Tim Benz: One NFC team made a decision the Steelers should follow

There have been many complaints about Mike Tomlin from Steelers fans.

• He doesn't have control over his players.

• His teams underachieve given their level of Pro Bowl talent.

• His playoff success hasn't matched his regular season success in recent years.

• His players play down to the level of competition.

• His defenses are weak, and he is supposed to be a defensive coach.

How's that for a start?

More specifically, many Steelers fans gripe about two things related to their coach: He's rotten at replay challenges and has poor clock-management skills.

Tomlin's clock-management credentials have long been in question, and he hasn't won a challenge in his last 10 attempts.

Many in "Steelers Nation" have suggested the club add a coach or two on Tomlin's staff, to be specifically in charge of these aspects of game management.

The Atlanta Falcons are doing just that for head coach Dan Quinn. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kyle Flood, who was the team's assistant offensive line coach last season, will serve as a senior assistant and will help Quinn with replay challenges and clock-management issues."

Gee, has anyone suggested a plan like this before?

Other teams besides the Falcons have gone in this direction in the past. The Steelers should, too.

Throughout his career, Tomlin has gone from his own "gut" when it comes to replay challenge decisions. But on the road, that is tough to do when the jumbotron doesn't show the replay if the crew thinks the result may hurt the home team.

And Tomlin's game management is inconsistent at best, particularly when it comes to employing two-point conversions, onside kicks and using timeouts on defense late in games.

When Tomlin talks about "pointing the thumb," accountability, and looking at all aspects of the team including himself, this is a good place to start.

Tomlin has long been stubborn about adding such a coach — or two — to his staff. If he doesn't do it now, Art Rooney II should do it for him.