Steelers News: The Steelers are winning, but bad coaching decisions cast a cloud over the success

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 15 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Buffalo Bills we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers are winning, but some questionable coaching decisions have cast a cloud over their recent success.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are red-hot, but are some coaching decisions having fans question the future path of the team?

Mark Madden: Curious coaching decisions part of Steelers latest victory over Cardinals

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Punch ‘em in the beak, and put it on my bill! The Duck dynasty is upon us, and we’re quacking up! Hey, sports editor: Post these refreshing sports notes on the web. Beak, bill, quack, web, GET IT? I might be mallard-justed. Duck, you suckers!

• Never mind that Jordan Berry didn’t know the fake punt had been taken off. It never should have been put on in the first place. When you’re up 10 in the fourth quarter and it’s fourth and 6 at your 40, there should be no options. The only coaching instruction necessary: “DON’T RUN A FAKE PUNT NO MATTER WHAT!”

• Another moronic coaching decision: It’s second and goal at Arizona’s 12 with just under two minutes left. Duck Hodges throws incomplete on a bubble screen. The clock stops. Arizona doesn’t have to burn its final timeout. Run the ball. Keep the clock moving. Mike Tomlin just about had me convinced he was Coach of the Year, too.

• Hodges deserves credit for doing the bare minimum very effectively. But he’s definitely doing the bare minimum. Arizona is allowing an NFL-worst 294.2 passing yards per game. Hodges threw for just 152 yards Sunday. But Hodges has a knack for a decent-sized play at an important time, and his arm is a bit stronger than advertised.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Devlin Hodges keeps knocking off some big-name, high pedigree, quarterbacks.

Steelers’ Devlin Hodges outshines heralded 2019 NFL rookie QBs

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The NFL’s official draft page included 21 quarterback prospects in advance of this past spring’s draft.

Devlin Hodges was not on the list.

With good reason, it turned out, as only 11 of the 21 tracked by the league’s official news outlet ended up being drafted.

Included were four from outside “major” college football (the NCAA’s FBS subdivision) — and one of those four (North Dakota State’s Easton Stick) was selected.

Not drafted — and not even thought highly enough to monitor — was a four-year starter from Samford in suburban Birmingham, Ala., named Devlin Hodges.

As the year’s end draws near, none has led his team to more wins than Hodges.

Given a $1,000 signing bonus after going undrafted and not even signed as an undrafted free agent — he would make the 90-man offseason roster as a tryout — Hodges has directed the Pittsburgh Steelers to wins in each of his past four appearances. Only Gardner Minshew matches those four wins among all quarterbacks in this rookie class.

Hodges is 3-0 as a starter, and he led a comeback win off the bench in the second half of the Nov. 24 win at Cincinnati.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Could the Carolina Panthers try and lure away Steelers coaches and staff?

“Outside the box” coaching hire isn’t out of the question in Carolina

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

Panthers owner David Tepper’s first significant imprint on the team could be an intriguing one.

Per a source with knowledge of the team’s plan, an “outside the box” coaching hire isn’t out of the question in Carolina. While that’s a broad statement that seemingly would encompass any hiring beyond the conventional universe of candidates ( offensive/defensive coordinator with no head-coaching experience, former NFL head coach, college head coach), the acknowledgement of an outside-the-box move came in direct response to the question of whether the Panthers would pursue a coach who currently serves as the head coach of another team.

Under league rules, that’s permissible. The formal procedure entails the team contacting the coach’s current team, expressing an interest in hiring him, and engaging in negotiations regarding compensation (if, of course, the coach’s current team doesn’t hang up the phone). If an agreement on compensation is reached, the team hoping to hire the coach then may discuss the subject directly with him.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Mike Tomlin Press Conference

• Social Media Madness