Highlights from Tomlin’s conference
Here are the highlights of Mike Tomlin鈥檚 press conference Tuesday, with my takeaway in italics:
n 鈥淒eAngelo (Williams) wasn鈥檛 played in the (last) game because he had some swelling in the knee. Maybe it was the accumulation of the week鈥檚 work. Maybe it was the result of the plane flight. 鈥� I fully expect him to be a complete participant this week and participate in the game.鈥�
Take: The 33-year-old running back has missed the last 6 games since undergoing a meniscus trim. His last game was against the Ravens and he carried once for a yard. That鈥檚 about what I would expect this time as Williams builds up to potential playoff work.
n 鈥淓xcited about (Darrius) Heyward-Bey taking another step in participation this week 鈥� He was running full speed in a straight line last week. We鈥檙e going to do some unanticipated directional changes and check his football readiness. Hopefully we have him.鈥�
Take: They really need a deep threat. But, again, as with Williams, how conditioned will he be after missing the last six games?
n 鈥淪tephon Tuitt has a knee sprain. 鈥� He鈥檚 downstairs rehabilitating right now. He鈥檒l have an opportunity this week. 鈥� Obviously, the position he plays gives him an opportunity, and probably would be less likely so if he was a wide receiver or corner.鈥�
Take: This is a game no one wants to miss, and Tuitt will push himself, but I will be surprised if he plays, and plays effectively.
n 鈥淟adarius Green is in the concussion protocol. 鈥� We鈥檒l follow the protocol. Whatever they say, we鈥檒l do.鈥�
Take: Green told me Monday he鈥檚 OK, but he took two wicked head shots last Sunday. The Steelers will test him, clear him, practice him and test him again. Nothing will be decided until late in the week.
n On what鈥檚 changed most about Baltimore since the Nov. 6 Steelers game: 鈥淚 think they found stability in the offensive line. Central to that stability is the availability of (Marshal) Yanda. He is a top quality professional, one of the top guards in the world.鈥�
Take: Yanda鈥檚 riding a streak of five Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros as a 10th-year right guard. After missing three games with a shoulder injury, he was moved to left guard and the Ravens have used the same line the last five games, during which they averaged 4.8 yards per rush and allowed 1.6 sacks per game. In the previous nine games, the Ravens rushed at a 3.5 clip and allowed 2.2 sacks per game.
n 鈥淏een really impressed with Brandon Williams, their nose guard. This guy鈥檚 been dominant. He is the central figure in my opinion of why they鈥檝e been so stout against the run. This guy routinely requires two people to block him, but even when you assign two people to him very rarely is there movement.鈥�
Take: It seems like the 340-pound Williams has been stuffing the Steelers ever since he moved into the starting lineup in 2014. But while the Ravens held the Steelers to 36 yards rushing on 18 carries earlier this season, the Steelers have averaged 4.1 yards per carry in Williams鈥� five starts. So, perhaps Williams has improved this season. The Ravens are second in the NFL in rushing defense, both per game (82.1) and per carry (3.55).
n On the ups and downs of key Ravens defensive backs: 鈥淓ric Weddle has really done some nice things, particularly in recent weeks. 鈥� You can really sense him getting comfortable in things they鈥檝e asked him to do. 鈥� Jimmy Smith, prior to him going down in the New England game, was playing some of his best ball that I鈥檝e seen him play. We鈥檙e anticipating him coming back.鈥�
Take: Weddle is the savvy 31-year-old free safety whom the Steelers courted last free agency. He鈥檚 intercepted four passes for the Ravens, three in the last six games. Smith, the long, rangy shutdown cornerback, suffered a high-ankle sprain Dec. 12 against New England. He sat out last Sunday鈥檚 game, but couldn鈥檛 possibly be effective in coverage 13 days later, could he?
n On why Justin Gilbert isn鈥檛 returning kickoffs instead of Fitzgerald Toussaint: 鈥淪ammie鈥檚 the return man. Toussaint is the off-returner, the designated lead blocker.鈥�
Take: Find a better way to hide their positioning before the kick.
n On why Tomlin has only recently been handing out game balls: 鈥淪omething significant has got to happen. The field goal kicker鈥檚 got to bang six or a back鈥檚 got to run for 200 plus. I don鈥檛 like handing out game balls like breath mints.鈥�
Take: I too abhor participation mints.
n Do the Ravens have the Steelers鈥� number? 鈥淚鈥檓 focused on this next game because that鈥檚 the one we have control over. The past is the past, whether it鈥檚 positive or it鈥檚 negative. 鈥� I鈥檒l acknowledge there鈥檚 a lot to be learned or gleaned from those experiences.鈥�
Take: The Ravens have beaten the Steelers the last four games and six of the last seven. The only Steelers win was at home in an 11-5, AFC North championship, 2014 season by the score of 43-23. Learn and glean from that one.
n On playing Christmas day: 鈥淎s somebody who鈥檚 an absolute football lover, I view it as a complete honor to have an opportunity to perform for our fans, for the nation, on days like we鈥檙e getting an opportunity to perform. I don鈥檛 take it lightly. I鈥檓 humbled and honored by it.鈥�
Take: Merry Christmas everybody! I have to get to work, too.