A mini-series I’ll be writing about following every episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks that includes the Pittsburgh Steelers and the AFC North. We’ll write in regards to the headlines and largest takeaways individually however this publish will serve for the non-headlines, little issues, and hidden Easter Eggs captured in every episode. These are written within the order they appeared throughout the present.
Also take a look at the 2 separate articles we’ve written to this point.
Mike Tomlin’s Message To George Pickens
Nick Herbig Answers The Call Against “Zeus”
– Early shot of a defensive assembly that FS Minkah Fitzpatrick quickly joins. In the previous, we’ve heard about Fitzpatrick becoming a member of coaches conferences so this isn’t model new but it surely’s actually our first-ever look behind-the-curtain from Pittsburgh.
The coaches I noticed within the assembly had been: OLBs Coach Denzel Martin, DC Teryl Austin, DBs Coach Grady Brown, DL Coach Karl Dunbar, and LBs Coach Aaron Curry. So principally everybody on the defensive workers.
“We’re shedding numerous bolts and nails to alter calls as of late,” Tomlin says.
“They’re dashing us. They’re getting us with velocity to determine us out,” Austin says.
Presumably, referring to points with groups checking on the line and working tempo to maintain Pittsburgh’s protection fundamental and never enable for their very own changes.
“We simply don’t get numerous boots within the discipline,” Austin says as they watch Cleveland Browns QB Jameis Winston completes a purple zone move off play-action to TE David Njoku.
“Because of the canine rush,” Tomlin provides.
Dog Rush referring to each Steelers EDGE gamers speeding/blitzing. “Dog Rush” is their time period for it, as Tomlin famous on this 2021 interview with Pat McAfee. In that interview, Tomlin added that’s been the identify for that rush all through the historical past of the staff’s 3-4 protection, Tomlin retaining the identify for custom and so gamers from present and previous generations can relate.
“Doesn’t it really feel like we’re shedding numerous them?” Tomlin says, referring to boots. “It’s been a difficulty for us within the purple zone but it surely may very well be an open-grass situation as nicely.”
– The subsequent scene confirmed a separate assembly of simply coaches watching Bengals’ tape.
“It’s like Brett Favre in Minnesota,” Tomlin stated. “Anyone round Joe Burrow’s gonna get a job.”
“We’re taking part in any type of Tampa in a gotta-have-it second, we higher have an athlete taking part in from depth,” stated Tomlin. “Because he’s going to take center of the sector open.”
“Tampa” referring to “Tampa 2” protection with break up safeties and a two-high shell, the center of the sector a weak point and requiring an athletic linebacker to run down the seam (or some kind of post-snap rotation).
– Because Burrow was harm and didn’t see the Steelers in 2023, the staff was watching 2022 tape, cameras exhibiting the 2022 Week 1 opener with Devin Bush and Myles Jack at linebacker. Burrow threw for 338 yards, two touchdowns, and 4 interceptions that day.
DBs Coach Grady Brown weighed in.
“Our capability to indicate one factor pre-snap and play one thing post-snap goes to be important,” he stated.
“We gotta preserve his ass guessing for 4 quarters,” Tomlin stated of Burrow.
A much less well mannered model of what Tomlin stated to the media, declaring the necessity for a big “menu” of performs to beat a quarterback gifted like Burrow.
– The coaches watched WR Ja’Marr Chase run a “Bang 8” off play-action. A thin publish, basically.
“This boy flat and pleasant,” Tomlin says, noting Chase doesn’t drift on routes and stays flat for his quarterback.
– During what I assume was the Wednesday staff assembly with Tomlin talking to your complete group, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields had been sitting on the identical desk within the entrance of the room. STs Coordinator Danny Smith was additionally sitting on the entrance of the room. You can see Wilson’s detailed pocket book that appears to be coloration coordinated.
– Tomlin had a PowerPoint slide entitled “Joe Burrow Plan” and referenced having one for Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any of the bullet factors of stated plan.
The present then minimize to a later assembly with DL Coach Karl Dunbar, noting the push can’t be “4 unbiased contractors.” Meaning, they need to rush as a unit to comprise Burrow, who Tomlin and the teaching workers famous was cellular and in a position to escape in opposition to four-man rushers. I assume that is the place T.J. Watt bought the “unbiased contractors” line when he spoke with the media Friday. Dunbar works with the d-line and EDGE rushers.
“We can’t let him step up and we are able to’t let him get to his proper, our left,” Dunbar careworn.
– In one of many observe pictures, backup C Ryan McCollum was working with QB Russell Wilson.
“They’re so afraid of the go-balls and all that stuff. When you run off the ball like that, you create all that house for you,” Wilson informed WR George Pickens on the facet throughout observe.
I assume that was noting how a lot house Pickens can create on slants, curls, and beneath routes by threatening vertical.
– The present minimize to the Bengals and ex-Steelers CB Mike Hilton, who stated he is aware of that Wilson at all times appears to be like for Pickens as his first learn.
“third and 1, Mike Tomlin don’t care,” Hilton stated. “He gained’t need the primary. He needs to flip the sector, he needs the momentum,” Hilton stated, having spent years being coached by Tomlin.
– The cameras then minimize to a shot of Danny Smith assembly with Tomlin.
“They’re not an enormous faux staff. But anyone will get determined will do loopy shit,” Smith informed Tomlin, who agreed.
At 4-7 and needing a win, it’s a must to anticipate and put together for groups to tug out trickery. The Bengals didn’t but it surely was a salient level.
– The cameras reduce to Tomlin assembly stressing the significance of going through RB Chase Brown for basically the primary time. Brown grew to become the lead runner after Joe Mixon was traded and Zach Moss bought harm. Here was the PowerPoint slide for that.
“He won’t know your identify in the present day,” Tomlin informed the protection. “He higher know your identify on Monday morning.”
– Tomlin famous that Alex Highsmith’s success in opposition to then-Bengals LT Jonah Williams compelled the staff to signal high-prized free agent Orlando Brown Jr.
“In 2022, Alex Highsmith walked absolutely the canine on this dude,” referring to Williams. Highsmith completed that recreation with 4 QB hits, three sacks, and one pressured fumble.
– Rarely aside and true greatest associates, Herbig and NT Keeanu Benton are sitting collectively within the staff assembly.
– It’s no secret the Steelers and Pitt Panthers share a observe facility however nonetheless a humorous visible to see them on the sector concurrently the Steelers. You can see them within the background of this shot.
– They minimize to Thursday with Tomlin’s opening assembly on Thanksgiving as he spoke to your complete staff.
“Good morning, males. Happy Thanksgiving. I’d prefer to open my residence as much as anybody and everybody in right here.”
On Saturday evening in a lodge in Cincinnati, second-year NT Keeanu Benton briefly spoke in entrance of the protection.
“For me, I had a nasty week,” he stated. “Mentally, bodily. I used to be down. This morning, driving in, simply feeling, what the hell I’m coming right here to do in the present day is what I’ve been dreaming of my entire life. There’s no approach you’ll be able to mad on the market tomorrow.
We know Benton didn’t play the ultimate drive of the Browns’ loss for unknown causes after which confirmed up on the damage report on Thursday with a hip damage.
He ended it by saying “let’s kick these boy’s ass” because the group laughed and cheered.
– To gameday. After QB Russell Wilson hit WR George Pickens for a 17-yard landing, Wilson went to the bench and high-fived every of the beginning offensive linemen. “Great communication, Hell of a job,” he repeated to the group.
– During one timeout, Wilson introduced the group collectively and began providing motivation and general ideas within the huddle.
“I like whenever you begin to inform us the play and go straight right into a motivational speech,” somebody – I consider OT Broderick Jones – joked with Wilson.
– Walking to the locker room at half, Tomlin and Heyward had a quick dialog.
“We cease this again [RB Chase Brown] and we cease [QB Joe Burrow’s] ass from working up within the pocket, it don’t matter what our offense does. Have that mindset and have your group able to go,” Tomlin informed him.
Heyward replied, “I gotcha.”
Tomlin and Heyward additionally stroll off the sector collectively after each highway win.
– Below seems to be LB Cole Holcomb, travelling with the staff regardless of nonetheless on Reserve/PUP together with his extreme knee damage a 12 months in the past. A pleasant solution to preserve him engaged. Those injured-list gamers don’t at all times journey on the highway.
– Still out with an ankle damage, Alex Highsmith supported his teammates, celebrating with Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt after their sacks.
– Though now titled a “Senior Assistant,” former QBs Coach Mike Sullivan was providing a fast teaching level to Russell Wilson alongside new QBs Coach Tom Arth earlier than Wilson as soon as took the sector for a drive.
– Tomlin on Wilson’s 37-yard moonball connection to Pickens.
“You know he’s going to catch it. It’s wonderful how environment friendly it’s. Like a hitch [route].”
– Wilson was ecstatic after throwing his scramble drill TD to TE Pat Freiermuth. He shortly discovered and identified at Mike Tomlin, who pointed again.
– TE Connor Heyward slapping his chest and exclaiming “I would like it!” as he walked out for the onside kick. He recovered it to assist Pittsburgh shut out the sport.
– Post-game, Mike Tomlin acknowledged a “Douglas” on the Bengals’ facet. That is Doug Rosfield, the Bengals Chief of Coaching Staff. An Ohio native, Rosfield coached within the Cincinnati space in highschool and likewise spent a number of years final decade with the Cincinnati Bearcats, the place Mike Tomlin briefly coached from 1999-2000.
– Najee Harris ran as much as Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase earlier than Chase bought into the tunnel to embrace him and say good recreation.
“Walk over your lure, take over your lure,” Tomlin stated within the locker room after the sport, the Steelers’ mantra once they win on the highway. CB Donte Jackson stated the identical factor within the post-game celebration.
– Finally, this was a very Steelers-centric episode. By my tough depend, about half-hour of this 54-minute episode featured Pittsburgh. It helped they had been taking part in a divisional matchup and the present was basically edited earlier than the Browns might play the Denver Broncos Monday evening (the ultimate shot of the standings hadn’t even up to date their report to 3-9) but it surely’s clear the director was anxious to indicate Pittsburgh having by no means had them on Hard Knocks earlier than.
Overall, there was minimal air time devoted to the Ravens and Browns.
