If you want to know why the Steelers haven't been successful in the playoffs

I think it’s fair to say that Tomlin and Ben both had a role in the losses. To what degree for each would be based on the game. There are others too who can be added to the list of those being responsible.

There were a few games where we spotted the other team 7 or 14 points with INT or Fumbles taken back the other way for scores. You cannot do that in the playoffs.

 

Super Bowl 3 was before my time.

 

Game planning matters no matter who is QB, whether its a first ballot HoF player like Ben or a back up like Mason this week.

We lost to Cleveland and Jacksonville simply because we got out-coached. As close to 100% of the blame as possible goes to Tomlin on those. We lost to KC because they were just simply better. Tomlin was always "self-checked" against New England so getting smoked in yet another AFCCG has a lot to do with coaching too. And the Tebow game was a bit of coaching and a bit of bad luck too.

The QB always gets blame simply because he is the QB, but 280 passing YPG 26/20 TD/INT ratio and a nearly 90 passer rating should be enough to do better than 8-9. But hey, its nearly .500 and we all know what we know... right?

 

Sorry kiddo. Didn't know that.

 

I do not know exactly when it started, but as we started paying the O, the D started t become depleted. We had Cam. maybe a couple of others, Lebeau was gone, and while statistically we had some good years, it just never felt like we were a shut down type of D we had in the past.

 

Was pumped all week for the game and I got deflated so fast.

 

I didn’t go back to look at all the games you listed, but did for Cleveland and Jacksonville. I knew there was more to the story for both.

In the Jacksonville game, we lost by 3 and spotted them 14 points through Ben’s efforts (he had a pick on our own 18 yard line and a fumble that was recovered and run back for a TD).

In the Cleveland game, Ben threw 4 picks and Pouncy had a fumble that was recovered and taken back the other way for a TD.

I’m fine with giving Tomlin some blame in these games, but certainly not 100% as you suggest.

 

I guess the so called killer Bs being gone every time they were actually needed had nothing to do with it , or the Defense $hitting the bed half the time. See unlike most ...I don't blame Tomlin, or Ben. You can pick one , or another for a game here , or there, but not for all the loses. Problem is I actually watch other teams....which it appears not many do...., and outside of the Patriots before.....who is just doing so much better???
Once You make the playoffs....it's SB , or bust....Everyone else can argue about ....winning one playoff game, or a couple here, and there...., but once You make the playoffs.....what the hell is better with winning one playoff game than losing the 1st playoff game if You don't make a SB???
People just use it for arguments. Well My guy has won more playoff games in the last so many years....ok ....how many SBs....LoL. Once You make the playoffs....it's SB , or bust. I don't want to hear about one playoff win, or two....Once you make the playoffs....if You don't make the SB....you will be watching the SB the same as Me. Now You want to bi+<h about coaching....IMO....it's how many times You don't make the playoffs....

 

Well, the Steelers "standard" has been systematically lowered over the years. It's true what you say though about "Super Bowl, or bust". It has unfortunately gotten to the point where some fans will be happy if they just don't get blown out in the 1st round, and it shouldn't be that way

 

I always thought we catered to Ben, he wanted weapons, we gave him soft OC's and QB coaches that he liked. Shame we lost Whis because I think he would have brought out the best in him one way or another. I never believed he worked as hard as he should have and that is where Tomlin played right into it as a Players Coach. Ben was lazy imo and he needed a Coach that pushed him to be better and work harder.

 

I think in a team sport it falls on more than just 1 guy.

 

Cowher didn't step down because of that. Cowher wanted more money than the Rooney family wanted to pay.

 

Colbert had them pressed against the cap for years. You can only afford the backups you can afford.

 

Let's not forget as well that for a few of those years Bell, not Ben, was the key to their offense and he was hurt going into the playoffs.

 

Agreed. Also, if you go back and look at time of possession and the number of short fields...the defense can only do so much for as much as they were on the field.

 

He should have started the backup, like he is now.

 

Some other fun facts, Ben has been to the playoffs 12 times in his 18 year career and only had a QB rating above 90 5 times.

 

he HIRES and / or FIRES coordinators. he at times let the inmates run the asylum. he sometimes did not act much like a head-coach but like a Ring-Leader.

 

I would like to see a more structured team culture, but recognize that certainly hasn’t been the case under Tomlin and you could point to some things where that wasn’t totally true with Cowher either (despite people’s memory of him).

Tomlin, and to a lesser extent Cowher, are players coaches. The last true authoritarian coach I can think of was Belicheck, but his style fit the personality of his QB and other star players.

There are some articles or interviews I have seen over the years that talk about how Ben would do what he wanted, even under Cowher. I actually think this contributed to Cowher’s hanging it up (that along with his wife’s health and kids becoming college age).

 

One could say there is a fine line between upset and choke.

A choke to me is more like what happened to the Atlanta Falcons. Big ass lead in the biggest game and you blow it. Now that's a choke.

 

I think you articulated this well.

A choke being you had the win but gave it away.

One of my biggest frustrations with Tomlin is upsets, where we are beat by a lesser opponent (especially two win teams - aka twice this year).

 

I think he was just ready hang them up. He got that bowl victory. I'm sure he thought if they'd break the bank for him, then why not. He has stayed clear of coaching since.

 

Eliminate a pass play or two and run the clock was all the they needed to do .

 

This actually included the 3 seasons that they made the sb. Ben’s playoff numbers post 2010 are even worse. I‘ve talked about how mediocre Ben was in the playoffs for years. People just don’t want to hear it. Rather just blame Tomlin.

The defense was a shell because most of the money went to Ben and the offense. When they made Ben the franchise qb they switched the design of the team to be offensive instead of defensive. That decision went above Tomlin’s head. They did the best that they could with the defense but the onus was on the offense to carry the load.

 

Bull****

Name one