Mike Tomlin holds his press conference early in the week before each game, analyzing what happened the previous weekend and focusing on the upcoming weekend. While we’ll cover the most important things Tomlin had to say in separate articles, we’ll throw in a few smaller tidbits of information in this post. A one-stop shop for the rest of what Coach T had to say.
The full press conference can be found on the Steelers’ YouTube channel.
Before we go into detail, here is everything we have written about the press conference so far today:
Injury overview: Mike Tomlin gives update on Russell Wilson, Dan Moore Jr. struggles with ankle swelling
Tomlin: Russell Wilson “feels better today than before,” but still waiting
Tomlin: Steelers ‘really excited’ to bring back Corliss Waitman
Steelers explain why the team brought back SS Terrell Edmunds
Steelers expect WR Roman Wilson’s training participation to increase this week
Mike Tomlin declines to answer the question of whether a healthy Russell Wilson will resume his role as QB1
“I did a test vote, man”: Mike Tomlin explains how Scotty Miller became the emergency holder
“It was very good”: Mike Tomlin assesses Justin Fields’ performance
Mike Tomlin is happy with Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott: “That’s exactly what you get from veterans”
“It is safe to assume that Larry Ogunjobi’s good health will lead to better performance,” says Mike Tomlin
Tomlin: Rookie UDFA CB Beanie Bishop Jr. off to “really good start” for the Steelers
Jaylen Warren is “healthy enough” despite not having much to do in Week 1, says Mike Tomlin
DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT IN DENVER
Playing in Denver is never easy because of the altitude, and it can be especially tough on a team early in the season when it’s hot. It will be crucial for the Steelers to be in good shape this week to face what Mike Tomlin described as a “hostile and challenging environment.”
“The first thing I think about when I think about going to Denver is the environment. Especially at this point in the season,” he said. “It’s a hostile and challenging environment in many ways. From a crowd noise perspective, from a conditioning perspective. And we can’t run away from that. We have to respond to that to prepare this week with those things in mind.”
The Broncos will wear their all-white jerseys on Sunday, meaning the Steelers will have to wear black jerseys. This adds to the conditioning aspect even more, as Denver is expected to have a high of 87. There is also excitement among Broncos fans as Bo Nix is set to start at quarterback. While Justin Fields is expected to start, many Broncos fans may have bought tickets anticipating the return of Russell Wilson, which could make for a loud atmosphere.
It’s a challenge the Steelers face, and Steelers fans probably won’t flock to Empower Mile High Field the way they did to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
PAYTON WILSON PLAYS WELL
Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Falcons and immediately impressed with a tackle that saved a touchdown on the game’s first possession.
“I thought it wasn’t too big for him, which is a good start for a young guy,” Tomlin said of Wilson’s overall play. “In general, I like what I’ve seen from Payton in terms of performance and demeanor.”
The Steelers rotated Wilson and Elandon Roberts based on skill sets, with Roberts being more of a downhill fighter and the faster Wilson giving the team a better option in pass coverage. Tomlin said it might look a little different this week, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wilson’s role gets bigger as the season goes on.
He offers a lot of interesting traits at the linebacker position and Week 1 was definitely a good start for Wilson. If he can build on that performance, he could be a really good contributor for the Steelers this season.
POSITIVE RESULTS FROM FRAZIER/ANDERSON
Both C Zach Frazier and OG Spencer Anderson made their first NFL appearances against the Falcons and overall the line was quite impressive on Sunday, allowing only two sacks and playing well in the run game.
“I’m grateful for the effort and demeanor of a guy like Spencer, a guy like Zach Frazier, who’s playing in regular season stadiums and starting lineups for the first time. There are definitely a lot of positives to build on. I like their attitude, their demeanor and their finishing. We’ll continue to work on the finer details.”
There’s definitely a lot to build on with Frazier and Anderson, and it was a really solid debut for Frazier while Anderson held his own. Both are far from done, but it was nice to see both play well, and with Frazier, it was nice to see him bounce back after snap issues earlier in the game. It was a good starting point for both, and I expect both to perform a little better on Sunday against Denver.
