How good of a coach is MIke Tomlin?

[Legacy User]

I think he's a fantastic coach.

I think LeBeau was holding him back. The Steelers over-reliance on veterans dragged this team down. Arians too to a certain extent. He's no longer weighed down by past-their-prime expensive vets. He's assembled a fearsome amount of talent, on both sides of the ball (aside from Ben, none of "cowher's guys").

last year was very impressive. no more doubt as to who was in charge anymore, it was clear that Tomlin ran the ship and was building and coaching and scheming how he wanted to, and the results speak for themselves. if this continues, combined with his abilities as aaster
motivator, I think he's primed for being an upper-echelon coach. That he managed to get us as far as he did last year with as many injuries and setbacks we suffered and the caliber of schedule we played is very impressive.

Where would you guys rank him?

[Jobu]

Uh oh

[swissvale72]

His players like him...I'll give him that. No matter how, when, where the guy fucks up, none of his guys ever has a bad word to say about him. That's his strength.

Gameday.....he kinda sucks.

That's my thumbnail assessment.

Best coach in town, no doubt, is Mike Sullivan.

[Kodiak]

Yeah, going to have to do better than one WC win in 5 years before I crown him.

If the team regresses this year, I'd replace Tomlin before it's too late for Ben. I see CIN and NE as the only challenges to PIT in the AFC - bar is as low as it has been in a long time.

[Legacy User]

I think Tomlin is a really good coach. His winning percentage speaks for itself, and he's done it without having the luxury of using free agency to add premium talent to his teams. There are too many coaches who do less with more. 2015, Steelers won 10 games against one of the toughest schedules - beating the Cards with Vick and Landry Jones. Given his winning percentage, his clock management must be better than what we perceive - otherwise his success is the longest running anomaly ever. Either that, or the games are rigged. He's not perfect, but he's pretty darn good.

[R_S]

Gameday.....he kinda sucks.

Motivator of men, but doesn't really understand how the clock and timeouts work.

[Mick]

Thing people don't mention is how much his staff likes working for him. Assistant coaches keep turning down promotion offers elsewhere (butler, Haley, etc), basically having to pry Arians and lebeau out with a crowbar. Munchak could have had this job anywhere in the league, OC on probably half the teams. That's a huge factor in how I would rate an HC. Other teams have a good year, they have to replace all their coordinators.

I think he's as good an HC as there is among coaches that aren't bringing new systems into the league. And the 'revolutionary new system guys tend to get all their good ideas stolen within a couple years and afterwards only stand out due to their loyalty to the dumber features in their system. Oh, and he's not a big cheater, which puts him behind that other guy.

[Legacy User]

I think he's a fantastic coach.

I think LeBeau was holding him back. The Steelers over-reliance on veterans dragged this team down. Arians too to a certain extent. He's no longer weighed down by past-their-prime expensive vets. He's assembled a fearsome amount of talent, on both sides of the ball (aside from Ben, none of "cowher's guys").

last year was very impressive. no more doubt as to who was in charge anymore, it was clear that Tomlin ran the ship and was building and coaching and scheming how he wanted to, and the results speak for themselves. if this continues, combined with his abilities as aaster
motivator, I think he's primed for being an upper-echelon coach. That he managed to get us as far as he did last year with as many injuries and setbacks we suffered and the caliber of schedule we played is very impressive.

Where would you guys rank him?

I think he should be fired, and I have THREE very specific reason why!!!

[steeledge]

I think he's a man that's worked himself into a very interesting position, and my position on him as HC is somewhat on the fence...
...I've been coaxed back to the fence after thinking he should have been shown the door multiple times, so there's actual progress here...

While it's obvious that his players really like him and he's good at rallying the troops inside the locker room, outside the locker room his well rehearsed line of bullshit and his bumbling, showboat-in-sunglasses antics can get to be obnoxious at times.
I'd say that he's a master manipulator more than a master motivator (c.f. the handling of one Arians, Bruce), but in any case, his means to an end are starting to work for him and the team.

He "obviously" knows how to shield some of his flaws by surrounding himself with the right people to compensate,
while his arrogance hasn't yet allowed him to even consider others of his "obvious" flaws.
For example, as if they need to be restated, his clock management and his aversion to technological advances and analytics to gain a competitive edge are major shortfalls in his game compared to others in his position.

He has shown signs of maturing into the job, though, for which I have to give him credit.

WARNING: Please don't read this next part if you're hyper-sensitive about such topics -
I think if teflon was a skin color, it would be his, and no, that's not a racist remark, it just implies that he's worked his way into this position and remains there because shit is "not allowed" to stick to him.
Even he will stoop to pulling a race ace out of his sleeve, and claim he's more scrutinized than others when he's backed into a corner...
This is a diversionary tactic that he has also mastered when he needs to...

Any non African-American coach would not get the number of free passes and second chances he's gotten over what's about to be 9 seasons with the same team...
Not in such a "what have you done for me lately" league...
...just ask John Fox, Dom Capers, Chip Kelly, Jim Tomsula, Mike Pettine, Mike Shanahan, Gregg Williams, Tony Sparano, Jim Harbaugh, Dennis Allen, Eric Mangina...

All that said, it's taken quite a long time, but this team is now his...
Success, failure, all of it...

And if things continue to come together as they appear to be, I might find myself on the other side of the fence from where I was...

Here's hoping, and GO STEELERS!!!

[Pabst]

How good of a coach is MIke Tomlin?

I think some peoples' expectations are so far out of whack that it clouds their judgement. Same applies for Colbert.

[Legacy User]

I think he's a man that's worked himself into a very interesting position, and my position on him as HC is somewhat on the fence...
...I've been coaxed back to the fence after thinking he should have been shown the door multiple times, so there's actual progress here...

While it's obvious that his players really like him and he's good at rallying the troops inside the locker room, outside the locker room his well rehearsed line of bullshit and his bumbling, showboat-in-sunglasses antics can get to be obnoxious at times.
I'd say that he's a master manipulator more than a master motivator (c.f. the handling of one Arians, Bruce), but in any case, his means to an end are starting to work for him and the team.

He "obviously" knows how to shield some of his flaws by surrounding himself with the right people to compensate,
while his arrogance hasn't yet allowed him to even consider others of his "obvious" flaws.
For example, as if they need to be restated, his clock management and his aversion to technological advances and analytics to gain a competitive edge are major shortfalls in his game compared to others in his position.

He has shown signs of maturing into the job, though, for which I have to give him credit.

WARNING: Please don't read this next part if you're hyper-sensitive about such topics -
I think if teflon was a skin color, it would be his, and no, that's not a racist remark, it just implies that he's worked his way into this position and remains there because shit is "not allowed" to stick to him.
Even he will stoop to pulling a race ace out of his sleeve, and claim he's more scrutinized than others when he's backed into a corner...
This is a diversionary tactic that he has also mastered when he needs to...

Any non African-American coach would not get the number of free passes and second chances he's gotten over what's about to be 9 seasons with the same team...
Not in such a "what have you done for me lately" league...
...just ask John Fox, Dom Capers, Chip Kelly, Jim Tomsula, Mike Pettine, Mike Shanahan, Gregg Williams, Tony Sparano, Jim Harbaugh, Dennis Allen, Eric Mangina...

All that said, it's taken quite a long time, but this team is now his...
Success, failure, all of it...

And if things continue to come together as they appear to be, I might find myself on the other side of the fence from where I was...

Here's hoping, and GO STEELERS!!!

Deny it all you want, but you're simply saying race plays a major factor in Tomlin keeping his job.

I say it's winning a Super Bowl (only Shanahan on your list has done that), going to another, and working for the Rooney's, the most patient, and successful, owners in NFL history.

Once again I stress Tomlin NEEDS TO BE FIRED, for football reasons only - PERIOD!!!

[steeledge]

Deny it all you want, but you're simply saying race plays a major factor in Tomlin keeping his job.

Then you need to work on your reading comprehension, because I never denied saying that.

Quite the contrary, methinks...

Once again I stress Tomlin NEEDS TO BE FIRED, for football reasons only - PERIOD!!!

you've now stated this multiple times, with zero presentation of evidence to support your position.

I know it's the offseason, but not for my occupation...
I don't have time to "mill" around and be baited into a debate.

Good day to you, sir...

[Pabst]

Any non African-American coach would not get the number of free passes and second chances he's gotten over what's about to be 9 seasons with the same team...

John Harbaugh has finished 3rd in the AFC North for 3 consecutive years
Sean Payton has just completed back to back losing seasons, despite playing in a terrible division
Tom Coughlin missed the playoffs 7/12 years in NY before finally being forced out
Jeff Fisher went 7 years without a playoff win in Tennessee, and has yet to have a winning season with the Rams
Bill Cowher missed the playoffs 3 straight years from 98-00


I could go on.....

[Legacy User]

Deny it all you want, but you're simply saying race plays a major factor in Tomlin keeping his job.

Then you need to work on your reading comprehension, because I never denied saying that.

Quite the contrary, methinks...

Once again I stress Tomlin NEEDS TO BE FIRED, for football reasons only - PERIOD!!!

you've now stated this multiple times, with zero presentation of evidence to support your position.

I know it's the offseason, but not for my occupation...
I don't have time to "mill" around and be baited into a debate.

Good day to you, sir...

Then don't post, if you're so busy. Just wait until you have time to be checked on your statements.
You actually stated why Tomlin should be fired in your post. I have a few more reasons, which I'll outline soon. Nothing too earth-shattering though.

Good day to you too...

[Legacy User]

Any non African-American coach would not get the number of free passes and second chances he's gotten over what's about to be 9 seasons with the same team...

John Harbaugh has finished 3rd in the AFC North for 3 consecutive years
Sean Payton has just completed back to back losing seasons, despite playing in a terrible division
Tom Coughlin missed the playoffs 7/12 years in NY before finally being forced out
Jeff Fisher went 7 years without a playoff win in Tennessee, and has yet to have a winning season with the Rams
Bill Cowher missed the playoffs 3 straight years from 98-00


I could go on.....

Again, I dig your argument, but the NFC south is NOT terrible with Atlanta and Carolina.

[randomsteelerfan]

Any non African-American coach would not get the number of free passes and second chances he's gotten over what's about to be 9 seasons with the same team...
Not in such a "what have you done for me lately" league...

This makes zero sense to me when you consider who Tomlin's bosses are.

Based on the the Rooney's track record, not the NFL's, what has Mikey T done that deserves firing; in their eyes? He hasn't even been mired in a '98-'00 Cowher haze, yet. So, to state that race has any factor whatsoever is pretty much not even in the ballpark.

[Ice]

Atlanta isn't exactly a powerhouse.

[randomsteelerfan]

Deny it all you want, but you're simply saying race plays a major factor in Tomlin keeping his job.

Then you need to work on your reading comprehension, because I never denied saying that.

Quite the contrary, methinks...

Once again I stress Tomlin NEEDS TO BE FIRED, for football reasons only - PERIOD!!!

you've now stated this multiple times, with zero presentation of evidence to support your position.

I know it's the offseason, but not for my occupation...
I don't have time to "mill" around and be baited into a debate.

Good day to you, sir...

Then don't post, if you're so busy. Just wait until you have time to be checked on your statements.
You actually stated why Tomlin should be fired in your post. I have a few more reasons, which I'll outline soon. Nothing too earth-shattering though.

Good day to you too...

I'll bite. Why should MT be fired now. If you're going to list clock management and aversion to analytics, don't bother responding. Otherwise, I'd truly like to hear why.

[Pabst]

Again, I dig your argument, but the NFC south is NOT terrible with Atlanta and Carolina.

Carolina won the division with a sub-.500 record in 2014.
Atlanta hasn't made the postseason in 4 years.
Tampa hasn't made the postseason in 9 years.

[steeledge]

Again, I dig your argument, but the NFC south is NOT terrible with Atlanta and Carolina.

Carolina won the division with a sub-.500 record in 2014.
Atlanta hasn't made the postseason in 4 years.
Tampa hasn't made the postseason in 9 years.

An NFC South team has appeared in 8 of the last 14 NFCC games.
I'd hardly call that terrible...

[Pabst]

An NFC South team has appeared in 8 of the last 14 NFCC games.
I'd hardly call that terrible...

But only 3 out of the last 9, which is the time period in question (i.e. Mike Tomlin's tenure).

Point remains that Sean Payton has been outperformed by Tomlin while being in a weaker division.

[steeledge]

An NFC South team has appeared in 8 of the last 14 NFCC games.
I'd hardly call that terrible...

But only 3 out of the last 9, which is the time period in question (i.e. Mike Tomlin's tenure).

Point remains that Sean Payton has been outperformed by Tomlin while being in a weaker division.

What, 3 of last 9, same as the NFC East?
Is that a "terrible" division, too?

Yeah, I didn't think so either...

Waiter, check please..

[StillMadAtSlobber]

Again, I dig your argument, but the NFC south is NOT terrible with Atlanta and Carolina.

Carolina won the division with a sub-.500 record in 2014.
Atlanta hasn't made the postseason in 4 years.
Tampa hasn't made the postseason in 9 years.

An NFC South team has appeared in 8 of the last 14 NFCC games.
I'd hardly call that terrible...

Terrible no. Statistically its just above average.
Average would be 7 of the last 14 NFCC games.

[Pabst]

I don't have time to "mill" around and be baited into a debate.

Strangely, you've found plenty of time to nitpick the hell out of a minor detail to my overall point.

[jeemie]

Look how long Jeff Fisher kept his job.

Don't tell me non-black coaches don't get passes.

[Ice]

Look how long Jeff Fisher kept his job.

Truly one of the miracles of modern coaching. After the nuclear holocaust, Jeff Fisher will rule the cockroaches.

[Legacy User]

Look how long Jeff Fisher kept his job.

Don't tell me non-black coaches don't get passes.

Agreed. But on the other side of the coin, what black coach has gotten a pass? Other than Jim Caldwell. Unless a white coach completely loses a team, he gets 3 years. Seriously why is Lovie Smith who got jettisoned from Tampa after improving the team out of a job? He got fired because the Bucs didnt want to lose a coach who has NO head coaching experience. Talk about a heck of an esoteric reason to get fired. And this is the SECOND time its happened to him- for the same reason. New coach can handle the QBs better than Lovie.

Black coaches do not get passes, they are on very short leashes and if something goes wrong they are quickly fired. There are 4 black coaches in the league most are at organizations that can't get out of their own way. Lewis is there because NO ONE else wants that job- he's giving the organization a pass. Bowles will not get the pass that Ryan got there, and if the QB comes in and stinks it up- he'll be gone by seasons end. Caldwell got a pass, but like the Bengals he keeps that job because there arent many qualified people who want the job.

So we are saying that Mike Tomlin- who has more SB wins and appearances that Bill Cowher did in his first 8 years- needs a pass? A coach that has overseen the construction of most dynamic offense since the Greatest Show on Turf needs to be worried about his job? So we are saying that a coach who finally gets to put his stamp on the defense and has drafted enough speed, quickness to make the defense the scariest it has been since Blitzburgh needs to be some how be concerned about the esoteric standards that some fans have for the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers? And in the face of injuries to our star players we are more often than not in the position to win games, yeah fire that guy and bring in the dude who has won the Grey Cup. Sign me up for the Niners old coach- he's a yinzer. Lets just suck because we can't make sense of our agendas and the fact that this team is light years beyond where it was 10 years ago. Yeah I get it, loses to bottom feeders irritate me as well. But let us not forget "Slop and Slather" from the old days where we consistently played down to the competition--especially in the playoffs.

Problem is MT could win the next 4 SBs and those with agendas would still want him fired for not going into a V formation at the end of games.

[jeemie]

I'm still waiting with bated breath for Steel40's three football reasons why Mike Tomlin should be fired.

They must be good, since he's made at least four posts setting us up for their eventual revealment.

[Suwanee88]

His players like him...I'll give him that. No matter how, when, where the guy fucks up, none of his guys ever has a bad word to say about him. That's his strength.

Gameday.....he kinda sucks.

That's my thumbnail assessment.

Best coach in town, no doubt, is Mike Sullivan.

Agreed - where do you rank him vs. Hurdle?

[Legacy User]

His players like him...I'll give him that. No matter how, when, where the guy fucks up, none of his guys ever has a bad word to say about him. That's his strength.

Gameday.....he kinda sucks.

That's my thumbnail assessment.

Best coach in town, no doubt, is Mike Sullivan.

Agreed - where do you rank him vs. Hurdle?

I'm not Swiss, but in 2013, Skip Hurdle was the best coach in town, bar none. To bring a team back from 20 straight losing seasons, worst team in the history of professional sports, in just 3 seasons, is monumental, is Noll-esque. Sullivan is good and he's the smart choice now because of this ast season, but I still take Hurdle. Tomlin is also a great coach, but he's struggled for a bit, though this team is on the rise. I'd say we're damn spoiled to have 3 really good coaches right here in the Burgh, baby. Love all 3.