With Mike Tomlin as their head coach, no team may have more of an identity than the Steelers. You know they're always going to be a tough, physical team. Meanwhile, it seems like every season we're asking what the Cowboys' identity is. So what do you think it is for 2024? And what's it going to take to build the kind of long-term identity the Steelers have? – Mitchell Winters/Las Vegas, NV
Nick: They don't really have an identity other than a team that doesn't have one. Right now, nothing is that consistent other than having a stellar special teams. You can scoff at that, but with all of these close games, it's important to win the kicking game and field position. But really, I don't think a lot of teams have a true identity. You picked a team and franchise that never really changes coaches. The Steelers have always had that tough-mindset and Tomlin is a great coach for that team and city. But what's the Vikings' identity? What's the Broncos' identity? What about the 49ers, Chiefs or Eagles? I mean, they have way that they win but it's not always the same. To me, your identity should be a team that can in multiple ways. That's what you want to be successful in the regular season and the playoffs. Be able to win a shootout. Be able to win a defensive battle. Be able to pass, and run, and sometimes both. The Cowboys aren't that team right now but that's what a true identity should be. A team that doesn't really need one to win.
Patrik: They don't know what it is yet, so there's no way for anyone else to. In seasons past, it was either an explosive and high-flying offense carrying a struggling defense, or an explosive and high-flying defense carrying a struggling offense and/or a team that struggled to kick field goals to, now, a team that excels at kicking field goals. So maybe that's their current identity: Brandon Aubrey. That isn't to say the offense can't get going (I fully believe they can and will, if 2023 is any indication), but the defense is really up against it with injuries ti Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence impacting a defensive line that was already struggling against the run in September. So, yes, the Cowboys have established an identity in recent seasons, and I'm sure they will in this one as well, before it's all said-and-done but, as of right now, they're still trying to figure out what that might look like. As for establishing it longterm? Well, I'm thinking Tomlin being there for 17 seasons, and as a former mentee of Bill Cowher, who was there for roughly 16 seasons, has a lot to do with the differences between the two identities.
