Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin holds his weekly press conferences every Tuesday. Each week, we will take a glimpse at what stood out from coach’s comments about the previous week and heading into the Steelers next game.

Opening statement

Good afternoon. We’re excited about getting our season started. I’ll outline a few things regarding our preparation and our mindset for this opportunity.

We recognize the challenge that this is. Opening our season on the road in a hostile environment against a division opponent arrival we understand what that means. We understand how important this game is to the Cleveland Browns. It’s probably a similar importance 12 months ago when we opened up in Cleveland under similar circumstances, so we have a frame of reference largely for those of us that have been here in terms of the importance of this game, the environmental aspect of our preparation and ultimately what type of situation we are going into, but we can’t focus a lot on those things.

The first time out our focus needed to be our preparation, our play, our execution in our plan, our division of labor, our utilization of talent and time, and preparation of play. Look at ourselves, the overall health of our team is pretty good.

The vast majority of guys who had missed some time throughout the process have worked in some capacity and even participated in the last preseason game. Even those that we didn’t allow to participate in the game have been practice participants at least in some capacity. We expect that to continue.

We should anticipate all members of our team at least being partial participants as we get started this week with practice and kind of let that be our guide in terms of their inclusion in the plan or the anticipation of play. Some of those guys that I am talking about that have missed some time are Vance McDonald, James Washington, Mike Hilton, T.J. Watt, X-Man [Xavier Grimble]. We’ll watch some of those guys and divide the labor up and utilize their talents accordingly based on what we see as the week progresses.

On the Browns

Let’s quickly talk about Cleveland. They’re a new group in a lot of ways and I’m sure they feel that way. I think the video and just the prep, the feel, leads you to say that.

Starts of course with their signal caller Tyrod Taylor, who is new to Cleveland. Not new to us. We’ve competed against him in the past, we are familiar with him.

We have a great deal of respect for him. The things that make him a tough challenge, the things that make him difficult to minimize and defend, is his mobility and his decision making. He’s always been a great decision maker. He’s always prudently used his mobility in an effort to move the offense. He is going to challenge us in a big way. We have to work to minimize his impact on the game through mobility and decision making whether it is adlib or by play design. He’s going to create some challenges for us.

They are new at the running back position, Carlos Hyde, [Nick] Chubb, their primary ball carriers or their anticipated primary ball carriers, are new to us and new to this series.

Their featured receiver in Jarvis Landry, obviously, is new to Cleveland, not new to us. We’ve competed against him in the past but boy he brings a certain edge to an offense or to a football team in terms of how he plays the game. He’s a combative player, he’s a physical player, he’s a football player first, a guy who we have a great deal of respect for. I’d imagine his playing personality is going to kind of wave through that receiving core but through the football team.

They are partnering him with a new draft pick or a guy that is new to them via this draft class in [Antonio] Callaway who appears to be a very talented guy out of Florida. They have a new base of core components up front whether it is a position move with [Joel] Bitonio, or whether it is the inclusion of Mother [Chris] Hubbard at right tackle.

A lot about the offense is new.

Todd Haley is a coordinator, and play caller, is new so we’ve been working hard to anticipate what all that means in terms of how the game plans out and game planning and so forth. We proceed with that understanding.

I think there is more stability and anticipation in defense. It is more of a continuation of core players. Obviously, Gregg Williams is back as a coordinator. They have some young developing talent. Guys that they have acquired and are growing and growing together.

Obviously, Myles Garrett leads the charge up front. We had limited exposure to him last year due to injury and so forth. He’s had a whale of a preseason. We have to work to minimize his impact on the game obviously.

The core component of linebackers, 53, 51, and 58. Those guys have been together now for a number of years and I am sure they are looking forward to reaping a reward of that continuity. They all have special talents and work well together and the way they utilize them, and their talents are impressive. The way that they employ them in sub packaging and some of the things that they are able to do.

Inserting 51 and 58 as additional rush people or blitzes, the coverage ability in open grass tackling of 53. We have our work cut out for us with that group that has now been together for a number of years.

In the core component of the secondary is a talented and young emerging player in [Jabrill] Peppers. They have acquired [Damarious] Randall via trade in the offseason and then they drafted Denzel Ward who was obviously a top-flight corner in this past draft, so they have some young blending going on, on defense. There is more continuity there.

We have a lot to get prepared for on offense in terms of some uncertainty because of the newness of key components, players, and play caller. But more importantly than all of those things is how we prepare this week, how we compare to combat, the environment, crowd noise and so forth is going to be a factor in the game for us.

We respect that it is AFC North football. We respect that we are on the road. All of those things are going to heighten our awareness and prep, as it should. We’ll proceed with the week.

Do you expect Le’Veon Bell to be here tomorrow?

I hadn’t thought about it. We’ll see. Much like I told you guys throughout this process, when he gets here that’s when we’ll start quantifying all Le’Veon Bell related things: his overall readiness, his amount of time that we have between his arrival and our next competition etc., etc.

We’ll weigh all of those things at the appropriate time.

Right now, we are just singularly focused on the guys that are here and working and have been here and working and kind of building a plan around variables that we know, that is the appropriate thing.

What goes into that process of how ready will he be?

Again, I will answer that when he gets here. I’ve given you the variables. We’ll see.

Have you applied for the two-week roster exemption yet?

I am sure we have organizationally. I have just been focused on the group that is here and putting together a good plan.

Have you been in communication with Bell this week?

I have not, no.

When was the last time you had communication?

I haven’t been in contact with him this week.

Re: Can you use Randy Fichtner as an advantage since he is new?

Certainly, in one that we intend to. I think sometimes there are challenges that come with transition. There are also benefits or unattended consequences, not only being able to continue anticipate his rhythms, his nuances, or the things that he holds near and dear. It’s part of the advantage of the transition.

Re: You have a fair understanding of Todd Haley?

You can play that he knows, that I know, that he knows, that I know games. Hopefully he plays it all week. I am just going to get ready to play a football game.

Thoughts on letting Landry Jones go?

Yes, it was a very difficult decision. A lot of our decisions were difficult ones and I just think that speaks to the process that we had a good 90. Really wouldn’t about what Landry [Jones] did or didn’t do, it was about what Josh [Dobbs] did.

Josh was presented with very tangible challenges. He didn’t shrink in the face of it. As a matter of fact, he rose up in the face of it. Provided good and consistent play for us. We’ve always acknowledged that his mobility is an asset to him. I think we all got comfortable with this prudent use of it or his prudent displays of use of it over the course of the preseason. It’s helpful to him, it’s helpful to us.

We just got really comfortable with his growth and development. We expect a lot from second year players, regardless of what position, in terms of growth and development. We spend a lot of time talking about the growth and development of James Conner and appropriately so. He has put that on display through this process.

You can say the same about Josh Dobbs and I think that is why he is here.

Re: Why didn’t Landry play more in the preseason to compete for his job?

I have been very transparent about this process in terms of how we distribute reps and I’ve even been pointed about it at times. The guys that we know a lot about, we see less of because it is our job to learn about people that we are evaluating so that we can best make decisions.

I’ve mentioned that in regard to Darrius Heyward-Bey in terms of how we distribute wide receiver reps. I’ve mentioned it in regard to [Jordan] Dangerfield in terms of how we distribute safety reps. Getting an opportunity to look at Marcus Allen and Nat [Berhe] and others and quarterback is no different.

We had a decision to make based on a limited number of reps. It is our job to acquire our information about all parties involved. We did that, and we made the decision accordingly.

Given T.J. Watt’s hamstring injury, are you happy with the depth you have at outside linebacker going into the opener?

I am.

So, there are no plans to make a roster adjustment?

I didn’t say that. I just said I was comfortable. I’m not going to disclose my plan. I’m just comfortable.

Re: How much do you have to take personnel change into consideration?

That’s always an element of the equation. If you’ve got red paint, you paint your barn red. We use that analogy in coaching a lot. I’m sure Todd [Haley] is going to work to paint his barn whatever color the paint is that he has. That’s the challenge we all have as coaches continually, not only over the course of seasons, but week in and week out. That’s just the nature of this thing.

If James Conner starts at running back on Sunday, is there anything that you won’t do, or you’ll do less of that you might have done with Le’Veon Bell?

No.

With James, what steps were you looking for him to take in camp his second year and what did you see?

All areas, and he met the challenge. It’s reasonable to expect improvement in all areas from all of the guys, whether it’s things relative to their position – developmental skills specific to their position – whether it’s overall general conditioning and wellness relative to the job, whether it’s overall general understanding about what the processes of their potential role are, or whether it’s about football in general. Football 101, rules of the game, situational football.

I mean it when I say we expect those guys to grow in all areas, and I mean it when I say it’s reasonable to expect that based on that year – that lap around the track. And he did, as did [Joshua] Dobbs.

Is there something you can do to continue the development of Mason Rudolph even though he’s just going to get scout team reps?

Absolutely, and I’m not suggesting that he’s only going to get scout team reps. Those are your words, not mine. We’re going to continue with his growth and development. That’s our charge to do so, not only him, but everybody within our football team.

This is not a finished product as we kick out of the gates and start our season. We better continually be individuals and a group on the rise in all aspects of our game if we want to continue to be on the road as it gets increasingly narrow.

What are the last hurdles that Vance McDonald needs to go through to get back on the practice field?

I’ll know more once he participates tomorrow. He’s going to be at least a partial participant tomorrow. We’ll see what the result of that work is, how that work feels, and we’ll be able to provide you more information based on that.

Was Dobbs’ performance against Carolina the clincher or has this been building since the beginning of OTAs with him?

Both. I was very straightforward when I talked with him about what the Carolina game meant and people’s ability to lean in and deliver an above-the-line performance in spite of all the anxiety and pressure associated with that performance. But it’s also a part of a larger body of work, not only for him, for all of them, and he’s just an example of that.

Do you feel more comfortable with what you have behind Le’Veon going into Cleveland than you did last year?

Yes.

Why is that?

James. The status and condition and approach of James being a rookie who missed a lot of time due to soft-tissue injuries and lack of general readiness to a guy who’s done the things that we’ve outlined for several minutes in here.

What’s the cut-off day where, if Le’Veon isn’t in here by a certain day, you have to rule him out?

I haven’t thought a lot about that.

You mentioned a little while ago that Stevan Ridley was held back because he was banged up a little bit. Is he OK now, and where does he stand in any rotation if need be?

He’s healthy. He was a full participant in the last game against Carolina and made some nice plays. He also leaned in at the tape, so we’ll see where that leads us in terms of his role and the division of labor.

How did your virtual reality department come to be and how do you see that affect your players so far?

I think we’ll continually answer that, not only as we go through this season, but in the years to come. How we infuse technology and the use of into our game will define all of us in the years to come. I think the game is continually evolving. I think technologies used within the game are continually evolving, and that’s just an example of us keeping pace.

When your Week 1 opponent is featured on Hard Knocks, what, if anything, can you glean from that to use for your preparation?

I don’t know. I don’t watch.

What are some general things you do expect when facing a Todd Haley offense?

You know, I haven’t thought a lot about that to be honest with you. It’s not that point in the week where you start heavily thinking about those things. I think it’s that point in the week where you decide what your base is versus their base and those types of things. I’m sure we’ll delve into that as the week unfolds.

One thing that the Browns’ opponents had said in the preseason is it looks like they had been game planning more than the average team would in the preseason. Did you get to see some of that on film?

I wasn’t looking for it to be honest with you. If that was the perception from those that they played, then I’m not going to dispute it, but I hadn’t been looking for it.

Did you get the impression that they’re going to try to use the tight end a little more this year with their young quarterbacks?

They have a talented young tight end, and so obviously they’re going to utilize him. I hadn’t looked at it in that way.

Do you expect Antonio Brown to be full-go?

Yes.

Do you have an appreciation for Ridley in terms of what he was three or four years ago in terms of being on the 53?

Again, I just looked at the work he did in preparation when putting together this group.

How much do you have to change the language and checks at the line because Todd is familiar with what you’ve been doing?

We’re continually growing and evolving in those ways. That’s just prudent business. There are so many mics and so forth in today’s business, in stadium, on the field, etc., particularly as you go from one year to another. To be a moving target in that way is just a part of normal business. I’m not going to make more out of it than what it is.

How did the helmet rule evolve during the preseason? Was there anymore clarity?

They’ve provided videos for us, instructional videos. We’ve also taken the initiative to analyze how they’ve called our games and other games and use that as a teach tool. I think we’re all working to continue to adjust to play within the rules as emphasized in an effort to increase our chances of winning. I like what our group has done in that regard. We’ll continue to work.

You saw Josh Gordon at the end of last season. What kind of receiver is he at this point in his career?

I don’t know. I really don’t We’ve got to get ready to play the Cleveland Browns. He’s missed a lot of time. I respect and acknowledge the talent, but I don’t know what the time missed means in terms of his abilities, in terms of his role. Those are things for them to determine. I just respect what he’s capable of from a pedigree standpoint and we better work to minimize him in that way.

Re: Using Ryan Switzer as a returner:

Certainly. It is, and we’re comfortable with that and we’re going to explore some of that.

Transcript provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers