PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s a defense that scored a couple of touchdowns with additional splash plays, but there are areas to correct. It’s part of the news from Mike Tomlin’s news conference on Tuesday including Jaylen Warren carries, Kenny Pickett performance, TJ Watt accomplishment and sympathy for the Browns.
Defense
Watt and Alex Highsmith each scoring touchdowns, however the Steelers defense allowed 408 total yards, 198 on the ground to Cleveland. Last week Tomlin harped on a lack of communication with the unit. He thought there was some improvement.
“We worked harder at that this week,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “I thought we were better, but I still think we have room for growth. We still have the issues of explosive runs. We gave up another big explosive run in this game (69 yards to Jerome Ford) and you just simply can't do that if you want to play the type of defense that we desire to play and need to play.”
A team that historically has prided itself in being able to stop the run is DEAD LAST in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. This defense, the second-highest paid unit in all of football,l is allowing a 5.6 yards-per-rush. If a team decides to run the ball on first down, it leaves them with a second-and-four on average.
“We got to be better than we've been,” Tomlin said. “Obviously, last night we played without Cam [Heyward] and I'm proud of some of the efforts of some of the guys who had expanded roles, but we just got to continue to find our footing on this side of Cam’s presence and have the ability to minimize the run and obviously, it doesn't get any easier this week with [Josh] Jacobs man, and that group over there.”
Like the Steelers rush defense and offense, Jacobs is off to a slow start as well. The 25-year-old has only 46 yards on 28 carries. Rushing for 1,653 last season, Jacobs had nine rushes for a total of negative two yards against the Bills on Sunday.
Steelers run
Jacobs would fit in well in the Steelers backfield in terms of disappointment. His college teammate, Najee Harris has only 74 yards total in two games. Jaylen Warren has 26 yards and a far lower yards per attempt average. Warren though is a much more accomplished pass catcher with nine catches for 78 yards including a huge 3rd down conversion where he got the ball in the middle of the field and with no blockers, took out a trio of Browns to gain a first down. On the next play, Pickett hit George Pickens for a 71-yard touchdown.
Where before Tomlin would say Harris is the starting tailback, there appears to be some wavering now.
“You know, we'll see what this week holds for us in terms of our planning (which Tomlin has already criticized),” Tomlin said. “We acknowledge that Jaylen is a significant player and a guy that's capable of being a significant component of what we do as is Naj, and we'll do what we do every week. We'll make decisions
about how we divvy up the labor based on what's most advantageous in an effort to create victory this week.”
Tomlin then admitted that Warren has improved. Is building on what he did as a rookie and throughout OTAs, mini-camp and training camp. He acknowledged it is time for them to give him more opportunities in a game.
Kenny Grade
Kenny Pickett was 15-30 for 222 yards with a touchdown and a pick and for the season is 46-76 for 454 yards, a pair of touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s one of the lowest rated quarterbacks in the league.
“I just want to see him continue to work in the manner in which he's been working,” Tomlin said of his second-year QB. “Continue to communicate in the manner in which he's been communicating and lead his group. He's done a lot of things well, in preparation performance. He could play better.”
“We all could play better. But procedurally I like what I see from him and usually when a guy procedurally is in the right spot, the performance soon follows.”
Unique Watt
Outside linebacker TJ Watt broke the Steelers all-time sack record on Monday night. He only is one ahead of James Harrison, but when you study the list, Watt really obliterated the field. He reached 81.5 sacks in half the time it took Harrison to get to 80.5. Watt did it in 89 games, Harrison in 177. Cam Heyward, defensive tackle and not a true rushing position in this defense, is third with 78.5 over 184 games. LC Greenwood had 78 in 170 games and Hall of Famer Joe Greene finished with 77.5 in 181 games, not that it minimizes Greene’s impact.
Why has Watt been so good?
“DNA, will, talent, commitment, a lot of things,” Tomlin said. “You know, this is a good environment and system for him. It's a lot of things that produce performance. Obviously, we're really excited about having him and appreciate what he does, but it's a lot of variables to that discussion. But he is a key component of any component of that discussion.”
Chubb condolences
Likely out for the year on a knee injury suffered in the second quarter near the goal line on a hit from Minkah Fitzpatrick, Browns tailback Nick Chubb was carted off the field and is done for the year.
“Well wishes goes out to Nick Chubb,” Tomlin said. “We're in the AFC North. We're competitors, but we got a lot of respect for that man as a player and
as a man.”
“You like to compete against guys like him, you'd like to beat guys like him, but you certainly don't want to see catastrophic injury. And so, we're sending our best to he and his teammates and specifically as he deals with the injury that he is faced with.”