Tag: Mike Tomlin

Tomlin owns Steelers inability to stop the run vs Ravens

The Steelers couldn’t slow down Derrick Henry and that was the difference in the game.

Of all the things that went wrong for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, none stood out as much as the team’s inability to slow down the Ravens run game.

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry ran roughshod over the Steelers’ defense to the tune of 162 yards on 24 carries. The image of Henry dragging Pittsburgh defenders will dance in our heads all the way until Christmas like sugar plums.

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledges the Steelers’ shortcomings in run defense in the most Tomlin way possible.

“We didn’t control the run game,” Tomlin said. “We never did.”

In fairness, the Steelers were minus defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr. Losing four of 11 starters makes it tough to stop any NFL-caliber offense, much less all the weapons the Ravens bring to the table.

There’s no time for the Steelers to sit around and ponder what went wrong. Pittsburgh is working on a short week and have to prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs and their 13-1 record on Christmas day in Pittsburgh.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

George Pickens’ injury proves Steelers made Roman Wilson-sized mistake

George Pickens’ absence in Week 16 argues that the Steelers must reconsider giving rookie Roman Wilson a chance in the WR room.

The worries of Steelers fans have been confirmed: George Pickens has been ruled OUT for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 16 AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

However, his absence from last week’s and this week’s games provides ammunition to the season-long argument regarding the Steelers’ wide receiver room: HC Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith need to give rookie WR Roman Wilson a chance.

It was recently argued by Steelers insider Gerry Dulac that Wilson’s inability to stay healthy during training camp and practices early on in 2024 forced the team to move on from his contributions this year. However, Pickens’ absence should force the team to reconsider.

In the past two games Pickens has missed, QB Russell Wilson struggled to find production out of his receivers and threw for a combined 286 yards in Weeks 14 and 15.

Regardless of Tomlin claiming to have “moved on,” or any insiders believing the rookie receiver will get his chance in 2025, one thing remains certain—the Wilson-to-Wilson connection could be the much-needed medicine for this dying Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Steelers QB frustrated by botched plays in Week 15 loss

Ben Roethlisberger voices his frustrations over the Steelers’ Week 15 loss to the Eagles, pointing to key moments that sealed their fate.

While watching the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, one legendary Steelers quarterback shared the disappointment felt by much of the Black and Gold faithful.

Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, while discussing Pittsburgh’s loss in Week 15 with co-host Spencer Te’o on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, revealed the specific plays he deemed game “killers.”

Big Ben expressed frustrations with areas of the Steelers’ offense that fans have collectively agreed need improvement: finding a reliable WR2 and avoiding slow starts in the first half.

Roethlisberger highlighted a few plays in particular that he believed were “killers” for any hope of a late-game comeback against the Eagles in Week 15: “Najee fumbling the toss sweep—that was a killer.” He then pointed to what he argued was an even greater misstep: “I think one of the killers was Coach T punting on like the 47ish [yard line]. They never got the ball back.”

While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ overall performance was rough in Week 15, is Roethlisberger correct in his analysis that Harris and head coach Mike Tomlin’s “killer” plays sealed the Black and Gold’s loss?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mike Tomlin’s clock management woes: A recurring concern for Steelers fans

Pittsburgh Steelers fans and analysts have voiced frustration over recurring issues when it comes to Mike Tomlin’s clock management.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has long been praised for his leadership, motivational skills, and ability to get the most out of his team. But fans and analysts have voiced frustration over recurring issues regarding clock management.

Throughout Tomlin’s career, the Steelers have faced several situations where questionable decisions on timeouts, play-calling pace, and end-of-half strategies have left fans scratching their heads.

Tomlin butchered the end of the first half in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles. T.J. Watt sacked Jalen Hurts with 1:55 left, and Tomlin refused to use a time until 1:29 remained. This was yet another example of Tomlin’s conservative approach costing the team valuable seconds. Moments like these highlight a broader pattern in Tomlin’s game management: A tendency to rely on “feel” over sound strategy.

While Tomlin’s overall record speaks for itself, clock management remains a blind spot that can make or break tight games. In today’s NFL, where every second counts, these lapses can be the difference between a win and a loss. Steelers fans have grown accustomed to gritty performances, but they deserve a head coach who maximizes every advantage—including the clock.

The 2024 NFL season is in its final stretch, and the playoffs are on the horizon. For the Steelers to remain competitive, it’s beyond time for Tomlin to sharpen this critical area of coaching.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mike Tomlin might coach the Steelers forever

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin loves coaching the Pittsburgh.

One of the biggest takeaways from this new season of HBO’s Hard Knocks is that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is the star of the show. It might be about four different teams but Tomlin is the main character.

We hope Steelers fans who have been hyper critical of Tomlin and call for his job on a weekly basis have been able to tune in and have a different perspective on him after seeing how different he is from the other coaches in the AFC North.

In one scene on Tuesday, Tomlin was talking to quarterback Russell Wilson on the sidelines, getting a fellow Virginian hyped up for the game and made it clear he loves coaching the Steelers so much, he’d pay the team to do it.

“I’d pay them to do this,” Tomlin said. “I’d never tell them that, but we living.”

Tomlin has always had the reputation of being a player’s coach and Hard Knocks has really confirmed that. He’s in his 18th season as the Steelers head coach and last week he secured a spot in the playoffs.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Watch referee give Steelers HC Mike Tomlin nonsense excuse on penalties

We got a little more insight into the unusual call in last week’s Steelers game.

Early on in the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the officials got involved and it felt a lot like home cooking for the Eagles. On an early red zone play, Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones engaged with Philadelphia cornerback Darius Slay and walked him back into the stands like a scene out of The Blind Side. Slay took exception and a scrum ensued.

When the dust settled, the officials chose to throw two flags. But instead of offsetting penalties as is normally the case when both sides are throwing punches, all flags went to the Steelers. This was in spite of a clear view of multiple Eagles throwing punches.

Head coach Mike Tomlin wanted some clarification from the officials and we got to hear it straight from them on Tuesday’s episode of Hard Knocks. And spoiler alert: It’s ridiculous.

Ultimately, it’s impossible to know how much this interaction impacted the outcome of the game. The Steelers fell to the Eagles 27-13, however, the Steelers still secured a spot in the playoffs.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

‘Hard Knocks’ shows what officials said to anger Mike Tomlin vs Eagles

Officials’ unseen exchange with Mike Tomlin highlights one of the worst excuses after a controversial Week 15 Steelers penalty.

Viewers of this week’s new episode of Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, were treated to what led to Steelers HC Mike Tomlin profanely telling officials to get away from him.

Before Tomlin’s choice words to the officials, he questioned why they decided to call such a heinous penalty on both Steelers players: “Y’all didn’t see that guy throwing punches for Philadelphia?”

The official speaking to Tomlin then provided the most embarrassing excuse one could imagine, claiming the Eagles player was “knocking his hands off him.”

Fans who saw up-close footage of the altercation could clearly see that while Steelers TE Darnell Washington blocked CB Darius Slay Jr. for an extended period, the Eagles cornerback was the first to throw punches.

No wonder Tomlin was so bewildered with the officiating crew during Week 16’s contest between the Steelers and Eagles. Not only was Pittsburgh wrongly penalized for the skirmish, but he was also given one of the worst officiating excuses imaginable.

As the Steelers prepare for the Ravens in Week 16, hopefully the team can put these wrongful penalties behind them, with the stakes higher than ever in the upcoming AFC North showdown—a chance at the divisional title.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers insider believes WR Roman Wilson may be done for the season

Roman Wilson’s return to the field may not come this season, with Steelers insider Gerry Dulac predicting a 2025 debut.

Steelers fans hoping to see Roman Wilson make his long-awaited comeback in the final three regular season games or the 2024 season may need to wait a little longer. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac described the situation regarding Wilson’s return in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and he believes the receiver won’t return in any capacity this season.

When asked for his opinion on Wilson’s return, Dulac stated:

“He has missed all of training camp and nearly all of this season. He is not going to play because he is not ready. Next year.”

It is important to note that the Pittsburgh Steelers have not made an official decision regarding Wilson. However, judging by head coach Mike Tomlin’s previous comments about the rookie wide receiver, suggesting they had ‘moved on’ from his availability concerns, Dulac may be right on the money with his 2025 prediction for Wilson.

Fans of the Steelers may be disappointed that Wilson may not contribute in his rookie season. However, many receivers in Pittsburgh’s past, especially those drafted in the later rounds, have also struggled to make significant contributions in their first year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

New footage shows officials were wrong in Week 15’s Steelers-Eagles fight

New footage vindicates Steelers fans, proving officiating errors in Pittsburgh’s Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Oh, how the tables have turned. Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers were criticized as sore losers for blaming the awful officiating in Week 15’s contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles. However, new footage from one key play in the game supports the Black and Gold faithful’s claims.

Early in the first quarter, Steelers WR Calvin Austin and TE Darnell Washington were wrongfully the only players penalized for a fight that broke out with Eagles CBs Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay Jr.

HC Mike Tomlin was visibly upset on the sideline following the penalty on his players alone. When asked postgame why the officiating crew made the call, referee Alan Eck stated it was due to a lack of evidence.

However, newly released footage clearly shows that Slay and Mitchell both took shots at Washington and Austin.  This begs the question, how was officiating upstairs unable to catch the penalty in replay assist?

While this is certainly not the first time officials have given the Pittsburgh Steelers the short end of the stick, fans of the Steel City certainly hope it will be the last in 2024.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Blast from the past: Kenny Pickett reunites with Ex-Steelers teammates

Eagles Kenny Pickett reunited with former Pittsburgh Steelers teammates, proving that relationships can endure beyond a difficult departure.

Although ‘Kenny Football’ had a rather tumultuous exit from the Pittsburgh Steelers this past offseason, it appears there is no bad blood from either side of the relationship.

Kenny Pickett hasn’t been on the same field as the Pittsburgh Steelers during the regular season since the 2023 Week 18 contest on January 6th earlier this year. Ignoring the fact that Pickett had seemingly given up the opportunity to earn back the admiration of his Black and Gold teammates, he was seen reconciling and reuniting with former teammate TE Pat Freiermuth, as well as his former head coach Mike Tomlin.

Some things are simply bigger than football. Relationships, such as the ones Pickett developed with his former teammates over the two-year span he spent as a Pittsburgh Steeler, are more meaningful than any drama stemming from leaving the Steel City. Perhaps a Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Super Bowl could be on the horizon for both Pennsylvania-based NFL teams in 2024, and the Steelers could once again catch up with their former QB.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]