In the aftermath of giving up a season-high 29 points and allowing 10-straight third down conversions in a win over the Eagles Sunday, you'd think the Steelers might show some concern about their defense.
But Mike Tomlin largely took the Alfred E. Neuman approach to those issues Tuesday, essentially saying, 'What, me worry?'
While acknowledging the Steelers (4-0) have some things they need to clean up as they prepare to face the Browns (4-1) Sunday at Heinz Field, Tomlin said some of the issues in the team's 38-29 win over the Eagles were simply a matter of Philadelphia making some good plays.
He was particularly complimentary to Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and wide receiver Travis Fulgham.
Wentz completed 20 of 35 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, with 10 of those completions going to Fulgham, a 2019 sixth-round draft pick of the Lions who had been released by both that team and the Packers this year before landing with the Eagles.
"Some of the issues aren’t issues. Some of the issues are (Fulgham) was making some combat catches, and you’ve got to acknowledge that," Tomlin said. "A couple of those conversions were thrown into tight coverage and they were great throws. That one down the middle of the field, we were in two-deep coverage and Mike Hilton was in close proximity to (Fulgham) and he made a combat catch down the middle of the field running blind. You’ve got to respect that. He made a circus, jump catch in front of our bench with Steven Nelson draped all over him and challenging the throw.
"It’s not always something that you have to fix. Sometimes, it’s just an acknowledgement that they work. They have a plan and they have quality players that are capable of making plays. Sometimes, they’re going to make a play and you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and fight on."
But the Steelers are allowing opponents to convert 50 percent of their third downs, which is tied with the Seahawks for the fourth-worst percentage in the NFL going into Tuesday night's game between the Bills and Titans.
That's the bad news. The good is that it hasn't seemed to affect the Steelers, or Seahawks for that matter. The Steelers are 4-0 for the first time since 1979, while the Seahawks are off to a 5-0 start.
That's the main thing about which Tomlin is concerned, especially after the Steelers struggled out of the gate last season, losing three of their first four and four of their first five games.
Because of that, he's not all that concerned with the third-down conversion rate, the 12.9 yards per catch the team is allowing -- the worst in the NFL -- or anything else that's negative.
He has faith that the cornerback trio of Joe Haden, Nelson and Mike Hilton along with safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds will be one of the top groups in the league.
"I just attribute it to being a four-game sample size," Tomlin said. "Keep watching. We’ll continue to write our story, particularly as it pertains to comparing it to a 16-game body of work from a year ago. If you took a sample size from our body of work last year at this time through four games, it was miserable I think. And so we’re very much in development. I like their overall trajectory of our group and the corners. We’re just going to keep working."
Part of the Steelers' issues deal with game script. Because they've been ahead in the second half of all of their games, opponents have had to abandon the running game almost completely and just throw the football. It's added up to more sacks -- the Steelers lead the NFL with 20 to go along with a league-best 50 quarterback hits -- and some interceptions -- they're tied for third with six -- but some plays being made against them, as well.
Opponents are completing just 59.4 percent of their passes against the Steelers, the second-best percentage in the league. And they're only allowing 237.5 yards passing per game.
But those good numbers have been offset by the third-down conversions.
While some of those are attributable to the offense making a good play, some are unforced errors, such as blown assignments.
Tomlin has faith that as the season wears on, his secondary will make more big plays than it allows. And he doesn't feel that acknowledging the Eagles made some plays against that defense is making excuses.
"I’m not into talking up anything. If you’re a professional and you have a desire to be at your best, you’ll continually comb through things in an effort to get better for your next time out," Tomlin said. "That’s what we’re doing. I’m just acknowledging that some of the plays don’t require an adjustment either in personnel or technique or schematics. Sometimes, you’ve got guys on the other side who are working hard and performing at a good level. Some of that happened on Sunday and you’ve got to tip your cap to Carson Wentz, tip you cap to Fulgham."
• Tomlin also said, as reported here Monday, that center Maurkice Pouncey (foot) and wide receiver Diontae Johnson (back) have a good chance to play on Sunday against the Browns. He was a little less sure about guard David DeCastro (abdomen). He also said fullback Derek Watt (hamstring) and linebacker Marcus Allen (foot) have a chance to play this week. Both missed the game against the Eagles.