—
Mike Tomlin has accomplished more since becoming Steelers coach in 2007 than many in his position who’ve been around a lot longer get done in their careers.
In less than six full seasons, Tomlin has won 67 games against only 34 losses. He’s coached in two Super Bowls, winning one, and owns five career playoff victories during his short tenure leading the NFL’s most decorated franchise of the Super Bowl era.
He’s respected by players and coaches. Tomlin’s unique use of the English language and his personal spin on tired-but-true sports cliches has put him on the short list of personalities that can parlay a post-NFL career into a cushy gig as a television studio analyst. Given Tomlin’s apparent disdain for all things media, that possible career path wreaks of irony.
Clearly Tomlin’s credentials place him in the upper echelon of coaches, but that doesn’t mean he’s above criticism.
And he deserves plenty of it for Pittsburgh’s puzzling 34-24 loss to San Diego Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.
The most headscratching in-game decision came after Mike Wallace caught his second touchdown of the game – an 11-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. The touchdown trimmed the Steelers’ deficit to 34-16. An extra point pulls the Steelers within 17 points – a three-possession game. A two-point conversion, if made, gives San Diego a two-point lead.
That’s a two-possession game.
Tomlin’s explanation of the decision was arguably more bizarre than kicking the extra point.
“Until we stopped them, it was going to be insignificant. I was holding the two-point plays for that reason and that reason only,” Tomlin said. “Now, we still have them in our hip pocket. Those specialty plays we didn’t want to put on tape unless we had an opportunity to close the gap. As you can see, we didn’t.”
Huh?
As difficult as that statement is to decipher as a reason not to try for two, it’s worth trying and the best guess here is Tomlin and his staff weren’t coaching to win the game at that point.
Which is why Troy Polamalu should not have played late in the fourth quarter. Ditto for Ben Roethlisberger. Yet, both were out there in the game’s closing minutes.
Tomlin’s in-game decisions and occasional lapses in clock management are cause for concern, but the biggest worry should be with the staff’s inability to prepare players against lesser opponents.
Yes, San Diego has Pro Bowl-talent at several positions, but the Chargers entered Heinz Field with a 4-8 record for a reason.
Coming off last week’s win at Baltimore, an improbable victory considering the Steelers started Charlie Batch at quarterback and played at a venue where visiting teams rarely prosper, a letdown is natural.
To play like the Steelers did for two-and-a-half quarters with their playoff status anything but assured, is inexcusable. The finger for that can be pointed at Tomlin.
In what’s become an all-too-familiar theme, Pittsburgh falls flat after a big win. Losses against Oakland, Tennessee, Cleveland and San Diego suggests this team isn’t championship-caliber.
The crazy thing is, for all the blame Tomlin deserves for the San Diego loss and a couple others, this year has been one of his better coaching efforts.
Had someone told you before the season started that the Steelers would be in playoff contention without Polamalu, Roethisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Ike Taylor, LaMarr Woodley, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams and Antonio Brown for significant portions of the schedule, would you have believed it?
Sports
Related Photos
-
Mike Kovak File Photo
Discussion
MIKE KOVAK | Blame Tomlin for latest setback
- Sports
-
-
Four solo home runs lead Reds past Pirates
Todd Frazier wasn’t going to let left-hander Francisco Liriano get another fastball by him. He guessed right and hit one a long way.
-
Laurel Auto belts way to victory
Zach Heide’s two-run home run cleared the Screen Monster in left field at Point Stadium and kick-started Laurel Auto Group’s scoring in its 8-2 victory over Ketrow Insurance Monday night in a AAABA league game.
-
Bruins blank Blackhawks, take 2-1 series lead
Tuukka Rask shut out the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night and got enough help from the Bruins' offense to do it without another exhausting overtime.
-
Former Penn St. players support Paterno family lawsuit
About 325 former Penn State players and coaches have signed a statement supporting the lawsuit filed by the family of former coach Joe Paterno and other former players seeking to overturn NCAA sanctions against the football program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
- Local baseball in brief 6/18/2013
-
Hawkeyes product Ihm pulls away from field for Sunnehanna victory
When NCAA runner-up Rick Lamb made four birdies over a six-hole stretch during the fourth round of the 60th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions, he couldn’t help but notice every time he looked at the leaderboard, Lamb failed to pare down his deficit.
When Cory Whitsett, who recently helped Alabama win a national championship and was competing in his third Sunnehanna Amateur, birdied Nos. 3 and 4 Sunday morning, the fast start wasn’t one to savor.
Lamb’s inability to make a move and Whitsett’s lack of optimism can directly be attributed to one thing – the steady, patient play of Steven Ihm. -
Sunnehanna notebook: Putting critical to success at Amateur
Cory Whitsett capped his third round at the 60th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions with a lengthy par putt.
Whitsett topped himself to end Sunday’s fourth and final round with a birdie putt from approximately 35 feet in No. 18. -
Pirates get past Dodgers
Rookie Gerrit Cole won again, getting home run help from Pedro Alvarez and pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 Sunday.
Cole (2-0) allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks in 5 2/3 innings. The top pick from the 2011 draft won in his big league debut last week. -
CORY ISENBERG | The long and the longer of Lantzy game
The 43rd Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star football game on Friday at Greater Johnstown’s Trojan Stadium highlighted the outstanding gridiron talent of this crop of senior athletes throughout the region.
The move to Friday night doesn’t seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the crowd, which was outstanding on Friday night, including a 50-50 drawing of over $600.
For the most part, the game itself seemed to go off with few hitches, but there are still some tweaks that I would like to suggest. -
Ihm captures Sunnehanna title
Steven Ihm held or shared the lead in each of the first three rounds at the 60th Sunnehanna AmateurTournament for Champions.
For Sunday’s final round, Ihm continued his dominance.The University of Iowa product shot a blistering 4-under 31 on the front nine to seize a commanding lead that Ihm would not relinquish in winning the tournament with an 8-under 272. - More Sports Headlines
-
NBA Finals: Who gets the last big run?
Final Round Highlights
Rose on his late father: 'My dad was inspiration the whole day'
LeBron, D-Wade on being tested by Spurs
Julien: We know what we have to do
Quenneville: We have to be desperate
Highlights: Michigan
Spoelstra on Game 5 loss to Spurs
Putin Insists He Didn't Steal Super Bowl Ring
Phil on his 'heartbreaking' loss
Bruins overcome slow start, win in OT
U.S. Open Round 3 Highlights
Patriots owner claims Russian president Vladimir Putin pocketed his 2005 Super Bowl ring
Phil: Sunday Could Be 'Something Special'
LeBron stresses urgency for up and down Heat
Security Changes at NFL Games
Wade, Bosh pleased with Game 4 performance
James: I played till the tank was empty
Parker's health ok after loss
Spoelstra confident after Game 4 win
