PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Every week Mike Tomlin starts the same way during his press conference, this time was different than before. Tomlin also with some strong thoughts on the play of his defense. Why they didn’t run it more? Why Joey Porter, Junior didn’t play more? Who is the guy they must stop hosting Cleveland?
“I'll start with a review of our last performance and obviously it was a stinker,” Tomlin opened. “We stunk up the joint, myself included and first and foremost.”
He’s not wrong, they were beaten in every way possible and from the very beginning of the game against San Francisco.
There were issues in all three phases from quarterback to punter. Tomlin said he felt that after the game and watching the tape only confirmed it.
“You got to carry that stench for a while when you have a performance
like that,” Tomlin said. “Coupled with the fact that it was opening weekend kind of adds to the sting, but we're big boys, we can take it. We better roll our sleeves up man and shift our focus toward our next opportunity. We better not forget what happened. We better learn lessons from it.”
efense
The ‘D’ lacking in many areas, it started not being able to stop the run for Tomlin. He said they discussed in days leading up to the game the importance of minimizing the 49ers run game. The Steelers head coach said the Christian McCaffrey 65-yard touchdown run changed the trajectory of the game.
“I thought communication was not up to snuff,” Tomlin said. “Our pre-snap movements and adjustments, we're not sure enough, we're not solid enough. We look like a group that was in a loud environment for the first time or like we had some new people. And so that's coaching as well.”
Rookies limited
Steelers dressed all of their rookies on Sunday, but Spencer Anderson didn’t play, Broderick Jones only four plays. Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton had the most snaps with 29 and he will likely get more this week with the injury to Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi still nursing a bad foot. Outside linebacker Nick Herbig had 16 snaps, but Joey Porter, Junior had seven.
“We had intentions of playing Joey more than that, but you better have them behind the chains and off schedule a little bit more than we had them off schedule,” Tomlin said. “If not, then you'll play seven snaps of dime because you don't play dime on third down and two, you know what I mean.”
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Why no run
Steelers attempted just 10 rushes (nine planned) on Sunday. Najee Harris ran six times for 31 yards, Jaylen Warren three rushes for six yards and Kenny Pickett scrambled for four yards. That’s it and Tomlin blamed that on the overall ineffectiveness on offense, plus not winning on first down. First drive, 3rd and 5, second drive-2nd and 12 and 3rd and 5, third drive-2nd and 8, 3rd and 8, fourth drive-2nd and 15, 3rd and 20, fifth-drive 2nd and 9, 3rd and 6.
“You want to run the ball at people, you want to wear people down with Najee (Harris) and Jaylen (Warren) and so forth,” Tomlin explained. “But if you're taking 15 snaps through two quarters of football, because you're three and out and you're not winning possession downs, that's not going to transpire.”
Veteran help
Tomlin thinks having a number of veterans on this team, on both sides of the ball, they should help get beyond what happened on Sunday.
“I just think anytime you got been there done that guys, they're able to provide perspective for those who haven't,” Tomlin said. “You don't get to the National Football League as an individual unless you're able to overcome some adversity, bounce back from injury, bad performances, etc. smile in the face of adversity.
That's why we consciously added some of the quality human beings who happen to be veteran football players within our program, specifically in the last offseason.”
Mr. Chubb
Cleveland has won three of the last five matchups and while some players, especially quarterbacks, have changed, there is one constant.
“If you're talking about the Cleveland Browns man, it starts with Mr. Chubb,” Tomlin said. “What he is capable of doing, the way he controls the game, and so forth.”
The 5’11”, 227-pound tailback has 653 career yards against the Steelers with three total touchdowns. The 27-year-old rushed for 113 yards in the 29-17 Cleveland win last September.
“It's a little bit different, but similar to Christian McCaffrey in that he keeps him on schedule, he controls the climate,” Tomlin said. “If we're doing anything in this football game, man we got to work to minimize that guy's impact. That is challenging because of the talent that they have around him quite frankly, starting with their quarterback Deshaun Watson man, this guy is really talented man, his ability to extend plays, his ability to attack a defense vertically, his ability to see to field as plays get extended, his arm talent in terms of throwing the ball downfield. He's got a myriad of eligibles that are challenging.”
They got a lot to work on facing a team who beat the division favorites by 21 points in Week One.