How many more years ...

The only way I would consider giving Tomlin more time is if we got rid of Colbert. As much as I dislike Tomlin's style, a very small part of me is still wondering if the problem isn't just lack of quality players. And when I say that I am not just talking about football quality, but effort quality.

 

The problem I have is I don't know if the player quality is bad or the coaching. Good players can be put into positions to fail with bad schemes and lack of game preparation. Can Colbert draft so bad on some players yet so good on others? I don't have a clue as to which scenario is true. I see issues with communication and confused players on defense that cost us big plays and wonder who is responsible for these situations. Special Team players not knowing basic fundamental rules and so on. At this point it doesn't matter what I think but I hope someone in the organization can figure it out.

 

This is what I'm afraid of, and I don't live in my fears, either.

 

Agree with Butler should have followed Haley out the door, so here is my prediction now:

Butler gets fired after this year. 2019

Tomlin stays another year after that. 2020

Ben then retires after 2020

Tomlin stays one more year 2021 Then gets fired at the end of 2021.

 

2018: Butler fired.
2019: we go 9-7 or 8-8, miss the playoffs; Ben throws a ton but has a meh TD/INT ratio; it’s announced that Tomlin is resigning; Ben retires
2020:

 

Those teams you mentioned haven't had a top 5 OL, QB, WR, & RB for five years running. With a Payton, Carroll, or Belichick coaching this team, I think we have at least two more SB appearances since 2010. This organization needs to stop putting continuity ahead of results. Firing Tomlin wouldn't suddenly make people afraid to come coach here.

 

Nor would it assure getting another Payton, Carroll or Belichick to replace Tomlin.

 

There are no guarantees in sports. But there is putting your team in the best possible position to win. Something MT lacks imo.

 

Let’s forget about his multiple interception games. Fumbles by running backs and wide receivers etc

 

More importantly it will be 12-15 years for the Rooneys. Afterall the Rooneys went 14 years with Cowher without a Superbowl which included three consecutive years without making the playoffs, four in all. So why would you tolerate Cowher's ineptness but not Tomlin's? What is the answer?

 

There at least needs to be a change at the DC. Butler proves over and over he’s not the man for the job. Tomlin in my opinion hasn’t had a losing season yet so the Rooney’s will not fire him. No matter the fan out cry. He needs to make a lot of changes in his staff.

Since all Cowher’s players are gone Tomlin hasn’t made it to a SB. Both 08 and 10 had Cowher’s players on them. Especially 2008 that was an all Cowher team. Tomlin has shown the ability to pick some really good offensive talent, but not defensive which is his calling card. If we don’t make a deep playoff run next year I think Tomlin needs to go.

He’s had so much offense talent and hasn’t been able to translate that into a SB or a SB appearance since it’s been all his guys.

 

The answer is Tomlin had a HOF QB, best RB, best WRs, and top OL and one of the best football minds running the defense. Cowher never had the offensive talent until he did get Ben and what happened?

 

often times people forget. I believe Ben, Bell, and Brown were on the field together in only one post season run. Also the league is much different league today then it was in the 90's. Theres more parity from a talent perspective. Teams are more evenly matched for a talent perspective. There are other differences.

You asked why this team hasnt lived up to expectations? Follow the turnovers.

 

Every single team in the league has talented players. Every team has different strengths and weaknesses to create a sort of balance. I dont understand why some people believe the Steelers are way more talented than the other teams in the league. Teams have the necessary talent to beat the Steelers due to a number of factors.

 

okay, your going a little too far with teams more talented. Defense yes, but on offense the Steelers are as talented as the Chiefs, Chargers, Saints, Rams but they didn't all loose to Denver, Oakland, tie the Browns with a second string QB.

 

People alway want to point to parity and teams being of equal talent. When discussing the D they claim the talent isn't there. Even though it is littered with current and former 1st round picks and a few 2nds. The D has shown flashes of being pretty good. IMO the difference in our D compared to the other teams in the league is offset by the difference in our O in comparison. You can't say well the D has no talent without acknowledging the superior talent on O. I also don't buy into the we can't draft defense either. I point to the superior coaching on O compared to the D.

I also believe it's a simplistic view to point to TOs as the only thing that separates winning from losing. If the talent is on par throughout the league then you know what makes a big difference between winning and losing? Preparation. There are so many factors leading up to games on Sunday that have just as big a impact on games as TOs. It's easy to say oh! We lost such and such game because someone turned the ball over at the end or some other point in the game. A TO on a game winning drive against a inferior team( yes there are inferior teams) didn't necessarily lose you the game. The game was lost during the week at practice during your gameplanning and preparation. If a superior team comes out with the right plan and the right attitude. It doesn't come down to the late TO. That's why TO stats can be misleading. There are successful teams with low turnover ratios and vice versa.

This team has developed a bad habit of losing to inferior teams and it can be directly pointed at the preparation and the attitude when approaching these teams. Look at our defensive performance against NE. Did anyone see that coming? No. What was the biggest factor in our success? We actually game planned and schemed to our opponent. We even brought in a new coach at the last minute to help out. Where is all this extra planning and scheming on a weekly basis. Is it too much work for our coaches? Are our players too dumb to learn something new each week? Or is it simply " we do what we do" until what we "do" doesn't work after many failed attempts. Butlers failures have been well documented. This defensive concept has been mocked and ridiculed for years by both players and analysts. Yet we continue to sprinkle in this insanity on a regular basis. Stubbornness? Stupidity? or Incapable?....either one still comes down to coaching.

Like I said TO excuse is a easy way out. It doesn't even tell half the story. If you want to claim even talent across the league is the reason we seemingly play down to our inferior competition. Then you know what can make the biggest difference between winning and losing? Coaching.
Gameplanning, scheme,situational awareness, clock management,putting players in a position to succeed,focus and everything else that fits under the umbrella of good coaching. The players have certainly done their part as well but most games are being lost Monday-Saturday......

 

He retired and Tomlin took over and did not miss a beat - Super Bowl -- winning! So if the piss poor draft selections weren't Cowher's fault during his down years, were they Colbert's piss poor draft selections just like now?

 

2 more years when Ben is done coach T is done.
Although I do believe changes are coming this off season.
Tomlin may quit and say I am not firing these asst, coaches.

 

It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Tomlin supporters if the Steelers get beat today. And we all know this is just the game that he finds ways to lose.

 

All I can think of is wondering if the last 10 years under Bruce Arians would’ve been different maybe a Super Bowl maybe not losing to the inferior teams that keep you out of the playoffs or losing number one or number two seed but we’re going to own this And unleash hell

 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, coach Mike Tomlin is not in danger of losing his job regardless of whether the Steelers make the postseason.

Pittsburgh could make changes to its coaching staff this offseason—defensive coordinator Keith Butler looks to be on shaky ground—though Tomlin's job is reportedly safe. The Steelers have limped to the finish line, losing four of their last five and need a victory and a Baltimore loss to clinch their third straight division title. Tomlin deserves at least some of the blame for the Steelers' late-season collapse, though James Conner's ankle injury and Chris Boswell's continued struggles obviously haven't helped matters.

 

I look for the Steelers to part ways with 4 coaches this off season, DC, OLB , ILB, and special team
Again Tomlin doesn't need the money so he may say I quit.

 

That's why it's necessary to break down why the Steelers loss those games. Steelers turned the ball over 6 times vs the Browns. Steelers turned the ball over 4 times vs Denver. Oakland Ben didn't play the entire game. The defense didn't play well enough vs Oakland.

Most of the theme in the Steelers losses were turnovers. Difficult to win games in the NFL when you give the ball away.

 

I think he probably should have saved his opinion until after the game. If the team crashes and burns at home against a depleted bengals team, he may have a different take.