While Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin refused to answer any questions Monday about the future of veteran safety Troy Polamalu at the annual owner’s meetings in Arizona, he evidently did reveal that he’s not opposed to making at least one change in the secondary in 2015.
According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Tomlin said he wouldn’t be opposed to moving Mike Mitchell to strong safety next season.
Tomlin said he wouldnt be opposed moving mike mitchell to strong safety
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) March 23, 2015
Mitchell, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract last offseason as an unrestricted free agent, didn’t have a great first season with the Steelers that included him predominantly playing the free safety spot.
While Mitchell did record 71 total tackles in his first season with the Steelers, he only recorded three defensed passes and failed to register an interception.
Tomlin saying that he’s not opposed to moving Mitchell to strong safety is a bit of a curious statement when you consider that Shamarko Thomas is probably best-suited to play in the box should Polamalu ultimately retire or be released in the coming months.
There is a chance that the Steelers could draft Alabama safety Landon Collins in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, however, and while many believe he is probably best-suited to play strong safety at the NFL level, he has played the free spot as well. If that winds up being the case and Collins is drafted and proves worthy of being the opening day starter at free safety, it would then make sense to move Mitchell to the strong safety spot.
We shall see if Tomlin had more to say about this when more quotes from Monday are released.
