Steelers notebook: Mike Tomlin had 'great deal of confidence' in 4th-down calls vs. Packers

Mike Tomlin didn’t like the execution. He took no issue, though, with the plays that were called on fourth down in the past two losses for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers tried and failed to convert three times on fourth down with passes being thrown either behind the line of scrimmage or short of the line to gain. Running back Najee Harris was stopped for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-10 and fourth-and-4 situations, and JuJu Smith-Schuster gained 2 yards on a fourth-and-5.

Tomlin was asked Tuesday at his weekly news conference whether he had confidence in the plays called by first-year coordinator Matt Canada and if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs to throw longer passes on fourth down.

“There were other eligibles beyond the line to gain and, so yes, I had a great deal of confidence in the plays that were called,” Tomlin said. “Obviously, we’d like the outcome to be different.”

The latest two instances occurred in the third and fourth quarter, respectively, against the Green Bay Packers.

“I felt good about them,” Tomlin said. “No, I didn’t feel good about the result of them. We’ll roll the ball out and work again for preparation in those moments this week.”

Tomlin said Roethlisberger “has a lot of freedom” to change the play once it is relayed from Canada but not particularly when he is at the line of scrimmage and surveying the defense.

“Maybe not in those moments,” Tomlin said. “Those moments are so weighty, and there is so much preparation in those moments. Oftentimes, those decisions are had and thought through and discussed prior to being in them. There is more fluidity in that decision-making and more certainty in terms of play selection.”

The Steelers are one of three teams in the NFL without a fourth-down conversion this season. They are 0 for 5.

Room to run

A week after every starter on the offensive line was called for at least one penalty, left tackle Dan Moore Jr. was the only lineman flagged against the Packers. Moore was called for holding in the second quarter, but the Steelers overcame it by getting Chris Boswell’s 52-yard field goal.

Tomlin cited it as one positive that helped the Steelers rush for a modest 62 yards, their highest total in three weeks.

“We had less negative plays than we’ve had,” he said. “We got hats on hats. There weren’t unblocked defenders, and so our collective above-the-neck game was better. We were good in situational ball. We converted a third-and-1, we converted a goal-line circumstance. Those are good things to build upon.”

Harris scored on a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter for his first NFL rushing touchdown. He totaled 62 yards on 15 carries, a 4.1 average.

“He’s good, we’ve seen that, but he’s continually getting better,” Tomlin said. “That has been on display throughout the first four games of the season as well. I think it’s reasonable to expect that to continue. This guy is unbelievably talented. He’s a competitor. I like his preparation. He’s passionate about football. I’m excited about what the near future and the future in general holds for Harris.”

The Steelers’ opponent this weekend, the Denver Broncos, have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards. Opponents are averaging 70 yards per game. The Steelers, meanwhile, continue to have the league’s least potent running game, averaging 55.3 yards per game.

Injury report

Roethlisberger’s hip injury was the only new one Tomlin included during his injury update. Cornerback Cameron Sutton (groin) and left guard Kevin Dotson (hip) left the game against the Packers and did not return.

Tomlin said the Steelers expect to have wide receiver Chase Claypool (hamstring) and right tackle Chuks Okorafor (concussion) back on the field against Denver.

Zach Banner (knee) could be activated from injured reserve. The Steelers have two weeks left to activate Banner or keep him on IR for the rest of the year.