PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There won't be another week where Mike Tomlin will say this. The Steelers head coach telling reporters Tuesday everyone on the active roster expected to practice on Wednesday.
He even included TJ Watt, who has missed team periods due to his contract situation.
Rookie Starters
Steelers will start four rookies on offense and punter and holder Pressley Harvin makes a five overall.
"Where those guys are on the depth chart reflect what they've done through the team development process," Tomlin said. "I haven't graded on a curve. Those guys have earned their positioning through their play."
Tomlin says he expects improvement from all of them as the season moves along.
Specifically on tackle Dan Moore--"He's developed a lot," Tomlin said. "I would be remiss if I didn't say he probably came with more than we anticipated. He's gotten better throughout the course of this. I think his floor was higher than anticipated, at least from my perspective."
Schobert Ready
"His above-the-neck game is what I anticipated," Tomlin said of linebacker Joe Schobert. "He's been an extremely quick study. He fits in. He communicates well. He's versatile. He can blitz. He can cover. He can tackle."
"All of those are things that we knew being so familiar and having competed against him. He's done nothing but just confirm those things."
"We are excited about watching him play within our group in a real, regular season setting and watching a complete sample size."
Tunch Memories
Tomlin began his news conference Tuesday discussing the passing of former Steelers player and broadcaster Tunch Ilkin.
"It was an honor to work with Tunch formally and informally," Tomlin said. "I had an opportunity to develop a great friendship over the years."
Ilkin would regularly participate and be a key component in Tomlin's 'Man Up Pittsburgh' initiative.
"I've thought about him often over the last few days just in greeting and interacting with people," Tomlin said. "What an inspiration he was. If you ever said hello to Tunch and asked him how he was doing. He always said 'better than he deserved'."
"He will be sorely missed. I appreciate the life that he lived and the friendship that he provided, not only me, but many of us. Not only within this organization, but this community."
