TNF Halftime Interview with Our Fearless Leader

[topseed]

I was kind of surprised that no one else in here on SteelerNation had taken note of MT's nonsensical halftime interview, but here's my opinion:

Q: Mike, you guys had control of this game early, and then the Bengals came alive. What did you tell your team at the half?
A: It's simple from my perspective. We have to take care of the football and we gotta stop the run. We turned the ball over twice, they ran for a hundred yards in the first half, and that's not a recipe for winning football, We gotta take care of the ball, we gotta stop the run, we'll be OK.

Q: And what about Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins? What adjustments can you make there?
A: It's less significant. It's the fact that they're on schedule. Um, we gotta stop the run, man, and put 'em behind the sticks, and that'll be less significant.

Well, Mike, I don't really think it's that simple. Yes, turnovers are never a good thing...great point. But you had zero turnovers in the second half, and held the Bengals to 56 yards rushing (not including the 3 Flacco kneel-downs at the end). So...wh...wh...what had happened?

You see, the audacity of this anal pore to downplay the significance of Chase and Higgins in this particular game is just infuriating. And allowing the Bengals to get ahead of the sticks due to the running game actually had little to do with anything. Here's a breakdown of what those two receivers did in the first half:

Higgins:
18 yards on 3rd-and-14. Certainly behind the sticks there, Mike.
7 yards on 1st-and-10. Self-explanatory.
29 yard TD on 2nd-and-4. I guess giving up a 6-yard run to Perine on that first down there was the entire key to the Bengals' success.

Chase:
2 yards on 3rd-and-6. Holy Jesus, does anybody remember that the Steelers actually stopped them on their first two possessions?
8 yards on 1st-and-10. Self-explanatory.
14-yard penalty against Porter on 2nd-and-2 on the very next play.
15 yards on 3rd-and-10. Certainly behind the sticks there, Mike.
7 yards on 1st-and-10. Self-explanatory.
8-yard TD on 2nd-and-goal. After the first down TD reversal.
13 yards on 2nd-and-10. Not ahead of the sticks.
8 yards on 1st-and-10. Self-explanatory.

So you have one instance of Cincinnati being "on schedule" and ahead of the sticks because of the running game. Talk about a head coach who has no idea what he's watching. Chase and Higgins combined for 10 catches, 115 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the first half. They finished with 22 for 257. The Bengals only ran the ball once for 3 yards on their lone touchdown-scoring drive in the second half. See, now that would qualify as "less significant" to me.

The thought that they could simply just stop the run and protect the ball, and everything would just magically be A-OK sounds like something a guy coaching 4th graders might say at halftime. Not a veteran professional head coach making $16 million a year. A simple perspective, indeed. Not even considering making any adjustments is essentially coaching malpractice. This clown is one of the biggest frauds in the history of the NFL, and he's laughing all the way to the bank.

I am truly saddened that Mike Tomlin will continue on in Pittsburgh just as long as he chooses. This shlt has REALLY run its course, man. Please. Please, God, let him step away sooner than later.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I was kind of surprised that no one else in here on SteelerNation had taken note of MT's nonsensical halftime interview, but here's my opinion:

Q: And what about Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins? What adjustments can you make there?
A: It's less significant. It's the fact that they're on schedule. Um, we gotta stop the run, man, and put 'em behind the sticks, and that'll be less significant.

So you have one instance of Cincinnati being "on schedule" and ahead of the sticks because of the running game. Talk about a head coach who has no idea what he's watching. Chase and Higgins combined for 10 catches, 115 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the first half. They finished with 22 for 257. The Bengals only ran the ball once for 3 yards on their lone touchdown-scoring drive in the second half. See, now that would qualify as "less significant" to me.

The thought that they could simply just stop the run and protect the ball, and everything would just magically be A-OK sounds like something a guy coaching 4th graders might say at halftime. Not a veteran professional head coach making $16 million a year. A simple perspective, indeed. Not even considering making any adjustments is essentially coaching malpractice. This clown is one of the biggest frauds in the history of the NFL, and he's laughing all the way to the bank.

I am truly saddened that Mike Tomlin will continue on in Pittsburgh just as long as he chooses. This shlt has REALLY run its course, man. Please. Please, God, let him step away sooner than later.

I posted Tomlin's comment about Chase and Higgins being on schedule in the game thread. I was stunned at the time and even today that Tomlin fully expected the receiers to put up 100 yards and 2 TDs in the half. On schedule likely means they're going to do the same in the second half. It told me they had zero interest in trying to stop the best players on the field for Cincinnati.

 

[steelhurt]

And this my fine Steeler friends is our leader of a once great franchise.
Rooney has facilitated an arrogant, self serving, stubborn, knows everything, hypocritical, head coach who by all appearances has little accountability.
The organization appears content to merely be above 500 and simply be in the hunt for a sixth or seventh wildcard spot thinking theres a chance to actually compete in the playoffs.
It’s not what it used to be with a wildcard team since seven teams out of 16 in each conference qualify for the playoffs. You now have three teams that qualify for a wildcard. They can’t even smell a division championship any longer.
For Tomlin to dismiss the relevance of Chase and Higgins should alarm even you nut huggers who defend Tomlin. That is simply a ridiculous thing to say. That tells me he had zero answers on how to stop those two with his legendary defense.
And then there’s Joe Flacco another one of Tomlin’s kyrptonites’ that carves up his defenses time after time.
The schemes and looks are predictable. Just ask Jamar Chase who said we knew what they were going to do.
Ask Julian Edelman who still cannot believe they are running the same defenses.
I’ve been saying it for years now, they will not win anything with this fool.

 

[speedicut]

It's amazing how many more yards you can generate by throwing the ball down field as opposed to throwing the ball behind or at the line of scrimmage.

 

[Drink IRON City]

It's amazing how many more yards you can generate by throwing the ball down field as opposed to throwing the ball behind or at the line of scrimmage.

If you are willing to do the math, you’ll see this component is correct.

Don’t blink with your cut off eye lids.



Salute the nation

 

[Djfan]

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Hr expected their receivers to do what they did . He did not expect his defense to give up so much rushing yards
I will say this to anyone who doubts my true feelings mike Tomlin sucks azz. And I'm sorry to be one of the guys who does this. But f. U.c.k him. It's like January in october. The offense just put up 30 and our defensive guru fuc.k tard can't stop sh.it.

 

[JMM]

Hr expected their receivers to do what they did . He did not expect his defense to give up so much rushing yards
I will say this to anyone who doubts my true feelings mike Tomlin sucks azz. And I'm sorry to be one of the guys who does this. But f. U.c.k him. It's like January in october. The offense just put up 30 and our defensive guru fuc.k tard can't stop sh.it.

I know what we need...

400 lb lineman out of New Mexico State. Imo Dium will stop the runs.

 

[topseed]

Hr expected their receivers to do what they did . He did not expect his defense to give up so much rushing yards
I will say this to anyone who doubts my true feelings mike Tomlin sucks azz. And I'm sorry to be one of the guys who does this. But f. U.c.k him. It's like January in october. The offense just put up 30 and our defensive guru fuc.k tard can't stop sh.it.

If Tomlin expected those two guys to combine for 20+ catches and 250+ yards, don't you think he should have made some sort of attempt to stop that from happening? Or at least make a schematic adjustment to reduce their impact?

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

If Tomlin expected those two guys to combine for 20+ catches and 250+ yards, don't you think he should have made some sort of attempt to stop that from happening? Or at least make a schematic adjustment to reduce their impact?

whats he going to say to jaylen , slay and jpj?

im going to say this and nobody is going to agreee, but Jaylen is pretty much crap at this point. he is slow. Slay is long in the tooth. IDK what JPJ problem is,,but he dont think he has to say anything to this room becacuse of who they are..
IMO id put pierre on chase and let them have at it and have a safety bracket him. Pierre is good in 1v1 coverage.

What i cant understand is why is brown getting the yardage he did.

 

[Punxsutawney]

whats he going to say to jaylen , slay and jpj?

im going to say this and nobody is going to agreee, but Jaylen is pretty much crap at this point. he is slow. Slay is long in the tooth. IDK what JPJ problem is,,but he dont think he has to say anything to this room becacuse of who they are..
IMO id put pierre on chase and let them have at it and have a safety bracket him. Pierre is good in 1v1 coverage.

What i cant understand is why is brown getting the yardage he did.

There was always risk of depending on two 30+ CBs, but Ramsey probably still has a future in the league as a safety if he wants to do it more, as he can still tackle, blitz and get his hands the ball. Slay doesn't have the skill set for that.

With Porter back, they should consider playing Ramsey more at safety now and Echols and Pierre more at CB, if for no other reason than having younger legs.

The problem against the Bengals was they were getting beat by the same types of routes over and over.

If the DBs are going to continue to get beat, at least change the leverage in the coverages or something to force Chase and Higgins to continue to beat them in different ways.

It's just beyond frustrating, and when you have WRs like Chase and Julian Edelman pretty much mocking the Steelers defensive schemes, one has to wonder whether the coaching is putting the DBs in the best positions to succeed, whether they're 24 years old or 34.

 

[Gildong Sack]

There was always risk of depending on two 30+ CBs, but Ramsey probably still has a future in the league as a safety if he wants to do it more, as he can still tackle, blitz and get his hands the ball. Slay doesn't have the skill set for that.

With Porter back, they should consider playing Ramsey more at safety now and Echols and Pierre more at CB, if for no other reason than having younger legs.

The problem against the Bengals was they were getting beat by the same types of routes over and over.

If the DBs are going to continue to get beat, at least change the leverage in the coverages or something to force Chase and Higgins to continue to beat them in different ways.

It's just beyond frustrating, and when you have WRs like Chase and Julian Edelman pretty much mocking the Steelers defensive schemes, one has to wonder whether the coaching is putting the DBs in the best positions to succeed, whether they're 24 years old or 34.

^^^^This^^^^ Damn good post. They should have adjusted the pass rush as well when they saw no one was even bothering Flacco. That was pathetic.. I get it they wanted to keep the game close and play it safe, but when you keep it close...it's close for the other guy as well.

 

[Gildong Sack]

^^^^This^^^^ Damn good post. They should have adjusted the pass rush as well when they saw no one was even bothering Flacco. That was pathetic.. I get it they wanted to keep the game close and play it safe, but when you keep it close...it's close for the other guy as well.

Let me explain this better as my comment was a half asleep comment. They could have put in Herbig. They could have moved TJ over to the other side, they could have had TJ and Herbig on the same side for a few plays...anything to disrupt Flacco. They could have switched up Pierre as Punxsutawney said for Ramsey at times and have Ramsey blitz. Flacco is old and a few times on the ground would have had him thinking about something else besides how what he is doing is like taking candy from a baby.

They did NOTHING...but sit there hoping everything would work out in the end...and it almost did because we have Rodgers, but that's no way to win consistently. No risk no reward. That game was the epitome of living in your fears defensively. Austin is a horrible D.C. and how much Tomlin has his hands in this lack of creativity and lack of thinking on the fly I don't know, but we all know it's been going on far too long.