Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin says a lot while saying little about Aaron Rodgers' pass protection

During his weekly press conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin was asked if injuries in the secondary (DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr.) have resulted in the Steelers “holding back” on defense.

“Certainly, but it’s not just the injuries. If you’re coaching and you’re seeing around corners, certainly one injury doesn’t get you off your game and two better not, but it’s the injuries coupled with the fact that players themselves are new,” Tomlin said.

“You’re doing what’s appropriate when you take the game schematically to those that are playing. I imagine the more we play, the more stadiums we step into, the less that discussion is significant. The more we are going to be able to expand our menu and do more things. They will be able to communicate — and communicate with great fluidity — and understand how we go about our business.”

Good question. Thoughtful answer.

That got my wheels turning. So I asked if, similarly, the offense has had to hold back because of the offensive line’s pass protection issues.

“No,” Tomlin replied.

OK. Got it.

Not exactly as elaborate a response. But that’s fine. I’m never one who is put off by a one-word retort from Tomlin.

I better not be. I think I probably hold the Tuesday press conference record for such Q&A exchanges. If not (to use a Tomlinism), I’m at least “a Gold Jacket Guy” in that regard.

Quite often, though, Tomlin says a lot more when he says a lot less.

I think that was the case here.

Either Tomlin doesn’t think the O-line is a problem and didn’t want to wade into what he thought the bigger issue is, or he knows it’s a problem and didn’t want to underscore that by extending the conversation.

In other words, he may have just provided more protection for the offensive line than the offensive line has provided for Aaron Rodgers all year.

If the offensive line isn’t the answer to that question, what else could the answer be? Why else is Rodgers getting rid of the ball in 2.56 seconds on average, third fastest among passers who have been in all three games (according to Pro Football Focus).

If protection isn’t the main concern, why else is Rodgers last in the NFL among qualified passers (according to Next Gen) in the category of average intended air yards (5.4)? 

Why was he down to 6 yards per pass attempt Sunday in New England? That’s a figure that would pace him 24th in the NFL this season.

Why is DK Metcalf — at $60 million guaranteed — 56th in targets with only 17?

“I don’t have any reservations about our ability to get DK the ball,” Tomlin said. “If people want to allocate schematics (of) multiple people to him, that’s why it’s a team game. He’s doing a lot of things well. Really comfortable with the trajectory of the division of labor in that space. Guys like Calvin Austin are going to have opportunities to make plays, and you have seen that already in a short period of time.”

Indeed. Austin is averaging 15.8 yards per reception (13th in the NFL). Why, then, did he only have one catch and two targets prior to the fourth quarter in New England?

To be clear, it has nothing to do with the fact that Rodgers was sacked seven times the previous two weeks and New England came in with an NFL-leading nine sacks to open Week 3.

Right, Coach?

Whatever. At least this week it worked well enough to win and Rodgers wasn’t sacked.

I’ll be interested to see what the rationale is if the offense looks the same on Sunday against a Minnesota Vikings team that also has nine sacks and an NFC-leading seven takeaways.

There’s no way for Tomlin’s response to be shorter, but there’s also no need for it to be longer. He’s saying plenty while trying to say as little as possible.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter recap Mike Tomlin’s Tuesday press conference.