Mike Tomlin often says when he's asked about the occasional training camp scuffle that he is interested in developing football players and not MMA fighters. However, certainly all coaches want payers who show plenty of fight and the Steelers coach is no exception.
Yet Tomlin is also looking for lovers – football lovers – and he says he's found two of them in a couple of veteran free agents who will play important roles in 2021 – Melvin Ingram and Trai Turner.
Let's start with Ingram. "It's been a fun process," Tomlin says. "He's a football lover. He's a competitor he likes to work he's fitting in nicely with the guys."
Ingram, a 3-tim Pro Bowler with the Chargers who twice had over 10 sacks in a season, can often be found catching punts and even kicking (or trying to kick) field goals. "I've been excited just to get to know him as a player," the coach continues, "and looking at his skill set and figuring out ways to infuse him into what is that we do."
Don't expect that to include kicking and fielding punts, though. Ingram will provide much-needed depth at edge rusher and may even include lining up inside. "It's been good to watch him work," Tomlin adds. "He's a communicator and has embraced the stage he's at in his career."
Another decorated veteran in a similar position is Trai Turner, who was selected to 5 Pro Bowls with the Carolina Panthers. "He's been a football lover," says Tomlin going to his phrase of the day. "He's enjoying the process, he's getting to know his teammates and he's adding value to us in informal ways".
The most important way is mentoring his new team's young, interior linemen. "Although he's new to us he's doing a real good job with younger players like Kendrick Green in terms of coordinating cohesion and just talking general NFL football and life with him," Tomlin points out.
"Often times you can see (Turner and Green) working after practice," Tomlin continues, "reviewing whatever transpired between them during the work day and that developing relationship is being initiated by Trai."
Second year guard Kevin Dotson says Turner is doing the same with him which is what Tomlin likes to hear. "I expect him to do his job and do his job well," he says. "I'm appreciative when I see him doing the things that add value us in an intangible way."
