Tomlin Has Steelers Attention

Mike Tomlin came to the Pittsburgh Steelers unproven as a head coach, untested as a leader and, at 34, younger than some players in the NFL.

After five weeks, the only thing that remains the same is that he’s younger than a handful of players. On the field, he has guided the Steelers to a 4-1 start and has made it obvious that he has what it takes to coach at the highest level.

Tomlin, now 35, second only to Lane Kiffin of the Oakland Raiders on the list of the NFL’s youngest head coaches, had perhaps the finest moment in his brief tenure Sunday when he coaxed a 21-0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks out of his injury-depleted team.

Safety Troy Polamalu and nose tackle Casey Hampton, the Steelers’ only Pro Bowl selections last season, were out with injuries, yet Pittsburgh still managed a shutout against a good offense.

Steelers wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward were also out, but Pittsburgh still managed to control the game with its offense and had possession for 40 minutes 45 seconds.

“They showed their character today,” Tomlin said of the Steelers. “It is something that I knew we had. It was a total team effort. They remained unwavered in the face of adversity. They stuck together. They delivered. The things that we talked about since Day 1, they displayed today. As a coach, you feel good when you see that.”

Full Story: At 35, Tomlin has the Steelers’ attention - [LA Times]