Training Camp Report - Day 1

Labs and Tom return for the 2024 Training Camp Report. They preview camp getting started, hear from Tomlin, Russ Wilson, and TJ Watt. Chris Hoke calls into the show to break down the start of Camp.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
DC Start Training Camp report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steeler's Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
The first day of school for Steelers Nation is here, Labs.
You're sitting in the press box looking out over the
practice field before the players descend upon it. Ten thirty am,
the first practice gets underway today.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Do you have that same feeling.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
That first day of school, butterfly feeling like you did
when you were a kid back in like sixth grade.

Speaker 4 (00:34):
Actually, the first day of school was yesterday. Everybody had
to report to school yesterday. I mean maybe you know,
for guys like you, big shots, you can stroll in,
you know, on the campus, you know, a day after
everyone else. But yesterday was the big day in here.
Just to set the scene a little bit. First of all,

(00:55):
you know, we're doing this early in the morning. Practice
time has changed. Apparently there are a lot of early
risers in Steelers Nation in Westmoreland County or willing to
visit Westmoreland County.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Because early practice time did not withhold fans from showing up,
is what you're getting.

Speaker 4 (01:12):
Not so far, Because I had to fight my way
through the crowd to get from Benedict Hall over to
Chuck Nollfield to you know, get to my perch here
so I could talk to you. And one other thing.
It's been a very very dry summer in Westmoreland County
and the grounds around Saint Vincent most of the grass

(01:35):
is brown. But the practice fields look like the fairways
in Augusta, Nashal. Seriously, I mean, and they have them,
you know how when they cut the grass, every ten
yards is a different shade of green. Yeah, it's their line.
The fields are lined through fields lined. I'm looking at

(01:59):
So everything's ready here for the start of this And
as I always say, ready or not here.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
We are well.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Like you said, there were activities yesterday. So even though
for schmucks like me, I view today as the first
day of camp, the hardworking people had to get roll
up their sleeves yesterday. What happened yesterday kind of lay
it out for the people. I know, they had the
run test, the move in Day activities. What did it entail.

Speaker 4 (02:26):
Yeah, let's start, you know, chronologically with you know, it's
move in Day. And you know, our fans may remember,
you know, Brett Keesl pulling up in the tractor, Antonio
Brown coming in on the helicopter. You know, there was
none of that kind of stuff. It was a fairly
mundane check in period in terms of, you know, theatrics

(02:49):
or no circus acts.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Even for you, like you didn't ride in a hot
air balloon the LABS Express.

Speaker 4 (02:56):
The only way I would ever get into a hot
air balloon if I needed to do that to save
my life. Otherwise interest in that. But so there was
the one thing about it I will say, and you
know a few of the media commented on this Russell Wilson, Uh,

(03:19):
the first time in I won't say ever, but in
a long time where the starting quarterback simply came out
of Rooney Hall, which is where they all lived, players
came out from back of Rooney Hall and did his

(03:40):
media session without being prodded by PR or ordered to
do it by PR. You know what, Russell Wilson just
walked out and everybody you know, recognized him, obviously circled him,
and you know, he had a It was a good session.
I mean, this guy.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
Game like a good ten minutes LABS like. It wasn't
just a tap like four minutes. I'll answer four questions
that I'm out.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
Of here exactly. He is a pro. He is a
pro he understands the job. He understands the responsibilities of
the job. You know, we're going to see how he plays.
I think he's going to be fine. You know, I
was talking to one of the scouts yesterday and we
were meant to, you know, talking about Russell Wilson, and
I said, you know, everybody talks about it bad he

(04:25):
was last year. I think he threw like twenty six
touchdown passes and eight interceptions. I'm not positive of those numbers,
but imagine.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
That, right, and it's still red zone. Touchdown percentage was
through the roof. One of the best in the league.

Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, I mean, so you know that's big Ben esque
statistics there. So you know, if he puts up those
kind of numbers, plus you know the command that he has,
the professionalism that he shows, the leadership, you know, he's
he's a as I said, he's a professional. Those guys
in the in the locker room recognize that. So good

(04:59):
first day for so Wilson.

Speaker 5 (05:01):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
Then there was the run test. I've never seen a
run test like this before my life.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
That to me earlier today before he went on the air,
was so unique about it.

Speaker 4 (05:12):
To me, it was more like the scouting combine. Really,
you know, like the Chuck Noll run test. You know
you had to do sprints, wind sprints or laps around
the field whatever those were called. Get Wolfleet to explain that.
But you know you had to run them under a
certain time and with a certain amount of refs. You know,

(05:34):
Bill Cower had you know, excuse me, hundreds and then
you know, dropped down the distance you know, as the
as it got later into the drill, Mike Tomlins previous
drills were similar to that, but this was you guys
were pushing sleds and riding bikes, not real bicycles, but

(05:56):
you know the exercise kind of bikes. We have to
pump your arms too, look like almost you know, stages
or intervals of a workout. Pushing sleds. They had all
of the you know, high tech stuff, timing ten yards,
splits on runs and stuff. And yeah, it took a while. Again,
as I said, I I couldn't have passed any of

(06:21):
the run tests ever done here. I certainly would not
have passed yesterday's.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
So now we move into today. The pads won't come
on until next week. Tuesday of next week is their
first scheduled padded practice. So they got to go today, Tomorrow, Saturday,
and Sunday with just shells.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
What do you expect out of those practices labs?

Speaker 2 (06:42):
I mean, I think the first couple of days it's
good to kind of, you know, get acclimated, dip your
toes in the water. But I bet by Saturday or
Sunday you really need those pads to come on to
really start to find out some things about your football team.

Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah, you know, it's not football until it's in pads. Yeah,
as Mike Tomlins says, you football is a game played
in pads, and you can't really evaluate people or get
to know what you have or you know, have those
people really acclimate and get settled in until you know
they put the pads on. So this is going to

(07:15):
be extended mini camp. I mean, for lack of a
trying to you know, put paint a little bit of
a verbal picture. That's how I would do it. It
would it's going to be you know, extended mini camp
that will do a lot of the same things. There's
not going to be any contact. They don't want to
get anyone hurt, you know at this point.

Speaker 1 (07:36):
And.

Speaker 4 (07:38):
You know that that's what it's going to be yesterday.
We know from Mike Thomas press conference that Cole Hulkom
and Dean Lowry will start on the physically unable to
perform lists, So those guys will be able. They're here,
they'll do everything except practice meetings, you know, all that

(08:00):
kind of different stuff, films, whatever they do up in
the dorms, in those closed rooms. When practice is happening,
they will probably be either on the field or up
in the fitness center rehabbing, either working with trainers or
you know, strength and conditioning people. And then whenever they're ready,
they just activate them and they can put their helmets

(08:22):
on and start practicing. Corderyl Patterson is on the non
football injury list. He he had he injured a hamstring.
I don't know. Mike Tomlin didn't seem to be real
worried about it in the run up to camp, so
he was injured I think sometime between the end of
mini camp and the start of training camp during that

(08:45):
dead period. That's why he's on non football injury. He's
in a very similar situation in terms of whenever he's ready,
they just you know, bring him up and put a
helmet on him and.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
There you go well, as he hinted to there. Mike
Tomlin added with the media yesterday after the extended run
test period, let's play back some of his comments. Want
to always share with you what Tomlin says at the
following of every practice during our training camp reportant here's
coaches comments at the open of camp yesterday.

Speaker 6 (09:15):
Good afternoon, really exciting day for us here to get started. First,
just some necessary business. All are present and accounted for
in terms of attendance. We just did our conditioning tests.
It was a really good experience.

Speaker 4 (09:28):
Man.

Speaker 6 (09:28):
We did a little something different this year, but really
excited about it. Just exposing them to that and gathering information,
just gauging the readiness of this group. Really oppressive collective
from that perspective. We got three guys that will be
on the list. We got two pup guys, Dean Lowry
and Cole Hulkom, obviously with pre existing injury and and

(09:49):
and see Patterson will be on a non football injury list.
He's got a hammy that that he hurt down South
in training. So we got three guys that will start
off kind of as non participate pence in this process.
And that's really kind of the laundry list, if you will,
of necessary business. Just really excited about getting this group
in this environment. We appreciate coming up to Latrobe. We

(10:13):
don't take it for granted. We realize that in twenty
twenty four we're in the minority in terms of teams
that go away to a destination camp. We're excited about that.
We're really excited about the winning edge that we believe
it provides us. We think that we have an opportunity
to capture that which you can't measure in an environment
like this. That understanding, that respect, that growth that's associated

(10:36):
with informal time, that groups get a chance to spend
together in an environment like this is something that we're
cognizant of and really intentional about teeing up. We got
some regular business that everybody's going to obviously be involved
in in terms of practices and meetings and installs and
so forth. We're excited about that as well. So I'm

(10:57):
really excited about getting it started. Got a lot of
new people, new coaches, new players. I'm not taking anything
for granted. Obviously I've been up here a lot over
the years, but I'm just making a real conscious effort
to do a good job of communicating, telling people why,
making sure people understand locations and things of that nature,
the things that you do at the very beginning stages

(11:17):
of an environment like this. My experience is not our
group's experience, and so I'm not taking anything for granted
in terms of laying a foundation for our stay. I'll
pause and open it up for questions.

Speaker 7 (11:29):
Was there a scientific method or reason for doing the
morning practices during the week.

Speaker 6 (11:34):
You know, we were just really pressed for time after
practice in terms of our night meetings, and oftentimes we're
making corrections and coaching points in the following morning, and
it's it's better for teaching and learning when you get
that immediate feedback. And so we just bought ourselves more
time on the backside of our day so that we
can have more immediate feedback teaching and learning based on

(11:56):
the tape that we put out that day. It's just
some challenges to the eleven hour work day in a
setting like this, and so we move the practice back
a little bit in an effort for that. But also,
oftentimes guys are rushed at dinner and we want to
do make sure we do a good job of feeding
the guys and they they're bringing an appropriate appetite to dinner.

(12:19):
So those are a couple of byproducts and reasons why
we're moving to practice to earlier in the.

Speaker 3 (12:25):
Day, just moving the practice earlier.

Speaker 7 (12:27):
You mentioned a couple different changes conditioning where you guys
are meeting.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
What's kind of the motivation behind some of those changes.

Speaker 6 (12:33):
We're forever changing. I don't know that that's anything different.
Every year we're trying to figure out how to do
things better, more professional in an effort to produce a
better finished product, a collectives that's ready for action. And
so it's just part of our process. Sometimes we come
across a new technology and want to explore. Sometimes it's

(12:55):
based on notes from previous experience. Sometimes it's interesting things
that come with new people from other places. We don't
care where good answers or good solutions come from. The
key for us is just to continually work to find
a better team development process in.

Speaker 4 (13:12):
This conditioning test First, how you've done it before.

Speaker 6 (13:14):
I'm just a new new stress staff that brings a
new perspective from outside the organization, and I'm always open
to the new things associated with new personnel.

Speaker 8 (13:26):
What went into schedule on a joint practice at the
end of camp, something you guys have done.

Speaker 6 (13:31):
Recently, particularly with the new kickoff. I'm just interested in
getting some work against other people. Most of the time
when you do joint practices, a lot of it is
about special teams and young guys getting intense work, and
that's the spirit in which we're going into it. Obviously
we're gonna get some offense versus defense and things of
that nature. But if you really talked about talking about

(13:52):
what stimulated our sincere interest in doing it this year
is just really great special teams work.

Speaker 9 (14:00):
Like you guys are only one of Hayton clubs that
still you camp fully away from home.

Speaker 8 (14:04):
Why does that continue to be such a valuable experience for.

Speaker 4 (14:06):
You guys to be away?

Speaker 6 (14:07):
Like I mentioned, we value that which we cannot measure,
the camaraderie, the mutual understanding and respect gained gained and
informal time spent. At the end of the day, our
work's done, but there's picnic tables, guys, young teach, old
guys get to know one another and each other's journey.
I just think it's individual and collective growth in those opportunities,

(14:30):
and that's why we value this awesome venue.

Speaker 1 (14:33):
You've had a couple of.

Speaker 7 (14:34):
Months to get around Russell Wilson.

Speaker 10 (14:36):
Can you just kind of is there anything that stands
out that you've learned being around him in the last
few months.

Speaker 6 (14:41):
He likes to work. I just think that that is
a really good place to begin. He's highly conditioned. He
brings a unique approach to the weight room, maybe for
a goud that plays his position. There's a lot of
interesting things about him in terms of his appetite for
work that's really attractive.

Speaker 4 (15:01):
I still have a whole position to be a starter.

Speaker 6 (15:03):
Nothing is changed, plan on working those reps with him
and justin very carefully. Well, Kevin, I'm actually back myself
into a corner. So you guys are gonna ask me
daily about the rep allocations. In no way, I've been
on the job too long for that broach. How much
to use Kim Sutton knowing that he's going to be
suspended to start the season. His suspension has no bearing

(15:26):
on his work in this environment, Like can you use.

Speaker 9 (15:29):
Pet Farm in a wide receiver role from time to time?

Speaker 5 (15:33):
If so, why would he be successful?

Speaker 6 (15:36):
I don't know what you mean by that. In terms
of splitting them out. We've done that in the past, No, no,
no issues there. Most of the time in two tight
end sets, he's often the one that's displaced from the
core and acts like a wide receiver as you say.

Speaker 7 (15:51):
He was asked today if he was ever given an
explanation as.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
To why the fifth year option.

Speaker 7 (15:56):
Was declined, and his response was that he was told
that the team didn't know which direction the offense was headed.
Is there anything about the direction that the offense is
headed that would be away from Naji?

Speaker 6 (16:10):
No need for me to add any more to his
his answer to your question. If that's what he was told,
that's what he was told.

Speaker 11 (16:17):
What is Arthur Smith brought to your offense early on here?

Speaker 6 (16:21):
I think that remains to be seen. I mean it's
day one, we just checked in, you know, in the spring,
we're doing teaching and learning, and it's really kind of
a you know, a macro approach, if you will. All
of those things will be revealed, man, as we get
into the nitty gritty component of this. I think anything
that's that said at this juncture is speculation.

Speaker 5 (16:41):
And I don't want to miss mislead you because you spoke.

Speaker 4 (16:45):
About new basis and your thoughts on even how things
will at least with day one with your receivers.

Speaker 9 (16:52):
Would a Wookie and.

Speaker 7 (16:53):
An in free agent edition.

Speaker 6 (16:55):
We haven't done a thing other than condition tests, so again,
not a lot to report in terms of what they
look like in terms of the football I have more
answers in regards to that tomorrow on the list.

Speaker 5 (17:06):
Is their optimism or hope that will be.

Speaker 6 (17:09):
The student trainer, no question, no question.

Speaker 7 (17:14):
Pawisho's the one we didn't.

Speaker 1 (17:15):
Know about before that was unknown is that's on you.

Speaker 6 (17:18):
You know, you can characterize it as day to day
at this juncture, we'll see where it leads us.

Speaker 11 (17:24):
Like you talked a lot about last season, the advantages
to waiting for the rookies to wait till second half
of the season so they didn't hit that rookie wall.

Speaker 5 (17:32):
Do you imagine a similar.

Speaker 2 (17:33):
Approach this year or could those guys see earlier action.

Speaker 6 (17:37):
You know, I do it based on individuals, and it's
not just a cookie cutter approach. It's based on the
maturation and maturity and readiness of the individuals, and so
what may have applied to last year's class may not
apply to this year's class. I think a lot of
this year's class are older guys than maybe last year's class.
A bunch of fifth year guys and things of that

(17:58):
nature in this class, and so that might be you know,
more mediate maturity and readiness. Just in a nutshell. I
don't paint with a broad brush. We make decisions on
an individual basis. And I don't know if the front
part of your question reflects our gender regarding the whole
class or maybe just a few individuals like Joey Porter Junior.
I think it's who you're referring to, but I don't

(18:20):
know if it's indicative of the class.

Speaker 2 (18:22):
We have the land if somebody.

Speaker 7 (18:23):
Has to land in about the years they won the
super Bowl.

Speaker 4 (18:26):
He won the Super Bowl, The camp was a really
good day year.

Speaker 2 (18:29):
He's every year we think the camp is good.

Speaker 7 (18:31):
I feel like this the way your attitude is you
ever had a bad camp?

Speaker 6 (18:34):
Figure, I judge camp based on how we perform. You know,
the purpose of camp is to divide the labor up
to get a sense of who you are individually and collectively,
or the teaching to learn or to tee you up
for the season. And so you know, we all want
to feel good this time of year. We all undefeated,
and if you're looking for some of that. You can
find it for me. I've just been at it long

(18:56):
enough that i just know that there's a lot of
work to be done and those bills are gonna come
due inside stadiums.

Speaker 7 (19:03):
How interested are you to see the large group of
new core receivers going against similarly in some places, reconstructed
parts of your secondary How those two work off for
each other.

Speaker 6 (19:13):
I'm interested in all of that. I think there's questions
that you can apply that same thing every position group
hired a new offensive, young offensivelignment gonna do against the
young emerging defensive front Benton and Lee al and others.
I think that's why we hear, you know, a lot
of his speculation until we roll that ball out. And
that's the beautiful component of team building and these opportunities

(19:38):
that are NFL training camps. Guys not gonna talk their
way on the teams, They're not gonna talk their way
up the depth chart. They gonna get an opportunity to
compete and pit their skills and talents against others. And
that's an exciting component of camp.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
Coach Thomas, speaking with the media following the run test yesterday,
a moving day for the Steelers for practice today at
ten thirty am LABS.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
My one question following that presser is do you.

Speaker 2 (20:03):
Think the media will listen to him and moving forward
no longer ask any questions regarding the rep split between
Fields and Wilson the REP allocations.

Speaker 4 (20:12):
No, I don't think that. I think part of Mike
Thoma's answered also had to do with, you know, he
didn't want the questions to include, well, you said that
you were going to split them, and this guy got
ten and this guy got fifteen. You know, you know
that kind of thing. I just want to make one

(20:33):
other quick point about some one thing Mike Thomlan said.
You mentioned the eleven hour days out here. The Collective
Bargaining Agreement does not allow teams during the training camp
period to have the players working more than eleven hours
a day. So, if let's say, for an example, the

(20:57):
first team meetings at eight o'clock in the morning, the
last team meeting cannot end at nine, even though you
might have the meeting in the dormitory where you're sleeping.
So you know, that's just something for you know, fans
to realize and understand that, you know, there is downtime

(21:19):
here and it's not because it's a soft camp or
Mike Tolman's a player's coach, or you know, any of
that garbage. It's because those are the rules set out
by the collective bargaining agreement. And that's why, you know,
Mike Tomland refers to the downtime where guys that are
on pick the tables and get to know each other,
and he sees the value in that up here because

(21:41):
you know, they have to have free time and a
lot of it is spent, you know, I don't know,
playing video games with each other, or just shooting the
breeze or you know, sharing some sacks, whatever, and he
thinks that has value.

Speaker 2 (21:56):
I think it absolutely has value. It's one of the
most important things of this period of camp. But Labs
and I are going to get into some of the
offensive storylines surrounding twenty twenty four Steelers training camp when
we come back. We're also gonna hear from Steelers quarterback
Russell Wilson. That's on the way next on the Training
Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
One Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola on
Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Labs, I think there's obviously a ton of intrigue when
it comes to the offensive side of the ball. It's
really been the case for the Steelers for the past
few seasons, ever since Big Ben hung it up offensive line.
First two draft picks of the twenty twenty four draft
were a left tackle or right tackle and a center
wide receiver two has been a topic that we've talked

(22:47):
about ad nauseum, it seems all off season long. Of course,
there's intrigue with the quarterbacks too. Not to say there's
a position battle. I'm not gonna, you know, feed into
that beast, but just seeing Russell Wilson under center in
a Steeler uniform getting a look at justin fields, that's
got a lot of intrigue to it.

Speaker 3 (23:03):
And which one do you think you know? Wide receiver?

Speaker 2 (23:07):
Offensive line, those are more positioned battely, But which one
do you kind of circle as the one on the
top of your total poll?

Speaker 4 (23:14):
I think you're missing what I would say is the
most significant thing to keep an eye on. Erfa Smith,
the new coordinator. Yes, you know, I because a lot
of that stuff that you mentioned, the offensive line, the receivers,
you know, even the division of labor of the running backs.
Naugie Harris and Jalen Warren. All of that is going

(23:37):
to depend on Arthur Smith's offense, how he believes is
the best usage of the personnel at hand, some of
the things that they want to do with that personnel,
even after they decide on it, you know who it's
going to be. So there's a lot of things I
think that you know, just like last year and the

(23:58):
year before, I kind of, you know, fell in with
the the general feeling that you know, a lot of
what was happening was you know, was you could trace
it back to Matt Canada and you know, how he
was calling plays, how he was utilizing people, you know,

(24:20):
those kind of things, and so, uh, you know, I'm
not going to rip Matt Canada here. Uh you know
that that that horse has left the bar and so
to speak. But you know, I'm really interested in Arthur Smith.
This guy to me as a proven NFL coordinator. He's
a play caller, a proved you know, he has experienced

(24:41):
calling plays at the NFL level, you know, And how
he's going to taylor the game plan each week versus
the particular opponent, as opposed to just having an idea
of the plays that he wants to run and then
you know, concentrating on the execute of them regardless of

(25:01):
the strength of the particular opponent's defense. I mean, that's
how you do it in the NFL. And so all
of those things that you mentioned, sure they're going to
be interesting and you know, maybe a training camp a
lot of fun to watch as Mike Tomlin creates the
competition periods and the matchups within those competition periods to
you know, put Joey Porter Junior against Rome and Wilson, say,

(25:25):
just to pick something off the top of my head,
I mean.

Speaker 3 (25:28):
You remember the battle last year between Joey and GP.

Speaker 4 (25:31):
I mean they were legendary, right, absolutely, So there's all
of that. But I'm gonna and it's it's not going
to be easy to do it camp to figure out,
you know, how Arthur Smith is going to proceed, attack, prepare,
those kind of things. And I love that we're going

(25:51):
to see a lot of it preseason either. But to me,
that's going to be a significant aspect of you know,
what we're going to see here. I think it's twenty
one days, twenty three days, something like that, we're out of.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
Here, and it's just a great point. That's why You're
so much better at this than I am, because you're right,
you know, that's the guy pulling all the strings at
all of the positions that are kind of in question
or there's intrigue around and kind of going off of
that labs with wide receiver too, or more appropriately, I
think a secondary option in the receiving game. I'm really
interested to see what Arthur Smith does with the tight

(26:28):
end usage. You think you kind of touched on that
a little bit, but that was one of the things
that I think a lot of people pounded the table
with Matt Canada for is you know, we want to
see our second round pick from a few years ago,
Pat Fryernmuth used a lot more in the offense, and
I think people are excited to see if Arthur Smith
will do that.

Speaker 4 (26:43):
Yeah, and you know there's other guys, you know, at
the tight end position too. I mean, I'm not going to,
you know, predict or expect that Darnel Washington becomes the
next Tony Gonzalez, because that's not the kind of player
he is. But you know, there are ways to utilize
the tight ends, you know, as blockers and receivers. The

(27:06):
problems that can create for the defense in the running game,
the issues that they can create for the defense in
terms of you know, you just look at the you know,
whether it's eleven personnel, twelve personnel, thirteen personnel. And by
that I mean when they refer to it that way,
the numbers, like eleven one refers to the number of

(27:28):
running backs on the field. The second one is the
number of tight ends. So eleven personnel is one running back,
one tight end, twelve is one running back, two tight ends,
the thirteen is one running back three tight ends. Now
you could use you know, twelve or thirteen personnel and
throw out of it. You know, the defense might think
all these tight ends and a running back in the game,

(27:49):
they're going to run. Well maybe not. So these are
the kinds of things that I think we're going to
reveal themselves as important or significant to the Steelers season
that we may not be able to determine based on
training camp, but you know, I think they're going to be.

(28:10):
They could be very important to the course of the
season that it's going to take for the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
Well, and I think this isn't you know, splitting the atom.
Hear me saying this, But the most important thing for
any offense is to have the quarterback be efficient, have
the quarterback play well. Russell Wilson is in pole position,
as I'm sure you've heard several times already, to be
that starting quarterback. If we're just to inject my opinion here,
he's going to be the starting quarterback.

Speaker 3 (28:37):
I think week one in Atlanta. Let's hear what Russ
had to say.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Though he caught up with the media, Dori Movin day
gave him a good about eight or nine minutes here.
So Russell Wilson talking to the media yesterday at Steelers'
training camp.

Speaker 5 (28:49):
Yeah, I'm so super excited, I think to be here
in Latrobe.

Speaker 8 (28:51):
I've heard about it for years and to actually be here,
you know, old school style of training camp.

Speaker 5 (28:56):
Love it. It's all about balls. So super excited about it.

Speaker 3 (28:59):
Have you ever got a way to camp before?

Speaker 5 (29:01):
And what does it do for the teammaraderie?

Speaker 8 (29:03):
Like all you guys being together for three weeks, you know,
haven't haven't gone away before? In Seattle it was it
was always right there. But I'm excited to be here, man.
I'm excited just to uh get get in the playbook
and excited for the time with the fellows, the camaraderie,
the locker room, the fans excited for that part.

Speaker 5 (29:18):
I haven't experienced that part yet really. I mean, obviously,
you know.

Speaker 8 (29:22):
You're walking around everything else all the fans were, weren't
Steelers gear and everything else.

Speaker 5 (29:25):
But to actually be here.

Speaker 8 (29:27):
And that experience of that and AND's and it's, uh,
you know, it's it's game time. You know, it's it's
that time to get ready to play some.

Speaker 5 (29:33):
Football after years, Russ, how different is this for you?
After all the years you've been in the camps. At
the end of the day, it's the same mission. You know,
you have.

Speaker 8 (29:39):
You have the mission of trying to be their best
and trying to lock in and be ready to play.

Speaker 5 (29:43):
At the highest level. So uh, that part doesn't change.

Speaker 8 (29:46):
But I think the part of just the bonding and
the and the time of just spending time.

Speaker 5 (29:51):
With guys away, which is, you know, a great thing.

Speaker 8 (29:53):
I feel like I'm a freshman all over again in college,
pulling up the NC State, you know, just so I
remember those days and that that's exciting part of it all.
I am actually I think it's gonna be cool. And
I just think that all of us fellas being together.
We'll suck out all of us being together and everything else.
I think that would be fun. And uh so I'm
excited to someplace involved as.

Speaker 9 (30:14):
Far as you know, where you're still in pole position
and what does that mean to you?

Speaker 5 (30:18):
Man?

Speaker 8 (30:18):
I'm just trying to be my best every day. That's
that's my focus and help us win. That's that's the
focus every day.

Speaker 5 (30:23):
Do you look at it like your team or your offense?
Do you look at it that way?

Speaker 8 (30:27):
So I look at it as lead, lead, lead us
the way we're supposed to. I know how to do
that at the highest level, you know, And uh, you know,
I just want to be my best every day, and
so I think that's it's it's it's our team, it's
our it's our our opportunity to wins, our opportunity to
do what we.

Speaker 5 (30:43):
Want to accomplish. And that's my focus.

Speaker 7 (30:45):
E s three weeks will give you a better idea
of what this offense is going to be.

Speaker 9 (30:48):
Like everyone.

Speaker 8 (30:50):
Yeah, I think that we had a great offseason. I
think that you know, ot As was exceptional. I thought
we did a really good job. I think we're really
going against a great defense every day. When the top
beef is in the league. We did a good job
of just competing every day and just trying to be
the best of us. I think the best thing is
is that we get to put the pads on now.
And I always say that, you know, the reality is
that you really get to figure out who are men

(31:11):
and who who who who can really play in this
league a long time, and who can be physical and
who can make plays when contested and all those things,
and so that we'll figure out more as we go here.
And I just I'm just excited just to be with
the fellas in the huddle. You know, that's the best
part of the game, is that the ten other guys
in the huddle. And that's that's the part that I
cherish and taking every day.

Speaker 9 (31:31):
Mike.

Speaker 7 (31:32):
Mike's like he LOKs to build in competition periods in everything.

Speaker 12 (31:35):
If you look forward to those competition periods against those
guys and winning that and getting the trash talking and
all that stuff.

Speaker 5 (31:42):
Yeah, we love that part of what gil about the
wide receiver group that you've got that you're working with.

Speaker 8 (31:47):
We've got a lot of playmakers. I'm really excited obviously,
GPS A special player George Pickens are going to do
a lot of the great things. I mean just watching
the film, training with them, throwing with them, all those
things that he can do. I think Calvin Austin has
been amazing all off season, just watching his speed, his
his ability to get in and out of routes, Van Jefferson,
his his diligence. You know, we spent a lot of
times with the guys in the off season throwing and

(32:10):
and just watching guys like Kes Walk and Scottie Miller.
You know, there's so many guys that are excited for
Roman Wilson to see what he can do. You know,
I think that guy who's been a champion in college,
you know, one thing to do at the highest level.

Speaker 5 (32:21):
In college is nothing to do in the NFL. And
and I think he has that mentality of wanting to
be that every day, you know.

Speaker 8 (32:27):
And there's a lot of other guys too, Marquis, Kyleaways
Fighting and a lot of other great players.

Speaker 5 (32:31):
I'm excited about their tight ends. I think we've got
a great tight end rupe.

Speaker 8 (32:34):
I think Pat Fryarmouth is a guy that I've watched
over the years. His ability to get in and out,
his ability to make catches, contested catch his third downs.

Speaker 5 (32:42):
You know, I'm excited about that with him, you know.

Speaker 8 (32:44):
And and you know a guy that's you know, I
think a dark horse player. One of the most talented
guys you can play any sport is Connor Haywarth.

Speaker 5 (32:52):
I just watched him, you know, just hang out with
us in San.

Speaker 8 (32:55):
Diego and throw with him and all the back shoulders.
We try to push him and catch him on and
he just he can do it all.

Speaker 4 (33:00):
Man.

Speaker 8 (33:01):
I just think that this guy is a tremendous football player.

Speaker 5 (33:04):
I'm excited to.

Speaker 4 (33:05):
See the yard on Washington too.

Speaker 8 (33:07):
You know, he's the guys he looks like he's six
or nine, should be playing for the USA men's basketball team,
but he's, uh, he's just a freak athlete, and so
we want to get him in the ball two and
there's just a plethor of guys that can make plays.
I'm excited for Naja Harrison and Jalen too. Those guys
kept coming out of the back of those guys running
downhill and all starts with offensive line, those guys up front,
and I mean we've had a really good all season

(33:28):
up front. I'm excited about that too. Be some of
the younger additions to that, those guys gotta.

Speaker 5 (33:32):
Work for it every day, and so it's all of
us together. It's all hands on deck, and we're excited
about that.

Speaker 10 (33:38):
From now, is that a mini camp with the guys
or do you stay in touch text threads just.

Speaker 5 (33:42):
Keep Oh yeah, a bunch of bunch. We got a
lot of work in. It's just that's the good part
of the all season.

Speaker 8 (33:47):
You get that, you know, that time under tension in
terms of you know, throwing a bunch.

Speaker 5 (33:51):
We were throwing a bunch of.

Speaker 8 (33:52):
You know in California at U C, l A and
San Diego and just some time together and just going
to dinners and just hanging out and just having a blast, laughing,
working out in the weight room and just getting after it.
So we're excited about that, and I think that time
and attention always pays off. As we talked to Troy earlier,
some butterflies coming off, he said, driving up here, he's
get a little anxious and excited.

Speaker 11 (34:11):
How does this compare to your first camp?

Speaker 5 (34:13):
You know, I think that's a great question.

Speaker 8 (34:15):
I think obviously for Troy, a guy who's a high
draft pick, there's probably nerves, expectations, all those things. I
think internally, you have to always know that your expectations
have to be higher than somebody else's. And so I
think that guy like Troy, he has high expectations for himself.

Speaker 5 (34:29):
That's the most important thing.

Speaker 8 (34:30):
And so those butterflies, those nerves, whatever you want to
call that excitement is a good thing. It's a thing
that you're trying to accomplish something special. I remember when
I was a rookie, I was coming in. I was
a third round pick, seventy fifth pick overall. I was
a third string quarterback on the roster, and I was
determined that I'm going to take that job. And and
so that's just got to be the mentality every day.
That still is the mentality every day, and just trying

(34:52):
to be your best. I think ultimately, a God's giving
me a ton of talent.

Speaker 5 (34:56):
He's giving Troy a ton of town.

Speaker 8 (34:57):
All of us here, anybody who's here and that's staying
these dorms behind us here that they got talent. And
so how do we make that come to life as
the most important part and do it with with great
confidence too?

Speaker 5 (35:08):
You know, you do that with great confidence, great composure,
and an edge when you play.

Speaker 8 (35:12):
So what did you learn about this group during the
off season or during OTA. The first thing I learned
is the high character of the guys that we have.

Speaker 5 (35:19):
I mean, it's just it's an organizational thing.

Speaker 8 (35:21):
I think that I've noticed that when I was with
the Yankees actually big you know, spring training and being
around those guys, it was an organizational thing. The championships,
the mentality that I believe that this, you know, Pittsburgh Steelers,
it's an organizational thing.

Speaker 5 (35:34):
The character of the men that we.

Speaker 8 (35:35):
Have all the way from guys you know, obviously with
the guys like t. J. Watt and Cam Heyward, a
guy who was Man of the Year, to just the
offensive guys up front too. There's a lot of guys
that you know, have high character and I love being
around it.

Speaker 5 (35:48):
I think that.

Speaker 8 (35:49):
I think the best part too, is is when you
think about, you know, the playmakers that we have offensively defensively,
we want that to come to life.

Speaker 5 (35:57):
We've got to work at it.

Speaker 8 (35:58):
It's it takes effort, it takes once again time under
tension and takes all that, and it just takes a
love of the game.

Speaker 5 (36:05):
And we have that.

Speaker 8 (36:06):
And so there's I believe that the opportunity is right
in front of us, and a lot of things are possible,
but we've got to make it happen.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
We mentioned at the start of the training camp report
today Labs that you know, Russell Wilson was just such
a professional in meeting with the media yesterday, and there's
your evidence right there.

Speaker 3 (36:22):
I mean, that was engaging.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
It was thoughtful responses, and you can tell that he
wasn't just going through the motions, he was giving them
actual his actual time of day.

Speaker 4 (36:32):
Yeah, and you know, it's easy at this point for
a quarterback to be engaging in banter with the media
because no one's asking him about holding the ball too
long or throwing double coverage or you know that fourth
quarter pick in the end zone and he threw when
you know a receiver was wide open on the other
side of the field. But again, everything that you mentioned,

(36:55):
I mean, the guy is at he ease. You know,
his interaction with his teammates seemed to be genuine. Somebody
even and I don't remember who it was, and I
couldn't make it up when I was listening to it. Again, somebody,
a player walked by or cruise buy or something, and

(37:15):
it was a little shot, you know, shout out back
and forth, you know, between them. So you know, I
do think that his ability to cultivate relationships and command
respect is real, and again I think that that's gonna
be a help. It's certainly, you know, and you can't

(37:38):
go back to Ben Roethlisberger because Roethlisberger is a first
ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, and his relationship, you know,
with the players, young players toward the end of his career,
you know, it's different. I mean, this guy was an established,
two time winning Super Bowl quarterback, one of a dozen

(37:58):
quarterbacks in the history of the league to win multiple
Super Bowls. So he had a status that you know,
I won't say it made him unapproachable, unapproachable, but you know,
it was almost like an assistant coach kind of guide
to some of those young players. You know, Russell Wilson

(38:19):
has some similar achievements on his resume, but he's starting fresh,
you know, just like Troy Folotano hits his first training camp,
it's Russell Wilson's first training camp here. So you know,
in that respect, guys can look at Russell Wilson as
a as someone who's on the same footing as them,

(38:40):
even though he's older and is more established. So you know,
it's an interesting dynamic to me. I'm interested in that.
You know, we're not going to see a lot of
it unfold, because a lot of it will happen, you know,
behind closed doors up in Rooney Hall or you know,
in the locker room, those kind of things. But yeah,

(39:02):
the word that I kept popping into my head is
what you used coming out of that interview. He's a pro.
And I don't think they had that really with either Trubisky,
Mason Rudolph or can he pick it?

Speaker 9 (39:19):
No.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
I agree, and I know the hatred for them runs deep,
especially in the city. But hey, anytime you're being compared
to the New York Yankees as a sports franchise, you're
doing okay, You're doing pretty good. When we come back,
we're going to take a look at the defensive side
of the ball. Familiar faces of for sure over there.
But I think there's some key pieces that were added

(39:40):
that I want to get LABS take on before we
get to the top of the hour. In the next hour,
we're probably here from TJ. Watt and Chris Hoku is
expected to join us at ten point fifteen, give us
a little preview of day one practice that starts at
ten thirty. So all of that on the way on
the Training Camp Report with Labs and Tom on Steelers
Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (40:08):
He sees the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
On the defensive side of the ball, there's obviously the
old familiar faces, the big three, Cam Hayward, TJ.

Speaker 3 (40:21):
Watt Manka Fitzpatrick.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
But what's different about this year, Labs is the guy
right in the middle of that defense, Patrick Queen. That
was a high price, top tier free agent acquisition this
offseason for the Steelers. I've been excited about his addition
all off season long, and now today I officially get
to see him in a practice setting in a Steelers uniform.

(40:46):
I'm excited about that. I'm also excited about Joey Porter Junior.
You know that second year step that we all hope
that he makes. So, you know, despite all the old
faithful stuff that we know we're going to get out
of this defense, there's a lot of new intrigue as out.

Speaker 4 (41:01):
Yeah, and you know, the the Patrick Queen think, to
me is the most significant addition this offseason. You know,
I know we've spent a lot of time talking about
Russell Wilson, and I spent a lot of time banging
the Russell Wilson drum in terms of laying praise on him.
But Patrick Queen to me, is a you know, he

(41:24):
is what they haven't had since Ryan Shakesear's catastrophic injury.
He is an all down, all situations inside linebacker who
never has to come off the field. And so that
to me is has been a significant weakness in this

(41:45):
defense that the Steelers have made some attempts to find
that guy or develop that guy, and you know, either
injuries or you know whatever, it hasn't worked out. But
this guy, you know, is a Pro Bowl caliber, all
all situations inside linebacker. I think that that can only
open things up for the pass rush, open things up

(42:08):
for Minka to do his thing in the back end,
you know, even opening up a little bit more for
Joey Porter Junior to be able to follow a receiver,
you know, a lock onto a receiver for the entire
game because you don't have to worry about the things

(42:30):
you had to worry about in the middle of the defense.
You know, with Patrick Queen, in there running backs tight ends.
Not that he's going to be able to, you know,
shut down Travis Kelsey or anything, because nobody can shut
down Travis Kelsey. But you're also not going to have
all due respect to Robert Splane. Every time he was

(42:51):
on the field, you could pretty much count on the
offense attacking his area or his man with a pass attempt. So, yeah,
Patrick Queen is going to be a huge addition.

Speaker 2 (43:01):
And then you got other guys too, like Deshaun Elliott
at the safety position, Dante Jackson who came over in
the Deontay Johnson trade. I'm not gonna make those guys
out to be stars like Patrick Queen is, but they're
gonna be starters. They're gonna be every down contributors. And
you hope that you get the best out of those
two guys.

Speaker 4 (43:18):
Yeah, And you know, I really believe that, you know,
the complimentary thing is important, and by that I mean,
you know, you need a good safety who's a compliment
to Minca. You know the way that Minca wants to play,
so then you can have another guy next to him.
I'm not saying to handle the dirty work or anything,

(43:39):
because you know, in a lot of ways. You know,
it's it's it's a dirty job for everyone.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
Yeah, not to say that they'll be this level, but
just think Troy and Ryan Clark. I mean that was
a perfect marriage between those two safeties.

Speaker 4 (43:52):
Yes, you know, and you know Ike Taylor, I can't.
I just drew a blank on the other cornerback. Uh.
You know, Ike Taylor got a lot of criticism, uh
for his inability to catch the ball, but Ike played
a lot of cornerback for the Steelers. The Steelers won

(44:13):
a lot of games and trophies with Ike Taylor, Uh,
you know, locking down on on receivers and he did
that a good bit under Bill Kauer. Uh you know,
and that's what you know, what you're hoping that Joey
Porter Junior becomes. And Danta Jackson on the other side,
I think is a is a professional. I won't say

(44:37):
veteran because he's really not that old, but he's he's
a proven NFL starting caliber corner uh, and maybe he
can do some things to open up Joey Porter's repertoire
or the Steelers' ability to tap into Joey Porter's repertoire
or expand it. So you know, and again, so he

(44:59):
can be. I'm a necessary compliment. One more guy I'm
gonna throw out there since we're talking about that, Peyton Wilson.
I'm glad you did the rookie. I mean, this guy
is an impressive individual. I got a chance to meet him,
talk to him a little bit during O t as.

Speaker 8 (45:19):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (45:19):
He is a serious player. He's got He's got a
lot of athletic skills that are necessary slash unique to
the position that he plays inside linebacker. And we were
talking about Patrick Queen. Maybe Peyton Wilson ends up being
Patrick Queen's running mate. And I'm not gonna I don't
want to discount a Landon Roberts because in a lot

(45:42):
of ways, I think his play, his consistency, his availability
after injuries really racked that position was a key part
of saving Uh. You know that that that defense so
uh that that's another guy I'm looking forward to seeing.

Speaker 2 (45:58):
Yeah, and if if he does ascend to that level
Peyton Wilson, where he is challenging Elandon Roberts for playing time,
that's just a good problem for the Steelers as a.

Speaker 3 (46:06):
Team to have. Still a lot more to get to.

Speaker 2 (46:08):
On the training camp report, we will hear from TJ
Watt he spoke to the media yesterday. We'll give that
to you in our next segment to kickoff our second
hour of the show. Talk a little bit more about
those rookies as well, and like I mentioned, Chris Hoak
is expected to join us around ten fifteen Today, Training
Camp Report marches on with Labs and Tom on Steelers
Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (46:35):
DC's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (46:42):
The first practice of Steeler's training camp is just under
thirty minutes away from getting started. We'll hand things off
to Mike Berzuda and Max Starks at ten thirty four
Training Camp Live before we get to TJ. Watt, who
spoke to the media yesterday. I did want to make
one other quick programming note. At one thirty today, steal
our general manager Omar Khan is expected to speak. We

(47:02):
will carry that press conference for you here on Steelers
Nation Radio. As the players descend towards the field to
start training camp twenty twenty four. To one guy that's
going to be extremely popular for autographs, selfies, interaction with.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
The fans is of course, sack Master TJ. Watt. He
caught up with the media yesterday.

Speaker 2 (47:20):
Let's hear what the star of the Steelers defense had
to say on moving day of camp.

Speaker 5 (47:25):
What do you like about what you guys did in
the offseason?

Speaker 9 (47:28):
Has no encouraged about this year?

Speaker 11 (47:30):
I mean, we acquire some talent obviously in the draft
and through free agency, and we're just gonna get another
year of younger guys. I mean, I think a Keano
and Nick and guys like Dad, there's going to continue
to get better and grow in the system. And the
more that we're able to grow together, especially on the
defense side of all, the there that we're going to be.

Speaker 10 (47:46):
How much can you learn from like minicamp leading up
to now, just height film, moving forward, the team and
just the camaraderie and stuff.

Speaker 11 (47:52):
A little bit, not too much, obviously, it's all about
when the pads come on. You guys all know that
at this point. But I'm just excited to continue to
grow and like defense needs continuity on and off the field,
So that's what being here in the dorm rooms is
all about. What kind of continuity were able to build,
especially with a new guy like Queen.

Speaker 5 (48:08):
What kind of impact you think you'll make on your defense?

Speaker 11 (48:10):
Yeah, I mean fast, I mean very fast quick. A
couple of TfL's just and OTAs, and just to be
able to have speed like that on the defense side
of the ball, sideline, sidelines, the inside lineback is a
huge asset, and I'm going to be able to have
a guy who can wear the green dot.

Speaker 5 (48:24):
And be really well on communication.

Speaker 4 (48:26):
That's what we're here for.

Speaker 11 (48:27):
You guys always talk about wanting to be an elite
defense from up I'm saying, whether you're there or not,
what do you have to do as a defense to.

Speaker 5 (48:32):
Pick the next deck to where you want to do well?

Speaker 11 (48:34):
I stopped the run, penr ears back and after the
quarterback take the ball away. All the things that seem
so common and easy aren't easy at this level. And
that's why it's all about every man doing their job,
not trying to do too much basic stuff, but it's
very hard to do week in and week out.

Speaker 2 (48:52):
What's it been like competing against Russell this offseason and
as you look forward to that on the offensive side
of the ball, what's that you know, what do you anticipate.

Speaker 12 (48:58):
That being like and how would you assay him coming
in and trying to be a leader on the offensive
side of the ball.

Speaker 11 (49:02):
Yeah, I think he's done a great job. He's a
challenging guy to go against. He's very calm and collective
the line scrimmage, so you can't show it too early.
Just a guy that seems very calm and steady, never
too high and never too low, and just loves to compete.

Speaker 5 (49:13):
So I'm happy he's with us teaching.

Speaker 2 (49:15):
You're a guy that I think likes routine, just the
way you train everything.

Speaker 3 (49:18):
I know, practice schedule is a little bit different this year.

Speaker 13 (49:21):
What do you kind of make of that?

Speaker 3 (49:22):
Is that something that can help you guys maybe shake
things up? I mean, what do you kind of make
of the adjustments?

Speaker 5 (49:27):
I don't know.

Speaker 11 (49:27):
I mean I don't have any control of it. So
I'm just kind of going with the flow. And you
need to be able to adapt. We play at all
different times. We have a lot of night games, they
have a lot of West Coast games with the four
point thirty stuff like that, So he has to be
able to adapt and play no matter what the circumstances are.

Speaker 8 (49:41):
I know the young offensive line is looking forward to
putting the pads on going against guys like you and Alex.

Speaker 9 (49:45):
What are you looking forward to about going against them
in the pads and you know, what have you seen
from these young guys that impresses you so far?

Speaker 11 (49:51):
Yeah, they've done a great job. I mean, obviously we
have a lot of new parts up front, and just
to be able to compete against them, try to help
them as much as they're helping us, and just watch
them grow. You'll see from day one to whatever, day
twenty one that weird those guys are gonna take leaps
and balancing.

Speaker 9 (50:04):
Troy pot just came in here with a whole lot
of celsius.

Speaker 12 (50:07):
Did you add anything to the rookie kind of packing list,
snack list, any potentials.

Speaker 9 (50:11):
That you needed.

Speaker 11 (50:12):
No. As the years go on, I've packed the less
and less and less. I just wear a lot more
steers get around here, which is really nice. But I
mean I'm I'm easy in the negrams.

Speaker 5 (50:20):
I'm just on flower.

Speaker 3 (50:21):
Seeds and like sour knam pringles.

Speaker 5 (50:22):
That's Allay TJ.

Speaker 11 (50:23):
What you do to make your dorm room feel like
a kind away from them? I put up a picture
of my wife and my dog. Maybe that's about it.
I mean the windows are blacked out. I don't have
a chair, I have a TV that I think I
won't even turn on, So it's not it's not very homey,
but it's a place of sleep.

Speaker 9 (50:39):
Is there anything I mean, you're.

Speaker 10 (50:40):
At the elite level, one of the best defenders in
the entire league this off season or each season. Is
there anything that you adapted to your game or ritual
or work habits to help you get even better and
be the best?

Speaker 11 (50:53):
I think it's just continuing to grow and not do
I can't. I'm not going in the weight room and
benching and mac outs and Squatty Knox outs anymore like
I was when I was twenty two twenty three years old.
I'm growing evolve in my trainer at next level. Brad
Arnett has done a great job with me and learning
through some of my older brothers mistakes of training, overtraining
too hard, and just trying to be smart. My best

(51:16):
ability is availability, so I'm just trying to stay on
the field and make place for my team.

Speaker 9 (51:21):
You have any thoughts on thinking Wilson when he could
bring to this defense.

Speaker 11 (51:25):
Another quick inside linebacker. I mean we have a lot
of speed inside, So I mean I just saw Tyler
Matta Kavich this morning to a step up my house.

Speaker 3 (51:30):
I'm just I'm just.

Speaker 11 (51:31):
Excited about all the new guys that are gonna be inside.
I mean, they've made a lot of plays and whether
it's at college or the NFL level, don't.

Speaker 6 (51:38):
You speak, Do you have the capability if they want
to play more Nickel to do so?

Speaker 9 (51:42):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (51:42):
I mean I think we're gonna find out here in
a couple of days.

Speaker 2 (51:45):
You mentioned Russ never gets too high too low?

Speaker 4 (51:47):
What can that do?

Speaker 5 (51:48):
What can that do for a relatively young offense? Oh,
it's huge.

Speaker 11 (51:53):
You can't get shaken up in the NFL. There's gonna
be a lot of great moments. There's also gonna be
a lot of bad moments. And that's kind of what
this O would here is simulate and you're gonna have
great days, youre gonna badays. Are gonna built in adversity. Mike
t does a great job of that. And it's all
about saying Evan keel, cal him and collective and you're
gonna get the alchemy want d j An other guys
say that going against you and makes them better the tackles.

Speaker 6 (52:14):
Do you find that as an obligation for you or
you just do what you do and that makes them better.

Speaker 11 (52:19):
I just do what I do and then we'll have
little conversations off to the side. But and no means
am I taking them off the size and trying to
absolutely mentor a guy because he has coaches and he
has other guys in his room that are trying to
help him as much. And to be honest with those
guys that I haven't seen are a challenge because I've
never seen Sometimes it's an orthodox and it's completely new
for me too, So it's learning on both sides.

Speaker 9 (52:39):
GJ.

Speaker 12 (52:41):
In addition to your your fellow ed Rudgers, put your
thoughts on the inside linebackers like the Patrick Queen's and
of course the rookie Peyton Bolts.

Speaker 11 (52:49):
Yeah, I mean they did a great job in a
ta's in communicating and understanding the playbook and also flying
around and making some plays. So I'm looking forward to
seeing them here in the camp.

Speaker 5 (52:57):
Sday, TJ.

Speaker 11 (52:58):
What's the like having a GM like I'm more that's
been so aggressive these past two seasons at the Helm,
and you know, bringing guys in to make this team
a super Bowl.

Speaker 5 (53:06):
Cattle of your program.

Speaker 11 (53:07):
Yeah, it's been great to bring in talent. It seems
like we bring in great town every year, but this
year it seems a little bit different and I'm looking
forward to seeing hopefully it translates into victories.

Speaker 5 (53:16):
It's all that matters.

Speaker 3 (53:17):
Steels great TJ.

Speaker 2 (53:19):
Watt coming off of another season of leading the NFL
and sacks, hoping to do the same this year, maybe
even hauling down that sack record again like he already has.
All Right, when we come back, Chris Hoak is going
to join us talk about what he's expecting for twenty
twenty four Steelers' training camp and the excitement that he
has heading up there to La Trobe for day one today.

Speaker 3 (53:38):
That's on the way.

Speaker 2 (53:39):
Next on the Training Camp Report with Labs and Tom
on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (53:49):
This see is the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman
and Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (53:57):
Last segment of the Training Camp Report for today, and
we are pleased to be joined by former Steelers defensive
lineman Chris Hoke on the program.

Speaker 4 (54:05):
Now.

Speaker 2 (54:05):
Chris, thanks so much for giving us some time ahead
of the first day of practice today.

Speaker 9 (54:09):
Absolutely, it's great to be with you guys again.

Speaker 4 (54:12):
Hey, Chris, I want to jump right in here. Today
is really the first on field work for the Steelers.
And you know nowadays they call this acclamation period, no pads,
you know, none of that kind of stuff. Only an
hour and a half on the field. What was acclamation

(54:35):
period like when you first came into the league labs?

Speaker 9 (54:39):
You know that there was no.

Speaker 13 (54:41):
Such thing, right, I remember coming out here the.

Speaker 12 (54:43):
Very first day, full pads. We'd be going nine on
seven day one. Have you remember that. I remember coming
in as a rookie and that's what.

Speaker 4 (54:50):
Oh yeah, just getting.

Speaker 9 (54:52):
Crushed, right and you better be ready to go.

Speaker 12 (54:54):
It was like there was no easing into training camp
back when I came. I can only imagine back in
the seventies, I think they did full pads half out
after they showed at the camp.

Speaker 9 (55:04):
It seems like it gets easier and easier as the
years goes on and go on.

Speaker 2 (55:10):
Chris, I'm really curious on your take what you think
second year Keanu bent is gonna look like he had
such a great first rookie season.

Speaker 3 (55:18):
How do you think he builds off of that.

Speaker 12 (55:21):
I think he's gonna be a much better player mentally, right,
I mean last year things were happening so fast. We
knew he was a physical specimen. He was big and strong,
and he's athletic, and he had a great first step.
This year, I think he'll be better because the mental
part of the game, right, he had an off season
to go back and look at film from last year
to really process, the game will slow down for him.

(55:43):
He'll understand the defense better, where he fits in the defense,
and all those things should add up to him having
an outstanding second year.

Speaker 9 (55:50):
This is the year to coach Tom always talks about, right.

Speaker 12 (55:52):
I mean, you should see a big jump from even
a guy who played as much as Keanu did last year.
You just see a significant jump from year one year
two because of that mental growth that you expect him
to have.

Speaker 4 (56:06):
You know, at this time in the NFL, the Steelers
are in the minority in terms of being still one
of the teams that has a destination training camp. In
other words, you know, they pack up their stuff and
come to a college campus that was pretty much your
experience in the NFL. Mike Tolman is still very big,
much a big fan of destination training camps. One of

(56:29):
the things he always things, he always says about it
is we value the things that you cannot measure. So
what do you think some of the benefits are, you know,
bringing the whole team up, putting them in dorms on
a college campus, you know, a little bit away from
the hustle and bustle of the city and the practice facility.
What do you think can be developed or nurtured in

(56:51):
this kind of scenario.

Speaker 9 (56:54):
I think a few things that come to my heart
my mind right away. Laps. I mean, you look at
I mean, I spent about a year of my life
here in La Troby eleven seasons.

Speaker 12 (57:00):
I think when I was a young stealer, we were
here five six weeks when I was a young stealer,
and then towards the end it got down to three.

Speaker 9 (57:05):
But I think overall it was a year. And as
I look back on.

Speaker 13 (57:08):
That, I think of number one, it's relationship, right.

Speaker 9 (57:12):
It's building that brotherhood. It's it's the team chemistry, you know.
I think of.

Speaker 13 (57:16):
Times when in between meetings.

Speaker 12 (57:18):
When we were out there throwing quarters and and and
messing around, or in between meetings, uh and and practices
would be in each other's rooms, playing video games or
just eating together. It compels you to be together and
relationships are forged, Friendships are developed that that are really
important to develop key team chemistry throughout the season.

Speaker 9 (57:37):
I think something else is eliminating the distractions.

Speaker 13 (57:40):
You're out here. You know, when you're back.

Speaker 12 (57:41):
In Pittsburgh and you go home at night and you
have that that the evenings and you're whatever goes on,
and you know you're able to come out here and
you're just you're just a football Junkie're able to focus
on football.

Speaker 9 (57:53):
You have meetings at night.

Speaker 12 (57:54):
It eliminates a lot of the distractions can take away
from the the overall mental growth that you need to
take and have during training camps. But to me, those
are the two things that really stand out to me.
And it's an awesome that the Steelers get it left
you know.

Speaker 13 (58:11):
This, they get it.

Speaker 9 (58:12):
I mean, you're out here, we're out here.

Speaker 12 (58:13):
At ten o'clock, ten to fifteen in the morning, and
you got fans on the hillside. It's day one. This
is going to compete to grow. It's the experience. It's
it's continually developing.

Speaker 13 (58:22):
Steeler Nation and that relationship between the Steeler Nation and the.

Speaker 9 (58:26):
Players that makes things so special. On Sunday afternoons when
that when the balls kicked off.

Speaker 3 (58:32):
Chris as you know as a former defensive lineman.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
You know in those trenches, physicalities just really everything when
it comes to your game, offensive and defensive line. So
in these first few practices before those pads come on,
what can the defensive lineman the offensive lineman work on
Before you know they get the pads on, it can
really start to take strides to get themselves ready for
the season.

Speaker 12 (58:53):
Listen, you don't need to have full pans pads to
work on your technique. I remember coach John Mitchell, one
of the greatest defensive coaches that ever coached. He would always say,
you don't get blocked even if you're naked.

Speaker 13 (59:04):
You know, you take the fill, you're ey're playing football and.

Speaker 9 (59:06):
You're naked, you're not getting blocked. It's a mentality.

Speaker 12 (59:08):
So whether you're walking through and a walk through where
you're going out in a half speed practice, you're working
on your pad level, you're working on your footwork, you're
working on your hand placement, and you're and you're making
sure you're going through your progressions in terms of where
you line up, what's your key, where you're going, where
you're pursuing to Those are things that made us so
good when I was a Pittsburgh Steeler from two thousand
and one to twenty eleven, and while we played in

(59:30):
five DANFCY Championships and three Super Bowls, because that was
our mentality every single practice.

Speaker 9 (59:35):
We came out here to get better, and even if.

Speaker 12 (59:37):
It was a walkthrough, we were focused, we were picking,
we were going through our progressions, and then that translates
into practice in games when it's full speed, full pads.

Speaker 9 (59:45):
But that's what you got to do.

Speaker 12 (59:46):
You can't take one practice for granted, one snap for granted.

Speaker 4 (59:52):
You know, Chris, based on the way that the NFL
or the sport at the NFL level is now played,
it is is there a spot on a defense for
a traditional nose tackle like you were, like Casey Hampton was,
or is that position evolved into into something different?

Speaker 12 (01:00:13):
Well, absolutely it's evolved into something different. But I still
think you need a run stopper. You've seen when when
you're when you're soft in the middle labs of the defense,
it's hard to stop the run and teams are gonna explode.

Speaker 9 (01:00:23):
The teams are going to take advantage.

Speaker 13 (01:00:25):
Of what you what you're worst at.

Speaker 12 (01:00:27):
And if you can't stop the run. You've seen in
the last Sea in the last three or four years.
When Cam was out last year, we couldn't stop a
nosebleed when it came to the run run game, right,
and and when you have when you're soft in the middle,
you are going to get exposed. And so you need
what even if he's maybe more than just a run stopper,
he's a guy who can you know, pin his ears

(01:00:47):
back and get in.

Speaker 9 (01:00:48):
A longer stance and explode off the ball and rush
the passer. But you need a guy that's a that
can do both and can.

Speaker 12 (01:00:54):
Play that traditional nose tackle position or it's going to
be a long sunday.

Speaker 9 (01:01:00):
In a long season, you.

Speaker 4 (01:01:02):
Know, one of the things that we're going to get
to experience in this training camp. You know, for certainly
for the first time under Mike Tomlin. Uh, there's been
a change in what I would consider the basic practice
schedule usually and even you know, during the Bill Cower era, Uh,

(01:01:23):
the main practice I think of the day, even when
there were two days, was always seemed to be in
the afternoon, like you would do if you would, you know,
get geared up and hit in the morning, but it
always seemed that the afternoon practice was more more you
know whatever. But now, uh, the way this schedule is

(01:01:43):
the not only the is this the main practice, but
it's the only you know, on field workout. There may
be walkthroughs later, but you know, to me, that's not
real practice. Yeah, what do you what do you think
of it? You know, as you mentioned out here ten thirty,
you know, ready to go? Is this good for the
players or.

Speaker 9 (01:02:05):
Labs?

Speaker 12 (01:02:06):
Different mindset, different mentality, different different kind of era in football, right, I.

Speaker 13 (01:02:11):
Mean when I when when you're talking.

Speaker 12 (01:02:12):
About I'm sorry, Troy, Paul Malo and I Taylor just
pulled up.

Speaker 9 (01:02:18):
So that's why I got distracted here. But uh, you
know the U is at a different time. Good to
see you, brother, How you doing. I'll touch you.

Speaker 13 (01:02:29):
So it's just.

Speaker 9 (01:02:31):
Go back to that question.

Speaker 13 (01:02:32):
Have I got distracted? Brother?

Speaker 9 (01:02:33):
I'm sorry about that.

Speaker 12 (01:02:35):
He No, No, My Steeler brothers walked up and I
give Troy hug what I want to answer that question?

Speaker 13 (01:02:41):
Good question?

Speaker 4 (01:02:42):
Well no, no. Let me tell you this though. It's
okay because I walked past Troy this morning in the
lobby of Benedict Taull. He was getting coffee and I
got that he distracted me to Troy Paula Maolo has
that kind of effect.

Speaker 13 (01:02:56):
Yeah, real quick.

Speaker 4 (01:02:58):
But I mean, okay, you know the main practice of
the day now is going to be in the morning.
Is that a good thing? Do you think?

Speaker 13 (01:03:07):
Or you know, listen, hear the thing.

Speaker 12 (01:03:09):
Here's my here's my mentality is that when we're playing
you know this, labs BC coach Kawer, he loved.

Speaker 9 (01:03:16):
Making camp hard.

Speaker 12 (01:03:18):
He loved he thought this was an opportunity to prepare
us and make us battle testing for the season. And uh,
and so he wanted he loved it when we come
out here in the morning and we see the mountains
covered because he knew it was going to be a hot,
humid day, right he was cloudy and down there. He
knew that it was going to clear up and we
were going to come out here and it was going

(01:03:38):
to be hard.

Speaker 9 (01:03:38):
It was going to be grimy, and he he loved that.

Speaker 12 (01:03:41):
He read to make training camp super hard and make
things as hard as as possible on us, preparing us
for kickoff in early to September. And he'd loved to
do that in the winter time too. So you don't
get those in the morning. I at the player, I'd
love to.

Speaker 9 (01:03:53):
Be out here right now. It's overcast.

Speaker 13 (01:03:54):
It's probably seventy degrees, seventy five degrees.

Speaker 12 (01:03:57):
It's his prime condition that got in practice, but it
wasn't the mentality back when we were playing.

Speaker 2 (01:04:03):
Chris, thank you so much for giving us some time today.
We won't take up any more of your time. Go
out there with your Steelers brothers, have fun, enjoy that
first day of practice, and we'll catch up with you soon.

Speaker 3 (01:04:12):
A right man.

Speaker 13 (01:04:12):
All right, thanks guys, sorry about that, appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (01:04:15):
No worries at all.

Speaker 2 (01:04:16):
There he goes Chris Hoak and a little cameo from
Troy pal Malo and Ike Taylor as well. During that interview,
Lab say, Troy is distracting man.

Speaker 3 (01:04:23):
That hair. You can see it from a mile away.

Speaker 4 (01:04:26):
Real quick, Troy story. You know, Toy's up here kind
of working with the personnel department, the scouts, and one
of the people in that department said, Troy gave a
little speech to that group on Wednesday, Tuesday, Tuesday, it
was either Tuesday evening or Wednesday in the first meeting,

(01:04:47):
and they said it was electric yea, just electric team.
Him talking to them about, you know, their job and
how important it is to this franchise and the you know,
the continued success of it well.

Speaker 2 (01:05:03):
Abs and I will be back again tomorrow morning at
nine am to recap this first day of practice. But
if you didn't get enough, Bob Labriola fixed today seven
to nine tonight on WDVE from Sharky's, the Steelers pregame
crew is going to be doing a show Jerry Dulac,
Bob Labriola, and Mike Perzuda, so make sure you're listening
to that, or if you're up at camp, head on
out to Sharkis and see them in person. Reminder again

(01:05:24):
one thirty today, we have the omar Con press conference
coming up, but we are just three minutes away from practice,
so we hand things off to Mike Berzuda and Max
Starks for Training Camp Live. Thanks for listening to myself,
Tom Opferman and Bob Labriola's training camp report. We'll talk
to you tomorrow morning on Steelers Nation Radio