First Call: Mike Tomlin credited for ‘most impressive coaching job’ in 2023; pending tryouts for Martavis Bryant
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Tuesday’s “First Call” has some midseason accolades for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. We also look at the potential return of Martavis Bryant to the NFL, Tuesday’s rematch between the Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, and an AFC North team dealing with an ill-timed run of injuries.
Pump the brakes
NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha posted some midseason superlatives now that every team in the NFL has at least eight games under its belt.
He tabbed Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin as the head coach who has done the “most impressive coaching job” so far in 2023. He explained:
“The Steelers are 5-3 with an offense that is feeble at best. They’re the 34th team in NFL history to be outgained in each of their first eight games — and the only member of that dubious group to produce a winning record during such an unimpressive stretch. How are they doing it? It’s simple: They have one of the best head coaches this league has ever seen. Nothing about the Steelers is threatening except for the way they prepare and somehow execute in critical moments. A lesser-coached team would be in the running for a top-five pick in next year’s draft. This group has a legitimate shot at a playoff spot because of the man leading them.”
Quick question. If the offense is “feeble,” isn’t Tomlin — as the most influential person in the organization — responsible for it being “feeble”?
Wasn’t it Tomlin who hired and promoted Matt Canada? And drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round a year after drafting Najee Harris with his first selection? And gave the thumbs up to Diontae Johnson’s contract extension? And assembled the offensive line? And has largely kept Broderick Jones on the bench?
Or are we really to assume that “one of the best head coaches this league has ever seen,” actually has zero input into his own staff assembly, roster construction and lineup decisions? Instead, I guess he just shows up on gameday and navigates this mess of a team around all the landmines other people have laid in its path.
Are we really to believe that?
By the way, ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell also gave his mid-season Coach of the Year award to Tomlin. So it’s not like Chadiha is alone in his opinion.
Seems like a typical national media take on Tomlin to me. Credit him for anything that got them to an ugly victory. Absolve him of blame for any shortcoming the team may have.
By the way, how can we, in good conscience, call Tomlin “one of the best head coaches this league has ever seen” when in 12 of his first 16 seasons he has failed to win a playoff game?
That’s just ridiculous hyperbole.
More from Martavis?
Former Steeler Martavis Bryant has been reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. And now the 31-year-old is getting his first NFL tryout.
According to Diana Russini of ESPN, the veteran wide receiver will try out with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.
Veteran WR Martavis Bryant who has been reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell, is expected to workout for the Dallas Cowboys tomorrow.
He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2018 when he was with the Oakland Raiders.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 6, 2023
After multiple suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Bryant bounced around football since 2019. He played in the CFL, the XFL and the Fan Controlled Football (FCF) League.
Bryant’s career numbers over parts of four NFL seasons are 145 catches for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns. There is also a report from Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report that Bryant will work out with the Tennessee Titans if there is no deal in Dallas.
More sports
• Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel took an unusual — and unexpected — path to the NHL from San Diego
• AFC North remains wide open as Steelers enter 2nd half of NFL schedule
• Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi speaks of personal regret in game of inches that turned into another loss
Banged-up Browns
The Cleveland Browns offensive line is continuing to have health issues. The team is losing Jedrick Wills for at least the next four weeks. The tackle is going on injured reserve.
That means he’ll at least miss the Steelers game on Nov. 19. The Browns decided to put Wills on the shelf for a while because he is already dealing with an MCL sprain. Wills, a former first-round pick out of Alabama, hasn’t missed a game since Week 15 of 2021.
Starting right tackle Jack Conklin is done for the season thanks to a knee injury in Week 1. Rookie fourth-round pick Dawand Jones out of Ohio State has been working on the right side.
Via SteelersNow.com, James Hudson is likely going to be Wills’ replacement: “A fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2021, Hudson has seven career starts. Two of them have come against the Steelers. He allowed one sack and three hurries against Pittsburgh in January and three sacks, one quarterback hit and one hurry versus the Steelers in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus.”
The Browns have allowed 24 sacks, 22nd in the NFL.
Quack attack
The Anaheim Ducks’ stunning late-game win at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 30 was just part of a recent hot stretch. The Ducks have won six in a row now as the teams prepare to rematch Tuesday in Anaheim.
The Ducks haven’t lost since a 3-1 defeat to the Boston Bruins at home on Oct. 22. Anaheim has scored at least four goals five games in a row. They are now 7-4-0 on the season.
Frank Vatrano has nine goals. He’s one of five players tied for third in the NHL behind Toronto’s Auston Matthews (13) and Vancouver’s Brock Boeser (10). Mason McTavish has 13 points to lead the team, 21st in the NHL.
It was McTavish who scored the heartbreaking, shorthanded goal in the final minutes in Pittsburgh last month to sink the Penguins 4-3.
MASON MCTAVISH AT THE END OF REGULATION!
This kid's on fire!!! pic.twitter.com/KU4OS55Ljd
— NHL (@NHL) October 31, 2023
As if any of you really needed to see that clip again. My bad.