It's not often that the Pittsburgh Steelers fire a coach during the middle of the season. Letting someone go this early into the campaign would be almost unheard of. No, Mike Tomlin won't be going anywhere anytime soon, but some among his coaching staff could struggle to keep their jobs. Winning football will keep their employment safe, but don't expect that winning trend to continue.
The Steelers might've defeated the New York Jets in their season debut, but it revealed several weaknesses that were difficult to overcome.
Don't expect Pittsburgh to find much success if those problems continue to rear their ugly heads in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Both the defensive unit and offensive line showed signs of struggle during the first contest.
There is no need to ring the alarm bells after one bad start to the year, especially when it still resulted in victory. With that said, if those troublesome parts of the team continue to show weakness, it could result in some coaches being let go. The Steelers cannot afford to overcome the disaster that they saw against the Jets through a season-long grind.
Pittsburgh Steelers' coaches already on the hot seat heading into Week 2 of the season
Pat Meyer, Offensive line coach
First up is none other than Pat Meyer.
His retention this past offseason exposed that the Steelers are cheap with their coaching staff. They’re hesitant to fire anyone outright and prefer to stick with an underperforming coach until their contract expires. Barring an unforeseen miracle, Meyer will not be with Pittsburgh next season, and he has failed at his job of molding a young offensive line.
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Meyer has been with the team through four seasons now, and he hasn't improved the trenches since being employed by the Steelers. His biggest flop has been Broderick Jones, who has continued to show he might be one of the franchise's biggest draft busts. Meyer is on borrowed time, and the longer he stays, the worse the offensive line might become.
It was an ugly first week of action along the trenches for the Steelers, both in pass protection and in the run game. If they fail to improve, it will lead to Aaron Rodgers getting hurt and forcing this team into a disastrous scenario. Meyer deserves to be the scapegoat in this case, but the lack of progress on the offensive line this season could set this roster back.
Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator
Fewer members of Tomlin's coaching staff have undergone more scrutiny than Teryl Austin. Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator is entering his third season with the job title, but he was on the staff three years before that promotion. Austin is nothing more than a figurehead who bends his will to Tomlin's desires.
They work hand-in-hand to conduct a defense that normally underperforms compared to their paychecks.
All signs point to Austin's contract running out after this season, so it's possible that if last weeks struggles in New York continue, Tomlin could let Austin go to shake things up. It was one of the ugliest outings in recent memory for the Steelers. Their defense had no answers and got bullied across the field. It was embarrassing to watch, and Austin is a key contributor in those efforts.
Pittsburgh must bounce back in Week 2 against a Seahawks offense that will push a similar attack as the Jets. They want to run the ball, and the Steelers' defense must answer the bell. Otherwise, Austin's job security will become rockier each week. With an expiring contract and an underperforming unit, it would take a lot to change the narrative around their defensive playcaller.