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Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are heading to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Photograph: Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports
Earlier this month, Mike Tomlin was asked what he had learned about his receivers in the absence of the group’s star, George Pickens, through injury. It was not the first time Tomlin’s team had been questioned this season, and it will probably not be the last. As ever though, the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach expressed his faith in his players. “We believe in our group. I have said that repeatedly and maybe you will start believing me,” he replied.
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“We have a bunch of guys who want to be the reason we are successful,” the 52-year-old continued. The message pointed to trust as an essential pillar of his coaching style, as Tomlin could just as easily have been speaking in preseason when quizzed about the dangers of a supposed has-been and a never-was – Russell Wilson and Justin Fields respectively – fighting for the right to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback. The uplifting power of Tomlin’s trust remains the same, whether for a backup wideout or for Fields in a crucial fourth and short. If you join the Steelers you become better. It is that simple truth that has helped earn another visit to the postseason while extending Tomlin’s historic run of never having a losing season in almost 20 years as Steelers head coach.
Pittsburgh are back in the playoffs, after Miami and Indianapolis quietly exited the race on Sunday, despite doubts over Wilson and Fields, despite a lack of stars in offensive skill positions and despite a fierce schedule. With his immense body of work, Tomlin’s plan at quarterback should have been trusted from the outset, even when the loser of the preseason tussle, Fields, started Week 1 in place of the injured Wilson.
After all, trust in Tomlin usually pays off. Keith Butler, the Steelers’ defensive…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-tomlin-never-had-losing-100046543.html
Author : The Guardian
Publish date : 2024-12-17 10:00:00
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