Youth Movement For Steelers In Pre-Season Opener
LATROBE (93-7 The FAN) - Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out a number of team veterans before Sunday's first pre-season game in Canton, Ohio.
Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison, Heath Miller, Antonio Brown, Maurkice Pouncey and Le'Veon Bell won't play, and there are a few others who may miss due to injury.
"We know we're not going to play perfect the first time out, but we can't compromise playing hard and playing fast," Tomlin said. "We're going to see who can play hard and fast when they lack complete certainty."
That would include special teams work for a pair of rookies with not much experience there. Tomlin singled out South Allegheny High School grad Jesse James and University of Miami linebacker Anthony Chickillo as a pair who didn't play special teams in college, but will do so on Sunday.
Dri Archer will be the primary kick and punt returner with rookie Sammie Coates and former California University of PA player C.J. Goodwin as other possibilities.
Landry Sunday
Expect to watch No. 3, Landry Jones behind center most of the game against the Vikings.
"We're going to see a lot of young people," Tomlin said. "It's going to be a significant game for Landry Jones. He's going to play a lot. We don't have a pre-determined snap count that we expect him to have. We are going to let him play until we've seen enough, and then maybe give someone else a look. So he could play the entire game, he could play a majority of the game. Our intentions are to get a good look at him."
Jones threw for over 4,000 yards three different times while at Oklahoma but hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game and has limited action in the preseason.
"I will let you know after Sunday," Tomlin said when asked if Jones has improved. "We're measured by what we do in stadiums. Obviously, his performance has been on the steady incline out there (practice fields), but that's out there."
Safety Dance
Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden and Shamarko Thomas continue to nurse injuries. Golden is out for sure and likely the other two won't play either. So while they would like to rest a veteran like Will Allen, he must play.
"We're experiencing some short-term discomfort at the safety position with a number of guys out, but I don't focus on the guys who are out," Tomlin said. "I think about what a great opportunity this game is going to be for guys like Darby and Ian Wild."
Bettis Is 'Quintessential Steeler'
"It's a tremendous honor to represent Jerome in this game and honor his career and tremendous accolades with how we play," this is how the Steelers head coach started his news conference on Friday.
Tomlin said Bettis was a larger-than-life personality that could represent the heartbeat of the team.
"A spectacular player, a power player, but also a guy that displayed great feet," Tomlin said. "A guy that inspired others by how he played the game and I think that it's a bench mark when you are talking about 'Gold Jacket' type guys. He made other players around him better."
"He is a tremendous advocate for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's a Steeler, he bleeds black and gold," Tomlin added.
