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Monday, November 1, 2010
NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS - If is isn't broken, don't fix it.
That's been Mike Tomlin's motto in his four years as Steelers coach.
Tomlin boasts a style all his own without having a so-callled "system." He's a coach for all seasons who's smart enough to know a good thing when he sees one.
Sunday night, the Steelers squared off against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. It was another big game for Tomlin, who entered last night's contest having won twice as many games as he's lost (36-18).
Tomlin isn't a resident genius like New Orelans coach Sean Payton, who wants us to know how smart he is. He isn't impulsive like Denver's Josh McDaniels, another young coach. He isn't a friend like Dallas' Wade Phillips, who allowed his players to walk all over him.
If Tomlin has an ego, I haven't seen it.
He was asked not to mess up a good thing. The Steelers' "system" was already in place long before he arrived in Pittsburgh. So far, Tomlin has done that.
The Steelers faced the Saints with Nick Eason and Ziggy Hood starting at defensive end, and it may as well have been Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel out there. The Saints couldn't run the ball in the first half. Heck, the Saints barely tried (six carries for 15 yards). At halftime, quarterback Drew Brees had a 57.8 passer rating.
Trailing 6-3 at the 8:24 mark in the third quarter, the Steelers actually gained momentum despite falling behind for the first time. The Saints' offense was on the verge of taking control against the Steelers' defense, but the Saints went from first and goal at the 3 to fourth and goal at the 5.
Tomlin, of course, wasn't satisfied with the Steelers defensive stand. He could see like the rest of us his defense needed to have a 2008 flashback last night because his offense was stuck in park. After three quarters, the Steelers had amassed -- this is not a typographical error -- 149 total yards.
NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints sacks Ben Roethlisberger #7of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played by far his most ineffective game since returning from a four-game suspension. He was under siege from New Orelans' pass rush, and it showed in the way he got rid of the ball quickly and underthrew receivers.
The passing game was out of sync. More than once following an incompletion, Roethlisberger gestured downfield to indicate he and the intended receiver weren't on the same page.
But that's the beauty of Tomlin's Steelers. They're resourceful and supremely confident. The Steelers never believe they're out of a game.
After carrying the offense for three quarters, the Steelers' defense finally got some help.
Trailing 13-3, the Steelers made it 13-10 on Rashard Mendenhall's long touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
And then the Steelers defense, on the verge of giving up more points, forced a Brees' fumble and gave their defense a chance to win the game.
Back and forth it went. Normally reliable tight end Heath Miller lost a fumble after a 25-yard reception as New Orleans grabbed back the momentum.
New Orelans was playing desperate following an upset loss to Cleveland a week earlier. The Steelers play desperate every week. It's what separates the Steelers from other teams. They play every game like their entire season depends on it.
Sometimes it doesn't work out the way Tomlin wants. The Steelers are an imperfect team attempting to play a perfect game. Last night was one of those nights. Next Monday night against Cincinnati, they'll lace it up and do it all over again.
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