Steelers' Mike Tomlin Absolutely Blames 'Tenor' Of Referee Crew For Costly Taunting Penalties "We Didn't Adjust"

Amidst the Pittsburgh Steelers' impressive victory in Week 7, they had a few huge penalties late in the game. Thankfully, it didn't end up affecting the outcome of the game, but it very well could have. The offense responded to each of the flags and picked up the necessary yardage to run the clock out against the Los Angeles Rams. The two penalties were on wideouts George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, both within minutes of each other.

The calls were similar, as each of them were penalized for talking a bit too much to Rams defenders after the play. In his press conference on Tuesday, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged these penalties and accepted some blame for them. Specifically, he feels as if he didn't relay the message clearly enough that the officiating crew wasn't going to be lenient with trash talking.

"Often times, it's our job to feel the tenor of a crew and to adjust our behavior accordingly. We got into that game man, and that crew had a certain tenor and we didn't adjust to it. As professionals, that's our job. Am I worried about those issues being an issue moving forward? No I'm not, but it is a great opportunity to talk about learning the tenor of a crew. Sometimes, certain crews are more tolerable regarding certain things than others. That's just the realities of the NFL."

Tomlin referenced the fact that earlier in the game, the referees warned the Steelers and running back Najee Harris after he was jawing after a play in the first half. From that point, Tomlin knew that the referees had established their tolerance for the extracurricular stuff. It's seen as a learning experience for everyone involved, particularly the youthful Steelers roster.

Thankfully, the calls didn't cost the Steelers considerably. After struggling for the first three quarters, the offense really turned things around in the fourth quarter. Pickens and Johnson both had big days, as they combined for 10 catches and 186 receiving yards. The sophomore, Pickens, particularly benefitted from Johnson's return from injury. That's something that Tomlin alluded to in his press conference, as the Rams had to defend him 1-on-1.

Should Steelers Fans Be Concerned About Week 7 Penalties?

In fact, it was his second consecutive 100-yard game, as he now stands at 500 receiving yards through six contests. That ranks 15th in the NFL, as he continues to show improvements in his second NFL season. In Johnson's four-game absence, teams were essentially able to put all eyes on Pickens. While he still had his moments, like in Week 5, the field has opened up more for him now.

Tomlin urged that this wouldn't be a concern moving forward, but former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thinks it could be. In the most recent episode of his podcast Footbahlin, he cautioned Tomlin to make sure that stuff is taken care of so it doesn't become a long-term issue. Of course, Roethlisberger is no stranger to drama-filled wide receivers, as Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Chase Claypool were just a few notable examples for a variety of reasons.

As he says, that kind of stuff can become a problem quickly if it's not taken care of in the moment. For now, fans shouldn't worry. While a few small moments have popped up with Pickens, he's done well in his two seasons in Pittsburgh thus far. Let's just hope that these unnecessary penalties don't become an issue moving forward.

Do you agree with Tomlin that this shouldn't be an area of concern moving forward? Where does the wide receiver duo rank amongst the best in the NFL? With Johnson now healthy, what is the ceiling/expectation for this offense moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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