Saunders: Remember the Audience when Mike Tomlin Speaks

PITTSBURGH — A lot of people were focused on what Mike Tomlin didn’t say during his Tuesday press conference after he promised changes following the team’s 30-6 blowout loss to the Houston Texans.

The fanbase, after its pound of flesh, undoubtedly wanted to hear Tomlin berate his embattled offensive coordinator Matt Canada, if not announce that he’d been replaced.

But Tomlin doesn’t just speak on Tuesdays for the benefit of the fans. He is keenly aware that his players are listening to what he is saying, and so anything that he doesn’t also want them to hear gets left out.

In that regard, Tomlin had his message finely honed. The Steelers were the less prepared and less physical team on Sunday. Tomlin didn’t publicly blame the players for that result, instead choosing to say that he and his coaching staff need to do a better job of getting the team prepared for play.

RELATED: Mike Tomlin Sees Practice Intensity as Cause for Steelers Struggles

But the message was very clear that Tomlin doesn’t think there’s a problem with the Steelers’ scheme. He thinks there’s a problem with its execution.

Tomlin specifically drove the point home on physicality, saying it was his mistake in not forcing the team to practice in pads on Wednesdays. He said he was trying to take it easy on a team that was dealing with back-to-back weeks shortened by two night games and western travel.

Basically, he took it easy on them. And they repaid him with what he saw as a lackluster effort on Sunday. Instead of a public dressing down, they got a warning: he’s not going to take it easy on them anymore.

NFL players shouldn’t need to practice in pads on Wednesdays to play intense, physical, highly motivated football. Most of Tomlin’s teams have not spent a lot of time, particularly late in the season, practicing in pads.

This is the 2023 NFL equivalent of a high school coach making his kids run the bleachers. It doesn’t really have anything to do with performance. It’s mostly punishment.

I’m not saying the Steelers don’t deserve it. It’s just important to note what’s actually taking place here. The message is to play harder, and play smarter. And when you look at the tape and you look at the number of plays that were out there for his team to make that they didn’t make, it’s hard not to come to the conclusion that’s the correct assessment.

Are there things his coaching staff is getting wrong? Undoubtedly. Tomlin hinted at some of those things, but those coaches get their messages delivered privately. The fact that he didn’t detail any other changes doesn’t mean they won’t be happening. 

But this is the one he wants his players to hear.