Mike Tomlin wants to turn up the heat on his Pittsburgh Steelers this summer.
The longtime Pittsburgh coach is looking to more finely tune his team -- mentally and physically -- and will hold training camp practices during the afternoon when they open up on July 24 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
"Wasn't hot enough last year," Tomlin told reporters Thursday upon the conclusion of the team's mandatory minicamp. "To be quite honest with you, heat aids in the development of physical conditioning. It makes it a more stressful environment, and that's what we go to camp for. We go to camp to get better, and if it's a little bit more miserable late in the day, man, that's what we want."
Entering his 19th season at the Steelers' helm, Tomlin is looking to improve upon a 10-7 showing from last year in which Pittsburgh lost its playoff opener for the fifth consecutive time in as many appearances.
Perhaps a change in approach will pay off during the long regular season ahead.
It definitely falls in line with an offseason of change for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is replacing its leading rusher from last year, Najee Harris, with rookie Kaleb Johnson. It traded away its leading wide receiver (George Pickens) and acquired DK Metcalf. And, in a move that has garnered headlines for months, signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a lengthy wait to replace Russell Wilson (New York Giants) and Justin Fields (New York Jets).
So far so good, as the only veteran missing from minicamp this week was All-Pro pass rusher T.J. Watt, who's looking for a contract extension.
Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that he would've liked Watt to be in attendance, but he wasn't surprised or overly concerned by the seven-time Pro Bowler's absence.
He underscored that stance Thursday and his belief that the Steelers and their defensive star would come to an agreement eventually.
"I'm optimistic we're going to get things done, because we've got two sides that want to get things done. When that's going to occur, I do not know," Tomlin said. "There certainly has been communication with him and the communication between he and I."
One would hope Watt and the Steelers will have something resolved by the time the Steelers hit the hot Latrobe afternoons. If not, the heat and the pressure for the Steelers will be turned up in more ways than one.
