Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers are finalizing their coaching staff. While they’ve added some names and kept several coaches Mike Tomlin hired, they’ve still got some big holes to fill. One example is the offensive coordinator position. It’s been reported that the Steelers will interview New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien for the opening, and he recently shared his thoughts on getting this chance.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to go interview for one of these, that’s a really great growth opportunity,” Tolzien said Thursday at the Senior Bowl via video provided by Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle. “I’m lucky that I’m in the position that I enjoy where I’m at, things are going really good, and yet, you always see what’s out there.
“But my focus right now is on this game. It’s awesome being here with all these players and coaches. So, you wanna put your best foot forward with them and give it your best shot.”
It makes sense that Tolzien isn’t making too big a deal out of interviewing with the Steelers. There’s no telling if he’ll actually get the job, and he’s still a member of the Saints’ staff. Additionally, he’s the offensive coordinator for the American team at the Senior Bowl, so it isn’t surprising that most of his attention is there.
However, there are a lot of dots to connect between Tolzien and Mike McCarthy. First, Tolzien is a former NFL quarterback, and he played for McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers from 2013-2015. Then, McCarthy helped Tolzien get his start coaching in the NFL, hiring him to his staff when he became the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach.
McCarthy has already brought a few of his former coaches to Pittsburgh. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tolzien ultimately becomes the Steelers’ offensive coordinator.
While McCarthy already confirmed that he’ll be calling plays, it’s still important for the Steelers to bring on a good offensive coordinator. Having someone who can work with McCarthy to help the offense slow down for the players will be key.
Also, while Tolzien is still young in his coaching career, he’s shown a good ability to develop quarterbacks. This past season was his first with the Saints, and he helped rookie quarterback Tyler Shough put together a decent season.
Shough appeared in 11 games with nine starts, and he threw for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. For a Saints team that didn’t have a lot to cheer for, Shough had some nice moments.
Part of that is thanks to Tolzien. He could be a solid addition to a Pittsburgh staff that is looking for its next franchise quarterback. Finding their next Ben Roethlisberger is one of the Steelers’ top priorities. However, having a solid coaching staff in place should help whoever starts under center for the Steelers next year.