'We better have a full menu' – Steelers' Mike Tomlin preparing for potential Triple Crown winner
It's been this way for a while now, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the best WR in the league this Sunday. That would be Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase. And you don't have to take my word for it, just listen to HC Mike Tomlin: Tomlin Knows What awaits him with […]
It's been this way for a while now, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the best WR in the league this Sunday.
That would be Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase.
And you don't have to take my word for it, just listen to HC Mike Tomlin:
Tomlin Knows What awaits him with Ja'Marr Chase
"We better be close to him, and then we better tackle [him after] the catch," Coach T said when asked about slowing down Chase. "It's as simple as that, if you're not close to him and he gets to speed, he's a problem. And so obviously, like I mentioned at the beginning, we better carry a full menu, some zone, some man. Regardless of whether you're in zone or man, you better have people close to him. You better pass them through zones. You better be thoughtful about the man component, all in an effort to challenge him at the catch point. And if you're unsuccessful in that endeavor, you better get him on the ground sooner rather than later. The longer he's on his feet, the more likelihood he's going to ring the scoreboard up, and that's just what the tape tells us."
Chase is on pace to join an elite fraternity of pass catchers. Holding firm control over the receiving yards and receiving TDs lead, he's only four receptions behind Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb.
If he manages to surpass Lamb come seasons end and hold onto his lead in the other two categories, he will win the Triple Crown for the first time since 2021 when Cooper Kupp did it, and for only the third time this century.
So Pittsburgh has their work cut out for them. The Bengals might be 4-7 but it certainly isn't because of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and the rest of the offense.
Meaning Pittsburgh has a real shot at getting into a shootout on Sunday, because if they don't against this caliber of defense, then last week's concerns will only carry over, especially if the team drops two in a row within the division after last week's disappointment against the Cleveland Browns.
‘It’s something we have to conquer’ – Mike Tomlin welcoming the adversity of Steelers on Hard Knocks
It’s going to be a wild ride.
