Tomlin Puts Wrap On '12 Steelers

[Hawaii 5-0]

Tomlin Puts Wrap On '12 Steelers

By SteelCityInsider.net
Posted Dec 31, 2012



Mike Tomlin is already working on the 2013 season with exit interviews and the acquisition of information from above and below. He talked about it today.

Mike Tomlin walked over to talk to Larry Foote and Casey Hampton after Sunday’s game but it wasn’t to say goodbye.

“I went over there, I said, ‘Let’s get out of here. What are you guys doing?’” Tomlin said. “They were taking it in. They’re veteran guys. They don’t take any of this for granted, and rightfully so. Obviously, it’s a very fragile business and an ever-changing business that we’re in.”

Their contracts are up, but Tomlin couldn’t and wouldn’t provide any kind of status report on the free agents to be.

Tomlin did provide a summation at his year-end press conference Monday.

Per unit:

“Offensively I thought we started off on the right foot in terms of dominating time of possession and converting third downs. We did what was required in those areas to possess the ball and win football games. Obviously we didn’t ascend in the second half of the season in those areas. It was an Achilles’ heel for us.”

Why didn’t the offense ascend in the second half of the season?

“There were injuries at multiple positions,” he said. “Obviously, we never use injuries as an excuse but we acknowledge that it was a component.”

The opposite occurred for the defense.

“I thought we didn’t start out very well, particularly in situational football and getting off on third downs, and the end of the half and end of the game type of things. I thought we grew into those roles and improved over the course of the season. It was a really good defense in the latter portions of season, particularly in those settings.”

On the special teams, Tomlin recognized the NFL’s 9th-ranked kickoff return team, along with placekicker Shaun Suisham, who converted 28 of 31 field goals (90.3).

Leading the kickoff return unit was rookie Chris Rainey, 7th in the NFL with a 26.5 average per return.

The other special units didn’t fare as well, ranging from 17th (kickoff return defense) to 28th (punt return). Antonio Brown averaged only 6.8 per punt return a year after averaging 10.8.

Tomlin had fired special teams coach Al Everest right before the season and promoted assistant Amos Jones. So Tomlin was asked about the position and he indicated he’s going to add another coach to work with Jones.

In summation, Tomlin said: “We are an 8-8 team. We are on the outside looking in and we don’t feel great about it. As a matter of fact, we dislike it. We are committed to doing what is required for us, in terms of moving forward.”

That initially involves exit interviews with players through the end of the week, and one-on-one meetings with assistant coaches through next week.

On filling the void at offensive line coach, Tomlin said he has no timetable.

“I’ve been gathering information informally,” he said. “I’ll continue to do that in a more formal manner here moving forward.”

On the injury front, Ryan Clark spent Sunday night in a local hospital after suffering “a severe quad contusion.” He’s now “resting comfortably at home.”

Tomlin expects full recoveries from those injured or playing hurt in the last game: Kelvin Beachum (concussion), David DeCastro (“severe stinger”), Cameron Heyward (rib fracture), Brett Keisel (MCL sprain) and Keenan Lewis (MCL sprain).

No timetables have been established for Heath Miller (MCL and ACL reconstruction), DeMarcus Van Dyke (shoulder reconstruction) and Baron Batch (plate inserted into arm).

http://pit.scout.com/2/1253579.html

[VaDave]

A fair, non hysterical recantation of the season that was.

While injuries are not an excuse, it does change how a team prepares, how many reps a unit gets, even how many bodies, not to mention the quality of the bodies you have to practice with.

I'm going to assume that with each lineman that went down, more and more time in practice was spent on protecting our franchise QB from being killed, and less on the running game. The cumulative result was a rushing attact that imploded by the end of the year. Oh, on an occassion, a back would get out to the edge when things jammed up in the middle, and we'd all go "OOO", but for the most part, it was not good later on in the season .

On the assessment of the D, spot on. Early on Harrison was some guy wearing a Steeler #92 jersey, no Troy, new players, and responsibilities took a bit longer to gel, but once they did, it was pretty solid. I'm pretty sure if we could have gone on in the playoffs, the D would have more than held it's own. Unfortunately, the O at this point was shot.

Special teams are never special in the Burgh. The return crew was ok. The coverage units were not, but can be explained by injuries to key players, as well as coverage players moving on to starting roles for significant periods of time.

I will disagree with Tomlin on Amos. He doesn't need help. he needs replaced. two blocked punts, giving up two conversions on fake punts....that is not getting it done.

[maddog78]

Obviously, if you will.

“There were injuries at multiple positions,” he said. “Obviously, we never use injuries as an excuse but we acknowledge that it was a component.”

They really need to stop the tough talk about the "standard being the standard". When James Harrison is out, Chris Carter isn't going to play the same way. Charlie's not going to play like Ben, Will Allen like Troy, etc.

It's insulting to our intelligence.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by maddog78

Obviously, if you will.

“There were injuries at multiple positions,” he said. “Obviously, we never use injuries as an excuse but we acknowledge that it was a component.”

They really need to stop the tough talk about the "standard being the standard". When James Harrison is out, Chris Carter isn't going to play the same way. Charlie's not going to play like Ben, Will Allen like Troy, etc.

It's insulting to our intelligence.

its not tough talk, its typical coachspeak.

the fans need to quit gulping it hook, line and sinker, and lower expectations a bit when the teams stars and stallwarts are ravaged by injuries.

its pretty obvious the steelers cant win the SB w/o players such as woodley, harrison, troy, miller, ben etc even though the superbowl is ALWAYS the standard.

[Killer]

The Steelers can't win the SB by trying to run the ball.

The last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, they finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing. They didn't run against Baltimore in the AFC title game or against Arizona in the Super Bowl. Yet, somehow, they won.

the answer - let Ben throw the damn ball!!!!!!


Fire Haley!!!!

[steelfury02]

Originally Posted by Killer

The Steelers can't win the SB by trying to run the ball.

The last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, they finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing. They didn't run against Baltimore in the AFC title game or against Arizona in the Super Bowl. Yet, somehow, they won.

the answer - let Ben throw the damn ball!!!!!!


Fire Haley!!!!

you're right - they needed a Troy pick 6 to seal the deal in the AFC champ game, and, they also needed another pick 6 to keep them close enough to have to come from behind to win in XLIII. Ben slinging it isn't the cure all.

[maddog78]

Better fire Art II - he's the one dictating a power running game.