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Steelers vs. the NFL in the Mike Tomlin Era

Let's see how the Pittsburgh Steelers fare against the rest of the NFL over the course of the past two regular seasons, Mike Tomlin's first two years as the head coach.

 

Top Regular Season Records 2007-2008
Team 2007 Record 2008 Record Total Record
New England 16-0 8-5 24-5
Indianapolis
13-3 9-4 22-7
Tennessee
10-6
12-1
22-7
New York (N) 10-6 11-2 21-8
Dallas 13-3 8-5 21-8
Pittsburgh 10-6 10-3 20-9
Tampa Bay 9-7 9-3 18-10
Green Bay 13-3 5-8 18-11
San Diego 11-5 5-8 16-13
AZ, CAR MIN, WAS also With 16

 

This isn't supposed to be overly persuasive or anything. Reality is we've been about average when it comes to the top third of the league's teams. That puts us in about the top 15-20% for the league, but as Steelers fans, I can understand us wanting even more. Not to mention success in the playoffs. But I've always thought that too much emphasis is placed on that alone when judging overall success. Marty Schottenheimer comes to mind as someone who got a bum rapt due to playoff flameouts. Fact is though he's one of the greatest most consistent coaches in league history.

Anyway, there's no denying that the front office has some tough decisions to make this offseason. On the one hand, it may be easy to think things are going along just fine, and that no substantive moves need to be made personnel or coaching wise. But I think to take this team to the next level in terms of regular season competitiveness, we may need to, both along the line and at offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Maybe even at running backs coach. Of all the banter here at BTSC, not a soul, myself included, has mentioned the absence of Dick Hoak, who we interviewed this year, as a factor in the retardation of the running game's development in recent years.

All that said, not bad! For all our problems and all our injuries...we remain one of the league's most competitive franchises, even as we break in a new coaching regime and go to battle with a undermanned line.

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Dick Hoak

Interesting point re: absence of Dick Hoak. It is easy to say problems are re: lack of The bus, FWP’s injuries, bad offensive line, etc.

Being in the top 1/3 does get a team into the playoffs.

by tenthmtnman on Dec 8, 2008 10:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Really...

nothing better to do on this most pleasent of Monday mornings than bash B.A. and coach Z. I mean where is that Steelers’ fan appreciation of continuity when you need it. Sheesh!

I’ll say this: Anyone who is willing to admitt how foolish all of those calls for special teams coach Ligashesky’s head last year were, and how wrong they (the fans) were in blaming him for all of the team’s woes; and how if the Steelers were operated by fans, we would make the Lions look good, because there would be a new coach/coordinator every month (sometimes every week), then I will hear your complaint with the offensive coordinator.

 Otherwise, give it a break. Really. I mean we just won our 10th game in 13, during a season when any sensible person would have been happy with 9, despite playing the majority of the year with only one returning starter on the o-line, without our top 2 RBs for half the year, a quaterback who has been injured since week one, and a fouth string CB for the past couple of weeks.

by Rougue_Behaviorist on Dec 8, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Tomlin

Well, so far, Tomlin has helped make our defense one of the best ever, and he has fixed our STs coverage units. Next year, he will need to improve the offense. Based on his success in his areas of focus so far, I think we’ll be fine long term. Certainly, Tomlin will have to decide if BA and Z need to go. At this point, I’d be more inclined to replace BA and keep Z. The OL has finally begun to show some cohesion before this game, and I don’t think we have great talent on the OL. But, BA continues to be infuriatingly inconsistent in his playcalling.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 8, 2008 2:29 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

TOMLIN IS THE MAN!!!

He reminds me a lot like John Madden, always celebrating and “geling” with players on a consistent basis. It’s almost as if the team looks up to him as a “player captain” and not some coach they have to take orders from. I think that gives the team hope in the face of adversery. What I mean is that yeasterday when we were at 13-3 with seven minutes left we didn’t have that look like “We’re done and coach is going to let us have an earful after the game” no, they had that look like “we going to finish this game and give it all we got!” Tomlin just instills belief in the players, kinda like Cower did but Cower was a bit too critical when players f***** up on plays, he was always right there to tell you what you what you did wrong when the players came to the sideline. Tomlin is a great coach and fun to watch, he builds a comradory with the players in a special way. He is not like the other coaches who just clap their hands when a touchdown is made or just sit there like “Bill Belichek” with a stern face expecting perfection when the team scores acting like some damn general out there. (F%$@ Bellicheck!!) I think Tomlin is a very key part in th steeler organization.

As for T.O., what a classless individual. he’s 35 and is on the sideline crying like a baby because he didn’t get enough passes thrown to him. Then he goes to the media room and totally says “I’m going to go out there and keep doing my job” all out there for himself. I gove my upmost respect for Jason Witten for taking the blame although I thought that Romo threw it too early and didn’t allow Witten to finish his route. even Romo took the blame in the press room. But T.O. is just a waste, he is a curse to any team that gives him a contract. The attitude is not going to win championships for you T.O. so suck it up and accept your mistakes.

by SteelChad88 on Dec 8, 2008 3:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Draft Day

will be interesting to see the draft next year, and hoping we can draft a bunch of monsters for the O-Line

and yes, agree that a coaching change/addition will be interesting to follow as well.

by BoiseSteeler on Dec 8, 2008 3:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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