Steelers have parted ways with special teams coach Al Everest.

[polamalubeast]

Steelers have parted ways with special teams coach Al Everest.

https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/status/238733346870534145



WOW

[Chidi29]

Woah. What happened there? Everest seemed to be doing a fine job.

Has to me more to the story. A firing wouldn't come now. Has to be either him retiring or something health related (Everest is pretty old).

Assume Amos Jones will become the head ST coach now.

[Chidi29]

Apparently the team doesn't even know it.

Per Ryan Clark's Twitter.

Coach who? From where? RT @TonyD_12: @RealRClark25 What do you think about Coach Everest being let go?

[polamalubeast]

the late field goal against the Colts was almost blocked

maybe this is the reason!!!!

[salamander]

Wtf?

[polamalubeast]

tomlin was not happy about special teams play after colts game.


https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot

[The Duke]

I agree there has to be more to this story

even with a complete special teams collapse in a preseason game they wouldn't do this so close to the season

[polamalubeast]

I agree there has to be more to this story

even with a complete special teams collapse in a preseason game they wouldn't do this so close to the season


in 2009,3 OC had been fired after a pre-season game!!

[polamalubeast]

#steelers had a 4.0 punt return average & 18.6 kick return average through 2 preseason games

#steelers also had allowed a 26.3 kickoff return average through 2 games

[polamalubeast]

https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot

[salamander]

Steelers Depot ‏@Steelersdepot (https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot) Maybe Al Everest wasn't using a fullback enough. #steelers (https://twitter.com/search/?src=hash&q=%23steelers) Too soon?

:chuckle:

[SMR]

WOW!!

[bayz101]

"We are continually evaluating our coaching staff and support staff, and we have decided to go in a different direction with respect to the coaching of our special teams," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "I want to thank Al for his contributions and efforts, and I wish him well in the future."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/steelers-fire-special-teams-coach-650249/#ixzz24PKtvzwH

[Chidi29]

His mustache will truly be missed.

http://prod.static.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/PIT/photos/persons/coach-cards/Al_Everest.jpg

[steelerdude15]

I didn't see this coming.

[SMR]

I didn't see this coming.

I honestly don't think any of us did!

[86WARD]

Sandusky is to blame.

[vader29]

#steelers also had allowed a 26.3 kickoff return average through 2 games
I really wish our kicker could kick the ball out of the endzone on a regular basis.

[oneforthetoe]

My favorite quote on the twitter page:

"Maybe the Rooney's found out he was voting for Romney."

[Edman]

Maybe Tomlin wasn't a fan of the Special Teams play,(TBH, the ST wasn't exactly pretty this preseason), knew what would happen if they persisted, and wasn't taking any chances. Don't want to see a 2009 all over again.

[Psycho Ward 86]

i just hope our special teams (or lack of) doesnt become one of the most talked about issues now that Everest is gone. Remember how much we bitched about it in '08 and '09? Yikes! Go Amos i guess. Looking at his resume, he sure isnt lacking in experience, so that's a good start.

[Devilsdancefloor]

im shocked

[Count Steeler]

There goes Art, again, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.

This really came as a surprise, especially this close to the season. I hope it is not a health issue.

[Psycho Ward 86]

There goes Art, again, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.

This really came as a surprise, especially this close to the season. I hope it is not a health issue.

certainly seems possible. Tomlin hasnt been trigger happy on his coaching staff since he's been here at all.

[ALLD]

They need to shake things up. Hopefully it sends a message before we need to fall back onto unleashing hell.

[steelpride12]

Well random no doubt, but wish Everst the best in his future and hope the Steelers make the right choice when it comes to putting someone in his position.

[Count Steeler]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have terminated the contract of special teams coordinator Al Everest, the team announced today. Assistant special teams coach Amos Jones will assume all of the special teams responsibility, effective immediately.

From Steelers.com. Amos Jones it is.

[tube517]

His mustache will truly be missed.

http://prod.static.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/PIT/photos/persons/coach-cards/Al_Everest.jpg

:chuckle: Now, that was funny, Chidi.

[43Hitman]

I'm glad he was fired, our ST unit has sucked for years.

[Chidi29]

I'm glad he was fired, our ST unit has sucked for years.

Don't know where that's coming from. It's been great since he was hired.

[tube517]

Don't know where that's coming from. It's been great since he was hired.

Yep. He took over from the disastrous 2009 season. Been solid since.

[Psycho Ward 86]

I'm glad he was fired, our ST unit has sucked for years.

?

[7willBheaven]

His mustache will truly be missed.

http://prod.static.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/PIT/photos/persons/coach-cards/Al_Everest.jpg

My dad always points out he looks a ton like my uncle...haha.

[steelreserve]

That was unexpected. Our special teams were basically terrible until Everest showed up, then good since he'd been here.

[7willBheaven]

Don't know where that's coming from. It's been great since he was hired.

Yeah not always perfect...but definitely a lot better than Legishesky or whatever his name was...

[GBMelBlount]

His mustache will truly be missed.

http://prod.static.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/PIT/photos/persons/coach-cards/Al_Everest.jpg

Admittedly I have never missed a man's mustache.....but hey, whatever floats your boat. :chuckle:

[SteelerFanInStl]

This was a surprise to me too. ST has been good since he took over. I don't think they would fire him over two preseason games.

[GBMelBlount]

This was a surprise to me too. ST has been good since he took over. I don't think they would fire him over two preseason games.

Exactly. There is likely more to it that we simply don't know

[Chidi29]

Admittedly I have never missed a man's mustache.....but hey, whatever floats your boat. :chuckle:

http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/110489.gif

I'll be awaiting your apology.

[GBMelBlount]

http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/110489.gif

I'll be awaiting your apology.

You are a good egg Chidi.

If an apology will make things right amongst friends then for the record "I apologize." :drink:

[SteelGhost]

This was a surprise to me too. ST has been good since he took over. I don't think they would fire him over two preseason games.

^This

[Chidi29]

You are a good egg Chidi.

If an apology will make things right amongst friends then for the record "I apologize." :drink:

Ha, I'm just joking around man.

[vader29]

Bob Ligashesky was hired in 2007, special teams ranked 21st, 2008 ranked 23rd, 2009 ranked 30th.

Al Everest hired in 2010, special teams ranked 16th, 2011 ranked 9th.

[LLT]

Bob Ligashesky was hired in 2007, special teams ranked 21st, 2008 ranked 23rd, 2009 ranked 30th.

Al Everest hired in 2010, special teams ranked 16th, 2011 ranked 9th.

I think that our ST's were so bad in the past that we have lost the ability to accurately judge how deficient they were last year in critical areas.

We ranked #16 in kickoff return yards allowed.
Our Punting average was ranked #18...with the net punting average ranked #19
Our field position was terrible with an inside the 20 ranking of #30
And our field goal percentage was tied for dead last...


There is PLENTY of room for improvement.

[steelreserve]

I think that our ST's were so bad in the past that we have lost the ability to accurately judge how deficient they were last year in critical areas.

We ranked #16 in kickoff return yards allowed.
Our Punting average was ranked #18...with the net punting average ranked #19
Our field position was terrible with an inside the 20 ranking of #30
And our field goal percentage was tied for dead last...


There is PLENTY of room for improvement.

I don't think that last one can be blamed on the special teams coach. That has to do more with the caliber of kicker the team signed. Garbage in, garbage out.

[LLT]

I don't think that last one can be blamed on the special teams coach. That has to do more with the caliber of kicker the team signed. Garbage in, garbage out.

Thats true...along with the fact that our stadium is notoriously hard to kick in. That being said...its the job of the ST coach to maximize the players potential. He may have got a pass on a ranking of #20....but dead last ....will be laid on the coaches shoulders as well as the players.

[Steeldude]

I think that our ST's were so bad in the past that we have lost the ability to accurately judge how deficient they were last year in critical areas.

We ranked #16 in kickoff return yards allowed.
Our Punting average was ranked #18...with the net punting average ranked #19
Our field position was terrible with an inside the 20 ranking of #30
And our field goal percentage was tied for dead last...


There is PLENTY of room for improvement.

I agree. I was scratching my head wondering why people here were saying the special team unit was doing well. I am not saying they sucked, but like you said, there is plenty of room for improvement.

[Craic]

I agree. I was scratching my head wondering why people here were saying the special team unit was doing well. I am not saying they sucked, but like you said, there is plenty of room for improvement.

Yeah, but I think the bigger question is, "why now?" I mean, wouldn't it have been better to bring in a new coach and let him work with the ST's during training camp?

[LLT]

Yeah, but I think the bigger question is, "why now?" I mean, wouldn't it have been better to bring in a new coach and let him work with the ST's during training camp?


That IS the real question.

I would speculate that this was in the works...but Everest convinced someone that he could turn things around with players like Rainey and Brandon Johnson. His inability to do so in whatever time frame that they agreed upon...ultimately cost him the job.

As I said...some of those categories in which our ST's performed poorly, are CRITICAL....none more so than field position. Specifically our not being able to pin the other team behind the 20....while we often started our own drives at a disadvantage.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Yeah, but I think the bigger question is, "why now?" I mean, wouldn't it have been better to bring in a new coach and let him work with the ST's during training camp?

Yes, this. Now is not the time to be making coaching changes.

Everyone assumes that a coaching change will bring improvement but that's not always the case. I fear it getting worse.

[Psycho Ward 86]

And our field goal percentage was tied for dead last...


i miss the Jeff Reed days...when he was still good

[suitanim]

I think that our ST's were so bad in the past that we have lost the ability to accurately judge how deficient they were last year in critical areas.

We ranked #16 in kickoff return yards allowed.
Our Punting average was ranked #18...with the net punting average ranked #19
Our field position was terrible with an inside the 20 ranking of #30
And our field goal percentage was tied for dead last...


There is PLENTY of room for improvement.

All this led to a horrible field position differential. Ever see the percentages of TD's scored based on starting field position charts? Bad field position differential puts BOTH your defense AND offense in deep holes. One game in particular from last year stands out, The SF game. We were decimated in the field position battle.

Hopefully this leads to a significant upgrade...

[Chidi29]

PFW via Steelers Depot. Everest fired for "professional differences".

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08/al-everest-says-he-was-fired-from-steelers-for-professional-differences/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SteelersDepotBlog+%28Steelers +Depot+Blog%29

[CPanther95]

Haley probably convinced Tomlin that we should be running instead of kicking.

[salamander]

Former Steelers special teams coordinator Al Everest was fired by the Steelers on Thursday, a move he called a “shocker” during a conversation with Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Friday.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/24/everest-calls-steelers-firing-a-shocker/

[86WARD]

Batch will take his spot on the coaching roster.

[Edman]

Yep. He took over from the disastrous 2009 season. Been solid since.

Anyone would've been an improvement over the 2009 Special Teams. Being better than awful still doesn't mean you're good.

[suitanim]

Well, it certainly wasn't for removing AB. That was going to happen with the big contract signing either way.

It's all right there: They were right in the middle of the pack when it came to covering kicks and punts

If you fire your OC who was average in some stats categories, and superior in many others, you should not keep other coordinators who are completely average across the board. This move is NOT a shock, rather consistent with a club that doesn't accept mediocrity.

[Chidi29]

Well, it certainly wasn't for removing AB. That was going to happen with the big contract signing either way.

It's all right there: They were right in the middle of the pack when it came to covering kicks and punts

If you fire your OC who was average in some stats categories, and superior in many others, you should not keep other coordinators who are completely average across the board. This move is NOT a shock, rather consistent with a club that doesn't accept mediocrity.

Everest already said it wasn't for a performance reason.

[43Hitman]

Everest already said it wasn't for a performance reason.

Of course that's what he's going to say, he's looking for work.

[Chidi29]

Of course that's what he's going to say, he's looking for work.

But then he hinted at possibly filing a grievance against the team.You don't do that if you're just bad at your job.

[43Hitman]

But then he hinted at possibly filing a grievance against the team.You don't do that if you're just bad at your job.

He already thinks it wasn't because of performance, so obviously he wouldn't think he was bad at his job. So it would make sense that a grievance would be filed. Doesn't mean it will be upheld or even justified. Our ST's unit has been mediocre at best for years. This firing was just imo.

[Chidi29]

He already thinks it wasn't because of performance, so obviously he wouldn't think he was bad at his job. So it would make sense that a grievance would be filed. Doesn't mean it will be upheld or even justified. Our ST's unit has been mediocre at best for years. This firing was just imo.

I didn't say if it will be upheld or not but grievances aren't filed because someone didn't perform well enough. It's usually a bigger reason than that and the timing of the move adds credibility to that.

[SteelerFanInStl]

I didn't say if it will be upheld or not but grievances aren't filed because someone didn't perform well enough. It's usually a bigger reason than that and the timing of the move adds credibility to that.

Agreed. I'm not saying that our special teams were great, but the timing of this just doesn't make sense. If you're not happy with the performance, you get rid of the guy in the offseason.

[suitanim]

Let him file his grievance. He was fired because his performance was mediocre, and the team has already let coordinators go who were above average. Good luck proving your case, buddy...

[Psycho Ward 86]

Let him file his grievance. He was fired because his performance was mediocre, and the team has already let coordinators go who were above average. Good luck proving your case, buddy...

who :)
























im just playing