The true Offensive Identity of the Steelers

There has been a tremendous amount of discussion on this blog in the past few days (and years) about what the true offensive identity of the Steelers is, and what it should be. This discussion is mostly centered around whether Pittsburgh should be a run-first team, or get with the times and go to the air by choice. It is of course an issue that goes beyond just the Steelers: in fact, the NY Times' 5th Down blog has an interesting post on the topic today. I came across some information today that I believe will settle the question of what kind of offense the coaches plan to run moving forward once and for all.

Heresy? (via footballnationblogs.com)

From today's press conference with Mike Tomlin:

Q: Were you pleased with the improvement of the running game?

A: I wasn’t pleased because we didn’t win. Ultimately, that’s always going to be the approach that I take. I think the longer that I have this job, I’m less concerned with storylines or personas, if you will.

Pretty vintage Tomlin, right there - the standard of expectation doesn't change, and all that. But keep reading, because here's the money quote:

I’m only concerned simply about winning. I think the great teams are capable of winning in many forms or fashion and playing to their strengths on a week to week basis based on a matchup. I thought a great deal about that, frankly, this offseason. You study a team like New England and they walk into a stadium offensively, and week to week they can be whatever they choose to be. They can beat you in three wides, four wides, three tight ends, and it makes them very difficult to prepare for and ultimately beat. We’ve got a desire to win a bunch of games. We’ve got a bunch of guys capable of making plays. We’ve got three and four wideouts that we’re comfortable with, two and three tight ends that we’re comfortable with, two or three backs that we’re comfortable with. We want to create that same persona.

You've heard him preach positional flexibility, and now he's preaching team flexibility, and strategic flexibility. To have an "offensive identity" is, in many respects, to be predictable. Predictability is the kiss of death in a league with true parity, and where games are won and lost by the slimmest of margins. You have to take what teams give you, and exploit match-ups to gain an edge, whether that's our WRs against a suspect secondary, or our RBs against a weak front seven. I think you've already the fruits of that mindset against Chicago, where Arians came out with a game plan that you haven't really seen from him before - lots of screens, a few slants, and some pretty effective running plays.

Lest you think that the running game has become an afterthought, read on:

Q: Is the running game still as important in the league as it once seemed to be? Is it a passing league now?

A: No, I truly believe that teams that are capable in running and stopping the run are going to be consistent winners in this game. I think that’s timeless.

I think that those searching for a single identity in the offensive game planning will end up searching all season, and remain frustrated with the inconsistencies they perceive. However, I fully expect that Tomlin will make strategic flexibility, a winning attitude and constant improvement the true identity of the 2009 Steelers.