A New Era
Steelers Search Leads to Tomlin
By Jerry DiPaola

Here's one logical and fact-based explanation for anyone wondering if the Steelers' deliberate coach search cost them the services of Ken Whisenhunt.

Let's spell it out slowly for those of you who can't understand why the Steelers let their successful offensive coordinator get away:

WHISENHUNT WASN'T THEIR FIRST CHOICE.

Whisenhunt was everything the Steelers were seeking in a coach - smart, football-savvy, personable, top-notch family man and a good fit for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Except one thing, perhaps: The Rooneys (chairman Dan and his son, team president Art II) and director of football operations Kevin Colbert didn't believe Whisenhunt, a quiet guy away from the field who was detached from his players on game day, would have become a great motivator. Or, at least, he may not have been perceived as an in-your-face coach whose message would hit their players in the mouth like a kick in the head.

Like Bill Cowher's messages always did.

Mike Tomlin, 34, is everything Whisenhunt, 44, would have been, but Tomlin, who was a major hit in his two interviews with the team, might have appeared to the search team (rightly or wrongly) as someone who would coach with more energy than the other candidates. The Steelers were very successful with a 100-mph coach for the past 15 years. Why not look for someone whose coaching characteristics more closely mirrored those of Cowher?

That's not to say that Whisenhunt will fail in Arizona. It's an opinion shared by many that he got two of the best coaches from the Steelers' staff, offensive line coach Russ Grimm and special teams coach Kevin Spencer. Plus, Whisenhunt's play-calling and the talent on offense (if Grimm can whip the line into shape) may turn the Cardinals into an immediate playoff contender.

Your next question would be: What was wrong with Grimm?

Nothing. He also is football-savvy and respected by his players, but Grimm, 47, also came from the former staff and might have been perceived as too close to the assistants who needed to become his underlings. Cowher almost always kept his distance from his coaches.

The last time the Steelers promoted an assistant coach to the head job was 1965 when Mike Nixon was hired after Buddy Parker abruptly resigned days before the start of the season. Nixon was 2-12 in one season (losing six games by three touchdowns or more) and was quickly fired.

Tomlin must win to gain the trust of the fans, most of whom never heard his name until he became a candidate. He will get a long leash from the Rooneys, and the talent on the roster will be enough for the Steelers to seriously contend for a championship. After all, they were Super Bowl champs only 12 months ago, and they won six of their final eight games last season.

The key positions of quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive line and defensive back have youth and talent, and an atmosphere of winning (five playoff berths in the past six seasons) cloaks the franchise.

But if you care to be argumentative: Tomlin is incredibly light on experience, and that fact did surprise some people with current and former ties to the franchise when they heard he was the next Steelers head coach. Tomlin never played in the NFL and is more closely associated with college jobs at Arkansas State, VMI, Memphis, Tennessee-Martin and the University of Cincinnati than any NFL team. He was a coordinator for only one year in the league (last season with the Minnesota Vikings).

He did play the game at a high level at Division 1-AA William & Mary, and he did so with little wasted effort One-fifth of his 101 receptions (20) went for touchdowns.

Yes, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid never was a coordinator when he became a head coach, but he also spent plenty of time in the NFL and he worked with the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.

Tomlin worked with Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin and Jon Gruden - three excellent coaches - but he has even less experience in the league than Bill Cowher did when he was hired. Plus, Cowher spent seven mostly winning seasons with Marty Schottenheimer in Cleveland and Kansas City. Tomlin's Vikings pass defense was torched through the air, allowing 238.6 yards per game (tied for last in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals).

But it should not be assumed that Tomlin's Cover 2 defensive philosophy that some critics believe eventually will rob All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu of some of his free-lance abilities is bad for the team. Former Steelers defensive coordinator Bud Carson won Super Bowls with a similar defense in the 1970s. This year's Super Bowl features Dungy's Cover 2, and it hasn't stopped Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders from chasing the run or pass all over the field.

So many questions, but don't expect any quick answers.

We don't know yet if the Steelers will be wanting a new head coach in three or four years, but the team that once hired Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher at least got the coach it wanted right now.