Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin didn't endorse Bengals' critiques of his Steelers — but didn't completely refute them either

The Cincinnati Bengals certainly had a lot to say after they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-30 on Sunday.

They questioned the depth of the Steelers’ playbook, the extent of Diontae Johnson’s target share and how much one star player was complaining to the officials.

On Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked for his reaction to those statements.

I’ll give you his opinions … and mine.

What the Bengals were saying: Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was asked what the Bengals did better defensively in the second half of the game. They allowed 20 points in the first half. Then Cincinnati didn’t even allow a first down until the Steelers’ fifth offensive possession of the second half.

“Just settling down,” Pratt told CBS Sports. “It was us giving them plays. We knew what they were going to do. They like to do the same plays over and over.”

What Tomlin had to say: The first question of Tomlin’s press conference was, “Do you buy into it when other players say you’re predictable?”

Here was the coach’s full response.

“That’s what they say when they’re having success. They don’t say it when they’re not. So, I don’t worry much about that. I focus on the things that are within our control. When I look at the tape, there were some repeat concepts, but Cincinnati was in some repeat concepts. And that’s football. When it’s good-on-good, particularly in the latter part of the season, there’s very little secrets. I don’t know if we were all that surprised by anything that they did offensively. So, then it comes down to execution. That’s where I like to keep our focus. We’ve got to execute better, we’ve got to make makeable plays. And that’s our goal. That’s where our focus is as we lean in on this week’s opportunity, and less about some of the fodder that you speak of.”

How to interpret what Tomlin had to say: Well, he didn’t deny it, did he?

Saying that the Bengals were predictable too and that this is the nature of the beast in November football isn’t refuting Pratt’s statement. In fact, Tomlin did acknowledge some “repeat concepts.” He just tried to brush off Pratt’s characterization of the Steelers offense by calling it “fodder” and suggesting the team’s poor execution was a bigger deal.

That may be true. But I followed up that last point from Tomlin by asking him if they execute the makeable plays, does that then lead to the possible expansion of the playbook?

His response was, “certainly.”

So that’s an acknowledgement that there is more on the menu for Pickett to choose. But they are just making him stick with soup, salad and breadsticks.

To me, maybe the execution starts to get better if the opposing defense isn’t so secure in knowing how to stop what’s coming. Maybe expanding the gameday play sheet isn’t as much “cart before the horse” thinking as Tomlin appears to believe.

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What the Bengals were saying: Diontae Johnson was only targeted five times in 42 attempts. “He’s a great receiver. He really didn’t get too many targets,” Cincy cornerback Eli Apple remarked.

What Tomlin had to say: “Diontae is a known commodity within the group. People are going to have an agenda to minimize his impact on the game, particularly in significant moments, possession-down, red-zone football. When you’ve got a guy that’s been a Pro Bowler — and really, he’s kind of the only one when you’ve got a young group — that’s a component of it. So, how do you open up opportunities for a guy like that? Other guys make plays. (George) Pickens had a nice game, (Pat) Freiermuth had a nice game. Those things create opportunities and balance within your attack and opportunities for a guy like Diontae.”

How to interpret what Tomlin had to say: Again, I read more acknowledgement than denial out of that, don’t you?

Johnson’s targets are down. Freiermuth’s and Pickens’ are going up.

Frankly, I don’t see that as a terrible development, given the potential of what Pickens and Freiermuth could become.

Then again, I didn’t just agree to give Johnson $27 million guaranteed of Art Rooney’s money to be a third receiving option.

What the Bengals were saying: Bengals offensive tackle La’el Collins said Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt was “crying to the refs” by the end of the game, after registering just 0.5 sacks on the day.

What Tomlin had to say: Without alluding to Collins’ comments directly, I asked Tomlin how he thinks Watt has played in the two games since his return. Specifically, I asked how he feels the Pro Bowl pass rusher is dealing with the amount of chips and double teams he has been receiving and some of the holds perimeter pass blockers are employing without flags.

Tomlin gave a thoughtful response.

“He’s playing at a high level. He’s playing so well Alex (Highsmith) has been Defensive Player of the Week since (Watt) has been back. He’s going to find ways to be disruptive whether they put two people on him, whether they hold him or what have you. I think that’s what elite guys do. I did an offseason study a number of years ago as he was moving into that elite status in an effort to have clear conversations with him. I put Von Miller’s career sacks on a reel. I put some elite guys’ career sacks on a reel. All of their reels worked through chips and double teams and tight-end body positions and so forth. Top-notch guys, they deal with a lot of things, schematics, multiple people holding, and they’re still top-notch guys. I know that T.J. embraces that component of being him.”

How to interpret what Tomlin had to say: It’s clear through that example of Miller’s highlight tape, that Tomlin has told Watt in the past that great pass rushers are going to have to deal with some outlandish blocking schemes and egregious holding, with only the occasional penalty call.

James Harrison had to cope. So did Joey Porter, Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd.

Maybe this response was just Tomlin’s subtle way of reminding Watt, without having to address (or endorse) Collins’ quote.