The 2024 regular season is rolling into Week 12. The next week of preparation for the Steelers is underway following a big win against the Ravens. Because it is a short week due to Thursday Night Football, head coach Mike Tomlin took to the podium to address in the media for our beloved Tomlin Tuesday with it actually being on a Monday. With plenty of questions asked by those in attendance, it is once again time for a players mentioned article. Remember these are players where a specific question was asked during the Q&A period.

Note: Some players are included in multiple sections.

Justin Fields

Coach Tomlin was asked if Sunday’s game is as well as he’s seen the defense play given the circumstances of the game. In his response, he mentioned the contributions in practice from Justin Fields.

“I hadn’t thought about it. I’m never surprised when they play well, particularly when they prepare the way that they prepared last week. And so I don’t know that I viewed it through that lens. There’s more satisfaction than anything else, because I know our talent level. I know our professionalism and our preparedness. I thought they had a good week’s work. I thought they were wired in. I thought Justin [Fields] really challenged them. They had a good challenge in terms of prep, in terms of utilizing his skill set to represent that and so it’s probably more satisfaction than anything else.”

Russell Wilson

Coach Tomlin was asked about Russell Wilson and the passing game over the last two weeks.

“You know, I hadn’t thought about it in terms of a broad brush. We were in a hostile environment in D.C., and sometimes that’s challenging, the one-dimensional passing moments. We played a really good defense last week, and so it’s probably not enough of a sample size to stimulate me in the ways that you suggest at this juncture.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about what he saw from the interception in the fourth quarter.

“I just wish Russ hadn’t thrown it.”

Nick Herbig & Preston Smith

Coach Tomlin was asked about dividing up Nick Herbig and Preston Smith’s reps.

“We were getting off the field.We were possessing the ball some on offense. There wasn’t as many defensive snaps to go around. [Nick] Herbig’s conditioning, or lack thereof, wasn’t compromised because of those things, and it made the divvying of the reps a less significant discussion, to be quite honest with you.”

Nick Herbig, T.J. Watt, & Alex Highsmith

Coach Tomlin was asked about Nick Herbig’s role in defending the two-point conversion.

“He’s a big time player, man. He’s a young guy, but even in a small sample size, I think we all recognize his play making capabilities, and I think any of us that are around him are not supplies when he makes significant plays, particularly in significant moments. He trains under the under the likes of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. He’s got some great role models, and he’s got an awesome work ethic and mindset to boot, and so not surprised by it at all.”

Preston Smith & Mike Williams

Coach Tomlin was asked about getting Preston Smith and Mike Williams more involved.

“I think every day is an opportunity to do that. There’s a cumulative component to their involvement that has nothing to do with this week. We’re just building upon days that we’ve already laid out. And so, I’m excited about continuing to get to know them more and how they might be able to help us in infusing them more into what it is that we do.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about Mike Williams’ trajectory.

“I like his work. How we feel about his progress is not always reflected in statistics. We’ll keep working. He’s doing a great job fitting in. We’re doing a good job of getting to know him. I like the trajectory of it.”

Coach Tomlin was asked the potential of maybe getting Mike Williams a higher share of snaps in the near future.

“You know, we’ll see, man. It just really is week to week, and from a match up perspective, how we put our plan together, I’d be speculating. Particularly at this stage of the week, this early, I’d be making it up, and I just don’t want to mislead you.”

Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, & Patrick Queen

Coach Tomlin was asked about Payton Wilson’s work ethic and how that culminated in the play he made Sunday.

“You know, it’s not necessarily the work template that he sets for himself. It’s much like talking about [Nick] Herbig. He’s got some real solid professionals in his group in Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen, and he does a good job of just being a humble, young guy, man and coming alongside those guys and learning from them and asking good questions. He is willing to work, but that’s often the case with a lot of young guys. They don’t have necessarily a template how they go about their business on a seven day cycle, but I see the makings of good professionalism in him, in that he’s a tireless worker. He’s legitimately humble. He asked good questions, and he listens and follows veteran guys that do it the right way.”

Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, & Mason McCormick

Coach Tomlin was asked about where he feels he needs to see improvement from Broderick Jones. In his response, Coach Tomlin mentioned Zach Frazier and Mason MCCormick.

“He’s a young guy, man. He’s younger than all the rookies at his position, to put perspective on it. Zach Frazier and [Mason] McCormick are older than him, and so he’s got growth in all areas ahead of him, but he’s also has an awesome skill set, and so we’re experiencing some bumps and bruises associated with on-the-job training. Like I mentioned yesterday, I have no intentions of blinking, and neither does he, and we’ll just keep working.”

Minkah Fitzpatrick & Cam Sutton

Coach Tomlin was asked about Minkah Fitzpatrick and his lack of takeaways. In his response, he also mentioned Cam Sutton.

“He’s doing a great job, to be quite honest with you. But again, I think the turnovers will come. I think oftentimes, when you play on the back end, you’re defined by takeaways, just like when you play up front, you’re defined by sacks. But it’s not always the storyteller, but those of us that are in this business, we realize– to a degree– that you’re measured by it. And so, he’ll keep working, but I’m not displeased by anything that he’s doing, certainly, and we’re asking him to do a lot of things, but we always ask him to do a lot of things. I’m really excited about Cam Sutton being back, because Cam’s presence is really helpful in terms of being able to move him around, even more, because Cam is so versatile.”

Joey Porter Jr.

Coach Tomlin was asked about Joey Porter Jr.’s response this week.

“You know, I don’t even necessarily describe Washington as a rough outing, to be quite honest with you. He[Joey Porter Jr.] is aggressive and aggressive in play, and always has been. His confidence is unshakable. He’s good player, and it showed yesterday.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about Joey Porter Jr. talking to the defense before the two-point conversion.

“The quietest guy in that group doesn’t necessarily mean quiet. Joey couldn’t get a word in if he was trying sometimes, because of the nature of that group. But that group respects him, even though he’s a young guy. His talents, his work, his approach, all of that merits attention in terms of when he speaks, people listen. And I’d imagine that’ll happen more the longer he’s here, and the more plays he makes.”

Darnell Washington, George Pickens, & Mike Williams

Coach Tomlin was asked about getting Darnell Washington more involved. In his response, he mentioned the effect of George Pickens and Mike Williams. 

“You know, it’s big when you get a guy like that running down the middle of the field. We’re really just trying to spread the ball around and take what the defense gives us, and to have enough depth and talent in all positions where we’re comfortable doing that. And I think Darnell’splay in the open middle of the field is a reflection of that. We got guys on the perimeter that people are concerned about from a one on one matchup standpoint, guys like G.P. [George Pickens]and Mike Williams have reputations and resumes that merit you better be careful about one-on-one match ups, and so that pushes people to shells and two-high safeties, and then the middle of the field is open. And so it’s going to be opportunities for guys like Darnell. It all kind of works hand-in-hand. You asked me about the lack of opportunity for Mike, it might just mean what Baltimore was doing in terms of the two-high shell, which opened up an opportunity for two explosion plays for Darnell Washington. That’s just the nature of what it is that we do. We know and understand that oftentimes I don’t take enough time or care enough to explain it to you guys, and I probably should do it more.”

Dan Moore Jr.

Coach Tomlin was asked about Dan Moore Jr.’s familiarity with Myles Garrett.

“You know, I don’t know that we view that as a one-on-one matchup, to be quite honest with you. And it’s no slight against Dan Moore. It’s just the talent level of Myles Garrett. I think you identify any tackle and match him up with Myles Garrett, it’s not possible that he’s going to get home, it’s probable. Particularly if it’s in a one-dimensional circumstance. And so certainly, Dan is going to have his opportunities to be matched up against Myles, but I doubt that it’s going to be in one-on-one circumstances, particularly in one-dimensional passing moments.”

Mike Tomlin’s entire press conference can be seen here:

Coach Tomlin speaks to the media ahead of our Week 12 game against the Browns. @PNCBank

📺: #PITvsCLE 11/21 at 8:15 PM ET on @NFLonPrime https://t.co/P7IAlhissj

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 18, 2024