Steelers' Mike Tomlin gives update on preseason game one vs. Buccaneers
Today served as the first pre-game presser of the season for Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin. Outside of player updates, a look at practice, and a few of his favorite "Tomlinisms," Coach T let everyone in on Pittsburgh's preseason plans. Here's who you should expect to see Friday night: Mike Tomlin: "Those who are healthy will […]
Today served as the first pre-game presser of the season for Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin.
Outside of player updates, a look at practice, and a few of his favorite "Tomlinisms," Coach T let everyone in on Pittsburgh's preseason plans.
Here's who you should expect to see Friday night:
Mike Tomlin: "Those who are healthy will Play"
"All that are healthy are scheduled to play at this juncture, how much they’ll play is to be determined,” Tomlin said. “I lean toward playing but I respect that there are many different approaches, But in general, if we’re going to box, we better spar.”
A terrific analogy for preseason vs. regular season comparison, the Steelers' starters will prepare for the main event with a little "sparring" or preseason preparation. And that's something that Kenny Pickett foreshadowed yesterday:
“I’m on go,” Pickett said. “I’ll be in there for however long they want me to be. When they pull me, they’ll pull me out. I’m excited to play.”
A traditionalist by nature, this shouldn't come by surprise given Tomlin and the Steelers' reputation at training camp.
While the rest of the league starts to follow in the footsteps of Rams HC Sean McVay, keeping their starters out of the preseason entirely, Tomlin and the Steelers still believe in keeping practice between the team, and preseason as a ramp-up period.
And you can say that's outdated, old-school, or an ancient way of doing things, but Pittsburgh has won three straight season openers, twice as underdogs against Buffalo (2021) and Cincinnati (2022).
They once again are favored to lose when the San Francisco 49ers come to town week one, Sunday, September 10th.
Something tells me that will just add extra motivation for Tomlin and the boys, especially if they get into their groove starting Friday.
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Featured image via: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
