Steelers Loss Against Ravens Is On Tomlin

[Keyplay1]

Again Flippy is on target: But-

Flippy said: "Noll's Steelers had other advantages, like the draft because everything was secret. Nowadays everyone has the same info on the college kids. We can't hide a John Stallworth from the rest of the teams any more."

Actually,BLESTO was there in the early 70's. It was just that other teams did not take advantage of the info for some reason or other. I do recall reading this somewhere.

I have never commented on Tomlin one way or another. Why should I? I have no idea what a good or bad coach is anyhow. Maybe MT should loosen up though and spend $19.95 and get a copy of Doc Curealls "Guide to two minute strategies." Yeah, I caught a glimpse of this on one of those late night TV infomercials.Oh incidentally, they throw in a free copy of "Why the "spike" is not a good idea".

[hawaiiansteel]

Let's not forget that if Jones didn't return the kick for a TD, we would've won the game. That goes on the ST coach.....

true, but who fired our ST coach in the middle of the season and promoted this one?

[papillon]

As soon as I read the part about the author knowing more about Todd Haley's quick release offense than the Mike Tomlin I stopped reading. There was a graphic during the game showing Ben's release and Leftwich's release along with speed of the football. Ben releases the ball exactly 3/100 of second quicker than Leftwich and Leftwich has about 3 MPH more speed on the ball, which basically negates the 3/100 of a second.

I'm sure Batch's release is somewhere between Ben's and Lefty's and his velocity is certainly the slowest of all. The right quarterback played the game and the right quarterback finished the game. Now, had the author said, that Haley's offense is predicated on quicker decisions and that Batch can make quicker decisions based on coverage, protection and route trees then I can buy into the wrong quarterback played. But to try and make an argument against Tomlin over 3/100 of a second and 3 MPH is ridiculous.

Tomlin made the right decision and I believe that the majority of coaches make the exact same decision given the situation.

What I didn't like and I'm not sure who made the call was the 3rd and 2 pass that Wallace couldn't corral and get his feet down in the field of play. With the way the defense was playing I would have run Dwyer on 3rd and 2, if he makes it great, move on and try to score a touchdown; if he doesn't make it, I run with him again on 4th down, if he makes it great, move on and try to score a touchdown, if he doesn't make it, that's okay, it's 1st and 10 on 4 yard line for an offense that couldn't string together 3 good offensive plays all night. The Steelers would have in all likelihood gotten the ball back near midfield.

That was the only questionable sequence as far as I was concerned.

Pappy

[squidkid]

Tomlin's the man.

We should be terrible, but this team is starting to play like a real SuperBowl contender. Consider what he's working with and the results so far.

1. Lose our team leader in Farrior + Ward and Hokie
2. Harrison, Troy, Max, Mendy, Hampton, Woodley, Worlids banged up to start the season (possibly Keisel too)
3. QBs best friend is sent packing
4. 1st and 3rd round draft picks go IR
5. Moving Colon to G and dealing with a string of injuries on the OLine
6. RBs getting hurt weekly
7. 1st and 2nd string QBs hurt
8. New OC
9. Depleted WRs
10. Superstar WR skips camp and appears totally disinterested in season
11. Can't pass block
12. Can't rush the passer
13. Can't create turnovers
14. Kicker's range is about 40 yards
15. New punter that's below average
16. ST coach fired during the preseason
17. ST is still a disaster

And there's probably a few other things I've left off the list because there's so many. And Mikey T overcomes all of that and is now fielding a team that looks like a real contender. And we're gonna lay the blame for this game on him????

Perhaps Mike knew he couldn't afford to risk Charlie and potentially not have him against the Browns this week. Whatever it was, I have a hard time blaming Tomlin for much given what I witness the guy overcome.

Other teams lose 1 or 2 key players and their season is toast. Not a Mike Tomlin team. We can compete with our 3rd stringers. And the standard remains the standard. And we're fielding a legit contender.

This is some of the best coaching in Steeler history. And we're lucky to be able to see it.

the majority of stuff on that list could be the direct result of tomlins coaching, decisions and player personnel you know.

[hawaiiansteel]

So it was good coaching to leave Leftwich in when he was obviously hurting and couldn't make the throws? In a close, winnable game, with the division lead on the line?

Look, I'm not pinning all the blame for the loss on Mike...I'm befuddled about Haley not sticking with the run when it was working so well...STs letdown was huge...We could go on and on...

But you don't leave your QB in when he's obviously hurt so bad he's hurting you more than helping you. THAT'S WHAT THE BACKUP is FOR.

And if he wouldn't put Batch in because he so scared of losing him to injury and having no QB, then WHY DIDN'T HE SIGN A THIRD QB LAST WEEK?

$$$$$$$$$$

[virgilbosetti]

Tomlin makes horrible clock & game mgt decisions routinely and his inability to sit injured players is alarming. Tomlin is a decent position coach with good one liners

Protect Batch for Cleveland? Bent logic at best.

[Snatch98]

Tomlin makes horrible clock & game mgt decisions routinely and his inability to sit injured players is alarming. Tomlin is a decent position coach with good one liners

Protect Batch for Cleveland? Bent logic at best.

Cleveland and then Baltimore. If you don't think there is some legitimacy to that you're delusional. We're in the midst of a terrible string of injuries. How many teams carry 4 qb's? Hell how many teams have 3 qb's and lose the number 1 and number 2 within the same two weeks? Batch was not put in that game to ensure he's healthy for at least the next two and further ensure the future of the rest of the season. Batch goes in there and gets hurt we're teaching a qb completely new to the haley offense how to run the show AND preparing to play both the Browns AND the Ravens. The writing is on the wall, some of you just refuse to read it.

[Steelerphile]

Tomlin makes horrible clock & game mgt decisions routinely and his inability to sit injured players is alarming. Tomlin is a decent position coach with good one liners

Protect Batch for Cleveland? Bent logic at best.

The vast majority of the time what one person characterizes as a horrible clock or game management decision usually is a debatable decision when considered from more than the accusers point of view. I certainly disagree with this and think you should be more specific instead of throwing around large general statements.

[Keyplay1]

I did not disagree with the QB handling in the game. But what I do disagree with is the recurring theme that not using Batch was not to risk him getting banged up and then not having any experienced QB for the next few games. What? If replacing Leftwich would have been considered the best option to win the game then it had to be done. Obviously it was not deemed necessary.

Who is to know that Batch will not get dinged very early in the game this week? A possibility for sure. Then TS are forced to play a new QB without any real preparation. If Batch had played in the Raven's game and did get hurt TS would have all this week to truly prepare the new QB. And believe it or not there have been a high % of instances where the new QB does extremely well.

[virgilbosetti]

Don't care for the way the guy coaches in certain situations. Don't like to throw specifics for two reasons. 1. Name throwers call you delusional because you hold a different opinion. 2. Not trying to talk anyone out of their opinion and convince them they're wrong.


If I offended anyone with my generalities.....sorry and so be it.

[virgilbosetti]

I did not disagree with the QB handling in the game. But what I do disagree with is the recurring theme that not using Batch was not to risk him getting banged up and then not having any experienced QB for the next few games. What? If replacing Leftwich would have been considered the best option to win the game then it had to be done. Obviously it was not deemed necessary.

Who is to know that Batch will not get dinged very early in the game this week? A possibility for sure. Then TS are forced to play a new QB without any real preparation. If Batch had played in the Raven's game and did get hurt TS would have all this week to truly prepare the new QB. And believe it or not there have been a high % of instances where the new QB does extremely well.

Agreed. And it was a close, huge, divisional game against the 1st place team. It was worth a shot to put batch in. If he gets hurt....you are week to week regardless.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Tomlin makes horrible clock & game mgt decisions routinely and his inability to sit injured players is alarming. Tomlin is a decent position coach with good one liners

Protect Batch for Cleveland? Bent logic at best.

Either people forgot the times the clock & game management were handled properly or they choose to selectively pick those instances where things we not handled properly as a way to define Tomlin. There were many situations where the clock and game management were handled properly under Tomlin. I believe many coaches make decisions based on instincts, emotion, having faith in players, or other factors. It's always easy to look at decisions made in hindsight when those decisions did not pan out as expected. No coach makes the right decision 100% of the time.

[Sugar]

Either people forgot the times the clock & game management were handled properly or they choose to selectively pick those instances where things we not handled properly as a way to define Tomlin. There were many situations where the clock and game management were handled properly under Tomlin. I believe many coaches make decisions based on instincts, emotion, having faith in players, or other factors. It's always easy to look at decisions made in hindsight when those decisions did not pan out as expected. No coach makes the right decision 100% of the time.

Congratulations for making a reasonable response to an idiotic statement.

[virgilbosetti]

All coaches make good decisions, and Tomlin is certainly one of them. However, he has made enough poor decisions to raise concern. Ignoring them is not something that I chose to do.

Defend them all you want. Sugar.....grow up.

[Sugar]

Defend them all you want. Sugar.....grow up.

Actually, I did take the less offensive road there. I was going to flame you, but appreciated the comment that was level-headed and fair instead.