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Thanks for sharing the interview. I've never seen it Vader. Sounds to me like Tomlin was trying to go to bat for Arians, then the ownership told him no, so he had to let Arians go. Still sad to hear his wife took it so hard. I'm glad he had success after that. His style worked, but it was boom or bust, and Ben took a lot of hits. I understand the organization wanting to protect their franchise QB, and moved to a quicker attack that ran the ball more.
I disagree strongly that Arians isn't from Tomlin's tree. I think the 5 years he served as an OC speaks more to his coaching ability than the 3 he served as a WR coach. And it was Tomin's decision to promote him.
I'd also be fine putting him in both Cowher and Tomlin's trees. Quite a problem to have when you only have 3 HCs in the SB era.
I didn't like Arians. But he wasn't from Tomlin's tree because Tomlin didn't hire him. Cowher did. He was moved to OC in Tomlin's first year. Tomlin wasn't allowed to do anything his first few years. Even after 5 years the FO told him BA had to go. So obviously he wasn't in charge of hiring or firing. Just like Tomlin didn't promote Butler. The FO did that.
Not that it matters. Tomlin is handled with kid gloves by the FO. They surround him with seasoned coaches... sometimes former HCs that know alot about football. Most coaches would have a tree because they found someone outside the organization that was just getting into coaching in the NFL. Tomlin has never had that. There are no new up and coming coaches on his staff. They are either seasoned coaches or former Steeler players at low level positions. Tomlin isn't teaching coaches anything. If anything he is trying to learn from them. By now that should be over with.
In Cowher's first year instead of having a HOF DC, he had Dom Capers. This was Capers first DC job. So you have a rookie HC with a rookie DC. In just 3 years as a DC he is hired as a HC by Carolina. I just don't see that type of thing with Tomlin.