![](https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.altoonamirror.com/images/2024/01/16235559/Steelers-1100x734.jpg)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks onto the sphere earlier than an NFL playoff soccer sport towards the Buffalo Payments, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Picture/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
By Will Graves
The Related Press
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin would not change a lot sport to sport. Week in week out. 12 months by yr.
That near-maniacal consistency is one motive the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach has stored the Pittsburgh Steelers aggressive in a league the place parity is the norm.
The issue, recently anyway, is that the outcomes have been constant for the staff that Tomlin leads as effectively.
Good. However not ok.
Aggressive. However not aggressive sufficient.
Not when it issues anyway.
Pittsburgh’s 31-17 loss to Buffalo in Monday’s wild-card spherical appeared quite a bit like most of the playoff upsets which have occurred because it beat Kansas Metropolis within the divisional spherical in 2016.
The Steelers fell behind early. They rushed to attempt to get again into it. The protection might by no means get that cease. The offense might by no means get him to play.
And as an alternative of spending Tuesday making ready for a visit to Baltimore to face the Ravens, Tomlin discovered himself main a team-wide exit assembly earlier than starting the painful postmortem on a season at as difficult as any he has confronted.
Though he went viral Monday evening after refusing to reply a query about his future — Tomlin smiled, turned left and disappeared — there’s little motive to consider the 51-year-old is burned out or prepared to maneuver on.
Star linebacker TJ Watt merely mentioned “no” if he noticed any change in Tomlin this season. Longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward offered an much more passionate protection of the one man he performed for in his 13 seasons as a professional.
“My thought is he will be the coach right here,” Heyward mentioned Tuesday. “Mike T needs to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. He is a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
A Steeler who must discover a approach to get his staff out of purgatory.
Whereas there are many success tales — from the play of rookies Joey Porter Jr. and Broderick Jones to the emergence of second-year quarterback Jaylen Warren to a different Defensive Participant of the 12 months season from Watt — there have been almost as many many complications.
The firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada in November. Outspoken criticism of the questionable effort degree of vast receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson. A 3-game skid in early December prompted Tomlin to show to third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph in hopes of offering one thing — something — to an underperforming offense.
By some means, the Steelers discovered a means, successful their closing three video games to sneak into the playoffs for the 11th time in Tomlin’s tenure.
For the tenth time, that look ended with out the staff including a Tremendous Bowl trophy to the six that greet Tomlin on his approach to work every day. For the fourth straight time, that look failed to supply a single playoff win.
It is not the “normal” that Tomlin has so readily embraced because the Steelers employed the then-largely nameless 34-year-old to exchange Invoice Cowher in January 2007. And Tomlin is aware of it . So are his gamers.
“To have the ability to work to get into these (playoff) positions and never capitalize makes it … irritating,” mentioned Watt, who led the NFL with 19 sacks however missed the Buffalo sport with a left knee harm.
Watt mentioned the day he arrived at Saint Vincent School for coaching camp, his objective this season was to advance to the postseason for the primary time in his profession. As a substitute, he spent a part of Tuesday signing jerseys for teammates and questioning what he’ll do to fill the void till organized staff actions start this spring.
“It is bizarre. It is gross. It is not enjoyable,” Watt mentioned. “However just one staff will get to really feel nice after the season. , I am unable to wait to get that feeling.”
So is a coach who would not appear to be going anyplace.
the QB dilemma
Kenny Pickett started September with hope and what felt like momentum after a promising preseason. By January he was on the bench watching Rudolph lead the Steelers to the playoffs.
Whereas Pickett believes he could have each likelihood to be a starter in 2024, he might want to take a giant step ahead after throwing a pedestrian six touchdowns towards 4 interceptions in 12 video games.
In a convention loaded with gifted younger quarterbacks, the Steelers can’t afford to accept common play at crucial place on the sphere.
Could also be?
Heyward spent greater than a decade because the heartbeat of Pittsburgh’s protection. Whether or not he returns for one more strive in 2024 is up within the air.
The 34-year-old has missed prolonged time with a groin harm that has bothered him because the begin of coaching camp and has struggled to seek out the constant kind that made him a six-time Professional Bowler and three-time All-Professional. Heyward has one yr remaining on a contract that may account for over $22 million in wage cap house.
That is some huge cash for a participant within the twilight of his profession.
“It is a deal I get first,” Heyward mentioned. “However we’ll cross that street once we get there.”