The 2024 regular season is rolling into Week 11. The next week of preparation for the Steelers is underway following a big win in Washington as they begin Raven’s week with head coach Mike Tomlin taking to the podium to address in the media for our beloved Tomlin Tuesday. With plenty of questions asked by those in attendance, it is once again time for a players mentioned article. Remember these are players where a specific question was asked during the Q&A period.

Patrick Queen

Coach Tomlin was asked about how Patrick Queen has settled into this defense, and on how he sets a tone for that group.

“I think it’s continual. I think he has shown more comfort with each passing week, and I think his production and consistency of play reflects that. I think it’s reasonable to expect that to continue. In terms of his comfortability, he’s always been comfortable. He’s a guy that’s comfortable within his skin. He realizes what we brought him here to do, and he’s embraced that in terms of being a leader and hub of communication. I’ve no issue with that. I just think that over time, it’s reasonable to expect him to play faster, to see his talent show up more consistently, and him to play with the edge that we appreciate as he gets more comfortable within what it is that we do, how we put plans together, how he marches himself toward a six- or seven-day preparation cycle. I’m excited about all of that moving forward.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about how Patrick Queen has set the tone for this week with the edge he plays with and his desire to be a villain in this rivalry.

“You know, he’s going to have plenty of opportunity for that. I promise you. There’s a lot of villains on both sides of this rivalry.”

George Pickens

Coach Tomlin was asked if the three catches from George Pickens are an indication of his versatility and his involvement as a wide receiver.

“I don’t know about evolution. I think that that skill set has been on display since day zero. He’s just a very talented guy. He’s got unique body control and hand eye coordination and fine motor skills, and very rarely do you see him uncomfortable spatially. And so we appreciate it, but I don’t think anybody on our football team or within our organization that see him do things like that routinely, both in stadium and in practice settings, are surprised by it, Mike.”

Mike Williams, Preston Smith, & Cam Sutton

Coach Tomlin was asked about Mike Williams getting a larger workload. In his response, Coach Tomlin also mentioned Preston Smith and Cam Sutton.

“I think that’ll be continual, and I think it’s reasonable to expect his workload to increase. The rate in which it increases, and all of those things are determined by factors I really don’t know the answer to. I’m still getting to know him and how he learns, and specifically, the detailed component of his skill set in terms of how to best utilize it and position him to help us. And so we’ll be evolving in that way. He’ll be evolving in that way, not only this week, but in the upcoming weeks. And think it’s safe to say the same for a guy like Preston [Smith], less so with a guy like Cam Sutton, because we have a shared experience with him in the past.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about his impressions of Cameron Sutton’s first game back from suspension.

“I thought he was Cam Sutton, man. I thought he was versatile. We moved him around some. He did a nice job communicating. He was engaged. He was a component of defense and special teams. He’s a good teammate.”

Russell Wilson

Coach Tomlin was asked about the aspects of Russell Wilson’s game that have come to fruition.

“I think he’s still writing that story, to be quite honest with you. There were a myriad of reasons why I had the posture that I had. His resume being a component of it, his experience, and I thought his experience could be an asset to our unit and our team, and that has played out. His talents, his appetite for big moments, and I think that’s played out some. But, you know, there’s a myriad of reasons, and I just think it’ll be continually revealed because of the circumstances that he and we will be in. And I’m excited about facing those things with him, and I’m excited about him, quite frankly, getting better. He has had an appetite for getting better. Arthur Smith and those guys have done a really good job in terms of challenging him and getting him better. And so there’s a ‘get-better’ component of this discussion as well, and one that that I’m excited about discovering regarding him. Sometimes, you see guys that’s been around as long as he [Russell Wilson] has, or has the type of resume that he has, they’re somewhat resistant to new things or critiques and things of that nature, avenues in which men get better, and he’s not resistant to any of those things and that makes it fun as well.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about how much Russell Wilson’s ability to recognize what defenses are doing pre-snap opens up parts of the offense that maybe are yielding more results.

“I think you can lump that into his experience bucket. And that’s one of the many points that I was talking about when I was
talking there’s a myriad of reasons why.”

Calvin Austin & Donte Jackson

Coach Tomlin was asked about the status of Calvin Austin III. In his response, Coach Tomlin compared him to Donte Jackson.

“Yeah, I don’t anticipate any issue with him. Maybe he slowed at the early portions of the week. I put him in that category with Donte Jackson. I just failed to mention his name.”

Nick Herbig

Coach Tomlin was asked about if Nick Herbig will be on a snap count.

“I have no idea. [Nick] Herbig has not gotten himself fully in the boat yet, and so I’d be speculating on both ends of that, the level of the pitch count and how we divide the labor up. All of that will be determined after he gets really solid with being an inclusive component of the plan, and we get solid with it as well.”

Beanie Bishop

Coach Tomlin was asked about the history of this rivalry and how to explain it to the newer guys. In his response, he mentioned Beanie Bishop.

“I challenge people to find their space in it. I think that’s the sentiment, or the attitude I have regarding the new guys, that these waters run deep, and a lot of guys have carved a place out for themselves in the history of this thing, and they’ve come to us in a variety of ways. I’m sure at some point I’ll talk to guys about Isaac Redman being an undrafted free agent from Bowie [State] and everybody remembers the significant play he made in the latter portions of a game in Baltimore in time to get us out of a stadium. There’s a lot of those stories. Guys like Beanie [Bishop Jr.]and others need to hear that so they can know that they’re capable as well. I think that’s what the history of this thing has taught me in terms of how to introduce new guys to it. I just simply tell stories of other regular men who are willing and capable and how it played out for them.”

Joey Porter Jr.

Coach Tomlin was asked about his message to Joey Porter Jr. this week.

“I don’t know that it is a message. We’re always working to be clean. Last week was last week. He’s done an awesome job for the totality of the season. And so usually it takes two to make a pattern for me before I get active, and so I’m not going to overreact to last week.”

Justin Fields

Coach Tomlin was asked if having a guy like Justin Fields on their team helps him in any way to prepare for all the things that Lamar Jackson presents.

“No.”

Mike Tomlin’s complete press conference can be seen here:

Coach Tomlin speaks to the media ahead of our Week 11 game against the Ravens. @PNCBank

📺: #BALvsPIT 11/17 at 1 PM ET on CBS https://t.co/tquYmfTpXM

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 12, 2024