January 7, 2023 • 10 mins
Steelers Digest Editor Bob Labriola sits down with Head Coach Mike Tomlin ahead of the Steelers Week 18 Match up with the Browns.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast with Steeler's Digest
editor Bob Labriola. Okay, coach and talking about the win
over the Ravens in Baltimore, you said, I really just
think our guys willingness to embrace the type of game
it was going to be, to duly prepare and then
deliver that performance is what I'd like to acknowledge. Can
(00:21):
you elaborate on what you meant by what type of
game it was gonna be and how did the players
embrace that? You know, I think this rivalry that the
Steelers Ravens has a texture to it as a you know,
has a reputation about it. Um, whenever we come together, UM,
that's the storyline leading up to it. That's the plot
that's in the air. UM. There's always a lot of
(00:42):
significance on the game. They flex the game the prime time, UM,
and and our guy's ability to focus and see see that,
but see through that, UM, just see the importance of
preparation to to make our plan a legitimate one through work, UM,
intend to indent to deliver performance. I think, UM is
(01:05):
what you know captured my attention about the totality of
the experience, um to smile in the face of adversity,
to deliver um in in in the face of adversity,
big games, hostile environments. I just think it's it's good
for teams, and particularly it's good for for young developing players,
Guys like Kenny Pickett, guys like Nolge, guys like Friar, Move,
(01:29):
guys like Pickings, guys likely all guys like Mark Robinson,
to prepare for for an atmosphere and a and a
worthy opponent like that, intend and then to deliver. I
just think it's it's it's it's good. You've always come
across as someone who loves his job, and you have
described yourself as a You've described yourself as a football junkie.
(01:50):
What is it that you enjoy about this team? In particular?
I enjoy the drudgery, the daily approach to business, the
energy that they bring to it. You know, um inexperience,
oftentimes as a negative discussion, lack of experienced youth and
so forth, but there's some positive components to youth to this,
(02:11):
the ability to to bring energy and enthusiasm and that
and that that wide eyed appeal to to what could
be drudgery routine winnsdays and Thursdays and and drill work
and competition periods. Um. It's never a dull moment Um.
There's a lot of energy and guys are learning and
growing and it makes it a fun process. You go
(02:34):
from a game against the Ravens running attack to a
game against the Browns running attack. In terms of those
two running attacks, how are they similar or different? This
is how they're similar. Both offensive lines are well coached.
They do a really good job at getting hats on hats. Um,
they win the war at the line of scrimmage. In
terms of bodies on bodies, Um, how are they are different? Um?
(02:56):
A lot of the Ravens running attack is quarterback. A
quarterback mobility centric, whether he's carrying the ball himself or
his ability to carry the ball affecting how the play
comes together. Um. In Cleveland, it's about the exploits of
Nick Chubb. Quarterbacks have different styles of the same goes
for running backs, receivers, other individual players. But what about
(03:19):
a team's offensive line as a unit. You just brought
that up. Do offensive lines have a style of play
and what would be Cleveland's their tandem work? Um? There
are two people working together. UM is exceptional and it's
probably reflective of Bill Callaghan UM, their sage offensive line coach. UM,
(03:40):
former head coach of the Raiders, has been a coordinator
head coach in Nebraska. UM. He is a grizzly veteran
that that is a master at teaching and it is
reflected in the detail in which they play. They got
a quality running back at Nick Chubb, no doubt. But
when you watch their combinations, you watch their interior people
(04:02):
work double teams to the second level. Uh. Quite frankly
their second to none. Um, They're really good in that way.
Amari Cooper has seventy six catches for nine yards and
nine touchdowns. Does the combination of Cooper and Nick Chubb
pose the same kind of threat presented by the Raiders
with the Vante Adams and Josh Jacobs, No question. The
(04:24):
component of of the equation that's probably a little bit
different is the mobility and in the play extension ability
of Watson and so you you do you have a
featured runner that's one of the tops in the league,
very comparable to Jacobs. You've got a guy that's the
top notch receiver that they're all in on. They went
through a lot to acquire him. But they also have
(04:45):
a quarterback with mobility, the type of mobility that you
can design runs around. And so there's a few more
components to this attack that that provide complexities that weren't
necessarily president in the Vegas attack. Um, how you characterize
the Shawn Watson's mobility and how he uses it? Is
he more of a by time in the pocket kind
(05:07):
of guy or is he a designed runner type. He's
really capable of being both and and And that's why
I'm sure Cleveland went through what they went through to
acquire his services. Um, when he's escaping downhill in the
pocket on you, Uh, he is very much a runner.
He's the type of guy that can produce the type
of days that Fields has been producing consistently in Chicago.
(05:29):
But he's also the type of guy that can move
horizonal to the line of scrimmage and maintain a full
field view and make plays very late. And the down
we played him here in when he was with Houston,
uh probably about week three or four that season. Man,
he converted a couple of third downs in that game. Uh,
moving loudly in the pocket and finding guys in the
(05:50):
middle of the field as zones. He wrote it. Um,
he's that type of guy. He's dynamic, he can extend plays,
but he also has a type of running ability that
they can have some designed running plays around his skill set,
and it makes situational ball more challenging. They run him
in the red zone, they run him on possession downs. Um,
you know it's it's it's more of a Lamar Jackson
(06:12):
type of a challenge from that perspective. So because of
Watson's ability to run by time, however you want to
describe it, you can't use the same plan that you
used against the Raiders with Darry Cubs and atoms right now,
it's it's it's more of it's more of a Lamar
Jacson playing because again, Um, his mobility is beyond escapability.
(06:35):
His his mobility is design quarterback runs and some schematics. Um.
And so that requires schematic adjustments and planning. Um. Derek
Carr was not that type of a mover. Miles Garrett
comes into today's game with fifteen sacks on the season,
but he's on something of a hot streak because he
has posted multiple sacks and three of his last four games.
(06:57):
What factors might contribute to that kind of a streak
for a pass rusher just just playing. Um, those guys
get in rhythm. It's like a three point shooter. Um.
You know when you're watching Steph Curry play sometimes you're like,
you know, when you see him hit a couple, you
know it's gonna be eight real soon. It's probably the
same thing for lead athletes in all sports. They get
in a rhythm or what oftentime is referred to as
(07:19):
a zone. You recognize it when you see it, You
recognize it when someone close to you is in it. Um.
You don't know exactly what created it. Uh, you don't
know when it's gonna come to a close, but you
appreciate the ride. What kind of strategy would work? Uh,
to try and minimize Miles Garrett First and foremost, forget
blocking him in the physical components of minimizing them situationally
(07:43):
is how you minimize them. You don't play from behind, Uh,
you don't play from behind the sticks. If you're playing
from behind or you're playing from behind the sticks, what
have you done. You've created an atmosphere where where he
can do what it is that he does. And so
that's a critical component before you get into the thematics
and the matchup component, the personnel component of it. We
(08:04):
spent a lot of time just acknowledging and and building
a plan that emphasizes that variable. Not behind in the game,
not behind the sticks. You've been in this job for
fifteen plus seasons, and your streak of never having had
a losing season from the start of your career as
an NFL record. A win today will make it sixteen
straight seasons without a losing record. Does that streak mean
(08:27):
anything to you? It does today as it pertains to
getting in this tournament. And that's what I probably think
about more than anything. The streak or whatever in its
totality means very little to me. But if I think
about the moments within it, they're all like this, Um,
we're working for something today and it is meaning to
that and um, we have a responsibility and desire to
(08:51):
being meaningful football games to pursue, to pursue inclusion in
the single elimination tournament, and once we get into a
single elimination tournament, to pursue and win the confetti game.
And so, um, that's my focus. And and so when
I think back to the moments over the fifteen sixteen years.
That's kind of always been my focus, and um, it
(09:11):
probably will be. Some of your players have said publicly
and without being prompted, that they don't want to be
the group to end that streak. Does the fact that
it means something to those players mean anything to you? Hey,
I appreciate it whatever whatever lands the plane. You know
what I mean? Uh? Um, Yeah, I I don't. I
don't hate whatever motivation produces the result. UM. And I've
(09:35):
always had the mentality, and that's something that I try
to instiller on our players. Football is our game. Our
business is winning, and we need to handle business on Friday. Menka.
Fitzpatrick was voted the Steelers m v P by his teammates.
What makes him a worthy choice? His production, UM, his
approach to business, his professionalism, UM, his accountability. UM, it's
(10:01):
just everything about him is m v P. And this
guy is you know, probably answered every question that we've
had about him since we've acquired him. He drinks the
kool aid at his Pittsburgh, PA. He's a Steeler. Um.
He teaches it to the young guys with each passing day. UM.
He just he earns that UM. And I think that's
(10:22):
why his teammates voted him. Uh m v P. That's
the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast. Subscribe in, 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 Steeler's mobile app, the I Heart
Radio app, or wherever you get your podcasts.
He's the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast with Steeler's Digest
editor Bob Labriola. Okay, coach and talking about the win
over the Ravens in Baltimore, you said, I really just
think our guys willingness to embrace the type of game
it was going to be, to duly prepare and then
deliver that performance is what I'd like to acknowledge. Can
(00:21):
you elaborate on what you meant by what type of
game it was gonna be and how did the players
embrace that? You know, I think this rivalry that the
Steelers Ravens has a texture to it as a you know,
has a reputation about it. Um, whenever we come together, UM,
that's the storyline leading up to it. That's the plot
that's in the air. UM. There's always a lot of
(00:42):
significance on the game. They flex the game the prime time, UM,
and and our guy's ability to focus and see see that,
but see through that, UM, just see the importance of
preparation to to make our plan a legitimate one through work, UM,
intend to indent to deliver performance. I think, UM is
(01:05):
what you know captured my attention about the totality of
the experience, um to smile in the face of adversity,
to deliver um in in in the face of adversity,
big games, hostile environments. I just think it's it's good
for teams, and particularly it's good for for young developing players,
Guys like Kenny Pickett, guys like Nolge, guys like Friar, Move,
(01:29):
guys like Pickings, guys likely all guys like Mark Robinson,
to prepare for for an atmosphere and a and a
worthy opponent like that, intend and then to deliver. I
just think it's it's it's it's good. You've always come
across as someone who loves his job, and you have
described yourself as a You've described yourself as a football junkie.
(01:50):
What is it that you enjoy about this team? In particular?
I enjoy the drudgery, the daily approach to business, the
energy that they bring to it. You know, um inexperience,
oftentimes as a negative discussion, lack of experienced youth and
so forth, but there's some positive components to youth to this,
(02:11):
the ability to to bring energy and enthusiasm and that
and that that wide eyed appeal to to what could
be drudgery routine winnsdays and Thursdays and and drill work
and competition periods. Um. It's never a dull moment Um.
There's a lot of energy and guys are learning and
growing and it makes it a fun process. You go
(02:34):
from a game against the Ravens running attack to a
game against the Browns running attack. In terms of those
two running attacks, how are they similar or different? This
is how they're similar. Both offensive lines are well coached.
They do a really good job at getting hats on hats. Um,
they win the war at the line of scrimmage. In
terms of bodies on bodies, Um, how are they are different? Um?
(02:56):
A lot of the Ravens running attack is quarterback. A
quarterback mobility centric, whether he's carrying the ball himself or
his ability to carry the ball affecting how the play
comes together. Um. In Cleveland, it's about the exploits of
Nick Chubb. Quarterbacks have different styles of the same goes
for running backs, receivers, other individual players. But what about
(03:19):
a team's offensive line as a unit. You just brought
that up. Do offensive lines have a style of play
and what would be Cleveland's their tandem work? Um? There
are two people working together. UM is exceptional and it's
probably reflective of Bill Callaghan UM, their sage offensive line coach. UM,
(03:40):
former head coach of the Raiders, has been a coordinator
head coach in Nebraska. UM. He is a grizzly veteran
that that is a master at teaching and it is
reflected in the detail in which they play. They got
a quality running back at Nick Chubb, no doubt. But
when you watch their combinations, you watch their interior people
(04:02):
work double teams to the second level. Uh. Quite frankly
their second to none. Um, They're really good in that way.
Amari Cooper has seventy six catches for nine yards and
nine touchdowns. Does the combination of Cooper and Nick Chubb
pose the same kind of threat presented by the Raiders
with the Vante Adams and Josh Jacobs, No question. The
(04:24):
component of of the equation that's probably a little bit
different is the mobility and in the play extension ability
of Watson and so you you do you have a
featured runner that's one of the tops in the league,
very comparable to Jacobs. You've got a guy that's the
top notch receiver that they're all in on. They went
through a lot to acquire him. But they also have
(04:45):
a quarterback with mobility, the type of mobility that you
can design runs around. And so there's a few more
components to this attack that that provide complexities that weren't
necessarily president in the Vegas attack. Um, how you characterize
the Shawn Watson's mobility and how he uses it? Is
he more of a by time in the pocket kind
(05:07):
of guy or is he a designed runner type. He's
really capable of being both and and And that's why
I'm sure Cleveland went through what they went through to
acquire his services. Um, when he's escaping downhill in the
pocket on you, Uh, he is very much a runner.
He's the type of guy that can produce the type
of days that Fields has been producing consistently in Chicago.
(05:29):
But he's also the type of guy that can move
horizonal to the line of scrimmage and maintain a full
field view and make plays very late. And the down
we played him here in when he was with Houston,
uh probably about week three or four that season. Man,
he converted a couple of third downs in that game. Uh,
moving loudly in the pocket and finding guys in the
(05:50):
middle of the field as zones. He wrote it. Um,
he's that type of guy. He's dynamic, he can extend plays,
but he also has a type of running ability that
they can have some designed running plays around his skill set,
and it makes situational ball more challenging. They run him
in the red zone, they run him on possession downs. Um,
you know it's it's it's more of a Lamar Jackson
(06:12):
type of a challenge from that perspective. So because of
Watson's ability to run by time, however you want to
describe it, you can't use the same plan that you
used against the Raiders with Darry Cubs and atoms right now,
it's it's it's more of it's more of a Lamar
Jacson playing because again, Um, his mobility is beyond escapability.
(06:35):
His his mobility is design quarterback runs and some schematics. Um.
And so that requires schematic adjustments and planning. Um. Derek
Carr was not that type of a mover. Miles Garrett
comes into today's game with fifteen sacks on the season,
but he's on something of a hot streak because he
has posted multiple sacks and three of his last four games.
(06:57):
What factors might contribute to that kind of a streak
for a pass rusher just just playing. Um, those guys
get in rhythm. It's like a three point shooter. Um.
You know when you're watching Steph Curry play sometimes you're like,
you know, when you see him hit a couple, you
know it's gonna be eight real soon. It's probably the
same thing for lead athletes in all sports. They get
in a rhythm or what oftentime is referred to as
(07:19):
a zone. You recognize it when you see it, You
recognize it when someone close to you is in it. Um.
You don't know exactly what created it. Uh, you don't
know when it's gonna come to a close, but you
appreciate the ride. What kind of strategy would work? Uh,
to try and minimize Miles Garrett First and foremost, forget
blocking him in the physical components of minimizing them situationally
(07:43):
is how you minimize them. You don't play from behind, Uh,
you don't play from behind the sticks. If you're playing
from behind or you're playing from behind the sticks, what
have you done. You've created an atmosphere where where he
can do what it is that he does. And so
that's a critical component before you get into the thematics
and the matchup component, the personnel component of it. We
(08:04):
spent a lot of time just acknowledging and and building
a plan that emphasizes that variable. Not behind in the game,
not behind the sticks. You've been in this job for
fifteen plus seasons, and your streak of never having had
a losing season from the start of your career as
an NFL record. A win today will make it sixteen
straight seasons without a losing record. Does that streak mean
(08:27):
anything to you? It does today as it pertains to
getting in this tournament. And that's what I probably think
about more than anything. The streak or whatever in its
totality means very little to me. But if I think
about the moments within it, they're all like this, Um,
we're working for something today and it is meaning to
that and um, we have a responsibility and desire to
(08:51):
being meaningful football games to pursue, to pursue inclusion in
the single elimination tournament, and once we get into a
single elimination tournament, to pursue and win the confetti game.
And so, um, that's my focus. And and so when
I think back to the moments over the fifteen sixteen years.
That's kind of always been my focus, and um, it
(09:11):
probably will be. Some of your players have said publicly
and without being prompted, that they don't want to be
the group to end that streak. Does the fact that
it means something to those players mean anything to you? Hey,
I appreciate it whatever whatever lands the plane. You know
what I mean? Uh? Um, Yeah, I I don't. I
don't hate whatever motivation produces the result. UM. And I've
(09:35):
always had the mentality, and that's something that I try
to instiller on our players. Football is our game. Our
business is winning, and we need to handle business on Friday. Menka.
Fitzpatrick was voted the Steelers m v P by his teammates.
What makes him a worthy choice? His production, UM, his
approach to business, his professionalism, UM, his accountability. UM, it's
(10:01):
just everything about him is m v P. And this
guy is you know, probably answered every question that we've
had about him since we've acquired him. He drinks the
kool aid at his Pittsburgh, PA. He's a Steeler. Um.
He teaches it to the young guys with each passing day. UM.
He just he earns that UM. And I think that's
(10:22):
why his teammates voted him. Uh m v P. That's
the Mike Tomlin Game Day Podcast. Subscribe in, 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 Steeler's mobile app, the I Heart
Radio app, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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