PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Exhale. Mike Tomlin says the TJ Watt and Diontae Johnson injuries are not expected to be serious. He went on to say they maybe could have returned to the game, if it had mattered. Steelers beat Detroit 19-9 to finish the preseason 3-0.
Tomlin said before the game everyone healthy would play and he wasn’t kidding. The first team offense and defense played the entire first half and there were no apologies even with those two injuries and the more serious one to safety Damontae Kazee (availability in the near future is questionable, he left with his left arm in a sling).
“You can’t box without sparring,” Tomlin said when questioned about leaving the starters in.
Tyson Alualu and Larry Ogunjobi came through it fine as they are returning from injury. 12-year veteran Cam Heyward wanted to play that much.
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“I was all for it,” Heyward said. “Preseason I don’t get a lot of reps, but the reps I do get I want to make the most out of. I know everyone played the game before, I really wanted to be out there. Coach let me play for a half & I was excited for it.”
Heyward did have an issue with how Watt was injured. The outside linebacker coming around the end and was chopped by tight end TJ Hockenson.
“I know it’s a legal play right now,” Heyward said. “We’ve cleaned up where the DB can’t shoot the gap and go at the O-lineman. We should work towards player safety, because it’s a bang-bang play where a tight end goes up and goes straight for your knees. Luckily TJ isn’t fully injured.”
Offensive line
A handful of penalties and really a lack of results for most of the first half until the two-minute drive touchdown late in the second quarter. Mike Tomlin’s thoughts on the offensive line.
“I'll judge it after I watch the tape,” Tomlin said. “I thought they were better today largely. I thought we were penalized some, and that put us behind the chains sometimes. But I'll take a look at the tape before I pass judgment.”
“I would say we took a step forward,” said guard James Daniels admitted they are still not where they need to be right now. “It’s kinda hard to assess the play without watching the film, but overall it does feel like we took a step forward.”
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Dan Moore had a pair of holding penalties, Chukwuma Okorafor had one and Kevin Dotson with a false start among the starters.
Receivers battle
It appears the toughest decision, with roster cuts to 53 coming by 4p on Tuesday, could be at receiver. A question about their depth after Johnson and Chase Claypool at the start of the season, Tomlin has had some players emerge during training camp and the three preseason games.
“I feel good about the group,” Tomlin said. “I just appreciate the competitive spirit that all the guys gave us. And they played to their strengths. Big guys making big guy plays. Miles Boykin, Cody White making possession down plays at the sticks and things of that nature, the skedaddlers running around the perimeter.”
“I just thought that guys gave themselves an opportunity because they played to their skill set and their strength, and that's what you want. They're making our decisions difficult. And when you're in my position, you've got to respect and appreciate that.”
The group with Johnson, Claypool, George Pickens, Calvin Austin and Gunner Olszewski likely locks:
Tyler Vaughns (6’2”, 184 pounds, USC, 2nd year)
8 receptions, 112 yards, TD
Steven Sims (5’10”, 176 pounds, Kansas, 4th year)
7 receptions, 34 yards, TD//2 rushes, 49 yards//38 yd punt return
Miles Boykin (6’4”, 220 pounds, Notre Dame, 5th year)
6 receptions, 67 yards
Cody White (6’3”, 215, Michigan State, 3rd year)
4 receptions, 19 yards
Tyler Snead (5’7”, 174 pounds, East Carolina, rookie)
5 receptions, 27 yards
Back-up RB
The Steelers only rushed for 57 yards on Sunday. Incumbent back-up Benny Snell had 17 of those yards on five carries (15 total yards in preseason, had a receiving TD). Anthony McFarland two carries for six yards, finishing with a team-high 63 yards in the preseason. Jaylen Warren ran it a team-high seven times for 11 yards (48 total in the preseason with seven receptions for 54 yards).
“I feel like every opportunity I got, I took advantage of it,” Warren said. “If that’s enough, it’s enough. If it’s not, so be it. God has a plan for me. If I don’t make it, it’s part of the plan. If I do, I will be crying, happy tears.”
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‘Oh Mama’
It was Myles Jack’s first Styx experience in black-and-gold.
“They play Renegade in the third quarter and it’s big, you can feel it,” Jack said. “You can feel how much the city is into it and how much it means. It’s cool to be a part of.”