PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he had no doubt offensive line coach Adrian Klemm would have finished the season focused on his Steelers duties, but said he still decided to make the move to allow him to leave immediately for a number of reasons.
"The move eliminates the potential of any distractions," Tomlin said Tuesday. "I had no reservations about Klemm's commitment, his willingness to work in detail. It's the potential perception, whether it's inside or outside. We want to eliminate any potential questions that may occur in that regard even before they develop."
"This is a critical stage of the season for us. This is a critical week. The road is extremely narrow. We are circling the wagons, that is one of the ways I thought it would be appropriate to do so in an effort to engineer victory this week and get singularly, collectively, professionally focused, from a perception standpoint as well."
Tomlin said coaching is changing every year and decisions are made earlier in the process and hires are happening faster than ever before. He said the money paid to college assistant coaches is much more competitive than it ever has been. Tomlin said it's a new landscape in that regard between pro and college assistants.
The evaluation of assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan as now acting head o-line coach has already begun. A 12-year veteran in the league, offensive lineman at Colorado and former Atlanta Falcons head offensive line coach, Tomlin called Morgan very credible. He said having Morgan as an assistant to Klemm allows him to have an intimate relationship as to what is happening with the other Steelers staff and players.
"I think it's a real good opportunity for me to gain some exposure and the potential of C-Mo, because he will be a candidate for the job," Tomlin said. "What better way to see what he is capable of that to allow him to do the job for the remaining portions of the season."
"I'm excited about the spin that his perspective will bring us. There is an increased opportunity there from a schematic and planning standpoint to have his presence felt."
As Tomlin evaluates Morgan over the next couple of weeks, he said of what he wants in future assistants.
"I talk about an honest day's work for an honest day's pay," Tomlin said. "That's what expected from me. I expect to give those guys an honest and fair wage and I expect to get all of them professionally. It really requires no additional discussions other than that."
"There is change that is a component of our vocation and those changes happen year-in and year-out. I don't fear those changes, it's a function of what we do at the highest level."
