After season high in penalties, Mike Tomlin says Steelers must adjust to officiating crews
Share this post:
Eleven times during Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams, officials threw flags against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A season-high eight were accepted, and another triggered a crucial offset of a Rams penalty that would have given the Steelers an important late first down.
During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his team did a poor job of adjusting to the officiating crew headed by referee Craig Wrolstad.
“Often times it’s our job to feel the tenor of a crew and adjust our behavior accordingly,” Tomlin said. “We got into that game and the officials had a certain tenor, and we didn’t adjust to it.”
Tomlin noted that after an early-game play in which running back Najee Harris was jawing with Rams players after a whistle, officials had alerted the Steelers that they were on alert for any additional like antics.
The Steelers twice were flagged for taunting in the fourth quarter. While Tomlin believes his team could have avoided such issues Sunday, not every officiating crew will be so liberal with the flags for taunting.
“So, am I worried about those issues moving forward? No, I am not,” Tomlin said. “But it’s a great opportunity to talk about learning the tenor of a crew.”
Tomlin additionally referenced the penalty on T.J. Watt for a neutral zone infraction during the third quarter, saying that many officiating crews might issue a warning or even have advised Watt to take a step back in real time in lieu of allowing him to be flagged.
The Steelers were penalized eight times for 76 yards against the Rams, each figure the second-most for the Steelers in a game since 2021.
Injury news
Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb briefly was knocked out of Sunday’s game because of an ankle injury. Though he returned against the Rams, Tomlin said the ankle “requires some attention” and that Holcomb might be limited in practice.
Running back Anthony McFarland remains on injured reserve as he ramps back up from a knee injury. Tomlin said McFarland “will continue to get a look” in his second week after being cleared to practice while on IR. McFarland must be activated to the 53-man roster by Nov. 6 or is out for the season.
Tomlin said there were “no updates there” when asked about veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Heyward has been on IR since Week 1 because of a groin injury.