Coach Mike Tomlin on ‘being light on our feet’ (July 31) | Pittsburgh Steelers

Coach Mike Tomlin on ‘being light on our feet’ (July 31) | Pittsburgh Steelers

You know, we always try to have a hardcore plan, but be light on our feet. Um, I just think that’s a component of football and particularly team development. Uh, we went early today to beat the weather. Uh, I like the energy and the preparedness that the guys showed even with the change. Sometimes we get challenges, man. Rain delays and so forth and we still have to perform and so that’s some of the messaging that went along with today’s work. I really appreciate the competitive spirit we have out here, man. got some guys that are uh learning what to do and getting to know each other while at the same time being highly competitive and you can’t run away from the competition in this game particularly at this level. Uh got some guys working their way back to us increasing their participation. Isaac Amalo for example uh was taken off the list and and began the process of working and so um all things pointed in the right direction in that regard. Um, some other injuries to report on. Um, Jacob Slate, he’s got a knee injury yesterday that’s being evaluated. Dean Lowry, he’s got a knee injury from yesterday that’s being evaluated. I’ll have more information on some of those guys and others a little bit later. And the rest of the stuff is just things that that man to manage that comes along with this process. I’ll pause and open up for questions. Mike, there was some shiminess between John and some of the defensive backs. How do you react to that? And is that something with the pads off that maybe you like to see? You know, I just prefer to keep some of that stuff inhouse. Um I’d much rather say wo than sickum. Uh this is a football team we’re putting together. Uh but it’s also an opportunity to learn how to compete and compete the right way and be professional. Um but largely um how I handle those circumstances uh is our business. Competition periods today too despite no pads. How would you assess you know the one-on- ones that went on today as well? I love the energy and the competitive spirit on display. Uh, I think you can do both. I think you can learn, you can develop skill, uh, while competing and competing at a high level at the same time. And I think that was on display. You said this year’s a big year for Romy. How have you seen him respond to that playing outside inside just through seven practices? He he’s shown really good uh, adaptability and position flex. Um, we’re still very much early in the process, but I like some of the things I’ve seen from him. Certainly. Aaron talked about yesterday about mastering this offense and he hoped to get it down by the end of the week. How have you assessed his progress in that? And at the same time too, you know, maybe him getting some assistance from guys he could be playing the ball too playing on offensive as well. You know, I I agree with his sentiment regarding uh his progress. Um I like it, but certainly we still pushing forward toward comfort every day. You got to remember the guy wasn’t here in the spring. Uh and so this is a big process for him here. Um he’s doing a really good job of communicating and dialoguing uh with his eligibles, the people that he works with. Uh but we’ll just keep punching that clock every day. When you talk about uh pass catcher and quarterback’s ability connection, obviously reps are invaluable, but inside those reps, how do you feel chemistry quarterback watches quarterback type? Uh you said it is primarily built on reps and gaining an understanding and feel for one another. Uh but that can also happen in the classroom. And so, you know, the work that we do in the classroom is just as important um as the work that we do out here. particularly uh the peer-to-peer communication based on what we see to gain that understanding, that level of understanding, to get an understanding of what your partner is thinking under certain circumstances is big. Last one here, Friday night lights tomorrow. I know that’s something you always get excited about. You got a ton of new key guys that get to experience that for the first time as well. Just your thoughts. We just appreciate uh the welcome wagon that we get up here in Latroe, not only at St. Vincent, but in this community. And um it’s an opportunity for us to to show our appreciation to perform in that different environment at prime time. It’s also a really good component of team development. You like to change the variables and circumstances in which we work. Uh like we did today, we went early in in the morning. Tomorrow night we’ll work uh at prime time, but often times that mirrors scheduling and so forth. We play at a variety of times in the National Football League and regardless of when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. So, Friday Night Lights means a lot of things to us, man. And we’re really excited uh about getting to it.

Coach Tomlin spoke to the media after training camp practice on Thursday, July 31

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