The Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 season is near. While the conclusion was much sooner than many expected, the Steelers are faced with far more questions than answers before an off-season. Mike Tomlin, who was postponed one day, held his last session with the media on Wednesday. With a lot of questions about the team in general, there were some questions about specific players. So here’s the last article of the 2020 season regarding players that Coach Tomlin mentioned in his press conference.
Ben Roethlisberger
Steelers fullback Ben Roethlisberger has completed his 17th NFL season. At 38, the ability for Roethlisberger to pursue his NFL career at a high level is a major point of discussion this season. Coach Tomlin was asked if the organization has made a decision whether they want Roethlisberger to return next season and what his impression is of Roethlisberger’s game in 2020.
“We are not yet making any decisions about our staff. As I mentioned, all the discussions are interrelated, and we’re just starting to scratch the surface in terms of what 2021 looks like in terms of the composition of our team and the issues associated with it. Regarding Ben [Roethlisberger], I can not say enough about his performance this year. Since the injury undoubtedly came down and especially did not have the opportunity to perform in the pre-season games and so on, there was a great deal of concern about his health and his ability to perform. I can not say enough about his efforts. I can not say enough about the efforts of our medical staff and our rehabilitation staff who worked with him to bring him to the process and bring him to stadiums this year. I was more than happy with the performance of his health and his ability to stay up. In terms of the quality of his play and our play, we will start judging it in the coming days, but in terms of the fact that he responds to the challenges he has tackled specifically in the season, spectacular. ”
Coach Tomlin was asked a follow-up question as to whether he believes it is realistic that Ben Roethlisberger will be back, given the consequences of the cap.
‘I do not have a clear assessment of the overall impact of the effects of the cap, so I may not have a direct answer to your question, but I think it is reasonable to assume that there is a chance that he will be back, certainly. The depth of the consequences of the cap discussions is not familiar to me because I am sitting here right now.
Cam Heyward and TJ Watt
Defensive captains TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward both said the play-off loss was due to a lack of execution. Coach Tomlin was asked if he agreed with their assessment.
“It was a lot of things. We did not perform well. When I say us, I mean us, players and coaches. I think specifically when a game started that way and we noticed the type of points we noticed, I think it would make the splash game and kinds of things we wanted to do with our defensive unit more difficult. . I think the trajectory of our game changes when you are no more. This probably had a lot to do with some of the challenges. More than anything we have not done well enough, and that is only the truth of it. ”
Freemason Rudolph
After starting 8 games in 2019, Mason Rudolph (quarterback) was used to a limited extent in 2020, with only one starting in Week 17. Coach Tomlin was asked about his confidence that Rudolph would move forward.
‘I thought he showed that he was taking a step in growth and development in his performance, even though it was a small sample size. I would imagine that he will continue with the growth and development. We will see where this leads us in terms of what he is able to provide for us. I’m excited he could show it, and I think it’s reasonable for me to expect or he will expect the general track to continue. ”
Chase Claypool & Kevin Dotson
The Steelers had more contributions from their 2020 rookie class than they expected to come in the season. Coach Tomlin was asked about the positive contributions of players still contracted after 2020, and he specifically raised rookies Chase Claypool and Kevin Dotson.
‘I would say, I was very pleased with the contributions and the level of maturity that the concept class showed, given the circumstances of how it came in the season. To get the type of contributions we got from a Chase Claypool or a Kevin Dotson, and the growth and development of some of the others over the course of the season, this is a tip of the cap for them and the people who worked with them, coaches – and not just the coaches, the other players and older players who mentored them. I was generally delighted with this and excited about engaging them in an off-season mentoring program that can be normal and that is reasonable to expect that these types of contributions will continue to solidify and get better. ”
For a full overview of Mike Tomlin’s press conference, check out our podcast summary below:
Mike Tomlin’s interview can be seen here: