Steelers’ Tomlin, Butler on hot seat
The first two weeks of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season haven’t exactly gone how many, including the team, would have preferred after an 0-1-1 start. The story lines surrounding the team have been far from positive ones.
Two-thirds of the squad’s three-headed offensive monster — Brown and Bell — were not at work earlier this week. Kicker Chris Boswell, who just received a hefty contract this offseason, has missed both of his field goal attempts and an extra point after being one of the most consistent players at the position during the 2017-18 campaign. The defense still looks shaky at best, despite a heartier looking pass rush. The list goes on and on.
So, what could be next for the Steelers? For better or for worse, here are some headlines that may become the next round of water cooler conversations as summer fades and the fall eventually turns to the bitter winter months:
Will Mike Tomlin find himself on the hot seat?
No team in the NFL, maybe all of pro sports, can boast the level of coaching stability that the Steelers have enjoyed for almost 50 years. Only Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin can say they have held the position since 1969. That statistic is one of the most truly underappreciated in all of sports.
However, while no one can question Tomlin’s success on the field, more and more issues with the team’s roster seem to be hurting his reputation in the media and causing an erosion of the old “Steeler Way.”
Tomlin’s future may ultimately come down to how long Kevin Colbert and the Rooney family are willing to deal with individuals putting themselves ahead of the team when it comes to their lives both online and in the real world. Do you really think Cowher or Noll would have put up with a player arriving to training camp in a fire truck or helicopter?
I realize the NFL has changed greatly even since Tomlin took over in 2007, but at some point, you have to pull back on the reins in some form or fashion. Unfortunately, he may not be able to do that until Bell, Brown and Roethlisberger have all moved on to other teams or retirement. If the brass decides it can’t wait that long, it just may be Tomlin who will be the one moving on from the Steel City.
How long will Keith Butler have to return the defense to glory?
Even though some in the national sports community still insist on using nicknames like the Steel Curtain or Blitzburgh, the Pittsburgh defense hasn’t been considered among the league’s elite for a half-decade or longer. After two weeks, Butler’s boys currently rank 25th in total offense and 28th in scoring. To his credit, Butler has turned loose the dogs on the blitz, resulting in eight sacks over a pair of games, which is good for third in the NFL.
Honestly, both Butler and Dick LeBeau have had the luxury of one of the top offenses in the league making up for a lot of their unit’s shortcomings. Shifts in the league’s rules that protect quarterbacks and severely limit tackling methods haven’t helped any defensive coordinator perform his job to his utmost potential.
However, much like the question of Tomlin’s lifespan in his current position, there is the perception of a fan base that would much rather see the Steelers keeping teams off the scoreboard, rather than lighting up their half of it.
To be fair, Cleveland almost had to improve its offense this year, considering its offseason moves and just how putrid it has been for a decade or longer. Also, Kansas City may have the most offensive talent in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, and Patrick Mahomes is off to the hottest start to a career since Peyton Manning burst onto the scene.
These factors will keep Butler safe for a while. But, just like any other coach, if the results aren’t there, he won’t be either.
Is this a playoff team?
If they weren’t playing in the AFC North, I would say the Steelers are in a lot of trouble. I’m not sold on Cincinnati’s hot start, Baltimore is still trying to figure out what to do with its offense that was almost built from the ground up this offseason around Joe Flacco and I think Cleveland is still a year away from truly being a contender.
That being said, Pittsburgh is going to have to win its division to make the playoffs.
The AFC West has at least two AFC title contenders in Kansas City and Los Angeles. Denver could also emerge as a wild card dark horse.
If DeShaun Watson can capture some of last year’s rookie magic, Houston will be a strong contender behind the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars out of the South. Also, the return of Andrew Luck has the Colts thinking playoffs again.
Oh yeah, New England still has Belichick and Brady. If Josh Gordon can at least give the Patriots a true threat at wide receiver alongside Gronk, look out world.
Honestly, I’ll probably look back on these points in a month and realize they are all moot.
That’s the beauty of the NFL. With just 16 games to determine how the postseason will shape up, things can change quickly. Hopefully, the Steelers’ path will straighten up and the choppy waters they are currently sailing will calm into a more manageable river.