| Michael Milliron. 11th January, 2007 - 11:09 pm
 The XL Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers continue to find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They failed to reach the postseason to even have a chance to defend their title. A 2 – 6 start plagued by one of the most unusual QB off seasons in NFL history and a bevy of turnovers had them essentially out of the race by mid-season.
However, Coach Bill Cowher kept the team working, doing things “the Steeler way” and Pittsburgh finished the season going 6 – 2 to finish .500. The Steelers were getting back to what made them champions and a dramatic OT victory at Cincinnati in the season finale had both the organization and Steeler Nation anxiously awaiting 2007, assuming QB Ben Roethlisberger does not have another appendix that would need to be removed and stays off his motorcycle.
Despite the considerable promise the team has for 2007, the speculation that Cowher would resign at season’s end came to pass not even a week after the regular season was over. His contract was not extended before the beginning of the season as it had been in the past when he had only a couple of years left remaining on his current contract. That essentially was the beginning and end of Cowher’s reign as Steeler Coach, even though he claims to have had his mind open to finishing his contract that ran through 2007 right up until his resignation.
Now, the Steelers find themselves looking for a head coach for the first time since 1992. In 1992, they hired a local kid from Crafton, which is just outside the city, to come in and replace Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Noll who had guided the team for 23 years and to four Super Bowl Championships. While the Steelers were hopeful of a long run by Bill Cowher, his 15 years as head coach exceeded even their expectations, as 15 years is an eternity in the modern era.
Steeler Owner and Chairman Dan Rooney, President Art Rooney II, and Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert will oversee the search for and choice of Cowher’s successor. They have the list down to four candidates as they begin second interviews with Ken Whisenhunt, Russ Grimm, Ron Rivera, and Mike Tomlin.
Whisenhunt is the Steelers offensive coordinator. He is seen as having a big hand in the development of Ben Roethlisberger while maintaining the team’s commitment to the run while mixing in gadget plays to keep defenses off balance. Whisenhunt was an NFL tight end with the Falcons and Redskins. In addition to Cowher, he comes from the Joe Gibbs’ coaching tree.
Grimm is the Steelers assistant head coach / offensive line. Like Cowher, he has local ties to the area, hailing from Scottdale, PA. He also starred at Pitt as a center. He went on to be a guard in the pros and is currently up for Hall of Fame induction as a member of “The Hogs,” the famed Redskin offensive line unit of the ‘80s. Grimm was a part of the Gibbs’ coaching tree, as well, and is considered to have the most Cowher-esque resume of the candidates.
Rivera is the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator. It has been a dominating unit for much of the decade making Rivera a household name on head coaching lists around the league. He was a linebacker on the ’85 Bears, a defense that is considered one of the best of all time. Rivera is looked at as a well organized, intense, motivating type of coach.
Tomlin is a dark horse candidate, having just finished his first season as a defensive coordinator in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach previous to that. Tomlin is a disciple of the cover two scheme. He is a bright young coach on the rise and someone the Steelers wanted to speak with during their process.
There is a prevailing assumption that it is a two man race with internal candidates Whisenhunt and Grimm. It has been suggested that candidates were being interviewed just to comply with “The Rooney Rule,” a rule named after Dan Rooney himself; basically mandating that NFL teams at least interview a minority candidate(s) when there is a head coaching vacancy in their organization. Both Whisenhunt and Grimm are white, while Rivera and Tomlin are of Hispanic and African – American descent, respectively. The Rooneys have complied with the rule of their namesake.
If Whisenhunt or Grimm is not selected as head coaches for other openings they have interviewed for, one would likely be the Steeler head coach with the other serving as assistant head coach. It is certainly understandable that the Steelers would want to stay in house due to their recent success, 15 – 1, loss in AFC Championship in 2004, Super Bowl Champions in 2005, and a 6 – 2 finish in 2006. There is also the consideration that if Whisenhunt or Grimm is selected, the rest of the coaching staff that is already under contract for 2007 would largely stay intact.
In addition to the coaches, the Steelers also have to consider their players when selecting their new coach. The Steelers have been a 3-4 defensive team since the latter part of the Noll era and all through the Cowher era. It would prove difficult to make the necessary personnel changes to accommodate a switch to the 4-3 which both Rivera and Tomlin have run throughout their pro coaching careers.
Plus, the Steelers have Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton who may not be as effective in a 4-3 front. Then you throw in linebackers Joey Porter, James Farrior, and the effective use of strong safety Troy Polamalu in the current schemes by defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau (who is also expected to stay on). It is easy to see why the Steelers would not be inclined to make such a major philosophical change.
However, if either Rivera or Tomlin were to really wow the Rooneys throughout the interview process, the Steelers would not hesitate to hire outside the organization, as they did with both Noll and Cowher. If either Rivera or Tomlin were to get the job, would they feel comfortable with the Steeler 3-4? Would they feel comfortable enough as new members of the organization making such a philosophical change in defense? Either scenario would be difficult for the team.
As expected, it should come down to Whisenhunt and Grimm. Many expect it to be Whisenhunt, since he is already at the coordinator level, is highly regarded in NFL circles as a future head coach, and his good relationship, development, and use of Roethlisberger. It is always a good thing to have the head coach and franchise QB on the same page, but that alone will not determine the Steelers head coaching decision.
Unlike the Arizona Cardinals who are possibly hiring Norm Chow in an effort to maximize QB Matt Leinart’s capability as soon as possible, the Steelers know that exceptional quarterbacking is the exception and not the rule. It is much more probable that the Cliff Stoudts, Mark Malones, David Woodleys, Bubby Bristers, Mike Tomczaks, Kordell Stewarts, and Tommy Maddox are under center than the Terry Bradshaws, Neil O’Donnells, and Roethlisbergers. Track history dictates that the Steelers expect to select a coach who will be at the helm of the franchise beyond the shelf life of any of the current players on the roster.
Grimm possesses everything the Steelers are looking for in a head coach. As a local, he relates to the blue collar, lunch pail approach that is so intrinsic to the Pittsburgh area. Grimm has a passion for the game and is the type of leader and teacher that can lend itself to the longevity that Steeler coaches have enjoyed. The QB position is the most important one on a football team, but even when you do not have a star QB, you still have to be able to win football games. Grimm knows games are won in the trenches and the value of a great running game and a dominating defense. That is “the Steeler way” and it will be “the Steeler way” under head coach Russ Grimm. |
