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At the quarter mark of the 2019 season Steelers are a work in progress

By Eric Hassel

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs to the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs to the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

A possible ‘make or break’ season for Coach Tomlin

As was stated previously, the Steelers have one win and three losses at the quarter mark of the season.  That is a 25% winning percentage.  That is a failing grade by any measure, and that falls on Coach Tomlin.  Whether you like Coach Tomlin or not, he is the Steelers head coach and will be the head coach for the remainder of the season.

What Coach Tomlin must do to turn things around, in my opinion, maybe easier said than done.  I think it’s great the Coach Tomlin is involved as much as he is on both sides of the ball, but there are occasions where you have to trust your coaches to coach without throwing your ‘two-cents’ in the mix.

Against the Bengals, the Steelers defense gave up 3 points, by far the best performance of the season.  I want to think that it was Coach Butler who was solely responsible for the play-calling that generated 8 sacks and surrendered only a lone field goal.

If that is the case, then what happened against the Patriots, Seahawks, and 49ers? Did Coach Butler all of a sudden just call a better game, or was Coach Tomlin more involved in the game-planning and play-calling in the previous three games than he was in the Bengals game?

We will probably never know.  What we do know is that Coach Tomlin needs to motivate his team and his coaches more so this year than any other year.  I think he is up to the task, but I also think he needs to let his coaches coach and let his players play.

If his coaches are not coaching and his players are not playing, that’s where, as a head coach, he needs to step in and make whatever changes need to be made because this season may be a ‘make or break’ season for him.

Next. The good, the bad and the ugly from the Steelers win against the Bengals. dark

My only hope is that the Steelers will not have to cross that bridge at all, meaning we will be talking about the playoffs and not wondering what could have been.

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