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

You can’t start games slowly. I thought we started the game slowly in all three phases. We got some three-and-outs there initially, offensively. We lost the field position battle in the kicking game, but really, we kind of lost the field position battle throughout. I thought that first big punt return, putting those guys on a short field, was significant.

Then obviously, we gave up some plays there in the early portions of the game defensively. They scored 21 points I think in their first 15 snaps. We gained some traction, we were able to get back in the football game, but largely throughout the game, at least particularly defensively, we weren’t able to minimize some of the things that produced the outcome of the game – some chunk plays if you will. In the kicking game we never gained the kind of traction that we needed in terms of splash.

I thought we controlled the field positioning element in Week 1. We didn’t in Week 2. Net punting had a lot to do with it. We missed some kicks. Obviously, I thought we gained traction offensively after the first couple series. We were able to move to ball fluidly, but when we didn’t have traction in the other areas, you always felt like we were playing catch-up. So, we weren’t able to secure a victory.

We’ll take those lessons. We did yesterday and analyzed the video in a lot of ways – particularly on defense, particularly on special teams and areas that I thought were critical in terms of the outcome of the game. But we’re a team that’s trying to grow and be consistent – varsity-level consistency in all areas.

I think, at this juncture of the season, that probably what describes us if you’re looking for cumulative representation of where we are, we haven’t won a game yet. We’re looking for consistency in all three areas of our team. It’s popcorn, and usually that’s the case when you’re developing and trying to find traction. It’s not one constant area that’s below the line. It’s usually popping up in a variety of areas.

In Week 1, I thought that ball security and the turnover element of play was a significant reason in why we had issues securing victory. Last week, I thought field positioning and chunk plays – field positioning in the form of special teams, net punting specifically and chunk plays that were produced against us in a variety of ways defensively.

If you look specifically at the chunk plays, it was a variety of people and concepts. We’ve just got to keep working. We can’t blink in the face of adversity.

There’s always going to be adversity in these journeys. We’re staring in the face of some. You don’t get to pick and choose oftentimes the adversity that you face and when you face it. I know that you better respond to it appropriately.

Those are some of the things that we’ve been talking about as we prepare for this next game is the response, not the reaction. Reaction is without thought at times. It’s emotional, etc. We want to respond to the adversity that we’re facing, so we want to proceed with thought. We want to put together a good plan. We want to utilize guys in the right ways in an effort to increase our chance for victory, and where we’re going and when we’re playing is significant.

Looking toward Tampa

We’re on the road. We’re playing in primetime television on Monday night in Tampa. They’re honoring Coach [Tony] Dungy, a guy I have a great deal of respect for, so you can anticipate the type of environment that our football team is going into – one that we can’t shy away from, one that I’m excited about to be quite honest with you.

I think all of us who are competitors in this business, you get fired up about staring adversity in the face, and particularly the adversity you created coupled with the natural adversity that the game of football provides all of us over the course of these journeys that we’re on. So, I’m excited about getting started. We’re in the process of doing that. We’ve got some work to do, so obviously we don’t hate the extra day of preparation.

If you look at Tampa, and I’ll talk about them some, you’ll see what I’m talking about in reference to that. I think they’re playing really good football. Let’s start off first with their offense. Fitz [Ryan Fitzpatrick] I think is leading the League in passing. Man, he’s got some explosive weapons. He’s stepping in for [Jameis] Winston, but Fitz is not a step-in guy. This guy has started in multiple cities. We’ve seen him some in extensively in Cincinnati and Buffalo, he’s a smart guy, Ivy League educated, always made good decisions. That’s why he’s been able to sustain himself and play for the length of time that he’s played. He’s playing really well right now in the environment that he is playing in.

He’s got some really nice weapons. It starts with Mike Evans, first rounder, big x receiver type, makes good combat catches, physical in the run game, he’s got a very complete game, physicality is element of his play. He’s big but he also plays big.

DeSean Jackson could always take the top off. He’s always been a big play guys. He’s probably 10 years in or so now. This guy has been at the forefront of that area with guys like Mike Wallace since he’s been in the League. He’s always capable of doing that.

They got a quality tight end that they drafted out of Alabama in O.J. Howard who’s produced some splash, who’s big play capable. They are capable of displacing him from the formation and attacking you vertically.

They spread some people out. They control games. They have a compliment of backs. Guys that they are utilizing. I know they lost a feature back in the offseason. I like what’s transpired with the other guys. They have a nice division of labor there. They have talent up front. They do a great job. They acquired a center from Baltimore. They were able to move [Ali] Marpet to guard. I think that has really solidified them. Inside they got quality tackles, one of them being Donovan Smith, a Penn Stater, we looked at a couple of years ago when he came out. Really quality players on offense producing chunks, those chunks are producing points, as we prepare for them.

Obviously, we have to play a solid and complete game but given their two game resume in terms of the big plays that they produce and what’s happened with us in the last stadium that we’ve been in obviously working to minimize chunk plays is a significant element of preparation and quality play for us.

On the defensive side of the ball really, it’s about some high-level people and some acquisitions. Jason Pierre-Paul is a quality end, has been for a long time, a guy that sets a really good edge. Does an awesome job in the run game. Really does a great job of breaking the pocket down versus a play-pass. In the passing game in general they are employing him some inside in sub.

You couple him with [Kwon] Alexander inside man what a formable tandem. Kwon is Kwon. He’s a perennial Pro Bowl-like guy who’s problems from a matchup standpoint for guards. They play a lot of people like a lot of four down teams do in terms of their rush men rotation.

They get quality contribution from a lot of people. Will Golston, a Michigan Stater, worthy Michigan Stater. They picked up Carl Nassib from the Cleveland. We were preparing to play him a couple of weeks ago. He’s gotten into the fold quickly over there and provided some quality snaps for them. Regular 4-3 type things. Quality rush men, deep group there. At the linebacker level, can’t say enough.

They are all situations players, Kwon Alexander, Lavonte David, they basically play all downs. They are versatile, they are knowledgeable, they read and diagnose extremely quickly. They are rangy, speed guys, had an opportunity to look at Kwon down there in Orlando at the Pro Bowl and watch him work. This is a guy that can cover a lot of grass on the football field vertically and horizontally.

They are a run and hit group. They got in the lead. They produce some big plays that’s allowed them to pin their ears back and cover group with those second level defenders. I talked about rush to passer with those four-man rush groups and coincidentally they produced a lot of splash. Some turnovers, they cause fumbles, they have been able to control the game from that aspect as well. Scoop and score if you will.

We have a lot of things to stimulate us as we start this week’s prep.

Injury updates

On the injury front, a couple things to manage and watch. Couple existing injuries. [David] DeCastro has got a chance as he works his way back with his hand, we’ll watch his participation during the week. [Tyson] Alualu same thing, as he works his way back from his shoulder.

A couple new ones to manage and watch. [Marcus] Gilbert with a hamstring and Ramon Foster is managing a knee. We will watch those guys through the week and see how they go. I didn’t mention Joe Haden, he had a good week, rehabilitation, we anticipate him working but again we’ll let the result of that work and the quality of that work be the guide in terms of determining his availability.

Re: Is it time to think about your defensive scheme or the personnel

I am not ready to paint with a broad bush. Really, I am focused on this group this year. I have acknowledged that has been an issue in the past, it was an issue last week. I am really focused on what’s going on in terms of what we put in as a staff, in terms of acknowledging and responding to that coupled with the personnel that we have now.

Last week can’t be a representation of us in that regard. Hopefully it is not. We look forward to work this week to prove that. I know that we are faced with a formable challenge in the form of Fitz [Ryan Fitzpatrick] and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that’s going to allow us to maybe bear that out.

Was communication in the secondary a large part of the problem?

It was some technical, it was some communication. It was popcorn to be honest with you. Really what I described early, it was not one particular guy, it was not one particular scheme or concept, really. It occurred in a variety of ways and a variety of circumstance which is obviously not acceptable.

Do you make the calls on defense?

I do not, no.

What was your reaction to Antonio Brown’s Tweet to a former employee?

Again, like I said last week, I’m not going to openly talk about a lot of things that occur in social media. You could be chasing that always. I will say this, it’s important that we understand our position. The light that is shined on us and the responsibility that comes with it.

There have been a couple of instances now where you’ve asked me about Antonio [Brown] regarding some social media-like things, I’ll address that very directly with him, but I’ll leave that between he and I. I am not going to use this form to address things. I just don’t believe it is appropriate. I believe this form is a very professional one.

We have a lot of football things to talk about. Performance, personnel, opportunities, challenges that the game of football presents. I always want to take that road when I am standing in front of this podium representing this League. That is just how I choose to approach it.

Was Antonio Brown here yesterday?

He was not, no. I am looking forward to visiting with him today and discussing that and some other things. I am not going to get into the details of why he wasn’t here or whether he was excused and all of those things. I’m just leave those things in-house.

I understand sometimes you have some negativity. We lost a football game. There were negative exchanges on the sideline. That’s frustration associated with not playing well and not winning, I understand all of that. There is opportunity for us to respond to it, particularly at the early portions of the year, to utilize negative experiences and things that occur to educate our team at this point in the journey.

So, it becomes a non-factor as we move forward. That is generally the approach that we take in non-football related things such as social media decorum so hopefully that will be the last time I’ll be discussing things such as that in this setting.

Re: There was one time where social media got in the way of Martavis Bryant to where you had to suspend him

Yeah, but that was different that was player among player. Player relations. I am not getting into that gray atmosphere out there among people where there is very little accountability and things of that nature. That is just not in my bag.

Re: The team having a more solid policy on social media

I’ll let you make those judgements. Again, I’ve expressed my position on what I intend to do, our approach to it. I’ve been pretty clear about it with you guys, I think, but unfortunately, I’ve been given several opportunities to be. And so we’ll address it and move on from it.

Does it frustrate you when it’s the same person over and over again?

I am focused on real legitimate things. Seriously, we gave up a few big plays. We are playing a team that is big-play capable. We haven’t won a game yet. Those are the real things.

Do you know why he failed to show today?

Again, today I am going to visit with Antonio and I intend to do so today. I just haven’t done it yet. I may or may not provide details relative to some of the things you guys are asking. I just want to stay focused on what’s real and what’s important: our preparation and ultimately our play this week. Not only ours collected but his included.

Has Antonio asked to be traded?

No.

Re: Did Travis Kelce have such a good game because of the absence of Ryan Shazier or the addition of Sammy Watkins?

It is probably a combination of all of the things you talked about but that is the same every year. Matchups, the nature of matchups change year-in and year-out. We played them in the past. They’ve had significant components that they’ve lost also.

Derrick Johnson had been a significant component of that series in the past and he wasn’t in this one. People come and go for us, for them. That will always be the case when you talk about common opponents and people that you see a lot.

The offensive line gave Ben [Roethlisberger] a lot of time to throw, is that a sign of success with coach [Randy] Fichtner’s offense?

Again, I’m not trying to paint with a broad brush in any area. Whether it is positive or negative two weeks in, I’m not. I’m just working to win a football game. There will be time for that, particularly as our body of work gets bigger, as we step into more stadiums. I am not looking for comfort in that regard, what I am seeking is victory. We have to win a game. We have to win a game this week.

Are you comfortable with Jordan Berry as your punter?

I’m not comfortable with results I’ve seen thus far. It has got to be better. I thought field position was significant in terms of how that game unfolded. Net punting, they did an awesome job and we have to do better.

Was punting out of bounds on purpose at any point in the game?

Yeah, we were trying to minimize the return man’s impact on the game for sure. But even with some of that directional stuff, I thought we could have been better. It’s reasonable to expect us to be better.

Are you working out anybody this week?

We may.

How much was the tight end usage dictated by Vance McDonald’s injury?

It wasn’t. We want to utilize all of our eligible. Yes, he has been included a lot, particularly in the recent past so I don’t think that is reflective of anything the tight end usage relative to Vance’s [McDonald] availability.

Re: Cameron Sutton and Coty Sensabaugh rotation at cornerback

I thought they had their moments. I thought also at times they lacked a little detail. They could be better. We’ll see where it leads us. Right now, we are anticipating Joe [Haden] working and so we’ll see where that work load leads us, but we could have been better there. But we all could have been better, starting first with myself, in terms of what we did in that football game.

Is the strong safety situation still working itself out?

Both guys played because Morgan [Burnett] plays a lot of sub-package linebacker. Both guys will continue to play. We like those guys. Those guys are going to be a part of the reason of why we are successful. We’ll continue the growth and development in terms of the division of labor at that position.

Re: What is your evaluation on Antonio Brown not getting the ball enough

People I’d imagine spend time, particularly in the offseason, working to minimize Antonio’s impact in football games. Particularly people that you played in the early portions of the year and they get the schedule and they know they are going to see you, so I wouldn’t overreact in any way in terms of what’s transpiring with his usage or things people are doing to defend him.

The more we play, those things level themselves out. This guy is a significant guy. He’s been a significant reason why we have been successful around here. He is going to continue to be. It’s just things that happen probably at the initial portions of the season as you work the game traction, as you see some new and different things people have been working on. As you see some of the things people are doing the work to minimize his work on the game.

How do you handle coach and player confrontation on the sidelines?

It starts first and foremost with them and if it acquires me I’ll address it. We acknowledge that tempers are going to flare time to time. We have people that want to win. We have players that want to win. We have coaches that want to win. We’re not bashful about the pursuit of it.

How did Tony Dungy influence on you?

I could talk, I wouldn’t know when to shut up. Coach just provided a daily blueprint on how he approached it. He was himself every day. It was a steady focus and compass through unsteady waters that can be in NFL seasons.

I felt that. Working for him is steady leadership. Guys knew where they stood with him. A clean communicator and I think those are some of the key ingredients that allowed him to be successful. Successful in multiple places, successful for a period of time. He’s worthy of the honor that he’s gotten and he’s getting this upcoming Monday night.

Jesse James has been able to fight for the number one spot at tight end, how do you think he’s been able to approach that?

We don’t necessarily identify people as a number one or number two. We brought tight ends in to supplement and help our offense. In many cases, we play with multiple tight ends, so I am not necessarily saying that somebody is one and somebody is two.

Jesse [James] knows he is going to be a part of what we do and he’s been a part of what we do and we appreciate his contributions. He’s improving in all areas over the course of his career here, so the presence of others shouldn’t change that or his approach in any way and I do not believe that it has.

How much has Jesse James’ blocking improved this year?

I think he’s gotten better in all areas but again, two games in, I am not trying to paint with a broad brush on any subject and talk about trends and things of that nature. We’ve played two football games.

Are [Chris] Boswell’s mechanics off?

Again, he’s missed a couple kicks. I’m not painting with a broad brush at this juncture.

Re: Tampa Bay Buccaneers diversification of the passing game

It’s the style of play. The diversification of the passing game. It’s the game environment in which they play. That Is the style of ball that New Orleans plays. That’s really the style of ball that they play in that division some. I think as they step into more stadiums, and the volume of work gets bigger, you will be able to assess some of that. I just think at this point you better appreciate what they’ve done through two games and be prepared to minimize it.

Re: How hard is it to deal with a game like that Sunday when you were a previous defensive coordinator

It would have been less frustrating had we won so I don’t want to miss that point. We step into stadiums to win games. We turned the ball over six times in Cleveland, but had we won, it would’ve stung less. We gave up six touchdown passes on Sunday, had we won it would’ve stung, but it would’ve stung less. Our business is winning, so we focus our efforts there, and if there is frustration that is centered around the pursuit of victory.

With all that has happened, what do you say to Steeler Nation at this point?

I’ve said repeatedly the same thing I have said to you guys over the course of this press conference. We are two weeks in. We do not have a large body of work. We are focused on winning this next opportunity, I am not ready to paint with a broad brush, I am just not.

I’m sensitive to our fans and the entertainment of our fans, and our pursuit of victory for them. Steeler Nation is our driving force in terms of how we approach and pursue victory, so I am not sensitive to those things but in no way am I painting with a broad brush two weeks in terms of where our football team is or what is going to define this group of people that is our football team in 2018.

Transcript provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers