I am squeezing in a vacation this week before heading off to training camp for what might be seven months of football. But the Steelers have stayed active.
Thursday, the team announced it has signed Mike Tomlin to a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2018 season.
If Tomlin sees that contract through, 2018 will be his 12th season with the team.
It would also mean the Steelers will have had just three head coaches since 1969, a span of 50 years.
Think about that for a second. I'm entering my 23rd season of covering the Steelers on a full-time basis. And the team has had just two head coaches in that span. It also has had just two general managers in that same period of time.
That is as close to stability as you will get in the NFL.
Whether you like or don't like Tomlin, you have to respect the job he has done with the Steelers. The team has gone to two Super Bowls with him at the helm and has never had a losing season.
But by the time this contract is up, we will likely see where the team is headed in the future. By 2018, the Steelers will likely have drafted Ben Roethlisberger's eventual replacement.
If Mr. T doesn't bring the team to the promise land in the next three years, with the talent we have I think they look for a new coach..
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't bet on it. Plus, I think they could surprise this year. The offense could be the best in the NFL. And the defense should be better, if only slightly. But look at the Steelers roster vs. Green Bay. Similar across the board. Packers are the chic Super Bowl pick. Steelers widely picked third in their division.
ReplyDeleteTomlin is a likable coach who works well with the media and fans. He does a good job keeping players in check and motivated. He's more aggressive on offense that Cowher ever was. He's done a great job putting our offense together the last 3 years.
ReplyDeleteThe only criticisms I could level at him are clock management (bad) and the sharp decline of our ability to draft and develop defensive players since he took over as coach. Big drop off there. He relied on the Cowher vets as long as possible and now his ability to develop Shazier, Jones, and Dupree will determine the fate of our defense.
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ReplyDeletewelp you all know I'm not the biggest Tomlin fan but hard to argue stability when the team appears to be on an upswing. Can't have his contract be a distraction.
ReplyDeleteBut I do think Tomlin has done a nice job the past season and a half. Don't know how much input he had to the Lebeau move, I assume a significant amount, and that was not an easy decision but I think the right one. I don't like some of the things he says and how he says them, plus his clock management is terrible, but I've come to learn there aren't a lot of good coaches in the NFL. If there were, there wouldn't be crazy head coaching hires ever year.
i think we should temper expectations for the offense. they played very well at times last year, but also struggled mightily in the red zone. that is a major issue. considering the schedule last year was probably more favorable than what they will face this year, maybe we shouldn't expect continued improvement.
ReplyDeletealso, I think the greatest aid to an improving offense will be a better defense that generates more turnovers.
Marc I do agree with u to some extent about the offense, mainly the red zone offense (they fix that even a little bit and BAM! this team just might be super bowl bound). BUT! The schedule had NOTHING to do with it; 5-4 against under .500 teams, 6-1 against over .500 teams- With the schedule being full of over .500 teams this year (and even that is no way to predict anything cause teams change a lot!) it actually bodes well for the offense
ReplyDeleteTomlin has done an incredible job riding big Ben's coat tails.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Yeah, the 2008 defense which is one of the greatest of all time must have been riding Ben's coat tails too.
ReplyDeleteI can name lots of head coaches who wouldn't have a Superbowl ring without a HoF Quarterback. Conversely, I can name several who haven't won a Superbowl with a HoF quarterback. Let's face it, a great quarterback is the cornerstone of a Superbowl franchise but it also requires good coaching, and a lot of other talented players. Tomlin might not make the list of all time great coaches (at least not yet) but he's one of the better coaches in the league and he's exactly the coach this team needs.
ReplyDeletehow's browns rolls look dale ?
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