If the Steelers' DeMarcus Van Dyke doesn't cut down on his special teams penalties, he'll be practicing this sitting position a whole lot more. When Pittsburgh gets healthy enough, coach Mike Tomlin said he will bench the special teams repeat offenders. (US Presswire) |
The special teams co-coach has seen enough. He can't take it anymore.
As soon as he has some healthy bodies, Steelerscoach Mike Tomlin plans to remove the "repeat, egregious offenders" on special teams who erased 85 yards in returns Sunday. It was another in a continuing parade of holding and block-in-the-back penalties.
So, beware DeMarcus Van Dyke and others. Your time is coming ... sometime.
"With all the injuries, we have minimal options," Tomlin said at his Tuesday news conference, categorizing the penchant for special-teams penalties as "disturbing."
When more players return to health, Tomlin said "the repeat, egregious offenders will be watching. You can take a helmet off and make them watch. We feel like we can be explosive in that area, provided we don't shoot ourselves in the foot."
The limping Steelers (3-3) were called for five penalties on special teams Sunday in a 24-17 victory over Cincinnati, where they nearly lost more yards (85 negated and 40 in penalties) than they officially gained (132) in the return game. They were flagged for one penalty on offense and defense, allowing the third-most penalized NFL team to drop to sixth-most this week.
Tomlin fired special teams coach Al Everest before the final preseason game and split his coaching duties between himself and assistant Amos Jones.
Injury report: Tomlin ruled out S Troy Polamalu (calf) and OT Marcus Gilbert (foot) for Sunday's home game against Robert Griffin III and the Redskins (3-4) at Heinz Field. C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) is expected to return Wednesday and possibly play Sunday. Tomlin also gave a chance to play Sunday to RBs Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) and Isaac Redman (whose ankle could heal another week if Mendenhall returns) and S Will Allen (ankle), who started Sunday instead of usual Polamalu replacement Ryan Mundy.
Roster move: DL Corbin Bryant was spotted in the Steelers' practice facility Tuesday. He is expected to rejoin the practice squad after last week's roster moves saw him get cut so practice squad player John Malecki could back up C Doug Legursky in Pouncey's absence.
Who should start? Redman, Mendenhall and Jonathan Dwyer have started at tailback, with increasingly better results. Dwyer, the third-year, third-string tailback, rushed for 122 yards Sunday in the single-best performance by a Steelers' back in 16 games. Tomlin, though, was non-committal about who will play Sunday. He wants to see if Mendenhall's Achilles and Redman's ankle have healed enough for the Redskins. He also wants to see how Dwyer fares this week after a personal-best Sunday.
Follow Steelers reporter Chuck Finder @CBSSteelers and @cfinder