Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has done a lot of good in his 18 seasons with the Steelers. He’s currently in his 18th season, sitting at a 6-2 record and the Steelers are playing good football. Tomlin has never had a losing season in his career, showcasing his ability to build competitive teams year after year. However, despite this impressive track record, the team has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, adding pressure on Tomlin to lead them back to postseason success.
USA Today
Steelers' Mike Tomlin speaks with officials during a road game.
Fans have expressed concerns about some of Tomlin's coaching decisions, particularly regarding his use of challenges and timeouts during games. These missteps can often lead to missed opportunities or crucial errors in high-stakes moments. Steelers insider Mike DeFabo has highlighted these issues in his latest article for The Athletic, suggesting that Tomlin could benefit from reevaluating his in-game management strategies.
DeFabo proposes that Tomlin take inspiration from the Pittsburgh Penguins' coaching approach, which emphasizes one coach who is solely dedicated to challenges. DeFabo pointed out that the Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan hit at a very high rate because of how tremendous their process was. DeFabo believes it's time for Tomlin to take that same approach.
"In a past life, I covered the Penguins for three seasons," DeFabo wrote. "I’m pretty sure they got 100 percent of their challenges right during that span, and that’s not because Mike Sullivan is a good gambler. They had a bulletproof process with a coach specifically assigned to video reviews. The time has come for the Steelers to re-think their strategy. A small investment in this area could be a major game-changer."
Fans have pointed out Tomlin's struggles with challenging plays at the right times. He often refrains from challenging calls when he likely should, and conversely, when he does decide to challenge, it's usually an obvious misstep. This issue was particularly evident in the game against the New York Giants when Tomlin challenged a touchdown catch by George Pickens.
Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens makes a catch against the New York Giants in 2024.
The problem was that touchdown plays are automatically reviewed, meaning Tomlin could not challenge the call. Failing to recognize this led to a significant mistake that cost the Steelers a valuable timeout. It was surprising to see Tomlin mishandle such a situation, especially given his extensive experience. While it's been reported that the Steelers have someone dedicated to assisting Tomlin with challenge decisions, the process appears to lack clarity and effectiveness.
Improving this aspect of his coaching could make a significant difference for the team. As the season progresses, finding a more streamlined approach to challenges may help Tomlin avoid these costly errors, allowing the Steelers to maintain their momentum and focus on winning crucial games.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Would Be Wise To Rethink His Approach When Throwing The Red Flag
No one really knows the exact process or who assists Tomlin in making challenge decisions, but it's clear that the current approach hasn't been effective. Over his 18 seasons, Tomlin has won just 44% of his challenges, and since the NFL changed its challenge rules, his struggles have become even more pronounced.
While Tomlin's challenge success rate may not look as poor when compared to some other coaches, it’s not just about the statistics that worry Steelers fans. The real concern lies in the plays he chooses to challenge. Often, he fails to challenge calls that he should and instead opts to challenge plays that seem questionable at best. This inconsistency has cost the Steelers critical timeouts, with failed challenges impacting the team's ability to manage the clock effectively.
Steph Chamber / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin tosses a challenge flag on the field as his team participates in a regular season matchup at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
If Tomlin could improve his challenge success rate, it would be a significant advantage for the Steelers. Many fans believe it’s time for Tomlin and the Steelers to seriously reevaluate their strategy regarding the red challenge flag. A more calculated approach could enhance the team’s performance and ultimately help them capitalize on scoring opportunities in tight games.
#SteelerNation
