Doesn't it seems like Tomlin

[Vader]

Which is why Tomlin won 60+ regular season games and a SB in his first six seasons...

I'm not spinning anything, I'm merely stating the fact that Cowher's proverbial cupboard was not bare when he took over the team and, when the team started to lose the talent that Cowher inherited, there was a rebuilding phase where players like Joey Porter, Aaron Smith and Hines Ward were added...

Again, Cowher had 3 players (one of which missed the entire SB season) and a couple of offensive players. 99% of which would be gone by this time in Tomlin's tenure. Cowher restocked the entire defense but those guys. Tomlin didn't restock anything. He had almost the EXACT same team as the SB team under Cowher. He replaced 3 people. Cowher replaced 8 just on the defense. The SB team of 95 was NOT stocked with Noll's talent. It just wasn't. 5 players no matter how good they are doesn't represent a full cupboard.

Just to see how silly this is here is the starting lineup for the 95 SB:

O'Donnell: Rookie in Noll's last year.
Pegram- FA picked up by Cowher
Williams- FA picked up by Cowher
Mills- Rookie during Noll's last season. Had 3 receptions.
Thigpen- Noll
Bruener- Cowher
Jackson- Noll
Newberry- FA picked up by Cowher
Dawson- Noll
Stai- Cowher
Searcy- Cowher
Buckner- Cowher
Steed- Cowher
Seals- FA by Cowher
Greene- FA by Cowher
Kirkland- Cowher
Brown- Cowher
Lloyd- Noll
Williams- Cowher
Lake- Noll
Bell- Cowher
Perry- Cowher

Woodson played some in the SB but was lost for the entire year. So 7 players, 2 of whom were rookies in Noll's last year, are the great "cupboard" that was left Cowher? Tomlin had 8 in his 5th year just on defense ALONE. Sorry, I don't see how anyone can say Cowher was left with a lot of talent. He had 3 really good defensive players and a couple of good OL. He had to replace 3 OL, ALL the RBs, ALL the DL, ALL but one of the LBers, and most of the CBs. It isn't even close to what Tomlin had.

[Slapstick]

And, that's why Tomlin won 60+ games and a Super Bowl...

Cowher didn't restock the team...as we all saw, the Steelers didn't make the playoffs in 1998, 1999 and 2000...if he had stocked the team with all that talent, why did everything happen after losing Noll's guys?

Leadership void, perhaps?

Cowher did restock the team during those "playoff free" years...

[Vader]

And, that's why Tomlin won 60+ games and a Super Bowl...

Cowher didn't restock the team...as we all saw, the Steelers didn't make the playoffs in 1998, 1999 and 2000...if he had stocked the team with all that talent, why did everything happen after losing Noll's guys?

Leadership void, perhaps?

Cowher did restock the team during those "playoff free" years...

What? He had to restock FROM Noll's team. Very few of Noll's guys were around for the 95' SB. That's the point. He was also in a power struggle with Donahoe that ended in 1999. Just so happen that Cowher got the team back on track AFTER Donahoe left. Cowher wanted to draft Kearse instead of Troy Edwards but was over ruled by Donahoe. It took him the next year to go 9-7 then the next year he was 13-3 and back in the playoffs. Tomlin STILL has almost as many players from Cowher's team than Cowher did from Noll's team in 95'.

[Slapstick]

So, what happened from 98-00 if he already had the team restocked?

[steelz09]

Vader - You are wasting your time. I don't know if they are that incompetent or just hard headed. Probably a little bit of both.

[Vader]

So, what happened from 98-00 if he already had the team restocked?

Donahoe happened. He and Bill disagreed over draft picks. Which is why Donahoe was let go. Just so happen they are back in the playoffs ONE year later.

[LordVile]

I'm not buying this. Pretty much everyone and their brother had a huge man crush on Tomlin when he was the youngest coach to win a SuperBowl. He's a cool cat. Always says the right things. We've quoted and admired like no other.

But then he talks about unleashing hell and his team doesn't back him up. And some doubt starts to creep in. Then a team that looks talented falls apart at the seams in 2012. We even made a ton of excuses for him. Big Ben, Troy, James, Woodley, etc were hurt. BA got fired. Haley's a tool. Colbert drafts poorly. DL is old. etc.

Fast forward to 0-4 and this team looks as bad as anything I can remember. Everything is in disarray. We have guys on the roster that he doesn't trust playing. No one seems ready or prepared. The passion is gone. Personally, I kinda like the steady, even keeled Tomlin. But I can see why people question him as a coach. Why wouldn't they question him whether he was black, white, yellow, blue, or green? He's under performing. That's not acceptable in Pittsburgh.

As far as I can tell, almost everyone just sees him as the coach of the Steelers. And passes their judgement accordingly. But for some reason, you seem to see him as a black dude. Why? I know that he is, but I don't ever consider it until someone brings it up. And I just don't see the point in bringing it up. Tomlin's just a guy like any other guy. And as I recall, Steelers fans were tired of Noll when he was losing as well as Cowher. I think the fact that Steeler Nation puts him on a short leash says we just think of him as a coach like any other. And we can't stand losing.

The guy who got me into STEELERS football calls him all kinds of racial slurs and compares him to Cowher all the time. Before Tomlin won a superbowl and even after.. Im not making this stuff up for "FUN"... And i see many on facebook (insinuating) the "black coach" stuff. That since he is "black" like most of the players, he is too buddy buddy etc.. That blacks should be players and whites shuld coach (Johnny' THE GREEK, style).. Most dont have the HUEVOS to outright and say it.. I know alot of older whites believe it also.. I'm american/mexican myself..

but i do appreciate your feedback.. good to have some intelligent responses..

btw, i think my friend is an idiot..

[Slapstick]

Donahoe happened. He and Bill disagreed over draft picks. Which is why Donahoe was let go. Just so happen they are back in the playoffs ONE year later.

That makes no sense...Donohoe was in the draft room for the picks that restocked the team...but, the picks that worked out were all Cowher's and the ones that didn't were all Donohoe?

Okay....

I don't believe that one any more than I do blaming either one or the other in the current situation...

Just like 14 years ago, I do believe that there is a disconnect between the coaches and the FO...and it needs to be corrected....

[FerriteCore]

The guy who got me into STEELERS football calls him all kinds of racial slurs and compares him to Cowher all the time. Before Tomlin won a superbowl and even after.. Im not making this stuff up for "FUN"... And i see many on facebook (insinuating) the "black coach" stuff. That since he is "black" like most of the players, he is too buddy buddy etc.. That blacks should be players and whites shuld coach (Johnny' THE GREEK, style).. Most dont have the HUEVOS to outright and say it.. I know alot of older whites believe it also.. I'm american/mexican myself..

but i do appreciate your feedback.. good to have some intelligent responses..

btw, i think my friend is an idiot..

No doubt, your friend is racist. It is equally racist to think someone is beyond criticism because they are black.

[Slapstick]

No doubt, your friend is racist. It is equally racist to think someone is beyond criticism because they are black.

Not exactly "equally", but point taken...