(01-12-2016, 04:24 PM)GMDino Wrote: I've defended Tomlin and I've criticized him. I think he has many faults that get glossed over because he's had some all pro players that make him look better than he is.

I think Haley is a good fit and has cut down on the "too cute plays".

I like what Butler has done in 98% of the games so far.

Heck even special teams gaffes haven't really stuck out this year.

Overall they are doing well...but that doesn't mean they can't all be better.

I think that the "reputation" the Steelers have is both good and bad. They have a model of consistency and winning. They also get a reputation for being hard hitting / crossing the line.

I also think the Bengals would relish having the same "reputation" on both counts.

This is a different NFL than even when Cowher was coach. They've changed rules in the middle of the season, the officials are under more pressure to "get it right" so they often call what they THINK they see vs what happened, and the league itself is under pressure to care about "player safety" not because they really care but because of possible lawsuits. Added up it leads to hits that would be good and celebrated just 5-6 years ago being illegal and fineable even if no foul was called. Its hard to put THAT on the coach vs say having players that can't funnel their emotions into their play and instead cross the line too often.

Just my 2 cents.

(01-12-2016, 04:24 PM)GMDino Wrote: I've defended Tomlin and I've criticized him.  I think he has many faults that get glossed over because he's had some all pro players that make him look better than he is.

I think Haley is a good fit and has cut down on the "too cute plays".

I like what Butler has done in 98% of the games so far.

Heck even special teams gaffes haven't really stuck out this year.

Overall they are doing well...but that doesn't mean they can't all be better.

I think that the "reputation" the Steelers have is both good and bad.  They have a model of consistency and winning.  They also get a reputation for being hard hitting / crossing the line.

I also think the Bengals would relish having the same "reputation" on both counts.

This is a different NFL than even when Cowher was coach.  They've changed rules in the middle of the season, the officials are under more pressure to "get it right" so they often call what they THINK they see vs what happened, and the league itself is under pressure to care about "player safety" not because they really care but because of possible lawsuits.  Added up it leads to hits that would be good and celebrated just 5-6 years ago being illegal and fineable even if no foul was called.  Its hard to put THAT on the coach vs say having players that can't funnel their emotions into their play and instead cross the line too often.

Just my 2 cents.

(01-12-2016, 04:35 PM)Aquapod770 Wrote: This is why it makes no sense that penalties aren't reviewable. How would it hurt the game at all? Make the refs look bad? They already do. Slow the game down? How long does a review actually take 1-2 min? Plus they tend to go to commercial break anyway, so that's just more ad revenue. There is really no reason why not to give the coaches 2 extra challenges per game specifically for penalties. 

(01-12-2016, 04:24 PM)GMDino Wrote: I've defended Tomlin and I've criticized him.  I think he has many faults that get glossed over because he's had some all pro players that make him look better than he is.

I think Haley is a good fit and has cut down on the "too cute plays".

I like what Butler has done in 98% of the games so far.

Heck even special teams gaffes haven't really stuck out this year.

Overall they are doing well...but that doesn't mean they can't all be better.

I think that the "reputation" the Steelers have is both good and bad.  They have a model of consistency and winning.  They also get a reputation for being hard hitting / crossing the line.

I also think the Bengals would relish having the same "reputation" on both counts.

This is a different NFL than even when Cowher was coach.  They've changed rules in the middle of the season, the officials are under more pressure to "get it right" so they often call what they THINK they see vs what happened, and the league itself is under pressure to care about "player safety" not because they really care but because of possible lawsuits.  Added up it leads to hits that would be good and celebrated just 5-6 years ago being illegal and fineable even if no foul was called.  Its hard to put THAT on the coach vs say having players that can't funnel their emotions into their play and instead cross the line too often.

Just my 2 cents.

(01-13-2016, 11:28 AM)Wyche Wrote: Agreed....but what about the coaches' DIRECT involvement in a couple of games/pre game over the last few years?  You down with that?

(01-13-2016, 01:28 PM)GMDino Wrote: I think the organization should have done something to Tomli after the stepping on to the field event...not just accept what the league did.

I still think Munchak has zero rep as dirty as a player OR a coach so I'm not sure what happened there.  And Porter?  Hard to give him the benefit of the doubt too, except there have been no incidents since he's been a coach with the team.

I do *NOT* think Tomlin can control his players as well as I would like (Gay's TD celebrations for example).

I *DO* think if there are any more incidents like Sunday the organization better clamp down on the coaches...starting with the head coach.

(01-13-2016, 01:56 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: I like Haley. He is a good coach.

I think the organization was smart to put a 'gag order' on Porter following Saturday nights game. This is a good time for him to keep quiet, something he has trouble with.

I think Tomlin is an okay coach, but allows a questionable looseness in his coaching staff. (BTW- I don't think Marvin is any better in that regard, at least with the players).

(01-13-2016, 02:06 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I'm not a fan of Tomlin. He is too much of a friend to the players. You have to walk a fine line, there, and he is too much on the side of "buddy" rather than coach from the interactions I see, and I think that is what can lead to some of the behavior issues.

(01-13-2016, 02:31 PM)Vas Deferens Wrote: I've always noticed this as well, always assumed it was because of his age.  The fine line you speak of reminds me of that john wooden quote "A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."  Has to be more difficult to do that when the age difference between coach and player is smaller and the 'buddy' relationship is a tool to keep the resentment at bay.

Will be very interesting to see how Gase approaches this with the Dolphins

(01-12-2016, 02:33 PM)Beaker Wrote: I am putting this thread in here and not smack talk because it is intended to get serious responses, not the face saving bravado it would get in the smack talk forum. My question revolves around steeler fans pride in their organization. I have always heard them refer to the steelers as a "model" organization. I believe the image of the steelers has been tarnished over the past couple seasons. How do steeler fans truly feel about the antics of their coaches? Tomlin stepping in the way of a ravens player, Munchak pulling a players hair, Porter on the field smack talking in the opposing teams defensive group. Don't we hold coaches to a higher standard than players as far as their actions and emotions? So, steeler fans, how do you truly feel about your coaching staff acting like this?

(01-13-2016, 11:26 PM)Vlad Wrote: First of all don't act you've only heard that from Steelers fans. The model franchise distinction also comes from other facets of the sports world... all the way down to the haters. I would venture to say you heard it more coming from bengal fans than Steeler fans. 

(01-13-2016, 11:26 PM)Vlad Wrote: First of all don't act you've only heard that from Steelers fans. The model franchise distinction also comes from other facets of the sports world... all the way down to the haters. I would venture to say you heard it more coming from bengal fans than Steeler fans.