October 13, 2024 • 12 mins
Steelers Historian Bob Labriola sits down with Head Coach Mike Tomlin ahead of the Steelers week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He sees the Mike Tomlin Gaing Day podcast with Steelers
Digest editor Bob Labriola. Okay, coach, whether delays are somewhat
regular occurrences during training camp and through the preseason, but
they're more rare during the regular season. With the understanding
that both teams are going through the same thing, what
do you believe is the best way to spend that
(00:22):
time or maybe a better way to put it is
to minimize the negative way that time could impact the
players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, we have no control over the time, the
length of time that the delay is. I really focus
my energies on how we bring them out of the delay,
and so a lot of strategic things from a time
perspective of done is done with our strength staff and
our nutrition staff and our training staff as to best
determined what's the best means of going going about warming
(00:51):
them back up, how long that should take without doing
too much in terms of burning useful fuel. The extended
period of the time, it's just like an extended halftime
of a Super Bowl is unique. There's certain processes that
you go through in terms of getting them ready for action,
and how much time it is is less relevant guys
(01:13):
oftentimes get what they need, communicate regarding schematic strategy, listen
to music, etc. It's handled different ways by different people individually.
How you come out of it is most important from
a decision making a strategy perspective.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Food Might food be a factor?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, well, we're always we always have food in the
locker room, peanut butter and jelly sandwhich is things of
that nature, fuel like food that's ongoing, that's just a
regular component of our everyday existence. In twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
How did it go this week in practice with Russell Wilson?
Did you start to see some of the things from
him on the field that you had talked about wanting
to see from him?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
No question, I thought, first, and for most of my
number one agenda is I wanted him to be able
to display his health, his ability to not only move
but protect himself. And I was really comfortable with what
I saw there. The rest of the equation is about
knocking the rest off, gaining a rapport relationship with the
battery of receivers and things of that nature, and I
(02:18):
thought it was a really good week from that perspective.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I want to talk to you about the Dallas game
a little bit at the end on their final offensive
play in the game. It was fourth and goal from
the four yard line. Okay, it seemed that number one,
who is Jalen Tolbert, was not in the end zone
while running most of his route. So would it have
been legal for a defender to have his hands on
him before the ball was thrown since it was not
(02:43):
five yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, you get one continuous contact inside of five. And
so if he was chucked at the line of scrimmage,
that constitutes one contact. Whatever contact you get gets is
one continual contact inside of five. And so certainly he
was eligible to be rerouted disrupted in some way. But
that's the strict letter of the language. One continuous chunk
(03:09):
inside of five.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So he can't, like a defensive back couldn't be riding
him all the way across the field because the ball
was not in the air and it was within five
yards of the line of script if.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was continuous. But I don't know that that's a
realistic conversation that you're going to maintain continuous contact with
someone going across the football field.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
When you have an issue with a player's effort what
is your opinion of calling out that player in front
of the team.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
You know, most of the time I address it, there's
levels to addressing it, to be honest with you, I
can deal with one on one, I can deal with
in a small group, or I can take it to
the big group. And really it depends on how often
it occurs or the level of egregiousness determining the options
(03:53):
that I deploy.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So, when you're determining those options, are you not only
thinking about the specific individual or the collective?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
You know, it's probably a little bit of both. You know,
A big component of a team, you got fifty three
guys on a football team is people's ability to learn
from issues regarding others. That's how you keep the collective
moving forward. And so most of the time when you're
addressing it in a small group or a larger group
(04:23):
for that matter, it's done with that spirit in mind,
not only to correct the action of the individual, but
to use the infraction to educate the larger body. Good players,
smart players, mature players, professional players of those that can
learn from the issues of others.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
And when it comes to offensive play calling, do you
believe it's necessary for the offense to have shown you
during the week of practice that it is capable of
executing the play before it's called in a game.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It depends on the relationship with the play. If it's
a new concept, certainly, if it's a day one concept,
If it's something that we have been working over the
totality a team developed, man, they may get called in
game without being repped that particular week. It is about
our experience, our knowledge, and our relationship or history with
the concept you're talking about. But definitively, if it is new,
(05:12):
you definitely want to see physical evidence of execution.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So by new, you mean if it's something that you
put in for that team, correct so that all of
that there's a lot of lore about Boy, this play
didn't work all week and we called it in the
game and it got us a touchdown that won the game.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Is that just most of the time it might have worked,
not have worked that week, but there's a history there
that makes you comfortable enough to call it anyway. And
that's what I'm talking about in terms of how much
exposure you have to the con to the concept, the
history with the concept. You could call it play two
times during the week and two different issues, you know,
derail the play, but if you have run it sixteen
(05:52):
times over the last four months, there in lies your comfort.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Okay. The NFL trading deadline is at four pm on
Tuesday night, November the fifth, and so let's just pretend
for a moment that you're interested in acquiring a player,
either a specific guy or a specific position. Since we're
now into the regular season, does Omar handle all the
preliminary work, you know, making contact, gauging interest, getting an
(06:17):
idea of the cost or you are you or are
you involved in that from the beginning as well?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
You know, I'm involved in the interests and maybe the
communication I've been in the league a long time Omar
has as well. We got, you know, unique relationships with
with some of our peers across the league, and so
I'm not opposed to being included from that perspective. But
in terms of the logistical component of the costs and
things of that nature, that's more his space. I'm less
(06:44):
concerned about that. I'm more concerned about the talent, why
he's available, what the issues might be in terms of
player management, et cetera. But in terms of interacting with
other organizations and their personnel. You know, he and I
both been in a long time. We got cool, deep
relationships with a lot of people, and so that's oftentimes
(07:05):
a collaborative effort.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So then what happens, I mean, uh, how's what's the procedure?
When does when? When the the the three U, Omre
and Art get together and figure out whether this is
something you will even wanna.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Consider it is? It is organic and continual. I don't
know that it is a a email saying at three
o'clock we're gonna get together and discuss this. There's a
fluidity to it, uh, And and it is continual. It
is part of our daily existence. The the the interest
(07:40):
in pursuit and the acquisition of football talent is ongoing
every day of our professional lives. I know, from a
attention standpoint, the trade deadline gets a lot of attention,
but it is legitimately everyday business of our lives. Every
day the transaction of the wire comes out, there are
things to discuss regarding global personnel, potential guys that are available,
(08:04):
and for whatever reason, it's just daily procedures for us.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
But the actual setting of a deadline, especially in the NFL,
that spurs action, does it not.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's spurs activity, but I don't know that it changes
the nature of how we communicate, plan and have media
discussions regarding the potential acquisition of people. It's just whether
or not the plan lands. It comes to fruition, people
are legitimately available. All those things maybe accelerate around the deadline,
(08:37):
but I don't know that it changes our behavior or
our interactions.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce announced earlier in the week that
Aidan O'Connell would start at quarterback today in place of Gardner. Minshew,
what do you know about O'Connell after this week of preparation?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
You know, I know he threw the ball and threw
the ball a lot at Purdue, and an anticipatory thrower.
He's comfortable with five eligibles out in the route. That
appears to be the strength of his game. But as
far as you know AP is concerned, he and that
(09:13):
young man had a lot of positive experience at the
end of last year that get that kid won some
games for him. He was able to secure the permanent
job and and drop the interim tag. And so I
imagine those shared that shared experiences, UH create a bond
there that's not really surprising in that he named him
started this week.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So he's not a rookie? Is he experienced? What what
category would he fall into?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You know, he is a young guy and he grew
a lot last year. But I would imagine the turnover
and offensive coordinator and play caller kind of makes him
somewhat inexperienced again because there's a lack of a little
bit of continuity there when you go through transition and change.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Brock Bauers is a rookie tight end who's leading the
Raiders and receiving, so for her. Often you learn about
players by talking to their college teammates. What did your
Georgia guys tell you about him?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
You know, they didn't need to tell me a thing. Man,
I saw him on their video. Okay, Like when I
was at Georgia looking at guys like GP and Broderick
and others that kind of come through there, this guy
jumped out on tape. Man, his best year in Athens
might have been his freshman year. He is no surprise.
(10:31):
He is legitimate. The things that he's doing right now
was very much on his SEC video. He can create
separation at breakpoints. He is great run after, he can
break tackles. He's got a really good feel for the game.
He's good at high pointing the ball, he's got good
body control, he's got fine motor skills of a much
smaller guy. I don't know that any of us are
(10:53):
really surprised by what we're seeing from him.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
How are field goals blocked in the NFL, because, for example,
it doesn't seem that coming off the edge works very
often because of the snap holed kick efficiency of specialists
at this level.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I think kicks a block by technique and opportunity, and
that's what I preach to the guys. What I mean
is you better have really consistently, a really consistent approach
to technique and urgency, and oftentimes negligence of the operations
of the field goal unit determines whether or not there's
a legitimate opportunity there. What I mean is, as a penetrator,
(11:29):
you go hard, You get as far into the line
of scrimmage as you can, You get your hand up,
try to get in the flight of the ball, and
if it's a mishiting a low trajectory, you got an
opportunity for a block. Same thing off the edge, you
gotta have a hair trigger you got a ball key,
you're jumping through a gap, or you're coming off the edge,
you're skinny, and you're turning and cranking to a block point.
(11:50):
You got an opportunity to block that kick, maybe if
the snap is a little bit off or the management
of the hole is a little bit off. And so
it is technique and opportunity, but the opportunity is not
gonna present itself unless you position yourself technically. And that's
what we talk about. As a kickblock unit. We always
gotta be on. We always got to have a hair
(12:11):
trigger in terms of getting off. We always got to
exercise all the proper techniques in order to make ourselves optimistic.
But we realize whether or not we block a kick
all the time is not exclusively up to us. It's
about the behavior of the other unit.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
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 sees the Mike Tomlin Gaing Day podcast with Steelers
Digest editor Bob Labriola. Okay, coach, whether delays are somewhat
regular occurrences during training camp and through the preseason, but
they're more rare during the regular season. With the understanding
that both teams are going through the same thing, what
do you believe is the best way to spend that
(00:22):
time or maybe a better way to put it is
to minimize the negative way that time could impact the
players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, we have no control over the time, the
length of time that the delay is. I really focus
my energies on how we bring them out of the delay,
and so a lot of strategic things from a time
perspective of done is done with our strength staff and
our nutrition staff and our training staff as to best
determined what's the best means of going going about warming
(00:51):
them back up, how long that should take without doing
too much in terms of burning useful fuel. The extended
period of the time, it's just like an extended halftime
of a Super Bowl is unique. There's certain processes that
you go through in terms of getting them ready for action,
and how much time it is is less relevant guys
(01:13):
oftentimes get what they need, communicate regarding schematic strategy, listen
to music, etc. It's handled different ways by different people individually.
How you come out of it is most important from
a decision making a strategy perspective.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Food Might food be a factor?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, well, we're always we always have food in the
locker room, peanut butter and jelly sandwhich is things of
that nature, fuel like food that's ongoing, that's just a
regular component of our everyday existence. In twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
How did it go this week in practice with Russell Wilson?
Did you start to see some of the things from
him on the field that you had talked about wanting
to see from him?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
No question, I thought, first, and for most of my
number one agenda is I wanted him to be able
to display his health, his ability to not only move
but protect himself. And I was really comfortable with what
I saw there. The rest of the equation is about
knocking the rest off, gaining a rapport relationship with the
battery of receivers and things of that nature, and I
(02:18):
thought it was a really good week from that perspective.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I want to talk to you about the Dallas game
a little bit at the end on their final offensive
play in the game. It was fourth and goal from
the four yard line. Okay, it seemed that number one,
who is Jalen Tolbert, was not in the end zone
while running most of his route. So would it have
been legal for a defender to have his hands on
him before the ball was thrown since it was not
(02:43):
five yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, you get one continuous contact inside of five. And
so if he was chucked at the line of scrimmage,
that constitutes one contact. Whatever contact you get gets is
one continual contact inside of five. And so certainly he
was eligible to be rerouted disrupted in some way. But
that's the strict letter of the language. One continuous chunk
(03:09):
inside of five.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So he can't, like a defensive back couldn't be riding
him all the way across the field because the ball
was not in the air and it was within five
yards of the line of script if.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was continuous. But I don't know that that's a
realistic conversation that you're going to maintain continuous contact with
someone going across the football field.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
When you have an issue with a player's effort what
is your opinion of calling out that player in front
of the team.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
You know, most of the time I address it, there's
levels to addressing it, to be honest with you, I
can deal with one on one, I can deal with
in a small group, or I can take it to
the big group. And really it depends on how often
it occurs or the level of egregiousness determining the options
(03:53):
that I deploy.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So, when you're determining those options, are you not only
thinking about the specific individual or the collective?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
You know, it's probably a little bit of both. You know,
A big component of a team, you got fifty three
guys on a football team is people's ability to learn
from issues regarding others. That's how you keep the collective
moving forward. And so most of the time when you're
addressing it in a small group or a larger group
(04:23):
for that matter, it's done with that spirit in mind,
not only to correct the action of the individual, but
to use the infraction to educate the larger body. Good players,
smart players, mature players, professional players of those that can
learn from the issues of others.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
And when it comes to offensive play calling, do you
believe it's necessary for the offense to have shown you
during the week of practice that it is capable of
executing the play before it's called in a game.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It depends on the relationship with the play. If it's
a new concept, certainly, if it's a day one concept,
If it's something that we have been working over the
totality a team developed, man, they may get called in
game without being repped that particular week. It is about
our experience, our knowledge, and our relationship or history with
the concept you're talking about. But definitively, if it is new,
(05:12):
you definitely want to see physical evidence of execution.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So by new, you mean if it's something that you
put in for that team, correct so that all of
that there's a lot of lore about Boy, this play
didn't work all week and we called it in the
game and it got us a touchdown that won the game.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Is that just most of the time it might have worked,
not have worked that week, but there's a history there
that makes you comfortable enough to call it anyway. And
that's what I'm talking about in terms of how much
exposure you have to the con to the concept, the
history with the concept. You could call it play two
times during the week and two different issues, you know,
derail the play, but if you have run it sixteen
(05:52):
times over the last four months, there in lies your comfort.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Okay. The NFL trading deadline is at four pm on
Tuesday night, November the fifth, and so let's just pretend
for a moment that you're interested in acquiring a player,
either a specific guy or a specific position. Since we're
now into the regular season, does Omar handle all the
preliminary work, you know, making contact, gauging interest, getting an
(06:17):
idea of the cost or you are you or are
you involved in that from the beginning as well?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
You know, I'm involved in the interests and maybe the
communication I've been in the league a long time Omar
has as well. We got, you know, unique relationships with
with some of our peers across the league, and so
I'm not opposed to being included from that perspective. But
in terms of the logistical component of the costs and
things of that nature, that's more his space. I'm less
(06:44):
concerned about that. I'm more concerned about the talent, why
he's available, what the issues might be in terms of
player management, et cetera. But in terms of interacting with
other organizations and their personnel. You know, he and I
both been in a long time. We got cool, deep
relationships with a lot of people, and so that's oftentimes
(07:05):
a collaborative effort.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So then what happens, I mean, uh, how's what's the procedure?
When does when? When the the the three U, Omre
and Art get together and figure out whether this is
something you will even wanna.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Consider it is? It is organic and continual. I don't
know that it is a a email saying at three
o'clock we're gonna get together and discuss this. There's a
fluidity to it, uh, And and it is continual. It
is part of our daily existence. The the the interest
(07:40):
in pursuit and the acquisition of football talent is ongoing
every day of our professional lives. I know, from a
attention standpoint, the trade deadline gets a lot of attention,
but it is legitimately everyday business of our lives. Every
day the transaction of the wire comes out, there are
things to discuss regarding global personnel, potential guys that are available,
(08:04):
and for whatever reason, it's just daily procedures for us.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
But the actual setting of a deadline, especially in the NFL,
that spurs action, does it not.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's spurs activity, but I don't know that it changes
the nature of how we communicate, plan and have media
discussions regarding the potential acquisition of people. It's just whether
or not the plan lands. It comes to fruition, people
are legitimately available. All those things maybe accelerate around the deadline,
(08:37):
but I don't know that it changes our behavior or
our interactions.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce announced earlier in the week that
Aidan O'Connell would start at quarterback today in place of Gardner. Minshew,
what do you know about O'Connell after this week of preparation?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
You know, I know he threw the ball and threw
the ball a lot at Purdue, and an anticipatory thrower.
He's comfortable with five eligibles out in the route. That
appears to be the strength of his game. But as
far as you know AP is concerned, he and that
(09:13):
young man had a lot of positive experience at the
end of last year that get that kid won some
games for him. He was able to secure the permanent
job and and drop the interim tag. And so I
imagine those shared that shared experiences, UH create a bond
there that's not really surprising in that he named him
started this week.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So he's not a rookie? Is he experienced? What what
category would he fall into?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You know, he is a young guy and he grew
a lot last year. But I would imagine the turnover
and offensive coordinator and play caller kind of makes him
somewhat inexperienced again because there's a lack of a little
bit of continuity there when you go through transition and change.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Brock Bauers is a rookie tight end who's leading the
Raiders and receiving, so for her. Often you learn about
players by talking to their college teammates. What did your
Georgia guys tell you about him?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
You know, they didn't need to tell me a thing. Man,
I saw him on their video. Okay, Like when I
was at Georgia looking at guys like GP and Broderick
and others that kind of come through there, this guy
jumped out on tape. Man, his best year in Athens
might have been his freshman year. He is no surprise.
(10:31):
He is legitimate. The things that he's doing right now
was very much on his SEC video. He can create
separation at breakpoints. He is great run after, he can
break tackles. He's got a really good feel for the game.
He's good at high pointing the ball, he's got good
body control, he's got fine motor skills of a much
smaller guy. I don't know that any of us are
(10:53):
really surprised by what we're seeing from him.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
How are field goals blocked in the NFL, because, for example,
it doesn't seem that coming off the edge works very
often because of the snap holed kick efficiency of specialists
at this level.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I think kicks a block by technique and opportunity, and
that's what I preach to the guys. What I mean
is you better have really consistently, a really consistent approach
to technique and urgency, and oftentimes negligence of the operations
of the field goal unit determines whether or not there's
a legitimate opportunity there. What I mean is, as a penetrator,
(11:29):
you go hard, You get as far into the line
of scrimmage as you can, You get your hand up,
try to get in the flight of the ball, and
if it's a mishiting a low trajectory, you got an
opportunity for a block. Same thing off the edge, you
gotta have a hair trigger you got a ball key,
you're jumping through a gap, or you're coming off the edge,
you're skinny, and you're turning and cranking to a block point.
(11:50):
You got an opportunity to block that kick, maybe if
the snap is a little bit off or the management
of the hole is a little bit off. And so
it is technique and opportunity, but the opportunity is not
gonna present itself unless you position yourself technically. And that's
what we talk about. As a kickblock unit. We always
gotta be on. We always got to have a hair
(12:11):
trigger in terms of getting off. We always got to
exercise all the proper techniques in order to make ourselves optimistic.
But we realize whether or not we block a kick
all the time is not exclusively up to us. It's
about the behavior of the other unit.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
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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