The Mike Tomlin Problem

[Mr.wizard]

Too me the the playoffs are more about the QB than the coach, I think if we get to the playoffs the question will be, how sharp is Aaron Rodgers.

[Eich]

Too me the the playoffs are more about the QB than the coach, I think if we get to the playoffs the question will be, how sharp is Aaron Rodgers.

How many QBs are going to overcome a defense that allows a 300 yard rushing game and a first half with 164 yards rushing and 21 points? The Rats literally would not have had to throw a single pass in that game. They could have won that game with me at QB.

And Aaron Rodgers can be as sharp as he was in 2010 but if our line can't protect him, he's done.

[Mr.wizard]

How many QBs are going to overcome a defense that allows a 300 yard rushing game and a first half with 164 yards rushing and 21 points? The Rats literally would not have had to throw a single pass in that game. They could have won that game with me at QB.

And Aaron Rodgers can be as sharp as he was in 2010 but if our line can't protect him, he's done.

Well thats kind of the point, Its a 1 game do or die, you need a QB who can win a shoot out if the D doesnt play well. It isnt like the coach is going to put together some magical gameplan that is going to fool the other team 17 games into the season. The playoffs are about playmakers and you need one at the most important position.

[Eich]

It isnt like the coach is going to put together some magical gameplan that is going to fool the other team 17 games into the season.

We pretty much did exactly that in 2005. We came out throwing when everyone was expecting a large dose of the run.

And even if you don't have quite that element of surprise, you have to do SOMETHING different at some point. You have to be able to adapt to the other team's strengths and weaknesses. How many players keep saying over and over that the "Steelers just do what they do"? Teams have been laughing at our schemes on both sides of the ball for years.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Sounds like it's about more than just one thing. It's the coaching, it's the QB, it's the D, it's execution, it's luck, it's late season injuries etc. All of these are legitimate issues but none are simply THE issue.

[WindyCitySteel]

We pretty much did exactly that in 2005. We came out throwing when everyone was expecting a large dose of the run.

And even if you don't have quite that element of surprise, you have to do SOMETHING different at some point. You have to be able to adapt to the other team's strengths and weaknesses. How many players keep saying over and over that the "Steelers just do what they do"? Teams have been laughing at our schemes on both sides of the ball for years.

Yup — no blitzing, no coverage disguises, no motion, no PA, no MOF. Not sure how you think you’re beating a well-coached playoff team with all of those limitations imposed in the name of “minimizing risk”.

[Mr.wizard]

We pretty much did exactly that in 2005. We came out throwing when everyone was expecting a large dose of the run.

And even if you don't have quite that element of surprise, you have to do SOMETHING different at some point. You have to be able to adapt to the other team's strengths and weaknesses. How many players keep saying over and over that the "Steelers just do what they do"? Teams have been laughing at our schemes on both sides of the ball for years.

I dont think teams get to the playoffs and start do things differently, take KC for instance. KC just does what it does, Mahommes is making plays all over the field, they dont trick anyone or say well everyone is expecting Mahommes to have the ball so lets turn around and hand it off 30 times. The Steelers have struggled at the QB position, I dont care what your gameplan is, if QB doesnt play well you probably lose. You just arent going to coach your way through the playoffs you need playmakers.

[NorthCoast]

Blame Mike Tomlin. He is the one reason Rodgers is in Pittsburgh.

"The bond Rodgers formed with Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 19th-year head coach, was the driving force behind his return for a 21st season."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6528454/2025/08/01/aaron-rodgers-mike-tomlin-steelers-nfl/?source=athletic_pulsenewsletter&campaign=14347401&userId=16661255

[WindyCitySteel]

Blame Mike Tomlin. He is the one reason Rodgers is in Pittsburgh.

"The bond Rodgers formed with Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 19th-year head coach, was the driving force behind his return for a 21st season."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...serId=16661255

If it busts and they flop, the national media will blame Kahn and say the only reason they won any games was Tomlin.

[WindyCitySteel]

I dont think teams get to the playoffs and start do things differently, take KC for instance. KC just does what it does, Mahommes is making plays all over the field, they dont trick anyone or say well everyone is expecting Mahommes to have the ball so lets turn around and hand it off 30 times. The Steelers have struggled at the QB position, I dont care what your gameplan is, if QB doesnt play well you probably lose. You just arent going to coach your way through the playoffs you need playmakers.

Tell me you’ve never watched a Chiefs game without telling me. JFC, in their last Super Bowl win, Reid schemed up two free, wide open TD passes in the flat. Every game Mahomes has freebies running WIDE open.

Have the Steelers schemed up two freebie wide open TDs in the last ten years?

[NorthCoast]

Tell me you’ve never watched a Chiefs game without telling me. JFC, in their last Super Bowl win, Reid schemed up two free, wide open TD passes in the flat. Every game Mahomes has freebies running WIDE open.

Have the Steelers schemed up two freebie wide open TDs in the last ten years?

Answer: yes, but the QB didn't seem them

[feltdizz]

I dont think teams get to the playoffs and start do things differently, take KC for instance. KC just does what it does, Mahommes is making plays all over the field, they dont trick anyone or say well everyone is expecting Mahommes to have the ball so lets turn around and hand it off 30 times. The Steelers have struggled at the QB position, I dont care what your gameplan is, if QB doesnt play well you probably lose. You just arent going to coach your way through the playoffs you need playmakers.

KC has one of the best offenses in the league and Mahommes is constantly throwing to wide open players half the time.

But the thing is.. last year teams caught onto their scheme and they really struggled. They won a bunch of games on the last play or last series and half of them were due to refs making bad calls in their favor.

This is why Philly embarrassed them in the SB.

Coaching matters and until we do something different we will continue to get blasted in the playoffs.

[Northern_Blitz]

If it busts and they flop, the national media will blame Kahn and say the only reason they won any games was Tomlin.

I don't think so.

I think they'll say that the Steelers made a reasonable bet to be competitive for this year while still keeping a pretty large amount of draft capital for next year (where they will almost certainly move up for a QB).

It's why I dislike when people say we're going "all in" this year. Because we've very obviously not.

Rodgers is just a placeholder. He's one that gives them a reasonable chance to be in the 2nd tier of teams in the AFC (assuming the 1st tier is KC, BUF, and BAL).

But if it goes tits up, it's not really a big deal for the Steelers.

The truth is that we aren't competitors to do more than make the playoffs and maybe get a wild card win if we catch lightning in a bottle.

Anyone saying we're more than that isn't being realistic IMO. The AFC (QBs in particular) is just too strong unless we see massive improvement in the O. And while I think we could be slightly better than average in scoring this year, that's just not going to be enough IMO.

[Mr.wizard]

KC has one of the best offenses in the league and Mahommes is constantly throwing to wide open players half the time.

But the thing is.. last year teams caught onto their scheme and they really struggled. They won a bunch of games on the last play or last series and half of them were due to refs making bad calls in their favor.

This is why Philly embarrassed them in the SB.

Coaching matters and until we do something different we will continue to get blasted in the playoffs.

They have also won a bunch a games with Mahommes making an amazing play and I never said coaching doesnt matter but if your talking about making a playoff run it boils down to QB play. If you gave Andy Reid our QBs over the past few seasons do you think they would have the same success, I sure as hell dont.

[NorthCoast]

They have also won a bunch a games with Mahommes making an amazing play and I never said coaching doesnt matter but if your talking about making a playoff run it boils down to QB play. If you gave Andy Reid our QBs over the past few seasons do you think they would have the same success, I sure as hell dont.

It's fairly obvious the Steelers SB appearances are clustered around young, highly talented QBs. Outside of those times it's been mostly potshot luck how far they get in the postseason.