Tomlin doesn’t ‘run away’ from Keisel’s criticism of Steelers

[stillers4me]

The Steelers weren‘t in a state of readiness before playing the oft-beaten San Diego Chargers, and defensive end Brett Keisel sensed it.

Keisel even warned his teammates beforehand of underestimating a struggling opponent but one with talent. Final score: Chargers 34, Steelers 24.

Mike Tomlin not only didn‘t object to Keisel‘s candidness, he agrees with him.

Tomlin made a surprising admission Tuesday by saying Keisel‘s analysis was correct..............


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...#ixzz2EtSzKOtF

[Steeldude]

Poor coaching? I am thinking yes.

IMO, Tomlin is riding the BR train. I know, I know, Tomlin is the greatest HC....

[GoSlash27]

Poor coaching? I am thinking yes.

IMO, Tomlin is riding the BR train. I know, I know, Tomlin is the greatest HC....

What's the "BR train"?

[43Hitman]

What's the "BR train"?

Ben Rothelisberger

[GoSlash27]

Ben Rothelisberger

Okay... I still don't see what that would have to do with this, but thanks for clearing that up.

[43Hitman]

Okay... I still don't see what that would have to do with this, but thanks for clearing that up.

yeah me either, I think he is trying to imply that Tomlin is a below average coach without Ben.

[Craic]

Poor coaching? I am thinking yes.

IMO, Tomlin is riding the BR train. I know, I know, Tomlin is the greatest HC....

Well, in light of the fact that:

Wallace has the same problems this year as he has had every year. He can't catch. He can't run routes. He has...

IMO, [Woodley] doesn't contain well or cover that well. He disappears for stretches too.

foote is absolutely horrible in pass coverage and a bowling pin against the run.

[Plaxico Burress] is out-positioned by small DBs. I do remember Burress using his chest to catch the ball rather than extending his arms to catch it at its highest point.

Rashard Mendenhall - Not a position of need. Overrated RB coming out of the spread. Afraid of contact [and] I always had a feeling he was a baby. A wasted draft pick. The Steelers should have never went for a RB in the first round.

Wow, Curtis Brown is awful. I was watching him last week too. He is rather slow to react and his overall speed is sub-standard, IMO.

They haven't had a leader on defense since Lloyd left. There no leaders on this team that I can see.

Hampton is a shell of his former self [and] . . . players get old and need to be cut or sat on the bench. One of those players is Hampton

[Batch] still needs to be let go next season. Same goes for Leftwich.

Should have let Beachum go to the practice squad

The D-line is subpar

The Steelers' O-line sucks.

The Steelers defense showed huge holes in the secondary.

Colon hasn't been overly impressive so far [and] That's the best they could come up with to drum up a compliment for Colon? Kemo was just as violent, if not more.

Until Adams can show he can be by himself he is still a huge liability

Gilbert seems like a puss to me.

Lebeau isn't aggressive. He sits backs an hopes for a mistake. How has that been working out?

I'd say coaching a team that is this horrible according to you, to a current sixth seed in the playoffs isn't exactly "riding the BR train." I mean, since basically, there's only four or five good players on this team according to you, and everyone else is average or poor, I'd say that he's doing a bang up job.

[GoSlash27]

Well, in light of the fact that:
(multiple quotes)
I'd say coaching a team that is this horrible according to you, to a current sixth seed in the playoffs isn't exactly "riding the BR train." I mean, since basically, there's only four or five good players on this team according to you, and everyone else is average or poor, I'd say that he's doing a bang up job.

Well, you know how it is. Some people see the glass as half-full and others see the glass as ZOMG THE SKY IS FALLING EVERYBODY PANIC!!

[Steeldude]

Well, in light of the fact that:

I'd say coaching a team that is this horrible according to you, to a current sixth seed in the playoffs isn't exactly "riding the BR train." I mean, since basically, there's only four or five good players on this team according to you, and everyone else is average or poor, I'd say that he's doing a bang up job.

Gotta love it when someone needs to take posts out of context in attempt to make some sort of point...lol

When did I say or imply the team is horrible? I will be awaiting your answer.

I'd say that he's doing a bang up job

And that would be your opinion.

Don't worry about the Steelers and the playoffs. Tomlin has saved up his two-point conversion plays to seal the deal : )

[Craic]

Gotta love it when someone needs to take posts out of context in attempt to make some sort of point...lol

When did I say or imply the team is horrible? I will be awaiting your answer.



And that would be your opinion.

Don't worry about the Steelers and the playoffs. Tomlin has saved up his two-point conversion plays to seal the deal : )

Actually, no, those aren't out of context. None of those said "in this game" only for me to cut it out. For it to be "out of context" I would have had to cut, say, Colon's quote where you qualify it with "so far." I left it in there for that reason. Maybe you're a little surprised that you really are that negative towards this team. I don't know. I do admit a couple of them were from earlier in the season. My point however, is that if you think such a number of players on this team, and the number of units on this team are bad, then exactly how do you think a coach that is getting enough wins from an average to sub-average team is a below average coach.

Either the players are below average, or the coach is. But both can't be below average and still have the team in the sixth seed at this point in the season. And no, I personally don't think he's doing a "bang up job" that was sarcasm.

So, I guess my question is, which is it? Do we have a team where a quarter of our starters this year (Hampton, Mendenhall, Woodley, Foote, Wallace, and Beachum) shouldn't be on the team because they're not good enough, and we only have a few players that are worth praising (I think I found you praising Ben, Heath, Timmons-in a backhanded way, Brown, and I'd imagine I could put Ryan Clark in here for you as well), thus we have a coach that's able to get more out of the whole than its individual parts? Or do we have a team that should be able to make the playoffs, but we struggle making it because of the coach?

Logically, it's one or the other since we are in the sixth spot right now, and a team that is average in the league will miss the playoffs. (16 teams per conference, six spots for playoffs, 10 teams don't go. Therefore average teams don't make it).

That was the entire point of my post, which you seemed to completely sidestep. I'll admit, the sarcasm could have been lost in the transfer of electrons, so now that I've asked the question directly, I'm looking forward to the answer.

[Crow-Magnon]

I will never understand how, in the Age of Parity, that one NFL team overlooks another.

[X-Terminator]

I will never understand how, in the Age of Parity, that one NFL team overlooks another.

It's human nature. It's also no excuse.

[Mach1]

It is what it is. The standard is the standard.

The chargers just punched ya in the junk, kind of hard to hide from it.

[Devilsdancefloor]

At the moment i dont know what t think about coach T he has some great "tomlinism", but either everyone tunes it out or we are what our record reflects. Im starting to believe it is the latter

[Dwinsgames]

going from the line of thinking I am seeing in this and many threads ( maybe this should be a thread of its own I dunno )

but an interesting question comes to mind here and depending on whom you talk to as to what answer you may get on the same basic question ......

so here goes ....

is A) or B) what you believe, and make your argument for your case if you believe A) at what point should a change be made with the players and or the Coach , if B) is true in your mind at what point is it the coaches Job to make a change ... because with either answer something has to change and it is Tomlins job to make that change as the Head Coach


A )Is Mike Tomlin Responsible for his players lack of effort , lack of concentration , and poor performance on the field .....

OR

B ) Are the players paid professionals that being so should provide enough incentive for them to self motivate in order to keep their jobs as starters and all responsibility for lack of effort , concentration and poor performance lays directly at their feet ......


and please explain .....

[GoSlash27]

I think B is closer to the truth, but my answer is C) it is and has always been the job of the senior players to provide leadership and motivation for the team. They are supposed to give the rah-rah speeches, mentor their juniors, and take charge when they see lapses of effort and concentration. Not all players necessarily look to their coaches for guidance and approval, but *all* of them look up to the greybeards in the locker room.
Kinda like a military organization. The coaching staff fulfills the duties of officers, but it's the senior NCOs who actually make things happen.

[43Hitman]

I think B is closer to the truth, but my answer is C) it is and has always been the job of the senior players to provide leadership and motivation for the team. They are supposed to give the rah-rah speeches, mentor their juniors, and take charge when they see lapses of effort and concentration. Not all players necessarily look to their coaches for guidance and approval, but *all* of them look up to the greybeards in the locker room.
Kinda like a military organization. The coaching staff fulfills the duties of officers, but it's the senior NCOs who actually make things happen.

This is where I fall in line as well. Certainly the coaching staff has some culpability, but its up to the vets to keep everyone on the same page and motivated.

[ALLD]

The Steelers have a lot of holes on this team and that also includes coaching.

[GoSlash27]

Interesting...
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...7-1493e7d10faa
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...4-b3a49b352d1e

Both coordinators were stressing "veteran players communicating" in today's interviews. That tells me that they're seeing the same problem we are and working to get a handle on it. Here's to hoping it works!

[43Hitman]

Interesting...
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...7-1493e7d10faa
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-au...4-b3a49b352d1e

Both coordinators were stressing "veteran players communicating" in today's interviews. That tells me that they're seeing the same problem we are and working to get a handle on it. Here's to hoping it works!

Amen brother!

[stillers4me]

Yes, I believe the veteran players have a huge role in mentoring and motivating the younger players, but I also believe that after the exits if Farrior, Hokey, Hines, Aaron Smith and Flozell, just to name a few off the top of my head, we have fewer self motivated players. You didn't have to tell any of them to get ready for a game.

[steeldawg]

Of course the the talent on the team matters to a coaches success, talent is the ultimate trump card in pro sports. Sure in little league a good coach can out wit a novice coach , but on a pro level the teams with talented qbs win consistently. The problem i see with tomlin is we have a franchise qb in his prime, a great group of young receivers, a solid tightend, a defense ranked at the top of the league, why in the world are we playing .500 football and why does everygame we play come right down to the wire. I watch other winning teams in the league and see these guys not only winning but dominating, crushing teams!

[86WARD]

The Steelers have a lot of holes on this team and that also includes coaching.

You can thank the 2008 draft for that.

[GoSlash27]

I am not saying player talent is not needed to win. Obviously, if you have a group of bums on the field you aren't going to do well.

By your earlier quotes cited upstream, we *do* have a bunch of bums on the field.

I'm siding with Preach on this one. You have the right to be as negative and critical as you want, and the rest of us have the right to dismiss your opinion as overly-negative. We simply could not have an average head coach, wimpy DC, a field full of average/ below average players *and* still wind up in playoff contention with the #1 ranked defense. The math doesn't work.

[Steeldude]

By your earlier quotes cited upstream, we *do* have a bunch of bums on the field.

I'm siding with Preach on this one. You have the right to be as negative and critical as you want, and the rest of us have the right to dismiss your opinion as overly-negative. We simply could not have an average head coach, wimpy DC, a field full of average/ below average players *and* still wind up in playoff contention with the #1 ranked defense. The math doesn't work.

Don't be so sensitive. I know I have the right to point out a player's faults etc... just as you have the right to exaggerate and complain about a person's opinions.

Who said the entire team is average to below average? Please copy and paste this comment. You see how you exaggerate? Many of you people have that problem.

Tell me, do you think the Steelers would be any different if they hired Billick instead of Tomlin?

[GoSlash27]

Don't be so sensitive. I know I have the right to point out a player's faults etc... just as you have the right to exaggerate and complain about a person's opinions.

Who said the entire team is average to below average? Please copy and paste this comment. You see how you exaggerate? Many of you people have that problem.

Tell me, do you think the Steelers would be any different if they hired Billick instead of Tomlin?

Oh, I'm not being "sensitive" at all. In fact, I'm the opposite. I'm just letting your bellyaching go right in one ear and out the other, 'cuz it's clearly not worth paying attention to.
/carry on.

[Steeldude]

Oh, I'm not being "sensitive" at all. In fact, I'm the opposite. I'm just letting your bellyaching go right in one ear and out the other, 'cuz it's clearly not worth paying attention to.
/carry on.

I am not bellyaching. I am merely posting my opinion. You are upset with it.

cuz it's clearly not worth paying attention to

So then why are you paying attention? Good job

I see you ran from my question. Tell me, do you think the Steelers would be any different if they hired Billick instead of Tomlin?

[GoSlash27]

I am not bellyaching. I am merely posting my opinion. You are upset with it.

Hey, post away. And thanks for your declaration of my emotional state, but I'm *pretty sure* I'm in a better position to know that than you are.

I'm sorry, but I just plain don't know how else to get the point across: I'm really not interested in arguing this with you. I'm just plain not. Some people are optimistic about the team, and some people are pessimistic. Such is life in the National Football League.
So carry on, Sir. I hope you have a good day and that all is well with you and yours.

[Dwinsgames]

what do you get what you cross a person who is highly optimistic that their team can beat anybody with a person who feels like their team can lose to anybody .....I am that man


and I complain about it because I feel we are capable to be a far better product than the one who has taken the field each week in 2012