Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin holds his weekly press conferences every Tuesday. Each week, we will take a glimpse at what stood out from coach’s comments about the previous week and heading into the Steelers next game.

Opening Statement:

Good afternoon, I’ll use this setting to kind of talk about a few specific things. Some of it usual business. Some of it somewhat new obviously under the circumstances. I’ll start with a quick review of Sunday’s performance. I thought it was a great team win for us for a very few specific reasons. I thought it gave opportunity to some guys that haven’t had substantial roles in in-stadium environments to contribute in big ways, to put their hand in the pile and contribute to a win for us. And I think that is good for teams.

I thought it was a great opportunity for Landry [Jones] to lead us at the quarterback position. I thought that he met that challenge but also, I thought other guys took advantage of the opportunity. I thought Stevan Ridley took advantage of his opportunity. He is new to us. He is getting acclimated to our environment and working his way into game-like condition and the only way to get in that type position is to play. Sunday provided the opportunity for him to do that. I was pleased with what he was able to provide us.

Guys like Matt [Feiler] getting the opportunity to start in the offensive line I thought was significant. On the defensive side of the ball, it might not be new faces but it is opportunity. We are still working through our division of labor in terms of the replacement of Ryan Shaizer and the multiple people that are involved in that and finding comfort with that labor. Whether is it individual people, L.J. Fort continuing to grow as a defender or different sub-packages like we had a seven-defensive back sub-package with Cam Sutton in the game in different moments. We are still working through some things there and growing as a football team and in those areas, I thought it was positive.

Obviously, we got some splash in the kicking game and in some areas where we haven’t gotten splash. Not only in terms of Sunday but I think in recent weeks. I think that JuJu [Smith-Schuster] has done a nice job in the kick return game. Coming back, his progress had been slow, really largely over the course of the year through a myriad of nagging injuries and so forth that limited his growth and development there. But there was splash play and one that we know he is a capable of. It’s good to get it on tape.

Eli Rogers, I think continues to grow and provide solid play for us at the punt return position. I think that was highlighted really in Houston but I like the overall trajectory of those things. I thought it was significant for us to be able to go 6-0 in AFC North football. You know what our goals are, as a football team, those remain unchanged. But if you are going to be dominate in the National Football League, you have to dominate your division first and that is important. That was a very upfront goal that we had and it was great to be able to get that accomplished.

Had a few injuries to talk about. One in-game, B.J. Finney. He had an ankle injury that he was able to come back from then he had a quad injury that he wasn’t. Probably a combination of the two. If I had to characterize his status this week I would characterize it as questionable. I saw him this morning, no way can you count B.J. Finney out. I saw Antonio Brown this morning also. His progress is going well. His rehab, if we were playing a game this week, you could characterize him as questionable as well. So, not a lot of other people to talk about and that is a good thing.

Now we transition our efforts to how we are going to utilize this week and this time. Really it is very specific, in all three areas of our game we want to address known issues, areas where we consistently fall short, and identifying those areas first and then working out a plan of action in terms of minimizing some of those things. We’ll continue to find increased clarity in terms of division of labor in all three areas. Whether it is specialized or unspecialized, I think that is always a great opportunity to analyze who we are asking to do what and is it appropriate. Should we look at other candidates, etc. always during this time when you get bye opportunity we look at some of tendency-related things. Some schematic things a lot those same lines in an effort to stay in front of the posy.

Lastly, one of the most important things we’ll do, we’ll continue to talk about technique and skill development relative to our positions. Working in those areas, using on field time to work in those areas per our positions in all three phases. It is our desire to continue to be a team on the rise as the road gets narrow and the only way that we do that is that we grow. We grow in understanding, we grow in technique, we grow in execution, and so that is where we will utilize our time this week as we prepare for the next time we walk into a stadium.

Have you spent any time game-planning for the three possible opponents?

We probably wouldn’t even if we hadn’t but the fact that we’ve seen the possibilities obviously creates a level of comfort and at least understand that next week we will be working towards something that is somewhat familiar in the 2017 season sense. But I think it is appropriate at this time when you aren’t playing anyone to maximize this opportunity that we have to focus on ourselves. Things that we do well, things that we do not do well. How we can grow individually and collectively so that will be the overall trajectory of our focus this week.

How did this bye week differ from the bye week during the season?

I don’t know that it does. When you look at it from that perspective we are simply analyzing what we’ve done, who we’ve done it with and making thoughtful decisions as we move forward in those areas. So, in terms of a mentality in which we approach the work, very similar. The work itself obviously where we are in the journey is no longer a 32-team league. It is a 12-team league. Some of indifferences lie in that as well.

You’ve faced four AFC teams that will play postseason games this year. Can you characterize the depth of talent in the AFC right now?

It’s the playoffs. They’re all quality teams. I’d probably say that in any year. We’ve had some exposure to some of the top-notch teams, not only in the AFC, but we’ve seen the Vikings as well. So, you’re comfortable in that. You know that you’ve been in some in-stadium environments against some of the people who are in the tournament, so you’ve got first-hand knowledge maybe about how you match up. But I’m sure all of the other 11 teams would say the same thing, too. When you get to this point in the journey, it’s less about who you play and more about how you play. And, so with respect to that, we respect everyone who’s in the field. We don’t take it for granted. We understand that it’s going to be challenging, but our energy is on where it should be and that’s on us.

What’s your comfort level with compensating for the absence of Ryan Shazier and the process of filling that role?

I’m very comfortable with the process and acknowledge that is has been and probably will continue to be an ongoing one relative to the matchups within the stadiums that we walk into. Ryan [Shazier] is that dynamic of a player. He’s an all-situations guy, and sometimes the people you replace him with are not all-situations people. So, one week’s adjustments might be different than the next week’s adjustments. I am increasingly comfortable with defining what that is and going through the process of selecting the ways in which we’re going to make the necessary plays to occupy his space. It may be different every week, obviously, because of the challenges mentioned.

Without a handful of players playing, is there a concern about rust?

There are always things capable of concerning you this time of year. You’re capable of being concerned about rust. You’re capable of being concerned about injury if we had to play a game this week. So, I prefer the rust part of the equation. We get an automatic pass to the second round and get to do so with all the people on our roster. So, we’ll deal with the rust element of it. We’ll work and prepare and hopefully get better in the process.

In your experience, is rust a real thing?

The question is a real thing. I’m used to the question. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the question because the scenario of the variables surrounding the question are good for us. I’m not overly concerned about it to be honest with you.

If there is a rust factor, is it more likely to affect a skill position guy than a lineman?

I’m not acknowledging that it is to be honest with you. I don’t buy into it. We’ve been playing ball since July every day. We’ll be fine.

Have the Steelers granted permission for Mike Munchak to interview with the Cardinals or maybe with anybody else?

We have and we will. There are a lot of things that get done this time of year, particularly for teams in our position, and that’s one of them. That’s the fruit of the labor if you will. We’re not going to be resistant to that. We’re going to be supportive of that and do what’s appropriate.

They can do that this week, correct?

Correct.

Does it have to be here?

I’m not sure of any of the perimeters to be honest with you. I’m just talking about my and our mentality regarding it.

After the game Cameron Heyward said he was very comfortable entering the playoffs as the two-seed and maybe even preferred it. What do you think about being there?

I’m just glad we have a seat at the table, and I’m sure Cam [Heyward] is, too. He’ll dress that seed up in any way he can because that’s what we are.

Some players said they’ve been in the playoffs before but never had a first-round bye. Do you have to be cognizant of that?

No.

Ben Roethlisberger said today that he wants another crack at Jacksonville. Does that matter to you?

We have no control over who we play going into the next round. We better be ready for whoever it is. That’s my mentality.

Did you try to make the schedule this week as close to a normal schedule as possible?

The structure in which we work – I think it’s good to have continuity in that area, rhythm. Guys know what time their cars need to pull up in that lot etc., what time we’ll be walking through those doors to take the field. What we do will be very specific to our given state and what we are, but the structure in which we work, I did strive for continuity in those areas.

Have you been contacted about any of your other assistants?

I have not, no.

How big of a pickup was Joe Haden? What has that allowed you to do defensively?

Joe’s [Haden] really good, man. We can spend a lot of time talking about how significant his addition is, but I think the thing that probably stands out to me and probably stands out to his teammates is the teammate that he is. We knew he was a quality player. We knew that before we acquired him. It’s played out in games, on playing fields and so forth. But he’s a quality guy. He’s a good teammate. He’s good to the younger guys in his position. He’s a positive energy-bringer. He’s a lot of things that you didn’t know as well that are really positive, so we’ll spend a lot of time in the future talking about how significant that pickup was I’m sure.

 

Transcript provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers