Mike Tomlin remains steadfast in his approach to developing second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr., emphasizing a balance between technical discipline and physicality. Speaking during his weekly press conference, Tomlin acknowledged Porter’s unnecessary penalties while offering insights on refining his game.
Tomlin isn’t tweaking his approach to Porter, but he did have some advice for the young cornerback. Tomlin noted that Porter’s technique at the line of scrimmage needs improvement, as subtle lapses can snowball into costly penalties downfield. “In review of the tape, he could have been better from a technical standpoint,” Tomlin said. The focus remains on sharpening Porter’s fundamentals to avoid fouls without compromising his ability to challenge elite receivers.
Porter committed eight penalties (two declined) for 75 yards — the most by an NFL cornerback since Week 3 of 2022 — in the Steelers’ Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Joey Porter’s 6 penalties (two declined) yesterday are the most by an NFL CB since Week 3 of the 2022 season.
Here’s all six. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/6Iz4DiPzID
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 2, 2024
Tomlin also highlighted the competitive challenges of facing physical receivers like Bengals’ Tee Higgins and Seahawks’ DK Metcalf. “You have to match the physicality of these big people,” Tomlin said, acknowledging the inherent risk in such battles. But Tomlin remains unapologetic about prioritizing competitiveness over passivity. “One thing we’re not going to do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball.”
As the Steelers prepare for future matchups, Porter’s growth will hinge on walking the tightrope of staying physical while minimizing mistakes.
