If the Steelers are below .500 next year and miss playoffs................

Then I would hope lefty and decrepit charlie were gone and we had two young guys

 

The question was if were went below .500---- we just finished at .500. My point was with a franchise QB & top ranked defense so Obviously if Ben misses multible games that has to be factored in, but so should the fact Tomlin hasn't in the 5 drafts he's conducted found a capable QB back-up.

Let's also concider the fact Tomlin took over a team 2 years removed from a SB victory, He kept cowhers entire defensive coaching staff and other Asst coaches. His 1st draft was following Cowhers final 8-8 season and put him drafting #15 overall. His 2nd draft is probably the worst in history (recent).

His season records and results are:
1st) 10-6 lost wildcard
2nd) 12-4 SB win
3rd) 9-7 no playoffs
4th) 12-4 lost SB
5th) 12-4 lost wildcard
6th) 8-8 no playoffs

A head coach should be graded on Playoff/SB wins and on player development (draft) and his coaching tree ( is he building a solid coaching staff or riding some-one elses),
If he goes below .500 after going .500 this year he is obviously not doing enough in player development and building his staff.

Now if he does goes below .500 next year he might save his job ala rexie boy ( ryan) by blaming his O & D coordinators and firing them saying he's doing a leaders job addressing and fixing the problem.

Cajun-

 

HE SHOULD GO NOW.. after all if the standard is the standard is true as he says in every press conference then he is NOT coaching up to the standard.. time to go NOW

HINES

 

Are you aware that Kevin Colbert is primarily responsible for who the Steelers draft? Sure Tomlin is part of the process, but its Colberts baby.

Even if he goes 7-9 or worse next year, there is a 0% chance that he is fired.

I also find it comical that you typed out Tomlins coaching record. Wow, I didn't realize that it was that good. Thanks for the visual. Do you know how many franchises or fans of other franchises would absolutely KILL for that record? At least 28 would be my guess.

Which brings me to my last point. Ive been thinking about it, and one of the Steelers biggest problems last year and this year is their cap situation. They're tight up against it again just like last year. And the only relief will come when new TV money kicks in and the cap goes up. What the Steelers have done...which IS very un Steeler like...is over spend on their own guys. I understand Woodley and Timmons. But Colon and Harrison? Harrison was great, but his contract was a reward for his 08 year. And there are other too that have hamstrung them. They couldn't pay Wallace, nor will they be able to pay Wallace because of it. And whose fault is that? Tomlin or Colbert?

 

LOL at at the same time...

 

i serious hope you are joking..........who do you suggest we get............cmon man

 

I hear what you're saying but I still don't think you can make a blanket statement that Tomlin should go if the team finished under .500. There are simply too many things that are not under his control.

 

Lest we forget, Cowher went through a 3 year stretch of non-playoff football in the middle of his coaching tenure.
-1998 - 7-9, Defense Rank #12
-1999 - 6-10, Defense Rank #11
-2000 - 9-7, Defense Rank #7

He also had the the 25th, 22nd, and 18th ranked offenses respectfully over that period. And this coming off of a 1997 campaign in which his offense and defense both ranked #6 in the league.

So what changed? Who's to blame for this 3-year slump? Some may suggest key free agent losses (Thigpen, John Jackson, Carnell Lake, etc.) Some may suggest the regression of their QB due to the change in coordinators over this time. Ray Sherman replaced Chan Gailey who took the HC gig in Dallas in 1998 and was replaced (after a miserable season) by Kevin Gilbride in 1999 and 2000. Both have been blamed for trying to make KS a pocket style passer, playing against his seemingly obvious strengths that guided him to a (relatively) successful AFC championship run in '97.

Drafting over this time was pretty good, considering. Notables:

'98 - Faneca (1), Hines (3), Townsend (4), Fu (6)
'99 - Porter (3), A. Smith (4), Tuman (5)
'00 - Plax (1), M. Smith (2), Haggans (5)

Now, it just so happens that the hits were HUGE hits...all-time franchise players in the case of Hines, Smith, and Porter...each contributing majorly to the Steelers success in the 2000s. However, there were some very spotty early picks in there too: Jeremy Staat (2), Chris Conrad (3), Scott Shields (2), Kris Farris (3), Kendrick Clancy (3), Hank Poteat (3).

I guess what I'm trying to say is there was plenty of reason for the Rooneys' to cut bait and clean house after 2000. Coming off of 6 straight playoff seasons to start his career (NFL record), perhaps Cowher's message had become stale in the locker room. Years of drafting at the end of the draft had taken their toll...the "magic" was gone. Many fans were out for blood. Yep, seemed like a logical time to start over fresh. But they didn't...and were rewarded with a 13-3 record in 2001, 15-1 record in 2004, and the first franchise SB win in 2004. It seems like Cowher hadn't lost his "mojo" after all.

It's not an apples to apples comparison. I get that KS was not a franchise-caliber QB like Ben, and the overall talent on these teams were lacking behind our team today...but the one thing that is consistent is ownership. There is a reason this team has been so successful in this modern era of football...stability, both at the ownership and coaching levels. They did their due diligence when they brought Tomlin in in 2007, and have been rewarded with 4 playoff seasons, 2 SB appearances, and 1 SB victory in 6 years. Although this year was a disappointment to Steelers fans everywhere, let's take comfort in knowing that we have the BEST ownership in the league, with many more phenomenal years of football to come.

 

Wasn't GM Donahue removed in a power struggle with Cohwer and kevin colbert hired in 2000? There was ramifications to those losing seasons and cohwer survived. Just like we went 12-4 two seasons in a row with a SB loss and a wildcard loss....... The scapegoat was Arians. Now he lead his club to a great turnaround and playoffs while we got worst by missing the playoffs and a 8-8 record. Let us go below .500 next year and who'll be the scapegoat to save tomlins job, Colbert? LeBeau?


Cajun-

 

I love how people blame Tomlin for a bad season but they give credit to Cowher for our 6th Lombardi trophy.

 

You say under .500, but there's lots of ways to get there. If the Steelers are 8-8 or 7-9 and they were 'close' like this yr, I'm 100% sure Tomlim is back. If 2013 is a trainwreck, like 3-13 or something, Tomlin could be vulnerable. But short of that the B&G HC on opening day 2014 is Mike Tomlin.

 

I also dont want to witness the redskins here either...

 

Is there a "clueless" emojicon?

 

View attachment 295

 

Since I have been a fan of this team, they're have been 3 coaches. 3. Most NFL teams probably can't remember the names of the flood of coaches that were hired by them.

And, 6 Championships. Top rung!

Mike Tomlin is not going anywhere. Stability. Not every season is going to be perfect. A Championship has only happened 6 times for the Steelers. And they are King of the Hill.

Stability. It's the Steeler way.

 

Bill Cowher missed the playoffs 3 straight years and lost 4 AFC championship games at home, and didn't win his Superbowl until his 14th year with the Steelers. The Steelers don't over react this is what sets them apart from other teams.

 

Tomlin would still be here the way Cowher was after his bad seasons.


Ah the 80's. I remember them well. We had Bubby "we should just punt on 1st down" Brister,. Todd Sackledge, Steve "I got you babe" Bono, and Cliff "on the injured list because I punched a video game machine" Stoudt. Those were some rough years.

 

Well said.

 

I think it's a fair question and the OP said he wasn't meaning to criticize Tomlin, he just wanted some discussion around the topic. I really don't think the Steelers would let Tomlin go if we are sub 500 next season. That's never been the Steeler way and we should all be thankful for that. Just look at the crop of candidates that are being interviewed for HC positions this year. Is there really a HC prospect that we'd rather have over Tomlin? Bruce Arians? LOL! I don't think so.


Having said that, if the Steelers did go sub 500 next season I think you'd have to look at the circumstances. We all like to point out that Noll had losing seasons as did Cowher. However, when Noll had those losing seasons he had Bubby Brister and other mediocre QBs at the helm. Cowher had Kordell. 'Nuff said. If Tomlin can't regain traction with the team next season and we continue the tailspin AND he has Mr. Franchise, Big Ben, as his QB I think the situations are totally different. If he can't win with Ben, then his credentials certainly may be questioned.

Okay, enough hypothetical surmising. I trust that Tomlin will get this thing turned around and we'll be focused on number 7 next season!

 

Kordell who QBed us to two AFC championship games? Hardly the best excuse...

 

He should have been gone this year

 

Kordell, who was a better receiver than a QB? Hardly a franchise QB...

 

Why?