Transcript: Head Coach Mike Tomlin

Steelers Postgame (vs. NYG) Transcripts: Head Coach Mike Tomlin

September 14, 2020

Tomlin opening statement: There were a few injuries that we had. (Zach) Banner with a leg, he's being evaluated right now. (Stefen) Wisniewski had a pectoral. James Conner had an ankle. I don't know the status of all of those guys. Obviously, we're working on a short week, so we better be ready to close ranks. Just in general about the game, we're thankful, first of all, to have an opportunity to play. We don't take it for granted in this environment that we're in. It was an honor to be in here tonight and perform for Steelers Nation on Monday Night Football. We were excited about that regardless of the game atmosphere or what have you. I thought the guys brought energy. I thought we could have played better. There was some sloppiness that's kind of reflective of where we are and probably a lot of us at this stage - first time in a stadium. We dropped a punt there early. We got penalized on a third-and-long and extended the drive. They scored on the next play. We kicked off out of bounds. We didn't start with great fluidity on offense. All of those things are reasonable to expect, to expect us to get better and get better in a hurry. We better, because we have a short week and we have the Denver Broncos coming in. It's good to work on things with a W. So, we're appreciative of that. We're appreciative of the effort. It's awesome to have our quarterback back and see him do the things that he does and in the manner in which he does it.

Q: Mike, you had a lot of big plays tonight, but you had some little ones that seemed big, too. (Bud) Dupree chasing down the quarterback after the long drive and getting the deflection. JuJu Smith-Schuster getting on that fumble from Benny Snell. How did you feel about your team's ability to respond situationally?

A: I thought that they showed their metals. I think that they were physically tough and mentally tough. We have to do some things better. We knew we weren't going to be perfect tonight. We talked about that openly last night in preparation for this opportunity. But, there is more meat on the bone. I appreciate the efforts. We just have to search for a higher feeling in terms of quality of play.

Q: Mike, I'm sure whether the intent was to shut down Saquon Barkley, you guys did that. How did you do it?

A: We had a commitment and we weren't going to be bashful about that commitment. We thought that guy was a catalyst for whatever that they were going to do offensively. We put our secondary in harm’s way some in an effort to do so. It's a team game. They embraced that challenge. We needed to stack the line of scrimmage. We needed to bring people like Mike Hilton and so forth, and we did. We did what thought was necessary to minimize his impact on the game.

Q: Mike, both you and Ben (Roethlisberger) talked about having jitters before the game. When did you notice those subsiding for both of you?

A: When the game was over, for me. I can't speak for him. That's just the nature of this, you know? There are nerves. There is scarcity in what we do. You only get 16 opportunities in the regular season. This was our first one. We hadn't been in a stadium, so I think it was reasonable for us to have some level of nerves. For me, it's not over until it's over.

Q: Mike, was there a moment in the game where you saw Ben kind of get into the flow of things? It seemed like early he was a little bit off and then it kind of seemed to get better from there.

A: You know, it's easy to point back to something now with hindsight being 20-20. But that two-minute drive he was able to navigate before the half, I thought that was significant.

Q: The defense picks up again and gets two interception, you get 10 points off those. Is that just a continuation of what you guys did last year?

A: Nothing is a continuation of last year. We respect this process and we respect the group that we have together this year. There are some components that are different. Even those that remain are different. Hopefully, for the better. That's players and coaches. We don't find comfort in comparison to '19 and things of that nature. We're trying to build a reputation and a resume here in 2020.

Q: Benny Snell (Jr.) had a nice pick-up on the blitz. He had some long runs and that's coming cold off the bench. Is that what you expected from him? What were your thoughts on how he played today?

A: We've talked openly about the maturation process - the things you can expect from a second year player. He showed signs of that from the very beginning of this team development process. We talked openly about it in this setting, so I wasn't surprised by what he was able to do. He's a quality player and one that is mature and emerging and was ready to answer the bell when called upon.

Q: When you walk into the stadium and see 82,000 empty seats, you mentioned wanting to play this game for Steelers Nation. I'm hoping you can elaborate on that because that has to be a strange feeling for you and for everybody involved with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A: We've prepared for this. That's why we took the approach that we took in team development with scrimmages and so forth in empty stadiums. There was very little discussion about that element of this atmosphere. We had preparedness and they displayed that. They generated their own enthusiasm and played with emotion. They were just happy to play the game, and I thought it was reflective in the spirit in which they played.

Q: That touchdown by James Washington, as you're watching the second and third effort, what is going through your head?

A: That's a guy that has a nose for the end zone. Hopefully, that can be reflective of all of our guys, but just in that moment, that's a guy rising up and making a necessary play and doing what he has to do to deliver for his teammates. The strength of us is displayed in individual efforts like that one.