Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin talks following Thursday night’s loss to the Ravens.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin: It was a disappointing effort for us. A lot of self-inflicted wounds are going to prevent you from being in football games like that. We turned the ball over too often. We were highly penalized, particularly on the drives that they were able to manufacture and produce points. We were highly penalized defensively. Those two things are a lethal combination. You turn the ball over, you are highly penalized, you’re extending drives. You are going to lose football games like that and we did tonight. I’m not going to accept it, they can’t accept it. It happened tonight, but we’ve got to make the necessary corrections to move forward and make sure it doesn’t happen again. These games are too precious.
Last week you talked about communication issues with the defense. Was this more of an execution issue?
There wasn’t any issue. We turned the ball over and were highly penalized. That’s why we lost the football game.
Is there anything you can do to eliminate the penalties?
Yeah, we have to play cleaner. We have to play cleaner. We have to play better technically and cleaner.
Re: Ben Roethlisberger missing some throws
It wasn’t a winning performance by any of us.
Re: Coverage problems against their tight ends
It wasn’t significant in determining the outcome of the game. You drop back, you throw, you are going to catch some. The story from my perspective, until I watch the tape, is what I told you.
Re: The early fumble by Justin Brown having an impact
It’s a game of 60 minutes. The outcome of the game is not going to be defined in the initial moments of the game, whether it’s positive or negative. We did too much of what I outlined over the course of 60 minutes.
Re: Injury update
A bunch of bumps and bruises. Steve McLendon had a shoulder and wasn’t able to return. I’ll have an update for you at the appropriate time. I don’t have anything other than that.
Re: Lawrence Timmons injury
He went back into the game.
Re: Ryan Shazier coming out of the game for Sean Spence
We are going to roll people. We’ve got capable guys. Sean Spence is a capable guy. We played them both.
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DaveB.
September 12, 2014 at 5:10 am
Well I’d say the handwriting is pretty much on the wall . The Steelers came within an eyelash of losing to the Browns and now after the Ravens debacle the Steelers are probably looking at 8-8 and another year with no playoffs . Yes its early and the team has only played two games , but after 4 preseason games and 2 regular season games , its obvious the Steelers still have no answers on how to fix the defense . Bottom line , they were never in the Ravens game and thats sad . Tomlin and the boys have got alot of work to do .
DrGeorge
September 12, 2014 at 8:54 am
Before the game, I commented that both the Ravens and Steelers had deficiencies exposed in their first games of the season and that four days wasn’t enough time to fix them. I predicted an ugly game and a Raven’s victory. Sadly, I was right. I expected a close game (as did most fans). I was wrong. The Ravens 26-6 victory was dominant and decisive. Yet, neither team played especially well. The Ravens didn’t win the game so much as the Steelers lost it, with 3 turnovers, 11 penalties, and no sacks or takeaways on defense. The Steelers secondary lacked discipline on misdirection plays and let a journeyman tight end (Daniels) catch two TD passes.
The Steelers were never able to get pressure on Flacco; when the pass rush got close, he threw the ball away. Flacco throws well from the pocket and looked much sharper than he did the previous week. Conversely, the Ravens put consistent pressure on Ben R. (Dumerville made Gilbert look like a revolving door at RT), and Ben continues to hold the ball too long when his protection breaks down and refuses to throw the ball away. (In Ben’s defense, the Ravens double teamed A. Brown after the first quarter and the rest of the receivers often failed to get separation from the defensive backs.) Ben R. does not throw well from the pocket, and the no-huddle that Ben prefers and runs well was not used often enough.
The Ravens running game succeeded because its O-line made mincemeat out of the Steelers front seven; the Steelers running game succeeded early because Bell is nimble enough to bounce outside and elude tacklers, not because the O-line pushed the Raven’s defense aside. When the Ravens’ defense adjusted, the Steelers running game fizzled.
Statistically, the Steelers’ offense looks impressive, running and passing, but the stats are misleading; all the yardage comes between the 20-yard lines; the offense still sputters in the red zone and must settle for field goals.
I have repeatedly observed here that the Steelers lack talent, particularly on the D-line, at CB, and on the offensive line. The failure to replace the quality lost on defense with the departure of Hampton, Aaron Smith, and others is especially obvious. When Keisel at age 35 is brought back from retirement to anchor your defensive line, you know you’ve got troubles. Now, I’m beginning to have doubts about our LBs, the heart of our defense. We have upgraded our defensive speed at LB, but we sacrificed size and strength in the process.
Over all, the Steelers have no one on defense like Ngata, Suggs, Dumerville, and Elam who are both big and fast. On the O-line, Munchak has improved the play of the Steelers O-line, but it will take time to perfect the line’s execution and some players are simply not adequate to the task. Coaches cannot compensate for a lack of talent. The Steelers will get better as the season progresses on both sides of the ball, but it is hard to argue with Dave B’s prediction above of another 8-8 season. It could easily be even worse.