And so it remains! Looking at the players mentioned in Mike Tomlin’s press conferences continues as the team wore their game uniforms for an evening practice at Heinz Field on Saturday. As usual, these players are not always the ones Tomlin raised himself, but they are specific players about whom Tomlin was asked. This time, half of the list members were appointed by Tomlin in his responses.
One of the unsung heroes on the Steelers’ defensive line is Tyson Alualu who is asked to perform even more in 2020 with the departure of Javon Hargrave. White Alualu is the second-oldest player on the Steelers behind only Ben Roethlisberger, Coach Tomlin was asked what young defensive lines can learn from the veteran.
“He brings a consistent professional approach. He brings attention to detail from a technical standpoint. His fine motor skills relative to his position are excellent, but he plays it. So when seeing a young man, he will see the process he is going through in terms of developing and maintaining and improving through the team development process. And that’s why he’s a good teammate in that regard, and we’m obviously glad we have him. ”
The Steelers pair of outside linebackers became one of the best tandems in the NFL in 2019. Coach Tomlin was asked what he has seen so far from his two stellar edge rushers.
“Just a continuous maturation process of themselves as individuals, but also as a tandem. It’s fun to watch the cooperative work. They challenge each other. They perform their fine skills in periods of special teams. Some of the unofficial things they do, the routines they have formed are things you see when you look at a particular tandem. And I know this is their intention to be what it is that we need them to be, what is special. ”
Discussing injuries that occurred during practice on Saturday before asking questions, Coach Tomlin revealed long-time snapper Kameron Canaday had to deal with a knee injury. When Coach Tomlin was asked about the back-up long snapper position, he brought up McDonald and even Maurkice Pouncy, who was not attending the practice.
“We determine who that is at the moment. We have some candidates with whom we have worked in that capacity. We have Vance McDonald working in that capacity. Maurkice Pouncey has worked in that capacity in the past. That I do not know that anyone has a lock on that position. This process will reveal that to us. ”
One of the favorite drills of both the coaches and the Steelers fans during training camp in “backs on backers.” Coach Tomlin was asked about safety Marcus Allen who participated in the drill and if it was a position where he was considered. In his response, Coach Tomlin brought on other defensive backs Mike Hilton and rookie Antoine Brooks.
“We have a lot of secondary guys down to run-back-versus-linebacker-like competition because, especially the safety position, is linebacker-like. Yesterday in an engaging drill we brought Mike Hilton and Antoine Brooks down with the linebackers. Today, we are in a blitz drill, we brought in Mike Hilton and Marcus Allen. That some of those safeties, especially those who play in the box, we bring them back to competition because the responsibilities of their job are linebacker-like. ”
Mike Tomlin’s interview can be seen here:
