First Ever Mike Tomlin Game Thread

I have no idea what's going on with the Steelers head-coaching job, but depending on who you believe, Mike Tomlin's the guy (did I ever tell you about the time me and Mike were hangin' out in college... ).

I admit to being kinda shocked when I first heard it. In recent days I'd been leaning toward the Tomlin hire, but when it actually happened (or, at least, when it was first reported in SI), I started having second thoughts.

I'm over it. I like it, but like Eric mentioned in the comments, I'm now concerned about what the defense will look like going forward. The Steelers don't necessarily have to switch to the 4-3 just because Tomlin is a "Cover-2" guy. I mean, the Patriots play the 3-4, 4-3, and everything in between. And the Ravens have a lot of different fronts too. No reason to think Pittsburgh can't continue to do what's they've been doing. Now, if Tomlin had been hired following the 2003 season, I don't think many people would've cared if he switched to a 6-1 or 5-2. Tim Lewis was that bad. But Dick LeBeau has done amazing things with the defense in three seasons and I can't imagine the Rooney's would abandon all of that with the new hire.

Also, I read somewhere that some of the Steelers assistants are still under contract and it wouldn't be that easy to get rid of them (without firing them, I guess).

For now, I'll assume Tomlin's the guy and I'm happy about it. In the words of DJ, anybody who can work for Tobias Funke has to be smart.

PS. Consider this the Saints-Colts game thread too.

PPS. Israel, enjoy the game at your mother's, although I'm shocked she's not a devoted HSS reader.

Still No News on the Coachin' Front

I would complain about not having enough hours in the day to do all the stuff I'd like, but I'm certain that you're probably tired of hearing it. Or, as Lou Holtz once said (and I'm paraphrasing ... and maybe somebody else said it): "Don't tell people your problems. Half of them don't care and the other half are glad you got 'em."

So, with that settled, on to important stuff, like coaching candidates. Honestly, I haven't been nearly as interested in the intricacies of the process as maybe I should. I like Mike Tomlin a lot (hey, did you know I went to school with him?) but I have some reservations about the whole Tampa-2 thing. My buddy Andy pointed out that it's not like Tomlin can't learn the 3-4 -- or doesn't already know it. He is a football coach, after all.

I still think I'm in the Grimm camp for now, but that's tenuous. I wrote earlier that Grimm had moved past Whisenhunt on my list because he seemed more like Cowher in terms of motivating the troops. I'm still not sold on that line of reasoning, but I don't regret the Rooney's not offering Whisenhunt the job. I hope the guy has all the success in the world in Arizona.

Anyway, I was listening to Steve Czaban the other morning and Chris Landry was on (he's a former scout and probably one of the most informative, interesting radio guests I've heard) talking about Ron Rivera. Somebody mentioned the 4-3/3-4 issue and Landry pointed out that just because a coordinator runs a 4-3 doesn't mean that' can't change. Plus, Rivera also played in the 3-4, so it's not like it's totally foreign to him. And you know what, Dick LeBeau will hopefully be around, so it won't be an immediate concern.

Ideally, the Rooney's will get somebody who will be around for a while and now that Whisenhun't in Phoenix, I'm kinda indifferent to Tomlin, Rivera and Grimm. Gailey and Sherman are right ahead of Art Shell on my wish list, however.

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With the Steelers at home, this whole playoffs thing is a lot less stressful. I mean, can you imagine being a Chargers fan this week? I think LaDainian Tomlinson is all that's right about the NFL, and I can understand he might be frustrated following that bed-shitting loss, but if he wants to go off on somebody, how about Cam Cameron? Or Marlon McCree. Or every Chargers wideout who dropped a pass ... or four.

Look, I don't buy the whole Patriots are a classy organization stuff because, well, it's not true. Belichick, for as smart as he is, can be a whiny baby, and that Mangini-man-boob hug last week was just embarrassing. But you know what, who cares? New England's got three Super Bowls and no matter how much you hate them, you've got to respect them for that.

Tom Brady takes his job very seriously. I somehow think Big Ben doesn't work quite this hard. He might ... but I just don't get that impression.

Anyway, I hope the Colts win by 80.

Enough with the rambling, let's hire Mike Tomlin ... or Ron Rivera ... or Russ Grimm now!