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5 Steelers that will be unfairly made scapegoats during 2021

By Andrew Falce

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Mandatory Credit: Caitlyn Epes/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

Steelers Mike Tomlin

If you ever want to instantly divide a room of Steelers fans, mention Mike Tomlin’s name. Half of the fans will give him their unwavering support while the other half will claim he needs to be fired and is one of the worst in the league. Yes, Tomlin has had some disappointing moments and seasons in his career, but to say the entirety of the team’s success in 2021 falls on his shoulders is not true.

This is an extremely young and unproven team with a limited, aging quarterback. Yes, the Steelers should find success, but it would be shocking to see this team come out to a start anywhere close to what they did last season. The Steelers benefited from an established group of starters that had been together for a while which gave them a noticeable edge. The team has no such luxury in 2021 and expect any early struggles to come back at Tomlin.

Once again, there are plenty of reasons to critique Tomlin. His success against teams that he is heavily favored to beat isn’t great and his playoff success over the past ten years is mediocre at best. He has his flaws as a coach, but he is entering one of his toughest starts to a season to date. This Steelers team has a lot of question marks and development that will need to be had if they are to be competitive. No, the Steelers won’t be perennial losers this season (if they are, then more blame can and should be on this coaching staff), but don’t demand Tomlin’s head if the team is closer to the middle of the pack. On paper, that seems like where the Steelers will ultimately fall this season.

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Emotions always run high in sports, and when your team falters it is easy to find a target to blame. A scapegoat can certainly aid in the struggles a team is going through, but simply saying the problem is all on one person is far-fetched. These five Steelers will be under a lot of scrutiny this season, and if the team struggles, don’t be surprised if these names come up as scapegoats.

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