PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While the fans were chanting for 18-year Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to be fired, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged problems, especially in practice. But he made it clear he’s not putting the team’s issues on Tomlin.
“I know what you're trying to ask, and I'm not going to go down that road at all,” Rodgers said. “I believe in the coaching staff. I believe in Mike Tomlin. That's why I came here. Players need to take accountability, myself included, and I will. I will continue to. I've got to play better.”
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Rodgers said they’ve had extra film sessions, an extra walk-through Saturday. The offensive captain said the preparation was better, but the practice wasn’t as good as it needed to be. The result was a lack of execution.
TJ Watt discussed coming out flat against the Bills, just not playing the level of football they needed to. He didn’t put it on the coaches, rather this team.
“(We) Have tough conversations, but we’ve been having tough conversations,” Watt said. “So it’s finding a way to just play better, try to get everybody else, looking at myself in the mirror as well, trying to play better. We need to figure something out because clearly what’s been going on hasn’t been working effectively.”
“We talk about the talent we have. We talk about everything we have, but right now we don’t have a kick ass defensive group, and that’s all I can speak on.”
“If it were a talent issue, it would be a whole different story,” said receiver Calvin Austin. “You definitely don’t want to be still saying these things this late in the season.”
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Austin said these issues are fixable because it’s mental errors. But what makes anyone think the mental errors could be fixed any easier than not having enough talent?
Linebacker Payton Wilson said it’s the same old refrain with this team, but as cheesy as it sounds they need to keep their heads down and keep working.
“I think we have really good leaders in this locker room starting at the top with Coach T,” Wilson said. “He’s not going to let it snowball. We are not going to let it snowball. We have to get back to work.”
“Individually, I’m just concerned about this team, two big losses back-to-back,” said captain Cam Heyward. “We have a big game next week, but I’m pissed off with how we played. I hope everyone in this locker room is too.”
Crazy this team is still tied for the division lead at 6-6. They are lucky to be in the AFC North, arguably the worst division in the conference this year. Maybe their frustration is they know deep down they just aren’t a good team heading to Baltimore Sunday.