The 2024 regular season is rolling into Week 14. The next week of preparation for the Steelers is underway following a big scoring output in Cincinnati where the Steelers were able to get their second AFC North win of the season. With a typical Tuesday as they prepare to once again face the Cleveland Browns, head coach Mike Tomlin took to the podium to address in the media for our beloved Tomlin Tuesday. 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.

Russell Wilson

Coach Tomlin was asked why Russell Wilson fits in so well here.

“I don’t know. You know, he’s a football guy. He loves football, he likes to work. I think that if you had that general approach, this is probably an easy train to get on, because that’s my tenor. That’s our tenor. We love football. We like to work at it.We like to take the mystique out of performance. You do that through high energy and urgent preparation, and all of those things appear to be naturally him.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about Russell Wilson’s improvement in the red zone this week.

“I don’t know if there’s an adjustment there. That’s just such a small sample size, like I was just saying there. We’re going to have some plays that we wish we could have back, but it doesn’t change our posture in terms of approach, and he’s just simply playing subsequent downs and drives and opportunities.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about what kind of time is carved out in practice for any kind of improvisation, such as scramble drills for Russell Wilson and the receivers.

“It’s a component of everything that we do. Sometimes we’re more intentional about it than others based on a variety of circumstances, talents of people that we play, or the schematics that they deploy. We’re capable of thoughtfully extending plays, not only for our offense but for our defense, to make sure that we’re capable of functioning under those circumstances. Big plays happen on play extensions, for both sides. It can be offensive positivity, offensive negativity, and so it certainly is an area to focus on and work. And during team development, I like for it to happen naturally, but if it didn’t happen naturally enough, I’ll create circumstances where it does.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if spreading out the targets to receivers is a matter of wanting to change the tendencies or if that’s just part of coaching and schematics

“I think it’s being inclusive and spreading the ball around. And Russell [Wilson]did an awesome job of that. I think when you do that, you make yourself a really tough group to manage and defend, and sometimes that’s done through a variety of ways. Maybe it could be intentional on your part. Maybe it’s just simply taking what the opposing defense has given you schematically. Their attention might be on more known and consistent targets, and so neither here nor there for us, spreading the ball around is a good thing, certainly.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about how Russell Wilson’s experience helps with pre-snap recognition to getting the ball out in the right spot.

“Russ’ experience helps with everything. You could apply that to any discussion. He’s been doing it at a high level for over a decade, certainly.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about Russell Wilson going through checks and changing the play at the line of scrimmage ahead of his big play of 43 yards on 3rd & 9.

“Potentially, potentially. And it is an example of the latitude that experience provides, not only in terms of getting us in the correct plays, but just a communication component in a hostile environment, and working the play clock and some of those things. That’s what I mean. There’s not a equation or circumstance where his experience doesn’t weigh in in a positive way, in terms of some of the things that happen in play.”

Joey Porter Jr.

Coach Tomlin was asked if there’s anything they need to tweak in Joey Porter Jr.’s approach.

“No, no tweaks in terms of the approach. Certainly, he could have been better from a technical standpoint. In review of the tape, there were some technical things that the line of scrimmage, that oftentimes lead to circumstances down the field could be better. But also, as I mentioned after the game, a component of that is competing against the lights of Tee Higgins and his style of play. I felt the same way when we played D.K. Metcalf late last year, for example. You have to match physicality of these big people, and sometimes you do so at risk, and that’s just a tight rope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive. One thing we’re not going to do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball. He’s a big guy, as you saw that touchdown he had late in the game against Cam Sutton. He is a challenge. And so when we play Shaq, we’re going to use our fouls. We’re not going to allow them to get us off the block, if you need a basketball analogy.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if there’s something about Joey Porter Jr.’s comportment that delays any concerns about one bumpy week bleeding into another.

“Heck yeah, man, he’s got a serial killer’s mentality. But if you’re going to be a top flight corner, you better. And that’s probably one of the things that I knew about him because of our personal relationship, that really made me comfortable drafting him. It’s not fake. It’s real. He’s not running from the fight, he’s running to the fight. You better have a short memory at that position, and he’s always had it. He was probably nine or 10 when I met him, and he had it then.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about what he means by the ‘serial killer’ mentality.

“Meaning that he’s a competitor. He’s running to it. He’s ill affected by the outcome of plays. His confidence is unflappable, and all of that is needed.”

George Pickens

Coach Tomlin was asked about working with George Pickens on limiting mental mistakes.

“I’m not going to give you any detail about what goes on behind the scenes in terms of his growth and development. You know that’s my style, and I’m going to be really consistent in it. Being transparent with you guys doesn’t necessarily help or accelerate the growth process, and that’s my agenda, not necessarily feeding the beast.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about if it is a concern that Pickens had these penalties that are costly.

“If it is or isn’t, I wouldn’t necessarily tell you, to be quite honest with you.”

Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, & Preston Smith

Coach Tomlin was asked what having their full compliment of outside linebackers will do for their defense. In his response, Coach Tomlin mentioned Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Preston Smith.

“It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it? Let’s see where the roads lead, man. We’ve got a week of prep. You can’t run out of rushmen. I’m so excited about the potential of getting Alex Highsmith back, and the development of [Nick] Herbig, the acclimation of Preston [Smith]. You can’t run out of rushmen, particularly in December. And so it’s exciting. Make no mistake, there’s enough work for all parties involved, and we’re excited about sorting that out as we prepare.”

Mike Williams

Coach Tomlin was asked about getting Mike Williams involved with the offense.

“It’s going to happen. It’s simply a matter of time. I was really encouraged by the playmaking that he made during the week in
preparation for the game. And oftentimes when you’re making plays in preparation, it ultimately shows up in play. And so, I
don’t think any of us are pushing the panic button in that regard. I think all of us are just anxiously awaiting what we’re looking
at day to day to turn up with a higher level of consistency in stadium in terms of the opportunity.”

Cam Sutton & Beanie Bishop

Coach Tomlin was asked about Cam Sutton getting more snaps than Beanie Bishop Jr.

“Just the complexities of what they do offensively, the fact that we were facing Joe Burrow. Some of the challenges in terms of how they move people around, I thought it would benefit us to have a more veteran guy in the interior of our sub package, and it would aid us, not only in terms of concept recognition, but communication. Beanie [Bishop] still played in the game, and he’s going to be a big-time component of what we do, and we’re pleased with his contributions thus far. But week in and week out, we divide the labor up and the effort to win that game, and that’s why we were so excited about getting Cam back. He’s a Swiss army knife, he’s an awesome communicator. He’s a high-level professional, and if you have an opportunity to utilize those talents in a game like that, it’s helpful. There’s some things that Beanie does better than him, and so it’s just really cool to have viable, capable guys for circumstances, because we’re going to divide the labor up as we see fit in an effort to position ourselves to win football games, and in that case, play good defense.”

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

Coach Tomlin speaks to the media ahead of our Week 14 game against the Browns. @PNCBank

📺: #CLEvsPIT 12/8 at 1 PM ET on CBS https://t.co/iazOMGkvbL

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 3, 2024