There isn’t any relaxation for the weary within the NFL.
Actually not when the league schedules you to play on a Thursday night time on the highway following a Sunday sport.
Lower than 24 hours after defeating the Ravens, 18-16, in a hard-fought victory at Acrisure Stadium, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held his weekly press convention at some point early because the staff started preparations to journey to Cleveland for a Thursday night time matchup.
For a staff that went 11 weeks with out taking part in an AFC North sport – matching the Bears this season because the longest a staff has gone in an NFL season with out taking part in a divisional opponent in NFL historical past – the Steelers will face two divisional opponents in a four-game span.
Mondays for Tomlin and his teaching workers are usually used to evaluation the earlier week’s sport. On this occasion, the workers needed to instantly flip its consideration to the Browns.
“To be utterly clear, I’ve not watched a snap of it on a brief week,” Tomlin stated of the Steelers’ win over the Ravens that pushed their file to 8-2. “My consideration wants to show to Cleveland. And so my evaluation of the sport actually is simply form of from reminiscence, conversations and studying the sport ebook and seeing some issues on highlights and so forth.”
The Browns (2-8) are in the identical scenario, however have the consolation of taking part in the sport at dwelling.
For the Steelers, the job is a bit more troublesome. Since they will journey to Cleveland on Wednesday per league guidelines, they should jam all of their sport preparation into Tuesday’s follow session.
And even at that, Tomlin cannot have a traditional follow as a result of he would not wish to beat his gamers up after competing in such a bodily sport Sunday in opposition to the Ravens.
“I feel one of many issues and key variables that you just weigh is, how do you finest place the group to carry out and compete?” Tomlin stated. “And by that, I imply, how do you get them within the stadium in the easiest bodily situation you will get them in on a brief week? And so typically bodily preparation will get compromised on a brief week. I am not complaining about it. I think about that Cleveland is tasked with the identical challenges. These vital choices that must be made about how you’re employed on a brief week is a serious part of efficiency.”
Although the Steelers have dominated the collection because the Browns rejoined the NFL in 1999, going 39-10-1 in that span, the previous 5 seasons haven’t been as sort, as Pittsburgh is 1-3-1 in that span in highway video games in opposition to the Browns.
That has Tomlin and his workers on alert, particularly when coping with the quick work week that entails two divisional opponents.
“When you will have back-to-back division video games, it’s vital, but additionally to have back-to-back division video games, and the second be on a brief week on the highway, that has our consideration and urgency from a number of views,” Tomlin stated. “We’ve got received to make actually good choices this week about technique, what to run, what to not run, what can we carry out on a restricted quantity of bodily repetitions? What do we have to take a calculated danger when it comes to operating on a restricted quantity of bodily repetitions? I simply suppose that that is at all times the case. On Thursday, we do not default to base menus and issues of that nature, significantly once you plan somebody that’s acquainted with you, as Cleveland is with us.
“How revolutionary can we be, how expansive can our menus be, and press the envelope in that route? And so we received some hardcore choices there. You additionally received some hardcore choices about how you’re employed. What is the nature of your work? Are they walk-throughs? Are there run-throughs on a restricted quantity of preparation time, on a brief week? What does that appear to be? And you recognize, you handle the balancing act of getting them within the stadium, bodily ready, whereas on the identical time preserving them, acknowledging that they have been in a big bodily soccer sport yesterday.”
Acknowledging Boswell: Steelers placekicker Chris Boswell set a file on Sunday with the third sport of his profession – and second this season – during which he has made six subject targets in a single sport. He additionally has a fourth such sport underneath his belt, having additionally kicked six subject targets in a playoff win at Kansas Metropolis in 2016.
Boswell is now 29 of 30 on kicks this season and is on tempo to interrupt the league file of 44 subject targets in a season. His solely miss got here from 62 yards.
“He is been all the things that we’d like him to be,” stated Tomlin. “He’s acting at a particularly excessive stage. We’re extraordinarily snug calling upon him in nearly any circumstances.”
Boswell’s 6-for-6 day got here on a Sunday – together with three from 50 yards or past – during which each different AFC North kicker missed not less than one subject purpose try.
And his extraordinary season has come regardless of the Steelers dropping punter and holder Cameron Johnston in Week 1. The Steelers have been pressured to make the most of broad receiver Scotty Miller as a holder when Johnston was injured throughout their victory over the Falcons in Week 1, the opposite occasion during which Boswell has made six subject targets this season, and have used punter Corliss Waitman since as his holder.
“It is simply been particular and to and to do what he is executed, clearly with a change holder in the course of the factor is doubly spectacular,” Tomlin stated. “I might be remiss if I did not begin first together with his contributions and Corliss, not solely as a punter, however as a holder, simply being stable Within the specialist type of play that that collective specifically, has been rock stable for us. Cannot say sufficient about what Corliss has been doing for us when it comes to flipping the sphere as effectively. The sector place part is at all times going to be vital once you’re in video games like that. And it was not solely when it comes to what Corliss did or what Boz was in a position to do from nice distances when it comes to safe factors for us.”
Harm replace: Tomlin stated it is doubtless that linebacker Alex Highsmith, who missed Sunday’s win over the Ravens with an ankle sprain, may also miss Thursday night time’s sport in opposition to the Browns.
However the Steelers additionally got here out of that sport with none main points.
Defensive deal with Keeanu Benton left within the second half with a knee concern, however Tomlin stated the harm was not critical.
“All the fellows that sustained one thing in sport, would not look like a problem transferring ahead. And in order that’s thrilling,” Tomlin stated.
Tight finish MyCole Pruitt additionally sat out Sunday’s sport with a knee harm, however may very well be able to go in opposition to the Browns.
The Steelers additionally opened the window final week for cornerback Cory Trice to return to motion after happening the Reserve/Injured Listing with a hamstring harm. Trice may very well be prepared for activation.
“We opened the window for Cory final week, and he received a very good week’s work and could also be out there to us,” Tomlin stated. “And so we’ll see the place that leads us as effectively.”
