Give new coaches a chance
Fans can be tough sometimes. And Steelers fans in particular are a very demanding bunch. So I wasn’t surprised when I started getting messages from Steelers fans complaining about some of their new coaching hires.
“Why did the Steelers hire a coach who got fired by the Buffalo Bills? The Bills suck!” That was a pretty typical comment when the Steelers decided to hire Sean Kugler as their new offensive line coach.
“Al Everests coached one of the worst special teams units in the NFL last year! Why would the Steelers hire him?” Fans didn’t seem to be too happy after the Steelers hired Everest as special teams coordinator. Everest was fired by the San Francisco 49ers after his special teams unit ranked near the bottom of the NFL in punt coverage and kickoff coverage.
“Why the @#$&%# did the Steelers promote their wide receivers coach to be the new quarterbacks coach??!! Couldn’t they even find a guy who was a quarterbacks coach?” That was a typical response when the team chose wide receivers coach Randy Fichtner to be their new quarterbacks coach.
QB coach Randy Fichtner
My comment would be “Give the guys a chance”. If you stick around long enough, you’ll probably eventually get fired in the NFL. It’s just what happens. Sometimes it’s the coach’s fault, and sometimes it isn’t.
Remember, Bill Belichick was a failure in Cleveland. Now he’s considered to be a genius. Brian Billick was hired as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach because he was perceived to be an offensive guru. Yet throughout his tenure, the Ravens were a defensive team, and the offense was mediocre at best.
Players also play a big role in a coach’s success or failure. What if you were the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, and your future was in the hands of JaMarcus Russell? Prepare to be fired.
Sean Kugler was let go by the Buffalo Bills, but actually the entire staff was let go. That included Bobby April, who is considered to be one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL. Kugler is considered to be a capable offensive line coach. His Bills team gave up a lot of sacks this past season, but that was primarily because they had so many injuries that he had to use a different line-up for almost every game.
Al Everest was fired because he used a reverse on a punt return without getting Head Coach Mike Singletary’s approval. That play resulted in a fumble that contributed to a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. But prior to last season, Everest’s 49ers special teams units have always been excellent in their coverage. Moreover, he is considered to be a master motivator. In 2002, when he was with the Arizona Cardinals, Everest was voted NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year when his team had 3 touchdown returns, and 5 blocked kicks.
Fichtner has no NFL experience as a quarterbacks coach, but he has served in that role at the college level. He was quarterbacks coach at Memphis from 1990 – 93, Arkansas State from 1997 – 2000, and back at Memphis from 2001 – 2006, where he also served as offensive coordinator.
Lets remember that these guys aren’t unknowns. They have experience. Moreover, Coach Tomlin, Kevin Colbert, and the Rooneys think they are the right men for the job. So let’s give them a chance.
Besides, can they be any worse than what we had last year?
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Donald, Donald, Donald….
I’ve got people checking to see if you are on the Steeler’s payroll.
There is no other way you could see so many silver linings. LOL
I will take these one at a time:
1. I really don’t have as much of an issue with Kugler as the other hires. I understand the injuries and such. However, you would think we would want to see what a coach can do with a healthy line first. The 46 sacks really concerns me. The idea here is to improve not hire sideways.
2. Moving Fitchner to QB coach doesn’t really bother me. It will be good to have Ben understand his wideouts even more. However, the WRs were a bright spot. What will happen with them under new coach? This could be a little risky.
3. Now to Everest. Here is my problem! You really don’t think he was fired because of one reverse that cost a game between two losing teams do you? Especially after Singletary admitted that he owned some of the communication problem between the two of them on that call. Come on now…
OL and QB coaches? Ok, I give them a chance with my reservations. But Everest was a miserable hire and you know I’m right. You are just worried they will stop sending those checks if you disagree with them.
P.S. Tomlin, Colbert, and Rooneys hired the ones new coaches are replacing as well.
1Warning: Long
Everest can’t be as bad as the last guy…can he?
That being said, I think that the Steelers special teams are bad every other year due to the players available. It seems like our boys are always built by letting overpriced FAs go and simply bringing someone up from the depth chart that is usually a special teamer. (See: Harrison, James) That leaves a hole.
Another issue is letting depth players who are good special teamers go with the thinking that they are interchangable. (See: Madison, Anthony)There’s another hole.
We just need to keep bringing in the right personell in to play the position. Heck, it’s why Limas Sweed hung on to a roster spot. We have other concerns on ST, as well, such as a returner and possibly a kicker if Reed does not resign.
A CB and Ret is a huge need in the draft. Javier Arenas from Bama in rd. 1 or 2, perhaps?
2Tony,
3It’s a tough economy out there. I have to keep those checks coming in from the Steelers. I Wouldn’t want to piss them off or anything.
Dan,
That wasn’t long. Have you ever read one of Tony’s messages?
Special teams has been a problem for a while with this team. In 2008 we were the best in the NFL. In 2009 we were the worst in the NFL.
Hopefully, the team now realizes that they can’t just plug anybody in on special teams. They need GOOD players on special teams just like they do on other units.
4It felt long. You’re right, though. We should have kept Madison. He was good there.
5Randy Fichtner was absolutely the right choice as QB coach. His success at WR coach and long history of QB and offensive coordinator positions at the college level will only put the Steelers on the road back to the Super Bowl.
6