Mike Mitchell making his presence on Steelers defense felt and heard
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� In the end, it really didn无毛视频檛 matter that Scott Tolzien was the Indianapolis Colts无毛视频� quarterback and not Andrew Luck.
When Tolzien pump-faked, then made a break for the end zone on third-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 2 just 44 seconds into the fourth quarter on Thanksgiving night, Mike Mitchell instinctively knew what was coming.
The Steelers safety took a few steps to his left, then sprinted forward from his position to greet Tolzien. Not only was the quarterback stopped at the 1, so was his helmet, which was dislodged by Mitchell无毛视频檚 violent tackle. One play later, Tolzien无毛视频檚 incompletion into the end zone capped the Steelers defense无毛视频檚 second goal-line stand.
Game over.
For that, the Steelers can thank 无毛视频� Troy Polamalu?
Yes, two years after Polamalu retired, Mitchell credited his former teammate, not with making one of the biggest plays in their 28-7 win on Thursday, but for the preparation required to do so.
Mitchell said the play was really made days earlier during extensive film study of the Colts and their tendencies.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 in there every morning with Ryan (Shazier), we无毛视频檙e watching a lot of film,无毛视频� Mitchell said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 not watching film just to watch film. I无毛视频檓 out there to try and make plays. Learned that from Troy. And Troy said you watch film to make plays.无毛视频�
Tolzien, who braved through three sacks and was hit a staggering 11 times behind an injury-depleted offensive line, never stood a chance.
无毛视频淲e know when they went empty, especially with Andrew, quarterback draw is a big tendency for them,无毛视频� Mitchell said. 无毛视频淲e kind of had the same game plan regardless or not Andrew was playing. I just applied those notes to the situation. When I saw him going forward on one, I just had my antenna up.无毛视频�
That was not the only time that Mitchell had his antenna up though. On the Colts无毛视频� next possession and still trailing by 14, Tolzien went deep right on a pass to Phillip Dorsett but Mitchell, in a Cover 2 look, was there to pull in his first interception of the season at the 10-yard line.
Mitchell broke two tackles and even hurdled Colts receiver Donte Moncrief, but was tackled 26 yards later by 无毛视频� of all people 无毛视频� Tolzien. Mitchell, who said he played some running back in high school, has 10 career interceptions, including a team-high three last season, but still hasn无毛视频檛 returned one for a touchdown.
无毛视频淚 had nothing left,无毛视频� he said.
Not that any of his teammates were about to bust Mitchell无毛视频檚 chops, at least too much, about being tackled by a quarterback. While Antonio Brown and Le无毛视频橵eon Bell were the Steelers stars on offense against Indianapolis, Mitchell was clearly the star on defense. In addition to his TD-saving tackle and interception in the fourth quarter, Mitchell had six other tackles but none more vicious 无毛视频� or tone-setting 无毛视频� than his second-quarter hit on T.Y. Hilton.
Almost miraculously, Hilton held onto a deep pass over the middle to the Steelers无毛视频� 2, but he left the game with a back injury. Mitchell, who suffered a stinger but was able to return, sprinted off the sideline to check on Hilton无毛视频檚 condition. The exact same thing happened five days earlier when Mitchell leveled Cleveland无毛视频檚 Terrelle Pryor with another hard 无毛视频� but clean 无毛视频� hit.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 ruthless and cold-blooded, but I无毛视频檓 not out there to hurt people,无毛视频� Mitchell said. 无毛视频淚 try to play the game the right way, old school NFL, professional football. I was just telling him good job on eating that. I wanted to let him know that it无毛视频檚 never personal, this is business.无毛视频�
Mitchell无毛视频檚 impact, physical and literal, on the Steelers无毛视频� last two victories can无毛视频檛 be underestimated. With Cam Heyward out for the season, Mitchell is one of the most vocal and emotional leaders on a defense that is trending younger down the stretch.
The Steelers, who have won back-to-back games three times this season, will be looking for their first three-game winning streak when they host the New York Giants next week at Heinz Field. With apologies to the Browns and Colts, the Giants of Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and Co. will present a much stronger challenge.
When the Steelers are having success defensively, they无毛视频檙e getting after quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and playing with physicality. With his intimidation as well as his play, the 29-year-old Mitchell needs to figure in prominently.
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 a big part of this defense,无毛视频� Shazier said. 无毛视频淎 lot of times, when me and Lawrence (Timmons) can无毛视频檛 set the tempo right away, he can do it from the secondary. We all try to set the tempo early, set the tone of the game. If me and Lawrence or the defensive line can无毛视频檛, we know Mike will make sure he无毛视频檚 felt and heard.无毛视频�