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Steelers Notes: Tomlin Trying To Create Normalcy

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2009

TAMPA - Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is trying to make the biggest event of his players' lives into something less mystical.

The Steelers arrived in Tampa on Monday to prepare for Sunday's game against Arizona, and they will be interviewed daily by hundreds of media members, locked up in their hotel rooms for a week, and take buses to and from their Tampa practice facility.

"The Super Bowl I was a part of in San Diego a few years back, we were on a one-week schedule," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who was a defensive backs coach for the Bucs during their 2002 Super Bowl season. "A lot of hustle and bustle. The two-week schedule I think works in our favor to create normalcy.

"We had an installation practice week last week at our place and based on our schedule, being the visiting team, we go second with our media obligations. It has allowed us to pretty much maintain a normal schedule in terms of how we approach our business here this week."

Tomlin said Pittsburgh will take over the University of South Florida's athletic facilities this week. The team will use USF's practice field, meeting rooms, weight rooms and everything on campus to prepare for Arizona.

Pittsburgh defeated Seattle, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL three years ago, and players still on the Steelers' roster hope to use that experience to their advantage.

"We've been through this once before. We know the circus to expect the next couple of days," TE Heath Miller said. "At the same time, we got to put our work in here during the week. You can't allow yourself to be distracted. You have to remain focused on the main goal."

BIG BEN'S TIME FOR REDEMPTION

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger did not have a Super Bowl performance to remember three years ago, but the win still was memorable.

Roethlisberger completed nine of 21 passes for 123 yards and two interceptions during Pittsburgh's victory against Seattle in Super Bowl XL, and needless to say, he is hoping for a better performance this week.

"The first time around, my play didn't help the team to win. It almost helped us lose it, but it didn't happen," Roethlisberger said. "This time, I'm not going to say it's all on my shoulders, obviously, but if I turn the ball over and play poorly, it's not going to help our offense and help us win this game."

Even though Roethlisberger struggled, his teammates are confident he has developed into a more complete quarterback.

"I think he's just a more mature quarterback," DE Brett Keisel said. "He doesn't feel as much pressure on his shoulders as he did at that time. I just think he's a little more confident quarterback."

TOMLIN GIVES RAHEEM THUMBS UP

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can identify with the challenges newly hired Bucs coach Raheem Morris is about to endure.

After serving as Tampa Bay's defensive backs coach from 2001-05, Tomlin was Minnesota's defensive coordinator for one season before becoming Pittsburgh's head coach in 2007.

Tomlin's team has excelled in his second year as head coach and he is confident Morris can be successful despite his limited coaching experience.

"Raheem is a great, natural leader," Tomlin said. "A great communicator. A great student of the game. He's going to do very well here. The guys he works for [Glazer's] will understand what he brings to the table from that standpoint.

"He's a very unselfish guy. He's going to put those that he leads in front of him, making sure they get to where they need to get to be successful. It does not surprise me in the least bit that he is where he is today. It's an opportunity that's well earned and well-deserved."

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