The Steelers’ season opener debacle demonstrated what I have said for years: Mike Tomlin is a lousy coach. He has gotten by due to an abundance of talented players who were able to win in spite of Tomlin’s poor decision-making.
With the loss of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, the team is not talented enough to overcome Tomlin’s inadequacies. The Patriots are very good every year with far less talent.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a master at utilizing aging players, no-name backs/receivers and clever game plans to overcome a shortage of ability, something Tomlin could never do. For example, in the playoff game against Jacksonville two years ago, Tomlin called for an unsuccessful onside kick in the third quarter, which lead to a quick Jaguars score. Then in the final moments of the fourth quarter, he elected to kick the ball deep when we had to get the ball and quick score for the win.
As a field general his shortcomings have been obvious for years, and the Brown and Bell situations have highlighted his failings in the locker room. I fear he is returning us to the Steelers of the ’60s.
Jeff Gross
Matthews, N.C.
The writer is a former resident of Monroeville, Murrysville and North Huntingdon, and a lifelong Steelers fan.