stillers4me
11-25-2007, 07:52 AM
Comments reveal Tomlin's true feelings
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Mike Tomlin made it simple:
Good or bad, right or wrong, the buck stops here. Give him credit when the Steelers win; give him heck when they lose.
"I am not going to come in here on a weekly basis and state that," Tomlin said Tuesday during his news conference. "I expect that to be a given."
Normally content to keep his critical thoughts private, Tomlin allowed more of his personality to emerge and cast a skeptical eye toward the Steelers' 19-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
Tomlin broke new ground with the media when discussing the play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
While describing Roethlisberger as an improvisational playmaker, Tomlin was unusually direct in his observations of Roethlisberger's decision-making ability.
Roethlisberger, who has a habit of throwing interceptions instead of throwing the ball away, was intercepted once and lost a fumble against the Jets.
He was also sacked seven times, raising the question if he is releasing the ball quick enough in certain situations.
"There is a fine line between being brilliant and being an idiot," Tomlin said. :sofunny: (gotta love the honesty)
Tomlin didn't stop there.
"We live in our hopes and not out fears," Tomlin continued. "He understands that. He knows he has to protect the football. At the same time, at times he has to lead us to victory. He does that more than he doesn't."
Tomlin didn't stop with his quarterback. He addressed several missed tackles by his top-rated defense against Jets running back Thomas Jones and promised that it wouldn't happen again.
"I don't hope it is a one-game thing. I expect it to be a one-game thing," Tomlin said. :thumbsup:
Tomlin was brutally direct. He said his defensive players were going to attend Football 101 and practice the proper way to run to the football and being more balanced when they tackle. :banging:
Tomlin also discussed moving cornerback Deshea Townsend to safety for the injured Troy Polamalu tomorrow night against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field. Tyrone Carter is expected to start, but Townsend, who practiced at safety during training camp, will provide more experience with veteran Ryan Clark sidelined for the rest of the season.
Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens said he keyed off the aggressive play of the Steelers' safeties on a 56-yard flea-flicker pass in the first quarter. Second-year safety Anthony Smith, filling in for Clark, was out of position on the play. :banging:
Each week, Tomlin has said the Steelers are striving to become a great team. It's clear by his most recent comments that he doesn't believe they belong in that category.
"Every time you take the field you have to come to play, and that is what great teams do and it is our desire to be great," Tomlin said. "What do you do when you have a great performance? You better be ready to back it up and show it again the following week."
It goes without saying the Steelers didn't do that against the Jets.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_539571.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Mike Tomlin made it simple:
Good or bad, right or wrong, the buck stops here. Give him credit when the Steelers win; give him heck when they lose.
"I am not going to come in here on a weekly basis and state that," Tomlin said Tuesday during his news conference. "I expect that to be a given."
Normally content to keep his critical thoughts private, Tomlin allowed more of his personality to emerge and cast a skeptical eye toward the Steelers' 19-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
Tomlin broke new ground with the media when discussing the play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
While describing Roethlisberger as an improvisational playmaker, Tomlin was unusually direct in his observations of Roethlisberger's decision-making ability.
Roethlisberger, who has a habit of throwing interceptions instead of throwing the ball away, was intercepted once and lost a fumble against the Jets.
He was also sacked seven times, raising the question if he is releasing the ball quick enough in certain situations.
"There is a fine line between being brilliant and being an idiot," Tomlin said. :sofunny: (gotta love the honesty)
Tomlin didn't stop there.
"We live in our hopes and not out fears," Tomlin continued. "He understands that. He knows he has to protect the football. At the same time, at times he has to lead us to victory. He does that more than he doesn't."
Tomlin didn't stop with his quarterback. He addressed several missed tackles by his top-rated defense against Jets running back Thomas Jones and promised that it wouldn't happen again.
"I don't hope it is a one-game thing. I expect it to be a one-game thing," Tomlin said. :thumbsup:
Tomlin was brutally direct. He said his defensive players were going to attend Football 101 and practice the proper way to run to the football and being more balanced when they tackle. :banging:
Tomlin also discussed moving cornerback Deshea Townsend to safety for the injured Troy Polamalu tomorrow night against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field. Tyrone Carter is expected to start, but Townsend, who practiced at safety during training camp, will provide more experience with veteran Ryan Clark sidelined for the rest of the season.
Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens said he keyed off the aggressive play of the Steelers' safeties on a 56-yard flea-flicker pass in the first quarter. Second-year safety Anthony Smith, filling in for Clark, was out of position on the play. :banging:
Each week, Tomlin has said the Steelers are striving to become a great team. It's clear by his most recent comments that he doesn't believe they belong in that category.
"Every time you take the field you have to come to play, and that is what great teams do and it is our desire to be great," Tomlin said. "What do you do when you have a great performance? You better be ready to back it up and show it again the following week."
It goes without saying the Steelers didn't do that against the Jets.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_539571.html