Oct 5, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin celebrates as he comes off the field as the Steelers beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9 at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
I bet you didn’t know there was even a contest going on within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization lately. But there is, and Mike Tomlin has clearly emerged as the front runner.
What’s the category where the Steelers head coach finds himself in? Most Inept Coach. Or maybe it’s Biggest Joke of a Coach…
His actions (or inactions) for the last two and one quarter seasons have catapulted him as the true front runner as being one of the biggest jokes of a head coach for a football team in the NFL today. Forget Rex Ryan, forget Tony Sporano, or any of the handful of coaches the Browns have employed the last few years. Tomlin is beginning to eclipse them all.
You know, at first I thought it was ownership’s fault that was the major contributing factor to Tomlin’s inability to do many things a head coach needs to succeed in if they expect their football team to also be successful. I’ve been thinking that the Rooney’s are keeping him from firing DLB and employing his own defense – his greatest strength as a coach when at Minnesota. The Rooney’s forced the Haley hire as OC. Tomlin has been hamstrung since after winning the Super Bowl and the talent pool lessened on the squad.
I’m starting to think all of that is wrong. Perhaps Tomlin really is inept as a head coach. I’m certain this is all rattling a few cages out there of folks who are staunch supporters of Tomlin. But, I just can’t stand in his corner any longer while this team continues it’s march of mediocrity with no clear leadership.
Let’s take a look at the resume for Tomlin of late.
– Wild Card loss to Tim Tebow and the Broncos in a huge blunder of clock management and a complete collapse on the first play in overtime.
– Continued inability to make in game adjustments.
– Continued inability of managing the game clock with effective time outs that have directly resulted in losing potential points.
– Continued lack of discipline that result in multiple penalties a game including pre-snap and “dumb” post-whistle penalties.
– Inability to effectively correct discipline problems – i.e. taking away locker rom games, such as ping pong.
– Sound byte filled press conferences that ultimately lead to incomplete results week in and week out.
– Numerous draft classes that have yet to yield any large dividends. Kevin Colbert’s fault? Maybe some. But isn’t a coach supposed to groom and mature a player? How many 1st through 3rd rounders are either gone from this team or still struggling while under Tomlin’s tutelage?
– Back to back 8-8 seasons, with no clear signs of improving beyond that.
Nov 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (left) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (right) exchange game jerseys after playing at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The latest “offense” and probably the thing that really tipped the scale for me has been this whole situation with Antonio Brown. It’s beginning to turn into an awkward relationship, and it’s something that Tomlin has created.
If you haven’t noticed lately, Antonio Brown is becoming quite the big deal in the NFL. Easily a Top 5 receiver in the league, Brown has become a huge favorite of Ben Roethlisberger’s as well as Steeler Nation. For people who love to dig up stats that then turn into NFL records, someone dug up the stat that Brown had set a record of longest streak of 5 catches and 50+ yards. Last Sunday, Brown was sitting at four catches for most of the second half. During what should have been the Steelers victory formation drive, Big Ben slung a screen out to Brown that netted him that 5th catch and some yards to go with it. Steeler Nation later found out that it was a plan concocted by Ben and Tomlin. Team vs. individual aside, it was a classy gesture (even if the stat really means nothing) that rewarded a guy who has worked his tail off for a few seasons now.
A new twist in the Tomlin/Brown story emerged Thursday morning when numerous outlets reported that Tomlin is forbidding the exchange of game jerseys between players after the game is over. Tomlin made no mention of this during his Tuesday presser, but Antonio Brown, had no problems saying that it’s Tomlin’s new rule. As Neal Coolong of BTSC points out, this is very much “an off the field issue.” What should Tomlin care if players exchange jerseys as a sign of mutual respect for one another. That was a great moment last season when Brown exchanged jerseys with Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson. The great Megatron and the up and coming Brown. Great moment between the two, and great for Steeler Nation to see. What’s Tomlin’s beef with this? Is this a sign that Brown is becoming too popular among his peers and Steeler Nation?
Of all the things to go after when there are so many things wrong with this team. This? This is what you make a new rule for? It’s mind boggling and makes me think, “What the hell are you thinking, man? What’s next?”
This has nothing to do with the No Fun League. But, it has everything to do with a coach who appears to have just lost it. Completely. Don’t go after and punish your “start” center who wears a hat promoting a murderer. Instead go after one of the hardest working and producing players on your ENTIRE football team and ban him from exchanging jerseys. Yup. Sound coaching there.
Pathetic. And, that’s my tipping point. Coach Tomlin, you’ve now gathered the contempt of many. I would say congrats on another 8-8 season, but if this kind of coaching keeps up, it will be 6-10 instead. This team deserves better. This city deserves better. These fans deserve better. Excuse me while I go cast a bronze toilet bowl so that it gets in the mail in time.