Tomlin Era Begins

I was really pulling for Russ Grimm, but I think that, ultimately, I agree with the Steelers on this one. Coaching (and the NFL in general) is a young man's game. Russ Grimm is 46, Tomlin's 34. If both coached as long as Cowher, Tomlin would be 49, Grimm would be 61. Look at Bill Parcells. Look at Marty Schottenheimer. The guys just look used up. It's too busy of a schedule. Too much pressure, too many interviews, too many things to keep track of for an older person.

My Dad's going to be 61 in August. He's already retired and sometimes leaves me a message at work on a Saturday. And there's nothing wrong with that. Well, nothing terribly wrong with that. But, would I want him coaching the Steelers? I think we know the answer to that one.

So, after much consideration and deliberation, I've decided that it's the best move for the Steelers. For two years from now and twenty years from now (when Tomlin will still only be 54). The weird thing is that I think it's a bad idea for the same reasons I think it's a good idea.

Really, there are three main aspects to the hiring that have Pros and Cons. In my opinion, the Pros outweigh the Cons.

1. He's from outside the organization.
2. All of his defensive experience is in a system that is completely different (both in terms of philosophy and personnel) than the current defense the Steelers run.
3. He's African-American.

1. Pros:

While the Steelers are still in good shape from a talent standpoint and, if no more coaches leave, a continuity standpoint, some tough decisions need to be made in the next three years. Everyone and their hamster is becoming a free agent after next season, Troy's a free agent after 2008, Ben after 2009. Colbert makes a lot of the personnel decisions for the Steelers, but Cowher always had the final say. Do you think Cowher would've cut Joey Porter? Aaron Smith? Cut ties with an underachieving Clark Haggans? Look at how long it took him to drop a Duce. A new guy has no allegiances. He can make sound, logical decisions.

Cons:

We don't have the personnel to change over to the Cover 2 right now. It will probably take several years to go to the Cover 2. If Grimm took over, nothing would change. Arians would run a similar offense to Whisenhunt, LeBeau would run his same defense, and the only thing that would be different would be that Grimm would head it up, not Cowher. Grimm would offer a new perspective on pending free agents, making tweaks to the existing system, and putting his mark on the team, but it will would still be the same team it was under Cowher's watch. And, like him or not, Cowher had tremendous success in Pittsburgh. Keeping up that tradition of winning and that attitude would have made for a smooth transition for Steeler Nation and the players.

2. Pros:

We needed to make a decision (or, really, several tough decisions) on the defense at some point, probably well in advance of the 2007 season. Haggans, Porter, and Smith are all going to be free agents after 2007. That's a big part of our defense, but it's also a bunch of guys that only fit in the 3-4 scheme. Smith's big enough to be a tackle in the Cover 2, and Porter and Haggans are too big, too slow, and too much of a liability in coverage to be linebackers in the Cover 2. Farrior was actually an outside linebacker before he signed with us and Foote... okay, Foote's gotta go, too. He's too slow to play middle linebacker in the Cover 2. But Farrior's good to go! So, instead of signing those guys to big extensions, go out and draft someone or sign someone who fits. If they were going to leave anyway, it's better to have a guy that knows how to coach an alternative defense. Plus which, with a number of teams switching to the 3-4, the Steelers can no longer grab a guy like Porter in the 3rd round or a guy like Smith in the 6th round. Teams are looking for undersized college ends to play outside linebackers in the 3-4 and undersized college tackles to play end in the 3-4. It was getting tougher and tougher to find those bargain picks in the later rounds the last few years. Which is why our linebackers and defensive line lacks depth. We either had to blow it up and find new guys or change the system. Changing the system might actually be easier.

Cons:

Teams are also looking for pass rushing defensive ends. And we need two of those. And explosive defensive tackles. And, we pretty much need two of those, or we need Casey Hampton to lose 40 pounds. That means we need 3 or 4 linemen and at least 2 linebackers. I think Troy and Anthony Smith will be good as safeties in the Cover 2 and Ike Taylor couldn't be any worse in the Cover 2 than he was in LeBeau's defense last year. I also think Bryant McFadden is going to be an excellent Cover 2 cornerback. Really then, all we need is 3 or 4 linemen and at least 2 linebackers. That should be easy, right? Just go to the store and pick them up. Which is why I'm baffled by the decision to keep LeBeau. I understand that Tomlin might need a guy around who's been there, done that, but if they're going to make intelligent decisions about the future of this team and this defense, the sooner they blow it up and take their medicine, the better. Holding off a year only tightens the noose around Tomlin's neck because of #3.

3. Pros:

Historically, minority coaches have outperformed white coaches. In terms of victories, divsion championships, playoff appearances, etc. Everything but the Super Bowl (which will change, one way or the other, in two weeks). Minority coaches seem to command more respect from their players and seem to be more motivated to succeed. Since they're in the minority and are judged on a smaller sample size, they have less room for error. This motivates them to coach well and win games.

Cons:

I don't have the balls to say it point blank, so I'll say it like this: Ben Roethlisberger had 23 interceptions last year in 14 games. Kordell Stewart never threw more than 18 and played all 16 games in that season. Yet, we all made excuses for Big Ben this season and never let Kordell rest. Would someone ever throw a beer at Big Ben? I understand that we won us a Super Bowl and that he had two great years before the disaster that was 2006. But Kordell saved the 2000 season and brought us back to a respectable 9-7 after 1-3 start. Had the defense not imploded against the Eagles that year, we would've been 10-6 and gone to the playoffs. He went 13-3 in 2001, took us to the AFC Championship Game, and was foiled by Bellichick and Brady (not that uncommon as it turns out). He was benched in the 3rd game of the 2002 season and never got his job back, even after he won 2 games in relief of Tommy Maddox. I know it probably also has to do with how much we pay Ben, how little we paid Kordell in comparison, and where the two QBs were drafted, but it really has made me think. Ben's got a better attitude and he's more polished with the media than Kordell ever was, but really, how much slack is he getting cut because he's white and how little to Kordell get because he wasn't?

I mention all of this because the next couple of seasons (and possibly beyond) are going to be rough on defense. Our linebackers are old, our cornerbacks were never all that great, and our Pro Bowl strong safety might leave for greener pastures. While they're tearing down the defense and building it back up, how much slack will Steeler Nation cut a black coach? It's not his fault that everyone's contract is up after next season. He didn't let the linebackers get too old without any depth behind them. Remember what I said about Hoover and Coolidge and Campo and Gailey before? Cowher might have left Tomlin in the same situation. And, while the fans really didn't ever cut Cowher a lot of slack, I think they'll cut Tomlin less because he's not Cowher and he's not white. I'm just throwing it out there.

The good news is that, if history is anything to shout about, the coach of the Steelers and the ownership of the Steelers don't really seem to care what Steeler Nation thinks. And they don't let the fans dictate policy.

I just hope they give Tomlin enough time.