Mike Mitchell making his presence on Steelers defense felt and heard
PITTSBURGH 鈥� In the end, it really didn鈥檛 matter that Scott Tolzien was the Indianapolis Colts鈥� quarterback and not Andrew Luck.
When Tolzien pump-faked, then made a break for the end zone on third-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 2 just 44 seconds into the fourth quarter on Thanksgiving night, Mike Mitchell instinctively knew what was coming.
The Steelers safety took a few steps to his left, then sprinted forward from his position to greet Tolzien. Not only was the quarterback stopped at the 1, so was his helmet, which was dislodged by Mitchell蘑菇视频 violent tackle. One play later, Tolzien蘑菇视频 incompletion into the end zone capped the Steelers defense蘑菇视频 second goal-line stand.
Game over.
For that, the Steelers can thank 鈥� Troy Polamalu?
Yes, two years after Polamalu retired, Mitchell credited his former teammate, not with making one of the biggest plays in their 28-7 win on Thursday, but for the preparation required to do so.
Mitchell said the play was really made days earlier during extensive film study of the Colts and their tendencies.
鈥淚鈥檓 in there every morning with Ryan (Shazier), we鈥檙e watching a lot of film,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not watching film just to watch film. I鈥檓 out there to try and make plays. Learned that from Troy. And Troy said you watch film to make plays.鈥�
Tolzien, who braved through three sacks and was hit a staggering 11 times behind an injury-depleted offensive line, never stood a chance.
鈥淲e know when they went empty, especially with Andrew, quarterback draw is a big tendency for them,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淲e kind of had the same game plan regardless or not Andrew was playing. I just applied those notes to the situation. When I saw him going forward on one, I just had my antenna up.鈥�
That was not the only time that Mitchell had his antenna up though. On the Colts鈥� next possession and still trailing by 14, Tolzien went deep right on a pass to Phillip Dorsett but Mitchell, in a Cover 2 look, was there to pull in his first interception of the season at the 10-yard line.
Mitchell broke two tackles and even hurdled Colts receiver Donte Moncrief, but was tackled 26 yards later by 鈥� of all people 鈥� Tolzien. Mitchell, who said he played some running back in high school, has 10 career interceptions, including a team-high three last season, but still hasn鈥檛 returned one for a touchdown.
鈥淚 had nothing left,鈥� he said.
Not that any of his teammates were about to bust Mitchell蘑菇视频 chops, at least too much, about being tackled by a quarterback. While Antonio Brown and Le鈥橵eon Bell were the Steelers stars on offense against Indianapolis, Mitchell was clearly the star on defense. In addition to his TD-saving tackle and interception in the fourth quarter, Mitchell had six other tackles but none more vicious 鈥� or tone-setting 鈥� than his second-quarter hit on T.Y. Hilton.
Almost miraculously, Hilton held onto a deep pass over the middle to the Steelers鈥� 2, but he left the game with a back injury. Mitchell, who suffered a stinger but was able to return, sprinted off the sideline to check on Hilton蘑菇视频 condition. The exact same thing happened five days earlier when Mitchell leveled Cleveland蘑菇视频 Terrelle Pryor with another hard 鈥� but clean 鈥� hit.
鈥淚鈥檓 ruthless and cold-blooded, but I鈥檓 not out there to hurt people,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚 try to play the game the right way, old school NFL, professional football. I was just telling him good job on eating that. I wanted to let him know that it蘑菇视频 never personal, this is business.鈥�
Mitchell蘑菇视频 impact, physical and literal, on the Steelers鈥� last two victories can鈥檛 be underestimated. With Cam Heyward out for the season, Mitchell is one of the most vocal and emotional leaders on a defense that is trending younger down the stretch.
The Steelers, who have won back-to-back games three times this season, will be looking for their first three-game winning streak when they host the New York Giants next week at Heinz Field. With apologies to the Browns and Colts, the Giants of Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and Co. will present a much stronger challenge.
When the Steelers are having success defensively, they鈥檙e getting after quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and playing with physicality. With his intimidation as well as his play, the 29-year-old Mitchell needs to figure in prominently.
鈥淗e蘑菇视频 a big part of this defense,鈥� Shazier said. 鈥淎 lot of times, when me and Lawrence (Timmons) can鈥檛 set the tempo right away, he can do it from the secondary. We all try to set the tempo early, set the tone of the game. If me and Lawrence or the defensive line can鈥檛, we know Mike will make sure he蘑菇视频 felt and heard.鈥�