PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Their situations are not apples to apples, but if you thought, and almost everyone did, bringing Brian Flores on as a Steelers senior advisor was a no-brainer, why not do the same with Byron Leftwich.
There isn’t even any controversy of bringing aboard the man suing the NFL like you had with Flores last year. It just makes so much sense you hope the conversations already happened.
Familiarity
Leftwich played under different offensive coordinators back in his days with the Steelers, but the same head coach. If you are not familiar with Mike Tomlin’s fondness for Leftwich. This is what he said before playing Tampa Bay this year.
“You know when a guy has an aptitude to coach when you coach them,” Tomlin said about his coaching success. “I’ll just say this: I’m not surprised at all. He was always a global perspective dude. He could see from outside the helmet. He was a great idea guy. He’s a natural leader and communicator.”
He would compare him to the coaching successes of former players Larry Foote, Deshea Townsend and Nick Eason.
“It’s just good for the game, to have people that love that game and are as passionate about the game as they are involved in the game,” Tomlin said.
Picking the brain
If you would have seen Myles Jack’s face as he beamed about the addition of Flores and what he’s learned. TJ Watt discussed his impact. Just the other day on Cam Heyward’s podcast, Kenny Pickett referenced bouncing ideas off of Flores.
Imagine now-Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Matt Canada, Mike Sullivan, Tomlin all sitting down with Leftwich to learn some of the secrets of Tom Brady. To help Pickett understand what possibly the greatest of all time did to keep himself healthy, prepare for an opponent, adjust in-game.
Not to mention what Leftwich learned during his playing days from former coaches Bruce Arians, Mike McCoy, Hue Jackson, Todd Haley over the span of his career.
Canada’s not in a position to have an issue with a senior advisor much like Teryl Austin wasn’t last year. The Steelers historically have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the game, having a voice like the 43-year-old Leftwich makes a lot of sense.
Mentoring
While QB coach Sullivan has been around some great players and Canada recruited Pickett and led a record-setting Pitt season, Leftwich has been in that uniform. He can identify with the pressures of being a first-round pick quarterback like Pickett and Trubisky. He improved greatly his second season with the Jags in 2004, upping his touchdowns, lowering the interceptions and winning eight of 14 games started and the next season won eight of 11 started.
Like with Flores on the defensive side and how players said the room would be quiet to hear him talk and the buy-in to his message. These players were alive when Leftwich played, he brings immediate respect for that and coaching Brady.
Some things seem so obviously it goes without saying. Make Leftwich a one-year offer he can’t refuse.