Coaching matchup: Tomlin vs. Childress
Saturday, October 24, 2009 11:01 PM PDT
ST. PAUL (AP)— Mike Tomlin spent only one season in Minnesota as defensive coordinator of the Vikings before his surprise hiring to run the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yet Tomlin still managed to forge some substantial connections in the nine months he was there, and Vikings defenders are looking forward to seeing their former leader when they roll into Pittsburgh on Sunday.
‘‘I know for a lot of guys it’s going to be exciting just because he had something to do with bringing some of us in here and he was our defensive coordinator,’’ cornerback Cedric Griffin said. ‘‘It’s going to be exciting to play against him.’’
Tomlin was a little-known secondary coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Vikings coach Brad Childress hired him to run the defense in his first year in Minnesota. The players quickly took to the young, engaging and energetic coach, and the Vikings finished eighth in total defense in 2006.
‘‘The nine months that he was here with us, just the interaction, telling us to play hard and play tough all the time,’’ Griffin said. ‘‘He was always in our ear. He definitely had a big influence in some of us.’’
The Steelers visited Minnesota in the preseason last year, but this is the first real game Tomlin will have against his former team. There are plenty of players still on the roster from his lone year in Minnesota, even though Tomlin said, ‘‘it feels like a long time since I have been there.’’
The Rooney family surprised many by hiring an assistant with just one year of coordinating experience to take over one of the league’s flagship franchises.
But he hasn’t been a disappointment, leading the Steelers to two AFC North titles in his two seasons and the Super Bowl title last year.
That comes as no surprise to those in Minnesota.
Childress has watched with pride as his former assistant has enjoyed so much success, and the two occasionally exchange text messages and phone calls. Childress has sported a thick beard this season, and Tomlin texted him recently saying he approved.
‘‘I said, ’Yeah, well if you are doing this at 53 years old it will look salt-and-pepperish like this and with no hair as well,’’’ the follically challenged Childress quipped. ‘‘Because his (hair line) is heading back. He gave me the ’laugh out loud’ deal.’’
Childress has been impressed by how quickly Tomlin has gotten such a storied franchise to adopt his principles.
‘‘He has done a wonderful job of getting his style in there and his leadership,’’ Childress said.
The respect is mutual.
‘‘Brad has been a good friend to me and I will always appreciate the opportunity that he afforded me,’’ Tomlin said.
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SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Lost in the 48-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints was a record-setting performance by Domenik Hixon of the Giants.
The receiver-returnman had 303 total yards in breaking Joe Scott’s 61-year-old franchise record by 24 yards.
Hixon had 230 yards on seven kickoff returns, including a 68-yarder and a 45-yarder to set up a touchdown and field goal, respectively. He returned two punts for 27 and 24 yards, with the latter setting up another score. Hixon also caught three passes for 22 yards.
According to the Giants, he was the first player to gain at least 300 yards in a game since Arizona’s Steve Breaston had 324 yards on Sept. 28, 2008.
Scott, a halfback who played from 1948-53, set the team record on Nov. 14, 1948 in a 52-37 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at the Polo Grounds. He gained most of his yards on kickoff returns (207). He also had 22 yards rushing, 35 receiving and 15 after fielding laterals.
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FAN FRUSTRATION: Clinton Portis finds it difficult to mingle among the public these days.
With the Washington Redskins at 2-4 despite a very weak schedule, Portis is sensing the anger and frustration everywhere he goes.
‘‘I don’t think this is the time you want to be out in public talking football,’’ Portis said.
