Degree of excitement…………….

[SteelerFan448]

Back to my question. If the tree doesn’t produce good fruit, is the tree worth talking about? Those are some really good coaches on that list, but only one as a head coach won anything. Everyone else was mostly a failure as a head coach.

Yes, because it usually means your team is actually good...unlike the Steelers for the past decade.

 

[diver]

Yes, because it usually means your team is actually good...unlike the Steelers for the past decade.

Ok. Fair enough. I think it is more of an indication that the head coach is the driver of everything when assistants get hired and flame out. I think guys like Noll, Cowher, Lombardi or Shula were commanding figures and they set the tone. When their assistants moved on they showed they didn't have that. I respect your opinion on it though.

 

[Litos]

Everyone knows I was gone for a long time because of Tomlin.

I'm back and very hopeful. My hope isn't quite the same as others (I admit I want a bad 2026 season), but it is hope.

I just have to belive McCarthy will finally express the truth that this franchise has to develop a QB to really get to the level we want to get to. And I am hopeful McCarthy has the chops to help get that done.

I mean McCarthy got 36+ TD's out of TWO seasons with Dak Prescott. With two different offensive coordinators.

Just watching different SCHEMES of football will be enjoyable to me this year even if we hopefully lose more than we win. So all the X's and O's this year is what I will be watching with a lot of interest. Wins and building the franchse can come later.

Routes were horrible since Tomlin brought his Offensive muppets, I mean coordinators.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Ok. Fair enough. I think it is more of an indication that the head coach is the driver of everything when assistants get hired and flame out. I think guys like Noll, Cowher, Lombardi or Shula were commanding figures and they set the tone. When their assistants moved on they showed they didn't have that. I respect your opinion on it though.

That's a completely fair take, but generally, unless the team is great or an individual unit is great, teams aren't going after your assistants. There is definitely an "it factor" for head coaches.

 

[topseed]

I just think coaching trees are overrated. It's not some defense of Tomlin in anyway. He's gone, it would be wonderful to stop talking about him. But back to coaching trees, any coach who gets hired has had mentors along the way, but has to be his own man. If they aren't, they aren't successful. I think that is what you see with the coaches who have been under Belechick. They tried to be too much like him, and it didn't work. The Steelers had a guy before Noll...Bill Austin, who coached under Lombardi. Apparently, according to the book, "Three Bricks Shy of a Load," he tried to be Lombardi, and it was a big failure.

So if having to be your own man is a truth, which it seems to be, isn't where the coach came from somewhat diminished in importance?

There's nothing wrong with emulating successful people, to a certain degree. Being your own man is important, but the kind of coach (or just the type of person in general) you eventually become is the result of many factors, including properly applying what you learn from your superiors along the way. The problem with Tomlin is that he really didn't offer very much to teach those he chose to work for him.

 

[Litos]

View attachment 17692
Tomlin's coaches tree

Too buku

 

[Djfan]

There's nothing wrong with emulating successful people, to a certain degree. Being your own man is important, but the kind of coach (or just the type of person in general) you eventually become is the result of many factors, including properly applying what you learn from your superiors along the way. The problem with Tomlin is that he really didn't offer very much to teach those he chose to work for him.

That, and he chose under qualified people, allowing them a very limited amount of freedom of options. It was just bad leadership.

 

[Drink IRON City]

That's a completely fair take, but generally, unless the team is great or an individual unit is great, teams aren't going after your assistants. There is definitely an "it factor" for head coaches.

Firmly agree here, but would like to add that the coaching “It Factor” can be defined differently by each individual.

I see both Noll & Cowher having that “It Factor” where as Tomlin not having “It” due to his play off history dry spell.

Some will argue the Non-Losing Season record which may be legitimate argument, but the post season is where the “It Factor” becomes more adherent to the discussion.

Take the argument out of “it was the previous coach’s players” for all three coaches and you will see why I say two had “It” and one did not. Look at the time you feel they are coaching what you consider their team and forward. That will help you determine that “It Factor” we are talking about.

Look at scheme / use & developement of players / drafting / sub-coaching / ect. All combine in that “It” determination.

My $4.37 opinion worth more than $.02s due to inflation.!!!



Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

That, and he chose under qualified people, allowing them a very limited amount of freedom of options. It was just bad leadership.

He kept some, way past their “use by” date.




Salute the nation

 

[Djfan]

He kept some, way past their “use by” date.




Salute the nation

Some had a "don't ever hire me for pro football" stamp, as well.

 

[diver]

There's nothing wrong with emulating successful people, to a certain degree. Being your own man is important, but the kind of coach (or just the type of person in general) you eventually become is the result of many factors, including properly applying what you learn from your superiors along the way. The problem with Tomlin is that he really didn't offer very much to teach those he chose to work for him.

Good points. I do think that what Tomlin had he really could not teach someone else. Tomlin's strength, from what his players have said over the years, was his ability to relate to them. It seems a person either has that or he doesn't. One of the problems with Tomlin is he seemed to think that was the most important thing.

 

[Litos]

Good points. I do think that what Tomlin had he really could not teach someone else. Tomlin's strength, from what his players have said over the years, was his ability to relate to them. It seems a person either has that or he doesn't. One of the problems with Tomlin is he seemed to think that was the most important thing.

Our very own Ted Lasso

 

[Don Kedic]

You want to talk coaching tree?

Bill Cowher had 9 coaches who worked on his staffs that went on to become head coaches.

Bruce Arians, Marvin Lewis, Ken Whisenhunt, Jim Haslett, Dom Capers, Chan Gailey, Mike Mularkey, Dick LeBeau, and David Culley.

Be careful talking that truth around these parts. There are some that will insist that level of success was the result of “cheating”. Apparently that’s easier to accept than our HC was a moron and our QB was a lot lazier than theirs.