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Mike Tomlin Bluntly Assesses Steelers Offensive Line Performance
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear that he wasn’t happy about the offensive line’s performance after Saturday night’s 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The offensive line allowed four sacks for 26 yards. Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were also under pressure throughout the night. Through the first two games, the O-line has certainly been below the line.
“I just thought we didn’t do a good enough of job of protecting the quarterback. We got to do a better job in pass protection than we did,” Tomlin said. “Not only in possession downs but just in general. I was really upfront with the group about it in that regard. That can’t be a problem for us. We got to be better than we were tonight in that area.”
In 20 plays, Russell Wilson’s unit gained 19 yards. And the offensive line’s dreadful performance played a big part in the offense not moving the ball.
Wilson was sacked three times, with Broderick Jones getting tossed aside like a rag doll by Greg Rousseau, who had 2.5 sacks. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver was given the other half. Jones has really struggled in the first two preseason games.
“Still not winning enough possession downs on offense, particularly early in an effort to establish rhythm and gain plays and develop personality,” Tomlin said. “When your not winning possession downs in the early portion of the game, all of those things really get stymied.”
Outside of scoring only three points, the Steelers’ offense mustered just 219 yards of offense on 10 drives, 3.8 yards per play.
“Absolutely,” Tomlin said when asked if he wants to see his first-team offense score more points. “In order to do that, you got to win possession downs. And we’re just not doing that right now, so that problem lingers.”
Tomlin didn’t really get a great evaluation on Wilson because of the mishaps on offense.
“Again, it’s somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don’t get a chance to see him operate, or us operate, or us establish rhythm and personality when you’re not winning possession downs,” Tomlin said. “And we weren’t, the first three or so series of the game it was three-and-out, and you’re not going to get an opportunity to establish rhythm or play the way that you would like as an individual or a collective.”
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