Tomlin steers Steelers through tough times

By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Mike Tomlin has had to make some tough calls this season. The Steelers fifth-year coach shifts personnel like pieces on a chess board, knowingly making moves that could easily alter the delicate balance of a team with an evolving identity.

Traditionally, the Steelers are a run-oriented team. But injuries to the offensive line necessitated a tweak in philosophy. Like most NFL teams, the Steelers rely heavily on their speed at the flanks.

Predictably, their success has mostly depended on a veteran defense - albeit alarmingly inconsistent this season compared to its record-setting performance in 2010.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco looked like Joe Montana in marching the Ravens 92 yards to saddle the Steelers with a 23-20 defeat after winning four straight games. Then, a week later, cornerback William Gay sealed a 24-17 victory in Cincinnati with a rare interception that hoisted the Steelers atop the AFC North.

Amid the ebbs and flows, Tomlin appears calm and resolute. Yet, he is hardly satisfied with the team's 7-3 record - including a 1-2 start against division opponents.

"I'll take it," Tomlin said after the Steelers beat the Bengals. "I wouldn't necessarily say I'm pleased. I'd be pleased if we were 10-0, but we're not. We are what we are."

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"We are what we are."

That comment isn't cutting it anymore.

It was pretty cool when he first started as a coach, but now he's got to bring more to the table. He's been doing a great job with the limited number of substitutes to put on the O-line, but it's time to put a fire under some of these player's arses.

I thought the comment was funny. But in all honesty, It reminded me of something Belichick would say.

As long as the Steelers can keep drafting quality players and are able to coach up these players everything will fall into place.

It's going to be interesting in these next couple of years as the Steelers retire the old players we all know that help the Steelers win a lot of ball games and bring in the younger players.