The Mike Tomlin Problem

[hawaiiansteel]

That team looked defeated the last five weeks.

We were simply overmatched against good playoff-caliber teams, and the players knew it.

[hawaiiansteel]

Gerry Dulac Chat:

Stairway to seventh seed: Gerry: AJRII infamously said "it's not like we haven't had some success around here." Wouldn't your level of acceptance of this comment depend entirely on how long you have been a fan? You'd have to be say at least 56 years old to think of the Steelers as giving "you" more championships as fans of teams other than the Pats. Steeler fans in their early teens can't see really any "success". Over the last 45 years, the Steelers have only about 0.5 more titles than if titles were just evenly distributed across all the teams. Isn't this acceptance of mediocrity and satisfaction with what has been achieved long ago, the real problem?

Gerry Dulac: I would not call four playoff appearances in the past five years, five in the past seven and 12 overall for Mike Tomlin 'mediocrity." Same with 18 consecutive non-losing seasons. However, I do get "no playoff wins" in the past eight years. And I understand why some think it's simply time for a change

TVC15: How can Tomlin still be considered a good coach? It is not just the zero playoff wins in 8 season it is that when they do make the playoffs he has the team so unprepared and not ready to play that they are blown out by halftime. The emperor has no clothes!

Gerry Dulac: There should be no debate about whether he is a good coach. He is. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't own six straight playoff losses. And he does. And that's why it's reasonable to ask -- is it time for a change?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/02/26/nfl-combine-steelers-omar-khan-mike-tomlin-art-rooney-draft-free-agency/stories/202502260035

[NorthCoast]

Kahn disagrees with Tomlin. You need to score points... lots of them:

“We just weren’t good enough,” Khan said. “The reality is, you’ve got to score a lot of points in the league in 2025 football. You’ve got to score a lot of points and we didn’t score enough points. There’s a lot of reasons for that, and we’ve just got to be better.”

[Northern_Blitz]

We were simply overmatched against good playoff-caliber teams, and the players knew it.

Also Pickens was a huge part of our offense. It was very predictable that the offense would suck with 0 NFL quality starters at WR.

[hawaiiansteel]

How much pressure is on Mike Tomlin this upcoming season to win in the playoffs? The fact that Art Rooney II gave him a contract extension after 8 years of no playoff wins doesn’t give me much hope his seat is even close to warm.

Kaboly: You know the answer to that. There is zero pressure because barring an 0-17 season and Tomlin getting into a fistfight with a three-legged stray dog at midfield during their game in Ireland. So, don’t hold your breath.

https://x.com/MarkKaboly/status/1897695089251561902

[Joel Buchsbaum]

A professional football head coach has a multifaceted role that encompasses several key responsibilities:

1. Strategy and Game Planning:
   • Play-Calling: The head coach, or their designated offensive coordinator, decides the plays during the game. They develop strategies based on the team's strengths, the opponent's weaknesses, and current game conditions.
   • Game Plan: Before each game, they craft a detailed game plan, which includes both offensive and defensive strategies.
2. Leadership and Management:
   • Team Leadership: They lead the entire coaching staff and set the tone for team culture, discipline, and morale.
   • Player Management: This includes managing player rotations, dealing with player issues, and making decisions about who plays when and where.
3. Training and Development:
   • Practice Oversight: They organize and oversee practice sessions, ensuring that drills and workouts are aligned with game preparation.
   • Player Development: They work with assistant coaches to develop individual player skills, often focusing on both young players and veterans.
4. Personnel Decisions:
   • Draft and Recruitment: While general managers often have the final say, head coaches significantly influence draft picks, free-agent signings, and trades by providing input based on team needs and player fit with the team's system.
   • Roster Management: They decide who makes the team, who gets cut, and how to manage the salary cap in coordination with the front office.
5. Media and Public Relations:
   • Press Conferences: Head coaches frequently meet with the media to discuss team performance, strategy adjustments, and player statuses.
   • Public Face of the Team: They are often the public face of the franchise, representing the team at various events and in community outreach.
6. Performance Analysis:
   • Reviewing Games: After each game, they analyze performances to identify areas for improvement, adjust strategies, and sometimes make changes to the starting lineup or tactics.
   • Opponent Scouting: They review tapes of upcoming opponents to prepare their game plan.
7. Administrative Duties:
   • Staff Management: Hiring, firing, and managing assistant coaches and support staff.
   • Budget Oversight: While less hands-on, they might be involved in discussions about budgets for equipment, travel, and salaries.
8. Adaptation to Rules and Changes:
   • Keeping up with changes in league rules, player safety protocols, and adapting coaching techniques accordingly.

In essence, a pro football head coach is the chief strategist, motivator, and manager of the team, whose decisions can significantly influence the team's success or failure. Their job requires a blend of deep football knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports.

Tomlin can't do the above well, though he is a very good PR machine, so .....

Some of us knew his goose was cooked in 2017! Some of us. By 2025 most of us do. No names mentioned on the laggards.

[Northern_Blitz]

Some of us knew his goose was cooked in 2017! Some of us. By 2025 most of us do. No names mentioned on the laggards.

So you're saying you were making a "time based prediction"?

[NorthCoast]

Not much new here. Just putting it in black and white. It is a little sad seeing the Steelers grouped in with the Browns and Jets, and Giants.

But at some point, it becomes taxing on a fanbase to know that you have no shot to compete when it matters most.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/07/from-nepotism-to-staggeringly-bad-contracts-the-nfls-most-hopeless-franchises

[hawaiiansteel]

FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. urges Steelers fans to trust Mike Tomlin despite 6 straight playoff losses

[WindyCitySteel]

8 1/2 years ago, Cowherd was all over this.

https://x.com/colincowherd/status/790779865704169472

[whatever]

FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. urges Steelers fans to trust Mike Tomlin despite 6 straight playoff losses

smith has an ulterior motive.

[NorthCoast]

smith has an ulterior motive.

Care to elaborate?

[Joel Buchsbaum]

So you're saying you were making a "time based prediction"?

It not cooked now, it's burnt.

[Terrapin]

Care to elaborate?

He's a race hustler

[hawaiiansteel]

No wonder we sucked offensively: