Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin picked out why the AFC North franchise is struggling through the first two weeks of the season, after Aaron Rodgers ripped into his team's performance
Aaron Rodgers held nothing back as he tore into the Steelers offense and coaching after slipping to 0-2
Aaron Rodgers held nothing back as he tore into the Steelers offense and coaching after slipping to 0-2(Image: Getty Images)
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NBC analyst and former NFL head coach Mike Tomlin insisted the Pittsburgh Steelers have no “place to hang their hat” as Aaron Rodgers and co. falter.
In the Steelers' Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots, Rodgers looked every bit his age, completing 23-of-39 passes for 187 yards with one interception. He was also sacked four times, including one in the fourth quarter, which led to an Elijah Ponder score to seal the game, with the Patriots winning 20-3.
Through two weeks, Rodgers and the Steelers offense have scored just one touchdown and mustered only a field goal in Foxborough. The 42-year-old tore into his coaching staff after the game, and Tomlin shared his thoughts on their struggles.
Tomlin coached the Steelers for 19 years before deciding to cut ties with the franchise back in January. During NBC’s Sunday Night Football pregame show, the 54-year-old outlined why the Steelers offense is misfiring.
“You know, from my perspective, they don’t have a place to hang their hat,” Tomlin said. “They haven’t established the run, they’re not performing well enough on third-down and possession-down circumstances, and to make matters worse, they’re not getting yards in chunks.
“And sometimes when you get yards in chunks, it can cover up some other inadequacies. So they can’t solve all of their problems, but they better solve at least one of these problems, and really soon.”
Tomlin hit the nail on the head. The Steelers have been particularly awful on third downs this year, converting just 5-of-25 chances while Rodgers lost two fumbles - including the one returned for a touchdown - and tossed a late interception.
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Mike Tomlin has proved a hit as an analyst on NBC Sports
Mike Tomlin has proved a hit as an analyst on NBC Sports(Image: Getty Images)
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Ultimately, the combination of Rodgers, Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, DK Metcalf, and Michael Pittman Jr. played a total of 19 snaps in the preseason. As a result, chemistry is still being found, while the offensive line is also failing to find its best.
After the loss to the Patriots, Rodgers called on his coaches to make better decisions. He told reporters: “Can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Can’t point fingers. We’ve all got to play better. I think we can all give a little more.
“The best teams are player-led teams. So we’ve got to keep taking the ownership. In a game like today, where there wasn’t a lot of flow to it, we need to be better, and that starts with me at making sure Mike [McCarthy] knows what’s working, what’s not working, our coaches know, so we can call stuff that we feel like has a better chance.”
Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy have worked together before, winning Super Bowl XLV for the Green Bay Packers. Through two games thus far, it seems as though the magic hasn’t yet been rekindled in Pittsburgh.
“As an offensive coach, I always welcome the opportunity to play against pressure defense,” McCarthy said after the loss to the Patriots . “I think it's clearly an opportunity for big-play potential. That was not the case today. We didn’t answer the bell.
“Our protections weren’t clean. We had opportunities, whether it was communication and breakdowns, clearly in the first half, that took away some opportunities for big plays. The run game was a little bit herky-jerky.”
The winless Steelers now welcome the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals to town on Sunday, September 27.