The Pomp And Joe Show
12PM - The Mike Tomlin Press Conference and our reaction 12-16-2025; Brian Batko joins and dives into the Mike Tomlin presser Tuesday
16 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What key insights did Mike Tomlin share about the Steelers' performance?
Here we go. Our friend Bob Pompeiani isn't just a cardboard cutout. He's a real live TV host in his spare time, and he's getting ready to hand the mic over to Mike Tomlin. The Detroit Lions, one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL. They're in a world, and I mean a world, of trouble right now. They are two games, maybe a game and a half, I guess. I can never figure out ties.
out of a playoff spot, maybe two and a half. I don't know how to figure this out. Limits? The Packers are 9-4-1. The Lions are 8-6. So at any rate, they're in a world of trouble. With three games left, they need to win this game.
Chapter 2: How does Mike Tomlin view the challenges faced by the Detroit Lions?
The Steelers really don't need to win, honestly. You know, it would be great, and it might mean the difference between them winning a playoff game and not, to clinch before that finale against the Ravens, But right now, the Steelers could lose their next two. And even if the Ravens win their next two, it still comes down to the final game. Here's the coach.
As always, I'll start with a quick roundup on our last performance from last night. As I said after the game, you know, I thought we had a clear... path to engineering victory. Certainly they had established a certain personality during their four-game win streak. A major component of that was their run game, as I mentioned. They had averaged about 192 a game over the previous five games.
And so certainly we had to minimize that. But it's just more than just stopping the run on specific downs per se. It's a collective approach. And I thought we did a nice job of minimizing that mode of producing victory for them, not only with the way that we played the run, but with the way we ran the ball offensively, the way we possessed the ball offensively.
Us being aggressive on fourth down plays, particularly early on, was a strategic component of minimizing their run. Us getting off on third down offensively, was a major component defensively of us minimizing their run. They weren't able to get a new set of downs very often and established a rhythm that it produced a 192 per game.
And certainly we thought if we could do that, we would position ourselves to maybe take the ball away. Had a big takeaway early on from Samuel and certainly had other opportunities that didn't come to fruition throughout. We needed to take care of the football, and we certainly did that.
It wasn't easy sledding there, particularly early, but as we found our rhythm and we were able to get some things going and produce some touchdowns. As the road gets narrow, you've got to score touchdowns. Field goals don't necessarily get you out of stadiums, particularly as you're battling for playoff position and people are in the same mentality doing similar things.
And so I thought our ability to score touchdowns in the red area was big, was a major component of it as well. Can't say enough about the many contributions that we got from people who had an opportunity to have expanded roles. As I often say though, there's a fine line between being a pro bowler and a backup in this business. I just see it through that lens.
These guys are at the tip top of the food chain in terms of what they do. And usually one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. And there were certainly examples worthy of recognition. We talked a lot about it last night. Can't say enough about Dylan and what he was able to do for us at left tackle, for example.
Kenny Gainwell did an awesome job like he always does when called upon in an expanded role. Asante getting an opportunity to start and playing a lot of football for us. Guys like Herbick, although he's been called upon a lot in the past and certainly has delivered. Guys like he and Jack Sawyer had opportunities to play expanded roles as well. But it's just, it comes with this time of year.
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Chapter 3: What strategies did the Steelers implement to minimize the Lions' run game?
He certainly has been an asset to us, particularly in terms of defending and stopping the run and anticipating what we're going to face this week. Man, that'll be big. Some other guys who are working their way back. Pete's still in the protocol, so we'll let the protocol be our guide in terms of his availability. James Pierre was limited with a calf last week. We'll see where that leads us.
I got no new news on TJ. I'm sure I will a little later in the week, but I hadn't heard any new updates regarding his availability or what that looks like as he starts to work his way back to us. this week. And so no real news there. I'm certain that we have a lot of bumps and bruises associated with play. That's the nature of this thing. We'll work hard and smart.
And sometimes that means being inclusive. And so we probably got a high intensity walkthrough on our menu tomorrow in an effort to have as many people participate as we can as opposed to running and practicing. But again, that's not outside the ordinary this time of year. You do what you need to do in an effort to get the collective ready.
and also get them to the stadium in as good a physical condition as you can get them as well. You certainly hope that there's a cumulative effect of the daily work that we've had over the course of this journey that could be an asset to us that we can summons up when we get pressed on a short week like this week. Now I'll give some time and attention to the Detroit Lions.
Man, they just got a lot of respect. for this group and how they go about their business. They're a competitive group. They're a physical group in all three phases. They're aggressive not only in play but schematically. Got to tip my cap to Coach Campbell and company for that. You see their personality on tape. I'll start first on defense.
They've certainly absorbed a lot of attrition in recent weeks, particularly in the secondary, first at corner and then more recently at safety. But they've also done some things in terms of acquiring talent. to help fortify those depths, some NFL players, some veterans. Much like we went out and acquired Pep and Doug and others, Asante, that have helped us out.
More recently, they've acquired KZ, a former Steeler, that I'm sure is chopping at the bit to be a contributor to them. Arthur Millett, also a former Steeler. And so what they've put on tape and who they've played on tape in recent weeks might not necessarily be who they play. In this game. And so we got a lot of respect for that. They're aggressive schematically. They play a lot of man to man.
They get after you with a variety of blitz packages and so forth. Can't say enough about their linebacker tandem. Very versatile. They play in all circumstances. Did a lot of research on Jack Campbell. We got a lot of Iowa guys in our program and got a lot of respect for who he is as a football man and how he plays and his relationship with the game and his natural leadership skills.
That was very evident. going to Iowa and participating in their pro day efforts and getting to know those guys, taking them to dinner. He is certainly a natural leader and football player and man. And it appears from the outside that those characteristics have transferred to the professional level. He's doing similar things for the Lions that he did at the University of Iowa.
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Chapter 4: How important is scoring touchdowns in playoff positioning according to Tomlin?
We'll be challenged and challenged in a big way in that regard. But again, it's December. The road's getting narrow, such is life in the big show, man. And we're all happy, obviously, to be a component of that. But we'll narrow our focus, man. And understand that we pay respect for this big game by living these moments day to day and having great days.
It started for us early this morning or late last night, depending on your perspective as a staff. And it'll continue with the guys as they get into the building tomorrow in an effort to move forward towards Sunday. I'll pause and open up for questions.
You mentioned that this time of year games like this are wide. You were interested in running Aaron Rodgers. He has said kind of much the same thing. Have you noticed anything palpable about him or anything detectable in these last couple games? Any difference in how he prepares or plays or the look in his eye, anything like that?
No, nothing relative to his process or his prep process. But it's just value, value that you can measure, value that you can't measure. And having a guy that's been there and done that, it benefits him. It benefits us as a collective, I think it raises the tide for the collective. It's just certain conversations and things that you don't even worry about.
We had a significant possession down late in that game and he affords us an opportunity to run a misdirection pass. And you don't even have to tell him, hey, throw an incompletion or take a sack because we want the clock running. He knows that. He's lived that life.
And so that's just one small example, but there's countless examples of benefits of having a guy with his level of experience, the quality of that experience, particularly this time of year as the road gets narrow.
After the game, Aaron was talking about some of the so-called cast-offs that made significant impacts for you. What have you learned over the years about what it takes to position midseason additions for success?
Why is this specific group enabled to make an impact quickly? You know, I'm never surprised by that, to be honest with you. That's why we have cliches like the standard is the standard. One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. It's not if, it's when, as it pertains to injury in our business.
And so if you're in a position like mine, you better work your tail off to ready each and every man that's a part of the program and have that urgency daily. And I certainly do, and we do as a staff. But those are the guys that are deserving of the credit. I'll never ask guys to be patient. I'll ask them to work while they wait. And a lot of guys have done that.
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Chapter 5: What does Tomlin say about the readiness of players for upcoming challenges?
They certainly have a different skill set. Gibbs having the top end speed that he does and Montgomery having the pick and vision and interior running talents that he does. And so they complement each other very well. But it's almost disrespectful to not acknowledge their talents as individuals. And I think any tandem that's really good, I think, has a couple of individuals in it that can do it.
And they certainly can and do. They need no endorsement from me. I think they, as a collective, they got 21 rushing touchdowns this year. And so we better come and we better come ready.
You know, sometimes it's just based on matchup.
What's the best matchup for us relative to opponents? The Dolphins, for example, don't have a lot of depth at corner. Minka plays corner or nickel for them. And so it was probably more advantageous for us to play in three wide receiver sets and get Minka out of a more natural position. into a less natural position.
And so there's a lot of variables into that discussion from a strategic standpoint. And we answer those and formulate those plans week in and week out. And so they're subject to change.
You elevated MBS from the practice squad. I'm sorry? You elevated or signed MBS to the active roster. What have you kind of seen and learned about him over the last month or so that he's been in the building?
You know, he certainly is a talented guy. He can run. For a taller guy, he can get in and out of break points. And he's got some NFL playmaking experience that's been an asset to us.
been in the facility yet and whether or not he can be cleared to practice? Do you expect him to be at practice this week?
I don't know if he's been in the facility yet because I've been in a dark room in the back. He might be in the facility as we speak. And so I don't have a lot of the answers to that. And I was just trying to be transparent when I said I didn't have any new information as I stood here today.
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Chapter 6: What is Mike Tomlin's opinion on Jack Campbell and his impact?
Do we have that whole back-and-forth yet limits with the two questions in a row? And Tomlin just, he didn't lose it at all. He just said, you're stressing me out. This was fantastic.
You're stressing me out there.
Here it is. You know, I think a component of it is continuity.
And when you're infusing new people in, you don't have a lot of continuity. Certainly over the last several weeks, we've established some continuity, particularly on the back end. For example, when we moved Jalen to free safety full-time and acquired Doug and some of that stuff, that began the continuity. And to have that discussion without continuity is not very realistic.
And so we certainly have gotten better, but you expect to as a leader, and you also expect it to continue.
Big part of the process to when you guys use more 11 personnel when you don't normally or when you switch from using a lot of single high to double high safety looks earlier in the season. You jumped the size of the ball there.
One time you said 11, and then another time you said one high or two high.
On either side of the ball, does that continuity help when it comes to trying to make those switches in season when you guys try to establish an identity?
There's a lot of layers to that question. You're stressing me out there. I answered you.
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Chapter 7: How does Tomlin assess the performance of his pass catchers and their development?
Why do you question it?
Well, he is real. But then I really do wonder how could we end up even making Rudolph feel even more further alive, Gil, is what I'm trying to do.
Let me bring this back to a Steelers topic real quick. Why didn't, given the time of year, instead of cast-offs, why didn't Aaron Rodgers refer to his pass catchers as an island of misfit toys?
That would have been better. With Charlie in the box. Yeah, the Charlie in the box. And the train with square wheels. Very sad.
The cowboy that rides the ostrich.
An ostrich riding cowboy, Brian.
How about the bird that doesn't fly but swims?
That's Marquez Valdez Scantling, for sure. The box guy is Kenny Gainwell, I think. It also was hilarious, the comedic timing of him reeling off these cast-offs, which I hope you have that clip. Maybe you can play it, but... Like, he goes, Connor Hayward, he's an afterthought.
Yeah, an afterthought.
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