Mike Tomlin Calls Out Steelers After Intense Training Camp Brawl.
In the high-energy atmosphere of NFL training camps, skirmishes are commonplace due to competitive spirit and physical demands. The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced their first training camp brawl on Wednesday. Following the team’s second padded practice, head coach Mike Tomlin shared his perspective on the incident.
Hitting quarterbacks during practice is typically criticized, but the rules can be unclear when the quarterback is scrambling. To better understand, let’s revisit Tuesday, the first full-pads day with “backs on backers” and one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive lines. On that day, the offense outperformed the defense, displaying unexpected dominance and physical strength in drills where the defense usually prevails.
According to several reports, after defenders Beanie Bishop and Elandon Roberts hit quarterback Justin Fields during a run, rookie offensive players Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu stepped in to protect him, leading to a brawl. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. punched McCormick, while Fautanu faced off with Queen inside, both ready to trade blows. The fight escalated as offensive lineman Ryan McCollum tackled Queen, bringing him down.
“Today we were a bit unprofessional and lacked enthusiasm,” head coach Mike Tomlin told Caio Miari of theScore.
He criticized the fight as unprofessional, clearly disapproving of punches at helmeted teammates. However, Tomlin received the intensity and reaction he hoped for from his defense on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin speaks to the media during the NFL league’s annual meeting at JW Marriott. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
“This is an opportunity to teach and learn as part of this process. As much as we hate it, we will learn and grow from it.”
Seeing teammates clash during practice is never ideal, even when wearing pads. However, the Steelers aim to adopt a certain aggressive style of play, and players need to demonstrate that spirit through their practice sessions.
After practice, tensions eased, and the situation appeared to improve. While the brawl seemed excessive, veteran defender Roberts might have felt the team needed a spark and decided to demonstrate the intensity of a Pittsburgh Steeler. On the positive side, the offensive line’s quick defense of their quarterback is a good sign; an indifferent offensive line would be a greater concern, signaling a lack of protection for their quarterback.
Mike Tomlin, an NFL head coach since 2007, understands off-season dynamics well. Internal conflicts like these are not ideal, but there are positive aspects to be drawn from them.
Predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 outlook is challenging. Last season, under Kenny Pickett, the offense often struggled until the fourth quarter, when late-game heroics were made possible by a defense that kept the game within reach.
This year, it is still uncertain who will start at quarterback in Week 1. Although head coach Mike Tomlin has hinted that Russell Wilson is the frontrunner, he has not entirely ruled out Justin Fields taking on the role.
Fields has received a significant amount of first-team reps in practice, stepping in for Russell Wilson, who is sidelined with a calf injury and limited participation.
The Steelers once again face a tough schedule, with many of their divisional games slated for the later part of the season. However, the team has a history of fielding a strong lineup each year. Mike Tomlin’s proven track record of consistently achieving winning seasons underscores his coaching success. Nevertheless, this year will test the team in an exceptionally challenging conference.
