Typical Tomlin

[SteelYinzer]

Seems like a yearly occurrence where the team comes out flat and uninspired and seemingly outcoached in every facet of the game against inferior competition. This is embarrassing. MIA is maybe the worst team in the NFL.

[SteelCrazy]

Not sure why, but I alwAys expect him to have the guys ready for these games....

[bostonsteeler]

Seems to me he is incapable of preparing for the bottom feeders. Our coaching is based on outplanning the opponent. With poor opponents, the opposition is on the defensive and outplanning *us*.
Tomlin is not very good in in-game adjustment.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Forget the player mistakes (turnovers, poor tackles, and penalties), playing the on road, injuries, ect. Tomlin doesn't play so those things fall on the players. I'm not sure how a coach can adjust to those issues when players are not doing the job they are paid to do.

The defense kept the team in the game as long as they could. One thing that bothers me about the offense is they don't seem to be consistent or do anything well consistently. The offense also seems to get off to a slow start scoring points every week. That's definitely not a good trend considering the defense needs all the help it can get by making the opposition as one dimensional as possible. If the offense doesn't show up and on top of it gives the ball away the team will probably lose.

[bostonsteeler]

Forget the player mistakes (turnovers, poor tackles, and penalties), playing the on road, injuries, ect. Tomlin doesn't play so those things fall on the players. I'm not sure how a coach can adjust to those issues when players are not doing the job they are paid to do.

The defense kept the team in the game as long as they could. One thing that bothers me about the offense is they don't seem to be consistent or do anything well consistently. The offense also seems to get off to a slow start scoring points every week. That's definitely not a good trend considering the defense needs all the help it can get by making the opposition as one dimensional as possible. If the offense doesn't show up and on top of it gives the ball away the team will probably lose.

Burgh, if our players collectively muck it up *every* time we play a lower team, then do you not think there's something deeper?
Once, twice, three times, I'd understand. But to have some variation on the same set of excuses ready *every* time we play a team with a significantly poor record is kinda lame.

Our O and D *never* show up to these games. We also have many injuries specifically for these games, but to claim that we are the only team on the field with injuries is naive. The team we play has those too.

Our coaches are lame. Live with it. They seem to know how to deal with tougher opposition, but with the really lame teams they have no clue.

[NorthCoast]

Forget the player mistakes (turnovers, poor tackles, and penalties), playing the on road, injuries, ect. Tomlin doesn't play so those things fall on the players. I'm not sure how a coach can adjust to those issues when players are not doing the job they are paid to do.

The defense kept the team in the game as long as they could. One thing that bothers me about the offense is they don't seem to be consistent or do anything well consistently. The offense also seems to get off to a slow start scoring points every week. That's definitely not a good trend considering the defense needs all the help it can get by making the opposition as one dimensional as possible. If the offense doesn't show up and on top of it gives the ball away the team will probably lose.

I agree on player mistakes. Pathetic tackling will kill any team. But your perception of a slow starting offense isn't true. The Steelers are #4 in the NFL in scoring in the 1st quarter. But they do seem to go to sleep in the 2nd quarter where they are #14 in scoring. They are decent in the 2nd half at #8 in the NFL in scoring.

Too many injuries piling up at the same time has a lot of young people on the field at the same time. This sets up a given for being inconsistent.

[bostonsteeler]

I agree on player mistakes. Pathetic tackling will kill any team. But your perception of a slow starting offense isn't true. The Steelers are #4 in the NFL in scoring in the 1st quarter. But they do seem to go to sleep in the 2nd quarter where they are #14 in scoring. They are decent in the 2nd half at #8 in the NFL in scoring.

Too many injuries piling up at the same time has a lot of young people on the field at the same time. This sets up a given for being inconsistent.

The Oline played like crap. Their D was in Ben's face all game long -- this led to the first interception and a lot of the bad plays.

Bell was getting 5 yards a clip. He only got 10 carries. There were no passes in the flat -- no quick passing game at all. The stuff that moved the chains last year has gone out the window this year.

As usual the team drank too much of its own koolaid. They cant seem to stop doing it.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

I couldn't watch the game. But everybody who asked me about the game this week I gave the same answer to ... we always know how to lose to bad teams, and do it once or twice every year.

Why? I would love to be a fly on the wall when Rooney and GM and Tomlin sit down and discuss this.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I've resigned myself to the knowledge this is just how it's going to always be under Tomlin -- they'll lose games to the bottom-feeders that they ought to win. It makes it difficult for them to secure a playoff berth, and nearly impossible to ever get a much-needed first-round bye. Maybe they'll get hot and go on a Super Bowl run, but their chances are greatly diminished because they can't take care of business against poor teams.

If there's a positive to bring out of today, all the other teams in the AFC North lost, so the Steelers didn't lose any ground in relation to them.

[Iron City Inc.]

The d line and entire front 7 for that matter has got to get off blocks. Not sure the total hits on RT but he had way to much time and we paid the price. Check downs were there all day we need to take those a little more often. Throwing the ball away is not bad sometimes it's the only play and not forcing it into coverage like the pass Ben got hurt on. Poor performance all around.

[NorthCoast]

Tomlin didn't want to show too much for Belichick to gameplan against......

[BURGH86STEEL]

Burgh, if our players collectively muck it up *every* time we play a lower team, then do you not think there's something deeper?
Once, twice, three times, I'd understand. But to have some variation on the same set of excuses ready *every* time we play a team with a significantly poor record is kinda lame.

Our O and D *never* show up to these games. We also have many injuries specifically for these games, but to claim that we are the only team on the field with injuries is naive. The team we play has those too.

Our coaches are lame. Live with it. They seem to know how to deal with tougher opposition, but with the really lame teams they have no clue.

I don't believe it's every time. I think if it were every time then Tomlin would have a losing record as the HC. I think Tomlin is a good coach. I guess if you feel Tomlin is a problem then which coach will come in here and win every game vs lesser opposition in a league full of so much parity? Outside of BB who has more experience and a history of "shady issues" name a coach. The whole our coaches are lame changes from week to week for some fans based on if the team losses or wins so..........

Records don't mean anything when teams face off vs one another. A team with a lesser record has the talent to win. The NFL isn't college. I think some Steelers fan have superiority complex.

The defense kept the team in the game for the first half. The offenses turnovers, inability to sustain drives, poor QB play, and score put to much pressure on a really short handed defense. When the players don't perform then the coaches will appear to be lame.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

tomlins record against sub 500 teams isn't very good. On the road its 5-11 in the last 16 according to 93.7 the fan

Absolving the head coach of any blame for that doesn't hold water.

As BH pointed out it makes it extremely difficult to get a bye and make a deep run. Disappointed to say the least in today's performance on the grass

[BradshawsHairdresser]

It's happening often enough that folks are taking notice:

www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/the-steelers-record-against-terrible-teams-remains-terrible-after-loss-to-dolphins/

[Starlifter]

It's happening often enough that folks are taking notice:

www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/the-steelers-record-against-terrible-teams-remains-terrible-after-loss-to-dolphins/

indeed. and while i'm not sure it's a great comparison - i'm also wondering about tomlins propensity for squandering large leads. We all know about cowher's record when up by 11 or more (and that doesn't mean they weren't all close at the finish) - but i never feel safe with any lead any more.