PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin discussed the play off the offensive line. His defensive play-calling, the taunting rule , TJ Watt's comments and more Tuesday afternoon.
Line of scrimmage
"I thought in terms of controlling the line of scrimmage on offense, we didn't do that," Tomlin said of the Chicago game. "You have to give the Bears credit. We still very much have young guys working in that space."
"I'm not shocked sometimes when I look at tape and I see incremental steps backwards as we move forward. Largely I think the trajectory of our group has been positive."
"We wouldn't be realistic or true to ourselves if we didn't recognize that it was a step back last night."
Tomlin wants to use it as a catalyst for growth. He mentioned there is a chance for Zach Banner to get a start this week, saying they evaluate every week to get the best linemen in the game.
Defensive adjustments
Tomlin said "I" in terms of being slow or reluctant to adjust to what the Bears were doing with their run game.
"I didn't do a good enough job or we didn't do a good enough job of adjusting and putting our guys in position to minimize that component of play," Tomlin said. "We got to be better there. We have to have a more comprehensive plan."
Taunting
Tomlin said he is for the new taunting rule and talks to his team about it.
"We are just trying to clean our game up," Tomlin said. "We embraced the responsibility that comes with being the role models that we are. This game played at the highest level we understand people playing at a lower level watch us and often mimic the things that we do and how we conduct ourselves."
"Largely as a league, competition committee specifically, there was a desire to improve in that area. That has been expressed to our guys. We've been showing examples of that throughout team development."
TJ notice
Linebacker TJ Watt said the Bears tackles were getting out early a half a second every play and it hurt the homefield advantage. He said it makes it harder for a pass rusher.
"It's TJ," said captain Cam Heyward after the game Monday. "TJ wants every little thing. The competitor in him wants that. He's constantly talking down the ref, sometimes I have to pull him back. We're lucky to have a guy like 90 rush like that. He's going to put a lot of stress on every tackle we play."
"Don't seek comfort," Tomlin said of his message to Watt. "Control what he can control. He plays left outside linebacker for us and plays at an extremely high level. That would be my suggestion to him."
"There are things that transpire in games from time-to-time that are troublesome, but that is just life, particularly at this level."
McFarland status
Second-year running back Anthony McFarland didn't dress Monday night. It was not injury related.
"We just chose to play the guys based on plan that gave us the best chance of winning and fit what we were trying to do (Monday)," Tomlin said. "He will be included in the potential formula this week."
Positives
· Red zone execution on offense and defense
· Chris Boswell 3 for 3 on FG, 2 from 50-plus and game-winner "His level of consistency and his desire to deliver for us in those weighty moments. That's something that stands out to us. He's a guy that runs to those moments opposed to one who runs away from those moments."
· As a team Tomlin said they smiled in the face of adversity
