Steelers News: Did Mike Tomlin set the stage for coaching changes on the Steelers’ staff?

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at whether or not Mike Tomlin might have been setting the groundwork for some coaching changes during his end of the year press conference.

Let’s get to the news:

• Are changes coming for the Steelers’ coaching staff? They might be on the horizon...

Mike Tomlin won’t be ‘shocked’ if there are changes to his coaching staff

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mike Tomlin began conducting exit interviews with his Pittsburgh Steelers players Tuesday, meeting first with players on the practice squad, rookies and those with expiring contracts.

After talking to his veteran players, Tomlin will move on to evaluating his assistant coaches.

Following an 8-8 season, changes to Tomlin’s staff could be forthcoming.

Ray Sherman could go back into retirement after agreeing to serve as interim wide receivers coach following the death of Darryl Drake in August. That would create an opening.

“I understand change is part of the business,” Tomlin said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if there is some movement and changes. That’s just part of this business, particularly in 2019.”

Tomlin made several changes after the 2018 season when the Steelers also missed the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record. Running backs coach James Saxon and outside linebackers coach Joey Porter were not retained. Offensive line coach Mike Munchak took the same position with the Denver Broncos.

Teryl Austin was added to the staff as a senior defensive assistant/secondary coach, and defensive coordinator Keith Butler took on Porter’s responsibilities.

Shaun Sarrett was promoted to offensive line coach upon Munchak’s departure, and Eddie Faulkner was hired to replace Saxon.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• After another season on the practice squad, can Marcus Allen prove to be a 53-man roster player in 2020 for more than just Week 17?

Penn State’s Marcus Allen makes 2019 Steelers debut in Week 17, looks ahead to 2020

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It took until the year’s final week and the season’s final game, but Marcus Allen made his 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers season debut.

The Penn State alumnus and 2018 fifth-round pick played special teams during Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“I just feel blessed to get another opportunity to get back on the roster and show them what I can do,” Allen said last week, “and I’m pretty sure they know what I can do.

“I have been here all year and showing them my improvement and everything. I feel as though they wouldn’t have brought me up if they didn’t trust me.”

Allen was promoted to the active roster Dec. 20 when the Steelers cut Kameron Kelly in the wake of Kelly’s arrest after a South Side incident with police.

Allen’s debut is similar to last season’s in that his regular-season action was limited to December (appearing in two games). In 2018, though, Allen did play some defense.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Prepare yourself, Hard Knocks could be a reality in 2020.

Cardinals, Lions, Broncos, Jaguars, Steelers can be forced to do Hard Knocks

By: Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk

When no teams volunteer to appear on Hard Knocks, the NFL forces someone to do it. This year, five teams meet the criteria to be told they’re on the annual HBO documentary show whether they want to be or not.

The Cardinals, Lions, Broncos, Jaguars and Steelers all can be required to do Hard Knocks. Most years no team volunteers, so one of those teams is likely to be the subject of the show in August of 2020.

To get out of doing Hard Knocks, a team has to have a new head coach, or have been in the playoffs within the last two years, or have previously appeared on Hard Knocks within the last 10 years. A team that doesn’t fit into any of those categories can be required to be on it.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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