Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tomlin confident coach as Steelers go to Denver
Pittsburgh will get at least three injured starters back for the game.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is not a self-promoter and he defers any analysis about how good the Pittsburgh Steelers are to others.
That didn't prevent the rookie head coach from displaying a smidgen of confidence — or maybe a lot of faith in his players — when asked if the undefeated Patriots and Colts should be getting all the attention in the AFC.
The Steelers (4-1) lost at Arizona 21-14 last month in their only sub-par game, but still have a 132-47 scoring edge for the season. The 47 points allowed in five games are their fewest in 70 years.
Obviously, the Steelers have been very good, with a chance to go 5-1 for only the second time in 10 years if they win Sunday at Denver. For them, the only problem is the Patriots (6-0) and Colts (5-0) have been better, and that's been enough to push the Steelers off the front page.
"We don't worry about the variables that don't matter, whether or not we're flying above the radar, under the radar or who's doing what," Tomlin said Tuesday. "We focus on the things we can control and that's our preparation and our quality of play, and what we do when we walk into stadiums on weekends."
The Steelers will find out in less than two months how they compare to New England, as they play the Patriots Dec. 9 in Foxborough. The Colts? They'll have to wait.
"If we're as good as maybe we think we are, we'll run across some of those teams at some point," Tomlin said, an obvious reference to the postseason. "In the short term, we need to focus on being prepared to play the Denver Broncos."
Tomlin is concerned the Broncos' bye week allowed them to get away — at least mentally — and regroup from a three-game losing streak that included a 41-3 home-field loss to San Diego Oct. 7.
"It is a dangerous time to be facing them because they are a quality football team," Tomlin said. "They are 2-3 right now, but that is not the story of this football team. They are still writing their story, as are we."
At the same time, the Steelers' off week allowed three of the four injured starters who sat out their 21-0 victory over Seattle Oct. 7 to heal.
Wide receivers Hines Ward (sprained knee) and Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and safety Troy Polamalu (rib cartilage) not only are expected to play, but likely will practice all week. Ward has missed two games.
Nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring) will take it easy in practice today, but Tomlin is hopeful he will play. Backup cornerback Bryant McFadden (sprained ankle) probably won't go.
Polamalu and Holmes have improved to the point where they probably won't be listed among the injured, Tomlin said. Of course, Polamalu and Hampton weren't on Tomlin's initial injury list two weeks ago and neither played against Seattle.
Ward will be welcomed back by running back Willie Parker as much as he will be by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Ward's downfield blocking is a key to the Steelers' running game, and Parker had his only game with fewer than 100 yards rushing when Ward was out.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Pittsburgh will get at least three injured starters back for the game.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is not a self-promoter and he defers any analysis about how good the Pittsburgh Steelers are to others.
That didn't prevent the rookie head coach from displaying a smidgen of confidence — or maybe a lot of faith in his players — when asked if the undefeated Patriots and Colts should be getting all the attention in the AFC.
The Steelers (4-1) lost at Arizona 21-14 last month in their only sub-par game, but still have a 132-47 scoring edge for the season. The 47 points allowed in five games are their fewest in 70 years.
Obviously, the Steelers have been very good, with a chance to go 5-1 for only the second time in 10 years if they win Sunday at Denver. For them, the only problem is the Patriots (6-0) and Colts (5-0) have been better, and that's been enough to push the Steelers off the front page.
"We don't worry about the variables that don't matter, whether or not we're flying above the radar, under the radar or who's doing what," Tomlin said Tuesday. "We focus on the things we can control and that's our preparation and our quality of play, and what we do when we walk into stadiums on weekends."
The Steelers will find out in less than two months how they compare to New England, as they play the Patriots Dec. 9 in Foxborough. The Colts? They'll have to wait.
"If we're as good as maybe we think we are, we'll run across some of those teams at some point," Tomlin said, an obvious reference to the postseason. "In the short term, we need to focus on being prepared to play the Denver Broncos."
Tomlin is concerned the Broncos' bye week allowed them to get away — at least mentally — and regroup from a three-game losing streak that included a 41-3 home-field loss to San Diego Oct. 7.
"It is a dangerous time to be facing them because they are a quality football team," Tomlin said. "They are 2-3 right now, but that is not the story of this football team. They are still writing their story, as are we."
At the same time, the Steelers' off week allowed three of the four injured starters who sat out their 21-0 victory over Seattle Oct. 7 to heal.
Wide receivers Hines Ward (sprained knee) and Santonio Holmes (hamstring) and safety Troy Polamalu (rib cartilage) not only are expected to play, but likely will practice all week. Ward has missed two games.
Nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring) will take it easy in practice today, but Tomlin is hopeful he will play. Backup cornerback Bryant McFadden (sprained ankle) probably won't go.
Polamalu and Holmes have improved to the point where they probably won't be listed among the injured, Tomlin said. Of course, Polamalu and Hampton weren't on Tomlin's initial injury list two weeks ago and neither played against Seattle.
Ward will be welcomed back by running back Willie Parker as much as he will be by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Ward's downfield blocking is a key to the Steelers' running game, and Parker had his only game with fewer than 100 yards rushing when Ward was out.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Mike Tomlin is not a self-promoter and he defers any analysis about how good the Pittsburgh Steelers are to others.
That...
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