Pittsburgh Steelers Coaching Change: You Be In Charge
Aug 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Panthers shutout the Steelers 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
When the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon, just about everyone was calling for someone’s head on a pike – Mike Tomlin, Dick LeBeau, Todd Haley, Kevin Colbert, Art II, Cody Wallace, Kelvin Beachum, Antonio Brown, Brad Wing. No one was safe. Hell, I think even Steely McBeam was mentioned a few times.
In a loss like that it’s difficult to not want to point a nail bit finger at someone. I’m just as guilty as the next person. What should be a 5-1 start will probably end more like 3-3 or 2-4 (sound familiar?) and it boils my blood a bit knowing that the problems plaguing the Steelers has become such a chronic problem with this football team. Someone needs to be accountable for it right? It’s time to fire somebody and YOU are the one in charge.
The easy place to start is with the coaching staff. Let’s take a look at what we know:
Mike Tomlin – The team lacks discipline on both sides of the ball. The team is 2nd in the league in pre-snap penalties. Tomlin acknowledges this is no bueno and on him…. but in the same breath he tells the media he doesn’t anticipate changing how they prepare for football games. Sooooo basically nothing will change in essence. His clock management is borderline terrible…. obviously.
Aug 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau jogs onto the field before playing the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dick LeBeau – The legendary defensive coach has been riding on the coat tails of having some extremely talented defenses over the years. That’s when he’s been most successful. When he has good to mediocre defenses, well, you get what we’ve been looking at since the Steelers lost to the Broncos in OT back in 2011. I don’t think it couldn’t be any more obvious (darn it I used that word) that LeBeau struggles at developing his younger players. Kevin Colbert is actually a fairly decent GM once he became one (though some disagree). Not every draft class has been as bad from the onset as they are two to three seasons later. In my humble opinion, that’s on LeBeau and his lack of player development. He’s also pretty terrible with in game adjustments. Pretty apparent in the Bucs game when the D stopped the Bucs for under 70 yards in the first half then got carved up for over 250 in the second. Ok, so pretty much LeBeau sucks at adjusting to anything that is different from what he’s been used to for the last 20 years.
Todd Haley – Sunday wasn’t just a blip on the radar. His play calling has been suspect since he stepped foot on the South Side two seasons ago. He had a full week to prepare for an 0-3 team that was on the cusp of 0-4 and lights out for the season. First play call? Full back screen. Yup, that’s the kind of cutthroat OC Todd Haley is. Except it’s Steeler Nations who want to cut their own after watching enough Jumbo sets and bubble screens, and quick outs. Big Ben is allowed to run the no huddle, but not often enough. And, apparently he’s only allowed to run it up until the 20 yard line. Then it’s time for Todd Haley to step in and make sure they punch it in. Except they usually don’t. 24 points per game average for a team that has the talent to score 30 or more. Haley’s fault, or are the players just not interested in winning?
So, Steeler Nation. The cases have been made. Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re the team president. The call is now yours. Of this dysfunctional trio. who are you canning? Better yet, who do you replace your most recent firings with – which is the more compelling result in this experiment. You have the floor…..