Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was back home in Virginia this week to take part in the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation weekend and he took time out of his schedule to sit down for an interview with Bruce Radar of WAVY-TV.
Tomlin was asked during the interview to comment on rookie safety Shamarko Thomas, who went to Ocean Lakes High School in Hampton Roads.
“I always love the Hampton Roads guys and Shamarko is an easy guy to love,” said Tomlin. When you turn on the Syracuse tape from the last few years he plays with a passion and enthusiasm we place a value on, not only in Pittsburgh but in Hampton Roads.”
As far as the 2013 Steelers team being a mix of veteran and young players, Tomlin weighed in on that topic as well.
“We\’re excited about the mix of talent that we have both young and old for this year,” said Tomlin. “Really, if you look at it, it\’s probably year two of that type of a mix for us. Obviously we intend to do better than we did a year ago. We\’re just really excited. I like the emergence of some new veteran leaders and I also like the emergence of some young emerging stars, some guys that we are going to be counting on heavily of course in 2013.”
As usual, Tomlin also praised the division that the Steelers play in as he thinks it makes them a much more prepared team as a result.
“We love the rough and tumble AFC North,” said Tomlin. “We live by the motto \’iron sharpens iron.\’ Obviously we get in a playoff situation, everybody\’s going to be credible and tough and we believe playing in our division helps us and prepares us for that.”
