The Pittsburgh Steelers, their fans, and the national media don’t often agree on many subjects. Player safety initiatives that have watered down the game have been complained about in Pittsburgh since Jack Lambert and Terry Bradshaw started the trend in 1979. The Steelers, led by Dan Rooney, complained about minority hiring practices in the NFL and forced the league to adopt the Rooney Rule. Most of the league treats it as a joke, but it is on the books.
Matt Freed / AP Photo
Steelers OC Matt Canada called plays from the sideline for the first time on Thursday night against the Titans.
Recently, a phenomenon in the NFL national media is to ignore or dismiss the comments of local media and the significant portion of the fan base that does not approve of Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Fans are no longer enamored with Tomlinisms after his decision to retain Matt Canada was the straw that broke the back of Steeler Nation.
The issues run deep with Tomlin, but if you watch the endless national debate shows or read articles like the one published on The Ringer by Steven Ruiz on Monday, you might not know it. There is a massive disconnect between reality and the praise Tomlin gets nationally. Andrew Fillipponi from The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller took to social media to bring attention to the Steelers head coach being named as a Coach of the Year candidate in the NFL.
The Ringer has named Mike Tomlin its NFL Coach of the Year at the midway point. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/SwRObKAeu9
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) November 6, 2023
The arguments in support of Tomlin are mind-boggling. Empty talking heads are free to admit that the Steelers are bad on offense, bad on defense, and have a substandard quarterback in Kenny Pickett. The rush to call Pickett a bust is embarrassing. He is 12-5 over his last 17 games. However, Tomlin gets no blame for the Steelers' problems, and all of the credit for the one score wins.
.avif/16847185541057-544x306.jpg "Steelers Kenny Pickett")
Lapresse
Steelers' Kenny Pickett walks off with a 28-14 win against Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers have only won two games by more than one score in the Pickett era. They beat the Andy Dalton-led New Orleans Saints 20-10 to open the second half of the 2022 season and the Cleveland Browns 28-14 in the final game of the 2022 season. The good news is that Pickett is 10-1 in one-score games he has finished. He is 2-7 in games decided by more than one score. Essentially, the Steelers either get blown out or win close games. That is hardly the mark of excellent coaching with the current Steelers roster.
Pickett and George Pickens were the highest-rated passing duo in 2022. Diontae Johnson was named as the best route runner in the NFL by ESPN at the end of last season. The Steelers drafted Najee Harris in the first round to help an aging Ben Roethlisberger, and Jaylen Warren is pushing him out of Pittsburgh despite Tomlin's best efforts to hold him back.
Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA TODAY Sports
Steelers linebacker TJ Watt sacks Las Vegas Raiders Jimmy Garoppolo during Pittsburgh's 2023 Week 3 victory.
TJ Watt is the best defensive player on the planet, and the Steelers spend an excessive amount of money on Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Alex Highsmith. Teryl Austin and Tomlin have assembled a defense that depends entirely on splash plays to win football games. The fact that this defense is in the bottom three in the NFL in yards allowed should be a fireable offense. Instead, it is drawing Coach of the Year votes for a defensive-minded head coach.
Tomlin is not held to account for wasting one of the most talented Steelers rosters in years. Pittsburgh has kept Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., and Keeanu Benton on limited snap counts or the bench for half of the 2023 season. Tomlin and Canada refuse to play the best version of their offensive line. It is not good coaching to keep your best players on the bench.
Associated Press
Steelers rookie OT Broderick Jones.
Pittsburgh needs to perform at a higher level on offense or defense. The Steelers make poor decisions about who is on the field and couple that with the most basic schemes in the NFL. The exotic blitz packages of the Dick LeBeau era are long gone. Multiple opposing defenses are calling out the plays before the snap. The Steelers are poorly coached, and for some reason, that fact is being ignored. National commentators like ESPN's Mike Greenberg have claimed the Steelers are "Tomlining" their way to a winning record.
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw Issues Inspired Defense Of Kenny Pickett
It is almost a badge of honor to them that the team performs poorly for three quarters, and Pickett bails them out in the fourth quarter. The second-year quarterback does not enjoy the same blind coverage as his head coach. Outside of an emotional Bradshaw outburst after the team beat the Los Angeles Rams, it is as popular to blame Pickett as it is to give Tomlin credit. The Steelers' current trajectory is a recipe for a first-round playoff embarrassment again. It's a feat that should generate scorn, not support, for NFL Coach of the Year.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Does supporting Tomlin for NFL Coach of the Year make you angry? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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