Tomlin, Steelers prepare for preseason opener

LATROBE — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s first pre-game press conference of the 2014 season was a whole lot like those that came before it.
No news was broken, very little information was passed from coach to reporter.
In fact, the press conference was much like his team’s game plan for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. preseason opener against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium: vanilla.
“I want the group to play fast,” Tomlin said. “I want them to play with the urgency that’s required to play winning football in a stadium setting. I’m looking for that. We’d like to keep penalties to a minimum, we’d like to play assignment-clean football, but at this stage of the journey, we’ll see where we are in that regard.”
Tomlin, noting that he believes preseason games are necessary and good for all players, said he will empty his bench against the Giants, regardless of status, pedigree, years of service or the lack thereof. The only fly in that ointment is injury and some players may be held out.
“Everyone that’s healthy will participate in the football game,” Tomlin said. “We have a number of guys that aren’t healthy as we sit here, but we’re going to leave the light on for those guys and really wait until the 11th hour in terms of making decisions on whether or not to play some of them.”
Among those who could be missing are rookie linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jordan Zumwalt and second year linebacker Jarvis Jones, whom the coach noted has a groin injury. Other 11th-hour guys are nose tackle Steve McClendon, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bay and rookie tight end Rob Blanchflower.
Three of those guys are defensive starters and the most intriguing among them is Shazier. Not because the first-round pick’s “boo-boo” of a knee injury might keep him out, but because Sean Spence has been taking Shazier’s place with the starting defense in practice and likely will start two years after a devastating knee injury almost ended his career in the first preseason game of his rookie year.
“I think I’ve been pretty consistent that I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a full recovery,” Tomlin said of Spence. “I just know what type of young man he is, the type of worker that he is and those things usually work out for those guys.”
Spence missed the last two seasons and realizes he’s fortunate to still be employed. “I’m just thankful to the Steelers organization,” he said. “A lot of other teams probably would have cut ties with me a long time ago, but this organization didn’t.”
If McClendon can’t play, the team likely would move Cam Thomas from defensive end to nose tackle and start rookie Stephon Tuitt at end. Jones would likely give way to Arthur Moats if he can’t go at outside linebacker.
While this game is about so much more than the starting 22, Tomlin reiterated that he is a firm believer in the “healthy guys play” theory, especially in the preseason games.
“I think the preseason is very necessary to develop regular-season readiness and cohesion and the only way to do that is to play,” he said. “I think I’ve been the same dating back to 2007 in that regard.”
In terms of the roster’s younger players, Tomlin was succinct. He was asked about the development of second-year linebacker Vince Williams.
“I expect that type of growth from a second-year guy,” Tomlin said. “Not only him, but any of those guys, Le’Veon Bell and the others. That entire class, we expect those guys to be much better.”
Tomlin also reiterated his stance on playing rookies, not just in preseason games, but in ones that count, as well.
“The guys that play and play significantly for us will be the guys that are capable of helping us win,” he said. “Some of those guys happen to be rookies and to this point maybe some of those guys appear to be those types of people, then we’ll play them. It’s just that simple.”
The team travels Friday, plays Saturday and is off Sunday. Joint practices with the Buffalo Bills next week precede next Saturday’s preseason home opener against the Bills, also with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field.