Takeaways from Tomlin conference
Following are the highlights of Mike Tomlin鈥檚 weekly press conference on Tuesday, with my commentary in italics:
n 鈥淥ur willingness and ability to spread (the Buffalo Bills) out and make them defend the field both horizontally and vertically at the early stages set the stage, in terms of keeping those guys off balance, allowed us to run the ball the rest of the way. We didn鈥檛 want to get into one of those static field-position type games and allow them to use the weather circumstances against us in that way.鈥�
Sounds like a diversion from what we were all thinking, that Tomlin walked into the locker room at halftime and told coordinator Todd Haley in no uncertain terms that he had better start running the ball. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if that happened,鈥� Ramon Foster told me, 鈥渂ut that鈥檚 what the offensive line was thinking.鈥�
n 鈥淚 really appreciate the contributions of Randy Bullock. He was a pleasure. He put his hand in the pile and delivered for us when called upon. Appreciate the spirit in which he approached the challenge that comes with being a guy in his position. Thankful for his contributions.鈥�
Thank your one-game kicker him with a Super Bowl ring, or at least a percentage of those proceeds.
n 鈥淚 thought our coverage units were solid. I thought they were highlighted by the play of Rosie Nix. I thought he was dominant in that area. I also thought Rosie had a good game on offense as well.鈥�
A good game? Record-setting Man of the Day Le鈥橵eon Bell gave his fullback his game ball. The players love the energy, and even the smack talk, Nix brings to the field. He鈥檚 another who鈥檚 coming back from injury as this team seems to be getting healthier as the season wears on. Nix played in only 13 snaps in the first 10 games before playing 15, 18 and 25 in the last three games, respectively. Nix also has some pass-catching to show off, too. He has the best hands on a former college nose tackle I鈥檝e ever seen.
n 鈥淒eAngelo Williams (knee) worked some last week and had some positive results. Got a legitimate chance to participate this week. 鈥� (Darrius) Heyward-Bey (foot) will move in that direction as well, but probably not as optimistic as DeAngelo. 鈥� Shamarko Thomas (concussion) has got a chance. 鈥� Ramon Foster (chest) has a chance. 鈥� (Javon) Hargrave and B.J. Finney are in the concussion protocol and are being evaluated.鈥�
No wonder I couldn鈥檛 find Finney in the locker room after the game. I wanted to ask him how many concussions he dished out in an outstanding performance by the replacement left guard. Foster will move back into that position, no doubt. As for Williams, it will be interesting to see how much work he gets at running back in these next two important games. Win them both and he can have the entire finale against the Browns to get ready for the playoffs as Bell鈥檚 complement.
n On the upcoming opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, Tomlin said, 鈥淐ollectively up 39-0 at halftime of their last two games 鈥� I know they鈥檝e sustained negatively from a health standpoint, but the last two games show they鈥檙e adjusting to the absence of A.J. Green and Giovanni Bernard. They redistributed the labor and are really finding their rhythm. Jeremy Hill, it starts there for us. 鈥� Tyler Eifert is dynamic. 鈥� Impressed with the growth and development of Tyler Boyd 鈥� (Rex) Burkhead offset the loss of Bernard 鈥� he鈥檚 a WR in some packages.鈥�
The Bengals got off fast in wins over the Browns (23-10) and Eagles (32-14) the last two weeks, but it鈥檚 hard to imagine that offense playing well this week even with Green returning for his first week of practice after tearing a hamstring on Nov. 20. But I do understand the concept of other players improving in a star鈥檚 absence. See the next point for more on that.
n Tomlin, when asked if this is one of the best O-lines he鈥檚 had in his 10 years as coach: 鈥淐oming off that performance last week, it would be hard to argue against it.鈥�
In talking to Foster on Monday about how well the defense is playing in spite of the loss of Cam Heyward, Foster said the injury to Maurkice Pouncey last year forced other players to step up and that they 鈥� and by virtue of that, the entire line 鈥� became much better and much more confident this year. Foster said he sees the same dynamic happening with the D-line and in particular Stephon Tuitt, and that next year, when Heyward returns, those two will be a terrifying duo.
n On promoting Demarcus Ayers: 鈥淲e had a spot there. We鈥檝e been leaking a little bit at the receiver position. 鈥� He鈥檚 learned and worked hard on a daily basis.鈥�
The seventh-round draft pick will provide depth and offer an alternative to Antonio Brown as a punt returner, but in my opinion he won鈥檛 return kickoffs 鈥� even though he may not even 鈥済et a hat鈥� on game day as part of the 45.
n Tomlin was asked why the Steelers have done so well against tight ends this year. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still writing that script. We鈥檝e got a legitimate one this week in Tyler (Eifert), so stay tuned.鈥�
Note to young reporters: Tomlin won鈥檛 jinx his team by challenging the karmic forces of the universe. You might as well ask him why his team has been so healthy of late.
n On Sammie Coates: 鈥淚 know you guys think there鈥檚 more to that story than what it is, but it鈥檚 not. The guy鈥檚 got two broken fingers on one hand. It makes it difficult to catch the ball consistently, particularly when he鈥檚 working back to the quarterback, so until we can get some comfort or clarity in that area, his offensive contributions are going to be limited.鈥�
We do think there鈥檚 more to it. First, he didn鈥檛 know how he gashed a hand that required stitches in a game just over two months ago, and then he found out he broke a finger, too. And then a week or so later we learned he had two broken fingers. Yes, we think there鈥檚 something more to THAT, but we also wonder what鈥檚 taking him so long to recover and whether he鈥檚 having difficulty with his assignments, or, as Tomlin likes to say, 鈥渏umping on board (and keeping up with) a moving train.鈥�
n How has Le鈥橵eon Bell gotten better since his Pro Bowl 2014 season? 鈥淎ll areas, intellectually, understanding of the game. 鈥� The intellectual conversations with him are much different today than they were then. Just understanding how to play the position, the nuances of the position, the protection of the ball, protection of himself. 鈥� More important than the talent, he鈥檚 got a desire to be great. 鈥� He鈥檚 a much better conditioned athlete today than he was in 2014. I mean it when I say all areas.鈥�
I鈥檒l add that he doesn鈥檛 smoke weed any more, and I鈥檒l also cite my conversations with Bell, who鈥檚 a much sharper human being. He said he鈥檚 been off pot for an extended period, and it shows. And I believe 鈥� and I would stake a long-term contract offer to him on it 鈥� that he鈥檒l stay off it. Did anyone see him turn away from the turkey leg on TV on Thanksgiving night? Now, he actually took a wee bite and looked like he wanted to spit it out. He told me later he was hungry, and likes turkey, but that those calories weren鈥檛 part of his scheduled daily intake. I believe he鈥檚 extended that discipline to pot as well. Just my $.02.
n On dealing with the history of Vontaze Burfict鈥檚 cheap shots: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to play ball like we always do.鈥�
This team has too much going for it to involve itself in Burfict鈥檚 jackassery in any way, shape or form.
n On Artie Burns鈥� improved tackling: 鈥淲e鈥檝e challenged him openly in terms of improving in that area, and he has. And I鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l be challenged in some other areas moving forward in his career. If that鈥檚 a template, then it bodes well for him as a professional because he鈥檚 been no-nonsense in his approach in that area. 鈥� A young guy that鈥檚 legitimately humble and does more listening than talking is usually going to improve, and I think that describes not only him, but Sean Davis and Hargrave as well.鈥�
Good stuff for young athletes in that answer, and Burns has improved his tackling. But I will make this criticism: For as many big plays as he makes, he still allows as many big plays. While I would move him just a smidgen past Hargrave in my Steelers Rookie of the Year vote, I still have Davis as the team鈥檚 No. 1 rookie this year.