Mike Tomlin Talks Raiders Loss At His Press Conference

Mike Tomlin Is Making Moves, But All the Wrong Ones

Why This Man, Kirby Wilson, SHOULD Be A Change
Mike Tomlin  Makes

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, sees a team that is 2-5 and in need of an overhaul.  Unlike the 2010 Tomlin that declared that changes would be made and the Steelers would "unleash hell" in the month of December...and nothing happened, the head coach is making moves for a team that is searching for an answer.  The only problem is that Tomlin is making the wrong moves.

The Steelers released punter Zoltan Mesko yesterday and demoted Jarvis Jones to 2nd string behind Jason Worilds.  I have been a harsh critic of Zoltan Mesko and his erratic, downright pitiful, and as Tomlin called it "Junior Varsity" punting this season.  This move is long overdue, but will it make a difference in the team winning and losing?  No.  Jarvis Jones hasn't been the impact player that people expected and although has shown flashes of the SEC player that dominated competition at Georgia, the bright spots have been outweighed by the missed tackles and blown assignments.  So, with Jones out, re-enter Jason Worilds as the OLB that will line up across from Lamarr Woodley.  Jason Worilds knows his assignments, but thats about the only difference between the two OLBs at this point.  Will benching Jarvis Jones make a big difference in the team winning and losing?  Probably not.

Tomlin had to make moves to appease the media and fan base, but if you know this team and you know the people in the organization you know that these moves were simply not enough.  If Mike Tomlin truly wants to make changes he will make moves that will send a message, not just moves that make tiny ripples in the overall ocean that is the Pittsburgh Steelers team.  One move I would make is to start playing Shamarko Thomas at safety more and more for Ryan Clark.  Someone tell me what Ryan Clark brings to this team that is helping them win?  Exactly, he has been more of a detriment than an asset.  Signing Max Starks again would at least add quality depth at a position that has been horrendous for the Steelers.  The biggest move that I want Tomlin to make is to tell Todd Haley that his services are no longer needed anymore.  Think back to the Baltimore Ravens last season.  Cam Cameron gets canned mid season and the offense thrives because of it.  I don't think Todd Haley is the main problem with the Steelers' offense, but it might just be time to eliminate one of the problems and let someone like RB Coach Kirby Wilson call the plays for the duration of the season.  Could it get worse than what it already is?  I don't think so.

I realize Tomlin is between a rock and a hard place, but changes need to be made...not so much for this season, but the future.  If you constantly threat to make changes and nothing ever changes, then the players know you are doing nothing but blowing smoke you know where, and that does no one any good.

Coach Tomlin's Post Game Press Conference Following Steelers Loss

Coach Tomlin Press Conference Highlights

Coaches Get Paid To Coach, Not Talk

Its Not Always Giggles and Smiles at Coach T's Pressers...
Nor should it be.

I listen to the whiplash effect every Tuesday afternoon / evening and Wednesday morning when Mike Tomlin has his weekly press conference at 12pm on Tuesdays.  The whiplash effect is how people react to the coach and what he says during that 20min time span where the coach looks like a caged animal as he is forced to answer questions from media that often ask the dumbest questions imaginable.  The reaction from the said media is often time ridiculous and outlandish as they make it seem like Mike Tomlin gets paid and should be gauged by his comments to the media and not what his team's performance was the past week.  Remember folks, coaches get paid to coach, not to talk to the media.

Some of the biggest criticism of Tomlin this week were his comments in regards to rookie RB Le'Veon Bell.  Its obvious that Tomlin likes Le'Veon Bell.  You can tell that Tomlin wanted him in the draft, and in a draft where alot of running backs were still on the board and the Steelers chose Bell over other RBs like Eddie Lacy, alot of criticism can come with a decision like that.  With that said, Tomlin takes criticism of Bell personally and as Tomlin would say...OBVIOUSLY.  When you stick your neck out to draft a player, you are putting yourself "out there".  However, the media is going bonkers over Mike Tomlin's comments about how he "doesn't care what you (the media) say or write..." and how Bell might be impacted by negative comments.  To counteract the possible negative publicity, Tomlin decided to "pump up" the young RB through comments made at his press conferences.  As a coach myself, this all makes sense to me, but to some...its darn near blasphemy.

It has even gotten to the point where people are criticizing Tomlin's persona and attitude during the press conferences.  Some fans are saying that if he is going to be short, terse, and stern with the media then maybe he shouldn't be the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Hold on a second, are people forgetting Bill Cowher?  Anyone remember Bill Cowher's press conferences besides the funky "Bill Cosby" sweaters?  The man absolutely despised the pressers and at times got so mad he walked out of the press conference early.  People who criticize Tomlin for his etiquette have underlying issues with him as a coach (or person) because Cowher did the same stuff, and to be honest was worse.

I listen to Pittsburgh sports radio as much as I can to get a pulse on what the Steel City thinks and feels about the "Big 3" sports teams.  To me, this story is an absolute NON STORY.  Coaches get paid to coach, not to talk to the media.  Is it part of the job?  Yes, but that isn't the primary job description.  I could care less what Mike Tomlin says.  I DO care about how the team responds to Mike Tomlin as a coach and how they play on the field.  These last 2 games have been a pleasant surprise after the 0-4 start.  Seems like whatever Tomlin is doing is working.  In this case, Mike Tomlin could cuss out every fan of SteelerNation for all I care...his job is getting the team to win, not to make the media, or even the fans for that matter, happy. Again, just my humble opinion.

This Win Goes to the Steelers Coaching Staff

Todd Haley is Due Some Credit from SteelerNation Today

Did I really just write that?  Is that really the title of this article?  Am I still drunk off of the huge Steelers win over the much maligned Baltimore Ravens that essentially kept the Steelers' hopes alive?  Maybe I am, but the title is true.  If I were to give a game ball to someone for the Steelers win, it wouldn't be Ben Roethlisberger, Shaun Suisham, Heath Miller, Ike Taylor, or any other play.  No there would be 3 main game balls, and they would go to Mike Tomlin, Todd Haley, and Dick Lebeau.

I have been a harsh critic for the Steelers' coaching staff...all of them.  I've ripped Mike Tomlin, Dick Lebeau, and especially Todd Haley.  However, you have to give credit where credit is due.  I give Tomlin tons of credit for the job he has done with the team morale and keeping the players focused on the task at hand.  The Steelers could have easily slipped into mediocrity after starting the year 0-4, but during the bye week Tomlin kept the team focused, and the team has responded with 2 straight wins against quality competition.  Mike Tomlin isn't the best game manager, but his motivational techniques have worked so far this season, and he will have to remain on his "A Game" for this team to make something out of nothing.

Dick Lebeau is hard to criticize.  The man is a Hall of Famer and a top notch coach...period.  However, sometimes he tends to out think himself and become too predictable in his defensive play calling.  That was not the case yesterday.  The Steelers did something that the Ravens never expected...they played a TON of nickel defense.  They kept the Ravens guessing with players all standing at the line of scrimmage, using rookie Shamarko Thomas as a safety / CB in those situations, and were blitzing off the edges more in this game than they have all season.  Don't think this effected the Ravens?  It certainly did.  The corner pressure from Lamarr Woodley and the defensive backs blitzing caused Flacco to constantly be out of rhythm and never get into a groove as an offense.  One of the best decisions that Lebeau made was to deploy a "spy" on the Ravens running backs.  On passing downs you saw the Steelers most versatile defender, Lawrence Timmons, keyed on Ray Rice.  Rice got his yards, but he didn't have that back breaking play that seemed to turn the tide in the game.  No, Lebeau left the usual play book and put some wrinkles in, and it made a HUGE difference in the game.

No one should get more credit this morning that Todd Haley and the offensive coaching staff.  His wrinkles were ones that had the Ravens guessing.  What was more impressive?  Using the wildcat offense?  Deploying extra tackles to open up running lanes?  Showing balance for the first time this year?  How about all of them?!  The Steelers for the second week in a row look like an offense that has the capabilities to be 2 things: 1 - Dynamic and 2 - Unpredictable.  The latter is the most exciting.  The Steelers have utilized gadget plays, run screens, deployed the Wild Cat offense, and even have had WRs throwing the football.  If you are unpredictable, the defense is constantly guessing, and that is EXACTLY what happened on Sunday against a good Ravens defense.  The Ravens were never able to "pin their ears back" and get after the QB like they want.  The Steelers stayed with the running game, and putting Guy Whimper and Mike Adams in the lineup to help open running lanes made a huge difference (did I really just type that?).  The Steelers rushed for over 100yds as a TEAM for the first time this season, and it couldn't have come at a better time.  Throw statistics out the window, the Steelers offense played a great and a lot of that success is due to Todd Haley.

There are a lot of Haley haters out there, and rightfully so, but hopefully SteelerNation realizes that you should be criticized when its warranted, and given praise when praise is due.  Todd Haley and the rest of the Steelers' coaching staff all deserve praise on this Monday after the Steelers beat the Ravens 19-16 at Heinz Field to move to 2-4 on the season.

Mike Tomlin Talks About The Steelers Big Win over Baltimore