Somehow he talked his way into keeping the defensive staff together to Rooney. I think if this defense isn't light years better next year, he's gone. How can anyone think letting Haley go and keeping Butler around is a good idea. You guys had him pegged before I did. He can bullshit like no other.

Hopefully Rooney gave him the option of firing the staff or its your ass if there is no improvement. Obviously the narcissistic moron chose the latter.

I haven’t heard Rooney make his end of season remarks yet (he either gives a public one or sits down with Labriola).

When we hear those, we’ll know where his mindset is.

But two consecutive years the media was full of “the Steelers flames out because they have no discipline” stories, and Rooney obviously leaked the story to Bouchette about Bell missing the walk-through and showed up late for the game.

So I can’t imagine he’s happy right now.

You assets should know better. First, Jeems, HOW do we know that Rooney leaked that info. to Bouchette. It could have come from anywhere, like any one of the 52 other guys that WERE at practice. While we're speculating, maybe it came from David DeCastro.

Secondly....it's VERY possible that next year, Steelers incur more injuries, battle through some adversity, pull some more games out their ass IN SPITE OF the Head Coach, go 9-7, go to Kansas City, get beat by the Fat Fuck Andy Reid this time....and we'll hear it again.
*He didn't lose the locker room
*He's never had a losing season
*He's won more games in 12 years than any other coach but Don Shula

And he'll be back for 2019. Rooney will NEVER fire this asshole...I have ZERO confidence that next year is any different. In fact, we're not going 13-3, not getting a first round bye, very likely not making it to the Divisional Round....and this fuckface Tomlin will be back again the following season.

This kinda shit right here is what infuriates me about Tomlin. Players coach whatever his title is he's not the disciplinarian this team needs to get over the last hump to the promised land. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy that will cede some of the comradery as the players coach to..., you know, actually lead these men. So just as with children if you're too close to them as friends they have less respect for your leadership and tend to abuse the "friend relationship' as time goes forward. Now at Tomlin's age most of the players are children.

So why keep Lake around? Why not fire Lake's ass and bring someone reliable in to lead/teach the secondary so they can evolve benefitting from some real tutelage?Same can be said about the LB'ers coaching. Fire Porter.

I don't know, I know it felt like we didn't deal with many injuries this year, but in thinking about it we lost our RT for like 8 games, best defensive player, best CB for significant time, AB missed 2.5 games (a lot for him), JuJu missed time, MB was suspended, Foster missed time, Tuitt missed time.

Normal stuff for an NFL season. I am not a Tomlin supporter, but I think barring major injuries this team is right back in the thick of things next year. We do have a much tougher schedule, but should be in the mix in January.

Quite possibly....but then the same pathetic ending. We should know how this story ends by now. Tomlin can't close the deal, is adorned with an embarrassment of offensive riches...but fucks it up. Can't count on much in life....THIS we can count on.

Yep, can't disagree there. Just hoping if we are in the mix someone else fucks up worse than Tomlin (I know unlikely). Or our talent is just enough to put us over the top......

Those of you wanting to get rid of Butler.

This is his what, second season as DC?

Haley hung around for SIX years.

You can't give Butler another year? One? Given what he had to work with. . .

He’s been DC for three seasons now, and the failings of this defense were 100x worse than any failings Todd Haley had.

It wasn’t even a speed bump at the end...it was like there was nobody even on the field for the Steelers when Jacksonville had the ball.

But I’d be happy with a wholesale assistant swap-out...player development on defense has been abysmal.

Last Sunday, everyone was healthy on defense save for Shazier and Hargrave (back).

No excuses.

On offense, Gilbert went down again, and Rogers had his ACL tear towards the end of the game, but the offense cranked out 42 points.

No excuses.

3rd. Butler's 3rd season. And if he hasn't proven his competency by now then I believe he is no coordinator. Send him back to LB'ers coach. LB'ers played better when he coached them. Fire Porter. What does it tell you to see Tomlin took over the defensive play calling during the season? What does it say to you that Tomlin took over the position coaching meetings in the secondary? Says a lot IMO.

Remove Gilbert and Rogers at the beginning of the game and they still score 42 pts.

I don't think three seasons is enough to determine the quality of the defense or it's coordinator. Hell, it takes some players 2-3 years just to get to the NFL level. Polumalu sucked for two, right? Or at least wasn't nearly the playmaker at the height of his career. You need top ten first round picks for players to become playmakers right away. With others it's more of a development process, outliers notwithstanding. Watt looked great at the beginning of the season and disappeared late. Haley had so much more to work with it's not even comparable.

You don't think Butler was in Porters face over output? Telling him what needs to change or get better in the details? I'm guessing yes.

I'm not as harsh on the defense as you guys. Sure, it was a meltdown, and it's happened two years in a row in a playoff game. I feel your anger, but whole sale liquidation of the coaching staff won't necessarily make the defense better. Everybody is complaining that removing a known quantity in Bell for a no name drafted rookie RB is a mistake. Isn't dissolving the defensive coaching staff akin to the same thing?

If Tomlin is already running the defense why have a DC? If he's running the secondary why have a secondary coach? My point... Hire better positional coaches. Demote Butler to LB'ers coach where he came from. Not firing him. Putting him where his talents benefit this team the most. Fire Porter. Since Tomlin is running the secondary meetings plus making defensive play calls what good are Lake and Butler in their current roles? Fire Lake hire someone with a history of positive results. Demote Butler back to LB'ers coach and remain the HC/DC if Tomlin wishes to do it that way. Butler can Still fill a role consulting as well as coaching LB'ers. Just an Idea.

I know that all of you were glad the Steelers parted ways with Dick LeBeau. And, total transparency, I know Dick LeBeau a little bit through my high school coach, have a pic with me, LeBeau and my brother hanging in my office.

BUT...at the time, Steelers ditched LeBeau to make sure that Keith Fuckin' Butler didn't walk. Holy fuck!! Keith Butler was, is, and forever will be, just a JAG.

Was a dumbfuck move then and remains so.

Get someone that will do something with this unit. That group didn't make one fuckin' play last week....and I'm thinking now, having seen the clip on Fournette's first TD from behind the Steelers D, that Sean Spence simply pussied out, didn't want that collision, as he was in perfect fuckin' position to stop Fournette.

LMAO - didn't Tomlin bristle at being called a "player's coach"? I don't think any coach likes it, basically says all you bring to the table is an ability to baby sit adults.

I’m sitting here thinking to myself I am hoping we don’t look back at 2017 as Ben’s last best shot that was utterly squandered.

Well, at least no one needs to ask what he does anymore. Not that that is really to his credit at this point.

CORRECT^^^

Also, there are 3 little words ensuring that Mike Tomfuck will never be fired

"THE ROONEY RULE"

If they could nudge Chuck Noll out the door, they can fire Mike Tomlin. And this is bordering on offensive.

So when Haley was hired, the blame was placed on the Rooney's for wanting to protect BR. Haley did that. His sack totals went down.
Check.

When the Rooney's wanted a balanced attack, and wanted get better in the run game, they (Tomlin? Colbert?) hired Munchak, drafted Bell.
Check.

When the Pats destroyed the secondary in the 2016 afccg, Tomlin was tasked to shore up the secondary. Haden fell in his lap, or maybe he cultivated that relationship. Changed scheme enough to keep the Pats to only 27 and the outcome was determined by a questionable call. Did that with the only playmaker in Shazier on defense out of the game.
Check.

When the steelers have a defensive meltdown, and discipline is peripherally mentioned by the Rooney's (if the Bouchette leak is verified, and BR's comments), do you think Tomlin will respond? We haven't heard from ownership yet. Does anybody here think the Rooney's didn't corner Tomlin and asked : "What in the Fuck happened to the defense?!! Can you do something about this?"

He's responded thrice already, in my mind.

Anybody that swallows the double talk and well crafted bullshit Tomlin spews in pressers is naive. He's not going to admit mistakes so the press, and forums like this one, can lambast him incessantly. Like anybody else in a position of authority and has to answer to the "masses." He's not going to admit to anything, and expecting him to is naive and stupid. He's responsible to ownership, not the fans or the press. Belichick can give a fuck what the press or his fans think. Why expect anything more from Tomlin?

And I have questions about his ability to enforce discipline or be prepared for in-game decisions. Maybe he'll address that too.

Man, you guys think the sky is falling. Check your expectations at the door with your hat and coat.

From all accounts Tomlin basically ran the defense at some time this season and took control the secondary maybe that is why he didn't follow and fire anyone

So, ironically enough, the team might have been better off if Tomlin actually WAS a potted plant

Is it unreasonable to expect you defense to not look completely and utterly lost in the playoffs, 2 years in a row? Is it unreasonable to be dissatisfied with continually hearing players make the same statements regarding failures to communicate, execute, and know where each other are? Is it unreasonable to expect the team to execute simple plays and understand simple situational football? (4th and inches)

I’m as optimistic as any. This team was MORE talented than last year and they regressed. Yes, regression can occur after 13-3. This team has real roster problems and it’s obvious they won’t be corrected thru coaching.

If this team stands pat defensively and only addresses their issues thru the draft, we are looking at 9-7/10-6 next year. Cause that is how good this team is.

Porter is Tomlin's boy. He's untouchable. Don't you remember the articles about him and Tomlin hanging out at their son's HS football games and damn near getting escorted out by police on more than one occasion?