I was watching television on Sunday night, and a commercial came on for the "Wizard of Oz". Then it struck me. This team needs a trip to see the Wizard. Right now they are playing with no heart, no courage, and no brains. Losing consecutive home games to the Browns, and the Bengals, is about as low as I have ever seen this franchise. They came out with no heart, and promptly allowed Cincinnati to score 3 plays into the game. They again took stupid penalties that made you wonder where their brains are. If they had any courage, they would have completed the comeback attempt.
They are as clueless as the "Scarecrow", as cowardly as the "Lion", and for a team supposedly made out of steel, they are as heartless as the "Tin Man".
Well Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man, that he didn't already have.
Enter Mike Tomczak. All of a sudden, the Receivers were open, the Offensive lineman were opening holes for the Running Backs, and the Tight End was catching the ball. The Defense even came to life. Is Tomczak the Wizard? No. He just gave the team what they already had. Cowher said the play calls didn't change with Mike at Quarterback. It was just the execution.
Obviously, it is time for Kordell to sit back and watch for a while. His on the job training wasn't working out. Mike Tomczak was asked- Do you think sitting and watching can help Kordell?: "It's worked for me. I've seen it work for Neil O'Donnell the year we went to the Super Bowl. I've seen it work with Jim McMahon, Don Majikowski. It stirs up the competitive juices. Sometimes the eye's a better teacher than the ear. If somebody sits you down and says, look at this, it might benefit you in the long run".
Well it better benefit in the long run, because like it or not, Kordell is the Quarterback. If they had lost all hope for him for the future, we would be seeing Pete Gonzalez, or Anthony Wright starting on Thursday against the Jags. Coach Cowher was asked if Kordell can recover from this. Cowhers reply- "Knowing the kid, yes".
In the meantime, everyone who has been crying for Kordell's return to "Slash", will get their wish. With the injuries to Will Blackwell, and Courtney Hawkins, Kordell will now be a Wide Receiver. It will probably do him a world of good to find out how the other half lives again. Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for the whole team.
With the playoffs out of reach, players such as Amos Zereoue, Malcolm Johnson, Joey Porter, Scott Shields, and possibly even Quarterbacks Gonzalez and Wright, could get some valuable playing time. Maybe these guys can be the spark to help recover the lost courage, brains, and heart. This team still has all the tools, they just need the Wizard to remind them that they already have what they're looking for.
Bill Cowher is the Wizard. As much as Bill Cowher rumors have been circulating lately, I still put all my faith, and hope in this team on his shoulders. I was extremely happy that he put an end to all speculation of his departure. He has 5 games remaining now to prove to his team, and the fans, that this truly is a great franchise. His benching of Kordell was the first, and very necessary step. If Kordell really does have what it takes to bounce back from his demotion, it will only benefit the team in the long run. Will Kordell be like Dorothy, and find his way back home?
Stay tuned.
by Steelergil (Nov. 29, 99)