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Tomlin makes coaching debut for Steelers

Sep 9, 2007 - 10:25 AM Pittsburgh (8-8) at Cleveland (4-12) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- For the first time in 16 years, there will be a new coach patrolling the sidelines for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mike Tomlin, the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator last season, makes his head coaching debut when the Steelers open their 75th season against the Cleveland Browns.

The 34-year-old Tomlin is the 16th coach in Steelers' history but only the third since 1969. He follows Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, both of whom won Super Bowls and became synonymous with success in the Steel City.

Cowher ended a 15-year run when he resigned in January, less than a year after guiding the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl title. Cowher compiled a 161-99-1 record in Pittsburgh.

Chosen over offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm, both longtime members of Cowher's staff, Tomlin had been the NFL's youngest coach until the Oakland Raiders tabbed 31-year-old Lane Kiffin.

With the Vikings, Tomlin directed a defense that ranked first against the run last year, yielding just 61.6 yards per game. However, Minnesota was 31st against the pass.

The Steelers are looking for a bounce-back season as they endured numerous injuries in their Super Bowl defense and managed only an 8-8 finish. The Steelers did win six of their last seven games to reach .500 after a 2-6 start.

Pittsburgh also is hoping for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to regain his form of two years ago. The youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, the Miami of Ohio product suffered a near-fatal motorcycle accident in June 2006 when he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Roethlisberger underwent seven hours of surgery after suffering multiple facial fractures. He also underwent emergency appendectomy surgery on September 3 and missed the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.

Despite his health issues, Roesthlisberger returned in Week Two and started the Steelers' last 15 games. Early in the season, he had trouble with interceptions, throwing 17 in his first nine starts. He improved in the second half, tossing only six in Pittsburgh's last six outings.

During the 2005 season, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to their first Super Bowl title in 26 years as a 23-year-old. Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl despite being the sixth seed in the AFC.

Cleveland has shown little progress under coach Romeo Crennel, who is beginning his third season. The team regressed last year, going 4-12 after winning six games in Crennel's first year.

The Browns hope Jamal Lewis, signed as a free agent in March, can boost a running game that ranked 31st last year. Charlie Frye begins the season as Cleveland's starting quarterback but rookie Brady Quinn could push for the job.

The Steelers have won seven straight against the Browns and are 14-2 against their division rivals since Cleveland returned to the NFL in 1999.