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.

Good afternoon. As always, I’ll quickly outline the last performance. It has been a number of days so probably not as much detail. I thought the significant element of the game on defense, I thought that we settled down quickly after not starting in the manner of which we would like.

I thought that was a significant component of the game for us in that phase. They were able to drive down the field, some of it due to our negligence, some of it obviously due to their sharp planning and execution. But I thought we were able to gather ourselves after that drive and make whatever adjustments needed to be made and then go on from there. I thought the significant element of offensive play was that we didn’t warm up to the action. That we came out firing and I just think that as you watch the landscape of football in 2018, there is not a lot of opportunity to warm up to it.

Playing on Thursday kind of gives you that vantage point. You get to sit back and watch weekend football and in 2018, warming up to the action offensively is not helpful to the cause. People are scoring and scoring quickly, and they are gaining control of games because of it and you are limited in ways in which you can attack people when you warm up to it. You put yourself in game circumstances that allow you to free-will in the ways that allow you to maintain balance and be unpredicting and control games. I thought our ability to start fast was significant as well. We had a splash play on special teams, we are always looking to gain a possession or gain the field positioning advantage in that phase of game. [Chris] Boswell was perfect on kicks and that is significant, obviously.

So, there is a lot of positivity to build upon but always there is some negativity, too. When you win you don’t spend time, at least in these settings, talking about it but we do in terms of the analysis of play. We’ll do that with the guys, we’ll learn with some of negativity for the sole purposes of increasing our chances of winning next time out. We have some work to do continually there.

Injury updates

On the injury front, James Conner is still in the concussion protocol, not that is a negative, part of getting out of the protocol is physical labor. We haven’t worked. He’ll be given an opportunity to work tomorrow and I think it will lay all of those discussions to bed.

[Stephon] Tuitt has an elbow that could limit him at the early portions of the week. Marcus Gilbert is still working his way back from his knee injury and as always participation will be our guide in terms of his availability or potential availability.

Looking ahead to Jacksonville

Now moving forward to Jacksonville. This is a rough and tumble outfit. They play a certain brand of football, one that we expect and obviously going into their venue presents some challenges for us.

If you look at probably the reasons why they are not having the success this year that they had last year can be measured almost exclusively in the turnover ratio. I think to this point they are minus 11. They haven’t taken care of the ball as well in 2017.

Leonard Fournette has missed a significant amount of time and I think when you lose your feature runner, particularly one of his caliber, it affects you and it affects you in negative ways. I think that is one of the ways they have been affected by it. Obviously, they have [Leonard] Fournette back now. They got him back last week. You felt his contributions in that area in terms of their ability to take care of the ball up until the last drive.

I thought they did a much better job at securing the ball. He is central to that because of the way that he plays, the style of play, the way that he is capable of weighing a defense down over the course of a game and controlling the pace and making sure they are in manageable third downs, which is what he does. It allows T.J. Yeldon to be the formable third down back that he is. He’s got over 40 receptions on the year. With Fournette back he can focus exclusively on some of those responsibilities and he’s excelled at that to this point.

Anyway, even while maintaining the featured ball carrier’s role, so those are the things that are challenging. They turned the ball over some, they got Fournette back, they turned it over less with him in there. We should anticipate them being a difficult nut to crack in that regard and when they are, when they take care of the ball, they move fluently. They stay on schedule. They are a tough offensive nut to crack.

The pocket movements are exceptional. I think Nathaniel Hackett, their offensive coordinator, does an awesome job of keeping people off-balance but again Fournette is central to that. [Dede] Westbrook, and [D.J.] Chark Jr. and [Keelan] Cole and others in their receiving core, they do a good job of getting vertically down the field in the play-action pass game. We have to keep a lid on it. When we are playing good densely it’s because we’re keeping a lid on it. When we are not, it’s because we are not, so we have to work to keep a lid on it while trying to minimize Fournette’s impact on the game so that’s going to be a significant challenge.

On the other side of the ball they are still arguably still the very best defense in football. They are number three, I think, overall. They are number one versus the pass, they do not give up big plays. We’re playing well offensively when we are getting big plays. They specialize in minimizing big plays.

Hunting big plays versus these guys, you do so at a risk because their rush is so formable. With guys up front like 91 [Yannick Ngakoue], 93 [Calais Campbell] and 97 [Malik Jackson] and they are like other 4-3 teams. They run a lot of guys at you, high pedigree guys, guys that they picked up in free agency and so forth that are capable of changing the climate. As you hunt big plays these guys impact the game in a negative way in terms of sacks, fumbles, and so forth. We have experienced some of that in the past against them.

They have quality people at all levels of defense. Their linebacker group with [Telvin] Smith, and [Myles] Jack can really run. Their speed shows up in all elements of play and in the secondary led by [Jalen] Ramsey, again I mentioned they are number one against the pass, so we have a significant challenge. We have to work to create turnovers. We have to work our tails off to take care of the football, I think that’s a significant subplot in the matchup.

I know it has been in our shared history with these guys, and it has been a part of their recent past history, so I’m sure they are working hard in that area as well. We are excited about the challenges every week that the National Football League presents us. This is no different and so we roll our sleeves up and get back to work tomorrow with our guys in preparation for Sunday’s opportunity.

Has anything changed with Art Rooney II’s comments on Le’Veon Bell that he expects him to be here this week?

No.

Have you had any communicating with Le’Veon Bell this season?

No.

What is your reaction if he missed the entire season?

I have no reaction. I’ve told you guys and I’ve told you guys consistently, a reaction comes from me if and when he walks in the door. Until that happens I am business as usual with folks that are here and working and appropriately so. That way I do not waste my time and theirs.

What if he never walks through the door?

So be it.

Do you feel better in terms of depth at the running back position than you have been in other seasons?

I am not drawing comparisons to other seasons. I do not do that. I am singularly focused on this group and the challenges that lie ahead with this group. The running back room is a group that we have been working with since we checked into Latrobe so there is no adjustment. There is no alternate of feelings or thoughts regarding addressing the challenges that our schedule holds for us as we move forward. There is none.

How do you feel about Jaylen Samuels and the progress he has made?

I like his arrow as being continually as pointed up, but we expect that from him and all of the rookies, to be quite honest with you. He’s met that element of the challenge. He’s been a positive contributor to our efforts. It’s showing on teams, it needs to continue to be shown on teams, and obviously in recent weeks when given an opportunity to touch the ball it’s shown some of offense as well.

Have you ever had a player not respond to you when you reached out to him?

Yes.

So it’s not unusual in your mind at all?

I didn’t say it wasn’t unusual. You asked me had it happened before. I said yes.

Do you feel like it’s unusual?

Under the circumstances, no. I understand that business is an element of the game of football, and there are elements of the game, relationships within the game, football-related relationships that we all hold near and dear and understand and then football at this level, there’s also the business element. Even when we don’t understand it, we’re sensitive to it, so we’re not shocked when things happen from a business standpoint, no.

Re: If the talk about Le’Veon Bell is a shadow over all the things the team has accomplished so far this season:

I don’t know that I’m looking to measure anything that we’ve done this far. I’m just trying to meet the challenges that this League provides us week-in and week-out, so I don’t share that sentiment, no.

Re: Wrestling between the front office and coaching:

There’s nothing to wrestle.

Are you looking forward to it being over with after today?

I’m sure that you guys will find a reason to bring it up and continue to rehash it in some form of fashion even after today, so it’s just part of just being us on this journey. I think we’ve all gotten extremely comfortable with that element of it in regards to how we function and us. That train has left the station.

We’re comfortable with how we function, the people at our disposal, the division of labor and our ability to ready ourselves for the challenges. The few unpleasant moments that we have to deal with you guys week-in and week-out, that comes with the job. We embrace that, we except that, we don’t run from that because we’re professionals.

So are you expecting him or not?

I don’t know that I have any expectation. I don’t know if I’ve ever had any expectation because that’s just a waste of my time.

If Le’Veon doesn’t show up today, could he still have a future with the Steelers?

Man, I haven’t thought about that one iota. Again, like I’ve said repeatedly, and I mean, I’m focused on the guys that are here. We have enough challenges that are significant in terms of meeting the things that we need to meet this week in terms of getting a win.

Having just said that, did you have to spend any time as a staff figuring out how you’d work Le’Veon in if he did arrive?

No, because that is a waste of time. We’ve been focused on the variables that are in our control and that’s the people who are here working. But I’ve stated that to you guys. I think you guys don’t believe that I mean it. I do.

How beneficial was it to the other backs to get significant reps when James Conner exited on Thursday night?

We intended to utilize all backs. We said that prior to the game. We did prior to James’ injury, so there was no adjustment or anything. That was part of our plan to be honest with you. I don’t know how much James would have played beyond what he played anyway.

Conner went back in the game after getting tested in the tent. Did concussion symptoms reoccur?

I don’t have the intimate details. I’m not a doctor or a medical professional. I just lean on their expertise. When he’s available to me, I use him. When he’s not, I don’t.

Re: Do you think Ben Roethlisberger cares about Jalen Ramsey comments about him?

You can answer that.

Why have you been more effective scoring touchdowns in the red zone this year?

I don’t necessarily know other than execution. I know we spend a lot of time planning in that area, but we’ve generally always spent a lot of time planning in that area. The guys are executing extremely well and it starts with No. 7. He’s been outstanding.

Has there been a change in mindset about running the ball a little more inside the 5-yard line instead of spreading it out?

I haven’t studied that analytically, so I don’t know the answer to that. I just know that we’re scoring and that’s important.

Was there any consideration of not putting Conner back in the game because the score was so lopsided?

At what point are you talking about?

In the second half, third quarter towards the end when you guys were already up by a significant margin in the game.

I don’t know what portion of the game you’re talking about, but to be honest with you, when he was available to us, we used him. when he wasn’t, we didn’t.

After the tent is all I mean.

Again, I’m watching the action going on, on the field. I don’t know when that occurred. That’s what I mean when I say I lean on the expertise of the medical professionals.

Re: Jacksonville having injuries on the offensive line. What have you seen from Jacksonville’s offensive line going into your game on Sunday?

I think they had some injuries along the front also last year. I think the center that’s scheduled to start against us started against us last year, so I don’t know how significant that is. I think that [Leonard] Fournette is a significant element of it. When you start talking about a top-five draft talent that has the playing demeanor and the run demeanor that he has, that’s significant.

What makes Jalen Ramsey so unique?

His talents. He’s long, he’s fast, he’s combative. His above the neck game and feel for the passing game is excellent. He’s physical. People often forget that this guy was probably the best safety prospect in the draft as well when he came out, and that just speaks to his talent level and how immense it is.

Re: Keys to the run defense improving from the beginning of the season to now:

I just think it’s continually getting better every day and not only what we’re doing, but how and what it is individuals are doing fits within the bigger scheme of things. I’ve said that repeatedly and I know it sounds cliché, but it all shapes up into being more consistent and more consistency allows you to have less breakout runs which brings your average down, increases opportunities for splash. I think we’re better in all areas, and I think that that’s what’s creating it.

Has Jon Bostic been central to that?

He’s been a component of it. To say he’s central to it would be a stretch, but stretch away.

You’re 14-1-1 in your last 16 road games. Is there anything you can point to that makes this team that good on the road?

Nothing other than, I think that, and again, I don’t paint with a broad brush over 2017 and things of that nature – I just stick with this group – but each passing week they’ve been showing an increasing ability to get singularly focused. And I’m looking for that to continue when they walk in the door tomorrow. That allows you to roll out a consistent effort, and usually that give you a chance to be successful and win and that’s what we’re hunting.

Re: Le’Veon Bell and Mike Mitchell “looking beyond the Jaguars” last year. Is that anything you have to address with this group now, or do you not have to because those guys are gone?

Not because those guys are gone. It’s just a different group. This is a different year. We don’t tote the luggage.

Did Le’Veon Bell at any point during the calendar year give you an indication that he was going to play this season?

Man, I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that. I just don’t remember to be quite honest with you.

Do you feel that James Conner’s production is a reflection of what Le’Veon bell has done?

I have no idea. They’re two different individuals. I’m proud of what James is doing or has done and the work that he’s put in. I’ll leave that to you guys.

Transcript provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers