Mike Tomlin Talks Injuries, Lance Moore Return, Marcus Gilbert Mistakes
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told Cook & Poni on 93-7 the Fan Tuesday that he's still very sore from a hit he received in the loss to the Ravens.
Roethlisberger said the hit caused a whip-lash type effect and he has sore ribs. The Steelers quarterback said he will play, and Tuesday, Mike Tomlin did not list him with the team injuries.
"That was a significant shot, but that comes with the territory and that's something he's embraced over the years," Tomlin said.
The head coach also didn't think the hit affected Roethlisberger in the Baltimore game.
"He's not going to make excuses and I'm not either," Tomlin said. "He's capable of playing better and we look forward to working hard so that it occurs this weekend."
Roethlisberger could get Lance Moore as a receiving option for the first time this season. The 5-foot-9-inch Moore has yet to play due to a groin injury, but practiced on Monday.
"We're going to watch that develop throughout the course of the week," Tomlin said. "A guy who has missed some time with a soft-tissue injury like him is not only his ability to participate. It's how his body responds to that participation."
Moore has 38 career touchdowns as part of 346 career receptions and 4,281 yards during his career in New Orleans.
"Lance is a guy that's capable of helping us," said Tomlin. "He knows how to play football. When we get him back out there, we expect him to be a positive contributor to our efforts."
Personal Foul
Tomlin also defended the play of his team during his weekly news conference, following a couple of personal foul penalties Thursday night.
"I've been pleased with our guys overall level of respect for the way the game needs to be played in that area," Tomlin said. "Sometimes you fall short. I don't have major concerns about our ability to respect the player safety initiative and to lower the target and things of that nature. I know that we were called a couple of times in the football game. But largely, in regards to our guys and our approach to it, I have very little concern."
Overall with penalties, the Steelers are averaging 10 per game this year, compared to 5 penalties per game last year.
"We're 2 games into this one. Hopefully, by the time were able to compare this year to last or any year for that matter, over a 16, 19, 20 game schedule, we'll have a better showing than we have to this point," Tomlin added.
Yo Marcus
Second-year starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert gave up a couple of sacks against the Ravens, but Tomlin said he will keep his starting job and that it's not in jeopardy.
"You play 60-plus snaps, if you give up 2 sacks it's a bad game. That's the nature of our business and I'm sure as a tackle that's a challenge he embraces," Tomlin said. "I'm not concerned about Marcus, his ability to rebound from that and his mentality in regards to that rebound. He was in the building yesterday, had a good day. I expect him to come back fighting like Rocky."
Tomlin also said you have to give some credit to the opponent Elvis Dumervil, who has 75 sacks in his 9 year career.
"A lot of it was Dumervil-related. Who is a pretty good player and has been for a long time. When I coached college football I used to say they have scholarships too. I think the same applies to the National Football League you're talking about Marcus and having to rebound, and obviously, he needs to do that. You also have to acknowledge they face some pretty stiff challenges week-in and week-out."
NFL Issues
Tomlin was asked about the numerous off-field issues dominating headlines in the NFL and if he's worried about the image of the league.
"I'm not. I'm focused on Pittsburgh and what's going on with us," he said.
"I'm not a good guy to quote on that," Tomlin added. "I haven't followed some of those other things. I focus on our issues. It's not my job to solve global issues. It's my job to solve Pittsburgh issues."
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