PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There are a couple of former Steelers returning to the team this week. Thoughts on some of their performances in week one as part of the Tomlin Notes this week.
1 st rounder returns
It was often said that if safety Terrell Edmunds had been drafted in the later rounds instead of the first in 2018, fans would have appreciated his game. He had 410 tackles with five interceptions 15 tackles for loss in five years with the Steelers. The safety signed back Tuesday to the active roster off the Jacksonville practice squad.
“It's a guy that knows us, a guy that we know,” Tomlin said. “During the course of this thing, particularly at this stage of the journey, you can't have enough of those scenarios. It might not be a significant need now, but it might be a different scenario a few weeks from now, and that's really the same spirit that we did business with Cam Sutton.”
“When we've got guys that we know fit, that understand this environment, that we know are capable of helping us and we have an opportunity to do business, whether there's a tremendous need or not, we have an interest.”
Punter change
Tomlin confirmed starting punter Cameron Johnston is out for the season with a knee injury. The team bringing back Corliss Waitman who was with them when they were allowed to have extra players during the COVID year.
“He really had an opportunity to develop while here,” Tomlin said of Waitman who only took up football upon moving to the US when he was 15-years-old and then punted at South Alabama. “He developed his holding while here. He didn't have a lot of holding experience in college, so ‘Bos’ [Chris Boswell] and company were a component of his development in that area. He left here in '22. He was a punter in Denver. So specifically, as it pertains to this weekend, he's really familiar with the environment that we're going into.”
Can’t say I remember Tomlin being as distraught over the loss of a punter as he has been with Johnson.
“I'm really disappointed for him,” Tomlin said. “This guy's been spectacular for us. He's punted the ball extremely well in the short time he's been here. But as impressive as his punting is his professionalism and approach to business. He's an awesome teammate. He's a hard worker. He quickly earned the respect of the guys because of that. So our heart aches for him, but we acknowledge it's part of our game, just like challenges are a part of life.”
The Porter shadow
It seems as if it’s now the norm with the Steelers defense that Joey Porter, Junior will shadow the opposing team’s best receiver. Tomlin said he knows the job description. What the assignment entails week in and week out. Asked about week one as Drake London finished with two receptions for 15 yards.
“I thought Joey did an awesome job,” Tomlin said. “It's week to week in this business, and particularly in the quarterback position, because I'm sure there's a gentleman named Cortland Sutton that's waiting on him in Denver, for example. That's the battle of playing corner in this league, but again he loves it, and I'm glad that he does.”
The Big O
Cameron Heyward said after the game that DT Larry Ogunjobi was an unsung hero against the Falcons. How does a healthy Ogunjobi affect defensive play?
“He's got a chance to be big time disruptive, and he displayed some of that,” Tomlin said of Ogunjobi who had three tackles and two QB hits Sunday. “I'm excited about watching that continue. He and I had a lot of discussions. This has been an awesome off-season for him. He was healthy all off-season. He went into training camp and team development healthy and allowed him to participate fully in the process. Really that's the first time he's been able to do that since he's been here.”
“It's reasonable to expect the play to reflect that. I know he's excited about that component of it. I don't think any of us are surprised that he's a positive asset to us. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to watch it continue because he's teed up for it.”
Beanie belief
Undrafted free agent slot corner Beanie Bishop played 59% of the snaps Sunday in Atlanta finishing with four tackles and four of the five passes his way were completed.
“I thought it was a great start for him,” Tomlin said. “I thought the things that attracted us to him were on display. He played hard. He tackled well. He had a couple possession down stop tackles. I think he had a tackle on special teams. Really good start for an undrafted rookie certainly.”
Hold it please
With a smile Tomlin said he found out about Scotty Miller being able to hold by doing a straw poll, asking last Thursday if anyone had held in high school. Miller said yes and he became the emergency holder. He was pressed into service Sunday with a perfect hold for the final field goal attempt.
“Flexibility is awesome,” Tomlin said. “It's an asset to you. It's an asset to us. He has that in his wheelhouse. He put it on display on Thursday, and he went out and put it on display on Sunday. It's a pretty cool thing, man. But you get a lot of that around a professional football team. These are multi-talented guys.”
“You'll be surprised, that's why I routinely ask do you have any hidden tricks I need to know about? Particularly when I acquire a new guy. I need to know all I can get about unique talents. Obviously, that was helpful to us, his contributions in that area.”
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