Mark Madden: Time for Steelers' Mike Tomlin to put his words into practice, be held accountable

This is a pretty good Pittsburgh Steelers team. Improved from last year.

It has a first-round draft pick at quarterback who looks ready to break through. It has a myriad of offensive weapons: no proven superstar, but a receiver capable of big plays and a first-round running back who also might be on the verge. The tight ends are legit red-zone targets. The offensive line is good and made two key additions.

If the defense isn’t elite, it’s got several elite players, including 2021’s Defensive Player of the Year at edge rusher. Arguably the NFL’s best safety, too.

The Steelers have the talent to win at least 10 games. Some predict higher.

If they don’t, whose fault will it be?

Perhaps we can finally blame coaching.

Not offensive coordinator Matt Canada. He’s small potatoes.

No, this team has a chance to make real noise if it’s not coached in a fashion some call conservative but I’d call scared.

If it adjusts to the NFL’s current method.

If it tries to extend leads, not sit on them.

If it takes risk in pursuit of reward.

If it looks for chunk yardage.

It if scores more and faster.

If it doesn’t live in its fears.

Head coach Mike Tomlin preaches against that but doesn’t always put his words into practice.

NFL football isn’t about ball control and defense. It’s about scoring lots of points.

The Steelers can’t will football into being what Tomlin wants (or perhaps it’s all he knows). The Steelers scored just twice from outside the red zone last year. Philadelphia did that to the Steelers four times when the teams played last season, all before the Eagles even ran a play in the red zone.

Related:

• Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers predictions, playoff pontification, postseason prognostication
• Tim Benz: We know how good the 49ers' rush attack is. But how does it work and how do the Steelers stop it?
• Mark Madden: Here's what Penguins should do with new broadcast team

Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game in six years. He has won just three in his last 12 seasons. His teams have got off to bad starts in four of the last five seasons. They choked away postseason berths with bad finishes in 2018 and ’19. The Steelers started 11-0 in ’20 but lost five of their last six.

Tomlin remains Teflon despite all that disappointment. He clings to never having a losing season and being loved by his players past and present.

The media is totally buffaloed, stooging both locally and nationally. Tomlin has somehow negated the concept of football being a results-based business.

Mike McCarthy (from Greenfield) is Dallas’ coach. He coached Green Bay when the Packers beat Tomlin and the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV to conclude the 2010 season.

Since then, McCarthy is 6-8 in the playoffs. He gets criticized regularly on ESPN’s debate shows and the like.

Tomlin is 3-7 in the postseason after that Super Bowl. The same programs and hosts canonize Tomlin, sometimes in the same breath after castigating McCarthy.

Tomlin won’t ever get fired. I get that. That’s the Steelers method.

But at least hold Tomlin accountable.

He needs to make the playoffs this year. Preferably win a playoff game.

It will be difficult given the caliber of the AFC North and the AFC in general.

But if the Steelers fail, it won’t be because they’re not good enough.

Sunday’s opener against San Francisco at Acrisure Stadium will be a huge test. The 49ers made the NFC championship game last season and are favored by many to go even further this campaign. They have a great coach, a plethora of offensive weaponry and the defending Defensive Player of the Year. The Niners are favored by 2½.

But if the Steelers are serious people, this is a game they should win.

Let’s conjure a scenario: The Steelers lead by two with five minutes left. They have the ball at their own 35 with a fresh set of downs.

Would the Steelers try to extend the lead? Or would they play it safe, punt and rely on their defense?

They should do the former, especially since their offense is currently ahead of their defense. That’s how the NFL is.

But the Steelers probably would do the latter.

That’s why I’m picking the Steelers to go 9-8. No playoffs.