Watching Tomlin coach was painful.

[Dave Gray]

I tuned into the end of the Browns/Steelers game last night and I was pretty disgusted at the conservatism shown by Tomlin.

He made several decisions where he pretty much surrendered the game.  They suck, so they probably weren't winning anyway, but it was just gutless, prolong-the-game bullshit.

This is off the top of my head, but it started before I even started watching where he punted on 4th and short up only a few points.

But then, down the stretch, they're down two scores -- He punted on 4th and 5 or 6 at around his own 20 with 4 minutes left.  That choice pretty much ended the game right there.  The only way to win at that point was a string of miracles.  He got the best possible outcome of a 3 and out the other way, but it cost him his timeouts and there was never time for the offense to recover.  In addition, his team's morale was dead.

Also, with about a minute and a half left, he's got 4th and inches at the Cleveland 20 or so, he kicks a FG.  Now, I know you need a TD and a FG, but on 4th and inches?  Just go and try to win the game.  Again, he wasn't winning either way, because you still needed an onside kick, but it's just deferring the actual play making longer and longer and eventually you run out of time.

I friggin' hate it and am so glad I don't have to watch that crap anymore.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yeah, that sounds pretty bad. Go for it on 4th and the TD. If you get the onside kick, it's much easier to kick a long FG than it is to convert a Hail Mary.

Time and time again stats show that you should go for it on 4th and Short, but always when you need 2 scores and there are just minutes left. I know his offense sucks, but you were going to lose anyway so what's the difference?

[Spider-Dan]

When given the choice between "delay certain defeat for as long as possible" and "maximize your chances to win," NFL coaches will take the former every time.

[EDGECRUSHER]

When given the choice between "delay certain defeat for as long as possible" and "maximize your chances to win," NFL coaches will take the former every time.

They always coach with their job in mind. Lose by 10 points? Okay. Down by 10, try to win by going for it on 4th and short from your own end and end up losing by 17? Now it's a "blowout" and you look bad.

[Dave Gray]

It made me feel a little better when their last ditch effort of pitch backs ending in a Cleveland defense TD, so the score was bad anyway.

[Pappy13]

It made me feel a little better when their last ditch effort of pitch backs ending in a Cleveland defense TD, so the score was bad anyway.

Speaking of the pitch back play, I fail to see how this play is even considered a sort of "hail mary" play. Has it EVER worked? I think I've seen it run probably 50 times and 50% of the time it ends with a turnover and I think it's only ever really worked like once. I think you have a better chance at simply throwing a hail mary even it's only to the 20 or 30 yard line or so and hope for a defensive penalty however unlikely that is or maybe like try to setup a tipped ball to a player that can catch it and run away from the crowd and score or something along those lines. It's got to have a better chance of success than that crap. Do they actually even spend time practicing this play? It's a waste of time.

Mind you I'm not talking about a single catch and lateral play which can work, but this throw a 10 yard pass and then start lateraling the ball back and forth? Please. It's worthless.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

They always coach with their job in mind. Lose by 10 points? Okay. Down by 10, try to win by going for it on 4th and short from your own end and end up losing by 17? Now it's a "blowout" and you look bad.

When was the last time the Steelers fired a head coach?

[Spider-Dan]

Speaking of the pitch back play, I fail to see how this play is even considered a sort of "hail mary" play. Has it EVER worked? I think I've seen it run probably 50 times and 50% of the time it ends with a turnover and I think it's only ever really worked like once.

I can think of two times: the obvious one, and the game-ending play by the Saints where the kicker missed the PAT that would have tied it.