Bullock living ‘life of specialist’
Mike Tomlin talked about Lawrence Timmons making the biggest defensive play in the win over the New York Giants, and said the touchdown drive following the Giants score off a Le’Veon Bell fumble as the most significant offensive moment.
But the special-teams star of the game only received a secondary mention as someone whom Tomlin hopes doesn’t have to play.
“If (Chris) Boswell is healthy, he kicks,” said Tomlin. “If he isn’t, we’ll go with a guy named Randy Bullock.”
A guy named Bullock.
That should be emblazoned across the back of the journeyman kicker’s shirt.
Even after making three field goals and an extra point in four kicks, after being with a team only 24 hours, Bullock is likely headed out of town soon, on his way to a new job.
“Such is life for specialists,” Tomlin said.
The Steelers signed Bullock — whom they had worked out last year with the Boswell tryout group — in an emergency Saturday after Boswell had suffered an abdominal injury on Friday.
Bullock was an 81 percent kicker for the Houston Texans, New York Jets and New York Giants, and he delivered for the Steelers, making field goals of 44, 34 and 38 yards in a 24-14 win.
The Steelers released cornerback prospect Al-Hajj Shabazz to make the move, and then lost Shabazz on Monday to the Texans. The Steelers now have two kickers, and Tomlin said that Boswell “has a legitimate chance this week.”
Might Bullock’s strong performance allow the coach to be “more cautious” with Boswell’s recovery?
“We’re not into the cautious mentality,” Tomlin said. “We’re not. It’s December. If he’s healthy enough to kick, we’re going to play him.”
(subhead)Not so special
On the other hand, special teams have been a problem of late in regard to penalties.
On Sunday, the Steelers returned only two kicks (both kickoffs) but committed four penalties (three accepted) on all Giants kicks. The Steelers also committed another penalty on one of their kicks.
The Steelers are 13th in the league overall in penalties but eighth in special-teams penalties with 15 for 121 yards this season.
“We’re just not performing as well as we’d like in that area right now and we’ve got to do better,” Tomlin said.
Injury update
The progress made by tight end Ladarius Green has helped, but the Steelers still need help at the skill positions. It appears Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and DeAngelo Williams (knee) are coming to the rescue soon.
“Hopefully we push those guys toward some level of participation this week,” Tomlin said. “It’s probably more of a legitimate discussion with DeAngelo, but we’ll leave the light on for both guys and see where the week leads us.”
Steelers receivers not named Antonio Brown have gained only 101 receiving yards in the last three games combined. And Steelers running backs not named Le’Veon Bell have gained only 29 yards in the last seven games combined — 28 of those were gained by Fitzgerald Toussaint against the Indianapolis Colts.
On Sunday, only Landry Jones, with his kneel-down, joined Bell on the rushing stat sheet.
Also on the injury front, DT Javon Hargrave and punt gunner Shamarko Thomas suffered concussions Sunday and are going through the protocol process.
Law dawg
Lawrence Timmons said following Sunday’s game that he hopes to re-sign with the Steelers after the season and play another five years. That would be fine with the Steelers if Timmons continues to play at such a high level.
Not only did Timmons make a leaping interception at the goal line Sunday and return it 58 yards, his blitz on a fourth-and-1 play in the third quarter caused Eli Manning to rush his throw incomplete from the Pittsburgh 3.
Timmons finished with seven tackles to share the team lead with Artie Burns and Sean Davis. Timmons now has 89 for the season, 32 more than the No. 2 tackler, Mike Mitchell.
Tomlin was asked if Sunday’s game was Timmons’ best this season, and why.
“I think, like our young guys, he’s finding his rhythm,” Tomlin said. “Maybe a lot of that has to do with gaining continuity in terms of who you’re playing with. You know, he’s been in there alongside Ryan Shazier for a number of games now. I think Ryan’s been back five or six games and that continuity, that flow of communication, probably aides in play. But the direct answer to your question, I thought he played a better game in Cleveland a number of weeks back. I thought that was a significant contest.”
Looking ahead
The Buffalo Bills (6-6), led by former Pitt runner Shady McCoy, lead the NFL in rushing, both per game (162) and per carry (5.4). McCoy has gained 949 yards at 5.5 per carry.
They Bills have also committed the fewest turnovers in the league (8).
“If you lead the league in rushing and don’t turn the ball over, you’re gong to be in every game you play,” Tomlin said. “They’re in every game they play.”
The Bills also have the lowest-ranked pass offense with the help of the third-highest number of sacks allowed (35), but standout wide receiver Sammy Watkins will play in his third consecutive game after missing eight with a foot injury.
“What we see from Watkins on tape might just be a splattering of what we should expect of what he’s capable of and we’re preparing with that in mind, a dynamic player who’s working his way back into the fold,” Tomlin said. “We just don’t want to be the group he explodes upon in terms of finding that traction.”
Defensively, the Bills are eighth in pass defense, thanks to the third highest sacks total (33). They’re 26th against the run (4.1 ypc).
Quotable
What does Tomlin say to Sean Davis after intercepting a fourth-down pass so far away from the line of scrimmage?
“I tell him congratulations on his first NFL interception.”