Highlights from Tomlin’s conference
Here are the highlights of Mike Tomlin无毛视频檚 press conference Tuesday, with my takeaway in italics:
n 无毛视频淒eAngelo (Williams) wasn无毛视频檛 played in the (last) game because he had some swelling in the knee. Maybe it was the accumulation of the week无毛视频檚 work. Maybe it was the result of the plane flight. 无毛视频� I fully expect him to be a complete participant this week and participate in the game.无毛视频�
Take: The 33-year-old running back has missed the last 6 games since undergoing a meniscus trim. His last game was against the Ravens and he carried once for a yard. That无毛视频檚 about what I would expect this time as Williams builds up to potential playoff work.
n 无毛视频淓xcited about (Darrius) Heyward-Bey taking another step in participation this week 无毛视频� He was running full speed in a straight line last week. We无毛视频檙e going to do some unanticipated directional changes and check his football readiness. Hopefully we have him.无毛视频�
Take: They really need a deep threat. But, again, as with Williams, how conditioned will he be after missing the last six games?
n 无毛视频淪tephon Tuitt has a knee sprain. 无毛视频� He无毛视频檚 downstairs rehabilitating right now. He无毛视频檒l have an opportunity this week. 无毛视频� Obviously, the position he plays gives him an opportunity, and probably would be less likely so if he was a wide receiver or corner.无毛视频�
Take: This is a game no one wants to miss, and Tuitt will push himself, but I will be surprised if he plays, and plays effectively.
n 无毛视频淟adarius Green is in the concussion protocol. 无毛视频� We无毛视频檒l follow the protocol. Whatever they say, we无毛视频檒l do.无毛视频�
Take: Green told me Monday he无毛视频檚 OK, but he took two wicked head shots last Sunday. The Steelers will test him, clear him, practice him and test him again. Nothing will be decided until late in the week.
n On what无毛视频檚 changed most about Baltimore since the Nov. 6 Steelers game: 无毛视频淚 think they found stability in the offensive line. Central to that stability is the availability of (Marshal) Yanda. He is a top quality professional, one of the top guards in the world.无毛视频�
Take: Yanda无毛视频檚 riding a streak of five Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros as a 10th-year right guard. After missing three games with a shoulder injury, he was moved to left guard and the Ravens have used the same line the last five games, during which they averaged 4.8 yards per rush and allowed 1.6 sacks per game. In the previous nine games, the Ravens rushed at a 3.5 clip and allowed 2.2 sacks per game.
n 无毛视频淏een really impressed with Brandon Williams, their nose guard. This guy无毛视频檚 been dominant. He is the central figure in my opinion of why they无毛视频檝e been so stout against the run. This guy routinely requires two people to block him, but even when you assign two people to him very rarely is there movement.无毛视频�
Take: It seems like the 340-pound Williams has been stuffing the Steelers ever since he moved into the starting lineup in 2014. But while the Ravens held the Steelers to 36 yards rushing on 18 carries earlier this season, the Steelers have averaged 4.1 yards per carry in Williams无毛视频� five starts. So, perhaps Williams has improved this season. The Ravens are second in the NFL in rushing defense, both per game (82.1) and per carry (3.55).
n On the ups and downs of key Ravens defensive backs: 无毛视频淓ric Weddle has really done some nice things, particularly in recent weeks. 无毛视频� You can really sense him getting comfortable in things they无毛视频檝e asked him to do. 无毛视频� Jimmy Smith, prior to him going down in the New England game, was playing some of his best ball that I无毛视频檝e seen him play. We无毛视频檙e anticipating him coming back.无毛视频�
Take: Weddle is the savvy 31-year-old free safety whom the Steelers courted last free agency. He无毛视频檚 intercepted four passes for the Ravens, three in the last six games. Smith, the long, rangy shutdown cornerback, suffered a high-ankle sprain Dec. 12 against New England. He sat out last Sunday无毛视频檚 game, but couldn无毛视频檛 possibly be effective in coverage 13 days later, could he?
n On why Justin Gilbert isn无毛视频檛 returning kickoffs instead of Fitzgerald Toussaint: 无毛视频淪ammie无毛视频檚 the return man. Toussaint is the off-returner, the designated lead blocker.无毛视频�
Take: Find a better way to hide their positioning before the kick.
n On why Tomlin has only recently been handing out game balls: 无毛视频淪omething significant has got to happen. The field goal kicker无毛视频檚 got to bang six or a back无毛视频檚 got to run for 200 plus. I don无毛视频檛 like handing out game balls like breath mints.无毛视频�
Take: I too abhor participation mints.
n Do the Ravens have the Steelers无毛视频� number? 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 focused on this next game because that无毛视频檚 the one we have control over. The past is the past, whether it无毛视频檚 positive or it无毛视频檚 negative. 无毛视频� I无毛视频檒l acknowledge there无毛视频檚 a lot to be learned or gleaned from those experiences.无毛视频�
Take: The Ravens have beaten the Steelers the last four games and six of the last seven. The only Steelers win was at home in an 11-5, AFC North championship, 2014 season by the score of 43-23. Learn and glean from that one.
n On playing Christmas day: 无毛视频淎s somebody who无毛视频檚 an absolute football lover, I view it as a complete honor to have an opportunity to perform for our fans, for the nation, on days like we无毛视频檙e getting an opportunity to perform. I don无毛视频檛 take it lightly. I无毛视频檓 humbled and honored by it.无毛视频�
Take: Merry Christmas everybody! I have to get to work, too.