Coach Mike Tomlin Postgame Press Conference (Week 1 at Falcons) | Pittsburgh Steelers

man I'm just really appreciative of of the efforts of our guys um it was a fight um obviously we weren't perfect man as week one like things uh particularly early on in the game we warmed up to it defensively man we dropped a pick or something there early uh they converted some third downs and started the game with a with a field goal and you know that's what that's not why we put our defense on the field to start the game we had some fumbled CQ exchanges on offense uh we were shooting ourselves in the foot some drives got stopped um you know you you're kicking field goals man in a hostile environment versus good group man um you know you're in danger and so I'm just really appreciative that we're able to get it done uh we got things to work on uh but it's really good to to work on your ills with a W um and so we're going to do that um you know you start this season man on the road man it's 32 teams start this thing undefeated I me it's just good to get your first one on the road half this league is obviously not going to be winners this week and to get on the road and and get out of the gate with a W um is something that I respect and um really excited for the guys from a health standpoint you know cam Johnston um appears to have a serious injury I have an update for you next time we come together it's a a shame for him um this guy has been spectacular man through team development he's an absolute stud not only in his talents but his approach to business and so you know my heart goes out to him uh Darius Rush um is being evaluated for a cussion I don't know um whether it is or isn't um but as the game ended he was being evaluated in that way we had some bumps and bruises some guys go out but those guys came back in djck um Joey Porter um but I'm just really appreciative of how the team supported one another and fought through um and that's what teams do um you know a case in point is we gave up a a drive there before the half and our offense went down the field and got a field goal to to respond and and and that was important obviously you saw our defense stand up several times in support of our offense we had some unique contributions today like Scotty Miller is a backup holder you know look at your flip card man you don't see a backup holder on that flip card uh so we just really appreciative of of unique skill sets that help us win uh can't say enough about BOS um not only in terms of him kicking the ball but but that punt um was timely um TJ watt always when it gets thick um we don't take that for granted uh we appreciate it we don't take it for granted um and so there's a lot of efforts to to speak to um but largely man we're just thankful to come into this place and and get this Victory and and kind of move on with our journey I'll pause and it open up for questions you wanted to pass on the field goal there the previous drive is fig was time of score touchdown what was the thought process just you know we're going to live that life uh we don't live in our fears man we play and play to win um if you you can't get fourth in one man sometimes you don't deserve to win and that's just a philosophical approach that we live by um I believe in our bigs I've talked to you guys repeatedly that we're going to ride the wave that our bigs on offense and defense provide and we mean it obviously we didn't get it done right there but we still live that life how do you how do you evaluate the job that Justin fields did today especially settling in as the game went on really appreciative of his efforts and in his play certainly what happened in pregame where can you take it to that decision making prior rests Russ even a consideration it's really you know not a long drawn out process um I'd rather deal with short-term bisy to be quite honest with you we're in week one um there's a lot of ball out in front of us um I just thought it was appropriate to put the healthy guys on the field I felt really good about both quarterbacks I I was very clear to you guys when I named rust the starter how comfortable I was with both quarterbacks and so if that is true why not be really comfortable with playing Justin under the circumstances with Russ being in less than IDEAL Physical shape and so that was a thought process it wasn't a lot of discussion Russ was very supportive today and that was appreciated but we went with Justin man I'm glad we got two real capable quarterbacks as I've mentioned before coach can you speak more about his resiliency throughout the game talking about Justin Fields man Justin is you know as I've gotten to know him man he is a real steady Eddie man um he's not overly talkative man but he's got a steady strong demeanor um and just being in stadium with him man some of the things that I've seen through team development were confirmed it's just good to to to be able to communicate with a guy when things get thick and you see the Clear Eyes uh he's there um he's solid as a rock and I think uh his play and and and thus our play is kind of reflective of that does Justin's performance today affect Russell's status as QB wat and stter and you can come ask me that question on Tuesday coach any words for Rahe Morris's first game back inl man I I love my brother um and I wish him the best moving forward uh but that's what I said to him after the game um and you know this is what we do um but that's my little brother and I'm proud of him and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward tou on it the the pass toward the end of the half to get get an answer like that that quick on that deep pass and a good route by pick you just talk about the impact that had it it's it's team supporting team um you know we had a couple timeouts man we were you know trying to be aggressive there man and respond um and and and we were able to do that thankfully um and and put three points on and make it a onore game so you know that's what teams do though man like they going to be plenty of times in a 60-minute battle that all three phases get a chance to support one another and when you really think about it you saw really Vivid examples of that today um in a lot of areas man that b punt uh and that and that coverage by Scotty Miller and whoever that other Gunner was U was significant so since you the positive some DRS but I saw growth in the wide receiver room so what you think over long in the first game they growth so far is she going forward you know I Got No Reservations about our wide receiver room um they did what I expected them to do which is playmaker and um I'm appreciative of their efforts today no doubt how do you evaluate the job that your offensive line did today they one and0 just like all of us that's how I evaluate it um football is our game our business is winning uh we play today and we play to win we'll comb through it tomorrow I have all that cute sh for stuff for you on Tuesday defensively can you talk about the defense as far as shutting Falcons out in the second you know I'm appreciative of that but to be quite honest with you man we we got high standards and expectations for this group man we got some First Team all Pros in that unit um and I expect them to play like that and they did um you know Big Time Players Step Up in them BigTime moments man I can't say enough about 90 and Company how do you feel like you did in your pressure on cousins feel like you at least around him enough to affect what they were doing in the passing game cousins is very good versus Blitz and so we had to create pressure really in a non- blitz structure we know that about him uh last year he was good versus five or more rushers over the course of his career he's great versus five or more rushers he's been good against us specifically as the Pittsburgh Steelers versus five or more rushers and so that wasn't our agenda we needed to do it with a four-man rush and we were able to we were able to Pace them we were able to get them off the spot um you know we would want more um but we never going to be satisfied that's just the life that we live I was appreciative of what we're able to get done in their efforts in that regard one more anyone Boswell um those were not easy kicks the 50 57 I mean you've seen it before but um tell us about his value here man we all know what he's capable of I don't think anybody in that locker room is surprised um you know by what he was able to do as a matter of fact um he loves it you know what I mean like like I've been around this guy a long time man he he wants the long ball uh he's built for it um and I think it's just really displayed in in my confidence in him man I don't have any hesitation to send him out there as a matter of fact I look forward to sending him out there because I know he relishes it and so we're thankful for that all right thanks guys