9 things Mike Tomlin said about QB Anthony Richardson, Colts
The next undefeated hurdle that the Pittsburgh Steelers must clear is the Indianapolis Colts, a team coming off its first win of the season in Week 3.
Mike Tomlin previewed the matchup in his weekly presser on Tuesday and had the following to say about the Steelers' upcoming opponent:
1. RB Jonathan Taylor
He is super talented. But we've seen some talented backs. Bijan [Robinson] is super talented. J.K. [Dobbins] is super talented. That just goes to show you how competitive this league is week in, week out. Man, we've got a big challenge in Jonathan Taylor.
2. QB Anthony Richardson
I think that [Jonathan Taylor] challenge is intensified because of [Anthony] Richardson's mobility and their willingness to use schematics regarding Richardson's mobility. So, man, it is a big run-game emphasis for us as I sit here right now at the early outset of the week, looking at things that they do well and the things that we need to do well.
3. WR Alec Pierce
[Alec] Pierce, man, is getting behind secondaries. He's always done it. He did it at the University of Cincinnati. I was at his Pro Day and studied him. They drafted him to do it. He's been behind defenses the whole time in the league. I think he leads the NFL in plus-40-yard plays at this juncture, in a short period of time. Man, Richardson has the arm strength to really highlight that component of his game. We've got to keep a lid on it. If you don't keep a lid on it,you're going to have major problems playing anyone, but particularly a group like this in their venue. You've got to make them earn it. Can't allow yards in chunks.
4. WR Michael Pittman
Michael Pittman is a high volume catch guy, a front-side route runner, good versus zone, good versus man. Good in weighty moments, in chain-moving circumstances.
5. DC Gus Bradley
He's a ‘been there, done that’ guy. We’ve been in circumstances against him. Got a lot of respect for his approach to ball and how he works. Obviously they've had some issues in terms of stopping the run. But when you watch the tape, you really see Gus's intentions in terms of rectifying that. Man, they were really sound last week. They were in gaps. They were aggressive. I think that that's indicative of his defenses.
6. DE Kwity Paye/DT Grover Stewart
Up front Kwity Paye and Grover [Stewart], I think, provide the standard for them on the edge and on the inside, but they play a lot of people. They run waves of D linemen and rush men at you. That's one of the signatures of their attack.
7. LB Zaire Franklin
That's a homegrown talent. They took him late in the draft in 2018 just to watch his role evolve over his time there. Sixth-round pick that became a core teamer, that became a situational defender, that became a green dot defender. He's a high-volume tackler --160 tackles, 170 tackles in the last two years specifically. He's a really good blitzer. He's just good in space --vertical space, horizontal space. They employ the Tampa 2 that requires him to run down the middle of the field. He's good at that. He's good in three-deep and underneath coverage. He's just a well-rounded player that's a big-time catalyst for a lot of what goes on with them.
8. CB Kenny Moore
Another guy that's homegrown, that's played a lot of quality football there, that's a splash playmaker. He controls the perimeter play -- wide receiver screens, bubble screens and things of that nature that goes on out in that nickel space. His talents and his experience make that very difficult. He's very good in terms of fitting in the run game and blitzing. They ask him to blitz quite a bit. He's just got a well-rounded game. He's a veteran guy. He's got good vision. He turns up in a lot of circumstances.
9. S Nick Cross
Nick Cross in particular is making a bunch of plays. In the run game he's a high-volume tackler. He's a good cover man. He's oftentimes down covering tight ends and things of that nature and one-dimensional pass circumstances.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 9 things Mike Tomlin said about QB Anthony Richardson, Colts