LISTEN: Tomlin’s thoughts on the 1st day of OTAs

Steelers head coach reacts to QBs, purpose of the workouts
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PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was a given that fans/media are going to react to the quarterback order on the first day of Organized Team Activities on the South Side. It’s probably a given that Mike Tomlin would downplay it.

“We're just working right now, teaching and learning,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “There'll be plenty of time for that. I understand the nature of your question. But nobody is going to win a job or lose a job out here in shorts in May. So, pardon me if I don't give you what you're looking for.”

You’re forgiven, for now.

Tomlin did offer advise to the quarterbacks battling to start-just be themselves, their best selves.

No Shows

When pressed about who was there for the first day and who was not, Tomlin said this is voluntary.  He actually makes a good point when asked if he would like to see the few who didn’t come to the facility Tuesday.

“I focus my energy on those that are here,” Tomlin said. “That's how I make it a productive day. Particularly in the football environment that we're in. Now we all know the nature of these workouts, they are voluntary. And so, I'm doing a disservice to the men that made the commitment to be here if I have any other mentality.”

All in all, while we can’t say who was or wasn’t there, it was near full attendance for a team with a number of new players including a number of key leaders.

“I know those guys individually and collectively,” Tomlin said. “They know the power their presence it’s not necessarily about their get better. Its young guys getting an opportunity to see them and learn from them. It’s less about what we say in this business and more about what it is that we do and so when you got enough of those examples of guys that understand how we go about our business and are good professionals and can provide some examples for guys, that's what's exciting about it.”

It was Tomlin’s first ever voluntary camp without Ben Roethlisberger, at least not being on the team.

“It is, but you know, it's ever changing in this business,” Tomlin said. “That's a component of it is, it’s weird to be out here without Kevin Colbert in an official capacity as well. So that's just the nature of this thing.
The wheels keep turning.”

So, what was accomplished?  How would Tomlin describe what he was looking at the start of voluntary workouts?

“We're just really excited about being here today,” Tomlin said. “We're not going to make more out of it than what it is. But it is an opportunity to get started; to lay some foundational things, to teach and learn to understand the value of communication. Learn some cultural foundational things that we build, that we believe are important to team building to get to know one another, to get some football conditioning in.”

“There's a myriad of things that we have an opportunity to do in a setting like this and so just appreciative of it, and excited about continuing to get started and get to know these guys better individually and collectively to get to know ourselves better. There's good foundational time for players but it's also good foundational time for coaches as individuals and collectively. Gaining the cohesion that's required to work cooperatively to train guys. And so all of us out here are laying some foundational things and getting better and it was a good day from that perspective.”

“We won't try to draw too many conclusions. We'll just keep rolling that ball out and keep working.”

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