Pickens, Roberts, Fautanu, Wilson, Edmunds Media Availability (Sept. 11) | Pittsburgh Steelers

were you trying to score on that play at the end of the second quarter and were you aware how much time was left oh yeah I was aware of how much time was left I thought Bates was the uh was the last man and then AJ you know kept hustling did his job you know followed the play through I didn't see him behind me but I thought bat was the last guy so tried to get in the end zone right before the half give us up but luckily I stepped out of bounds GE how about the the match up this week against Patrick San um know you're a little early I'm sure in film study and whatnot but I'm also sure you know about him as a cornerback and his reputation what do you make of this when you go up against him uh just be myself to be honest uh I went against past Tain in college uh so a lot of this stuff isn't new for me what you remember about him in college uh he's just a good player uh it's like a lot of other players in here they're good players I'm a good player there's a lot of good players around the league some folks in Denver were saying he doesn't always follow one specific receiver but he did last week against DK do you think that's probably a you know sign of what they might do with you um just hope they have you know their plan correct I don't really you know know or care what they're going to do how much does maybe the offense change or or have an advantage of having a full week of preparing for Justin to start having some things schemed up that it's not you know a last couple day adjustment uh kind of like I said earlier just all the guys coming together uh you know to make the plan go to make the plays go cuz uh we really had more time before week one than we have this week so uh I just feel like you know making the plays go do it feel like you you guys as an offense got settled in more as the game went on that he was able to take some of those deeper shots to you later in the game uh for sure QBs for sure especially I probably say that position all around the world once they get in a Groove um they're going to get warmed up their arms get warmed up they start getting the groove of the game so yeah for sure George considering the attention you're getting uh defensively were you encouraged by the way that you were able to kind of make plays down field um schemed up in a way that like like the system is going to maybe benefit your skill set uh kind of away uh just because if you play one-on-one basketball it's a little more easier for the guy to score as no other Defenders around there uh so yeah scheme wise that kind of helps and then scheme wide defensively for the opposite team you know they think it helps them just having you know a lock down DB that can shut down one half of the field George is there an increased confidence this week after having a week of Justin under Center getting that win do you guys feel better with him um you know under at quarterback uh like I said training in training camp we were putting both of those guys Russ and Justin and different KY to and uh different situations so uh it's not really you know getting too comfortable with him we've been throwing with him the whole time it's just like I said making the plays go you know in training camp about your connection with Justin fields and playing seven on seven with him what do you that's pretty unique like two guys on the same team you know all the way back what do you remember about some of those seven on seven games or like how do you feel like that's now benefiting you guys uh back then it was uh you know High School back then was a little different in terms of we 707 we playing with Cam Noon we don't have a dline you know what I mean so uh it was a little more entertaining back then now is just making the plays go and I can see from him personally he's way more focused than what is that six seven years ago yeah was there any kind of like tournament or event you guys dominated together or anything that seems out there um a lot bro uh I think we going like every tournament yeah like a lot of tournaments can't even count let's do two more guys does it feel like at times when you're out there on the field I mean on Sunday did you have flashbacks to playing in seven on seven with him with some of the connections that you guys were having down the field uh just his motive uh you know certain qvs have a different motive uh he gets pressure he steps up tries to run you know what I mean just certain things that you see during 707 like I said 7 years ago uh they he they he'll showas you for sure George you mentioned quarterback getting into a group how do you get into a group adjus uh like I said letting the plays happen the game going you know the game going play along itself just play after play uh that's like one thing you can't even Force you literally have to let him get in a Groove you know what I mean play after play when you come off a performance like this defensively what does that do for a I think it just to be honest with you man it's so early in the year you know you feel good about it but you kind of just roll a page you kind of just continue to uh do what you you're doing in practice you know and that's executing uh that's continue to try to uh get the ball back for the offense uh and obviously the little things you know doing your job is a big aspect of the game you know it make things a lot easier and when you're doing your job you know it creates opportunity for yourself or your teammates to make big plays asked a couple guys after the game do you think now because of the preseason a lot of offensive guys don't play do you feel like defenses have an advantage maybe these first couple games uh I don't know a lot of a lot of defenses don't play either so you know you see a lot of Miss tackles you see uh uh stuff like that throughout the league you know and whatnot uh I think that type of stuff go kind of both ways you know uh before I got here I didn't play in the preseason for four years you know so but I'm not saying that like in a way of like you know we shouldn't play in the preseason because you know it it really helped me from a standpoint of uh you know getting the Miss tackles down uh from a standpoint of uh you know feeling the game out you know you you got a lot of things that happen in the game that you can't always see in practice you know and you start to feel your teammates out better so you know being able to have them uh them type of preseason uh snaps you know even though it was just a little but just having them preseason snaps get you prepared to know what you going to be feeling when you know real gam speed start you guys have been so good at against young quarterbacks why is that why are you guys able to why you know how are you able to be so good against I think yeah I think we just got to continue doing what we doing uh this week obviously we going against a young one uh rookie and uh you know I think last week he did some good things you know I think he uh control he control you know and stuff like that uh still was uh athletic how he was in college and whatnot and I think uh they using him in the right way Landon you guys for the first time on the field got to work together first time with PQ first time with pton how'd that communication work how do you feel you guys did inside it was good I don't think the inside line that wasn't our first time on the field together uh me and PQ went together uh me PQ and pton went together in the um the second preseason game and then the the the last preseason game me and PQ went together the uh the first series of the game and and stuff like that so we was pretty familiar with uh you know how we communicate how we how we do in game type of uh things uh I think our coaches do a good job of uh doing preseason of you know keeping us engaged like hey this how to be I know you're not playing but this how to be this how to feel you know what I'm saying when we get uh real game stuff rolling so is Denver a tough place to play with the elevation and the travel or anything like that um the last place no no no I did I did play that when I was in Mii I was going to say the last place I played that was when I was in last time was New England but uh it didn't really affect me when I was in uh New England cuz it was cold we played out there it was cold in New England but uh when I was in Miami we went there and it it was you know I don't think it was the elevation I just think it was cold I was like Dam I ain't used to this no more so uh yeah but it it was all good and um yeah it it didn't affect me as much everybody body's different though what are the things about the Shawn Payton offense that are particularly challenging with what he does man I think he's a offens of just his mindset just around how he builds offense how he builds structures you know how he attack uh defenses is man I think he's a real good he does a real good job attacking matchups uh finding a matchups and all that uh I think by Committee just of him in his whole just work at when he was even with the uh Saints of his running back group committee you know he's had some great back some great onew punches over his career and I think uh with Denver now you know what I'm saying he's creating a good young onew punch back there how you feel moving around y um just kind of stepping in whenever we needed to um showing up every day trying to get better so you do lot of double duty than the second team yeah um whenever you know someone does go down for a little bit you know uh we don't carry as many people as we did in college so I got to get used to just you know playing both but uh yeah I mean it was good to to it's good for volume trying to get back into it um being out a couple weeks so if it happened you think you're ready to give a chance to play start one I am um last week last two weeks really just prepared myself mentally really more than anything I think that's why I take the biggest step these last couple weeks just trying to make sure I'm preparing uh but yeah I think I'm ready I know I'm ready Mike Tom had some really nice things to say about you in this press conference yesterday just about the way you performed during team development and everything like that how do you feel like you performed during that time and then how like how much is this injury Poss set you back or you just feel like you're ready to go you know it's tough missing 3 weeks um it's three weeks that I didn't wasn't able to get better you know what I mean but um I was relocked in more mentally so that when I did get back out there I'm playing fast um so yeah I mean you know whatever role that they're giving me um come this game whatever game it is I'm ready to go so going to be able to go full for those two days Thursday Friday that kind of set the table for this week to know you've been able to test it it came through okay and get you ready to go here today yeah for sure uh last week was more of a feel thing trying to feel how see how it felt but this week I'm I'm hitting the ground running so Troy do you think what they did today was a today thing or that's what going look like Sunday we'll have to find out um you know whatever injury happens in the room uh the next man's got to step up and they can't be any drop off you know what I mean so um yeah you going have to talk to coach about that I'm kind of just showing up and hoping that you know I do get that opportunity so what's been like between you and bradi obviously bradi being a first round pick last year first round pick this year and you you two possibly having to step in this week and be the two bookends what how's your relationship grown uh from me and him man is kind of just taking what he says and and kind of listening to it cuz I mean although we're you know we're similar in age you know he he's he's young too but he's he's had a year under his belt and I don't so uh kind of just listening to everybody in the room regardless of um cuz everyone's looking out for me everyone has their best interest in mind for me so uh for him man he's just he's he's really awesome in terms of um kind of giving me perspective on what to expect come come Sunday any Any Given Sunday so even though you didn't play on Sunday was there a benefit just to be in uniform be out there the kind I feel anything yeah uh man I was ready to go I I was not hoping that I uh you know whatever situation happened but I was kind of I was waiting for them to call my number waiting to get in uh get some reps out there but um it didn't happen um but all that the only thing that's important is that we got the win so I'm super excited for whatever comes soon most times Joy they work a young guy in the tight end and a package you got any reps in that uh no not really you know what I mean though right yeah I got you uh no not really Noy again no issues everything's good with the need yeah 100% I I think I'm ready to go just biggest thing for me was confidence so how do it feel out there for you today where are you at currently right now uh it was good you know uh just another opportunity to go out there and work I got another opportunity tomorrow and you know that's what I'm focused on so it'll be good is there some more optimism you'll be able to go this week or you just kind of taking things as they come and uh just take it as a come it's up to the coaches uh all I can do is focus on tomorrow uh I got more workload tomorrow so I just get to focus on that so it'll be good Robin do you feel ready do you feel sharp prepared called upon this week oh yeah definitely um you know like I said I just been working a lot uh just trying to get get back into it but you know I feel like even the moment I got hurt I felt like I could find a way to push through it and come back that same week and practice the next day so I mean that's just my mindset um so I can really focus on too I can just focus on working on tomorrow so that's all I got mentally do you think you're game ready regular season game ready yeah yeah 100% um it's just it's different when when the game time comes and something just clicks and you know it's all in if you if you do get the call how excited are you to um I'm going to be pretty excited you know it's something that um since I was a kid you know playing in my first NFL game and just finally getting the opportunity but you know all I really think about at night is coming in here the next day and you know putting in work and you know doing everything I can to better myself what have you learned about throughout this process and seeing me m called him a steady doesn't get too high doesn't get too low but how have you kind of seen him maybe adapt to some of the challenges and roller coaster of of this season season and start to the regular season yeah Justin he's been the same dude since I met him uh he's a natural Le leader a natural playmaker uh someone who doesn't really care what the circumstances or what his situation is he's just going to come in here every day work and make the most out of his situation you know that's what I've seen from him and uh you know he really is does it hurt you to say that about an Ohio State guy what' you say does it hurt you to say that about a Bucky no definitely not that's my teammate now so it's all love you know I love him he's a good guy and he's a great player too how much you think that helps him maybe when the quarterback situation is unclear during the week and he might find out kind of last minute that he's going to start uh I don't know you have to ask him that's a question for Justin so did you get with the first team today at all or second team orp team uh I mean I don't know if I can answer that's a question for the coaches for you guys as an offense what's the biggest area of focus this week heading into Denver uh like I said all I can do is focus on myself um like I said I think that's a question for the coaches so starting to feel a little bit of anticipation like you're getting close enough that you can sense it's going to happen get out there like I said like I don't me to be a repeating it but you know I'm really just focused on tomorrow uh if I get too excited you know too high I'm going to start losing some of that work I'm putting in every day so you know I'm really just focused on coming in here tomorrow finishing the day today you know just getting better you feel what you've done mentally and staying as involved as you can that'll help you get over the this practice uh I mean feel like you hit the ground Runner when you get back yeah yeah for sure for sure what are you hoping you can add to this defense uh wherever they need me um if it's defense special teams the start start off however they want to do it I'm just going out there just being willing to go out there and put everything on the line for the teammates what have they told you so far just to come out here ready and come out here ready to play so right now it's just trying to get up the speed go out there play uh whatever position they put me in and just try to go make a play why do you think it happen now after week one as opposed to like cut down day or even in the off season or whatever uh you never really know uh that's business uh the business side of things so I just let that happen and I just control what I can and go out there and help the team I have I can now you played some defensive snaps uh Sunday in Jacksonville where where did they have you uh you know for the first game I was just at strong safety um the first game uh only played a couple snaps but it was still feeling good uh get the season really sparked off and get out there though I say you business you you a lot of family in the business so you know there's no hard like you know whether the fifth year option or letting you go the first time or it's all business and you're happy to be back here is that kind of way you look at it of course you know it's um never burn a bridge and I think both sides we stay in constant communication and um you know it's always love they're the ones that made my dreams come true and at the end of the day I'm I'm definitely thankful for that and I'm going just come out here give everything I can they gave me another opportunity to come on the 53 so let's do it TR you said getting up to speed how long do you expect that to take being in this situation and you've been here for so many years I I mean honestly I don't know I mean I definitely feel like I'm comfortable with everything right now I just you know that this all situational uh wherever they need me if they just need to put me in somewhere sometimes and I just be ready whenever my number is called on just be ready to go out there and do whatever I can what have you learned about yourself since you were here last you've obviously been in a couple different locations what have you learned about yourself as a player man honestly you know just the never quit mentality uh because last year was a long year uh you know just going to one team then being traded I was already here for five years and then going to Jacksonville and getting cut uh you know it was a long year but at the same time I just had that same mentality and I think I definitely been fighting it and definitely been going out there and giving everything I could every day and um making good plays so constantly just keep on doing that you mentioned the love a couple of times almost feel like a restart man it doesn't feel like a restart because I'm coming to hear everybody think I'm about to be joking and laughing today I'm still trying to get adjusted I got a new Locker I'm all the way over here now new numbers so man I definitely just feel it uh you know just seeing the guys again that's is always amazing uh the coaches uh not much has changed over here besides like you know the rotation of uh a team each year but where everything is I know where everything is I know uh all the staff that all the people that work inside of the facility uh you know it just feels good coming back once you released how long did everything kind of take for you to figure out that you're going to come back here oh man it didn't take well it took after uh this past game uh because you know I went back to Jacksonville and then they told me they were going to pull me up that first game they told me that before I uh signed back back and then just after that game everything just happened pretty fast and then I'm out here in Pittsburgh anything be taken three other systems coordinators the teams is that you learned it all from all that the last year and a half uh definitely um everybody got their way of uh teaching things everybody got their own language um you meet a lot of good guys and how uh different coaches run different systems and every system I've been in was unique um I had played for great coaches my whole time and played with some great teams and some teams that were just con on the build so uh you know just going throughout all those systems I think coming back it feels good but at the same time just having that experience of everything I think that was good as well how TR was that game last year here for you man it was crazy uh because you know I got tra I got traded on that Monday then I played against Atlanta and then I came here on that Thursday night man and then I started here so it was like man it was all over the place um emotions were High um I couldn't let him get too high because I had to remember everything that we went over that last week cuz I was only there for a week and a half and then just come out here and play and leave it online have you talked with Jaylen at all about possibly number 34 man I don't think we can do it uh because the first game since we both played in the well since he played in the first game even though he was inactive I don't think we can switch it now I wish though you weren't here last year but you still helped the Steelers with that interception when you the Titans against the Jaguars anybody thank you for helping them get into the playoffs with that play or anything like that see I can't say too much about that one cuz I just came back from the ja Jag and you know my teammates over there they might have been mad at me uh but I know the guys here everybody they texting me after the game they were calling me they were excited uh you know they text before the game actually just said we got to go out there and play hard