Mike Tomlin is under the microscope.

Even if his job security isn’t, his performance is.

And after delivering an awful, confusing-on-purpose type of press conference yesterday, fans and media alike are livid about what Tomlin has in mind about righting the ship in Pittsburgh.

After Sunday’s embarrassing blowout to the Houston Texans, Tomlin, now infamously said “hell yeah there will be changes.”

And maybe, if only for a moment, we could finally see a world where the Steelers had an NFL-level play caller in the booth.

But, let’s keep in mind folks, this is the Pittsburgh Steelers we’re talking about. That obvious, easy change to make is of course the one they weren’t going to make.

Any other organization in the NFL would not let an offensive coordinator as inept and incompetent as Matt Canada even step into their practice facility at this point. But the Steeler Way prevents firing coaches, ever, for any reason, at any time.

So what were the changes? Well, say goodbye to the man who has been the real cause of all our problems this season: Dez Fitzpatrick.

Yes, the man who hadn’t played all season for the Steelers is the real issue here.

But in all seriousness, Tomlin’s ideas for what he means by “making changes” was incredibly underwhelming: practicing in pads.

Almost immediately, fans were irate at this comment. Steelers social media circles erupted about how the Steelers were handling preparation this week, and how the organization seemingly can’t see the problems that literally everyone else around them do.

It’s a frustration from a passionate fan base that, with each passing day, grows more and more infuriated.

Tomlin stated that the players didn’t work hard enough in Sunday’s game in Houston, and implied that practicing in pads would be all they needed to get things back on track.

For a guy who has been described as a “players coach” countless times over the years, he certainly wasn’t one there, opting to back his miserable coaching staff instead of his players on the field.

Say what you will about the Steelers physical efforts in Texas (which were admittedly heavily lacking), this is not about how hard and rigorous the practices are. It’s about Mike Tomlin.

Mike Tomlin, at any point, could remove Matt Canada. He could, at any point, assist or take over from DC Teryl Austin.

But he is purposely deciding to stick with guys who are showing week after week they cannot get the job done.

Austin’s $120 million dollar defense got shredded by a first year head coach, first year offensive coordinator, and first year quarterback.

Canada’s offense was just as bad as ever, and his comments to the CBS broadcast staff prior to the game, where he said they aren’t a team built to come back from early deficits, is something we aren’t ripping him nearly enough for.

But as much of a problem as both guys might be, they are not the head coach. Mike Tomlin is.

I’ve been a supporter of Tomlin over the years, and to be honest, I’m probably on the very high end of those in the city who still put stock in Tomlin never having a losing season. I think it’s remarkable, and important, showing how capable Tomlin is of keeping his teams competitive.

But as much as I value that streak, it’s simply not enough anymore. When a non-losing season is the best you can do, it’s simply not enough.

Tomlin’s teams have had talent. They’ve had playmakers. They’ve had guys who know what they can do, and do it well. Simply finishing 8-8 or, in the modern day, 9-8, can’t be all the Steelers are capable of.

A 9-8 record needs to be the bare minimum. That needs to be the starting point. It cannot be where he hope to end up when January rolls around.

And this kind of perpetual .500 football has stagnated any kind of postseason presence for the Steelers. They’ve made the playoffs just once in the last three years, only to get rocked by the Chiefs in Arrowhead back in 2021.

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. And over the last decade, they’ve won only 3 total playoff games.

If that sounds bad, it’s because it is, but no stat puts that lack of success in. abetter light than this: the Pittsburgh Pirates have won 3 playoff games in that same time frame.

Now, before you jump on me, I know that it isn’t a fully fair comparison. The MLB playoffs have series, the NFL playoffs do not. But any lopsided comparison in the amount of games played in each respective postseason is completely offset by the fact that it’s the PIRATES.

It’s no longer enough to simply skate by with the typical cliches about the standard and all that. Tomlin doesn’t have the résumé to back that up anymore.

Maybe years ago, when at least the Steelers were in the playoffs and winning a few games, Tomlin could fall back on what he always does and actually have results to back that up.

But not anymore. When it’s 2023 and it hasn’t been since the 2016 season that you’ve won a playoff game, press conferences like yesterday’s and games like Sunday’s are no longer acceptable.

(Featured photo from USA Today)