Grind: Separate the McCarthy process from the outcome
Good Wednesday morning!
• I hated the Steelers' process for hiring Mike McCarthy, but I can't come close to hating the outcome.
Sound contradictory?
It shouldn't. At all.
The process, as I saw it, represented reckless stewardship by both Art Rooney and Omar Khan in that it limited what could've been learned about other candidates, other concepts and much more. Double that sentiment when it's added that young Dan Rooney was in on these sessions and could've accelerated his own knowledge. And triple that sentiment when it's weighed that Rooney and Khan put McCarthy in a far worse public position by arriving in such a scenario.
The process, in a word, was embarrassing.
The outcome was anything but.
For all the ongoing social snarl that seemed to stretch through the introductory press conference yesterday at Acrisure Stadium, what I've yet to see, hear or read anywhere from a solitary soul is that McCarthy is a bad coach or a bad person.
Not.
One.
Anywhere.
My goodness, the man divulged that he'll be calling his own offensive plays -- not exactly the norm in Pittsburgh -- and there still wasn't any distrust expressed in his coaching.
Maybe it's because ... you know, everyone's aware he can coach.
As for the person ...
If there is one thing we know to be true, Mike McCarthy is a Pittsburgher. He’ll give us all he has. Pittsburgh accent and everything. pic.twitter.com/8K9MZ3J27S
All I'm saying: Think about drawing a line between how this happened and what came from it. Feels fair to a good coach and a good man, if nothing else.
• It was the first Art Rooney, the 'Chief,' who once famously told the NFL's then-commissioner, Pete Rozelle, that he had no interest in the 1970s Steelers being dubbed 'America's Team,' for the simple reason that this was 'Pittsburgh's team.'
Still is. Fine time to retell that. And today just happens to mark the 46th anniversary of the date the Penguins switched to black and gold to ensure we'd be the only city in North America where all the teams share the same first name, the same colors:
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
Which we still are, by the way.
There's never cause to apologize for civic pride, least of all when one of our own breaks down at being able to fill the ultimate Pittsburgh role.
• McCarthy's done nothing yet. Once he does, he'll deserve all the scrutiny that's standard with the job, same as Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll. But burying him in advance, based on a bad process for which he bears no responsibility, that's nonsensical.
• For example, I wasn't wild about McCarthy's response that he'd "definitely" welcome an Aaron Rodgers return. Fair point of criticism, I'd say. Not only because this franchise sorely needs to move forward at the most important position, but also because McCarthy himself, in this session, raised the importance of quarterback mobility.
• See? That was easy.
• With McCarthy calling his own offense, his coordinator -- or his passing/running game coordinators, depending on the staff structure -- had better be extreme eggheads when it comes to design. Because it's all they'll be doing.
• I'll go to bat for one current assistant coach: Eddie Faulkner's been superb with the running backs, all of them love him and, for good measure, Faulkner's own limited experience as offensive coordinator after Matt Canada's firing would help if he were to gain the additional title of running game coordinator.
• The NHL's hilariously named Department of Player Safety suspendedBryan Rust three games yesterday for no reason other than that the Canucks placed Brock Boeser on Injured Reserve. That's how George Parros and his crew roll. Never mind that Rust has zero record. Never mind that an additional contact with Boeser came from Rickard Rakell. Never mind that Boeser then fell forward into Sidney Crosby. Never mind that Boeser has, most unfortunately, a history of concussions. Just a joke.
• Rust's absence opens an opportunity not only on Sid's line but also on the No. 1 power-play unit, and I'd welcome seeing that filled by Egor Chinakhov. Maybe even in the bumper role that hasn't to date been a great fit for Rakell. The way Chinakhov can shoot, as well as his shiftiness, makes it worth a real try.
• Has Bob Nutting brought Andrew McCutchen back yet?
THE ASYLUM
Grind: Separate the McCarthy process from the outcome
Good Wednesday morning!
• I hated the Steelers' process for hiring Mike McCarthy, but I can't come close to hating the outcome.
Sound contradictory?
It shouldn't. At all.
The process, as I saw it, represented reckless stewardship by both Art Rooney and Omar Khan in that it limited what could've been learned about other candidates, other concepts and much more. Double that sentiment when it's added that young Dan Rooney was in on these sessions and could've accelerated his own knowledge. And triple that sentiment when it's weighed that Rooney and Khan put McCarthy in a far worse public position by arriving in such a scenario.
The process, in a word, was embarrassing.
The outcome was anything but.
For all the ongoing social snarl that seemed to stretch through the introductory press conference yesterday at Acrisure Stadium, what I've yet to see, hear or read anywhere from a solitary soul is that McCarthy is a bad coach or a bad person.
Not.
One.
Anywhere.
My goodness, the man divulged that he'll be calling his own offensive plays -- not exactly the norm in Pittsburgh -- and there still wasn't any distrust expressed in his coaching.
Maybe it's because ... you know, everyone's aware he can coach.
As for the person ...
Yeah.
All I'm saying: Think about drawing a line between how this happened and what came from it. Feels fair to a good coach and a good man, if nothing else.
• It was the first Art Rooney, the 'Chief,' who once famously told the NFL's then-commissioner, Pete Rozelle, that he had no interest in the 1970s Steelers being dubbed 'America's Team,' for the simple reason that this was 'Pittsburgh's team.'
Still is. Fine time to retell that. And today just happens to mark the 46th anniversary of the date the Penguins switched to black and gold to ensure we'd be the only city in North America where all the teams share the same first name, the same colors:
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
Which we still are, by the way.
There's never cause to apologize for civic pride, least of all when one of our own breaks down at being able to fill the ultimate Pittsburgh role.
• McCarthy's done nothing yet. Once he does, he'll deserve all the scrutiny that's standard with the job, same as Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll. But burying him in advance, based on a bad process for which he bears no responsibility, that's nonsensical.
• For example, I wasn't wild about McCarthy's response that he'd "definitely" welcome an Aaron Rodgers return. Fair point of criticism, I'd say. Not only because this franchise sorely needs to move forward at the most important position, but also because McCarthy himself, in this session, raised the importance of quarterback mobility.
• See? That was easy.
• With McCarthy calling his own offense, his coordinator -- or his passing/running game coordinators, depending on the staff structure -- had better be extreme eggheads when it comes to design. Because it's all they'll be doing.
• I'll go to bat for one current assistant coach: Eddie Faulkner's been superb with the running backs, all of them love him and, for good measure, Faulkner's own limited experience as offensive coordinator after Matt Canada's firing would help if he were to gain the additional title of running game coordinator.
• The NHL's hilariously named Department of Player Safety suspended Bryan Rust three games yesterday for no reason other than that the Canucks placed Brock Boeser on Injured Reserve. That's how George Parros and his crew roll. Never mind that Rust has zero record. Never mind that an additional contact with Boeser came from Rickard Rakell. Never mind that Boeser then fell forward into Sidney Crosby. Never mind that Boeser has, most unfortunately, a history of concussions. Just a joke.
• Rust's absence opens an opportunity not only on Sid's line but also on the No. 1 power-play unit, and I'd welcome seeing that filled by Egor Chinakhov. Maybe even in the bumper role that hasn't to date been a great fit for Rakell. The way Chinakhov can shoot, as well as his shiftiness, makes it worth a real try.
• Has Bob Nutting brought Andrew McCutchen back yet?
Don't forget: This is on him.
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