PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Who is calling the defensive plays is one of the more intriguing questions of the 2022 Steelers season. But really, does it matter?
It became a big storyline at the end of last season when recently retired defensive coordinator Keith Butler told The PM Team with Aditi Kinkhabwala that Mike Tomlin called the defensive plays during his tenure, and did so a part of the time under Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau.
It became a big story and maybe as much as the blame could be shifted to the head coach instead of the coordinator for anything that went wrong.
It’s not as if this is something unique to the NFL. The last two Super Bowl winning head coaches called offensive plays—Sean McVay with the Rams and Andy Reid at Kansas City. Does that mean their coordinators didn’t play into the decisions? McVay’s coordinator, Kevin O’Connell, became the head coach of the Vikings this year. Matt LaFleur was McVay’s previous coordinator leaving to be at the head coach at Green Bay. Reid’s coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, has been with the Chiefs for four years. He’s one of the hottest coaching candidates each of the last two off-seasons.
Yet none of those men ‘called the plays’. And they were still hired for the most important jobs at some historic franchises.
I think it often gets confused that if Mike Tomlin is ‘calling the plays’, and I don’t think it’s assured he calls every one of them, that the defensive coordinator is just getting him coffee. As judged by the coordinators hired from the Rams, or numerous other examples from other NFL teams, these coaches have a huge role in what happens on Sunday. Even if the final decision goes to the head coach.
Teryl Austin is in his first season as the Steelers defensive coordinator, but it’s not a job new to him. He’s been the DC with the Lions and Bengals and also at the University of Florida in 2010, which is nearly the NFL. It sets up this year for Austin to call more of the plays then we’ve seen typically under Tomlin. The Steelers head coach likely will put more attention to an offense without Ben Roethlisberger for the first time to start a season under his tenure (suspension aside). Got to believe he will give more input or at least track the situation more on that side of the ball this season.
The team also has a special, special assistant on defense in Brian Flores. The former Dolphins head coach and top Patriots assistant has already impacted the defense before a snap is played. Austin said they will use Flores’ knowledge to their advantage, likely that will come in-game as well as in preparation.
Butler told 93.7 The Fan he didn’t call the plays, but didn’t say he wasn’t involved in developing the play sheet or giving his opinion during games. I think Austin will be involved in play calling this year. Even if he calls every play, which won’t happen, the responsibility for its success is ultimately on the players.
If TJ Watt and Cam Heyward continue to wreak havoc. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Sutton and others are getting turnovers. Myles Jack, and Tyson Alualu improve the run defense, whoever calls the plays will be a genius.
If it goes the other way, the discussion will rise again because it must have been some coach’s fault.