I have had it with the school yard snitching. The “they cheated” is getting old. Yahoo news reported this morning that there were reported problems with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ headsets being interrupted by the New England Patriots’ radio broadcast. This caused a communication issue with the Steelers’ coaching staff. If it is true, so what?
This the year 2015 and if the military has contention plans in place for communication issues, why doesn’t the NFL?
Head Coach, Mike Tomlin relayed that this has been an issue for years when he has come into Foxboro saying
“It’s stuff that ALWAYS happens in Gillette stadium.”
Why is it coming up now after what appeared to be a display of sheer dominance by the New England Patriots in the 21-28 loss? Sure the score appears to be close but what happened on the field was not. The Steelers were dominated on the field convincingly by the “Brady bunch”.
If it was a problem in the past, maybe it should have been addressed with the league prior to them even traveling to the game and not griped about after the game to the media. According to around the NFL Writer Connor Orr, the NFL released a statement regarding the matter, via NFL spokesman Michael Signora:
“Technological and stadium infrastructure issues of this type happen at many stadiums around the league and whenever there are issues of this nature, we do a thorough review.”
I’ll admit from some of the formations that left Rob Gronkowkski wide open appeared to be communication issues but on the field, not from the sidelines. Back in the day before headsets, teams used hand signals or huge signs to push out their signals to their units. There was no green dot audio helmet designation and the MLB would have to look to the D-coordinator to get their play-call. Now Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly in his time in Oregon had a strategy to confuse the opposition by using a combination of this.
The information is there but clearly the intelligence is not. Teams need to plan for contingencies so that when unfortunate stuff like this happens they can react accordingly, so that there is no whining to media after the game. Had the Steelers won the game, would Tomlin have voiced such a grievous complaint to the media? NO! Because he would have begun his 24 hour celebration before moving on to the next game to prepare for.
Am I saying the former SB winning coach is bitter? Yes, emphatically yes he was whining. Am I a Patriots’ fan? Heck no! But I think we’re all tired of this game being ruined by accusations of cheating, true or not.
Here is my thing. If you are a competitor, strap on a helmet, get your gameplan together, expect the best and plan for the worst.
Tomlin should be more worried about the impact of the loss of Dick Lebeau has on this organization long-term. Losing one of the best defensive minds in NFL history to the Tennessee Titans proved to be a huge blow for the black and yellow in last night’s loss. New D-Coordinator Keith Butler has some big shoes to fill and after last night, a lot of adjustments to make in order to get this once vaunted defensed back to the level they normally operate in.
Let’s look at the numbers
With LeBeau and a solid defense back in 2013, the D only allowed 222.1-yards via air. Last night the defense gave 281-yards and 4-touchdowns. 191-yards and three of those TDs were compliments of the “air-raid” duo of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
The numbers don’t lie. Tomlin misses Dick. Sounds dirty but ask him and see what he says about losing one of the best defensive minds to ever come through the Steel City. Mr. Butler you have work to do. It’s been 24 hours time to move on to San Francisco and maybe on to a new kicker as well. Bye Josh Scobee!
Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.
