Mike Tomlin was happy that the Steelers beat Cleveland on Monday night, but he says they have a lot of things to fix if they want to be the kind of football team he thinks they can be.
The offense ranks 31st out of 32 NFL teams in total yards and has scored only two touchdowns in two games. Quarterback Kenny Pickett ranks 29th in quarterback rating and is 27th in completion percentage, and fans chanted for the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Monday night.
At his weekly news conference yesterday, Tomlin said the Steelers’ offense is not doing the job right now.
The Steelers’ defense scored two touchdowns and forced four turnovers Monday night but was again ripped open for a long gain in the run game. A week after allowing Christian McCaffery to sprint away on a 65-yard touchdown run for the 49ers, the defense gave up a 69-yard touchdown run by the Browns’ Jerome Ford.
While acknowledging the loss of Cam Heyward from the defensive line, Tomlin says the Steelers have to figure out how to stop the run.
The injury news is hopeful for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He was released from the hospital yesterday after suffering a chest injury and was at the Steelers’ facility on the South Side. Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski is in concussion protocol and linebacker Elandon Roberts left the game with a neck stinger. The official injury status report is due today.
The Steelers play the Raiders in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
NFL
The first ballot for the modern-era 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class includes 173 former players, nine of them eligible for the first time.
The newcomers to the ballot are wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Jordy Nelson, tight end Antonio Gates, running back Jamaal Charles, offensive linemen T.J. Lang, Josh Sitton and Max Unger, and defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Julius Peppers.
Former Steelers Hines Ward, Casey Hampton, Carnel Lake, James Harrison, Joey Porter, Hardy Nickerson, and Gary Anderson all return to the Hall of Fame ballot again.
Fifteen finalists will advance to the next round of consideration, along with senior finalists Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael, and Art Powell, and coach/contributor finalist Buddy Parker, the former Steelers coach.
