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If Ben misses any more time and the Steelers make the playoffs you will never see me say another bad thing about Tomlin. He will have earned my respect. The Steelers are exactly where they should be record wise based on their talent, coaching and schedule.
Only a very good coach could navigate the remaining schedule and get this team to the playoffs with Ben or without. Since I don't think he's a good coach I don't expect that to happen... obviously. Even though the injuries case by case aren't that bad as backups have stepped in without really missing a beat, the cumulative effect is too much for a bad/mediocre coach to overcome.
Next season the talent level (assuming healthy Ben) will be so good that any coach should be able to get them deep into the playoffs. You'll have a great core of young players that will be seasoned and ready to take the next step (James, Shazier, Tuitt, McCullers, Bryant, Dupree, Coates, Grant, Wheaton), they'll get Golson, Pouncey, Bell, Beachum (hopefully he returns) back, have another draft, and have guys acclimated to the system (Cockerall, Allen, Mitchell) assuming they're back. Add in the vets that are hitting their prime or still in it and it will be one of if not the most talented team in the league.
So since they'll be good enough talent wise to make the playoffs next season no matter who is coaching them, this is the season we can really get to see how good of a coach he is. 10 wins playoffs or not will do it. Only a good coach could do it as it's a pretty challenging task. If he does, he gets carte blanche from me and you'll never read anything negative about him from me again. You fanboys will have pretty good ammunition to shut down any haters
Only a very good coach could navigate the remaining schedule and get this team to the playoffs with Ben or without. Since I don't think he's a good coach I don't expect that to happen... obviously. Even though the injuries case by case aren't that bad as backups have stepped in without really missing a beat, the cumulative effect is too much for a bad/mediocre coach to overcome.
Next season the talent level (assuming healthy Ben) will be so good that any coach should be able to get them deep into the playoffs. You'll have a great core of young players that will be seasoned and ready to take the next step (James, Shazier, Tuitt, McCullers, Bryant, Dupree, Coates, Grant, Wheaton), they'll get Golson, Pouncey, Bell, Beachum (hopefully he returns) back, have another draft, and have guys acclimated to the system (Cockerall, Allen, Mitchell) assuming they're back. Add in the vets that are hitting their prime or still in it and it will be one of if not the most talented team in the league.
So since they'll be good enough talent wise to make the playoffs next season no matter who is coaching them, this is the season we can really get to see how good of a coach he is. 10 wins playoffs or not will do it. Only a good coach could do it as it's a pretty challenging task. If he does, he gets carte blanche from me and you'll never read anything negative about him from me again. You fanboys will have pretty good ammunition to shut down any haters
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