1. Hi Guest, Registrations are now open. See you on the inside.
    Dismiss Notice

Curious about emphasis of offensive or defensive head coach

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Steel Acorn, Jan 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM.

  1. Steel Acorn

    Steel Acorn Well-Known Member

    2,761
    266
    Oct 17, 2011
    Why is it so important for the head coach to be offensive or defensive in background and emphasis? Isn’t that what coordinators are for? I’d want someone who can run the big picture and coordinate overall game planning and leadership. Do they really need to teach basic skills? Isn’t that what position coaches are for? One thing I liked about Tomlin was his ability to connect with players. His real deficit, in my opinion, was his atrociously bad selection and retention of coordinators.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  2. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

    18,174
    5,500
    Nov 4, 2011
    It’s not critical at all. Some people paint it that way, but they’re wrong. The HC needs to be an overall leader of both the team, and the entire coaching/coordinator staff. He has to do so much more than just design X’s and O’s well. People advocating for the latest X’s and O’s whiz kid because he came from a certain successful coach’s system are completely missing the big picture. Sone of those guys do have long term success, but it’s because they are not just X’s and O’s whizzes. It’s because they can also lead an organization at a high level. That capability is what’s necessary first and foremost.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  3. TGH

    TGH Well-Known Member

    1,531
    268
    May 8, 2018
    It's a leadership building role. As an OC/DC you get to be in charge of position coaches, position groups, and players, to lead and prove your leadership through successful operation and results. It is a strong qualification for a HC.
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  4. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

    1,418
    681
    Jul 5, 2023


    The great thing about having a head coach that is also a wizard with X's and O's is that even if they aren't the OC or the DC, they are able to see what is and isn't working and be able to help make adjustments. It also gives them much better perspective on when a coach isn't working out and it is time for a replacement, or being able to adapt to the most innovative schemes and make the necessary changes to keep up. That is one of the most overlooked aspects of the job IMO.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

    18,174
    5,500
    Nov 4, 2011
    I took the primary question to be why is it important to be an offensive guy or a defensive guy, and my point is he has to be the right guy whether offensive or defensive. Which side of the ball is less critical than having the ability to lead the entire organization. I think X’s and O’s are very important and a coach needs to understand them, but a good leader can be successful by hiring the right coordinators for getting into the weeds of X’s and O’s. Gotta lead the whole team (and coaching staff) with an eye to the big picture first and foremost. That’s my view.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. Steelcityboyz

    Steelcityboyz Well-Known Member

    876
    128
    Jul 31, 2023
    I want a guy who knows the game inside and out on both sides of the ball.

    That's why you have coordinators, i think coordinators are like Qbs, if you get a good one you will succeed.
     
  7. Bubbahotep

    Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

    2,711
    887
    Mar 19, 2022
    Regardless of whether offensive or defensive, he's got to know how to pick coordinators. Steelers favor a CEO type HC so assume they will be hiring both OC & DC.
     
  8. SGSteeler

    SGSteeler Well-Known Member

    8,963
    2,208
    Sep 9, 2013
    Because it’s sets the tone for the team. It is also the main constant for the immediate future. If we hire a defensive minded coach, like Shula for example, we may go through different OC’s and different systems, but the main constant is going to be Shula’s adaptive Fangio style defense. If we choose Scheelhaase for a different example, then a version of the Shanahan/McVey offense will be the constant while the defensive scheme could change drastically over time. It’s very similar to how we changed schemes quite a bit from Arians to Haley to Fichtner to Canada to Smith, but kinda always had the same defensive scheme since LeBeau retired. Different guys called the plays but it was Tomlin’s system.

    It would also tend to change how we fundamentally spend money as a franchise. There’s a reason why we’re generally a higher spender on defense. It’s because the team is more defensively minded under Tomlin. If we were to hire an offensive mind, particularly one on the cutting edge, you’d expect the money to slant towards the offense over time. Sometimes the personnel dictates a deviation if you hit on a ton of offensive guys with a defensive HC. But generally the trend holds true in the long run. Offensive guys will want to build a high power offense and build a defense good enough to win with that offense. Then vice versa for a defensive HC.

    It’s been a really long time since our offense has been quality. We’ve had a few scattered average offenses in there, but largely we’ve been bad for the better part of a decade. It’s not surprising to see fans want to change that by bringing in an offensive minded HC.
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

    43,564
    11,358
    Dec 23, 2020
    Your view is correct, but a team will most of the time lean one way or the other by which You pick.
     
  10. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

    25,913
    6,716
    Apr 21, 2016
    My emphasis is rooted in the current NFL Paradigm being played out not just in the NFL Playoffs currently but the past three seasons; Offense runs the show. Truth be told, my viewpoint isn't from one side vs another but from the eras itself. If this were anywhere between the 70s to even the early to mid 2010s?! I would choose a Defensive Minded Coach all day every day. However, with these new rules?! Offensive Minded Coaches are currently running the NFL hand over fist.


    There are exceptions to this rule; Mike Vrabel, DeMeco Ryans, both of the Harbaugh brothers, Mike MacDonald, etc. These coaches possess special aspects that allow them to navigate through a League heavily tilted toward one side. Aspects such as Leadership, Oration, Charisma, Accountability, Resiliency and Culture Building are what these men all have in common. This is what we would call a CEO Type Coach; both Jim and John fitting this to a tee. However, that alone doesn't equate to success in today's NFL anymore. A Coach like Mike MacDonald or a Mike Vrabel is actually the ideal; both are excellent at schematics as they are in the aforementioned CEO Qualities. Here in lies both of their biggest issue; their success thus far is thanks in part to their Offenses flourishing due in part to their exceptional Offensive Coordinators; more specifically in New England's Case as Drake Maye has transformed from a quality starter to an NFL MVP Level QB in just two short seasons. As for Seattle?! Mike MacDonald is becoming a one of one; an innovative Defensive Mind who both understands and maximize the usage of his own Offense. Even so, such Head Coaches are, once again, exceptions.


    Overall, Offense is still the key player in today's NFL. Defense can take you far as well but not all the way anymore; Seattle's or Denver's included. Have to have an Offensive mind with CEO level capabilities. Even if that Head Coach doesn't, he still will be chose over his Defensive Minded counterpart. Sean McDermont recently just got fired for his inability to evolve on his own side of the Football year over year. Mike Tomlin stepped down after seven straight years of being bounced out. Johnathan Gannon had little to show for despite drafting talents such as Paris Johnson Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr, Will Johnson and more. Conversely, not all Offensive Minded Coaches will work out either; Mike McDaniel being the prime example. Even so, coaches like Mike McDaniel will be favored over coaches like McDermont for that is the current way the NFL is.


    Long story short?! Offense is king of the NFL. Until that paradigm changes in a dramatic way, expect more of the same.
     
  11. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

    18,174
    5,500
    Nov 4, 2011
    By which I pick? I didn’t know I was so important!
     
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  12. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

    43,564
    11,358
    Dec 23, 2020
    LoL. We might as well let you, you have as much experience picking a HC as our current leaders do. Has either ever done this , anywhere???
     
  13. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

    18,174
    5,500
    Nov 4, 2011
    I’m on a hot streak making great hires, but the jobs have nothing to do with football.
     
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  14. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

    43,564
    11,358
    Dec 23, 2020
    See you may have more experience.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. jeh1856

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

    37,433
    13,104
    Oct 26, 2011
    It’s not critical at all. Some people paint it that way, but they’re wrong. The HC needs to be an overall leader of both the team, and the entire coaching/coordinator staff. He has to do so much more than just design X’s and O’s well. People advocating for the latest X’s and O’s whiz kid because he came from a certain successful coach’s system are completely missing the big picture. Sone of those guys do have long term success, but it’s because they are not just X’s and O’s whizzes. It’s because they can also lead an organization at a high level. That capability is what’s necessary first and foremost.

    - Steel_Elvis January 2026

    o_O

    I had the same thought so it was just easier to plagiarize @Steel_Elvis@Steel_Elvis
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  16. Steelvision

    Steelvision Well-Known Member

    2,055
    473
    Jun 28, 2022
    We shouldnt want a nerd whiz kid. Thats not a coach. Seen a few of those. We need someone who is a teacher of perfecting the fundamentals, has good coordinators, and gets the team ready EVERY week. And no more buddy coaches.

    Still dont think a retread coach is a good idea either (Flores, McCarthy, McDermot) theres a reason they were not successful and were removed from their positions.
     
  17. Steel Acorn

    Steel Acorn Well-Known Member

    2,761
    266
    Oct 17, 2011
    I think a good OC with a top notch QB and offensive line and a DC with a few good defensive backs would make any head coach look good. And position coaches who can teach. And strength and condition staff that can keep people in the game. I think one aspect of a good head coach is to surround himself with quality underlings and then let them do their job. Having a good GM who can construct a reasonable roster would be an asset, too. It takes a team, and not just players.
     
  18. nor

    nor Well-Known Member

    1,121
    297
    Oct 26, 2016
    Titans are interested in Mike Vrabel for HC. But the report I read was over 5 years old.....
     
  19. Bubbahotep

    Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

    2,711
    887
    Mar 19, 2022
    Case in point; Rams, 9th highest paid offense, and people complaining about Shula and his defense need to keep in mind that it's the 29th highest paid defense in the NFL.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Bubbahotep

    Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

    2,711
    887
    Mar 19, 2022
    New England begs to differ.... 2X!
     
  21. OX1947

    OX1947 Well-Known Member

    4,199
    780
    Jan 12, 2017
    I just want this team to be fundamentally sound. I want the next coach to know time and possession. I want him to know how to use timeouts and not screw up challenge calls. Mike Tomlin was an utter disaster in the fundamentals of football.

    Everything else will come together as it should. But those things you can control 100%
     

Share This Page

Welcome to the ultimate resource for Steelers fans. Sign Up Here!