Pittsburgh’s Betting On An Internal Leadership Boost
Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
Leadership can be presented in different ways. Some choose to be highly vocal, while others lead by example. One leader may tailor their relationships to each different individual, while another may be sternly fair and treat everyone exactly the same. You can ask 10 different people how they prefer their leaders to act, and you may receive 10 distinct answers.
No matter who you ask, or how you cut it, though – leadership matters. And Mike Tomlin is a leader.
Since he arrived to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wake of Bill Cowher’s retirement, Tomlin’s leadership has been on display. In his first year, media and players were surprised by his tactics, showing no preferential treatment to established (Super Bowl-winning) vets, and it ruffled a few feathers. He also led two teams to Super Bowls in short order.
As the years have passed, however, things have slowly changed. The departures of Bruce Arians and Dick LeBeau left voids that were filled with uninspiring replacements. Pittsburgh’s promotions from within didn’t produce the same performances, and it seemed that Tomlin slowly became the lone captain of the ship. That problem has been a constant during their recent playoff drought.
Comparatively, the Steelers’ archrivals in Baltimore have had a very different set of problems. In the Steel City, they haven’t been able to “get it right” when it comes to hiring. The Baltimore Ravens, conversely, suffer from getting it “too right.” Over the past two decades, coordinators, assistants, and positional coaches have been plucked from Baltimore to more prestigious roles. Names like Hue Jackson, Steve Spagnuolo, and most recently, Mike MacDonald have been evaluated and promoted by different teams around the league.
The Steelers, in a similar period, have not had many teams itching to poach their coaches. More often than not, they’ve have retired from the organization, or simply fallen out of a job. Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada are two names that come to mind.
Tomlin is a leader of men, but has not had the same pedigree in his ranks that many NFL teams have. Yes, star players around the league are not bashful with their praises of Pittsburgh’s head coach. Players within the organization will go to bat for him at a moment’s notice and generally seem to love to play for the man.
Yet, there is inconsistency with the product. I’m not talking about a total win tally at the end of a season. Everyone is aware of Tomlin’s historic run without a losing season, even managing to go 8-8 with Duck Hodges at the helm. While Tomlin seems to be able to do a lot with a little, he hasn’t done great with a lot. At least, not for a while.
It seems when the odds are stacked against the Black and Gold, they win in some miraculous fashion. When they are heavily favored, though, they often lay an egg to a “lesser team” – if there is such a thing in the NFL.
Thankfully, reinforcements have arrived in Pittsburgh. Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, has a strong resume, with credentials and traits that make it clear he plans on leading his players. This shows up with his daily messaging and even new practice policies for training camp.
Players who commit a pre-snap penalty will run a lap. This policy is for all players, not just rookies. This attention to detail has gotten the attention of Pittsburgh players, and they seem to like it.
This old-school approach is something that many believe was lacking during the Killer Bee’s era. Ryan Clark was unabashed in saying Mike Tomlin doesn’t treat everyone the same, but instead treats them fairly.
Clark was alluding to Tomlin’s relationship with Antonio Brown, who had behavioral issues towards the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh. Rumors swirled about preferential treatment and AB’s permission to do things that other players could not. From showing up late to meetings, to live filming in the locker room. While Coach T’s approach may have helped extend Brown’s career in Pittsburgh for a year or two, it’s worth wondering about the detriment to team morale during those years.
Thankfully, that lapse in accountability seems to be a thing of the past, from both Tomlin or his assistants. George Pickens’ heated exchange with coach Zach Azzanni is something that bodes well for the future. According to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, that type of high-accountability approach would not have been used in prior years. It seems to be water under the bridge between Pickens and Coach Azzanni, but the line has been drawn as it pertains to effort and expectations for the star wideout.
In retrospect, the idea that the Steelers managed to achieve playoff berths and double-digit win seasons while likely lacking some internal leadership is impressive. With most of the right pieces on the field, and with the right men to lead them, the Steelers could exceed even the most optimistic of expectations.
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