August 9, 2024 • 11 mins
Steelers' Historian, Bob Labriola sits down with Head Coach Mike Tomlin ahead of the Steelers first Pre Season game of the 2024 season against the Houston Texans
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's the Mike Tomlin King Day Podcast with Steelers Digest
editor Bob Labriola. Welcome to the Mike Tomlin Show, brought
to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. V F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm
Bob Labriola, Okay coach. In the recent past, you have
had assistance on your staff who had previous experience as
(00:21):
a head coach. Mike Munchik and Brian Floores are a
couple of examples, and now Arthur Smith fits that description
as well. Guys who have had previous head coaching experience.
What qualities do they bring that are unique to other assistants.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
You know, they have a global set of eyes based
on their experience. They can step outside the roles that
they hold and see the big picture. They're useful in
things outside of you know, their designated jobs, calendar creation
and things of that nature. There's just experience that is
(00:56):
useful and helpful to me in terms of some of
the things that I have have to do. They're a
good sounding board or an ear for me. It has
been a good experience for me to have that, and
I am excited about the experience that that Arthur brings
in that area. More than anything, it's it's it's a
good resource and useful for me as I do some
(01:17):
of the things, particularly some background like things, some structural
things that kind of come with the job. I'm able
to delegate some of those things too and lighten my load.
That frees me up to do more coaching. When I
got a guy with that type of experience that that
I can, you know, give some assignments to them, and
so it's always helpful to me. I'm always really excited
(01:40):
about it. More than anything, I just like the perspective
that they bring.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you think that his play calling might be different
or impacted a little bit by his experience as a
head coach as opposed to an offensive coordinator who has
never had that job.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
No question, And those are probably his cinema I've gotten
from him throughout this process. I think that when you've
been at head coach, man, it forever changes you in
a lot of ways as it pertains the ball and coaching,
and so I think it does help you evolve as
a play caller or offensive coordinator. And so I know
(02:18):
he's excited and refreshed and really eager to get started
with this season.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Chuck Noll always said that playing football is not normal
human behavior, and by that he meant that the skills
required for blocking and tackling, the love for the physical
contact that's critical to doing those things, well, those things
have to be taught and re taught, and players have
to learn and relearn. Do you agree with that? I
agree wholeheartedly. I think the men that play this game
(02:46):
have a certain appetite for the violence that's a component
of this game. You got to hone that appetite and
develop those skills into functional things that allow him to
perform in us to pursue victory in some ways. That
why your training camps are physical and contain tackling and
a lot of competitive periods.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Without question, it is my job to ready them for
the fights that await. I believe it's difficult to spar
to box without sparring. But also we're in an environment
where we're trying to go from ninety to fifty three,
and so these guys want to put their skills on display.
The less speculation that we have, the clearer the evaluation process.
(03:29):
When you tackle, you're not speculating how plays come to
an end, you're not speculating about skill sets that are
really relative to the game, the ability to tackle consistently,
the ability to break tackles, And so it's very necessary
from my perspective if you're interested in one ready in
the group for the battles that lie ahead, and two
(03:52):
giving everyone a legitimate, fair evaluation process where they can
also grow.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
On the flip side, you're also known for giving veteran
gus time off for dialing things back, for the potential
of bounce back days. Do you have a formula for
when you do those things or is it a gut feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It's somewhat of a formula and somewhat of a gut feeling.
You know, guys with first team All Pro in their resume,
for example, I give them what they need to be
ready for the season and nothing more. And so you
think about guys like Cam and TJ and Mika for example,
killer Brew and special teams like what can kill a Brew?
(04:29):
Show me out here on the practice fields of Latrobe
as a special teamer that he hadn't already showed me.
I minimize him. I want to see others. I minimize
those guys. I want to give those guys enough to
be ready for the opener, while at the same time
not leaving any of their games on these fields of Latrobe.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
You once were a young assistant coach, eager and enthusiastic,
and you have described yourself as someone who could be
a pain to the head coach with constant suggestions and ideas.
When you have a young assistant coach on your staff
who's like you were, how do you handle that?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I show them the grace and patience man that guys
like Tony Dungee showed me, because I recognize what makes
people a bad follower at times is leadership, aptitude and skills.
And why would I squash that. It's my job to
cultivate that, to help them grow, to teach them how
to infuse their personalities inappropriately. But I got no desire
(05:27):
to squash that because I can relate to that, and
I am thankful that I work for men that were
patient with me in that regard, specifically Tony Dungee and
John Gruden.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So you have a level of tolerance, then would you
say or how you could get pushed to a certain
degree and then no more.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
I have a level of tolerance, but I also have
a line.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
One of your things, coaches, one man's misfortune is another
man's opportunity. Russell Wilson's calf injury created an opportunity for
Justin Fields, But did it also create an opportunity for
you and your staff to learn about a new player
and an accelerated rate.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No question, not only knowledge of Justin but also knowledge
of Kyle Allen as well, and so on. Sometimes one
man's misfortune means opportunity for others. Justin's obviously had an
opportunity to get get more reps and and us get
to know him. And I can say the same thing
about Kyle Allen? Would you learn you know? I just
(06:29):
I think exposure is everything. I'm more familiar with with
their skill sets, their talents, the things that they do well,
and naturally exposure is good and and so it's been
an increased increased exposure and so an accelerated understanding the
knowledge of who they are as players.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
What are you looking for from your team in tonight's
preseason game?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
A high floor from a fundamental perspective, before you can
start kicking butt, man, you gotta not kick your own butt.
And I just think that that's a co oponent of
this process. I don't want us to be highly penalized.
I wanted us to have cleanliness on both sides of
the ball pre snap. I want us to do routine
things routinely. Those are some of the things that I
(07:13):
want to see the first time out, as opposed to
the spectacular. I want to see some high floor things.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Because the Texans played in the Hall of Fame game,
will they be in a different place than your group,
which has not been in a stadium yet.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
No question. But that's a good thing for us. You know,
it changes you once you step into a stadium in
terms of development. And so they're further along in their
process than we are because of their participation in the
Hall of Fame game. They were in training campus citially
a week before we were at this stage of the journey.
(07:46):
That is a significant advantage from a developmental perspective, and
so I'm excited about that. I like challenges. We need challenges.
It's good to be in a stadium with a team
further along than we are. Will adapt and it'll help
us evolve. We're going to get some of their frontline players,
(08:06):
for example, and so there's a lot about it that's
attractive from my perspective, if you're talking about our development
and the things that we get to see.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
With regard to the new kickoff rule, are you more
likely to be aggressive and proactive with your team and
your decisions, or might you use this first preseason game
for recon for trying to get a handle on how
opponents might approach it.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, I think more than anything, I'm not trying
to get too much accomplished. We're going to hit it
right down the fairway, if you will. This is our
first exposure to it. I want to make sure first
that the guys understand the play, the rules of the play,
the things that are significant in terms of the design
(08:51):
of the play. Those are the things that really have
my attention. Less about strategy, what we intend to do
as we move into the fall, or what the Joneses
are up to. We just want to dip our toe
in the water.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Initially, if there had been no change to the kickoff rule,
would there have been a joint practice with Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, I'm in the joint practices, particularly when I have
a relationship with the coach. I think you like the
intensity of it, while at the same time you want
to maintain professionalism. I think relationships aid in that the
history that Sean and I have make us appropriate dance partners,
and I'm glad that it's going to happen for us.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Besides what you just said, what would you describe as
the pluses and minuses of a joint practice or are
there none? But except you.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Know, for example, Buffalo is a four to three team.
We're a three four team, and so during the course
of the season, you see three four teams, you see
four to three teams. Our offense is almost seen exclusively
three fourth structure in camp is good for them to
work during development against something that's you know, schematically different.
(09:56):
We utilize a bunch of tight ends and so forth. Offensively,
Buffalo has been a three receiver group, if you will,
and so it's good for our defense maybe to see
some different things offensively. It's good for offense to see
some different things defensively. It's just all part of the
developmental process.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So you mentioned the relationship you have with Buffalo coach
Sean McDermott. How does that relationship, I don't know, maybe
prevent some of the negatives of a joint practice.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
You know, that's my brother man.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
We've been.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
We've been friends, man, since we're young, young people, and
so it's probably because of the depths of that relationship,
it's probably easier to maintain the professional environment that we
all desire.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And when it comes to playing time in preseason games,
do the young guys have to earn playing time through
how they perform in practices or do you view these
preseason games it's just another part of the evaluation process.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
It's another part of the evaluation process. But make no mistake,
you know, the participation is earned. We're gonna use everybody.
You gotta use everybody, But when they participate in game
is the things that are earned in this process leading
up to it, and the sooners you get in these games, obviously,
the better better shape you're in in terms of being
(11:18):
a component of this.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
That's the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast. Subscribe and download
new episodes every week and check out all of the
other shows we have to offer on the Steelers Podcast
network that's available on the Steelers mobile app, the iHeartRadio app,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
He's the Mike Tomlin King Day Podcast with Steelers Digest
editor Bob Labriola. Welcome to the Mike Tomlin Show, brought
to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. V F one
fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm
Bob Labriola, Okay coach. In the recent past, you have
had assistance on your staff who had previous experience as
(00:21):
a head coach. Mike Munchik and Brian Floores are a
couple of examples, and now Arthur Smith fits that description
as well. Guys who have had previous head coaching experience.
What qualities do they bring that are unique to other assistants.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
You know, they have a global set of eyes based
on their experience. They can step outside the roles that
they hold and see the big picture. They're useful in
things outside of you know, their designated jobs, calendar creation
and things of that nature. There's just experience that is
(00:56):
useful and helpful to me in terms of some of
the things that I have have to do. They're a
good sounding board or an ear for me. It has
been a good experience for me to have that, and
I am excited about the experience that that Arthur brings
in that area. More than anything, it's it's it's a
good resource and useful for me as I do some
(01:17):
of the things, particularly some background like things, some structural
things that kind of come with the job. I'm able
to delegate some of those things too and lighten my load.
That frees me up to do more coaching. When I
got a guy with that type of experience that that
I can, you know, give some assignments to them, and
so it's always helpful to me. I'm always really excited
(01:40):
about it. More than anything, I just like the perspective
that they bring.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Do you think that his play calling might be different
or impacted a little bit by his experience as a
head coach as opposed to an offensive coordinator who has
never had that job.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
No question, And those are probably his cinema I've gotten
from him throughout this process. I think that when you've
been at head coach, man, it forever changes you in
a lot of ways as it pertains the ball and coaching,
and so I think it does help you evolve as
a play caller or offensive coordinator. And so I know
(02:18):
he's excited and refreshed and really eager to get started
with this season.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Chuck Noll always said that playing football is not normal
human behavior, and by that he meant that the skills
required for blocking and tackling, the love for the physical
contact that's critical to doing those things, well, those things
have to be taught and re taught, and players have
to learn and relearn. Do you agree with that? I
agree wholeheartedly. I think the men that play this game
(02:46):
have a certain appetite for the violence that's a component
of this game. You got to hone that appetite and
develop those skills into functional things that allow him to
perform in us to pursue victory in some ways. That
why your training camps are physical and contain tackling and
a lot of competitive periods.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Without question, it is my job to ready them for
the fights that await. I believe it's difficult to spar
to box without sparring. But also we're in an environment
where we're trying to go from ninety to fifty three,
and so these guys want to put their skills on display.
The less speculation that we have, the clearer the evaluation process.
(03:29):
When you tackle, you're not speculating how plays come to
an end, you're not speculating about skill sets that are
really relative to the game, the ability to tackle consistently,
the ability to break tackles, And so it's very necessary
from my perspective if you're interested in one ready in
the group for the battles that lie ahead, and two
(03:52):
giving everyone a legitimate, fair evaluation process where they can
also grow.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
On the flip side, you're also known for giving veteran
gus time off for dialing things back, for the potential
of bounce back days. Do you have a formula for
when you do those things or is it a gut feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It's somewhat of a formula and somewhat of a gut feeling.
You know, guys with first team All Pro in their resume,
for example, I give them what they need to be
ready for the season and nothing more. And so you
think about guys like Cam and TJ and Mika for example,
killer Brew and special teams like what can kill a Brew?
(04:29):
Show me out here on the practice fields of Latrobe
as a special teamer that he hadn't already showed me.
I minimize him. I want to see others. I minimize
those guys. I want to give those guys enough to
be ready for the opener, while at the same time
not leaving any of their games on these fields of Latrobe.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
You once were a young assistant coach, eager and enthusiastic,
and you have described yourself as someone who could be
a pain to the head coach with constant suggestions and ideas.
When you have a young assistant coach on your staff
who's like you were, how do you handle that?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I show them the grace and patience man that guys
like Tony Dungee showed me, because I recognize what makes
people a bad follower at times is leadership, aptitude and skills.
And why would I squash that. It's my job to
cultivate that, to help them grow, to teach them how
to infuse their personalities inappropriately. But I got no desire
(05:27):
to squash that because I can relate to that, and
I am thankful that I work for men that were
patient with me in that regard, specifically Tony Dungee and
John Gruden.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So you have a level of tolerance, then would you
say or how you could get pushed to a certain
degree and then no more.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
I have a level of tolerance, but I also have
a line.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
One of your things, coaches, one man's misfortune is another
man's opportunity. Russell Wilson's calf injury created an opportunity for
Justin Fields, But did it also create an opportunity for
you and your staff to learn about a new player
and an accelerated rate.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No question, not only knowledge of Justin but also knowledge
of Kyle Allen as well, and so on. Sometimes one
man's misfortune means opportunity for others. Justin's obviously had an
opportunity to get get more reps and and us get
to know him. And I can say the same thing
about Kyle Allen? Would you learn you know? I just
(06:29):
I think exposure is everything. I'm more familiar with with
their skill sets, their talents, the things that they do well,
and naturally exposure is good and and so it's been
an increased increased exposure and so an accelerated understanding the
knowledge of who they are as players.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
What are you looking for from your team in tonight's
preseason game?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
A high floor from a fundamental perspective, before you can
start kicking butt, man, you gotta not kick your own butt.
And I just think that that's a co oponent of
this process. I don't want us to be highly penalized.
I wanted us to have cleanliness on both sides of
the ball pre snap. I want us to do routine
things routinely. Those are some of the things that I
(07:13):
want to see the first time out, as opposed to
the spectacular. I want to see some high floor things.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Because the Texans played in the Hall of Fame game,
will they be in a different place than your group,
which has not been in a stadium yet.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
No question. But that's a good thing for us. You know,
it changes you once you step into a stadium in
terms of development. And so they're further along in their
process than we are because of their participation in the
Hall of Fame game. They were in training campus citially
a week before we were at this stage of the journey.
(07:46):
That is a significant advantage from a developmental perspective, and
so I'm excited about that. I like challenges. We need challenges.
It's good to be in a stadium with a team
further along than we are. Will adapt and it'll help
us evolve. We're going to get some of their frontline players,
(08:06):
for example, and so there's a lot about it that's
attractive from my perspective, if you're talking about our development
and the things that we get to see.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
With regard to the new kickoff rule, are you more
likely to be aggressive and proactive with your team and
your decisions, or might you use this first preseason game
for recon for trying to get a handle on how
opponents might approach it.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
You know, I think more than anything, I'm not trying
to get too much accomplished. We're going to hit it
right down the fairway, if you will. This is our
first exposure to it. I want to make sure first
that the guys understand the play, the rules of the play,
the things that are significant in terms of the design
(08:51):
of the play. Those are the things that really have
my attention. Less about strategy, what we intend to do
as we move into the fall, or what the Joneses
are up to. We just want to dip our toe
in the water.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Initially, if there had been no change to the kickoff rule,
would there have been a joint practice with Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yes, I'm in the joint practices, particularly when I have
a relationship with the coach. I think you like the
intensity of it, while at the same time you want
to maintain professionalism. I think relationships aid in that the
history that Sean and I have make us appropriate dance partners,
and I'm glad that it's going to happen for us.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Besides what you just said, what would you describe as
the pluses and minuses of a joint practice or are
there none? But except you.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Know, for example, Buffalo is a four to three team.
We're a three four team, and so during the course
of the season, you see three four teams, you see
four to three teams. Our offense is almost seen exclusively
three fourth structure in camp is good for them to
work during development against something that's you know, schematically different.
(09:56):
We utilize a bunch of tight ends and so forth. Offensively,
Buffalo has been a three receiver group, if you will,
and so it's good for our defense maybe to see
some different things offensively. It's good for offense to see
some different things defensively. It's just all part of the
developmental process.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
So you mentioned the relationship you have with Buffalo coach
Sean McDermott. How does that relationship, I don't know, maybe
prevent some of the negatives of a joint practice.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
You know, that's my brother man.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
We've been.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
We've been friends, man, since we're young, young people, and
so it's probably because of the depths of that relationship,
it's probably easier to maintain the professional environment that we
all desire.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And when it comes to playing time in preseason games,
do the young guys have to earn playing time through
how they perform in practices or do you view these
preseason games it's just another part of the evaluation process.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
It's another part of the evaluation process. But make no mistake,
you know, the participation is earned. We're gonna use everybody.
You gotta use everybody, But when they participate in game
is the things that are earned in this process leading
up to it, and the sooners you get in these games, obviously,
the better better shape you're in in terms of being
(11:18):
a component of this.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
That's the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast. Subscribe and download
new episodes every week and check out all of the
other shows we have to offer on the Steelers Podcast
network that's available on the Steelers mobile app, the iHeartRadio app,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
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