Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans: Tomlin Tuesday

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off of a crappy loss to the Jets on Sunday night and have an extra day this week to prepare for their Monday Night Football matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke with the media on Tuesday afternoon to go over the previous game, update injury statuses, preview the upcoming game, and answer questions.

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Mike Tomlin began the presser by thanking the US men and women in our Armed Forces on Veterans Day. He explained how the team will honor practice squad member and Army Captain Alejandro Villanueva for the week and bring him along to the game in Tennessee on Monday night.

"“I speak for the organization when I say that we are very appreciative of our men and women in the Armed Forces and the blanket of protection they have and continue to provide us as Americans. This year it hits very close to home for us because one of our teammates is a serviceman. West point grad, Villanueva, we acknowledged him yesterday in our team meeting. We’ll honor him not only today but all week. We’ll carry him with us to Tennessee when we play this game this weekend, just as a sign or a token of our appreciation for not only the sacrifice that he made, but all of the servicemen and women in our country.” – Mike Tomlin"

To go over the previous game, the giant elephant in the room in the form of Tomlin’s record on the road against “inferior” teams was looming the entire press conference. Tomlin asserted that the Steelers’ poor performance and outcome boils down to the turnovers.

"“I’m sure we can bounce around a myriad of things, but I tried to focus on what’s tangible, and on Sunday we turned the ball over and didn’t get any. When those things happen, you have a tough time winning football games.” – Mike Tomlin"

On the injury front there aren’t any new injuries that arose from Sunday’s loss but some good news could be coming around the corner. Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, and Ryan Shazier are already categorized as “Out” for Monday night’s game while Shamarko Thomas and Ross Ventrone will have the opportunity to work their way back onto the field depending on how their practice week goes. Tomlin also noted that Steve McClendon is nursing the sore shoulder that kept him out of a game previously this season.

On the Titans Tomlin noted that the quarterback changes do present a challenge for the Steelers in terms of who to prepare for. He also noted that having Mike Munchak on the Steelers’ staff can present some advantages but also warned that Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton was not only on the Steelers’ staff at one point, but also was with the Browns previously to Tennessee.

Not surprisingly, the first few questions to Tomlin were in regards to whether or not his record against losing teams on the road played a factor mentally for the team when going up against the Jets last week. Tomlin reiterated how the turnovers played the biggest factor in the team’s loss, whether it was against a bad team or not.

"“I tend to focus on tangible things and in terms of Sunday, obviously we turned the ball over a lot (four times) and didn’t get any, and minus -4 is going to put you in a tough position to win, regardless of who you’re playing or where you’re playing or what the circumstances are.” – Mike Tomlin"

It is a valid question because the record cannot be ignored; Tomlin has this stigma because the record is what it is. The issue with harping on it is what would you expect him to say? Why does the team play badly against inferior opponents? What’s the answer? Surely there has to be an answer because all of these games have to be connected to each other, right? I don’t know the answer and I don’t know if Tomlin has to give one. I mean, he’s not going to say that the team just doesn’t prepare as much for bad teams. The turnovers did contribute to the loss, how could they not have? The Steelers turned the ball over four times and didn’t generate a single turnover themselves; those issues will almost always cause your loss column to increase.

Tomlin was asked to address the Mike Mitchell play at the end of the game where he jumped the line and dove at the Jets victory formation.

"“It was not professional. We don’t want to play football like that. Mike is an emotional guy; he’s new to us, learning how we do business.” – Mike Tomlin"

Tomlin was asked if it was a play that was prearranged or if it was something that Mitchell took it upon himself to do.

"“He came over and said something to me prior to that sequence on the sideline. I couldn’t hear what he said. I just kind of acknowledged him and nodded. I guess that he assumed that I gave him those instructions, the OK for him to do that. I showed that play to the team yesterday and just wanted to be very clear about how we play and what it is we value. We had many snaps in which to secure victory in that football game and didn’t. We’ll educate Mike and move forward.” – Mike Tomlin"

Mike Tomlin was also asked to address comments made by Ravens coach John Harbaugh after their team’s win on Sunday.

"“If they choose to spend their time thinking and talking about us, so be it. Hopefully if we do what it is we’re supposed to do and they do, we’ll see them again. Maybe we can settle it in ’15, maybe not, we’ll see.” – Mike Tomlin"

It will certainly be a test for the Steelers to see how they can bounce back from that loss. They’ll have their bye week following the Monday night game against the Titans.

Obviously Count – 16

You can listen to Tomlin’s entire press conference right here.

On to the Titans!

Here we go Steelers! Here we go!