PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEWTuesday, January 23, 2007
Mike Tomlin looked the part and spoke the gospel while making a first impression that couldn't have been better.
He thanked God and the Rooney family, in that order. He flashed a smile and a Super Bowl ring. He brought the wife and referenced the kids. And he expressed himself in sound bites that paid tribute to traditional Steelers values such as becoming a team that "wins by attrition," being "mentally and physically tough" and being able to "stop the run and run the ball effectively.
"In general, that's what our football team will be all about," Tomlin said.
Someone should have fired up "The Steelers Polka."
Or perhaps, "Renegade."
"We intend to make no bold predictions," Tomlin said. "What we are going to do is promise to have a first-class, blue-collar work ethic in how we approach our business."
That was the highlight of Tomlin's opening statement upon being introduced as Bill Cowher's successor.
Subsequent inquiries revealed Tomlin has taken rides on Pittsburgh's inclines as a 12-year old and that, despite his status as a 34-year-old rising star in the profession, Tomlin isn't yet convinced he knows it all.
"Coaching's overrated," Tomlin said. "If you have good players, you have a chance."
He'll inherit those, despite the Steelers' 8-8 record.
And he'll be smart enough to surround himself with good help.
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be back, Tomlin confirmed, despite a philosophical difference in the value of the 4-3 as opposed to the 3-4.
"You look at your personnel and what they do well and what puts them in a position to win, and obviously retaining Coach LeBeau is a big part of that," Tomlin said.
Filling out the staff is up to Tomlin, Steelers president Art Rooney II said.
But LeBeau came "strongly recommended."
The rest have been "recommended" by Rooney.
Along those lines, count on Bruce Arians moving up from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator and, probably, the defensive staff returning intact.
Tomlin may not have been the continuity candidate, but he apparently appreciates what was achieved by a staff that has lost Cowher, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, special teams coach Kevin Spencer and running backs coach Dick Hoak.
It was always a team effort, from director of football operations Kevin Colbert and the personnel department through the support staff that kept the Cowher-era Steelers contending.
Tomlin isn't interested in putting a personal stamp on that as much as he is keeping the ball rolling.
"The one thing that turned me on about this organization is it's a collective effort in terms of how we do things," Tomlin said. "Nothing is heaped upon one specific person.
"I look forward to working with Kevin on personnel matters. I'm excited about that, I really am.' "
The guy fits in already.
Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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