How much of a factor will be that Ken Whisenhunt (1 Viewer)

[SuperJohn96]

Ken Whisenhunt

2001-2003: Pittsburgh Steelers (tight ends coach)

2004-2006: Pittsburgh Steelers (offensive coordinator)

I was just thinking of Gruden's coaching the Bucs and their dismantling the Raiders.

Whenever I heard interviews (on either side) the common thread was the Tampa Bay Defense played like they were in the Raiders huddle on most every play.

That's Gruden's influence, no doubt.

Obviously this is different, as Gruden was the HC and faced his old team the very next year, but it's not THAT different.

If the Arizona defense can continue to generate turnovers and play against Big Ben and the Steelers offense like they have the last three games, a big part of that success in the Super Bowl would have to be attributed at least in some part, to Whisenhunt's time in Pittsburgh.

Oh, and someone else refresh my memory...how did it happen that Ken went to Arizona and Tomlin ended up in Pittsburgh. Were they both considered for the Pitt HC job?

 

[Bayhawks]

Ken Whisenhunt2001-2003: Pittsburgh Steelers (tight ends coach)2004-2006: Pittsburgh Steelers (offensive coordinator)I was just thinking of Gruden's coaching the Bucs and their dismantling the Raiders.Whenever I heard interviews (on either side) the common thread was the Tampa Bay Defense played like they were in the Raiders huddle on most every play.That's Gruden's influence, no doubt.Obviously this is different, as Gruden was the HC and faced his old team the very next year, but it's not THAT different.If the Arizona defense can continue to generate turnovers and play against Big Ben and the Steelers offense like they have the last three games, a big part of that success in the Super Bowl would have to be attributed at least in some part, to Whisenhunt's time in Pittsburgh.Oh, and someone else refresh my memory...how did it happen that Ken went to Arizona and Tomlin ended up in Pittsburgh. Were they both considered for the Pitt HC job?

It's not the same as Gruden, b/c the Oakland Raiders were using virtually the same offense as the Raiders had under Gruden-that's why they had such an advantage. The Steelers offense is much different than it was under Whisenhunt. They have gotten away from the run, and Ben is given much more latitude to make calls/audibles. In addition, I believe that Callahan was a coach under Gruden (is that right?), and therefore, Gruden had much more knowledge of his coaching style/philosophy than Whisenhunt would have of Tomlin's. Finally, the Defense in Pittsburgh is the real driving force behind Pittsburgh this year, and while Whisenhunt may be familiar with LeBeau's coaching syle, I don't think he will be able to completely out-coach him.

 

[Pskov1420]

Oh, and someone else refresh my memory...how did it happen that Ken went to Arizona and Tomlin ended up in Pittsburgh. Were they both considered for the Pitt HC job?

By my recollection, Wisenhunt was considered by the media to be the favorite for the job but the Steelers interviewed Tomlin in order to comply with the Rooney rule and found they preferred him instead.As to the onld team factor I think it is not too important. New head coach, new staff and a lot of player turnover since then mean that whilst Wisenhunt may have some small advantage it will probably be overblown by the media in the run up. It's very different from the Gruden scenario when the team and the scheme was essentially exactly the same, he basically had the Raider playbook on the sideline with him in that game.

 

[Black]

I was hoping for a PIT ARI Superbowl for this precise reason.

I don't think there's any antagonism, but am sure Wisenhunt felt a bit slighted not getting the HC job in PIT.

Also, with such a recent history, he should have an advantage in game planning.

 

[SuperJohn96]

Oh, and someone else refresh my memory...how did it happen that Ken went to Arizona and Tomlin ended up in Pittsburgh. Were they both considered for the Pitt HC job?

By my recollection, Wisenhunt was considered by the media to be the favorite for the job but the Steelers interviewed Tomlin in order to comply with the Rooney rule and found they preferred him instead.As to the ond team factor I think it is not too important. New head coach, new staff and a lot of player turnover since then mean that whilst Wisenhunt may have some small advantage it will probably be overblown by the media in the run up. It's very different from the Gruden scenario when the team and the scheme was essentially exactly the same, he basically had the Raider playbook on the sideline with him in that game.

I believe Tomlin retained most of Cowher's coaching staff...and the roster has not changed much. The O-Line has 4/5 starters different, WR2 (Holmes) and 2 LB positions (Woodley/Harrison).

PS - 2006 Steelers (2008 Steelers)QB - Ben RoethlisbergerRB - Willie ParkerFB - Dan KreiderWR - Hines WardWR - Cedrick Wilson (Santonio Holmes*)TE - Heath MillerT  - Marvel Smith (Willie Colon*) G  - Alan Faneca (Chris Kemoeatu*)C  - Jeff Hartings (Justin Hartwig)G  - Kendall Simmons (Darnell Stapleton)T  - Max StarksDE - Aaron SmithNT - Casey HamptonDE - Brett KeiselLB - Clark Haggans (LaMarr Woodley)LB - James FarriorLB - Larry FooteLB - Joey Porter (James Harrison*) CB - Ike TaylorCB - Deshea TownsendSS - Troy PolamaluFS - Ryan ClarkK  - Jeff ReedP  - Chris Gardocki (Mitch Berger)PR - Santonio Holmes (Mewelde Moore)KR - Najeh Davenport (Mewelde Moore)* indicates player as being on the 2006 roster (just not as a starter)

 

[SuperJohn96]

Peter King comments on this in his MMQB from today:

Ken Whisenhunt is coaching against the Steelers in the Super Bowl. How sweet it is.

To refresh, when the Steelers made the very bold pick of a 34-year-old, one-year defensive coordinator, Tomlin, to succeed Bill Cowher, they left two longtime and loyal Steelers offensive assistants, Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, out of luck. Whisenhunt got hired by the Cardinals as the head coach, and he took Grimm with him to be the Cards assistant head coach.

Now it's the man the Rooney family picked, Tomlin, against the two they spurned, Whisenhunt and Grimm.

I got Whisenhunt on the phone as he watched the final minute of the Steelers' win. He didn't pour any fuel on the fire, but it was clear that making the Super Bowl as a head coach is the sundae, and facing the Steelers in it the cherry on top. "It's personally going to be very meaningful to me facing the Steelers,'' he said. "I'm here because of the training I got there. That's a great football team. I'm proud of the guys we coached there. I'm proud of Ben and how he's grown. It's really going to be a lot of fun.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...uperbowl/1.html

 

[Ghost Rider]

Roethlisberger's best statistical season in the NFL so far was in 2007, and his worst game of the season was against the Cardinals, in a game the Steelers lost 21-14. Just something to think about...

 

[bcr8f]

I think he instilled a lot of toughness into this team. As for beating the Steelers because he was an assistant I'm not sure about that.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I think it will have a good effect on game plan.

Callahan didnt adjust at all and his team got throttled.

With 2 weeks I think Pitt will be smart enough to change it up.