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Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin was asked the necessary questions. You decide if he gave appropriate answers

Tim Benz
| Wednesday, October 4, 2023 6:26 a.m.
AP
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is asked the tough questions by the media. It’s up to the fans to like his answers or not.

Before we dive into some of the things that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had to say during his weekly press conference, I feel the need to channel Mick Jagger’s lyrics from the Rolling Stones’ new single, “Angry.”

“My mouth’s getting sore, I can’t take anymore

Why you angry with me?”

I can always tell when angst within Steelers Nation is truly about to boil over when my social media interactions and email messages are more about “Why don’t you guys in the media ask Tomlin the hard questions at his news conferences?” than they are about how the Steelers themselves screwed up.

The thing is, more often than not, the questions are asked. You just don’t like the answers Tomlin gives.

And when the reporters on hand don’t instantly react with over-the-top rebukes like cartoon versions of guys in fedoras with index cards that say “press,” like in a scene from a 1930s movie, you think Tomlin is “being let off the hook.”

Fans want reporters to yell at Tomlin in press conferences like they do during games on their couch instead of asking questions and reporting the answers.

Which is supposed to be the job.

Our opinions of those answers — when we interpret those responses and craft a column, talk show or television sportscast — are where we hold the coaches, players and managers accountable in our business.

Believe me, I’ve got a few opinions about what Tomlin said Tuesday that I’ll be sharing here, on TV and on the radio and throughout the week. In fact, I did so already in the wake of the Steelers’ 30-6 loss in Houston on Sunday.

But, getting back to my pal Mick, don’t get angry with me — or my Steelers media colleagues — for not asking the right questions of Tomlin on Tuesday. Throughout his 33-minute exchange with the media, Tomlin was asked about:

• Why they went shotgun on fourth-and-1 late in the third quarter in Houston

• Why they didn’t run Najee Harris or go for a field goal on that play when it was only 16-6 at the time

• Why they couldn’t stop Houston’s toss plays or screen passes

• If he had plans on changing the offensive play caller, Matt Canada, and what his level of confidence is in him

• The team’s slow starts

• If he thinks the offense doesn’t play “with enough heart”

• If Joey Porter Jr. going to get more playing time

• What Kenny Pickett needs to do better, specifically in terms of his pocket management

I mean, I think that pretty much covers it, right? What did we miss?

”Hey coach, how come you haven’t won a playoff game in six years? How come the ‘standard’ isn’t the ‘standard’ anymore?”

I’m pretty sure I’ve covered that already — and will once more if they, yet again, fail to win a playoff game this year.

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But in terms of how Tomlin answers those questions, it’s up to you to decide if he does so to your level of satisfaction. For me, a lot of his responses and talking points on Tuesday fell short.

For example:

• After the loss in Houston, Tomlin said changes were coming. Based on what he said Tuesday, the most tangible change is that the players are going to practice in pads Wednesday so that the team can work on its pad level, effort and physicality.

“It’s my job to have (a) pulse of the group. In the midst of that (Houston) game, I’m standing on the sideline saying we’re practicing in pads next Wednesday,” Tomlin said.

Um. OK. I think when he said “changes” were coming on Sunday after the defeat, most folks in Pittsburgh were thinking in terms of firing the offensive coordinator or at least addressing the plays that are called in high-leverage, short-yardage downs. Or, perhaps getting Porter more snaps, Harris more carries, George Pickens more targets.

But a padded practice on Wednesday? Indeed! That’ll fix everything … I suppose.

Sidenote: Will all the veterans who get those typical Wednesdays off be wearing those pads when they stand on the sidelines? Or will they actually be participating?

• Regarding the quizzical fourth-and-1 decision to throw from the shotgun, Tomlin said he didn’t feel comfortable running because they “lost a lot of short-yardage personality because of Dan Moore and Pat Freiermuth (getting injured in-game). We lost all our big packages. Broderick Jones was already on the field. And so, we probably had to get out of our intended box in that circumstance because of lack of player availability at that point in the game.”

Sure. Except that Harris had just gotten into his best flow running the football on that drive despite the injuries, Freiermuth had been shoved around in the run-blocking game as it was, and Moore is never going to be confused with Johnathan Ogden.

So suddenly, now you can’t pick up three feet? And if you can’t block well enough in the run game to pick up three feet, could that unit really pass block well enough so that Pickett could avoid being sacked?

Seeing as how Pickett did get sacked and injured on the play — I guess not.

• Tomlin was asked specifically about the prospect of “changing who’s calling the plays” on offense. His response was, “Not at this juncture, no.”

Frankly, I thought the appropriate “juncture” was this past offseason. Apparently, Tomlin disagreed. Perhaps that “juncture” will come during the bye week if the Steelers lose Sunday to fall to 2-3 after a 40th consecutive game when the offense is held under 400 yards.

In other words, to quote Mick Jagger again, this time from 1965:

”Things will get better if you really try

So don’t you panic, don’t you panic

Give it one more try.”

Do the Rolling Stones have a song about never having finished with a losing season?

Eh, unless Tomlin comes up with answers better than the ones he bloviated on Tuesday, that may be a moot point by January.

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter discuss what Mike Tomlin had to say at this week’s press conference.


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