OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On if it's frustrating not scoring 30 points per game)

"No, not really. We're trying to win games. We know where we're at – ultimately, we want to be playing our best football at the end of the year. Numbers – I always tell you guys [and] I'll say it again – we'll count them up at the end. We'll count them up at the end and see where we're at from a numbers standpoint. Right now, we know what situation we're in – we're trying to do the right things to win football games. That's really our focus. Our focus has never been – we're trying to score every time – but our focus is not on numbers, it's on trying to score. One percentage I know that's 100% correct: [if] you score more points than the other team, you win. That's my focus as an offensive coach, as an offensive play caller – that's what I'm always thinking of."

(On if he's ever faced a coach that he knows as well as Mike Tomlin, considering their time together in Pittsburgh)

"Not really. Mike [Tomlin] is a unique, special guy – that's all you can really say. I learned so much from him. I can't have more respect for the coach and the human being than I have for [coach Mike Tomlin]. He's that unique. It was enjoyable to play for him, it's motivational to play for him. I know you guys see the interviews – that's really him. The guys that know him around here – that's really him. He's a special guy. [He] taught me a lot. I catch myself saying some of his words sometimes as I'm coaching, so that's how important of a piece he was for me. I've just got so much respect for him as a coach but the man – it's unique, man, it's unique to have played for Mike [Tomlin]. I'm happy that I've done that because it was a unique experience for me and I learned a lot from that."

(On the biggest lesson Mike Tomlin imparted on him)

"[There's] not [an] individual lesson because you get it every day – you get what you see on TV every day. As a locker room, as a player, that's what you want – you want people like that leading you. He's a unique man. He's a unique football coach. It's no surprise that he's had that much success – I've seen him work. I've seen him when times are good, coming to work and how he reacts; I've seen him when times [weren't] so good, coming to work and how he reacts. I've learned a lot from him – I've learned a lot from how to handle yourself in certain situations. I wish I could articulate myself the way that he [does] – I'm failing at that."

(On the production from this year's rookie class)

"I think they're all getting better – they're all getting better because they're getting live game reps. Ko [Kieft] and Cade [Otton] – man, that's a tough position – tight end, rookies, I don't care where they [were] drafted or what round, they normally don't come in and play as much as these two [are] playing. But you can trust it – you can trust them early in the year. I trust those guys that they're going to go out there and do the right thing. That says more than anything from a production standpoint, from that standpoint. I trust that they can be in the huddle and do the right thing. I think the more reps that Rachaad [White] gets, you'll see his skillset show more and more. But these guys earned it – they earned it. We didn't give them anything. Those guys got an opportunity to prove themselves and they've done that. We look forward to them to continuously keep getting better."

(On how different the Steelers are without LB T.J. Watt)

"Any time that caliber of player is not on the grass, it's different. Obviously as a competitor, you always want to go against the best – but he's a unique player. He's one of the best in the world. He's one of the best in the world. What I love about him is that he makes timely plays. It's not just plays – it's timely plays. You cut the tape on, whenever they need a play, he finds a way to make a play. That's a unique thing. That's a unique thing for players. A lot of people can make a play here and there – he makes them on time. That's a unique thing. That's what makes players like him unique and special."

(On short-yardage conversions)

"We've just got to do a better job. We've got to do a better job of understanding the situation from an awareness standpoint. We're getting what we want – throughout the year, I just think of all those situations. I think we put it on the ground twice – that's just bad. You've got to be able to convert, especially those fourth-and-1s – from an offensive coach, who, the head coach gives you that trust in you [in] fourth-and-1 that you'll find a way to get it. We came up short a few times this year. That's really the disappointing part of it. We'll correct everything from a schematic standpoint to make sure we're always right, but that's kind of disappointing because we're in a good spot in those downs and we've found the ways not to execute and not to get that job done. That's something that we look forward to being better at."

(On if QB Tom Brady doesn't want to run quarterback sneaks)

"That really had nothing to do with Tom. That has something to do with how we feel and what we think we need to do moving forward in those situations."

(On if there's anything that the team is doing differently from last season that may be contributing to the lower point totals)

"No, I just think it's a different team. It's a really different team when you really look at it. [There's] a lot of different people in that huddle than was there in the past. All the things that you're saying, I think we're doing well. I think we're close to playing really good football. If that means that we're scoring a lot of points like we've done in the past, we'll see – that's why I said we'll add them up at the end. But I think we're close – man, I just feel as though we're close. The more we can get everybody out there – I just want us to be out there because we're always trying to score. I think we're doing a lot of things at a high level that, statistically, no one is looking at. I think we're protecting the football, I think we're getting better on third down – obviously we've got to play better in the red zone. Those are all things that – as you go throughout a year, you're fine-tuning anyway. We're just trying to keep fine-tuning, find ways to win, and just make sure at the end of the year [that] we're playing as good [of] football as we can play. But we want to get there early – we want to get there early. We understand [on] some things, we haven't produced like we have in the past – but we're just trying to win football games. If we can continue to win football games, I believe that stuff will come with the work that the guys put in. The more time that we spend together as this group, the more we can communicate and be in situations where something [doesn't] go right and then we can talk about it and we all can grow from it. I think that's where we're at as an offense. I do believe that we're close, but that means nothing. Close and getting it done [are] a long way away [from each other]. We'll see, we'll keep working – but I love this group [and] I love where we're at."

(On his assessment of G Luke Goedeke and C Robert Hainsey)

"I think what helps us most is the situations they were in early in the year. You open up the year in Cowboys Stadium – [as] loud as it can get, [as] tough of a situation as you can get. You come up the next week, you're going to New Orleans – it's as tough a situation as you get. Those guys opened the year up with two weeks where they couldn't hear each other – it was all non-verbal communication. The job that they [did] in those situations, [it] was beautiful to watch them operate. Did they play perfectly? No, but they played well enough for us to win [those] football games. I think those moments, those times that we had together early, [are] going to help us as we get throughout this year, as we get going throughout this year. I think as a whole we'll begin to start playing better – I'm just waiting for it to happen. I'm excited for where we're at, the way we practice, the way we go about our work every day. I'm extremely excited about that."

(On how difficult it is for a rookie like Steelers QB Kenny Pickett to adjust to the NFL)

"It's as hard [of] a job as you can be in, right? We talk about that – [it's] the hardest position in sports. It's hard…I evaluated him, he can play. He can really play. That's just part of being in this league – at some point, you've got to be a rookie. At some point, Tom [Brady] was a rookie, at some point Blaine [Gabbert], Kyle [Trask], everybody that plays this position is going to be a rookie. That [doesn't] mean you can't have success – a lot of rookies come in and have a lot of success. This kid, just from an evaluation standpoint, looks pretty good on tape to me."

(On what he likes about Pickett)

"Everything. I just think he can really play."

(On what is difficult about going up against Head Coach Todd Bowles' defense)

"It's tough to say for me, not going through it [against] Todd. But Todd is so multiple, right? Todd is multiple. Todd is a smart human being, he understands football. He's always going to be sound from a defensive standpoint. That's the thing that makes Todd exceptional – having the ability to be multiple, be sound at what you do, and have the awareness and the wherewithal to teach all of the things so the defense can get it. He's an exceptional coach – he's just exceptional at what he does."

(On how patient QB Tom Brady is with the amount of new players on this year's team)

"I think he's been great. He's 45 though, right? I lose patience at 42. He loses patience sometimes but that's part of it, that's what we've got. He understands that, though. That's the amazing thing about Tom. I tell you guys all the time – when you really see him upset, most of the time it's at himself. That's the thing that people don't understand. He's a football junkie. He knows all the nuances of football, he knows how every situation is going to be – he's been in these situations before where he's played with people that may have been younger around him. He understands everything about the game so that always gives us an opportunity. [There's] nothing that's new to him – he understands and has been through everything."

PASS GAME COORDINATOR/INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH LARRY FOOTE

(On sack production)

"Well, when you get a lot of sacks – on the back end, they've got to do their job. It's fun to play in a Todd Bowles system because everybody gets an opportunity to get after the quarterback. We line everybody up everywhere, so guys get excited – they look forward to Thursday mornings when we put the third-down packages in and see if their number is called. Some people gripe a little bit if their number is not called as much, but it's fun playing in this system."

(On how his experience in Pittsburgh shaped who he is as a coach today)

"I was raised right. Coming into this league, everybody knows that [the Steelers are] a top organization. I was fortunate to go into a locker room with a lot of solid vets who showed me the way, showed me how to be a pro on the field and off the field. I owe a lot of credit – a lot of my success goes to those guys and just that culture that they taught me. Hard-nosed. I remember Bill Cowher back in the day – and you had to play the game the right way and that's how I was raised – I'm still leaning on that type of mindset to this day."

(On coaching against Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin)

"I've got to beat him. I've got to beat him because I know when we see each other, we're going to talk a little trash. I know how competitive he is, I've been telling my guys, 'Trust me, he's going to have his guys ready to play.' I've got the utmost respect for him, but he's one of those guys – you've got to beat him because we're going to talk trash when we see each other."

(On Steelers QB Kenny Pickett)

"He [doesn't] look like a rookie. He looks solid. You can tell he can get the ball out of his hands. When his initial read is not there, he can get to Plan B in a hurry. So, mainly, when you watch quarterbacks, when they can do that, you know they can grow – they can process is what we like to say in this league and he definitely has that."

(On how sacks have changed since when he was a player)

"I mean, back in those days, all [my coaches] said let's knock the quarterback out and [you] can't do that [anymore], you have to try to go for the ball. I understand now – you know, as a coach and I'm a little older – what the league is trying to do. Consumers, they want their quarterback playing and trying to make the game better, but we have to protect those guys. I try to tell my guys, [quarterbacks] drive this game. I'm part old-school, but we want the revenue, want the game to keep growing, and we need those guys upright. But we're good athletes – all the athletes on the defensive side of the ball – so we can adjust to those rules, but it's tough. Sometimes it's going to happen, but our mindset around here is: we're going to respond. If we see some yellow laundry out there, we're just going to line up and play again."

(On how to coach players to still be physical and competitive, and still protect the quarterback)

"Our mindset is: respond. Respond. You know, good call, bad call, call a little questionable, you've got to line up and play again – that's football. You [have] to just get ready for the next play. If you're harping on it, it's going to carry over and you're going to get beat. But that's part of the game – it goes both sides. If you look at the end of the season, it's going to ebb and flow, and it's the team that can respond to adversity or whatever's going on that will be the last one standing."

(On what is clicking for OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka)

"I don't know. I [saw] last week, [outside linebackers coach] Bob Sanders taught him that spin move, and he executed. No, but he's got to keep growing. I'm glad he – that was a nice move. I've seen it on ESPN as one of the top rushes of the week. But he's just got to keep growing, build his confidence up. We know he [has] all the athleticism and he's just got to go out there and perform."

(On if there is any added significance to facing the team that he won two Super Bowls with)

"It's great going back home. You know, that's a special place for me. Everybody's been giving me stuff – 'Don't walk in the wrong locker room' – but I've got a lot of buddies still over there. Growing up, you want to beat your buddy, your brother – so, it's added motivation for me because I want to beat those guys. It's going to be great going back home to Heinz Field – well not Heinz Field anymore, I forgot the new name – but it's a great place to play at, a great football atmosphere. A lot of my friends and family from Detroit are going to the game, and it's a special place."

(On if there is a phrase from Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin that still sticks with him to this day)

"That's crazy – me and Byron [Leftwich] always laugh because you always find yourself saying one of those Mike Tomlin quotes, and since I'm here, I wanted to hit one of them: 'Well, obviously.' But, you catch yourself a lot of times – 'Take them to deep water and let's drown them' – and some of the other phrases that just stuck with us."

QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

(On working with young players on offense)

"I think it's always tough to put too much on the rookies. It's just a lot to…I just remember when I was a rookie, it is a very challenging time. You just don't have the experience to kind of make all the right decisions. So, when you play with veteran players there's a degree of confidence you have just because, even though you may not have talked about something, they'll still do it basically the way that you want it. It may not be exactly right but pretty close. Rookies, it's hard. There's a huge learning curve. It's just important and [Offensive Coordinator] Byron [Leftwich] does a great job of making sure when they are in there, they're doing things that we're all confident in them doing, and not putting people in positions to not do well. You've got to do the best you can do. Every team has young players, every team has veteran players, every team has guys who haven't played much. It's what everyone deals with, you've just got to do the best you can do. You wish that you'd have a veteran group that could play every play for 16 weeks, 17 weeks, but [that's] not the reality. The guys we have in there are doing a good job, and we're going to keep pushing and keep trying to keep the pressure on everybody to try to make us a better football team."

(On if there is frustration with the offense not being as prolific as it had been the past two seasons)

"I think there's always a degree of frustration in football, period. You want it to go right all the time – it doesn't do that. They're really good on other side of the ball – they're forcing you to do things you're not so good at. We're trying to win the game and we're trying to improve. It's not always going to be your best quarter of football every single time out. You've just got to have patience and you've got to do your best to stay focused and try to execute as well as you can based on the circumstances."

(On what to expect from a defense led by Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin)

"You know, he's just very good, very sound. He's a great coach. He's been a great coach since he got into the league. His guys always play hard. They've got some great players, always have. It's a great fanbase, great stadium, tough place to play. So, it's a big challenge for us. They didn't play the way they are capable of at Buffalo; I'm sure they'll be ready to go. I know they have some injuries they're dealing with, we're dealing with some injuries. We've got to put a lot into it and we've got to go out there and do our best."

(On how to find a happy medium with the way the game is officiated in terms of protecting quarterbacks)

"No one wants any missed calls. You don't want a missed pass interference call, you don't want a missed holding call, you don't want a missed illegal contact call. They don't want a call on them. I don't know, we're trying to eliminate every missed penalty? Every batter wants every strike called perfectly. I don't know how you do that."

(More on officiating)

"I think there's tough rules, there's tough calls, it's tough enforcing it, t's tough for the players, it's tough for everyone. I think the game has changed – I alluded to that earlier in the year. There's a lot of things that I see that are probably pretty challenging to officiate. They're probably challenging to play defense with. I don't have all the answers to all those [things]. I don't think the referees are robots. I don't think they're trying to get it wrong. I don't think they're always going to get it right. I feel bad for a guy when they get called for something that probably shouldn't be that way. Sometimes you've just got to shake it off. I've lost Super Bowls because I thought they missed a call. So I don't know, you go, 'Alright, well, you're going to get some and you're going to not get some.' You hope they don't come up, but they come up. It's sports. The fact that everyone wants to talk about it like it's something new – it's always been like that. You just do the best you can do. You try to keep it in your hands the best way you can, and if you get an unfortunate thing that happens it's unfortunate, it really is. I don't think anyone's trying to scheme anyone out of that, it's just the way sports are. I miss throws, refs miss calls, but we try to do the best we can do and when they don't go your way you just complain to the refs like I do."

(On how close the offense is to being where he wants it to be)

"I think we're just going to work at it every day and get to be as good as we can possibly be. What we can be compared to other years, I don't think that's what our goal is. We've got to maximize our potential. There's a different team, a different group of guys. I don't think any of us have played to the level we're capable of. We're going to keep pushing at it and try to put a little pressure on each other to bring the best out of us."

(On C Robert Hainsey saying he's starting to see the field the way Brady does)

"I like his confidence. I see it pretty good, that's one of my strengths, so he might need a little humble pie. No, he's doing a great job. Yeah, he's doing a great job. I love him being in there, and he's really stepped into a tough position to play. I'm proud of him for his effort and his commitment. It means a lot to him; I think everyone feels that from him, how much he cares about what he's doing. That's important when you're with a group of guys that are…we all put a lot into it. You want to see young players, especially guys like that, that really accept the responsibility that comes with being a starter at that really important position on the team, like center. [I'm] just really proud of what he's accomplished thus far."

(On if there is significance to him wearing a shirt with pictures of WR Chris Godwin)

"Nope. I just saw it in my locker. It's warm. It was raining out there and you look for the heavy cut. It was clean. It's a good shirt."

(On other teammates wearing shirts with his face on it)

"I know, they always do. I love…for those guys, I'll do anything."

(On which teammate would be the best pickleball player)

"Let's see. Mike [Evans] would be really good with that length, power. The good players – it's really a finesse sport. Not a lot of finesse guys in the locker room. We've got a bunch of bulldogs in there. So, I'd say Mike. Yeah, Mike. 'Gronk' (Rob Gronkowski) would be really good, too, but he's not in there."

(On if he is good at pickleball)

"I'm alright. For a 45-year-old with average athleticism, I'm decent."

(On the Steelers' defense)

"They're very good. They play very sound. It's a hard-nosed team. I've played the Steelers a lot – a very physical style of ball. Cam Heyward is one of the great players I've ever played against. Myles Jack, Devin Bush – a really good group of linebackers. They've got some good pass-rushers. The secondary, they're a little banged up, we're just trying to figure out who's going to play. But Minkah [Fitzpatrick], I think Minkah is a phenomenal player. [Terrell] Edmunds is a really good player. They're going to challenge us, they're going to be sound, they're going to be in the right position and they're going to make us earn it."

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