching it up to the next level? Have we seen improvement from these "can't miss" college players like JJ, DD or Shazier or do they seem to be regressing? Is Tomlin getting the most he can out of mediocre talent like Belicheck does year in and year out? Does the team seem to be moving in a positive direction even though it may be in transition? Is the young talent on the team evolving or devolving? Is there a clear gameplan on offense and defense? Do we adjust well enough to compete when the original gameplan doesn't seem to be working? I know I'm late to the party and I'm trying to withhold much of my opinion until the season is over, but the concerns I have with the HC remain. I'm not sure he's the guy to lead a team through a transition. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

 

this sum it up

 

Well, I would have at least liked to have seen Tomlin remove Ben for a series or two, I mean Tomlin needs to coach ans stop being buddy-buddy, Ben did not represent that best opportunity after the wrist injury, he hurt the team by not be totally 100% capable on numerous plays after the incident, and worse, could have easily fumbled the ball handing off with his left hand, now that was just sad... it was Tomlin's fault as he left him in the game, especially with a capable back-up available. As far as the defense, no pressure on Brees and he will eat you alive, where were the blitzes???

 

As tragic as it was, his wife was not diagnosed with cancer until AFTER he had resigned.

 

THIS!

 

I think you make an interesting point Blast. Lots of members on here get down on Cowher because of the home losses in AFCCG but think about what it took to get those games at home and one of them came right down to the wire with a bad throw/decision by NOD having them just miss the SB that year. I'd like to hear the boards thoughts on Marv Levy and the 90's Bills because winning four AFCCG in a row is something unheard of and going to 4 SB's in a row and not winning once is something equally mind boggling. Make me wonder if people would say Levy was a bad coach?

 

Nice post. I am on the fence ,as is this team. You ask a lot of good questions and the right answers will/should dictate Tomlin's future. I think he's a good coach with still a few areas that need significant improvement. I don't know but it seems like I'm still waiting for him to put his stamp on this team.he is the HC but I really feel he leaves too much up to his coordinators especially Lebeau. I still remember him saying something like "what am I gonna tell him ,he's Dick Lebeau. That just doesn't sit well with me you are the HC I don't care if your OC or DC is JC,when something is obviously broke ,fix it! I want to see these issues that have plagued us for the last 3 years start to be fixed and go away. He needs to "own" this situation and show he can do something about it. It's hard not to have major reservations about him as a coach when the team doesnt seem to be "getting it". We seem to spend too much time playing the blame game with the coordinators it should begin and end with the HC. Tomlin needs to step up.....

 

Yea, but for all we know the Rooney's could've tied his hands on that matter!

 

Yes I realize that may be the case ,but as a so called leader of men he needs to put a end to this downward spiral of a Defense. They have been getting progressively worse year after year. Do you think Sean Payton wanted Rob Ryan as his DC ,I highly doubt it. It didn't stop him from getting on his ass on Sunday. I know you can't compare résumés and I appreciate what Lebeau has meant to this team but his scheme is and has been washed up for a few years now. I don't know if he is the problem or not,no one does for sure but something needs to be done. Change it up somehow either by adjusting or bringing in someone who can. We go from blitzing like crazy to passive. I just see too much thinking out there and not enough playing. Simplify the defense and get after the QB....

 

if tomlin is a good coach he should tell rooney and lebeau everything he things . if he keeps everything for hiself is a yes man .. so not a real head coach just a figure

 

Sounds like what Rex is doing here in NY and we all know his fate at the end of the season.

 

No way! It was Levy's fault Norwood missed that field goal.

 

Coaches don't usually make that much of a difference unless their players are good enough.

When Ben played well the team had a chance to win. When the Steelers had a great defense the team had a chance to win.

If you believe the team is in a state of transition than the coaches deserve the benefit of the doubt.

 

Honestly I think Tomlin just has a mutual admiration and respect for DL and more then likley prefers not to berate him or correct him. I mean really how would a coach tell a defensive genius anything that he does not already know?

 

I want know what you think of Barry Switzer. I have been looking for someone in a situation like Tomlin and he is the closest that I could find. Given the keys to a Lambo and told not to screw it up. 94 they went 12-4 lost the NFC champ, 95 12-4 won the SB,, 96 10-6 lost in the DIV round and 97 6-10 then retired. I believe he saw the writing on the wall and left before down years. But is he considered a great coach because he won the SB, and went to the NFC champ. Overall record 40-24, 5-2 in the playoffs .625 regular season win percentage, .714 in the playoffs. So is he a really good coach or did he really benefit from Jimmy's team (Aikman, Smith, Irvin, and many more). Really similar situation when Tomlin came in.

I think its Tomlins fault you hear him say you must put a stamp on your work, we will own this, and blah blah blah blah. Yet that's all he does is talk a good game, as a head coach myself OBVIOUSLY not at the same level the team is a reflection of the HC. I want my teams to play with my passion, excitement, and intensity if they don't its my fault and no one else. Its my job to find the ways to make them do and play as I want them too.

Here is what I see just in the North on how teams play vs HC personality

Browns- hard nosed, excited, chip on the shoulder / Pettine- I see him the same way
Bengals- avg physicality, semi calculated, in over their head in big situations/ Lewis- never able to win the big game teams seem to falter in big moments.
Ravens- good hard nosed whiners/ I think it sums up Hairball well
Steelers- disorganized, below avg football IQ, flavor of the day football, not passionate, not intense / and again its a direct reflection on our HC.

This is why I feel it is all his fault.