With Ravens looming for Steelers, it's 'put up and shut up time,' says Mike Tomlin

Arguably the NFL’s most intense and physical rivalry resumes Sunday.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers being manhandled by 31 points at Cincinnati and their manhood challenged by former players, it’s reasonable to wonder whether they will be up to the task when the Baltimore Ravens make their annual visit to Heinz Field.

“We’ll see on Sunday, won’t we?” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, addressing the media two days after the Steelers absorbed the most lopsided defeat in his 15-year tenure.

The Steelers are 0-2-1 in their past three games and, at 5-5-1 overall, they are tied with Cleveland (6-6) for last place in the division. That’s in contrast to the Ravens, who at 8-3 not only lead the AFC North, but have the best winning percentage in the conference.

Another loss for the Steelers would cripple their chances of repeating as division champions and seriously dent any chances of reaching the postseason via the wild card.

“It’s put up and shut up time,” Tomlin said. “Talking doesn’t get it done. … What we do in that stadium on Sunday is real. We’re not seeking comfort. We’re not trying to quell the masses. We stunk it up, and so we’re going to wallow in our stench for a while and wait for our next opportunity to play football.”

That opportunity comes in the first of two meetings against the Ravens over the final six weeks of the season. Down the stretch, the Steelers face just one team, 5-6 Minnesota, that isn’t currently at or above .500.

One week ago, Tomlin stressed the importance of the matchup at Cincinnati only to watch his team fall behind 31-3 in the first half and trail 41-3 in the fourth quarter. He said the Steelers were beaten “mano-a-mano” on the offensive and defensive fronts.

That prompted former Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who played on the Super Bowl XLIII championship team under Tomlin, to rip the team’s performance. He said the Steelers had “absolutely no physicality,” the defense “couldn’t stop a nosebleed” and that “they’re not my beloved Steelers anymore.”

Four-time Super Bowl-winning running back Rocky Bleier even chimed in on social media, saying “The Steelers (stink).”

“They would know,” Tomlin said. “They know the things we value. I don’t know specifically what you are talking about, but guys that have been here, guys that have been in that room, guys that understand the standards that we aspire to, they have a better understanding of that than anybody in that room right now.

“I would imagine whatever it is you are referring to, I would agree with them.”

Tomlin also agreed that effort was an issue on defense against the Bengals. And it came a week after the Los Angeles Chargers also put up 41 points on the Steelers.

“I’m talking about winning the one-on-one battles, whooping blocks and making tackles,” Tomlin said. “Coming off of blocks, the nature in which we combat people.”

On Monday, All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick became the latest player to suggest the Steelers need to change their practice habits. Padded practices are limited in number by the collective bargaining agreement, but Tomlin indicated that “attire is something that could change this week in an effort to position us to play a better brand of football.”

One thing that won’t happen is for the Steelers to introduce music at practice, which was suggested Monday by second-year wide receiver Chase Claypool.

“Claypool plays wideout, and I’ll let him do that,” Tomlin said. “I’ll formulate the practice approach, and I think that division of labor is probably appropriate.”

Tomlin, though, is open to changing the division of labor at certain positions or at least from a schematic standpoint, but suggested any alterations will be “subtle.”

“Is it people and insertion of people? Yes, if it potentially makes us better,” Tomlin said. “But not for the sole purpose of change. It may just mean the alignment or configuration of people in an effort to highlight areas maybe where we have depth and maybe minimize some areas where we don’t.”