This is not a normal week for the Steelers.
Mired in a losing streak unfamiliar to one of the “teams of the decade,” Mike Tomlin did his weekly press conference a day early because of the short week before Thursday night’s game against the Browns.
What looked like an easy victory in Cleveland can no longer be counted on after the Chiefs and Raiders beat Pittsburgh as double digit underdogs. If the Steelers can make Bruce Gradkowski look like Rich Gannon, then Brady Quinn has a shot.
Unforeseen times call for drastic measures, and Tomlin sounds ready to unleash hell on his starting lineup. Tomlin plans to take an “aggressive look at potential changes” because of an “undesirable pattern of behavior” in the fourth quarter of games.
The team’s struggling secondary may take the biggest hit.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that rookie cornerbacks Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis could start, with former top corner Ike Taylor possibly headed to the bench.
Tomlin also mentioned that Hines Ward is struggling with a hamstring injury.
Considering Ward’s recent comments about Ben Roethlisberger -- not to mention Ward’s history -- it would be stunning to see him sit out Thursday.
Then again, this Steelers season has been full of surprising turns.
UPDATE: Tomlin on Ward: “Very questionable . . . we’ll see where it goes, but it’s not favorable for him.” Starting cornerback William Gay (concussion) and Troy Polamalu (knee) are not expected to play.
