The Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has come under criticism repeatedly this season for the Steelers' slow start, Matt Canada’s existence on his staff and no playoff wins since before T.J. Watt became a Pittsburgh Steeler. Some of it is fair and the unfortunate tendency of the media that covers the team closely is to balance out a national media that throws nothing but bouquets at the feet of Tomlin.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Tomlin is an engaging popular personality that inspires a great amount of loyalty from his former players and wows national media personalities in short bursts. He has a chance if the Steelers win against the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns to finish another winning season. Tomlin will get national coach of the year consideration because ESPN and Fox Sports commentators will fall all over themselves about how he dug out of a 2-6 hole to finish 9-8. They will completely ignore the shovel in Tomlin’s hand.
“We were talking about Mike Tomlin and what falls at his feet,” Aditi Kinkhabwala said on 93.7 The Fan. “You might sit in a production meeting, and they (players and coaches) trust you not to say anything publicly, like the receiver ran the wrong route (previously) so we are not sitting there saying that 'so and so threw five dumb interceptions.' The fact that certain mistakes are being made again and again, that is solely on Mike Tomlin and who he is entrusting to handle those responsibilities.”
Kinkhabwala's point on the PM Team W/Poni & Mueller is valid. Tomlin isn’t responsible when Kevin Dotson misses a block that ends up with Kenny Pickett concussed. He isn’t responsible when the Steelers' offense started drives repeatedly in second and thirteen because they thought it was the one time the tight end screen to Zach Gentry might finally work. He is responsible for hiring Matt Canada and allowing him to run a “Saturday-ish” offense per the NFL Network’s Steve Smith.
"Mike Tomlin is not specifically coaching every single player on that roster,” Kinkhabwala told Andrew Fillipponi. “He’s hiring people that he is entrusting to do that. Are those the best people to take these people to the next level? Does he have the people that are designing and creating schematically what needs to be created? It’s ridiculous to think that Mike Tomlin is not one of the best leaders of men, one of the best coaches in the NFL. Does he need a better support staff? Yes. He does.”
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to a game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 18, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
When the national media starts composing their epic poems to Tomlin’s genius, they conveniently leave out that he has no coaching tree. Bruce Arians belongs to Bill Cowher and the Steelers under Tomlin have almost exclusively been promoting coordinators from within the organization. Omar Khan, the general manager worked his way up under Kevin Colbert. It is admirable to promote those who earn an opportunity, but it is self-flagellation to only look within the organization and expect that to be the best person for the job.
“It's not that his message is stale,” Kinkhabwala concluded. “He needs to demand more of his support staff. Art Rooney II is one of the nicest men but is not necessarily disposed in the way that Dan Rooney was and how Art Rooney was when he forced Chuck Noll to fire four of his assistant coaches. As much as it eats at the fan base that the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in six years and three in twelve years, you better believe it bothers the Rooneys.”
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada 2022 during practice ahead of a conference matchup against the New York Jets. | Photo Credit: Chaz Palla / Tribune-Review
Reports are leaking out that the Steelers may be done with Matt Canada when the season ends. If they go outside the organization to hire a new offensive coordinator it will satisfy the fan base and improve the team, but if they just elevate Mike Sullivan? Will that bother the Rooneys enough to do something?
What do you think Steeler Nation? Do you agree that Mike Tomlin is being betrayed by his staff? Please comment below or on my Twitter@thebubbasq.
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