No changes as Steelers forge ahead
PITTSBURGH – Mike Tomlin is moving forward into the second half of the season with the Steelers with the status quo.
After poring over the game film of Sunday’s record-breaking 55-31 thumping at the hands of the New England Patriots, Tomlin came away not feeling as if the Steelers had quit in the game. Tomlin’s feeling was a different one.
Sunday, New England was just a far superior team.
“I think that’s your knee-jerk response after a performance like that when you’re defeated in that manner,” Tomlin admitted. “There wasn’t any blatant disregard or blatant breaches of effort and history on the tape. What was on the tape was that we were soundly beaten in the game.”
The Steelers, now 2-6, are intent on making sure that kind of thing doesn’t happen again.
But that does not includes any changes in the starting lineup, at least not at this point. That could, however, change.
“We’re not opposed to turning over any stone to change the end result,” said Tomlin. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that there are going to be broad, sweeping changes. But it means we’re open to it.”
The trouble, at least right now, is that Tomlin really doesn’t seem to have a lot of options to fall back on.
Four rookies – running back Le’Veon Bell, linebackers Jarvis Jones and Vince Williams and safety Shamarko Thomas – are already getting a lot of playing time. Of that group, Thomas, who has been on the field for 189 of 527 defensive plays (36 percent) has seen the least amount of playing time.
But for a team that has now gone 4-11 after starting 6-3 in 2012, any options might be good ones.
In fact, Tomlin said he benched star wide receiver Antonio Brown, who leads the NFL with 61 receptions, for the final possession against New England after Brown blew an assignment that led to an interception.
“It created an interception,” said Tomlin. “As opposed to continuing to absorb negativity from that standpoint, potentially, with some of the things that we were doing in the no-huddle offense, I chose to remove him from the game.”
Brown, however, will be back in the starting lineup Sunday when the Steelers host Buffalo (3-6) at Heinz Field.
“He was frustrated at the end of that football game, and rightfully so,” said Tomlin. “There were a lot of us what were.”
A win against the Bills would stem some of those frustrations. But salvaging a season that has seen the team open with a 2-6 record for the first time since 2006 might be beyond anyone’s grasp.
That 2006 campaign came in Bill Cowher’s final season as head coach and the Steelers rallied to go 6-2 in the second half to salvage an 8-8 season. Cowher retired from coaching after that season and was replaced by Tomlin. The Steelers’ worst first-half record to this point under Tomlin had been 5-3.
“It’s difficult because of the result of the games,” said Tomlin. “But not anything of a personal standpoint. I don’t care about my personal record and things of that nature.
“We’re here to win. That’s our charge. That’s our job. That’s our passion. We’re not getting it done consistently to this point.”
Odds and end zones
When asked if he still has faith in defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau on the heals of giving up team records for points (55) and yards (610) against the Patriots, Tomlin said, “Certainly.” When asked why, he replied, “Because he’s Dick LeBeau.” … Guard David DeCastro (ankle) and wide receiver Markus Wheaton (finger) are both expected to return to practice today after sitting out against the Patriots. … Right tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle), cornerback Ike Taylor (concussion) and Williams (concussion) will be limited in practice early in the week. Taylor and Williams must pass concussion tests before being cleared to play. … With Taylor possibly out against Buffalo, the Steelers resigned cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, who was released at the end of training camp, for depth. Cornerback Isaiah Green was released.