Steelers’ Mike Tomlin explains why he broke his own commandment on critical 4th down vs. Seahawks
Mike Tomlin has a famous saying when describing the Pittsburgh Steelers: “We don’t live in our fears.” That refers to the personality of his team. That they are up for any fight, any challenge, and that they will stand and face it. It also refers to not being scared and not being conservative. You know, […]
Mike Tomlin has a famous saying when describing the Pittsburgh Steelers: “We don’t live in our fears.” That refers to the personality of his team. That they are up for any fight, any challenge, and that they will stand and face it.
It also refers to not being scared and not being conservative. You know, going for it on fourth down in a close game. Except that exact scenario arose on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and Tomlin decided to punt the ball in a tie game with less than a yard to gain. When asked why, here’s what he offered:
“It was a 14-14 game,” said Tomlin after the game. “You know, neither offense was lighting it up at that juncture. We absorbed some attrition on defense, and so I want to protect that group and keep them on a long field.”
Mike Tomlin, Steelers come up short vs. the Seahawks
Now, there are two ways to take that quote. Tomlin is certainly right about a short field against a long field. If the Steelers go for it there and don’t get it, you give the Seahawks the ball back around midfield with a chance to bust the game open. But that doesn’t make the decision right.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, which is supposed to be a strong running team and one that hired an OC whose scheme is built on the ground game, can’t gain one yard, it doesn’t deserve to win. That’s first off.
Secondly, you know how you help a reeling defense ravaged by injury? One that needs as much rest as possible? You keep them off the field.
This wasn’t going for it at your own 30-yard line. This was near midfield. It was a tie game with a little over 16 minutes remaining, at home, and with your defense down multiple starters.
I won’t say that going for it and getting it would have changed the way that game went, especially given the special teams blunder from Kaleb Johnson. But that doesn’t mean you should live in your fears. Especially when you preach the opposite.
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