I feel like at the NFL level, the head coach accounts for a fairly small percentage of why a team wins or loses. Players account for about 90% in my opinion. That's why I get such a kick out of the Tomlin induced Armageddons we see here so often. It amuses me to no end.
And yes I think Tomlin will have his first losing season after Ben goes unless they luck into another great QB right away. Hence the fact that players account overwhelming amount of wins and losses. If you have any doubt take a look of Chuck Noll's early tenure before multiple HOF players and a Franchise QB came aboard. Look at his late tenure once said HOF'ers retired.
Before I did the draft series, I would agree that the players accounted for 90%.
We consider that the Steelers have gone periods of 4-seasons, 3-seasons, 2-seasons in a row maximum without making the playoffs since Chuck Noll’s arrival.
Outside of the first four years under Noll, when the team was originally being built, each time the team has had a “prolonged” playoff drought (1985-1989) and (1998-2000) - The head coach and coaching staff were at odds with the player personnel staff and scouting staff.
I would argue that under Tomlin/Colbert, they actually rebuilt the team too fast. Yes they were fortunate to have Ben Roethlisberger in his prime, but when the veteran core of 2011 began to age/retire, they were winning the AFC North 2 years later.
One could argue they were a dangerous team in 2013 that nobody wanted to face in playoffs. And there was just enough holdover with veterans like Troy Polamalu that if Antonio Brown’s foot didn’t Nick the sideline against Miami they could’ve made a dangerous run in the playoffs that year.
The highest draft pick the Steelers of had in the decade of the 2010s was 14 - used on Ryan Shazier (and he was becoming a playmaking force before his injury). They never got a chance to get the blue chip DBs because they just kept winning. They became victims of their own success.
In hindsight, I guarantee you that Colbert wishes that he was a little bit more aggressive in acquiring some players or higher draft picks. This is really evidenced by the trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick & trade up for Devin Bush. The acquisition of Justin Gilbert (who they loved in 2014 but went 8th overall) & same with Joe Haden (who went 7th overall) I would say points to the recognition that in order to field the all around team they needed—they needed to get higher picks - in particular on the defensive side.
This is something that the Baltimore Ravens have done well. Trading back into the first round to get Lamar Jackson, up to get JK Dobbins and again this year to get another first round pick + multiple players for a OT they know they won’t resign. Add in The trade for Marcus Peters and the low enough pick to get Marlon Humphrey.
They have been active—but they’ve also had bad seasons in there (5-11 in 2015) and 3 straight 3rd place finishes after their Super Bowl win in 2012.
Granted Steelers have been better than Ravens since that SB win, but Steelers had “Killer Bs” - the Ravens were aggressively always trying to get better and we were more passive.
Overall, since 2012 the Ravens been 75-53 with only 2 playoff wins in 4 playoff appearances & 2 AFC North Championships.
In the same time since 2012, the Steelers have been 82-45-1, with 3 playoff wins in 5 playoff appearances & 4 AFC North Championships.
