Three weeks in the past, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been rolling. They managed their very own future within the AFC North and nonetheless had an opportunity on the high seed within the convention. Sadly, the Steelers have stumbled about as a lot as potential by their three-game shedding streak. Mike Tomlin’s unit has been blown-out in each contest.
Each the offense and protection have struggled throughout that stretch. Nonetheless, the unit that’s getting essentially the most criticism, with a few of that coming from the gamers themselves, is the protection. Pittsburgh’s given up at the least 27 factors in every of their losses to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Seven of these factors towards the Eagles got here off an interception from Russell Wilson, however the protection has given up 83 mixed factors in these three losses.
A troublesome schedule has finished the workforce no favors however failing to compete with three playoff groups is an ominous signal. Particularly with the playoffs simply two weeks away.
The Pittsburgh Put up Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo spoke with WMBS Radio’s George Von Benko on Saturday. Whereas a lot of the fan’s ire has turned to DC Teryl Austin, Fittipaldo shined the sunshine on Mike Tomlin as an alternative.
“Keith Butler was a defensive coordinator in title for just a few years,” Fittipaldo stated. “Now, Teryl Austin is the defensive coordinator in title. However he’s probably not the one who’s pulling all of the strings. That is Mike Tomlin. It is a man who has a background within the secondary. He was a defensive backs coach for Tony Dungy earlier than he went on to turn into the Steelers head coach. You’d suppose with all these years of expertise, and every thing he’s encountered in his 20+ years within the NFL, he may determine this out.”
As Fittipaldo mentions, Tomlin does have a protracted historical past as a defensive-oriented coach. Tomlin started his time within the NFL as a defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fittipaldo appears to suppose that Tomlin has extra affect over the protection than the present defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, and indicators that Tomlin ought to be the one getting the blame for the unit’s struggles.
Whether or not that be true or not, it’s one thing that needs to be found out. Tomlin’s been an ideal coach for Pittsburgh, and is guiding the workforce into each a successful file and the playoffs, but once more. Nonetheless, this is likely to be the start of one other late-season slide and potential fast postseason exit. That wouldn’t be something new for his Steelers. Whether or not or not it’s Tomlin or Austin with extra of a say over the protection, they’ll want to repair no matter points there are. Shortly.
