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Just wondering if all you who were saying that earlier in the season will please stand up and be accounted for? Please tell us again how this Head Coach has lost the trust, enthusiasm, pulse and control of the team ... Not seeking those who don't like his decisions, etc. Just those who were talking about how he was weak willed and had lost the attention of his team and THAT was why we were losing .... anyone?
Me personally, I ragged on all the coaches. I don't know if I said he lost control of the team, but I did say that this Steeler team is finally HIS Steeler team...and how he handles this adversity will tell me a lot about him as a coach. And while I am really liking this turn around...I am still waiting to see if he can sustain the winning. This team is really playing well right now. Before I annoint the coach of a 5-6 team coach of the year...I will need see how this team finishes.
[QUOTE=Shawn;584052]Me personally, I ragged on all the coaches. I don't know if I said he lost control of the team, but I did say that this Steeler team is finally HIS Steeler team...and how he handles this adversity will tell me a lot about him as a coach. And while I am really liking this turn around...I am still waiting to see if he can sustain the winning. This team is really playing well right now. Before I annoint the coach of a 5-6 team coach of the year...I will need see how this team finishes.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough. and that is a really nonjudgmental statement that I can agree with. There were however other posters who were calling for his head and flat out saying that he had lost the team and should be fired mid-season along with Haley. I myself will cop to being in the "fire Haley" camp. And like your sentiments regarding Tomlin, when it comes to Haley I will say that Haley has improved (if only by letting Ben have more control) but, I will await final results til I make a judgment.
The coaches on this team didn't suddenly forget how to coach. The biggest difference between now and earlier in the season is the number of times the offense gave the ball away. Now that the offense has taking care of the football and Ben is playing better the team appears to be headed in the right direction.
Great that we won and seem to be playing better on some fronts. But Tomlin still does seem to have the team playing flat from time to time. I completely get why people think he loses the focus of the team when he says we're gonna unleash hell and we play completely uninspired.
At the same time, I like his consistent demeanor. He doesn't get too up or too down. He's steady. It may be that style works with some and not others? But I always hear people mention how much he pays attention to detail and coaches everyone up in practice.
Its easy to see that our execution has been our biggest problem to start the season. And we made a lot of mental mistakes and when they happen on every unit of the team, that responsibility has to fall back to the HC. Plus we seem to have some issues with the quality of the personnel. And Tomlin has to own that as well. And I think one of the issues we have is we don't have as intense players like we used to in Porter, Farrior, Ward, Bettis, Harrison etc. And that might be why we seem flat on the field. Maybe Tomlin has to get a couple real leaders on the field to ensure we don't seem lost from time to time.
I still think Haley stinks.
[QUOTE=flippy;584060]Great that we won and seem to be playing better on some fronts. But Tomlin still does seem to have the team playing flat from time to time. I completely get why people think he loses the focus of the team when he says we're gonna unleash hell and we play completely uninspired.
At the same time, I like his consistent demeanor. He doesn't get too up or too down. He's steady. It may be that style works with some and not others? But I always hear people mention how much he pays attention to detail and coaches everyone up in practice.
Its easy to see that our execution has been our biggest problem to start the season. And we made a lot of mental mistakes and when they happen on every unit of the team, that responsibility has to fall back to the HC. Plus we seem to have some issues with the quality of the personnel. And Tomlin has to own that as well. And I think one of the issues we have is we don't have as intense players like we used to in Porter, Farrior, Ward, Bettis, Harrison etc. And that might be why we seem flat on the field. Maybe Tomlin has to get a couple real leaders on the field to ensure we don't seem lost from time to time.[/QUOTE]
I'm seeing AB step up as one of the "young" leaders on the offensive side of the ball and Cam on the defense ... that's it for young guys stepping up. I'd love to see more. Maybe after this year of fighting through adversity we see that. Porter, Farrior, Ward, Bettis, Harrison, etc. didn't just jump on the field as leaders, they grew into the role.
I get where you're coming from on the early struggles of all the units and how you look at the HC when it's "all" the units ... what I'm saying is that, like his sideline demeanor or not, those who said he lost the team earlier in the year need to stand up and eat the crow they cooked ... This team is not lost. This team has not given up. And for at least this stretch of the season, this team is playing with the pride and determination that makes us proud to call them PITTSBURGH STEELERS! and OBTW, Mike Tomlin is the HC while all of this is going on ...
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584050]Just wondering if all you who were saying that earlier in the season will please stand up and be accounted for? Please tell us again how this Head Coach has lost the trust, enthusiasm, pulse and control of the team ... Not seeking those who don't like his decisions, etc. Just those who were talking about how he was weak willed and had lost the attention of his team and THAT was why we were losing .... anyone?[/QUOTE]
Sorry but the team showed all of these characteristics during their 0-4 and 2-6 start. I'm thrilled they've turned it around but you have to admit, they looked like a rudderless ship during the first half of the season.
I'm w/ Pete ... I just wanted HALEY gone. Still do. I am impressed with TOMLIN and his emotion on the sideline the last 2 games. The guy is still young and learning but if this team ended up 4-12 while having a "Franchise" QB, then he should be put on the hotseat. the only teams that should be 4-12 are teams w/out viable QBs.
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584066]I'm seeing AB step up as one of the "young" leaders on the offensive side of the ball and Cam on the defense ... that's it for young guys stepping up. I'd love to see more. Maybe after this year of fighting through adversity we see that. Porter, Farrior, Ward, Bettis, Harrison, etc. didn't just jump on the field as leaders, they grew into the role.
I get where you're coming from on the early struggles of all the units and how you look at the HC when it's "all" the units ... what I'm saying is that, like his sideline demeanor or not, those who said he lost the team earlier in the year need to stand up and eat the crow they cooked ... This team is not lost. This team has not given up. And for at least this stretch of the season, this team is playing with the pride and determination that makes us proud to call them PITTSBURGH STEELERS! and OBTW, Mike Tomlin is the HC while all of this is going on ...[/QUOTE]
I like how Tomlin doesn't panic and think he deserves a lot of credit for keeping this team fighting. And I'm with you, I think Cam and AB are studs.
But I can see both sides of it. This team really seems to have a Jeckyl Hyde complex. We've got so many talented players yet it seems like we often struggle from time to time. And I think a lot of folks want to make it easy and blame one player or coach whether it's Tomlin or Haley or Colbert or Rooney or Ben or Troy or Woodley or the Oline, etc. And I don't think any of us have a clue cause we're not there or in practice with these guys.
Brian Bilick said he was at a Steelers practice and was so impressed by Tomlin and how engaged he is with all the players focusing on all the details. I'd take what he says about Tomlin being a great coach at face value.
I still do wonder why we have so many problems in player drafting and player development. I also wonder why we struggle with units like our Oline for such a prolonged period.
[QUOTE=SteelBucks;584070]Sorry but the team showed all of these characteristics during their 0-4 and 2-6 start. I'm thrilled they've turned it around but you have to admit, they looked like a rudderless ship during the first half of the season.[/QUOTE]
And you have to admit that it may have been a little to early to be saying the HC had lost his team ... especially since that very team has fought back, showed pride and gone on to win 5 out of 7 of the last games. Soooo, making excuses for what you thought you saw at that time and then telling me how I have to agree doesn't work ... DO ... YOU ... STILL... SAY ... TOMLIN ... HAS .. LOST ... THIS ... TEAM? no "mealy mouthed" "wishy washy" Bull Crap .. YES or NO?
[QUOTE=flippy;584073]I like how Tomlin doesn't panic and think he deserves a lot of credit for keeping this team fighting. And I'm with you, I think Cam and AB are studs.
But I can see both sides of it. This team really seems to have a Jeckyl Hyde complex. We've got so many talented players yet it seems like we often struggle from time to time. And I think a lot of folks want to make it easy and blame one player or coach whether it's Tomlin or Haley or Colbert or Rooney or Ben or Troy or Woodley or the Oline, etc. And I don't think any of us have a clue cause we're not there or in practice with these guys.
Brian Bilick said he was at a Steelers practice and was so impressed by Tomlin and how engaged he is with all the players focusing on all the details. I'd take what he says about Tomlin being a great coach at face value.
I still do wonder why we have so many problems in player drafting and player development. I also wonder why we struggle with units like our Oline for such a prolonged period.[/QUOTE]
I personally think it's exactly what they have told us .... not "rebuilding" but rather "transitioning" . i.e. getting younger guys in in place of older vets without trying to lose games ... it didn't work out so well early... funny thing .. they never said the transition would be painless ... only "we" expected that.
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584075]I personally think it's exactly what they have told us .... not "rebuilding" but rather "transitioning" . i.e. getting younger guys in in place of older vets without trying to lose games ... it didn't work out so well early... funny thing .. they never said the transition would be painless ... only "we" expected that.[/QUOTE]
I expected a slow start and thought we might start getting better by December heading into the playoffs. The slow start though was even worse than I had expected. Im still cautiously optimistic - of course I still believe we'll win out all the way thru the SuperBowl :)
I think the biggest difference in the team may have nothing to do with the coaches and most of the players. It might just be Ben coming around and getting back to form.
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584074]And you have to admit that it may have been a little to early to be saying the HC had lost his team ... especially since that very team has fought back, showed pride and gone on to win 5 out of 7 of the last games. Soooo, making excuses for what you thought you saw at that time and then telling me how I have to agree doesn't work ... DO ... YOU ... STILL... SAY ... TOMLIN ... HAS .. LOST ... THIS ... TEAM? no "mealy mouthed" "wishy washy" Bull Crap .. YES or NO?[/QUOTE]
Settle down skippy. I made an honest evaluation for the first half of the season. Get back to me after Week 17 and I'll let you know what I think. Sheesh!
Why has this board gotten so defensive and butt-hurt that we can't even enjoy victories let alone a winning streak. I feel like I'm back at the old Trib board.
[QUOTE=SteelBucks;584082]Settle down skippy. I made an honest evaluation for the first half of the season. Get back to me after Week 17 and I'll let you know what I think. Sheesh!
Why has this board has gotten so defensive and butt-hurt that we can't even enjoy victories let alone a winning streak. I feel like I'm back at the old Trib board.[/QUOTE]
I apologize buddy. got mixed up in threads and thought I was responding to Syd (it happens after a few cervezas) ... in any event, like I told Flippy, I'm all for evaluating the season "after the season" ... but, at this point, those that said the team quit on their coach are wrong. And, I hope they continue to prove those folks wrong.
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584050]Just wondering if all you who were saying that earlier in the season will please stand up and be accounted for? Please tell us again how this Head Coach has lost the trust, enthusiasm, pulse and control of the team ... Not seeking those who don't like his decisions, etc. Just those who were talking about how he was weak willed and had lost the attention of his team and THAT was why we were losing .... anyone?[/QUOTE]
I was hating on him. I didn't think he'd lost the team; just that he had done a lousy job coaching and didn't seem to show any indication that he know how to improve the situation.
[QUOTE=bostonsteeler;584084]I was hating on him. I didn't think he'd lost the team; just that he had done a lousy job coaching and didn't seem to show any indication that he know how to improve the situation.[/QUOTE]
And your thoughts now? I'm sure you still stand by your earlier thoughts about the first 4 games ... and truthfully, I can't say any of you were wrong about those 4 games ... but, I see this rebound as a total "TEAM" rebound ... Players and coaches (yes, even Haley ... though I still don't like the guy).
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584083]I apologize buddy. got mixed up in threads and thought I was responding to Syd (it happens after a few cervezas) ... in any event, like I told Flippy, I'm all for evaluating the season "after the season" ... but, at this point, those that said the team quit on their coach are wrong. And, I hope they continue to prove those folks wrong.[/QUOTE]
No apology necessary. This season has been bizarre enough to make all lose it from time to time. :Cheers
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584085]And your thoughts now? I'm sure you still stand by your earlier thoughts about the first 4 games ... and truthfully, I can't say any of you were wrong about those 4 games ... but, I see this rebound as a total "TEAM" rebound ... Players and coaches (yes, even Haley ... though I still don't like the guy).[/QUOTE]
Ive changed my mind, and perhaps swung the other way a bit. The coaches *have* shown that they can coach their way out of a bad situation.
Honestly, right now I don't get people attributing all the playcalling to Ben. The plays are designed by the coaches, with help from the players; Ben may choose which one to call, but the responsibility of the design belongs to coaches.
It appears to me that the coaches have managed to get their act together. The players have also managed to get *their* act together -- if we didn't have stupid turnovers in the first two games, we be speaking differently just now. They're executing. Overall, this is beginning to look like the tail end of the 2000 season -- it was a precursor to a pretty good 2001. With some luck (fingers crossed) we make it to the playoffs this season itself without waiting for next year to put it all together.
My one gripe against Tomlin is that the team regularly comes out flat in key games. We'll know if that assessment is wrong on Thursday.
[QUOTE=bostonsteeler;584089]Ive changed my mind, and perhaps swung the other way a bit. The coaches *have* shown that they can coach their way out of a bad situation.
Honestly, right now I don't get people attributing all the playcalling to Ben. The plays are designed by the coaches, with help from the players; Ben may choose which one to call, but the responsibility of the design belongs to coaches.
It appears to me that the coaches have managed to get their act together. The players have also managed to get *their* act together -- if we didn't have stupid turnovers in the first two games, we be speaking differently just now. They're executing. Overall, this is beginning to look like the tail end of the 2000 season -- it was a precursor to a pretty good 2001. With some luck (fingers crossed) we make it to the playoffs this season itself without waiting for next year to put it all together.
My one gripe against Tomlin is that the team regularly comes out flat in key games. We'll know if that assessment is wrong on Thursday.[/QUOTE]
Another fair assessment ... and truthfully your thoughts mirror my own in some regards. What I will say is this; from coaches to players, this year's version of the Steelers comes off as kind of Schizophrenic/Bipolar ... you just don't know what your going to get from week to week. And if they had played/coached better earlier, this team would be in charge of the division
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584091]Another fair assessment ... and truthfully your thoughts mirror my own in some regards. What I will say is this; from coaches to players, this year's version of the Steelers comes off as kind of Schizophrenic/Bipolar ... you just don't know what your going to get from week to week. And if they had played/coached better earlier, this team would be in charge of the division[/QUOTE]
I was surprised to hear from the talking heads in the detroit game that Tomlin has continued Cowher's tradition of rarely losing when up by 11. I believe the record they stated amounted to 40-2 or something like that...
Can anyone verify?
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but you do realize that we're not even .500 yet, right?
This team is playing better and I’ll give Tomlin & Co. credit for that. It definitely comes at a good time and they are playing crisp especially on offense.
With that being said, I don’t have a short memory and I’m not going to praise this team because they won 3 straight games. 2 of the 3 wins came against teams with major QB questions and that is a big understatement. The Detroit win was a solid win. They have talent but are very inconsistent.
My point is that We SHOULD be winning games against the Bills and the Browns. That is an expectation that I have and it shouldn't be some some major accomplishment as far as I'm concerned. Yes, we were losing to these type of teams dating back to the end of last year so I guess that is an improvement but my expectations are a bit higher for the Steelers.
In regards to Haley.... He may be a douche or whatnot but I think his playcalling has been solid from the Chicago game and onward. He's had his moments but I think overall, he's done a good job. Even when our offense was struggling considerably, a lot of that was on Ben. He was playing very poorly so you can't put all that on the OC. Also, don't forget has this offense seemed to turnaround when Bell and Heath came back. That opened things up a bit and it's no coincidence.
In my opinion, I think Haley and the Offensive Line coach have done the best job of our coaching staff.
I would put Tomlin 3rd on the list and LeBeau 4th or worse.
What LeBeau has done with these crap players is very impressive. Look at the players he has lost the past year. Foote, Hampton, Harrison, and Lewis. That's 4 starters from last year. Then add in the draft picks that are hurt like Spence and Sly. Now McClendon, Woodley, Keisel, and Brown are gone. Thomas is hurt as well.
[QUOTE=Vader;584168]What LeBeau has done with these crap players is very impressive. Look at the players he has lost the past year. Foote, Hampton, Harrison, and Lewis. That's 4 starters from last year. Then add in the draft picks that are hurt like Spence and Sly. Now McClendon, Woodley, Keisel, and Brown are gone. Thomas is hurt as well.[/QUOTE]
This team is relatively healthy compared to other teams.
Are you really using the loss of Brown, Sly and Spence as an excuse? Two are career backups and the other has never played a regular season down.
Foote was old and nothing more than average. I don't consider Foote a huge loss.
Harrison is seeing spot duty of the Bengals and is not the same player and neither was Hampton (hence him not playing). Don't forget that we had Worilds and a 1st round pick to replace Harrison.
McClendon just got hurt this game so how is that an excuse for the season?
Woodley and Keisel are obvious loses but they haven't been hurt the whole season. Additionally, Hood is another 1st round pick (although a disappointment) that can fill in for Keisel.
[QUOTE=steelz09;584177]This team is relatively healthy compared to other teams.
Are you really using the loss of Brown, Sly and Spence as an excuse? Two are career backups and the other has never played a regular season down.
Foote was old and nothing more than average. I don't consider Foote a huge loss.
Harrison is seeing spot duty of the Bengals and is not the same player and neither was Hampton (hence him not playing). Don't forget that we had Worilds and a 1st round pick to replace Harrison.
McClendon just got hurt this game so how is that an excuse for the season?
Woodley and Keisel are obvious loses but they haven't been hurt the whole season. Additionally, Hood is another 1st round pick (although a disappointment) that can fill in for Keisel.[/QUOTE]
Is Woodley really a loss? Worilds is significantly outplaying him. If anything Woodley has been a roadblock to getting a better player on the field in Worilds.
Tomlin didn't and hasn't lost the team....the fans have lost the team over and over...marinate in that for a bit.
[QUOTE=costanza2k1;584193]Tomlin didn't and hasn't lost the team....the fans have lost the team over and over...marinate in that for a bit.[/QUOTE]
:Clap
[SIZE=3][COLOR=#ffffff][FONT=arial]CLEVELAND — The clock had just ticked to 0:00, which felt very much like a match for the temps on this crushingly cold Sunday by the lake. Or better yet, for how FirstEnergy Stadium's scoreboard spoke anew the cold truth about who's nemesis and who's victim in one of the NFL's most sadly lopsided duels.[/FONT]
[/COLOR][FONT=arial][URL="http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/"][COLOR=#ffffff]Steelers[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#ffffff] 27, Browns 11.[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=#ffffff]
[FONT=arial]No contest.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial][I]No mas[/I] already.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]This was as solid a whupping as it was a special victory, one that pulled the winning side from the 0-4 depths of London to a 5-6 record that, incredibly, almost unimaginably, has them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And yet, if anyone among the visitors had sought so much as a split-second's satisfaction over it, that was squelched before they even left the field.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]“Let's go! Everybody move!” Mike Tomlin was shouting, almost angrily, while waving his players toward the Steelers' tunnel. “It's now Tuesday already. I don't have any time.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And if anyone thought Tomlin was simply going for symbolism, he kept it up in the locker room to great effect. Even Ben Roethlisberger, who takes an eternity to dress, suited up faster than Batman sliding down the Bat-pole.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]When Will Allen, who had just had a terrific game, was among the last ones lagging, Tomlin boomed at him: “No time, Will! Come on, let's go!”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Within a half-hour, all 53 players had been whisked out, no doubt affording the coaches at least a small slice of their Sunday night to begin preparing for the Thanksgiving trip to Baltimore.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]No time, indeed.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]If anyone's searching for the best way to summarize all that's gone right for the Steelers these past couple of months, I'll try with two simple points:[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]1. Tomlin never allowed the Steelers to pause long enough to sulk or to forget that they're still the Steelers.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Sure, he's culpable for the terrible start. He entered the season too lax and, at times, looked ill-prepared. But give credit where due: He has never taken the foot off the gas. If anything, he has floored it. You know about taking away the silly table games in the locker room, but there's so much more. Practices and film sessions have been conducted with a vigor even veterans say they hadn't seen. Accountability has been raised. Moves have been made.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And if you ask the athletes, it all feels like it has happened in a blur.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]“There's been so much work, so much attention to detail,” Ramon Foster was telling me after a superb showing against Cleveland's stout nose tackle Phil Taylor. “Our coaches have had a lot to do with that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]2. They [I]are[/I] still the Steelers.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Sure looked like it Sunday, anyway. Because no matter the low caliber of the Browns' play, the Steelers still beat a division opponent with a matching record on their field. No shame in that.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]More to the point, the Steelers did it the way they used to.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Offensively they knew they had to run, despite facing the NFL's No. 5 defense, and Le'Veon Bell and the line pushed forward for 80 yards. At times he dragged defenders on his shoulders.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]The passing had to come through, too, and Roethlisberger found not only Antonio Brown but also Emmanuel Sanders and Heath Miller to keep the opponents' schemes honest.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And the defense … wow, hard to know where to start when a group that couldn't find a loose football in a toy store suddenly became rabid ballhawks in forcing four. Troy Polamalu popped two balls loose. Willie Gay popped one loose and picked off another for a touchdown. Jason Worilds chased quarterbacks from here to Akron and back, building a compelling case that he should stay at left outside linebacker even when LaMarr Woodley is healthy. Cam Heyward continued to make the same case at defensive end.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]They even had Gay smacking Browns quarterback Jason Campbell in the mouth, for which he'll no doubt be sending a check to the league office.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Dirty? Probably, but when is the last time that topic came up related to the Steelers?[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Used to be every week until, you know, they stopped scaring anyone.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]So I couldn't help but ask around that bustling locker room: Is the Steelers' brand of football coming back?[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]The answers were telling.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Roethlisberger: “Well, we ran the ball, especially down the stretch. That felt good. It was a good win, but we'll enjoy it for a second and turn around.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Worilds: “Definitely on the way back.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Polamalu: “I don't know. We'll see. Winning feels good, but we've got a tough, short week coming.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Right. Better move it.[/FONT]
[/COLOR][FONT=arial][COLOR=#ffffff]
Read more: [/COLOR][URL="http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/5133541-74/steelers-anyone-tomlin#ixzz2lhKqu62G"][COLOR=#ffffff]http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/5133541-74/steelers-anyone-tomlin#ixzz2lhKqu62G[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#ffffff]
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Excuses, excuses... Tomlin and company turned the ship around. Respect to the whole staff and to the players for fighting through a rough patch.
[COLOR="#FFFF00"][QUOTE=JAR;584194]:Clap
[SIZE=3][COLOR=#ffffff][FONT=arial]CLEVELAND — The clock had just ticked to 0:00, which felt very much like a match for the temps on this crushingly cold Sunday by the lake. Or better yet, for how FirstEnergy Stadium's scoreboard spoke anew the cold truth about who's nemesis and who's victim in one of the NFL's most sadly lopsided duels.[/FONT]
[/COLOR][FONT=arial][URL="http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/"][COLOR=#ffffff]Steelers[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=#ffffff] 27, Browns 11.[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=#ffffff]
[FONT=arial]No contest.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial][I]No mas[/I] already.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]This was as solid a whupping as it was a special victory, one that pulled the winning side from the 0-4 depths of London to a 5-6 record that, incredibly, almost unimaginably, has them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And yet, if anyone among the visitors had sought so much as a split-second's satisfaction over it, that was squelched before they even left the field.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]“Let's go! Everybody move!” Mike Tomlin was shouting, almost angrily, while waving his players toward the Steelers' tunnel. “It's now Tuesday already. I don't have any time.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And if anyone thought Tomlin was simply going for symbolism, he kept it up in the locker room to great effect. Even Ben Roethlisberger, who takes an eternity to dress, suited up faster than Batman sliding down the Bat-pole.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]When Will Allen, who had just had a terrific game, was among the last ones lagging, Tomlin boomed at him: “No time, Will! Come on, let's go!”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Within a half-hour, all 53 players had been whisked out, no doubt affording the coaches at least a small slice of their Sunday night to begin preparing for the Thanksgiving trip to Baltimore.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]No time, indeed.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]If anyone's searching for the best way to summarize all that's gone right for the Steelers these past couple of months, I'll try with two simple points:[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]1. Tomlin never allowed the Steelers to pause long enough to sulk or to forget that they're still the Steelers.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Sure, he's culpable for the terrible start. He entered the season too lax and, at times, looked ill-prepared. But give credit where due: He has never taken the foot off the gas. If anything, he has floored it. You know about taking away the silly table games in the locker room, but there's so much more. Practices and film sessions have been conducted with a vigor even veterans say they hadn't seen. Accountability has been raised. Moves have been made.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And if you ask the athletes, it all feels like it has happened in a blur.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]“There's been so much work, so much attention to detail,” Ramon Foster was telling me after a superb showing against Cleveland's stout nose tackle Phil Taylor. “Our coaches have had a lot to do with that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]2. They [I]are[/I] still the Steelers.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Sure looked like it Sunday, anyway. Because no matter the low caliber of the Browns' play, the Steelers still beat a division opponent with a matching record on their field. No shame in that.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]More to the point, the Steelers did it the way they used to.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Offensively they knew they had to run, despite facing the NFL's No. 5 defense, and Le'Veon Bell and the line pushed forward for 80 yards. At times he dragged defenders on his shoulders.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]The passing had to come through, too, and Roethlisberger found not only Antonio Brown but also Emmanuel Sanders and Heath Miller to keep the opponents' schemes honest.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]And the defense … wow, hard to know where to start when a group that couldn't find a loose football in a toy store suddenly became rabid ballhawks in forcing four. Troy Polamalu popped two balls loose. Willie Gay popped one loose and picked off another for a touchdown. Jason Worilds chased quarterbacks from here to Akron and back, building a compelling case that he should stay at left outside linebacker even when LaMarr Woodley is healthy. Cam Heyward continued to make the same case at defensive end.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]They even had Gay smacking Browns quarterback Jason Campbell in the mouth, for which he'll no doubt be sending a check to the league office.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Dirty? Probably, but when is the last time that topic came up related to the Steelers?[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Used to be every week until, you know, they stopped scaring anyone.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]So I couldn't help but ask around that bustling locker room: Is the Steelers' brand of football coming back?[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]The answers were telling.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Roethlisberger: “Well, we ran the ball, especially down the stretch. That felt good. It was a good win, but we'll enjoy it for a second and turn around.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Worilds: “Definitely on the way back.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Polamalu: “I don't know. We'll see. Winning feels good, but we've got a tough, short week coming.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]Right. Better move it.[/FONT]
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Some of these articles are black on black...
[QUOTE=feltdizz;584196][COLOR=#FFFF00]
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Some of these articles are black on black...[/QUOTE]
I changed the font to white, can't you see it?
[QUOTE=feltdizz;584195]Excuses, excuses... Tomlin and company turned the ship around. Respect to the whole staff and to the players for fighting through a rough patch.[/QUOTE]
While it's true the team isn't .500 yet, I'm still very impressed on how the ship has been captained through the storm.
Forgive me for wanting to curb the enthusiasm a bit.
Our pass defense is crap and we won't beat good teams with a half decent QB playing like we have on a consistent basis. It's a good thing Stafford and the Lions decided to not show up in the second half or that game would have turned out like the NE game....They may have beat NEs record and CJ was on pace to break an all-time receiving record..... then there's Josh Gordon tearing us up with a nobody QB. Put things into perspective people... 2 of the 3 wins were against bum QBs.
We are playing better but I'm not overly optimistic. Thursday will tell me much more about this team.
Blah, blah, blah.... more excuses. Lions couldn't adjust to Lebeaus half time moves... Gordon had 79 yards at the beginning of the 4th qtr. Great fantasy stats but no impact on the outcome of the game.
The Browns and Bills are SB contenders! Let's jump for joy that we can beat crap teams. Thats how low Steelers' fans expectations are these days.
[QUOTE=steelz09;584223]The Browns and Bills are SB contenders! Let's jump for joy that we can beat crap teams. Thats how low Steelers' fans expectations are these days.[/QUOTE]
Who said anything abou SB contenders... who is jumping for joy?
This thread is about Tomlin and company getting this team to play better ball.
[QUOTE=feltdizz;584224]Who said anything abou SB contenders... who is jumping for joy?
This thread is about Tomlin and company getting this team to play better ball.[/QUOTE]
Sticking to the thread topic is kinda hard for those with an agenda ... The "FIRE TOMLIN" crowd hasn't been fed much in the last few games and they are angry.
I was critical of Tomlin and the coaching staff, for the team coming out of training camp, to an 0-4 start. I thought this team was too talented to be an 0-4 team, setting franchise futility records til that point. I also give credit where it is due; I think the staff (mainly Tomlin) has stepped up to the plate to save what was looking like a lost season. I stand by whatever I said
I don't get the I-told-you-so sentiment by this thread.
First of all, we haven't done anything yet. Even if we do (i.e. make the playoffs), I don't see where anyone was wrong, being highly critical of the coaches (and players for that matter) during that first month of the season.
[QUOTE=Shoe;584229]I was critical of Tomlin and the coaching staff, for the team coming out of training camp, to an 0-4 start. I thought this team was too talented to be an 0-4 team, setting franchise futility records til that point. I also give credit where it is due; I think the staff (mainly Tomlin) has stepped up to the plate to save what was looking like a lost season. I stand by whatever I said
I don't get the I-told-you-so sentiment by this thread.
First of all, we haven't done anything yet. Even if we do (i.e. make the playoffs), I don't see where anyone was wrong, being highly critical of the coaches (and players for that matter) during that first month of the season.[/QUOTE]
Definitely not an "I told you so" sentiment from me ...because I didn't. My only thing was "let's wait and see". I'm still at that point because the season isn't over. That said, there were plenty of posters hollering about how Tomlin had lost the team; Tomlin wasn't Cowher etc. etc. Personally, I believe that their glee was premature.
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584231]Definitely not an "I told you so" sentiment from me ...because I didn't. My only thing was "let's wait and see". I'm still at that point because the season isn't over. That said, there were plenty of posters hollering about how Tomlin had lost the team; Tomlin wasn't Cowher etc. etc. Personally, I believe that their glee was premature.[/QUOTE]
That's because it was...
[QUOTE=SteelBuckeye;584227]Sticking to the thread topic is kinda hard for those with an agenda ... The "FIRE TOMLIN" crowd hasn't been fed much in the last few games and they are angry.[/QUOTE]
On the mark! However, the "FIRE TOMLIN" crowd will inevitably be disappointed because Tomlin will be coach for a long time so let them rant. That is why we have message boards.