Philadelphia fired coach Doug Pederson. He and the Eagles received the Super Bowl three years in the past.
Mike Tomlin, in the meantime, has a job for all times in Pittsburgh.
Tomlin has presided over late-season collapses in every of the final three years: The Steelers went from 7-2-1 to 9-6-1 and no playoffs in 2018; from 8-5 to 8-Eight and no playoffs in 2019; from 11-0 to 12-Four and a first-game playoff exit this season. In 2017, the Steelers misplaced their first playoff sport to lower-seeded Jacksonville at Heinz Field, trailing 21-Zero after lower than 19 minutes.
The Steelers have three playoff victories in 10 years. That’s regardless of having a Hall of Fame quarterback and a number of superior expertise. Their 3-6 postseason file in that span contains losses to jabroni QBs Tim Tebow and Blake Bortles.
In their newest playoff debacle, the Steelers have been favored by six at house vs. Cleveland on Sunday. The Browns have been crippled by covid and harm. The Steelers trailed 7-Zero after one snap, 28-Zero after one quarter. They misplaced 48-37, however it wasn’t almost that shut.
Tomlin acquired badly outcoached, and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t even there. Tomlin’s sport administration revealed him dwelling in his fears. That’s his new regular.
Sunday night time at Heinz Field was whole humiliation.
Chase Claypool acquired over it pretty fast. The rookie receiver was on TikTok lower than 24 hours after the defeat. He simply dismissed dropping as a result of the Browns would get “clapped” by Kansas City within the playoffs’ subsequent spherical. “It’s all good,” Claypool stated.
It’s not “all good.” The Steelers’ tradition is in disarray. No leaders, solely veterans. Much of the staff is immature and unfocused. The remainder of the staff received’t repair it.
That is a litany of excrement. A coach with Tomlin’s latest resume wouldn’t keep employed wherever however Pittsburgh. His largest feats are historic historical past.
Tomlin’s tenure isn’t getting higher. It’s getting a lot worse. None of the above was fluky. The airplane has crashed into the mountain.
But Tomlin will coach the Steelers so long as he needs to.
Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season. Huzzah. Should a franchise that has received six Super Bowls content material itself with a manufactured regular-season quasi-accomplishment? Hey, keep in mind when Antonio Brown had at the least 5 catches for 50 yards or extra in 35 straight video games?
“The Steelers couldn’t get a greater coach than Tomlin.” That’s usually stated.
But the Steelers changed Bill Cowher. They changed Chuck Noll, who could be one of the best coach ever. (That was after letting Noll stick round at the least a half-decade too lengthy.) The franchise hasn’t had an issue discovering expertise to function head coach.
Look on the scenario objectively. There’s no logical purpose to retain Tomlin apart from the concept the Steelers by no means hearth coaches. They’ve had three coaches since 1969.
Indulging that on the expense of ignoring actuality is a slippery slope.
But that’s “the Steelers approach.” How the franchise operates.
But “the Steelers approach” isn’t working. It doesn’t exist anymore. It expired with Dan Rooney. The franchise will get bullied by its personal gamers. That’s the brand new “Steelers approach.”
What has to occur earlier than Tomlin will get fired? The Eagles went 4-11-1. Is that’s what’s wanted? That in all probability received’t occur subsequent season. But it’s not far off.
Can Tomlin repair 4-11-1 or 3-13 or 5-11 or 6-10? (He simply flushed 11-Zero down the bathroom.)
Can Tomlin rebuild the Steelers? He by no means has had to.
Tomlin can be again. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can be, too. Quality can be subtracted from the roster by way of free company and wage cap cuts.
Things received’t change, apart from the more serious. The Steelers will postpone rebuilding until it’s unmanageable.
The answer: Fire a coordinator or two. Tomlin runs the protection, Roethlisberger the offense. But sack those that nominally try this. Placate the marks. Slap a butterfly sew on a gunshot wound.
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Mark Madden Columns | Sports | Steelers/NFL
