Nov 12, 2014 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – Remember the old saying about fury and women scorned?

In the NFL, the same could be said about fired coaches.

On Monday, when the Steelers (6-4) travel to Tennessee to face the Titans (2-7), it will be a strange day for Pittsburgh offensive line coach Mike Munchak.

Munchak joined the Steelers for this season, after spending the previous 32 years of his life as a Hall of Fame player and then coach with Tennessee, and sticking with the team through its move from Houston to Nashville, Tenn. He was Tennessee’s head coach in his final three seasons there before being fired after compiling a 22-26 record.

“I think the biggest thing for Coach Munch this week is to make sure he goes to the right locker room,” joked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “If he goes to the wrong one, we’re in trouble. You could tell today that he’s got a little extra in him. We want to win this game for everybody. But it would be kind of special for him to go there and get a win.”

After losing to the New York Jets last week in a game the Steelers turned the ball over four times, any little motivation could help.

So too would any inside information Munchak might be able to provide.

“With Coach Munchak here, we will get a little insight into some of their people,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

Though the coaching staff and offensive and defensive systems are totally different now for the Titans, many of the same players are there.

In that sense, Munchak can be a huge help. Much the same way that poker players look for signs that an opposing player is bluffing or has a good hand, teams look for little signs from upcoming opponents in football.

“He does all of that with us every week,” said Steelers offensive lineman Cody Wallace. “But he knows the guys individually, so he’s able to tell us. Instead of just picking stuff up off of film, he can tell you what a guy’s probably really thinking, so that’s always helpful.”

Anything that can be used as an advantage can be critical, from the way a defensive lineman wiggles his fingers when he’s going with a certain move or from the way an offensive lineman sets up in a subtle way differently when he’s pass blocking as opposed to when he’s run blocking.”

Two weeks ago when the Steelers played the Baltimore Ravens, former NFL receiver and current television analyst Chris Collingsworth spoke to Steelers receiver Antonio Brown about how Brown seemed to adjust his gloves at the line of scrimmage when he was going to run a pass route, but didn’t do that when the team was going to run the ball.

When asked about the tip, Brown laughed it off, saying that teams, “still had to stop him from catching the ball,” whether they knew a pass was coming or not.

But those little signs can give a winning edge.

Wallace came to the Steelers last year after spending 2012 with Tampa Bay. Ironically, his only start this season came against the Bucs.

“They probably knew I was starting that week and knew a little inside scoop about me, moves to use against me and stuff,” Wallace said. “It works both ways.”

But any edge they can get from Munchak could be a positive for the Steelers, especially for a team that has struggled on the road this season. Pittsburgh is just 2-3 and has won just two times in 10 games in Tennessee.

“I’m sure he wants it pretty bad. I’m sure he does,” said Steelers guard David DeCastro. “It’s very natural.”

Steelers cornerback William Gay was named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year for his off-field work. Gay’s mother was killed in a domestic violence incident when he was a child and he does extensive work with domestic violence groups. … Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is sixth in the NFL in Pro Bowl voting – and second at running back behind DeMarco Murray of Dallas – with just over 210,000 votes. … Brown is seventh overall and leads all wide receivers in early voting with just over 200,000 votes. … Linebacker Jarvis Jones, who remains on injured reserve but with a designation to return because of a wrist injury, said he plans on returning to practice after the Steelers’ bye in two weeks.