Tomlin v. Sparano

[Fish-Head]

Like so many on here I was livid when Sparano was overlooked for Coach of the Year but last night's game really changed my mind as I thought that the Steelers were an extremely well coached team... I know Smith got the press award but Tomlin got another COTY (Mottorola?) if I am not mistaken and deservedly so.

Did anyone else notice that after Ben had those balls tipped and batted down at the line of scrimmage that he came out in the second half and began pump faking on every down? Brilliant little adjustment that really helped to disrupt the 'Zona pass rush and stopped them from getting hands on balls... Coaching is in the details and I really thought he had his team prepared.

Next was the poise the entire Steeler team showed when warner and Fitz moved the chains... I did not see anyone on the Steeler sideline panicking... Business as usual... They looked cool and confident and had a real swagger like they were not going to lose.

Couple this with their brutal sched... The first overall defence in almost every category and a true team first attitude I thought he really earned his stripes.

I love my Phins and I was crying foul when I thought Tony was robbed but I am man enough to admit that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and showed it last night... My question is... Do you guys think Tomlin simply did more 'with more' to work with than Tony? Or do you think he outcoached our very own TS this season?

 

[Vaark]

Like so many on here I was livid when Sparano was overlooked for Coach of the Year but last night's game really changed my mind as I thought that the Steelers were an extremely well coached team... I know Smith got the press award but Tomlin got another COTY (Mottorola?) if I am not mistaken and deservedly so.

Did anyone else notice that after Ben had those balls tipped and batted down at the line of scrimmage that he came out in the second half and began pump faking on every down? Brilliant little adjustment that really helped to disrupt the 'Zona pass rush and stopped them from getting hands on balls... Coaching is in the details and I really thought he had his team prepared.

Next was the poise the entire Steeler team showed when warner and Fitz moved the chains... I did not see anyone on the Steeler sideline panicking... Business as usual... They looked cool and confident and had a real swagger like they were not going to lose.

Couple this with their brutal sched... The first overall defence in almost every category and a true team first attitude I thought he really earned his stripes.

I love my Phins and I was crying foul when I thought Tony was robbed but I am man enough to admit that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and showed it last night... My question is... Do you guys think Tomlin simply did more 'with more' to work with than Tony? Or do you think he outcoached our very own TS this season?

You're right; he seems to be quite a thoughtful, deliberate and prepared young coach, and definitely a great hire.

HOWEVER, before the annointment, especially when comparing him to Tony, don't forget that he came into a program already having a probable HOF DC - Dick LeBeau and inherited a team, system and QB already on autopilot.

 

[Nublar7]

It isn't fair to compare Tomlin and Sparano. This was Tomlin's second season and only Sparano's first.

Lets not forget that Tomlin took over a team that was one year removed from being Super Bowl champs and Sparano took over a 1-15 team.

I do agree that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and should have been our choice in 07' instead of Cameron, but I am very happy with Sparano. His coaching is one of the main reasons why this team had the greatest single season turnaround in NFL history and clinched a division title.

 

[CedarPhin]

Tomlin took over a pretty good team, Sparano took over a 1-15 team and is basically re-building from scratch.

Like Nublar said, it's unfair to compare them at this point.

 

[Vaark]

It isn't fair to compare Tomlin and Sparano. This was Tomlin's second season and only Sparano's first.

Lets not forget that Tomlin took over a team that was one year removed from being Super Bowl champs and Sparano took over a 1-15 team.

I do agree that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and should have been our choice in 07' instead of Cameron, but I am very happy with Sparano. His coaching is one of the main reasons why this team had the greatest single season turnaround in NFL history and clinched a division title.

I actually was pushing for Whisenhunt. It's funny in a typically pathetic way that of the 3 untested candidates, we selected far and away the most il-equipt one.

 

[SRM]

Like most are saying, Sparano turned nothing into something, while Tomlin just continued on with what the Steelers do. While I'm not saying Tomlin's job was easy, because I'm sure it was no easy task at all, I believe Sparano's job was much harder. Sparano had to bring the WHOLE team together, and set a chemistry.. because virtually half (maybe more) of the team was not there last year, while Tomlin had a team of players that knew eachother as brothers already, and many of them were together when they won their previous superbowl. They already had their chemistry set.

 

[CedarPhin]

I actually was pushing for Whisenhunt. It's funny in a typically pathetic way that of the 3 untested candidates, we selected far and away the most il-equipt one.

Something random, but did you know that neither of Arizona's OC or DC played college/pro football?

 

[Fish-Head]

You're right; he seems to be quite a thoughtful, deliberate and prepared young coach, and definitely a great hire.

HOWEVER, before the annointment, especially when comparing him to Tony, don't forget that he came into a program already having a probable HOF DC - Dick LeBeau and inherited a team, system and QB already on autopilot.

True dat... and this is precisely what I had been thinking up to last night and please I don't intend ANY offense but isn't that just the lazy argument? The Steelers won games often with Parker or Big Ben or on stifling defense... Basically they did it in any multitude of ways and credit HAS to go to the coaching staff...

it is difficult since Tony had very little to work with and managed to get the most out of them and no one can dispute it... Our record speaks for itself but it is an interesting question simply put... Isn't coaching the real difference between a good team (with good personnel) and an elite team?

 

[Vaark]

Something random, but did you know that neither of Arizona's OC or DC played college/pro football?

No.. wow..that's pretty amazing, especially the college aspect.

On the other hand LeBeau could well get into the HOF in either his present capacity or as a DB.

 

[Fish-Head]

Tomlin took over a pretty good team, Sparano took over a 1-15 team and is basically re-building from scratch.

Like Nublar said, it's unfair to compare them at this point.

While I certainly agree to a point... Isn't the leap from good to great comparable to that of bottom feeder to respectability?

 

[tcdrover]

It isn't fair to compare Tomlin and Sparano. This was Tomlin's second season and only Sparano's first.

Lets not forget that Tomlin took over a team that was one year removed from being Super Bowl champs and Sparano took over a 1-15 team.

I do agree that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and should have been our choice in 07' instead of Cameron, but I am very happy with Sparano. His coaching is one of the main reasons why this team had the greatest single season turnaround in NFL history and clinched a division title.

Yeah, but Tomlin came out of left field & surprised everyone when he got that job. I love sporano & wouldn't change a thing, but...

I think a much better comparison would be comparing how Whizenhunt(sp) did with how Cam did. We should have hired that guy when he left the Steelers instead of Cam.

 

[Fish-Head]

It isn't fair to compare Tomlin and Sparano. This was Tomlin's second season and only Sparano's first.

Lets not forget that Tomlin took over a team that was one year removed from being Super Bowl champs and Sparano took over a 1-15 team.

I do agree that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and should have been our choice in 07' instead of Cameron, but I am very happy with Sparano. His coaching is one of the main reasons why this team had the greatest single season turnaround in NFL history and clinched a division title.

Very true and perhaps indisputable BUT... Do you think that inheriting a system, QB etc could also make the job more difficult?

The point is... Tony came in and they cleaned house... and built it back the way they envisioned... They cleared out the dead weight and brought in young COACHABLE players to fit their system whereas Tomlin inherited his...

Moulding a team that has chemistry and leaders in place as well as a set way of doing things can be equally as formidable a task as building one from scratch...

Watching the Steelers the other night changed my way of thinking a little as most often I am in agreement that the COTY should be the most obvious... The biggest turnaround... Doing the most with the least... but this might be flawed thinking... as it can be equally if not more challenging to take a good team to the next level.

 

[CedarPhin]

While I certainly agree to a point... Isn't the leap from good to great comparable to that of bottom feeder to respectability?

I'd say the leap we took was greater, considering we were 1-15 with no end in sight a year ago.

Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl 3 years ago, they've just been inconsistent the last few years.

 

[jvw]

Like so many on here I was livid when Sparano was overlooked for Coach of the Year but last night's game really changed my mind as I thought that the Steelers were an extremely well coached team... I know Smith got the press award but Tomlin got another COTY (Mottorola?) if I am not mistaken and deservedly so.

Did anyone else notice that after Ben had those balls tipped and batted down at the line of scrimmage that he came out in the second half and began pump faking on every down? Brilliant little adjustment that really helped to disrupt the 'Zona pass rush and stopped them from getting hands on balls... Coaching is in the details and I really thought he had his team prepared.

Next was the poise the entire Steeler team showed when warner and Fitz moved the chains... I did not see anyone on the Steeler sideline panicking... Business as usual... They looked cool and confident and had a real swagger like they were not going to lose.

Couple this with their brutal sched... The first overall defence in almost every category and a true team first attitude I thought he really earned his stripes.

I love my Phins and I was crying foul when I thought Tony was robbed but I am man enough to admit that Tomlin is a heck of a coach and showed it last night... My question is... Do you guys think Tomlin simply did more 'with more' to work with than Tony? Or do you think he outcoached our very own TS this season?

Great observation on Ben, I noticed that too. I think Ben is an average QB except for right before the half and at the end of the game when there behind. Then he makes unbelievable throws, touch passes, drop passes over the coverage or putting some zip on the ball to fit it in tight spots. Other than those times in a game he's just ok.
Tomlin is a very good coach, for that team to go through the schedule they went through (beating the Ravens 3 times) he had his boys ready......for a 2nd yr coach at 37 years old, he deserves all the awards he get.

 

[finintheburgh]

Very true and perhaps indisputable BUT... Do you think that inheriting a system, QB etc could also make the job more difficult?

The point is... Tony came in and they cleaned house... and built it back the way they envisioned... They cleared out the dead weight and brought in young COACHABLE players to fit their system whereas Tomlin inherited his...

Moulding a team that has chemistry and leaders in place as well as a set way of doing things can be equally as formidable a task as building one from scratch...

Watching the Steelers the other night changed my way of thinking a little as most often I am in agreement that the COTY should be the most obvious... The biggest turnaround... Doing the most with the least... but this might be flawed thinking... as it can be equally if not more challenging to take a good team to the next level.

sorry but the jury is still out on tomlin. your giving him way to much credit. this was a team that was built by cowher. he hasnt made any major changes. all the players were there with cowher. the dc and system was the one that cowher had in place. right now hes riding a wave that cowher made.
if you want to caompare his succes with people. you should look at.

switzer winning one in dallas after jj built the team. or sefert( speeling) winning one with the 49ers after walsh built the team. both fell apart after thay had to draft their own players. and so far tomlins draft have not been very good