After two weeks away from the team, DK Metcalf is “in a great place.”
The offense he’s re-joining is in a far better spot now, too.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday said the passing game not only survived Metcalf’s two-game absence because of suspension, it might have emerged better off for it going forward. In Metcalf’s stead, veterans Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Scotty Miller have taken on elevated roles and have at times made plays.
“Sometimes when you’re lacking significant players,” Tomlin said during his weekly news conference, “it’s opportunities for others to show what they’re capable of and to accelerate growth and development, and cohesion in other areas.
“I think we all grow as strategists. I think as a collective, a coaching staff, when you’re faced with adversity, it’s important that you pivot.”
Because of an altercation he had with a Detroit Lions fan during a Dec. 21 win, Metcalf did not play in the final two games of the regular season. He was allowed back in the locker room Monday and is eligible to practice with teammates again Wednesday.
Metcalf can return to game action when the Steelers host the Houston Texans in a wild-card round playoff game Monday night.
“I know that he’s happy to be back,” Tomlin said. “He’s happy to be in this tournament. He’s ready to go to work.”
Dynamic duo
Tomlin called Houston’s defense “a kick-butt unit.” And as soon as he said that, Tomlin first highlighted the Texans’ “top-flight edge tandem.”
It’s a duo that has combined for 27 sacks, 45 QB hits and 176 pressures this season — Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
“They’re a formidable group,” Tomlin said. “You can talk about the things that you need to do schematically to minimize them and all that. It’s nothing that they haven’t seen. We better stay out of a bunch of one-dimensional passing circumstances, because if we’re in those circumstances we’re going to be in trouble. That’s just the reality of it.”
Up the middle
The Steelers have quite the group of edge rushers themselves. And with T.J. Watt returning from his lung injury for Sunday’s win against the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers had their top three available at the position.
That on whole meant a significantly reduced workload for Nick Herbig — but it did allow for the Steelers to deploy Watt, Herbig and Highsmith together.
The result was continued pressure on star Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“(Herbig) was one of those interesting hybrid athletes, if you will, that we studied him when he came out (for the draft),” Tomlin said. “We didn’t know if he would be an inside backer or outside backer. He has that versatility. So, we put that versatility on display at times in an effort to get T.J. and Highsmith and Herbig on the grass together. His versatility allows some of that to happen.”
The trio combined for two sacks, three QB hits, two batted-down balls and one interception in the victory that continued the Steelers’ season.
