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Mike Tomlin Not Concerned With Joey Porter Jr.’s Penalties: ‘He’s Got A Serial Killer’s Mentality’
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was penalized several times in the Steelers Week 13 win against the Bengals, but Mike Tomlin is not concerned.
PITTSBURGH — Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was called for six penalties, four of which were accepted, in the team’s 44-38 win against the Bengals in Week 13. This isn’t Porter’s first multi-penalty game, but head coach Mike Tomlin is not concerned.
On Tuesday, Tomlin said Porter Jr. does not need to change how he prepares.
“No, no tweaks in terms of the approach,” Tomlin said. “Certainly, he could have been better from a technical standpoint. In review of the tape, some technical things at the line of scrimmage that often times lead to circumstances down the field could be better.”
Porter preached some of the same following Sunday’s game, stating he’s not planning to change how he plays.
RELATED: Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. Vows Penalties Won’t Make Him Change His Game
However, there was a common factor with most of Porter’s penalties: Lining up across Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver has had his way against the Steelers in the past with four 100+ receiving yard performances.
Tomlin made it a point to not let that happen again, even if that meant seeing some extra yellow flags on the ground.
“As I mentioned after the game, a component of that is competing against the likes of Tee Higgins and his style of play,” Tomlin said. “I felt the same way when we played DK Metcalf late last year, for example. You have to match physicality of these big people and sometimes you do so at risk, and that’s just a tight rope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive. One thing we’re not gonna do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball. He’s a big guy as you saw that touchdown late in the game against Cam Sutton. He is a challenge, and so, when we play Shaq, we’re gonna use our fouls. We’re not gonna allow him to get us off the block, if you need a basketball analogy.”
Higgins did find his way into the end zone, as Tomlin mentioned, but his 69 receiving yards was his third lowest against the Steelers in his career.
As for Porter, his penalties are starting to become a concerning trend, but Tomlin’s confidence in Porter has not wavered, especially given his unique relationship with the second-year cornerback.
“He’s got a serial killer’s mentality, but if you’re gonna be a top-flight corner, you better,” Tomlin said. “That’s probably one of the things I knew about him because of our personal relationship that really made me comfortable drafting him. It’s not fake. It’s real. He’s not running from the fight. He’s running to the fight. You better have a short memory at that position and he’s always had it. He was probably nine or 10 when I met him and he had it then.”
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