Why is it so hard to list Tomlin's best attributes as a coach?

I have heard the Checkers analogy, but the Connect 4 analogy is even funnier. I wonder if he would be any good at Quarterback King?

 

He can say obviously like no one on this earth can

 

Ummm...let me ponder that question...wait I got it...it is coming to me....and the answer is....NOTHING! Well, I do agree with Bradshaw’s analysis of Tomlin as a “cheerleader”, so I guess that’s a positive attribute.

 

Say what you will about Cowher but he was the best at finding plug and play guys to make his philosophy work and then get the most out of them. He may not have been the best teacher but he could identify the road graders he wanted to run his style of offense. In defense he put his guys in position to make plays and got them to perform at a level that won games. He wasn't an innovator but man could he work his system.

 

And while he never said "Raise Hell", there were times when he had his team ready to do just that.

 

So much of an NFL organization’s operation is completely opaque to us. How can anyone on the outside informedly answer the question?

 

Tomlin is a man of great patience, wisdom and gab!!!! He predicted Hell will be unleashed and it hasn't happened yet. In the mean time while waiting for Hell to actually be unleashed!!! Steeler Nation will continue to support our beloved Steelers!!!!

 

Tough to evaluate his good qualities when we don't get any glimpse of what happens day-to-day. He does have some serious challenges this year, as he doesn't have much talent on defense. The "good" Steelers years ago had pro bowl talent at several spots on defense, and the current crop is more like toilet bowl. Offense would probably take care of itself with the talent on that side of the ball - a coach should just get out of the way. So with either missing on draft choices, poor training during training camp and during the week, or bad defensive coaching overall, that certainly does not point to Tomlin's strengths. No real innovations that I can identify, so not a tactician or strategist. In game adjustments and management has always been questionable. So that's not it. He doesn't seem to be a motivator, except players seem to like to play for him, so maybe camaraderie? Not sure team building is his forte, though except for prima donna Brown, and head case Bell, the team seems to support one one another. So maybe player relations is his asset?

Excellent question.

 

A coach is judged by the product he puts on the field. That product is not good.

 

The OP did say he wasn't talking about results, though, so much as attributes.

Which is a good question, but difficult to answer. And not just for Tomlin, for a lot of Head Coaches.

 

Thanks....maybe I should patent it...

 

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

Answer: FIRED a few years ago.

 

Well, according to Nick Wright of Mad Dog Radio, Tomlin is a top 5 coach. It's not his fault his players are spoiled and whiny. It is also apparently racist to criticize Tomlin's lack of instilling discipline. Wright actually criticized a caller as racist for saying that. It is unbelievable the lengths that the Tomlin apologists in the media will go to to protect him. They treat him like Belliceck. A good analogy to describe Wright's defense of Tomlin would like looking at a boat that is slowly filling up with water and barely afloat and saying that the boat is a great boat because it hasn't sunk. It's not moving anywhere but it is still a great boat. That's their defense. Tomlin is top 5 because he has never had a losing season. He's not anywhere close to winning a title (AFC mind you, Super Bowl isn't even a thought at this point) but he is top 5. Also there is no one anywhere on Earth who could possibly replace him. That's another excuse I hate.

Tomlin Defender: Well, if you fire him, who are you going to replace him with?

Tomlin Hater: I don't know off the top of my head.

TD: Case closed, I win.

TH: Okay, well I guess we shouldn't even look then because we obviously have no idea what the coaching potential is of every possible candidate.