Ben Johnson on respect for T.J. Watt, Steelers defense | Press Conference

Ben Johnson on respect for T.J. Watt, Steelers defense | Press Conference

really really good Pittsburgh team coming in town Sunday. Uh you know, very physical, very well coached, all three phases. Um we’re really excited about this opportunity. So, go ahead and open it up. Hey, Ben. Um I’m curious what you like what your evaluation has been of your team around halftime, like the middle eight of the game. Um as you probably look to put some of these teams away earlier as a goal, I’m assuming. What has your been your thought about how you guys have handled it beforehand? Well, I I know uh during the by-week when I looked at the first four games, I actually felt pretty good in those first four games of how we were scoring points before halftime and how we’re coming out of half uh on both sides of the ball. Um since the by-week, I haven’t looked at the numbers, but I have not felt that that same level of success. Um so, that’s something that that we can improve on. I know we’ve had a number of opportunities on offense to score some points before halftime and uh we haven’t gotten that job done. It’s been a while since we we’ve done that. Um and then defensively, you know, I don’t I feel like we’ve given up just a few whether it’s a field goal or a touchdown before half as well. Like I said, I got to go back and look at it, but that’s an area that uh you know, I think it was a couple games ago they it was it was uh the Giants, right? They doubled up on us. They scored before half and then after. And so that’s how games can go go uh sideways in a hurry is you look up and 17 to seven and then it’s you know tied up real quick. So um something that that we can’t improve on. Sorry. What does it say about the team that so many different guys have contributed and made plays with the game on the line at the end and not necessarily stars like you have Jake Moody winning a game, you have Josh Blackwell blocking a field goal to win a game. We’ve got a lot of depth uh on this team. Um, and I think we have a lot of guys that that as a coaching staff, we’ve by design, we put them in some in some challenging situations from the springtime through training camp. Um, and now when they get in those situations, they’re they’re ready for it, you know. Um, we talked all the time about being able to handle pressure, keep them being poised. Um, and and I think they rise to the occasion. And so, uh, I think that’s our entire team. I think that’s part of our identity and who we are. and really proud of the guys for for handling those situations so far. And through your lens, how would you describe Cairo’s value to this team? Well, I I think when you get voted captain by your peers, I think that that says a lot. Um, you know, we had a number of really good special teams players and and yet he was the one that got the the most votes to be special teams captain. And when you see how they react in the locker room to to him receiving a game ball or making one of those game-winning kicks, um, I think it’s pretty special. So when he talks, they listen. He’s been around this league for a long time. And uh and I think it’s been I think he’s been a really good influence for for our special teams unit in general. In your role, this is the first time you’ve kind of had oversight of a kicker in ways that are are more meaningful. How do you as a head coach go about calibrating your uh meter between concern and confidence as you go through the es and flows with a kicker? Well, he he I think the experience level with him uh gives you a good feel for his track record and um I think you you kind of you know what you’re going to get. Uh like I said after the game last week is you get a really good feel going into that game with how they’re kicking in pregame. And so that helps build some confidence of what what we feel comfortable with putting them in certain situations. And um I think he’s done a really nice job u since he he came back healthy. Luke Burton was since he got healthy again playing about half the time. Um, how has he emerged or how have you seen him emerge during that playing time and specifically Sunday? Was some of it too? Oz snap count was way down. Was that just kind of a result of the previous game in the Well, I I think it’s it’s you get what you earn and uh I think he’s earned the increased snaps. Um, you know, it’s something we evaluate each week. What what does practice look like? How are these guys through the course of the week? Are they making plays or not? and uh he’s he’s steadily climbed. Um you know, it’s the route running detail that’s showing up, the the consistency and and making sure his alignments are right, his his assignments, he’s uh he’s doing a real good job with that. And it’s a credit to the receiving room. Um the vets are showing him the way. And then, you know, Randall Lel and and Robbie Picazo uh they do a great job meeting with him and making sure he knows what he has going on. And so he understands that. And as a young rookie, I I think he’s uh he’s progressing nicely. When it comes to pressure, sorry, go ahead, Brad. No, go ahead. When it comes to pressures, um quick pressures versus blitz pressure versus standard fourman rush, they obviously have a high quick pressure rate. What What are your talking points this week for your quarterback? Yeah, I mean, they got some werewolves on the outside. That’s what that shows up. Uh they they have some of the between 56 and 90. I mean, it’s some of the best first steps I think you’ll see in this league. And so, when you have both sides that you’re concerned about, that’s where that’s where you got to be pretty creative as a as a play designer to make sure that they don’t affect the game um in a negative fashion. So, you know, I think I think those guys, they hop off the tape immediately both in the run game and in the passing game. Like I said before, it’s a physical unit. They do a great job in the inside clogging it up and and uh not allowing you to to get them off the line of scrimmage and then those guys on the edge. I think they they do a phenomenal job and and put a lot of stress on the quarterback. So, uh we got to be very disciplined in in the depth of the pocket um from a quarterback perspective. Make sure we’re not getting too deep because they can they can run around and tackle in a hurry. It doesn’t matter who you are in this league. They they’re darn good players. What elements of Mike Town’s success over the years stand out to you most? Oh, the fact that he hadn’t had a losing season, right? I mean, it’s it’s incredible. It’s absolutely incredible to think that he’s been a head coach as long as he has and and uh just keeps churning out wins. I mean, that’s he sets the bar very high and uh nothing but respect for him, how he goes about his business. He holds his players accountable. Um, I think you saw it even this week, you know, with some of the the quotes talking about a player getting spit at and his reaction to it. I mean, he’s 100% right as far as I’m concerned. I think he hit the nail on the head. Um, and he he just keeps it real and authentic at all times. So, the players respect that. You can tell that they play hard. Um, you know, the the film’s always the the resume of a coach is how I feel and and when his players are playing as as hard and and consistent as as they do for as long as he’s he’s been doing it, I think that’s a a huge credit to him. What do you appreciate about you as a competitor that uh would be disappointed if you don’t have a chance to play against Rogers? Well, I’m not playing, so I’m okay. You know what I mean? But I’ve got a lot of respect for for Aaron Rogers. Um he’s he’s done this at a high level for an incredible amount of time and if he’s if he’s ready to go this week, would love nothing more to to uh compete against him. Do you know how do you have enough sample size to know how much the offense would change or not change if Rudolph has to play? I think it’s too soon to say that. Yeah, I mean he he got in for the second half of of last game for a little bit, but um you know, I think Arthur’s been doing this for a long time in Tennessee and Atlanta and so I think there’s a pretty good track record of of what he wants to be about. Um I just keep talking about the physicality. Like that’s what this game’s going to be, you know, on both sides of the ball really all three phases. That’s that’s what they are. That’s what we believe we are as well. And so um we’re going to have to counter that. with Kyler’s uh window opening, what do you sort of anticipate shaking off the nickel? And has CJ done enough that you want to get both those guys out? Yeah, I mean, I think CJ is definitely a playmaker and so um he’s he’s a guy that we’re going to want on the field and when when we feel good about Kyler being ready, we’ll we’ll make sure we have a good plan in place. And in terms of how we set that up, Caleb has expressed his appreciation for Rogers game in the past. Do you see any similarities with how Caleb plays position compared to Rogers? Um, you know, I I I probably probably not right now. You know, I think the he’s he’s elite right now at getting the ball out of his hands. I think he’s got the if he doesn’t have the fastest snap to throw uh time in the league right now, he’s got to be close. Um, and so he’s doing a really good job spitting it out. He’s accurate, you know. Um, I I think our guys the same way, but we we probably hold on to it a little bit more. um just where we we where we are in the offense and as we’re learning and we’re growing, I think we’ll gravitate more towards getting it out faster the the more reps we have. But um but yeah, I I mean the guy’s done it, like I said, at a high level for a long time. So, it’s a it’s a good guy to look up to for a young quarterback. We asked you about Tom Brady earlier this year with him having an investment in the team you’re playing. Do you need to remind anybody in the building that the color guy this weekend’s brother plays for? Yeah, we’ll we’ll be mindful of that as well. I think we had them a few weeks ago also. So, um I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything like that though, right? And with with Kyler and Jaylen, how do you keep your tabs on their readiness in the coming weeks or you just rely on support staff to to let you know when they’re when they’re good to go? Yeah, we have a plan. We have a plan in place. It’s it’s something that uh you know, got a lot of trust in in the sport support staff, just like you mentioned um between the training room and then our sport science department. we we’ll make sure that we’re acclimating them properly and and uh last thing we want to do is put a player in a spot where he could potentially hurt himself again. So, we’ll be very smart about that, but at the same time, um I know that they want to be out there and and they’re pushing hard to be game ready, whether that’s this week or not, but um we’re doing every all of our due diligence to make sure we’re smart about it. Does the depth that you have at that position though in the secondary give you maybe a little bit longer of a leash before activating those guys potentially the the need to not feel to rush them back? Well, I mean, we feel good about the depth in in all of our positions and uh we’ve been saying all along uh you know, guys that are on the practice squad to uh guys that were special teamers to start the season whenever their their number gets called and and we need to count on them for however long we need to count on them. They they need to be ready. And so I think I think that’s been an example of that. You know, I think we’ve had some good play there in the back end. Um, you know, Mloud’s been a guy that comes to mind. He just he goes out there and he battles every single nickel outside corner. You know, I’m really proud of what he’s been able to put on tape and he just competes his tail off. And so, uh, yeah, we clearly want them back. They’re really good players and they will they will certainly help us out. But I think the the guys in theirstead have been doing a heck of a job. Thank you.

Head coach Ben Johnson addresses the media Wednesday at Halas Hall.

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