Mike Tomlin reviews Steelers bounce back against the Titans

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on August 27, 2018

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held a postgame press conference following Saturday’s preseason game against the Titans. Here’s a look at the coach’s comments about the the game.

Opening statement

It’s a nice conclusion to what has been a good week. We went through a mock week from a preparation standpoint, game planning, division of labor. Not in its complete totality but the semblance of it, in terms of the structure of our days and so forth. So, we measure the quality of weeks by the end results, so we got the job done with the win. Good week from that perspective. We’ll obviously continue to review, learn, and continue to push this group toward the regular season.

We realize that we are 90 trying to become 53. I appreciate the efforts of a lot of guys out there. The quality of work of a lot of guys out there. I encourage all of these guys to lean in at the tape and we’ve had some quality work. We’ve had great competition as we walk out of this locker room and go into our last week. It’s important that everybody gives themselves the very best opportunity to make it, to put their best foot forward, and continue to fight. I’ve been impressed with the fight thus far.

Like what I saw in a lot of fronts in the game, gave Ben [Roethlisberger] an opportunity to work. I like the fluidity of the way the offense moved of the first group. I thought we used cadence as a weapon to convert a couple third downs. Utilizing cadence that was not very noticeable but significant, just good fundamental things. Defensively I thought they minimized the run and that gave them an opportunity to get after the passer and create some turnovers so some positivity, obviously some things to work on.

On the injury front, [Marcus] Tucker is having his ankle evaluated, James Washington is having his oblique evaluated, Jesse James has a contusion to his back, I don’t know the servility of any of those. We’ll give you an appropriate update when we get it.

You had Bud Dupree and Matthew Thomas moving around, is that something new?

Again, like I said we were putting together a semblance of a game plan. That was a package that we had specific for this game. You’ll see thing like that from time to time.

How far has Vince Williams come with signing his new contract?

Vince’s story is a Steeler story. This is a guy, a later draft pick that has earned his way into this thing. First, as a special teams contributor, and defender so it’s just fun to watch him go through the natural maturation process that we inspire all of these guys to go through. He’s answered the bell at every turn and continued to grow.

Last year, he showed his ability to rush the passer and be productive for us in those ways. Every year he is working to grow and add to his range of skills. So, he’s an easy guy to do business with. So, we are excited that we are going to continue to do business with him and he’s deserving of it.

Is Josh Dobbs going to have play time in the final preseason game?

We’ll make that determination as we plan for next week. We may plan specific for this game so we’ll see where we are next week, not only with him, but everyone.

Was the no huddle specific for this game?

Again, you saw some game plan things. It was semblance of a week so some things that you may have seen in this game that you haven’t seen in Latrobe or other preseason games, just chalk it up to game planning.

How has Jaylen Samuels progressing?

He’s growing like a lot of young guys should. He’s probably one of the ones that I am talking about when I am encouraging guys to lean in.

It’s been a hard fight. It’s been a tiresome fight at times for young players but I don’t want to see anybody led up as the road gets narrow. We need to have the type of guys that display the grit, that can lean in and fight to the finish.

He’ll be given an opportunity to do that.