Kinkhabwala: Steelers' Mike Tomlin Is Responsible For Dreadful Quarterback Situation In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers raised fans' hopes to astronomical levels by defying all the odds and making it to the postseason with their third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph. Despite fans thinking during Weeks 13-15 that there was almost zero chance of making the playoffs, the team persevered. Then when they went on to lose to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card game, it immediately led to the resurgence of finger-pointing. The same fans that were suggesting Head Coach Mike Tomlin deserve Coach of the Year for taking this roster to the playoffs, were now saying that Tomlin should be fired for not winning a postseason game since 2017.

This has led to an increase in the already simmering questions about what will or should happen with Tomlin during the offseason. Will he be fired by the Rooney family, or will he choose to step away? The majority of NFL insiders, former players, and those in the know feel that it is extremely unlikely that Tomlin will be fired. It is just now how the Rooney's operate. They have only had three head coaches in more than 50 years. On Tuesday, Tomlin put all rumors to rest.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Has No One To Blame But Himself

One member of the media, Aditi Kinkhabwala, who works for CBS Sports and has been a fixture in Pittsburgh and the AFC North for years, is saying that she thinks Tomlin has to take responsibility for where this team is currently. She recently appeared on SteelerNation.com's Pod Me Up podcast which is hosted by former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex and Cleveland Browns superfan Rody Rodawalt.

Rodawalt told her that from his perspective, he has been in awe of Tomlin for years for what he is always able to do with his rosters. He said that was especially true this year. Tomlin had what was widely regarded as such a ragtag group of players and he was able to go 5-1 in the division, let alone somehow make it to the playoffs with Rudolph at quarterback. Kinkhabwala said that she gets that, but she also sees it from a different angle.  

"There are two ways to look at everything, you can say that, yes, but that roster also lies at his feet. Because he has more say than just about anybody in who is chosen, who is selected. He has been in lockstep with Kevin Colbert the whole time and now he has that with Omar Khan."

She went on to add that General Manager Omar Khan's background is not in player personnel. This means that Tomlin had a lot of say in who the team picked up and drafted. With Tomlin's very strong personality, she said it seemed unlikely that Khan was fighting him over player selection. 

There is more to it than that. Kinkhabwala said that Tomlin also has a responsibility to ensure those players are properly developed. 

"It was a very good draft, I will say that. But when you talk about personnel and mismanagement of personnel and development of personnel, that is also on the head coach," added Kinkhabwala. "You can sit here and say look at what he did with these players and certain things, but you can also say Matt Canada is at his feet. And entrusting a young quarterback to an offensive coordinator who had no experience and one could argue no standing to be an offensive coordinator in the National Football League, well ok, so chicken or egg?

She went on to say that we have seen with other teams, like the Baltimore Ravens, where they make coaching adjustments so that they are meeting the needs of their offense. She mentioned how Head Coach of the Ravens, John Harbaugh made coaching changes for both Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson. Kinkhabwala said that we have all witnessed the impact of great coaching, and seen what it can do for young players. She doesn't feel that Tomlin made those crucial decisions for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett, particularly by both hiring and retaining Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada for as long as he did. 

"You can sit here and say Mike Tomlin didn't have great quarterback play this year, but how much of that is on Mike Tomlin?"

This leaves the Steelers with a lot of difficult decisions to make during the offseason. However, not much can be done until Tomlin decides his future with the team. On the heels of that decision, either Tomlin or the new coach will have to select a new coordinator, hopefully someone from the outside who is a bit more of a modern play-caller. They will also have to determine if Pickett really has what it takes to be the quarterback of the future or does he need to be replaced. 

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