Bob Smizik: Grimm the logical choice for the Steelers' job

More substance than style, Grimm clearly is the logical choice to succeed Cowher

Monday, January 15, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There's an excellent chance the next Steelers coach will be a no-nonsense Western Pennsylvania tough guy, who, despite such a style, is loved by his players. He'll be a coach who will give time to the media, but not gladly. He'll be angry in defeat and step to the back in victory. He'll have little use for small talk and will have an extremely small circle of confidants.

No, Bill Cowher is not being rehired.

By most indications, assistant head coach Russ Grimm is being promoted.

Grimm, who liked nothing better than being in the distant background, unseen and unheard, could be named Cowher's successor by the middle of the week.

The Arizona Cardinals' decision to name Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt their head coach leaves Grimm the obvious and correct choice for the Steelers.

Whisenhunt and Grimm were the leading candidates to succeed Cowher. They were two of five coaches interviewed for the job. The other three were Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin and Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, who is a former Steelers offensive coordinator.

That Grimm, who is also the Steelers' offensive line coach, will be named a head coach after Whisenhunt is not an indication he was the Steelers' second choice.

By taking their time, the Rooney family allowed both of their guys to get jobs. If they had named Grimm before Arizona made a decision, it's possible Arizona would have balked at taking a coach already deemed not good enough by another team.

Such maneuvering is rare in the NFL, and Dan Rooney, self-assured and almost ego-less, is one of the few owners who would make it. He got the man he wanted and nothing else mattered.

In Grimm, the Steelers have a coach extremely comfortable with who he is. He has never sought the spotlight, like so many assistants hungry for a promotion. It has often been said offensive linemen are the smartest players on the field, they just never let anyone know it. Grimm fits that mold.

It might have been the way he carries himself as much as his football knowledge, which is said to be considerable, that won Grimm the job. In fact, it could be Grimm's outward similarities to Cowher that might have most gained him favor with the Rooneys.

Grimm was a finalist for the Chicago Bears' job in 2004 that went to Lovie Smith. There was speculation Grimm was offered the job first but refused it when he was told what assistant coaches he had to keep. It says a lot about Grimm that such speculation came from other people and never from him.

Grimm was the quintessential offensive lineman. After initially having trouble accepting a switch from quarterback/linebacker to center in his early days at Pitt, he took keenly to his new assignment. Tutored by the great offensive line coach Joe Moore, he quietly became one of the best, even while other teammates at Pitt were gaining the accolades.

He never got the notice of Mark May, who won the Outland Trophy, and Jimbo Covert, who was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Both were All-Americans and first-round draft choices. Grimm was taken in the third round in 1980 by the Washington Redskins, where he was converted to guard. He went on to an excellent career and was one of 15 semifinalist named last week for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Steelers lose a first-rate offensive coordinator in Whisenhunt. But, like almost all others in such roles, he is not irreplaceable. Whisenhunt was critical to the Steelers' offensive success but not the only reason for it. There are other bright offensive thinkers and other coaches who can capably tutor fourth-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who took a backward step last season.

Should Grimm or his offensive coordinator make changes in the Steelers' offense, subtle or otherwise, it's not something Roethlisberger can't overcome. He led the Steelers to a 15-1 record in his first year in their offense and to a Super Bowl in his second.

Grimm probably has some strong ideas on who will get the job. There are two good candidates already with the team: wide receivers coach Bruce Arians, who has been an offensive coordinator on the college and NFL level, and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple. Both men have been head coaches on the college level.

It's hard to speculate on what specific offensive and defensive philosophies Grimm will embrace as a head coach because as an assistant he did his job and kept his mouth shut. When Cowher resigned he said he took satisfaction in having done it his way. And that's another area where Grimm mirrors Cowher. He, too, will do it his way.