Life's good for Mike Tomlin. Coming off a 10-6 record including a 5-1 record against divisional opponents, the city of Pittsburgh as taken a liking to Tomlin. His attitude and desire to win as has won over many Steeler fans. He's revamped the offense where Ben Roethlisberger is able to do more, without losing the "pound the ball" mentality that the Steelers have always been famous for. The defense is also the same ole' tough, gritty defense that everyone is accustomed to.
However, last year at this time there were many questions surrounding Tomlin. Even Steeler fans were questioning the Rooneys decision on the hiring. Tomlin was a young, unknown and unproven coach who hasn't had any head coaching experience when the Steelers hired him. No one knew about this defensive coordinator from Minnesota. Questions like "who is this guy?" were asked around Pittsburgh. Even the Rooneys stated at first Tomlin was unlikely to get the job.
The Steelers have had two coaches in their storied history, one which was a hall of famer and the other one could be a hall of famer. So expectations were high for Tomlin. They expected the best out of him. Can you blame them? I mean they are the Pittsburgh Steelers, they're one of the best franchises in all of sports. They expect a Super Bowl every year so what Tomlin was walking into was going to be tough. Tomlin had the right set of tools though to get the job done. A franchise quarterback, pro bowl running back, and a strong defense. So it wasn't like he was walking into a terrible setting. But he had to prove to the fans that he was the coach that could lead them to the promise land. He also had to prove to that to another set of individuals as well.
As soon as the news got out about the Tomlin as the head coach of the Steelers, a couple players in particular were not happy. Alan Faneca was one of those players who was upset by the hiring, as he wanted Russ Grimm to be coach. So right off the bat, Tomlin didn't start well with Faneca, who is an important piece on the Steelers team. Of course if he feels that way then it just creates a domino affect throughout the locker room. Other players start to grow indifferent toward Tomlin because they don't know much about him and they're not going to get used to him for a while. Players like Faneca that have been in the organization for a while and have been to used to Bill Cowher's way were a little uneasy with Tomlin. However it wouldn't take long for players to realize that Mike Tomlin is the right man for the job.
Now a year later Tomlin has taken the organization and making it his own without totally destroying how the Steelers have and always will look. In Tomlin's first season, Ben Roethlisberger had his best statistical season. While Ben was having a great year in the new offense that Mike Tomlin installed, Willie Parker was still pounding "the rock" effectively. He was leading the NFL in rushing yards before he got hurt against St. Louis in the last couple weeks of the year.
Tomlin said he was going to tune up the offense this year and he's done certainly that. It isn't your old grind out, beat you up type of offense. Sure that offense is still planted in there but it's a new era for Steeler fans. Now with Tomlin, everyone will see Ben Roethlisberger's potential as a passer in the coming years. Yes, the Steelers will still always be tough, they should be, however now to go along with that always great defense, they should have a potent offense to boot.
It only took one year for Steeler fans to be convinced that Tomlin will be in line with the great Steeler coaches. The way he's implanted and introduced his techniques and coaching strategies to go along with the way the Steelers have always done things has got to impress the typical NFL fan. His character and personality has also been a major positive for him to Steeler fans. Watch him before, during and after a game. How he interacts with players, fans and the media is a great example on how every coach should represent themselves. Yes it's a new time for the league and Steeler fans, it's a start to a bright future with Mike Tomlin.
However, last year at this time there were many questions surrounding Tomlin. Even Steeler fans were questioning the Rooneys decision on the hiring. Tomlin was a young, unknown and unproven coach who hasn't had any head coaching experience when the Steelers hired him. No one knew about this defensive coordinator from Minnesota. Questions like "who is this guy?" were asked around Pittsburgh. Even the Rooneys stated at first Tomlin was unlikely to get the job.
"He was probably a long shot when we began the discussions," Art Rooney said per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.In Pittsburgh where expectations for their beloved Steelers are always high, Tomlin had to not only prove to his players but to the loyal fans of Pittsburgh. Tomlin would have to do a lot of things right in his first year to convince Steeler fans that he was the right man for the job. To handle every situation right was key in Mike Tomlin's first year. He would have to adjust to being a head coach quick, and learn to the Pittsburgh environment and the way things were run with the Steelers. For Tomlin winning the fans over was possibly just as important as winning his players over. Pittsburgh doesn't settle for losers and even one glimpse of failure early on by Tomlin would put him in a bad seat with Steeler nation.
The Steelers have had two coaches in their storied history, one which was a hall of famer and the other one could be a hall of famer. So expectations were high for Tomlin. They expected the best out of him. Can you blame them? I mean they are the Pittsburgh Steelers, they're one of the best franchises in all of sports. They expect a Super Bowl every year so what Tomlin was walking into was going to be tough. Tomlin had the right set of tools though to get the job done. A franchise quarterback, pro bowl running back, and a strong defense. So it wasn't like he was walking into a terrible setting. But he had to prove to the fans that he was the coach that could lead them to the promise land. He also had to prove to that to another set of individuals as well.
As soon as the news got out about the Tomlin as the head coach of the Steelers, a couple players in particular were not happy. Alan Faneca was one of those players who was upset by the hiring, as he wanted Russ Grimm to be coach. So right off the bat, Tomlin didn't start well with Faneca, who is an important piece on the Steelers team. Of course if he feels that way then it just creates a domino affect throughout the locker room. Other players start to grow indifferent toward Tomlin because they don't know much about him and they're not going to get used to him for a while. Players like Faneca that have been in the organization for a while and have been to used to Bill Cowher's way were a little uneasy with Tomlin. However it wouldn't take long for players to realize that Mike Tomlin is the right man for the job.
Now a year later Tomlin has taken the organization and making it his own without totally destroying how the Steelers have and always will look. In Tomlin's first season, Ben Roethlisberger had his best statistical season. While Ben was having a great year in the new offense that Mike Tomlin installed, Willie Parker was still pounding "the rock" effectively. He was leading the NFL in rushing yards before he got hurt against St. Louis in the last couple weeks of the year.
Tomlin said he was going to tune up the offense this year and he's done certainly that. It isn't your old grind out, beat you up type of offense. Sure that offense is still planted in there but it's a new era for Steeler fans. Now with Tomlin, everyone will see Ben Roethlisberger's potential as a passer in the coming years. Yes, the Steelers will still always be tough, they should be, however now to go along with that always great defense, they should have a potent offense to boot.
It only took one year for Steeler fans to be convinced that Tomlin will be in line with the great Steeler coaches. The way he's implanted and introduced his techniques and coaching strategies to go along with the way the Steelers have always done things has got to impress the typical NFL fan. His character and personality has also been a major positive for him to Steeler fans. Watch him before, during and after a game. How he interacts with players, fans and the media is a great example on how every coach should represent themselves. Yes it's a new time for the league and Steeler fans, it's a start to a bright future with Mike Tomlin.
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