Steelers

Tomlin Looks Forward To Season Opener

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Sunday marks the official beginning of Mike Tomlin's second year as head coach for the Steelers and it will bring with it proof of how truly difficult the team's schedule will be this year.

Houston was supposed to be one of the easier games on the slate, yet it's a team that finished 8-8 in the conference's toughest division.

"We're excited here this week, getting this '08 season started here at home at Heinz Field versus what we believe to be a dangerous opponent – a team, the Houston Texans, talented and dangerous in all 3 phases," Tomlin said. "All that's done to this point was preparation for Sunday and that's the reality of it.

"We can trick ourselves into feeling good about a certain area or we can worry ourselves to death about another area," he adds, "but the reality is that when we go out and play on Sunday, that'll be an indication of where we are and that's the excitement of playing the first game.

"Preseason aside, and don't get me wrong, that's very important as is training camp. But you don't know the cards you hold until you go out there and play this upcoming Sunday and that not only applies to us but that applies to everybody that's playing ball this weekend."

In terms of the health of his team, Tomlin says Troy Polamalu will be tossed right in after missing most of the preseason. Otherwise, they're in good shape.

"I think the only question mark is Larry Foote and he appears to be not a question mark," Tomlin said. "We're getting healthy at the appropriate time."

And has he enters year No. 2, Tomlin looks back at his first year with a continued sense of awe and excitement.

"You have a vision of what it's about, but to be apart of it is different," he said. "It's different from your perception when you view it from the outside in. I enjoy it – I love it.

"I think I've said it in these settings before, you know, the hair on the back of your neck stands up when you cross that bridge to the North Side and you start getting close to that stadium. It's exciting. I can't wait until that feeling on Sunday."

The Steelers made a trade sending Sean Mahan to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2009 draft pick. Mahan only played one season in Pittsburgh.

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