January 4, 2025 • 13 mins
Steelers Historian, Bob Labriola sits down with Head Coach Mike Tomlin ahead of the Steelers Week 18 matchup against the Bengals
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's the Mike Tomlinking Day podcast with Steelers Digest editor
Bob Labriola. Okay, coach last season, going into Week eighteen,
you were in the exact situation in which the Bengals
currently find themselves, that is, needing a win against a
division opponent on the road plus some help to get
into the playoffs. Does that experience give you any insight
(00:22):
into what to expect tonight in terms of levels of
desperation and what the Bengals might be willing to do
or attempt.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You know, I know our mindset and our approach to business.
I'm not gonna pretend to know their. Certainly, I know
where our heads were at and our agenda and what
we were willing to do to pursue it, and so
I oftentimes proceed with that assumption. This is a big game,
this is do or die for them. I don't expect
them to preserve any bullets. As an analogy, They're gonna
(00:52):
fire all their bullets. They're gonna utilize their weapons, their
core weapons. When you're up against it, man, you go
to core guys, proven guys, hot hands, etc. And so,
if there's any assumptions from our perspective about their mindset.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
It's that down in distances. I mean, is fourth and
less than four an automatic go forward?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I mean those I think those things kind of play
out much later in the contest, But I don't anticipate
them to fire those type of bullets early in the contest.
I expect them to play situational decision making to their
regular standard, but certainly those discussions are on the table
(01:36):
as time becomes a factor depending on what the score is.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
In assessing your team's recent performances, you mentioned that the
turnover cultural turnover culture had been compromised, and that assessment
is supported by stats showing that during the three game
losing streak, the Steelers have their takeaways per game fall
from two to one to none and the turnover ratio
(02:00):
game go from plus one to minus one to minus two.
What specifically has been the cause of that?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You know, we gotta we gotta display and live our agenda.
And it's as simple as that, as nothing mystical about it.
We've had balls on the ground in the kicking game
on the punt team, specifically, in the last several weeks,
dislodge the ball. Mark Robinson dislodged one, James Pierre dislodged
one in Baltimore. We didn't get those balls on the ground.
(02:28):
You gotta get those. We had a ball tipped up
in the air on the minus thirty yard line last
week on the defensive side and Patrick Queen had a
chance to catch it and he didn't. And so, like,
it's not anything mystical, it's not like we need to
do anything procedurally different. We gotta make makeable plays oftentimes,
I say routine plays. Routinely, it's the same thing. On
the other side, Pat Pat Fayromu fumbled the ball on
(02:52):
the minus thirty yard line, and so last week against
Kansas City, he had the ball in his inside arm. Yeah,
balls are gonna come out, dislodge, get ripped away when
you don't protect it. It's a very fundamental thing to
put the ball on the outside arm and use the
sideline as a form of protection in terms of warding
off defenders and protecting the football. And so we're not
(03:15):
gonna pretend like it's mystical. We're not gonna pretend like
we're unlucky. We're not gonna change our approach to business
in terms of the things that we emphasize day to
day to create it. We just got to continue to
work hard and I expect our fortunes to change.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
On the flip side, the Bengals have eleven takeaways since
your first meeting on December the first in Cincinnati, based
on your preparation for today's game versus the Bengals, What
specifically has been the cause of that?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You know, I think you know, probably you know, just
deciding who they are. There's been a reduction of schematics
on that side, and some tailoringen of schematics to meet
their current circumstance. They've absorbed some attrition with guys like
Logan Wilson being unavailable to them, and so they've changed
some third down personnel groupings. For example, you know, a
(04:01):
guy like Geno Stone is doing what they acquired him
to do. Within that span, I think Geno has had
three interceptions. He had seven interceptions last year as a
member of the Baltimore Ravens. He's a member of that
team because of his ability to get the ball, and
so oftentimes it's an individual guy gaining traction within a role.
And the number one catalyst in that span for me
(04:23):
has been Genostone and his turnover ability. That was on display,
and that's the reason why they acquired them.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Generally speaking, is having team chemistry a result of winning?
Or is winning the result of having team chemistry?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You know, it's the chicken or the egg. It depends
on your perspective of what mood you're in. For me,
I try to feed both. Obviously, winning is our business,
and we better handle business and you better get a
collection of good guys. I think it kind of starts there,
good guys who happen to be good players. If you
have those ingredients, then you can cook the team chemistry.
(05:00):
That is somewhat mystical if you really get in a
thick discussion about it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
When coming up with a division of labor at running
back with Nause Harris and Jalen Warren, what are the
factors that you consider? Is it game plan, hot hand
upon its specific what.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
It's all of the above. There's some complexities to that,
just like there's some complexities in terms of how we
divide the labor up with Landon Roberts and Peyton Wilson
or Cam Sutton and Beanie Bishop, I think, or the
tight ends for that matter, when you have multiple guys
and capable guys with varying skill sets at a position. Oftentimes,
(05:35):
the circumstance, the environment, who's hot, who's not, any and
all of those things can play a major component in
terms of decision making.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Do you run different kinds of plays when each of
the guys is on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
We certainly can by playing, but certainly oftentimes they're very
similar plays. And sometimes it's just about a level of
fatigue of one particular guy. He may have had four
or five carries within a six and seven play sequence.
But we like the schematic circumstances that we're in, we'll
just swap out the runner and continue to run the
(06:09):
same battery of plays. And so that's what I mean,
and I'm not trying to avoid your question. It's just
multi layered and oftentimes complex when you're dealing with guys
with various skill sets, and how you divide the labor
up and how the best make sure the collective continues
to roll, you know, from week to week. In some
instances and a third down and two, it might mandate
(06:31):
that we use the land in Roberts on defense. In
another week, it might be purely a pass and circumstance
and dictate that we use Peyton Wilson. But if you
just you know, defining it by who do you use
on third down and two, the situation gets more complex.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
In Cincinnati's game against Denver last week, the Broncos sacked
Joe Burrows seven times and hit him or They registered
fifteen hits on the quarterback. Four of the sacks and
more than half of the hits came from the interior
defense of linemen instead of their edge rushers. Is pressure
up the middle from the interior. The way you have
to rush.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Joe Burrow, you know, you better do a really good
job of a collective rush. His ability to extend, his
ability to escape is very challenging, and so you know,
sometimes production in that area can be reflected by you know,
numbers from the interior or numbers from the perimeter. But
(07:26):
the bottom line is that if you're lacking in any area,
he's generally gonna find the escape lane. He can go lateral,
he can go vertical. He can go vertical to get
lateral and run horizontal to the line of scrimmage while
he's surveying downfield. He just has a unique skill set
in a low pulse rate that allows him to play
(07:47):
extended And so you know, although specifically in that instance
the stats can be associated with a particular component of
the rush. You better be solid all the way around,
down in and down out if not a guy like
him is going to get you.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Before the first meeting with the Bengals this season, you
talked about having enough defense for Burrow, and now that
this is the second meeting the rematch, does enough defense
also mean different defense?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Absolutely, you just got to live that life. Man. A
guy like him who's in total command of his schematics
has a lot of mental space and time to analyze
your schematics, and so that's the best way to really
delve into the discussion. Last time, we were talking about
guys like Matt Stafford and him and others Patrick Mahomes,
(08:37):
obviously Josh Allen now that he's really kind of tenured
in Buffalo. Anybody that's kind of been in the same
system of offense and really has an understanding of what's
required of them where their eligibles are. They got continuity
not only with their eligibles but with their schematics and
coaching staff. It requires defense because all of that sums
(08:59):
up into their ability to really digest what it is
that you're doing to focus their energies pre snap on
your movement, on your positioning, on your personnel, because what
they're asked to do become so second nature to them.
And so that's why I say it so definitively when
we're talking about having enough defense. When you play these
tenured guys who are in total command of their offensive
(09:22):
system of football and know where all their eligibles are, man,
you better level the playing field. You better not allow
them to get really comfortable with what they're looking at,
because when they do, that's when they have those days
that potentially become historic. And you know, obviously that's not
conducive to us winning.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Does different mean that different than anything you've done before,
because as you mentioned, Burrow has a lot of time
to look at what you're doing. I'm sure he's watching
a lot of video on you or has watched.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Different can be dramatically different in terms of new defenses,
but different can also be subtle, just in terms of
different disguises or different positioning or exchangings of zones. And
so you know, different could be a lot of things.
But you better be open to the general discussion as
you prepare to play a guy like this.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Other's two starting wide receivers t Higgins and Jamar Chase
that have a combined twenty six touchdown passes catches. How
are they used schimmatically to create opportunities for each other?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You know, whoever has one guy on him gets the ball.
We can make it complex, you know, but at the
end of the day, right, you got really talented receivers
and you only got so many defenders. And oftentimes when
I really watched Joe, I think he drops back in
those red zone circumstances and whoever's got one guy on
him is getting the ball.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So are there specific areas of the field where one
is especially effective or where one is often targeted?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
You know, obviously a guy like t is because of
his stature, he six four two twenty five or so
is a red zone issue and matchup. But you know,
Chase is a unique guy man. He leads the league
in all receiving statistical categories receptions, yards, touchdowns, targets, and
so this is a unique group that presents a unique challenge,
(11:13):
and so they can strike from just about anywhere. It's collective.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
T J. Watt was voted Steelers MVP for the fifth time,
which is the most since the award was first presented
in nineteen sixty nine. What can be deduced from the
fact that it was his fifth win and that he
has wanted in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, twenty twenty one,
twenty twenty three, and twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I think it really just speaks to his level of consistency.
When available. This guy plays an extremely high level. You
coupled that with the fact that he sees schematic challenges
week in and week out. Very rarely does he get
a one on one matchup, just like we were talking
about the Cincinnati receivers. They're two on him at all times,
(12:00):
yet and still he delivers. And I think it speaks
to his greatness. I think his teammates see that in
the consistency in which they vote for him in terms
of MVP reflects not only his production, but the adversity,
schematic adversity that he sees week in and week out,
down in and down out, and yet he still delivers.
(12:21):
I imagine the great basketball players Lebron and so forth.
They see consistent double teams, yet and still there at
the top of the food chain in terms of the statistics.
And that's why they are. Who they are is no
different in our game.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Earlier this week, you started the twenty one Day Clock
on inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, who's on pup, wide receiver
Roman Wilson, and Logan Lee, both of whom were on IR.
Would you characterize that as due diligence or is there
a real possibility that any of them might be able
to contribute this season?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
You know, I think it's already above. I think it's both.
We're at that time of the year where we get
an opportunity to start that because it is a limited
number of days left obviously in our football journey, and
so it's time to burn the boats. But also it
also reflects a mentality we're open to contributions from any
(13:13):
and every capable man who is healthy, and attrition becomes
a component of discussion this time of year, and so
it's good to have three very capable guys who are
healthy and in work and working and positioning themselves to
be relevant if called upon.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
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 Tomlinking Day podcast with Steelers Digest editor
Bob Labriola. Okay, coach last season, going into Week eighteen,
you were in the exact situation in which the Bengals
currently find themselves, that is, needing a win against a
division opponent on the road plus some help to get
into the playoffs. Does that experience give you any insight
(00:22):
into what to expect tonight in terms of levels of
desperation and what the Bengals might be willing to do
or attempt.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You know, I know our mindset and our approach to business.
I'm not gonna pretend to know their. Certainly, I know
where our heads were at and our agenda and what
we were willing to do to pursue it, and so
I oftentimes proceed with that assumption. This is a big game,
this is do or die for them. I don't expect
them to preserve any bullets. As an analogy, They're gonna
(00:52):
fire all their bullets. They're gonna utilize their weapons, their
core weapons. When you're up against it, man, you go
to core guys, proven guys, hot hands, etc. And so,
if there's any assumptions from our perspective about their mindset.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
It's that down in distances. I mean, is fourth and
less than four an automatic go forward?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I mean those I think those things kind of play
out much later in the contest, But I don't anticipate
them to fire those type of bullets early in the contest.
I expect them to play situational decision making to their
regular standard, but certainly those discussions are on the table
(01:36):
as time becomes a factor depending on what the score is.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
In assessing your team's recent performances, you mentioned that the
turnover cultural turnover culture had been compromised, and that assessment
is supported by stats showing that during the three game
losing streak, the Steelers have their takeaways per game fall
from two to one to none and the turnover ratio
(02:00):
game go from plus one to minus one to minus two.
What specifically has been the cause of that?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You know, we gotta we gotta display and live our agenda.
And it's as simple as that, as nothing mystical about it.
We've had balls on the ground in the kicking game
on the punt team, specifically, in the last several weeks,
dislodge the ball. Mark Robinson dislodged one, James Pierre dislodged
one in Baltimore. We didn't get those balls on the ground.
(02:28):
You gotta get those. We had a ball tipped up
in the air on the minus thirty yard line last
week on the defensive side and Patrick Queen had a
chance to catch it and he didn't. And so, like,
it's not anything mystical, it's not like we need to
do anything procedurally different. We gotta make makeable plays oftentimes,
I say routine plays. Routinely, it's the same thing. On
the other side, Pat Pat Fayromu fumbled the ball on
(02:52):
the minus thirty yard line, and so last week against
Kansas City, he had the ball in his inside arm. Yeah,
balls are gonna come out, dislodge, get ripped away when
you don't protect it. It's a very fundamental thing to
put the ball on the outside arm and use the
sideline as a form of protection in terms of warding
off defenders and protecting the football. And so we're not
(03:15):
gonna pretend like it's mystical. We're not gonna pretend like
we're unlucky. We're not gonna change our approach to business
in terms of the things that we emphasize day to
day to create it. We just got to continue to
work hard and I expect our fortunes to change.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
On the flip side, the Bengals have eleven takeaways since
your first meeting on December the first in Cincinnati, based
on your preparation for today's game versus the Bengals, What
specifically has been the cause of that?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You know, I think you know, probably you know, just
deciding who they are. There's been a reduction of schematics
on that side, and some tailoringen of schematics to meet
their current circumstance. They've absorbed some attrition with guys like
Logan Wilson being unavailable to them, and so they've changed
some third down personnel groupings. For example, you know, a
(04:01):
guy like Geno Stone is doing what they acquired him
to do. Within that span, I think Geno has had
three interceptions. He had seven interceptions last year as a
member of the Baltimore Ravens. He's a member of that
team because of his ability to get the ball, and
so oftentimes it's an individual guy gaining traction within a role.
And the number one catalyst in that span for me
(04:23):
has been Genostone and his turnover ability. That was on display,
and that's the reason why they acquired them.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Generally speaking, is having team chemistry a result of winning?
Or is winning the result of having team chemistry?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
You know, it's the chicken or the egg. It depends
on your perspective of what mood you're in. For me,
I try to feed both. Obviously, winning is our business,
and we better handle business and you better get a
collection of good guys. I think it kind of starts there,
good guys who happen to be good players. If you
have those ingredients, then you can cook the team chemistry.
(05:00):
That is somewhat mystical if you really get in a
thick discussion about it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
When coming up with a division of labor at running
back with Nause Harris and Jalen Warren, what are the
factors that you consider? Is it game plan, hot hand
upon its specific what.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
It's all of the above. There's some complexities to that,
just like there's some complexities in terms of how we
divide the labor up with Landon Roberts and Peyton Wilson
or Cam Sutton and Beanie Bishop, I think, or the
tight ends for that matter, when you have multiple guys
and capable guys with varying skill sets at a position. Oftentimes,
(05:35):
the circumstance, the environment, who's hot, who's not, any and
all of those things can play a major component in
terms of decision making.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Do you run different kinds of plays when each of
the guys is on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
We certainly can by playing, but certainly oftentimes they're very
similar plays. And sometimes it's just about a level of
fatigue of one particular guy. He may have had four
or five carries within a six and seven play sequence.
But we like the schematic circumstances that we're in, we'll
just swap out the runner and continue to run the
(06:09):
same battery of plays. And so that's what I mean,
and I'm not trying to avoid your question. It's just
multi layered and oftentimes complex when you're dealing with guys
with various skill sets, and how you divide the labor
up and how the best make sure the collective continues
to roll, you know, from week to week. In some
instances and a third down and two, it might mandate
(06:31):
that we use the land in Roberts on defense. In
another week, it might be purely a pass and circumstance
and dictate that we use Peyton Wilson. But if you
just you know, defining it by who do you use
on third down and two, the situation gets more complex.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
In Cincinnati's game against Denver last week, the Broncos sacked
Joe Burrows seven times and hit him or They registered
fifteen hits on the quarterback. Four of the sacks and
more than half of the hits came from the interior
defense of linemen instead of their edge rushers. Is pressure
up the middle from the interior. The way you have
to rush.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Joe Burrow, you know, you better do a really good
job of a collective rush. His ability to extend, his
ability to escape is very challenging, and so you know,
sometimes production in that area can be reflected by you know,
numbers from the interior or numbers from the perimeter. But
(07:26):
the bottom line is that if you're lacking in any area,
he's generally gonna find the escape lane. He can go lateral,
he can go vertical. He can go vertical to get
lateral and run horizontal to the line of scrimmage while
he's surveying downfield. He just has a unique skill set
in a low pulse rate that allows him to play
(07:47):
extended And so you know, although specifically in that instance
the stats can be associated with a particular component of
the rush. You better be solid all the way around,
down in and down out if not a guy like
him is going to get you.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Before the first meeting with the Bengals this season, you
talked about having enough defense for Burrow, and now that
this is the second meeting the rematch, does enough defense
also mean different defense?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Absolutely, you just got to live that life. Man. A
guy like him who's in total command of his schematics
has a lot of mental space and time to analyze
your schematics, and so that's the best way to really
delve into the discussion. Last time, we were talking about
guys like Matt Stafford and him and others Patrick Mahomes,
(08:37):
obviously Josh Allen now that he's really kind of tenured
in Buffalo. Anybody that's kind of been in the same
system of offense and really has an understanding of what's
required of them where their eligibles are. They got continuity
not only with their eligibles but with their schematics and
coaching staff. It requires defense because all of that sums
(08:59):
up into their ability to really digest what it is
that you're doing to focus their energies pre snap on
your movement, on your positioning, on your personnel, because what
they're asked to do become so second nature to them.
And so that's why I say it so definitively when
we're talking about having enough defense. When you play these
tenured guys who are in total command of their offensive
(09:22):
system of football and know where all their eligibles are, man,
you better level the playing field. You better not allow
them to get really comfortable with what they're looking at,
because when they do, that's when they have those days
that potentially become historic. And you know, obviously that's not
conducive to us winning.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Does different mean that different than anything you've done before,
because as you mentioned, Burrow has a lot of time
to look at what you're doing. I'm sure he's watching
a lot of video on you or has watched.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Different can be dramatically different in terms of new defenses,
but different can also be subtle, just in terms of
different disguises or different positioning or exchangings of zones. And
so you know, different could be a lot of things.
But you better be open to the general discussion as
you prepare to play a guy like this.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Other's two starting wide receivers t Higgins and Jamar Chase
that have a combined twenty six touchdown passes catches. How
are they used schimmatically to create opportunities for each other?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You know, whoever has one guy on him gets the ball.
We can make it complex, you know, but at the
end of the day, right, you got really talented receivers
and you only got so many defenders. And oftentimes when
I really watched Joe, I think he drops back in
those red zone circumstances and whoever's got one guy on
him is getting the ball.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So are there specific areas of the field where one
is especially effective or where one is often targeted?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
You know, obviously a guy like t is because of
his stature, he six four two twenty five or so
is a red zone issue and matchup. But you know,
Chase is a unique guy man. He leads the league
in all receiving statistical categories receptions, yards, touchdowns, targets, and
so this is a unique group that presents a unique challenge,
(11:13):
and so they can strike from just about anywhere. It's collective.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
T J. Watt was voted Steelers MVP for the fifth time,
which is the most since the award was first presented
in nineteen sixty nine. What can be deduced from the
fact that it was his fifth win and that he
has wanted in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, twenty twenty one,
twenty twenty three, and twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I think it really just speaks to his level of consistency.
When available. This guy plays an extremely high level. You
coupled that with the fact that he sees schematic challenges
week in and week out. Very rarely does he get
a one on one matchup, just like we were talking
about the Cincinnati receivers. They're two on him at all times,
(12:00):
yet and still he delivers. And I think it speaks
to his greatness. I think his teammates see that in
the consistency in which they vote for him in terms
of MVP reflects not only his production, but the adversity,
schematic adversity that he sees week in and week out,
down in and down out, and yet he still delivers.
(12:21):
I imagine the great basketball players Lebron and so forth.
They see consistent double teams, yet and still there at
the top of the food chain in terms of the statistics.
And that's why they are. Who they are is no
different in our game.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Earlier this week, you started the twenty one Day Clock
on inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, who's on pup, wide receiver
Roman Wilson, and Logan Lee, both of whom were on IR.
Would you characterize that as due diligence or is there
a real possibility that any of them might be able
to contribute this season?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
You know, I think it's already above. I think it's both.
We're at that time of the year where we get
an opportunity to start that because it is a limited
number of days left obviously in our football journey, and
so it's time to burn the boats. But also it
also reflects a mentality we're open to contributions from any
(13:13):
and every capable man who is healthy, and attrition becomes
a component of discussion this time of year, and so
it's good to have three very capable guys who are
healthy and in work and working and positioning themselves to
be relevant if called upon.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
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
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.