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Q. This evening’s playoff match will be the fifth occasion you’ve led the Steelers in what is a third playoff encounter against a divisional opponent. What are some features of a third matchup against a division rival?
A. Clearly, there’s familiarity, but it doesn’t necessarily control the result or the dynamics of the game. I believe that with every encounter, the strategies and counter-strategies become increasingly intricate. The way we handle all that, all that footage that depicts their nature and ours, in conjunction with the times we’ve faced off, creates a fascinating blend that complicates strategy. I often describe it as chess, not checkers, so I’m always thrilled to be a part of it. Ultimately, it’s about how we arrange our players to accomplish the task at hand.
Q. Is participating in the playoffs enjoyable, or does it overshadow the pressure to deliver and secure victories?
A. It’s incredible. I believe we toil for 48 weeks or so each year for these next 4-to-5 weeks. From a professional standpoint, you desire to be in this single-elimination tournament. Everyone approaches team development with that mindset aiming to be world champions, so being part of it as a competitor – if I had to encapsulate it in a single term, it would be “fun.”
Q. The NFL playoffs are a single-elimination scenario, do-or-die, there’s no next time – select your cliché. In such a scenario, how long can you afford to remain with someone who isn’t performing adequately before you initiate a change?
A. It varies based on the game, the dynamics of the game. If it’s a close match and seesawing back and forth, I believe you have a greater tolerance for those choices. If the game isn’t favorable, you must react more swiftly. If time is crucial, you must act promptly. However, tight football contests do provide an opportunity to exercise patience.
Q. What do you require from your starting quarterback when transitioning from the regular season to the playoffs?
A. More of the same, just amplified. We must be cautious as leaders, because people gauge their demeanor from us, and thus we must stay true to ourselves. However, we need to be our optimal selves. That’s the way I communicate with the quarterback, or the quarterbacks. My role and the quarterbacks’ role obviously possess some similarities in terms of focus and accountability, and I carry that mantra, sharing the same view with them. I expect them to be genuine, but I also expect them to be their finest selves because the players can sense that. It’s not a moment to be new or completely different. It’s rather about what we have been doing, certainly at a heightened level of intensity and with improved execution.
Q. Does this apply to intangibles as well, considering that intangibles are a significant aspect of the quarterback position?
A. Indeed, that’s precisely what I was referring to. I was talking about those intangible elements, the cohesive factors, the elements that unify your unit or the collective. The encouragement and uplifting of individuals, the formal and informal sharing of information. We must be at our finest selves, particularly in those intangible aspects, those leadership qualities, those cohesive elements.
Q. Are situations like this, games like these, the reason you brought Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh?
A. There’s no doubt about it because life experience is irreplaceable. He is someone who has been there and accomplished that. There is value in it, not just for him, but also for what he can provide to those with whom he collaborates.
Q. Will you require a player to be extraordinary or perform a remarkable act to prevail tonight?
A. “Great” is an intriguing term that I frequently discuss with the group. What characterizes greatness in our field is often defined as being consistently excellent. Therefore, it’s not about individual players, it’s about play-making. Everyone in a helmet has the chance to pursue and attain greatness and showcase it. However, ultimately, what is deemed great in our profession is the frequent ability to be really good, and I try to frame this in straightforward terms for them. T.J. is frequently described as exceptional as an edge rusher. But what does that signify? It indicates the reliability with which he performs in critical moments. He is consistently good, especially when you require him to be, and ultimately that, I believe, defines greatness in our sport.
Q. I was specifically referring to Troy Polamalu in the 2008 AFC Championship Game and his interception return for a touchdown towards the end. That was a remarkable play, sealing the game and a trip to the Super Bowl.
A. I think many times those moments emerge from individuals regularly being good. It is a defining moment, so to speak. They deserve it. It’s the culmination of many factors, but I don’t think it is something that is actively sought. Excelling at routine tasks at a high level positions you for those moments, those pivotal moments you get the chance to experience. I recall when Troy intercepted that pass and reversed his direction across the field, and just as he entered the end zone, I thought, “They’ll be showcasing that the day he makes it into Canton.” It’s special to recognize those moments as you witness them, and I’ve been fortunate to have been present for many of those instances throughout my career. I was an assistant with the Bucs in 2002 when Derrick Brooks intercepted the ball and dashed it back for a touchdown to seal that Super Bowl victory. I felt the same exhilaration when he scored. Troy and Derrick share many similarities in that they were consistently good, particularly at times when you needed them the most. Often, the game shines upon you and provides that hallmark Hall of Fame moment when you have earned it.
Q. While discussing the Ravens defense, you mentioned, “They’re deploying a lot of deceptive pressure, and that’s a hallmark of Dean Pees’s football.” What did you mean by “deceptive pressure,” and how does it manifest?
A. It involves creating an illusion of pressure without isolating the one-on-one matchups in the secondary that typically arise with pressure. They might present a pressure look, say by bringing in the nickel Marlon Humphrey, which usually indicates a man-free coverage behind it. Dean might send Humphrey and drop the opposing defensive end into coverage, still maintaining seven players dedicated to coverage. Thus, while he has seven individuals allocated for coverage, it might not follow the conventional structure. He can still employ various zone and man coverages that include non-pressure strategies, which is why we term it “deceptive pressure.” It appears to be pressure, but with seven players still assigned to cover the passing game, so it is strategically aggressive. This tactic has been one of the methods they’ve used to minimize some of the significant plays allowed.
up throughout the latter portion of the year. If you recall, they were surrendering a considerable amount of significant plays in their secondary during the initial part of the year, and that was due to their reliance on isolated one-on-one matchups behind consistent pressure. The addition of Dean as a senior advisor, along with his experience and strategic mindset, has lessened some of those one-on-one situations, thereby decreasing the incidence of splash plays or major plays they have conceded.
Q. When confronting an offense with Lamar Jackson at quarterback and Derrick Henry at running back, does the defense need to decide whether to prioritize the containment of one or the other?
A. You definitely do. And in certain situations, you must be ready to contend with both. Particularly in his read-option play, Lamar’s running ability is exceptional. They compel you to engage in 11-on-11 football. There’s a clear mathematical aspect to defending against a quarterback with that level of mobility. The key point is, if you have a free safety positioned in the center of the field, 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, you’re effectively playing 10-on-11. Thus, in specific scenarios, you better account for both. You need to relocate that free safety out of the center and closer to the action, so that when they opt to employ Lamar in that manner, you have the suitable number of players to match them strategy-wise. There aren’t many effective methods to handle 10 vs. 11 unless someone is executing a block and making a stop. It is simple mathematics.
Q. In football, there is a term “making business decisions” regarding defensive players and their interactions with formidable, powerful running backs. What does that signify, and while watching footage of Derrick Henry, do you observe that occurring?
A. It’s a clever way of expressing “backing off.” That is one of the trendy phrases in the industry that simply indicates individuals are opting out of competition. There is certainly a fear element present. Exceptional athletes like Derrick Henry can sometimes bring that out in others. However, I suspect when everything is at stake, in situations like single-elimination football, there’s not much of that happening, or even the consideration of it.
Q. Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey are the first names that spring to mind regarding the Ravens defense. But what about their “bigs” on defense? Who from that group presents a challenge?
A. I believe they truly set themselves apart as a unit, and what I mean is they rush cohesively. You want to be able to highlight No. 92 (Nnamdi Madubuike), due to his reputation and performance, especially in recent years, as an interior rusher. But when I consider him, my thoughts go to the (pass-rush) combinations, the TE-games he runs alongside No. 53 (Kyle Van Noy). So when we discussed them this week, we respect their individual talent, but what stands out about them is the way they collaborate in their rush. They do an excellent job of keeping the quarterback contained by functioning together. Moreover, often when you don’t have standout individuals with impressive resumes like T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, it’s easier for the group to invest in the team aspect of the rush. I think that’s one of the significant strengths they’ve demonstrated, making them truly effective as a unit. Within that, you’re going to see players posting impressive stats, such as No. 53 and No. 99 (Odafe Oweh). But when you review the footage, you genuinely appreciate the team aspect of their operation.
Q. Do they operate a 4-3 front or a 3-4 front?
A. They are versatile, and they have been for 18 years, the duration of my tenure here. They can present four-down linemen alignments. They can also appear in three-down alignments. They have always maintained versatility. When you have hybrid players like Terrell Suggs … is Suggs an outside linebacker or defensive end? I think many of us in this field are still trying to determine that. However, with unique, position-flexible athletes, you’re able to strike a balance, and that is something they’ve excelled at longer than anyone else in the football world, in terms of oscillating between the two formations.
Q. What will you need from yourself tonight to leave Baltimore triumphant?
A. I must be ready to demonstrate what I expect our players to exhibit. As the pressure intensifies and we enter playoff football, I am acutely aware of that. It’s crucial that my actions align with my words, that they derive their tone from me or the quarterback, those of us deemed leaders within this industry by our titles or roles. I’m just very conscious of ensuring that my actions mirror my words, and that I embody the qualities I’ve asked them to show.
