First Call: Another ex-Steeler critical of the offense; Brian Flores discusses time with Steelers; a Rex Ryan return to coaching?

Thursday’s “First Call” has more criticism of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from another former employee. Damar Hamlin is wrapped up in an off-field controversy. Brian Flores speaks about his time in Pittsburgh while accepting his new job.

And an old friend of the Steelers may be getting back into coaching.

Whaley wants more

Former Steelers executive and ex-Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley didn’t have much good to say about the Steelers offense during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan.

“The offensive system and game planning leaves a lot to be desired,” Whaley said Wednesday. “Do you ever see the Steelers offense setting up a play 50 minutes before? Do you ever see the Steelers offense putting a guy in motion to expose what the defense is doing and being able to take advantage of that weakness of the defense that they found out by motioning? No. They just use motion to say I am doing motion to give guys extra steps on their watch.”

That became a frequent complaint about Canada’s offense last year — that it would just go in motion for the sake of it — with no real purpose and bring an extra defender into the box. Then that player would be there to help make a tackle as the Steelers ran right into it.

Just last week, Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis was also critical of the Steelers offense over the last three years.

‘No’ from Flo

Former Steelers defensive assistant Brian Flores confirmed that he withdrew from the Arizona Cardinals head coaching interview process so he could take a defensive coordinator position with the Minnesota Vikings.

“There was still an opportunity with Arizona,” Flores said during his introductory press conference in Minnesota. ”You get a gut feeling. I think we’ve all kind of had those. This was the place for me and my family. This was the right opportunity.”

Arizona hired Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday. Flores was asked if it’s his goal to be a head coach again.

“Any other opportunities that present themselves in the future, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Obviously, I have goals that I’d like to accomplish in the future, … but I’m happy with where I am here,” Flores said via The Athletic.

Flores was very complimentary of his one year in Pittsburgh.

“The Rooney Family, Mike T(omlin), Omar (Khan), my time in Pittsburgh was tremendous, although short-lived,” Flores said. “I felt like I made some great relationships there that will last for a long, long time, so my time there was great.”

Flores even said he’s sticking with a 3-4 base defense with the Vikings.

Minnesota’s defense needs a ton of work, regardles of its front. Last season, the Vikes yielded an average of 388.7 yards of total offense (second highest in the NFL) and 25.1 points (tied for third most). Despite that, Minnesota won 13 games and the NFC North title.

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Ryan returns?

A former AFC North rival of the Steelers may make his way back into coaching.

According to NFL.com, “Former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan has emerged as a top candidate for the vacant Denver Broncos defensive coordinator job, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday night.”

At 60 years of age, Ryan hasn’t coached since 2016. That’s when he was fired as Bills head coach. That’s also when he went to ESPN as an analyst.

Prior to becoming a head coach, Ryan was the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens.

New head coach Sean Payton needs a defensive coordinator in Denver now that Ejiro Evero has gone to the Carolina Panthers. Rapoport and Garafolo report that Ryan was interviewed last week.

Hamlin controversy

As he continues his recovery from a cardiac event last season, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin caught some heat on Twitter over the weekend. The Pitt Panthers product attended the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus.

Damar Hamlin addressees the coat controversy https://t.co/iu4K9j5T4R pic.twitter.com/rqdxzr2gp2

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) February 15, 2023

Via ESPN.com, “The back of the jacket featured an abstract illustration of Jesus on the cross under the word ‘ETERNAL.’ The front featured an abstract depiction of Jesus’ face and appears to reference a Bible verse that reads: ‘Without end or beginning there is no day and no night.’”

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic grad insisted that he never intended to offend anyone.

“After talking with my parents, I understand how my coat could have offended some people,” Hamlin posted on his Twitter account. “It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me. My beliefs and Relationship with God is not tied to symbolic images.”

Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson was among those lashing out about the coat. He referred to it as “blasphemy.”