What does a Mike Tomlin coached football team and a movie have in common? Give up? No you don’t. You know the answer. It’s always the same ending. Ever watch your favorite movie over and over? Nothing changes, does it? The Steelers’ season always follows suit. Build up hopes. You know, winning the division, possibly breaking the playoff win drought and finding the next franchise quarterback as of recent years. None and I mean none of it has come of fruition.
It’s a pipe dream to think Tomlin would ever change his ways. Hey, the guy has never had a losing season. Why complain? If it’s good enough for Steeler President Art Rooney II, then the loyal fans should just keep supporting. After all, wouldn't the people in places like Cleveland, Arizona, and Jacksonville be thrilled to death to just be a winner for all those years in a row. The expectations in Pittsburgh are much deeper from a base that has been spoiled since the 70’s with six Lombardi Trophies in the showcase outside of the offices at 3400 Water Street.
The organization is built on loyalty and that’s to a fault. “Coach T” as the players like to refer to Mike Tomlin, has been nothing short of much disappointment and that is “the standard” that has been set for several years. His playoff record dating back to his Super Bowl XLV appearance in which the Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rogers is a putrid 8-10. Subtract the fact that He had a 5-2 record in the playoffs and a Super Bowl under his belt in his first four years and his record in the playoffs over the next 13 years is 3-8. How does one maintain a lack of success outside of a regular season non-losing record and not be on the hot seat EVER in 13 years?
I would point the finger first of all at his hiring practices. He does not hire guys with a high pedigree. Instead he dips into the pool of mediocrity oftentimes in hopes of catching lightning in the bottle with an assistant or two. Last off season he managed to hire Arthur Smith after he was dismissed as the Atlanta Falcons Head Coach. Smith had a good run prior to his head coaching stint as the Offensive Coordinator in Tennessee. It was smash mouth football with running back Derrick Henry leading the way and Quarterback Ryan Tannehill asked to manage the games. His two years earned him that shot as a Head Coach based on the numbers his offense produced and with jumping from a 9-7 record year one to 11-5 his second year at the helm of play calling for the offense. His conservative run first approach with high output from tight ends was exactly what Tomlin was looking for. However, Smith had spent several years in the Titans organization, had rapport with the players and built from what was already established. Not the case in Pittsburgh at all. A lack of creativity and not using the middle of the field when passing has been his staple for the Pittsburgh offense. He is coaching under a man who still likes to run the Tampa 2 defense and when the chips are on the table rely on his defense to bail him out. That should be no problem with a basic offense and one of the highest paid defenses in the league, let’s jump in a time capsule back to 80’s and 90’s style of football. Smith can be given somewhat of a pass because all game plans must run over Tomlin’s desk.
Speaking of defense 51.55% of the Pittsburgh payroll is spent on guys like Watt, Fitzpatrick, Heyward, Queen, etc. That’s tops in the NFL in 2024 but the defense ranks 9th in the league. Once again, Tomlin had the opportunity to change the mentality and approach by changing the defensive coordinator last offseason and upgrading significantly by hiring or shall we say promoting Brian Flores but instead they inked Austin to a two year extension. Say it isn’t so. Austin was the secondary coach of the Baltimore Ravens in 2011 when they won the Super Bowl and also the man who was fired halfway into his first season as Defensive Coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He had a failed stint with Detroit as well from 2014-2017 as DC. I am not sure what inspires the Steelers or particularly Mike Tomlin to make these hires but the body of work is awful and with the same staff essentially returning on defense with the same failed philosophy the players need to find a way to catapult their unit into the top 3 in the playoffs.
Blame whoever you’d like,players, owner, towel boy, you can blame Taylor Swift if you really want but the bottom line is this Mike Tomlin’s team and it’s looking like the same old,same old once again.
