By Mark Madden
September 18, 2013
Was Steelers coach Mike Tomlin always this stupid? Maybe we just notice it more now that he’s 0-2.
Tomlin says the offensive play-calling isn’t a problem. More no-huddle isn’t a solution. “Improving the running game is the top priority,” Tomlin told Sirius NFL radio. “So many things feed off that.”
LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN! It’s just a jump to the left …
Tomlin: “You can’t get more people involved unless the offense generates more snaps.” No, but you can use different people.
Tomlin on rookie receiver Markus Wheaton: “Hopefully, his play will increase.” Hopefully? Coach, don’t you determine who plays? Or do you draw the depth chart out of a hat?
Tomlin and the Steelers apparently want to perfect insanity, as in “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Catchy. Perhaps they could engrave that on the wall outside the team’s locker-room entrance.
When “next man up” is one of your favorite empty platitudes, make sure the “next man up” is NFL-ready. Too many Steelers aren’t.
The Steelers got flawed in assembly and are administered by a bunch of know-it-alls who won’t – not even now, at 0-2 – entertain the possibility that they’re wrong. They intend to keep doing things exactly the same. They fancy themselves guardians of the “true” way of playing the game. Problem is, that way of playing barely exists anymore.
Time won’t be spent formulating a solution. Good, because there isn’t one. Improvement might be provided via healed injuries, but lack of depth and overall lousy personnel precludes any Plan B.
Scapegoating is more important. Who takes the fall? Early favorites are general manager Kevin Colbert and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Neither deserves the ax; Colbert does not have final say in all personnel decisions, and Haley has been charged with implementing an outdated vision. To Haley’s credit, the offense is perfectly balanced: The Steelers can’t run or pass. When Haley goes, will he stooge off being a stooge?
Hey, life isn’t fair. You can’t fire the president, you can’t double-cross the Rooney Rule and somebody’s got to go.
Nothing will happen before season’s end. That would be acknowledging that something’s wrong. But Haley shouldn’t close on that new house just yet. Stick with the hotel. And the hotel bar. They got beer specials.
Losing twice to start the season is a death sentence. Thirty teams have done so over the past four campaigns. None made the playoffs. The Steelers don’t have the talent or leadership to be an exception to that rule.
Losing thrice to start the season is even worse. At 0-3, you can’t even pretend. You’ve got nothing left to sell, including hope.
The Steelers are 2-point home underdogs against Chicago. The Bears are a mediocre, non-playoff team by most reckoning. Lose Sunday and you might as well have WE STINK tattooed on your forehead.
I’ll take the Bears and give the points.
To bounce back from their 0-2 start, the Steelers need guts. Guts can’t make up for all tangible shortcomings. But guts would help.
The Steelers don’t have any. Not enough, anyway.
When Isaac Redman fumbled away a potential 9-0 lead during the opener vs. Tennessee, the Steelers visibly deflated.
When Maurkice Pouncey went down with a season-ending injury, the Steelers visibly deflated. David DeCastro, who inadvertently hurt Pouncey, is still playing like he’s in a fog.
When David Paulson fumbled away a potential 10-0 lead at Cincinnati, the Steelers visibly deflated.
I’m not sure if the Steelers lack leadership, or if they have too many players who can’t be led. Either way, bad gets worse.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
Photo: AP
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