PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin’s confidence is unwavering.
Just ask him.
“I’ve spent most of my 51 years of life playing football, and that’s probably what gives me confidence.” The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach said Monday. “But you can’t necessarily transfer that to other people.”
unfortunate. Blood transfusions may be required.
The 17 years Tomlin spent on the sideline were filled with late-season declines as well as late-season growth spurts.
But this swoon feels different. It certainly seems different that Pittsburgh is losing to Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray instead of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady or Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Shane Steichen and Gardner Minshew.
The nadir of a checkered season — or at least what the Steelers hope to be the nadir — was Saturday’s 30-13 loss to Steichen, Minshew and the Indianapolis Colts, with Pittsburgh scoring just 13 points in the first half. Lost the lead and spent the last three games. A quarter that exhibits all the characteristics of a completely disorganized group.
Penalties. turnover. The two Bucs, who have spent part of the year on the practice squad, are uninterested in stopping runs against the starting team. Other than bad body language, vague calls, and (mercifully) questionable decision-making, they can’t produce much on offense.
All of this adds up to their fourth loss in five games, and there is little evidence that the Steelers (7-7) have what it takes to navigate an increasingly complicated path to the postseason.
Tomlin promised changes, from trading Mitch Trubisky for Mason Rudolph for Saturday’s game against Cincinnati (8-6), provided Kenny Pickett’s right ankle is not ready to play. I started. The move makes sense and also has an air of relative desperation. .
Rudolph finished third in a three-way QB derby with Trubisky and Pickett during 2022 training camp, but with Pickett undergoing surgery on his right ankle after the loss to Arizona two weeks ago, Tomlin has He denied the prospect of playing in the starting lineup.
Tomlin pointed to Trubisky’s experience working with starters in practice as a contributing factor, even though Rudolph is not an undrafted rookie free agent but one of the team’s longest-tenured players. .
Even though Tomlin and former general manager Kevin Colbert went out of their way to claim they drafted him in the first round after taking Rudolph with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft.
Not that it matters.
Trubisky. Rudolph. If Pickett is healthy enough. They’re all playing in a system that no longer works. Sure, offensive Matt Canada is gone. But the strategy he created still stands. And it rarely, if ever, works.
A new offensive coordinator will be hired in the offseason. That’s natural. The bigger question, which may be theoretical at this point, is whether there will be a new coach as well.
Tomlin’s resume, his deep-rooted belief in Pittsburgh’s stability, the fact that he’s under contract through 2024, and the list of people the Steelers pay to not work for them are believable. It’s hard to imagine for a myriad of reasons, including the fact that it’s incredibly short.
But the club is also in the midst of its longest drought without a playoff championship since Chuck Noll won it — six years (soon to be seven) and still to come. “Super Steelers” A dynasty emerged in the 1970s.
That says a lot about the franchise. “Standard is standard” Certainly excellent. It also could be concrete evidence that Tomlin’s message may not resonate in the locker room as much as it used to.
Before playing against the Colts, he talked about conveying a sense of urgency to his team when things get tough. “thick.” And it responded by being trained.
Tomlin took responsibility for the aftermath, but also acknowledged that his words were essentially meaningless.
“It doesn’t matter what we say at this point. It doesn’t matter what anyone says at this point.” Tomlin said. “The road has gotten narrower. So what I do when I step into the stadium says a lot more than what comes out of my mouth. That’s my mentality.”
That’s the problem. Pittsburgh’s play says a lot. And none of them are good.
For the players. For its management. And of course not that coach.
No matter how confident he was.
what is working
NFL schedule makers did the Steelers a solid favor by not having them play on Christmas Eve for the second year in a row.
things that need help
George Pickens’ attitude. The second-year wide receiver was careless at best and negligent at worst when it came to plays he wasn’t directly involved in. This trend is now spreading to the theater he is directly involved with.
Talented but volatile, Pickens did little to pursue Saturday after Julian Blackmon intercepted a pass that went over Pickens’ head. In fact, Pickens ran, nay, trotted away from Blackmon after the pick.
stock up
Pittsburgh’s slide could damage TJ Watt’s Defensive Player of the Year campaign. Outside linebackers had an NFL-best 16 sacks, including two against the Colts.
out of stock
Safety Damonte Kazee was suspended for the remainder of the season by the NFL on Monday for repeatedly violating rules designed to protect player safety.
The final crisis came when Kazee made contact with the diving head of Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The referees immediately ejected Kazee, costing him approximately $208,000.
injury
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed Saturday with a knee injury. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is in concussion protocol and his status is unknown. Safety Elijah Riley, who missed a month with an ankle injury, could return against Cincinnati.
key number
0 — Number of losing seasons Tomlin has had in his career. This record could be in serious jeopardy.
next step
Hope Rudolph, who hasn’t won a game he’s started or finished in over four years, will provide momentum against the Bengals.