Mike Tomlin is angry. Steeler Nation is angry. The players are angry.
And to Tomlin, it all feels perfect. Speaking with WAVY TV 10 during a recent trip to Hampton, Va., Tomlin discussed the high expectations the Steelers must meet every year.
"I love that. To be honest with you, that's what I love most about the job," Tomlin said. "I embrace the high expectations associated with the job."
Then he took it a step further.
"I like the fact that Steeler Nation is pissed off, as am I and we are," Tomlin said. "So we're excited about meeting the challenges of 2019, and answering some of those questions that are out there about us."
Coming off a 9-6-1 season that ended without a playoff berth, the Steelers have every right to feel this way, as do the fans. The team was stacked with talent yet fell short of expectations, and now they enter 2019 without the services of key contributors from previous seasons in Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The messy breakups with those two All-Pro players left a sour taste in the mouths of many, but the team has been noticeably charged and motivated to bounce back throughout the offseason.
Tomlin, addressing a question about cutting out the drama Bell and Brown brought to the team, had the following to say.
"Yeah, but there [are] going to be plays that need to be made as well, and those two guys that you mentioned made a lot of plays," Tomlin said. "But also, we had a couple Pro Bowlers at that position a year ago that are still on our team, guys like JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner. So there will be opportunities for young, emerging stars to continue to do that, emerge and star and wear the responsibility of that. [I'm] really excited about the questions surrounding us."
Among those players looking to make an impact in 2019 and beyond are rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson and newly-signed receiver Donte Moncrief. Second-year players James Washington and Jaylen Samuels both slimmed down this offseason and appear primed to take the next step in their development.
Then there's the guy getting them the ball. Ben Roethlisberger is back, and many feel that as long as No. 7 is chucking the pigskin, the Steelers have a chance to compete.
"Man, he's an unbelievable player," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger. "He needs no endorsement from me. I've enjoyed his talents for 13 years and I look forward to enjoying them in 2019. He's wired much like I'm wired. We're excited about meeting the challenges of 2019, and answering some of those questions about us."
HUNTER'S VIEW
These signs have been evident throughout the offseason training programs at the Rooney Complex, with players seeming more animated and excited than they have in recent years. They haven't been shy about the refreshing feel in the locker room, and Tomlin's thoughts echo that sentiment.
Tomlin didn't need to say it, but it's just one more vote of confidence that things are trending in the right direction for the Steelers in 2019. Now, they just need to bring that energy to the field.
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