Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tomlin Tuesday: "Troy Appears To Be Good To Go"

Troy Polamalu
The best news from head coach Mike Tomlin's news conference today is that "Troy appears to be good to go."  Tomlin said Troy Polamalu met with the team's neurosurgeon, passed a concussion test and should return to practice on Wednesday. 

That was the biggest news, but Tomlin also provided the following nuggets:
  • On the offensive line, guard Doug Legursky will miss "a number of weeks" after undergoing surgery on his dislocated toe. Tackle Marcus Gilbert and guard Chris Kemoeatu should return to practice. 
  • Wide receiver Mike Wallace has "a minor hamstring."  If Joey Porter's Pit Bulls recall correctly, Wallace first tweaked his hamstring during the Houston game, which may  have been why Antonio Brown became more of a target during the second half of the game vs. the Texans. Tomlin didn't appear to be overly concerned about Wallace today. As far as we're concerned, however, there's nothing minor about a "minor hamstring" for a speed receiver like Wallace.  
  • On defense, Casey Hampton, James Harrison and Aaron Smith will miss Sunday's game.  The status of nose tackle Chris Hoke, who sustained a stinger on Sunday, remains undetermined. Apparently Hoke lost strength in his left shoulder, and it needs to return before he is cleared to play.
Tomlin noted that "a lot has changed" since the Steelers played Arizona in the Super Bowl in 2008.

  • Defensively, Tomlin said, the Cardinals have "a very impressive" front seven: Defensive end Calais Campbell is a "high-pedigree young man," and nose tackle Dan Williams has been playing well.
  • Joey Porter and Clark Haggans -- we know about those guys.
  • Tomlin noted that rookie Patrick Peterson is "a high pedigree first-rounder from LSU doing some nice things at cornerback and as a punt returner."
  • On offense, the Cardinals feature running back Beanie Wells, whom Tomlin described as "a big, powerful man" with six touchdowns, 381 yards and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average. He is backed up by LaRod Stephens-Howling (formerly of Pitt) and veteran Chester Taylor.
  • As for Arizona's receivers, Tomiln said, "Larry Fitzgerald is one of the best in the world. In most instances, he will win his one-on-one matchups." Fellow receiver Early Doucet is the leading receiver on third downs. The Cardinals also have "a quality tight-end group," with Todd Heap, Jeff King and Rob Howsler.

Tomlin said he has no thoughts on the Harbaugh-Schwartz dispute at the end of Sunday's game between San Francisco and Detroit. Just an opinion here, but Joey Porter's Pit Bulls believe that when Jim Harbaugh wins a game, he should act like he's been there before. Just like a running back who scores a touchdown. 

That's it, Fort Pitt.