Big Ben on Mike Tomlin's Future in Pittsburgh

[GunnerBill]

The biggest problem in Pittsburgh is not Mike Tomlin. It is they can't find an answer at Quarterback and since Omar Khan took over they have not drafted great. 

 

If they fire Tomlin he'd be hired in minutes. 

[fergie's ire]

Am I the only one whose favorite thing is when the Bills ruin a franchise?  I'm thinking comeback Oilers...Bellichick and the perfect game...and now it seems like the Steelers.  I just love it.

[RyanC883]

21 minutes ago, corta765 said:

There is something to be said for continuity, program, and culture in football. Many of the best orgs in sports do not make drastic changes regularly to mgmt or coach if they consistently are winning ... whereas many of the worst orgs its change after change 24/7.

 

WITH that said... at some point you have to evaluate your goals for your organization and what you are aiming for. The NFL is vastly different from even 10 years ago, coaches messages can run dry at some point (even the best), and saying "hey we appreciate to the max everything you have done but we need to carefully do something new" is a proper approach when the majority of the arrows are pointing down on your direction.

 

The Eagles I have a ton of respect since Lurie took over because they org is consistent from owner to mgmt on what the goals are and the approach. They have had a few coaches since Reid but they do not settle for what they expect and all of the coaches have had anywhere from 3-5 years to implement their program. Additionally they have not had the benefit of a franchise QB since McNabb although Hurts is pretty good, yet have won very consistently in that time.

 

My uncle once said that in football once you have a winning org your goal is to keep that vibrancy and culture with good people for as long as possible without taking a wreckling ball to it. The Bills drought non surprisingly started when Butler and staff was fired who proceeded to help make the Chargers into a strong program.

 

This is true, but Tomlin, as you have stated, has gone stale.  This happens all the time in the NHL, and I think it's happening in NFL locker rooms more where guys just tune-out a HC.  Interestingly, Rodgers said that practice was "poor" the week leading up to the Bills game.  Whose job is that, the HC.  

 

interesting mention with the Eagles.  They fired a SB winning coach, then won another SB.  With the Steelers (perhaps Bills) mindset, Pederson would still be coaching the Eagles.  Actually, Reid would still be coaching (but would he have won there?).  

17 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

The biggest problem in Pittsburgh is not Mike Tomlin. It is they can't find an answer at Quarterback and since Omar Khan took over they have not drafted great. 

 

If they fire Tomlin he'd be hired in minutes. 

 

This is totally bonkers.  Who wanted Pickett.  Answer: Tomlin.  Who wanted Rodgers: Tomlin.  Who loves the overpaid vets on D.  Answer again: Tomlin.  Who won only 1 SB with Big Ben in his prime with a stud team: answer again.....Tomlin.  Tomlin demands total control, which is rediculous.  The Steelers need a total reset (Tomlin likely does as well).  

[GunnerBill]

8

20 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

This is totally bonkers.  Who wanted Pickett.  Answer: Tomlin.  Who wanted Rodgers: Tomlin.  Who loves the overpaid vets on D.  Answer again: Tomlin.  Who won only 1 SB with Big Ben in his prime with a stud team: answer again.....Tomlin.  Tomlin demands total control, which is rediculous.  The Steelers need a total reset (Tomlin likely does as well).  

 

He did have a big say in the Pickett and Rodgers decisions but in both cases he wanted them over the alternative of nothing. He wasn't Kevin Stefanski running Baker out of town because he must have Watson. 

 

Pickett was QB1 in his class now I never loved him or thought he was a first round talent but a team without a QB took a shot on the consensus QB1 at their original drsft spot without trading up. I am not killing anyone for that.... and then wanting Rodgers over Russ and Fields..... I mean that isn't a terrible call. 

 

If you want to say them having no QB since Ben is all on Tomlin it is definitely not. 

 

Their coaching remains consistently better than their talent evaluation and their Quarterbacking. I do think he might need to be encouraged to risk his no losing season record to allow a hard reset of the roster and if he was really resistant to that I would then consider firing him as an owner. But if he said, yep, I'm on board, let's accept one down year, clean up our cap and see where we land then there is no way I'd fire him. He is and remains a very fine football coach.