Training Camp 2007

cpawfan · Jul 24, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07205/803940-66.stm

After all the talk of how tough his training camp would be, new coach Mike Tomlin turned soft on his very first day at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Not only did he relieve more than half the team from going through a run test yesterday, he stopped it short for the 35 players who did run it.

Tomlin revealed yesterday that those players who completed 44 of the 50 offseason workout sessions were absolved from running yesterday. The others were to run 110-yard jobs 16 times on the newly named Chuck Noll Field.

Among those running were some of the biggest names on the team -- newly minted team salary leader Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, James Farrior and Alan Faneca. Some players did not have to run but chose to do so anyway.

"Guys were doing so well we cut it at 14," Tomlin said. "It didn't look like anybody was going to have a tough time making it, a testament to their preparation. Hats off to them."

When Tomlin came up with the idea to give 51 players off if they had a good attendance record in the spring is unknown, but he did not spring it on his players until it was too late for many to make up lost time.

"We wanted to reward those guys for being in town and being part of a voluntary program this offseason," Tomlin said. "If they were here working out, we knew what kind of shape they were in."

Unable to go

Tomlin downplayed the fact that three players will open training camp today on the physically unable to perform list, including starting receiver Santonio Holmes.

The others are veteran halfback Verron Haynes and NFL Europa linebacker Derek Rehage.

All, he predicted, would be temporary.

Holmes "had a minor surgical procedure that's not football related," Tomlin said. "He'll be watching for a day or two but it's a non-issue."

They will hold out Haynes a day or two because of the surgery he had on his knee last season. Rehage recently had a pin removed from an injured thumb.

Promotion for Mitchell

Tomlin promoted defensive line coach John Mitchell to assistant head coach.

Mitchell enters his 14th season as defensive line coach, a job he will continue in his new capacity. He succeeds former offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who carried the title of assistant head coach the past two seasons.

This is Mitchell's 34th season in coaching -- 17 in the NFL, 15 in college and two in the old United States Football League. He is a former All-America defensive end at Alabama and the first black player for Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide. He began his coaching career under the legendary Bryant shortly after he graduated from college.

"John Mitchell is a very respected coach in this league by his peers," Tomlin said. "It didn't take me long to realize we share some philosophical thoughts on football. I thought he was a very deserving man."

Kirkland returns as intern

The Steelers released one veteran linebacker in Joey Porter this year, and picked up another yesterday -- Levon Kirkland.

Kirkland, who played for the Steelers from 1992-00 and made two Pro Bowls, has joined the team in camp for one week as a scouting intern. He holds down a full-time job as a minority student recruiter at Clemson, his alma mater.

"I'm just kind of seeing if I like it," Kirkland said. "It's an opportunity for me to see if I want to get back in it."

Timmons to practice

The Steelers officially announced the signing of top draft pick Lawrence Timmons, a linebacker of few words from Florida State.

Timmons' groin was injured in his first spring practice and he did not practice again. He said he's "100 percent" and plans to take the field this morning, when the Steelers hold their first of two practices today.

"I'm healthy, but I'm going to take it day by day and not rush things, be smart about it," Timmons said.

Throwback player

On the day he signed the richest contract in club history, Polamalu showed little sense of fashion. While running with his teammates during their test, he wore a pair of short, ugly, striped brown and orange socks that looked like they came from the 1960s and the home team in Cleveland Stadium.

"They're Jim Brown's old socks," Polamalu said. "There goes my whole check."

Camp critic

Polamalu has expressed his disdain for NFL training camps and how they are traditionally conducted in the past, and this one likely will be no different.

"It's like going through boot camp every year," Polamalu said. "The army only does it once. We have to do it every year."

Quick hits

All 86 players on the roster reported on time. ... The Steelers' second practice today is the first one open to the public, scheduled to start at 2:55 p.m. at Saint Vincent College.

Thoth · Jul 24, 2007

This is 1 of 2 camps I am interested in.

Any wagers on how long before Tomlin fully converts the Steelers to a 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme? I'd say 09 at the earliest. 

I would not be shocked if MT did not install some elements this year... After all, hybrid D's are all the rage now.

cpawfan · Jul 24, 2007

As a Steelers fan that dislikes the Tampa 2, I'm hoping never, but you are probably correct about 09. I figure LeBeau is good for this season and one more and the Tampa 2 isn't going in under his watch.

Plus with three drafts, Tomlin can really stack the talent the way he wants.

Thoth · Jul 24, 2007

I am not a fan of the Tampa cover 2 either. I don't mind the hybrid D but prefer the fast aggresive 4-3 thatPhilly and the Ravens run.

Regardless, it will be odd to see a different scheme in the Steel City... they have been running the 3-4 for a long time. Though, I recall the Steel curtain was a 4-3. In fact, it was the D line formations that inspired a certain Steeler DB by the name of Dungy to use it in the Tampa cover 2.

cpawfan · Jul 24, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>

I am not a fan of the Tampa cover 2 either. I don't mind the hybrid D but prefer the fast aggresive 4-3 thatPhilly and the Ravens run.

Regardless, it will be odd to see a different scheme in the Steel City... they have been running the 3-4 for a long time. Though, I recall the Steel curtain was a 4-3. In fact, it was the D line formations that inspired a certain Steeler DB by the name of Dungy to use it in the Tampa cover 2.

</div>
Yes, Dungy was heavily influenced by Noll and Bud Carson. People often forget that he was Noll's DC from 1984 to 1988

The part I find hilarious is that Dungy and Cowher were both on the same Chiefs coaching staff for the same amount of time.

kcgsc · Jul 24, 2007

I wish someone would win a Super Bowl while they are still with the Chiefs. It is pointless when they defect and then win one...

cpawfan · Jul 25, 2007

http://postgazette.com/pg/07206/804174-66.stm

Football practice was tough, physical, long, fast-paced, unprecedented, perhaps. And then it rained.

Mike Tomlin's first practice as the Steelers' head coach proved more than its billing when he put the team through what many believe was the most physical practice session at Saint Vincent College since the days of Chuck Noll.

No one could remember a tougher camp practice in Bill Cowher's 15 years as coach, not even a player who was with Cowher from the get-go.

"That was pretty tough, pret-ty tough," said former linebacker Levon Kirkland, a Steelers rookie in 1992 who is spending this week as a scouting intern with the team. "I'm sure the guys who have been here under Cowher are used to a certain way. You do it that way it's kind of tough. Makes you wonder what the evening practice will be about."

The afternoon practice turned into an indoors walk-through on a basketball court because a thunderstorm passed through Latrobe just before the players were to take the field. Nevertheless, that brutal morning session will stay fresh in their minds for a long time.

"Coach Cowher's not here anymore. We're doing it the way coach Tomlin's doing it," Hines Ward said. "He wants to prove to everybody he can be a great coach and he has a set way with the team. If you don't like it, get off the ship."

Nobody was jumping after the first day, although it was hard to find any players jumping for joy, either, after spending a morning in full pads. Previously, they would not have had practice on that first morning and, when they did practice, it would be in lighter pads called shells.

"Being here for 10 years, the morning practice is normally just shells, kind of more talking and running," cornerback Deshea Townsend said. "Now, it's a little more contact. It's part of the game. It's still football. Guys will get used to it, but it's going to be tougher than years past."

The two-hour morning session began with some stretching and light special-teams work. Then came the 'backers-on-backs drill, where a pass-rushing linebacker tries to get through a block by a running back. It's as live as they go. Later, they moved to what they call 9 on 7, although it actually was 9 on 9. It's also called the middle drill, because backs run up the middle play after play. It looked like a live goal-line practice only it lasted longer.

"It's a good wake-up call," center Chukky Okobi said. "If you weren't awake, after that period you should be good to go."

Later, Tomlin gathered his team together for some 11 on 11 that was as live as anything except for tackling and went on for 20 minutes to close practice.

"That's the definition of a morning practice around here now, I guess," Okobi said.

The more strenuous practice session carried a message no doubt the coach wanted to deliver, and it came across clearly.

"It kind of sets the tone for what coach Tomlin is going to be like and what he wants for us," said safety Ryan Clark, who played for the Washington Redskins before joining the Steelers last year. "I think the biggest thing is you want to kind of leave your imprint on the team. Now we know what he's about. He's about being physical, being focused, getting to the ball on defense and executing the offense. I think it was a good start."

Tomlin did not have much comment on the morning practice, except to say that it was productive, upbeat, crisp. He mentioned the botched snaps (between Okobi and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on one, center Sean Mahan and Charlie Batch on the other) and some offside plays. The new coach seemed more impressed by the afternoon walkthrough and how players overcame the disappointment of not being able to go through another grueling practice.

"It's a mental-toughness exercise, because it's tough when you get ready to take the field and suit up and go out for an afternoon practice the first day of training camp and you get dealt a hand like they got dealt today. Their ability to deal with it and get some production out of what we had to do defined us. I like the way they got after it."

Today's another day, with two more practices scheduled. The morning practice is set for one hour -- unless the new coach wants to make up for lost time. It looks like the making of a long, intriguing training camp.

cpawfan · Jul 25, 2007

http://postgazette.com/pg/07206/804173-66.stm

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seemed calm and confident yesterday, out to prove to one person that last year was a fluke. That person is Big Ben himself.

"You can say all you want that you have to prove it to the fans and the media," Roethlisberger said. "I'm just trying to prove to myself that I can do it and my career's not over and last year was a fluke. It was a bad year and we still ended up 8-8 with a bad year. So I think we can come out and do better and I can do better."

Roethlisberger ran the run test on Monday even though he didn't have to because he qualified for a pass by making at least 44 of the 50 offseason workouts.

"I was trying to be a leader,'' Roethlisberger said. "I saw my line was going to run. I wanted to run with those guys and be out there with them."

Whistling through practice

Whistles are making a comeback on NFL training camp practice fields, and they may have made their first appearance at Saint Vincent College.

Whistles have been a part of football practices since football and whistles were invented. They're so important to the game that they are banned from stadiums.

But the staffs of Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher didn't use whistles in practices. Noll or his coaches would scream out something if they wanted someone's attention. 

The air horn made its first appearance in 1992 under Cowher.

Yesterday, coaching whistles blew all over the place. It sounded like a YMCA pool.

Spy games

Receiver Hines Ward had the quote of the day, when talk at lunchtime turned to Cowher.

"I thought I saw him up in the sky box looking down on us," Ward said, referring to the new press box at Saint Vincent's Chuck Noll Field, where the Steelers practice. "Maybe he was scouting -- I mean spying -- for the Cleveland Browns."

Camp observations

Rookie linebacker LaMarr Woodley is going to be one heck of a pass rusher. It was only the first day of drills and the running backs hate linebackers on backs drill -- a pass protection, one-on-one drill -- but Woodley ate Najeh Davenport for lunch, twice. That followed up a great spring for Woodley.

"I thought he did well in that drill," coach Mike Tomlin said. "He showed what he's capable of. He's a rush man. It's somewhat of a mismatch sometimes when LaMarr Woodley gets on a running back, so really you kind of expected him to get after some folks and I think he handled himself and handled the drill pretty well."

Dwain Painter, now a coach/scout for the CFL, and Joe Greene, a scout for the Steelers, chatted along the sideline. They were on Noll's staff together until Noll retired after the 1991 season. Painter, a former quarterback at Gateway High School, has been on the go as a coach for decades. Greene looks better than he has in years after acquiring a new hip a year ago and losing weight. He could now be Lean Joe Greene.

Tomlin cuts a much different figure than Cowher on a practice field. Cowher would wear shorts, a light shirt, a large straw hat. Tomlin dressed all in black, at least yesterday -- long pants, long shirt, sunglasses, black baseball cap. He also wears his dorm room key on a string around his neck, just like everyone else.

Practice started with special teams yesterday morning. If the Steelers do not improve on special teams this year, it won't be for a lack of practice. Tomlin even has scheduled seven one-hour morning sessions devoted to special teams in camp.

Verron Haynes watched morning practice with ice on his surgically repaired left knee. Part of the training camp drama will be to see if some young back -- John Kuhn or rookie Gary Russell? -- can take Haynes' roster spot. Haynes remains on the physically unable to perform list.

A botched punt return by Ricardo Colclough helped the Steelers lose at home to Cincinnati last year and seemingly set the pace for the rest of the season. Here, then, were the candidates lined up for the first punt return practice of camp: Colclough, Cedrick Wilson, Willie Reid, Jovon Johnson, Dan Sheldon and Chris Jackson. Santonio Holmes presumably will join him when he recovers from an unnamed non-football "procedure." Reid was drafted last year to return punts, but Cowher did not find a way to dress him for games until after the Colclough disaster and the first three games. He played in one game, left with a sprained foot and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.

cpawfan · Jul 26, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07207/804555-66.stm



Who said Bill Cowher left the building?

Listen ... you can hear his clone all the way from Latrobe to Ligonier.

Bob Ligashesky takes it over the top in the kicking game. He's the Steelers' new special teams coach. Think Cowher sprinting up and down the sideline in his early days as special teams coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Ligashesky, a graduate of Sto-Rox High School and IUP, also coached the special teams at Pitt. He makes more noise than the freight trains that thunder pass the two teams' South Side practice facility, but he has toned it down since spring.

"He's calmed down a little since we had the coaching sessions," linebacker James Harrison said.

What hasn't calmed down is coach Mike Tomlin's commitment to getting it right in the kicking game. He held his first all-special teams practice yesterday morning, the first of seven, in addition to the time spent in other practices on the kicking game.

"We just want to give it it's just due," Tomlin said. "That's a legitimate phase of football. It's a significant number of snaps in a football game, so we're putting the time in there while we have the time."

There were years, under Chuck Noll, the Steelers did not have a special teams coach. Tomlin has not one, not two, but three --Ligashesky is assisted by Amos Jones. Ray Jackson, who is in charge of the team's player development, also helps out with the kicking game.

How much more emphasis is put on special teams this year?

"A lot," said defensive end Brett Keisel, a former special teams ace. "Obviously we have an entire practice dedicated to it."

Most starters got a reprieve from playing on special teams in the past; not now. Starters flood the various special teams units.

"Coach Tomlin talked last night how special teams played a big part in the success of the Chicago Bears last year," linebacker Clark Haggans said. "That's why we had practice today. Special teams determines the outcome of two, three, four games that could get you in the playoffs or a playoff win or could get you to the Super Bowl."Switches coming

Tomlin will switch some players who are competing for jobs, particularly in the offensive line where, for example, Chukky Okobi has been running with the first team at center. Soon, newcomer Sean Mahan could get his turn to run at first-team center.

"We visit that on a nightly basis on some guys who are competing for jobs," Tomlin said. "We will do that from time to time at every position."

Practice and fireworks

Training camp just opened for the Steelers and already there are fireworks.

No fights on the practice field -- not yet, anyway -- but there will be fireworks tomorrow night after practice. Zambelli International will stage a fireworks show at 9:20 p.m. after the Steelers hold their annual night practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.

Practice begins at 7 p.m., and fans can get autographs of the players and coaches on the field at 6:45 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children under 18 and seniors, and free to those under 12 with a parent. Proceeds benefit the Greater Latrobe School District sports programs.

Quick hits

The Steelers talked to former NFL quarterback Aaron Brooks, but have decided not to sign him.

Kicker Jeff Reed and safety Ryan Clark have had their contracts reworked to create salary-cap room this year. The players receive the same amount but in a bonus form, a technicality that allows the team to push some accounting of their pay into future years.

Rookies Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, the Steelers' top draft picks, played outside linebacker with the first-team defense in 7-on-7 passing drills, dropping into coverage.

Woodley says he weighs 264, and the coaches want him down to 255-260.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes and running back Verron Haynes have not practiced.

Punter Mike Barr has never made an NFL team, yet this is his fifth summer in an NFL training camp. He started out in 2003 with the Washington Redskins, and this makes it four in a row in Latrobe. Barr's chances to make the team dipped when the Steelers drafted Dan Sepulveda in the fourth round. But Barr looks good and was booming them high and deep in practice yesterday afternoon.

It appears Sepulveda will hold for Jeff Reed's kicks.

To start the 10-minute team drill (11 on 11) that ended practice yesterday afternoon, the Steelers deployed three wide receivers on first down. On second down, they used three tight ends. They are things new coordinator Bruce Arians talked about using all spring.

Quarterbacks spent a few idle moments during morning special teams practice trying to lob 20-yard passes into garbage buckets. Former coordinator Kevin Gilbride had his quarterbacks do that often at Saint Vincent College in the summer of 1999, which prompted an old scout to note wryly back then that, when you practice throwing into garbage cans, you get good at throwing into garbage cans.

cpawfan · Jul 26, 2007

Two things that got my attention

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Most starters got a reprieve from playing on special teams in the past; not now. Starters flood the various special teams units.</div>

and

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Woodley says he weighs 264, and the coaches want him down to 255-260.</div>

Wanting Woodley to drop weight is big sign about little we'll see a hybrid defense. As for the special teams, I wonder what that is going to mean to the final roster cuts. In years past, a player that was better on special teams would be kept on the roster over a better coverage CB that wasn't agressive on special teams.

cpawfan · Jul 26, 2007

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519095.html

<h1 class="headline">Point, counterpoint: Tomlin's camp different, but will it be tougher?</h1> By John Harris and Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
 Thursday, July 26, 2007

Columnist John Harris and Steelers beat writer Scott Brown debate news and topics about the Steelers. This week, Harris and Brown discuss coach Mike Tomlin's approach to training camp.

John Harris: I believe Mike Tomlin will be as tough as he needs to be. Monday's conditioning run was an aberration. It was Tomlin's way of rewarding players for fulfilling offseason workout obligations. 

The Tuesday morning practice featured the first live hitting in pads in the a.m. in more than a decade. That definitely got the players' attention. I see training camp gradually becoming tougher, not easier. 

Scott Brown: Yeah, it looked real tough Wednesday morning for the quarterbacks. OK, fellas, here is the drill: Stand 30 yards away from a garbage can and try to hit it with a pass or get the ball into the can. <div align="center"> </div> I don't know how those guys were able to walk from their dorm to the cafeteria for lunch after that grueling one-hour practice. Oh, that's right, the players get rides to and from the cafeteria in golf carts.

Harris: Look, don't take it out on me because you didn't have your Frosted Flakes this morning. Yesterday's one-hour morning practice focused on special teams. Last time I checked, not too many quarterbacks play on special teams, unless Ben Roethlisberger is going to surprise us and return punts in addition to trying not to throw costly interceptions in 2007. 

Look at it this way: It was better for the quarterbacks to fool around and attempt to throw footballs into garbage cans than to have them stand around on the sideline and lean on garbage cans, watching special teams practice. Or to not even be there at all. 

It was mandatory that all players attend the special teams practice. That wasn't the case under Bill Cowher. 

Brown: Was that a shot you took at Big Ben? And if you must know, I'm much more partial to Fruit Loops than Frosted Flakes (and getting an extra hour of sleep instead of getting up for breakfast). 

Your point is well taken. I guess the one I'm trying to make is everyone is making such a big deal about what a grueling camp this is going to be with the (gasp!) 15 two-a-day practices. Then again, maybe it's us media hacks who are making such a big story out of this. 

If what Tomlin is doing is so different than what the Steelers have done in the past, then I have this question: Did they call it Camp Cowher or Club Med? 

Harris: The media take a lot of criticism, but the media did their job in evaluating Tomlin's approach to training camp. 

Tomlin told reporters beforehand it was going to be a tough camp, but he didn't tell us when, or how. So when the conditioning run came across looking like a stroll in the park, the media did their job and started asking questions and offering opinions, not all of it favorable toward Tomlin. 

We were looking for players passing out and throwing up, not laughing and carefree with half the team watching from the sideline. 

But like I said, this camp is going to get a lot tougher. 

Even with the 15 two-a-days -- actually more like seven or eight, considering that about half of those 15 will involve one-hour workouts focusing on special teams -- just preparing for two practices a day is going to be a change and a challenge for these players. 

Brown: I didn't have a problem with Tomlin cutting the conditioning test short. After all, he only eliminated two of the 110-yard runs. 

Nor would I object if he did go a little easier on the players during camp. 

Cowher seemed to take care of players at this time of year, and no one ever accused his teams of being soft. And they always seemed to be fresh in December and January. 

Tomlin, though, does need to run a tough camp, if for no other reason than to let the players know that Cowher is no longer the coach. Camp is also, as Hines Ward said Tuesday, a gut check. Mike Tomlin wants to see what kind of team he has, and a large part of that entails gauging the toughness of his players. 

Harris: Exactly. Sometimes different doesn't have to be better. Sometimes different just needs to be different. 

Tomlin needs to mold this team in his image, and what better way than to start in training camp? Training camp is where the foundation is laid. 

What the Steelers take from Tomlin's first training camp will carry them through the season. Besides, it's too late for Tomlin to back down now. He promised that training camp would be tough. 

The players won't respect him if he doesn't fulfill that promise. 

Brown: Let's qualify tough here. 

Yes, what the Steelers are doing is tougher than what the players have endured in the past, but it's not like Tomlin is crushing them. Nor would he be wise to do so, since NFL seasons are exhausting as they are long. 

Tomlin is smart enough to know that as much as he wants to make a statement with his first camp, the best way to earn the respect and trust of his players it to win games. 

Or, as Ward said, lead them "to the Promised Land." Amen to that.

cpawfan · Jul 26, 2007

http://www.sportstwo.com/Thread/View/NFL/PITTSBURGH/191525Kicking game gets special attention



 By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
 Thursday, July 26, 2007

 The Steelers have gone to the mattresses.

Not the "Godfather"/Tony Soprano mattresses, but the big pads designed to soften the blow for those giving their all trying to block an imaginary punt. 

We'd seen that before at St. Vincent College. 

Ron Zook used them when he was coaching the special teams back in the mid-to-late 1990s. It was either Zook or Bobby April.

April was the special teams coach who replaced John Guy and preceded Zook. 

Bill Cowher went through so many special teams coaches (one every three years, on average) it's difficult to recall who was responsible for what innovation. 

From Guy to April to Zook to Jay Hayes to Kevin Spencer, they all had an angle. 

What they didn't have was time. 

The Steelers practiced special teams with regularity under Cowher, who began his climb up the ladder running Marty Schottenheimer's special teams in Cleveland and always paid enthusiastic lip service to their importance after becoming a head coach. 

But they never devoted the time to the kicking game they have since Mike Tomlin took over. 

Tomlin arrived with not one but two kicking game gurus, special teams coach Bob Ligashesky and assistant special teams coach Amos Jones. 

They were busy men during the minicamps and organized team activities. 

Tomlin suggested then that the seemingly endless special teams drilling would be curtailed once the Steelers hit Latrobe. 

But there they were on Wednesday morning, conducting a one-hour workout devoted to nothing but "teams." 

More of those are in store. 

And the mattresses aren't the only toys in the special teams shed. 

The Steelers have footballs attached to sticks used to simulate snaps that jump-start players who are trying to block imaginary punts. 

They have a skinny post (not the one Hines Ward scored on against New England, but a thinner set of uprights, presumably designed to hone kicker Jeff Reed's accuracy). 

They have a long-snapping net (presumably to hone long snapper Greg Warren's accuracy). 

They have volleyballs. 

They have Nerf balls. 

And the time they're spending on special teams is estimated by linebacker/special teams captain Clint Kriewaldt to be about three times what they devoted to special teams a year ago. 

There was some grumbling at first about the painstaking attention to detail and technique. 

But with the arrival of the preseason, that initial chafing has seemingly been replaced by a new appreciation for special teams preparation. 

"Hopefully, guys' attitudes are right," Kriewaldt said. "We're out here working, and I like where we're going. Coach Tomlin's a big special teams guy, and he's backing it up by giving us this time, the meeting time, the practice time, everything. 

"We're going to be good. You think about how many games are won and lost on that phase and how important it is and how little time we used to put in and how little other teams put in, I understand why we're doing it." 

Spencer had neither the time nor the influence on personnel necessary to avert a special teams disaster last season. 

Ligashesky had an hour with which to work yesterday and an appointment with Tomlin to review film afterward. 

"We're trying to give it its just due," Tomlin said. 

That explains why the Steelers practiced special teams again yesterday afternoon.

cpawfan · Jul 27, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07208/804870-66.stm



Hines Ward knows all about missing portions of training camp with an injury. It happened to him last year when he injured his hamstring during camp and didn't play in any of the preseason games.

After a slow start to the regular season in which he caught 18 passes in the first five games, Ward said it wasn't until Week 6 in Atlanta that he started feeling fully healthy and ready to play at his four-time Pro Bowl level again.,

That's why he's hoping wide receiver Santonio Holmes, last year's No. 1 pick, out with an undisclosed injury, doesn't miss too much of training camp. 

"It was difficult for me, the time I missed," Ward said. "This is where all the timing is developed, the regimen we're going through with two-a-days to get your body in shape. Last year, when I missed all of camp, my body never got going till right before the Atlanta game."

Holmes has not practiced since the start of camp because he is recovering from an undisclosed procedure that is non-football related. Yesterday, he stood in one spot of the practice field and caught one-handed passes with each hand from one of the conditioning coaches.

Afterward, he said he has "no idea" when he will return to practice, only that he has to "listen to the doctors, and if they say take time off, I have to take time off."

Holmes added, "It's very frustrating, knowing I have to sit out and can't help the team right now."

Big things are expected of Holmes this season after the way he finished 2006. In his final four games, he caught 16 passes for 320 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown pass in the season finale in Cincinnati. He also returned a punt 67 yards for a score against Carolina. By the end of the season, Holmes was splitting time with the team's starting split end, Cedrick Wilson.

"I'm more excited about getting more opportunities to help the team this year," Holmes said

Asked if the injury is a setback, he said, "I don't think so. I don't think having to sit out a couple days, a week, however many days it is, will set me back."

Imposter reaction

Tight end Jerame Tuman said he did not take any pleasure in seeing the man who impersonated him and several other Steelers players get sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years probation. But he is at least glad the ordeal is over.

Brian Jackson, 33, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to one count of theft by deception and one count of identity theft after he impersonated Tuman and asked a woman to loan him $3,200 last year. In the past, Jackson has also passed himself off as Ben Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre.

"It's a shame," Tuman said. "If you ask me if I'm happy he went to jail, I don't know if I'm happy. But, hopefully, he gets on the right path."

Tuman, 31, said he was aware of two other incidents in which a person -- believed to be Jackson -- impersonated him, once at a South Side restaurant, another time in a leather shop. But, when he received a letter at training camp last year, saying he owed a woman $3,200, Tuman reported the matter to the team's head of security.

"That kinda caught me off guard," Tuman said. "It had no effect on me personally, other than the few places where he used my name."

Drill time

The Steelers have historically used a training-camp drill called backers on backers, where the running backs try to block rushing linebackers in one-on-one drills. But coach Mike Tomlin introduced a new version of the drill yesterday in which cornerbacks and safeties try to beat the running backs in one-on-one blocking drills.

"I play inside and I get to blitz a lot, so it's very beneficial for me," said cornerback Deshea Townsend, who plays nickel back in the team's sub packages. "I did all right. You win some, you lose some, but a lot of times you just try to get to the edge and apply pressure and force the quarterback to step up."

That, though, didn't stop Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu from plowing into fullback Dan Kreider and knocking him back into the "quarterback" in the best collision of the morning.

Some of the other standouts: S Anthony Smith twice beat RB Kevan Barlow before getting stood up by RB Willie Parker; Parker also popped Townsend before he could get to the edge; RB Najeh Davenport stuffed CB Bryant McFadden.

First-year free-agent RB Carey Davis, who is with his fifth NFL team in four years, performed so well in the drill that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians yelled after the drill, "He's 5-0."

Several players, such as CB Ike Taylor and FS Ryan Clark, did not participate in the drill because they rarely, if ever, blitz the quarterback in the team's defensive schemes.

"It lets them compete, see what some of those guys are made of," Tomlin said. "It presents a different challenge for the running backs than blocking linebackers. The linebackers are more power to speed. These guys are speed to power."

Quick hits

Right tackle Max Starks had the best stymie in the afternoon, twice stuffing rookie LB LaMarr Woodley on plays in the one-on-one pass-rush drill.

Davenport got behind LB Rian Wallace and caught a deep pass from Roethlisberger in the 11-on-11 drill.

The best hit of the afternoon belonged to Anthony Smith, who flattened WR Willie Reid after a catch on a slant pass. Reid held on to the ball.

The Steelers will hold two practices again today. The second will be 7 p.m. at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. A fireworks show presented by Zambelli International will follow at 9:20 p.m. Admission is $3 adults, $1 for seniors and children ages 12 to 17. Children under 12 are free if accompanied by a parent.

cpawfan · Jul 27, 2007

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519227.html

<h1 class="headline">Steelers' Ward knocks rookie 'talent'</h1> By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
 Friday, July 27, 2007

<div id="storyBody"> The rookies are coming along slowly, according to a couple of established veterans. Fortunately for the Steelers, Hines Ward and Deshea Townsend were talking about the performances of the first-year players off the field, not on it. The rookies did some singing in front of the team Wednesday night, and if Ward had reviewed the, uh, performances, he would have given them two thumbs down.

"They're going to have to step up their game for the rookie talent show, because our talent is terrible," Ward said. 

• The rookie talent show is a Steelers tradition and a diversion from the drudgery of training camp. Ward said the first-year wideouts may be the worst, as a group, of all the rookies, at least it terms of singing. 

"I've got to really work with them, because I'm getting a lot of complaints from the veterans," Ward said. "They need to step up their talent and put on a great show for the veteran guys." 
• The Steelers hold their first night practice of training camp today, and they'll do it off campus. The Steelers will practice from 7 to 9 p.m. at Latrobe High School's Memorial Stadium. The cost is $3 for adults ages 18-65 and $1 for children under 18 as well as senior citizens. Coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers will treat the practice as they would any regular afternoon one.

"We'll hit that element of situational football that we always do," Tomlin said. 

The night practice will be preceded by a morning one, as the Steelers will run drills from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Vincent College. <hr /> Digits

4 - Games started by wide receiver Santonio Holmes last year in his rookie season. </div>

cpawfan · Jul 27, 2007

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519235.html

<h1 class="headline">Inside the ropes</h1> By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
 Friday, July 27, 2007

<div id="storyBody"> Exploring all options

The Steelers didn't sign veteran quarterback Aaron Brooks, but management still sent a strong message to the players that no job is safe. 

With the quarterback situation apparently set in stone with starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch, the Steelers still explored the possibility of bringing in Brooks, who played most recently with Oakland. 

Although Brooks struggled with the Raiders and was known for his inconsistency when he played for New Orleans, the mere fact that the Steelers were even considering him is newsworthy. With his long track record as a starter, there's no way that Brooks would have agreed to join the Steelers as the No. 3 quarterback (Brian St. Pierre currently holds that spot). Brooks would have wanted an opportunity to be the starter or at the very least the backup.

Knowing that, the Steelers still checked Brooks out. Either they really believed they had a chance of signing Brooks and that he could enhance their quarterback situation, or else they wanted to let their players know that they will continue to look to upgrade the roster. 

Score one for Steelers management. 

Back in the day 

Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton and new quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson have a long history together. They were teammates with the Cincinnati Bengals in the early 1980s and were later assistant coaches together in Cincinnati. Now they're reunited with the Steelers. 

"We've been together a long time. We played a couple of years, then we coached,'' said Horton, who is in his first season as Steelers defensive backs coach after serving the previous three seasons as assistant defensive backs coach. "This isn't anything new.'' 

In Cincinnati, Horton played defensive back. Anderson was the quarterback. 

"It's so nice to have somebody that you're good friends with that's on the same staff,'' said Anderson, who's in his first season with the Steelers. "When you make a move, the football part's the easy part. The other part -- where am I going to live, how do I get around? -- that becomes the difficult part. To have a guy like Ray that you can lean on a little bit sure helps.'' 

Center stage 

Coach Mike Tomlin said free agent Sean Mahan will compete with veteran Chukky Okobi at center, but Okobi continues to line up with the first team. 

Despite the search for a replacement for the retired Jeff Hartings, agent Joe Linta believes Okobi will beat out Mahan. If he doesn't, Linta said, it won't be because Okobi, who is scheduled to earn around $2 million this season, makes too much money. 

"The Steelers aren't that stupid. From a cap perspective, it's ridiculous,'' Linta said Thursday. "Together, Chukky and Mahan will earn less than what Hartings made last season. The Steelers can keep two quality centers for a lower cap number than last year. 

"The Steelers will not cut Chukky Okobi for cap reasons. If he gets a fair shot, it's going to be very difficult to take him out of the starting lineup.'' 

Daily gems 

Second-year safety Anthony Smith continued to impress yesterday. Smith was all but unstoppable during a morning blocking drill featuring defensive backs and running backs. In the afternoon, Smith blasted wide receiver Willie Reid to the turf following a reception. Even though defenders aren't supposed to tackle in 11-on-11 drills, Tomlin said he loves Smith's aggressiveness. ... Running back Carey Davis, who was impressive during morning blocking drills, is on the No. 1 punt coverage team. ... Before re-injuring his groin, rookie linebacker Lawrence Timmons made a diving, juggling interception against Batch. 

He said it 

Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker on improving his pass blocking: "That's something I'm really anticipating, blocking and being in more on third-down packages. That's what I trained myself for this offseason. That's what I'm going to do.'' </div>

cpawfan · Jul 27, 2007

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519274.html

<h1 class="headline">Steelers' Tomlin stressing contact</h1> By The Associated Press
 Friday, July 27, 2007

<div id="storyBody"> LATROBE, Pa. — From the very minute the Pittsburgh Steelers were due at training camp, everything has been different as they make the coaching transition from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin.

Rather than gathering for a leisurely meeting Monday, they took to the practice field within one minute of the reporting deadline to get their mandatory run tests out of the way as quickly as possible. 

The trend has continued all week at a hurried-up, there's-much-to-be-done pace more reminiscent of a team rushing to prepare for a Thursday night game instead of one that began practicing with a week of July still remaining. 

The schedule has changed, the practice has changed, even the look has changed. It's a considerable amount of adjustment in so little time for a franchise that is accustomed to familiarity, one that has more Super Bowl victories (5) since 1969 than it has had coaches (3).

Instead of Cowher walking the practice fields in his familiar straw hat and shorts, Tomlin often dresses from head to toe in black long sleeves and long pants, regardless of whether it's sunny or rainy. If anything, he looks like a regular old ball coach who threw on the first thing he saw in the morning, rather than an NFL head coach conscious of wearing this shirt and these shorts to keep the NFL's official equipment licensees happy. 

The changes aren't merely cosmetic, either. The first morning practice Tuesday featured all-out hitting in full pads, something last seen so early in camp when Chuck Noll was the coach — and, fittingly, the Steelers now practice on the newly named Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent College. 

There was an entire practice devoted Wednesday to special teams, with five or six more such practices on the way. Tomlin keeps reminding his players the kicking game can decide three to four games a season. 

"Coach Cowher's not around anymore," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It's coach Tomlin's team now." 

Anyone who has watched even a minute of practice has quickly grasped that. 

"It's definitely different," defensive end Brett Keisel said. 

Nobody can argue that Cowher's practices weren't businesslike — they were, often with the coach yelling and motivating and pushing for more. But, except for the special teams practice, the workouts under Tomlin have been uncommonly intense, with considerable contact. On Thursday, there were two full practices in pads, something that never happened under Cowher. 

"I'm not looking at this as a tone-setter, or how this camp is going to compare to camps in the future or compares to camps in the past," Tomlin said. "We have to be prepared to be our very best." 

Tomlin also unveiled a new version of the backs vs. 'backers blocking drill in which linebackers go against running backs in full-speed sessions. This time it was backs vs. backs, with the nickel and dime defensive backs practicing pass rushing by going against the running backs who, so far, are doing more blocking than running. 

"We do it in the games, but we'd never done it in practice before," cornerback Deshea Townsend said. "When he talks about it, he means it. Special teams, too. It's what we expected, for it to be tough and, so far, it's been tough." 

What the Steelers don't know is how much more difficult it will get, not with six full weeks of practice and five exhibition games remaining before the Sept. 9 opener in Cleveland. 

"I don't think he's going to kill us," Keisel said. "Once he sees us starting to get beat up, I'm sure he'll back off a little bit. We're right at the beginning of things and he needs to test guys and see who he wants and who he doesn't want." 

Tomlin also wants the Steelers to understand the urgency of getting things done quickly in a sport that is played with a clock. A portable scoreboard clock counts down the time of drills, though some Steelers are wondering if it's rigged. 

"Every time you look over, it looks like it's going nowhere," Ward said. "The seconds go by slowly." 

Notes: A night practice is scheduled Friday at Latrobe High School, where crowds of more than 10,000 have attended past workouts. There's a twist this time, with a fireworks show to follow the practice. ... Rookie LB Lawrence Timmons, the first-round draft pick from Florida State, reinjured his groin during Thursday morning's practice and is out indefinitely. ... Ryan Clark and Anthony Smith are dividing time at free safety. ... Tomlin will choose his captains, rather than allowing the players to vote on them. </div>

cpawfan · Jul 27, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07208/804860-66.stm<h2>Timmons sidelined by groin injury</h2> <h3>First-round pick Timmons shows small rays of brilliance before re-injuring groin, leaving practice</h3> Friday, July 27, 2007 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawrence Timmons did something on the practice field he has been unable to do since the Steelers made him their No. 1 draft pick. He made his teammates and coaches take notice of his ability.

It happened yesterday morning at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe when he made a juggling interception of a pass thrown by Charlie Batch, eventually cradling the ball to his chest as he was falling to the ground. It was a play that demonstrated the agility and athletic talent possessed by Timmons, and the reason he was the 15th player selected overall in the National Football League draft.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="240" align="right"><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Matt Freed, Post-Gazette
 Lawrence Timmons watches as his teammates practice yesterday afternoon. Timmons injured his groin in the morning workout.
Click photo for larger image.

 

</td></tr></tbody></table> "He made a couple plays," coach Mike Tomlin said.

Timmons, an outside linebacker from Florida State, gained even more attention, though, for what happened after that.

He re-injured his groin and did not practice in the afternoon, the same injury that caused him to effectively miss all the workout programs and mini-camps in the offseason.

And here's the curious part: Timmons said he didn't re-injure the groin on any one play in the morning. Rather, he said the injury is the wear and tear of participating in the number of two-a-day drills since the start of training camp.

The Steelers have practiced twice a day since Tuesday and will have another two sessions today and tomorrow.

"The two-a-days, a two-hour practice each time, that's hard on a groin you never did anything to," Timmons said. "The wear and tear on the body. ... You got to be smart with everything. It's nothing specific. I'm just being safe."

Timmons said he did not know how long he will be sidelined, but he insisted his decision not to practice in the afternoon was more for precautionary reasons than concern. He termed the injury "nothing serious."

"I can still go," he said. "I'm just going off what's best for my body."

Nonetheless, even Tomlin conceded it was another setback for a young player who is trying to impress his coaches and teammates with what he can do.

"No doubt," Tomlin said. "When you watch guys and check their level of preparation, it's testament to their offseason program. [LaMarr] Woodley has distinguished himself a little bit because he was healthy and able to get a rep or two [in the offseason]. Lawrence has to make up ground. It's nothing earth-shattering, but that's the reality of it."

The reference was to LaMarr Woodley, an outside linebacker from Michigan who was the team's second-round draft pick. Woodley is a different style of player than Timmons -- he's a converted defensive end who is more of a pass-rusher -- but he has been getting more snaps at training camp because the coaches got to see him perform extensively in the offseason.

Timmons' latest setback will prevent him from playing catchup, at least for now. Meantime, Woodley is likely to play more immediately than Timmons, probably as a replacement for left outside linebacker Clark Haggans in some third-down situations.

"They're both talented linebackers," said inside linebacker James Farrior. "I think both of them are going to be good players. You can tell on the field."

Problem is, Timmons hasn't been on the field as much as the coaches would like. Moreover, his injury is a concern because it's a recurrence of the problem he has had from the outset of the offseason -- a sign that his groin is not completely healed.

Timmons sustained the injury on the first day of mini-camp and never took part in another workout session the rest of the offseason. When he reported to training camp Monday, he said he was fully recovered and ready to go. But, in yesterday's morning session, Timmons said his groin felt sore.

However, he did finish the practice, and even made a couple big plays.

"He felt a little twinge, so we're just being cautious," Tomlin said. "We don't want to take steps backward as we move forward. Until that point, he did make a play or two, and that was good."

Timmons said not to worry -- there are more good plays to come.

"I'm still out here on the field, taking plays, listening to the coaches," he said. "I don't think this is a setback. I'm just taking it day-to-day and not trying to rush anything. I still got a whole 20 days to go [of training camp]. We got time."

Asked if the injury felt worse than during the offseason, Timmons said, "No, nothing like that. There's no discomfort. Groins take a while to heal, It takes time. You can't rush anything.

"I think I'm coming around good. The next couple weeks, I'll be fine."

The Steelers are keeping their fingers crossed.

cpawfan · Jul 28, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07209/805168-66.stm<h2>Steelers Notebook: It happened one night -- Ben looking sharp</h2> Saturday, July 28, 2007 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette





Coach Mike Tomlin abandoned the live goal-line drill that for years traditionally ended a Steelers night training camp practice, only he forgot to tell that to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger treated the goal line as his personal playground, throwing consecutive touchdown passes and adding a third in 11 on 11 to the delight of the estimated 12,000 fans who turned out last night at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.

The quarterback looked in top form as he rifled a 15-yard pass in the left front of the end zone to Cedrick Wilson, who held on after a big hit from safety Tyrone Carter. Next, Roethlisberger showed perfect touch on a 15-yard lob pass to tight end Heath Miller, who stretched his 6-foot-5 frame just enough in the right back corner of the end zone for the score. 

Although Roethlisberger did throw one misguided pass on a rollout that safety Anthony Smith dropped in the end zone, the quarterback came back and pitched a 35-yard touchdown to Nate Washington.

"I was real pleased,'' said offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. "He knows what he's doing right now."

Well-deserved breather
Tomlin eased up on his team for the first time. 

He extended their curfew last night after practice and canceled this morning's scheduled 90-minute practice at Saint Vincent College. 

Although the players still must attend meetings this morning, it's the first time they will not have two daily practices since their first Tuesday morning. They will have a two-hour practice starting at 2:55 p.m. that is open to the public.

"It's good to throw the guys a bone now and then," Tomlin said. 

Timmons a spectator
No. 1 draft pick Lawrence Timmons wasn't involved in last night's practice. After reinjuring his groin on Thursday, Timmons watched morning special teams practice for 10 minutes and then left the field when quarterbacks and the offensive line were dismissed.

Timmons is expected to play on several special teams as a rookie but things are not off to a good start.

Two, but not tough
There are two-a-day practices, and then there are two-a-days and not all are the same. That first coach Tomlin held on the first morning of camp, Tuesday, was a real practice, two hours long and plenty of hitting.

Then there was yesterday's one-hour drill. It was all special teams, no hitting -- unless you count the number of times players tried to knock down a volleyball as they "rushed" the punter.

Ten minutes into the morning practice, the entire offensive line and the four quarterbacks were dismissed, along with Hines Ward and Timmons. They walked back into the dorm with two coaches, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and line coach Larry Zierlein.

Thirty minutes later, the defensive line departed.

Block that kick?
Watching special teams practices in the morning -- unfortunately, not open to the public -- is like watching a three-ring circus. Over here, players are running and batting volleyballs as if they are saving a punted football from bouncing into the end zone. Over there, more volleyballs are being pooch punted as players try to block them.

The former regime rarely tried to block kicks and maybe this one won't either, but they're certainly putting a lot of practice time into it.

There's also the football-on-a-stick. Think banana-on-a-stick, only the stick is about 3 feet long and the football is not covered in chocolate. It's not exactly high-tech; the coaches use it to signal the snap from center -- they hold the stick, put the ball on the ground and yank it up on the snap.

Don't forget the skinny posts. That's what they call a certain route run by receivers down the middle. 

Now they are literally using skinny posts in practice -- goal posts about half the width of normal ones so kickers, I suppose, can get used to kicking through tighter quarters.

The other day, they went to the mattresses -- not like La Cosa Nostra -- using big foam rubber things as a soft landing ground for players trying to extend their bodies to block a punt. No bedsprings involved and no bedposts.

Holmes still out
Santonio Holmes again did not practice. Holmes, who might practice soon, had a non-football "procedure" before camp started.

Haynes comes back

Halfback Verron Haynes practiced for the first time last night after the Steelers withdrew him from the physically unable to perform list.

Haynes must fight to reclaim his spot on the team as a third-down back and backup halfback.

The competition is keen for Haynes with Najeh Davenport, Kevan Barlow, John Kuhn and a couple of other free agent backs in camp.

Haynes blew out his left knee -- virtually every ligament in it -- last November and made a miracle comeback to practice in the spring. Such injuries normally take at least a year to heal.

"I wasn't even supposed to be practicing until November," Haynes said. 

"They don't want the setbacks to occur. So right now since I'm ahead of schedule, they want to keep it that way, monitor everything. Coach talked to me: It's a long preseason. We're just going to monitor it day by day."

Haynes has been running this week.

Rehage returns
Another player who came off the PUP list and practiced for the first time last night was linebacker Derek Rehage, who did so wearing a splint on his broken thumb.

cpawfan · Jul 28, 2007

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07209/805173-66.stm<h2>Training Camp: Steelers will try to draw a fine line</h2> <h3>Things get a little blurry when the Steelers try to work the old in with the new on offense</h3> Saturday, July 28, 2007 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette





The linemen who make the holes for the Steelers' offense find themselves trying to fill a few this summer.<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="240" align="right"><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td></tr> <tr><td></td> <td>
Peter Diana, Post-Gazette</td></tr> <tr><td></td> <td>Harrison Smith reaches to block the volleyball during special teams drills to stop the punt during morning workouts yesterday.
 Click photo for larger image.</td></tr> </tbody></table> Some holes aren't the kind that Willie Parker can run through. There are others, such as the job openings that supposedly exist on the offensive line: One at center, one at right guard and another at right tackle.

For sure, there is a new job available at center because of the retirement of two-time Pro Bowler Jeff Hartings. Either longtime heir apparent Chukky Okobi or newcomer Sean Mahan will start. As for the others, it's open more to conjecture than official job postings.

"As of right now, I'm penciled in as a starter, so I don't feel I'm fighting," right tackle Max Starks said. "It's more of a maintenance thing. I'm going to do the same approach as previous camps, play my best ball and whatever coach feels is necessary for the best of this team will happen."

Starks has started the past two seasons at right tackle. Kendall Simmons has started at right guard every season since the Steelers drafted him in the first round in 2002, except when his ACL was torn in training camp in 2004.

Coupled with the longtime left tackle Marvel Smith and left guard Alan Faneca, it's a line that's been together for a good while, as modern NFL lines go, and one that has been successful as well. Why can't they continue that?

"This is my seventh year," Okobi said. "I've played with all these guys in the past. You have to look at Marvel and Max, Kendall and Alan -- they're the same guys you won a Super Bowl with, so I don't see why not."

Simmons looks to be in great shape and the so-called competition with Chris Kemoeatu looks to be over, if there ever really was a competition. It's possible, even, that the Steelers will get going soon on a new contract for Simmons, who has one year left.

Starks is in the fight of his early career with second-year tackle Willie Colon. The Steelers did tender Starks a one-year contract of $1.85 million as a restricted free agent, so it's not as if they think the lesser of him. It's more Colon than anything; he has been impressive since the day they drafted him in the fourth round from Hofstra and he's making a real bid to start. If Colon does not start, he almost surely will be the top backup tackle and perhaps even at guard.

There has been no negotiation and no talk of such to extend Starks' contract, and he would be an unrestricted free agent next March. He seems to have shed a lot of weight since the spring. His problem has always been that while he does have big feet, at size 19, he is not very light on them and can be beaten by speed rushers. He has been a good run blocker and he's a massive 6 feet 8 and 340 or so pounds.

"This is my last year," Starks said matter-of-factly. "We always play for extensions. This year, I'm just trying to help my team be the best."

There will be a new starter at right tackle only if Colon outperforms Starks, so that would not necessarily constitute a hole at tackle.

Center is the purest form of competition because the job was officially flung open after Hartings' retirement. At first, it appeared it belonged to Okobi. He took a pay cut to remain with the Steelers last season when Hartings, who talked about retiring the past several seasons, decided to stay on for 2006. Okobi is due a $2 million salary this season, which means he was paid based on the fact the team thought he would start.

But then the Steelers signed Mahan as their only big-time unrestricted free agent addition, and they paid him a $4 million signing bonus as part of a five-year, $17 million contract. That's usually not what they pay backups, either. Plus, Mahan played on a team that had Mike Tomlin as its secondary coach until last season, so the Steelers' new head coach apparently liked what he saw in Tampa Bay.

Mahan, who weighs 301 pounds, started 12 games in 2006, but none at center -- nine at left guard and three at right guard. He started all 16 games at right guard in 2005. The only time he has started at center came in 2004, when he made all eight of his starts at center.

But he makes no bones about why the Steelers signed him.

"I came here primarily to play center unless a need comes up at guard," Mahan said.

Okobi has run with the first team since camp opened, but Tomlin is expected to give Mahan time there as well. The players and the coach -- and, no doubt, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- would like to have a decision at center as soon as possible.

"Whoever's going to be in there, you want to be in there so you can mesh with the other guys and get your timing down and everything with the other guys," Mahan said.

"The sooner the better," line coach Larry Zierlein said. "But we don't want to hurry it and maybe not get the right guy. I hate to set a date, but you would like to play the last two preseason games knowing who the guy was, so hopefully, we would be there at that point."

cpawfan · Jul 28, 2007

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519418.html

<h1 class="headline">Steelers revive the no-huddle offense</h1> By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
 Saturday, July 28, 2007

Ben Roethlisberger isn't doing as much campaigning this year.

There's no need. 

New offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and head coach Mike Tomlin are in apparent agreement with their QB's belief that the Steelers should employ the no-huddle offense in situations other than when they're trying to play beat the clock. 

"With Bruce and the confidence he has in me and Tomlin has, I think we'll use it," Roethlisberger said. <div align="center"> </div> Roethlisberger, citing the success of Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals in such situations, voiced his desire for the Steelers to follow suit as the next logical step in their continued development as an offense in the spring of 2006.

The no-huddle/hurry-up has come into vogue in recent seasons as a method of dictating tempo and combating situational substitutions on defense. 

Fresh from a Super Bowl championship a year ago in June, former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt initially warmed up to the idea of the Steelers trying to play it that way on occasion. 

Roethlisberger, Whisenhunt declared, had earned the right to attempt to take on more responsibility in such a fashion. 

But it didn't work out that way. 

"Short of saying anything about the other coaches that were here (last year), but we just didn't use it in the (regular-season) games," Roethlisberger said. "I don't know why." 

Roethlisberger's offseason motorcycle accident didn't initially deter either Whisenhunt or former head coach Bill Cowher from moving forward with their no-huddle experiment. 

"Against Minnesota in the preseason, we used the no-huddle on the first series and went right down and scored," Roethlisberger said. 

They might have done the same against Miami had Roethlisberger not missed the regular-season opener after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. 

He was off-target and ineffective upon his return on Sept. 18 in Jacksonville. 

And by the time Roethlisberger made it back from a concussion suffered on Oct. 22 in Atlanta and threw four interceptions on Oct. 29 in Oakland, the Steelers were 2-5 and in scramble mode much more than they were committed to expanding their repertoire. 

Arians' embracing of the concept this summer includes four no-huddle packages in addition to the hurry-up normally relied upon at the conclusion of halves or games. 

"Those will just be up-tempo," Arians said. "The (hurry-up) we consider fast-break, four wide receivers and just as fast as we can go." 

The Steelers worked on the hurry-up on Wednesday, attempting to advance the ball against the defense and a ticking clock positioned on the practice field. 

The personnel group in that instance was three wide receivers (Hines Ward, Cedric Wilson and Nate Washington), tight end Heath Miller and running back Willie Parker, further evidence that tight ends and wide receivers are becoming interchangeable in Arians' administration. 

On Thursday, the Steelers went no-huddle but at less than a breakneck pace. 

The personnel group used included two tight ends (Miller and Jerame Tuman), Ward, Wilson and Parker. 

"B.A. said this can be a weapon for us at any time," Roethlisberger said. "And if you remember the game at Cleveland, we were down, but we started using it in the third quarter and we started moving the ball. 

"I think it can be a weapon just like our (hurry-up)."

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Training Camp 2007

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Training Camp 2007

cpawfan Monsters do exist

Thoth Sisyphus in training

cpawfan Monsters do exist

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cpawfan Monsters do exist

kcgsc Chiefs Enthusiast Extraordinaire

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

cpawfan Monsters do exist

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