For most of Mike Tomlin’s tenure as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, seeing the Carolina Panthers on the field during the final week before Labor Day meant only one thing: the preseason finale.
And Tomlin has plenty of memories of fringe players seemingly coming out of nowhere in that game to catch the coaching staff’s eyes in their final chance to earn a roster spot.
Now that the NFL has sliced its preseason to three games, the annual Steelers-Panthers “preseason rivalry” is no more. The Steelers instead are capping their 2022 preseason schedule with Sunday’s home game against the Detroit Lions.
But no matter the opponent or venue, Tomlin’s message about keeping an open mind about roster decisions until the conclusion of the final preseason game? It stands.
“I think it’s important that we always provide that perspective,” Tomlin said. “That people charge through the barn doors in the 11th hour. You know, when we used to be in the four-game system, it used to be the Carolina game historically. And guys like (Arnold Harrison) always ran their way onto the roster in the last game, and so I’ll give them those examples. And they’ll add to that legacy with their efforts.”
Harrison, a linebacker, had a strip sack and fumble recovery during the 2009 preseason finale against the Panthers, and made the 53-man roster as a result.
There are position battles at the back end of the depth chart on the defensive line, at wide receiver, running back, inside and outside linebacker and in the secondary.
Most players have had more than three months to state their case, dating back to organized team activities, minicamp and (to date) five weeks of training camp. Sunday is their final on-field opportunity before final roster cuts are due 4 p.m. Tuesday.
“The tapes are talking, walking and breathing resumes,” Tomlin said. “There are things that we say. There are things that we aspire to be, but all you got to do is turn the tape on and see what you are.”
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