Let’s clear up the obvious first. For all intents and purposes, Mike Tomlin is a made man. He can likely coach the Pittsburgh Steelers for as long as he wants. He’s never had a losing season in 16 years, and he brought the franchise its last Super Bowl championship in 2008. Calling him one of the best coaches in NFL history is not hyperbole. I would be shocked if the Rooney family ever fired him outright. Legends like him don’t get abrupt pink slips. Period.
But how Tomlin continues to treat his broken Steelers offense — led by the much-maligned Matt Canada — should start furling more eyebrows. Tomlin’s process, at least thus far, is enough to question whether he’s the man who will turn the Steelers back into a marquee powerhouse or if he’ll just lead an organization that is now satisfied with straddling around .500. No one is unimpeachable forever.
Two days after the Houston Texans walloped the Steelers 30-6 with a rookie quarterback, Tomlin was still answering questions about one of the worst defeats of his tenure. The Pittsburgh defense’s woeful performance aside, Canada’s continually awful offensive attack has mainly (and rightfully) been under the microscope. In Canada’s third season as the Steelers offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh’s offense is 29th in total yards, 29th in points scored, 31st in expected points added per play (EPA), and 30th in offensive DVOA. The defense has scored almost as many touchdowns (2) as the offense (4), which has two single-digit point efforts in four games. This is all, in two words… very bad.
