August 4, 2024 • 48 mins
Labs and Tom discuss the bounce back day of practice yesterday. Hear Coach Tomlin's thoughts, hear from Pat Freiermuth, Mason McCormick, and Alex Highsmith.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Decus Training Camp report with Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola
on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Labs in yesterday Steelers practice, and we'll hear Tom mentioned
this when we play his audio in a little bit
in this first segment. But it seemed like it was
a very conscientious effort to work smarter after the very
physical Friday night lights practice. Players said how physical it was.
You noted on our show yesterday. It was one of
the more physical Friday night lights that you can remember.
(00:33):
And it's good to see, you know, the coaching staff
recognizes too. Hey, they gave it. They're all two nights
ago for us. We're gonna, you know, not take the
pads off and go easy on them today, but we're
gonna have a nice little, you know, smart way of
going about things.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, there were you know, as Mike Tomlin thean explained it,
I really didn't notice it as it was happening in
this In this sense, a lot of the drills were
done on short fields, so you know, like they had
a red zone drill, which so the ball was you know,
right around the twenty yard line, so there wasn't a
(01:10):
lot of running distances, if you know what I mean.
That kind of thing. But it wasn't like it was,
you know, fifth grade gym class out there either.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
And one of the elements that was interesting about the
whole after excuse me, the whole afternoon was you know, there,
it's Latrobe. You know, it's August, it's uh so there's
weather potential for weather just about every day naturally. So
(01:44):
we're sitting there and uh, an announcement is made two
for the fans to return to their cars and the
media and guests to go to the Roger Center because
there's lightning in the area. So those were the announcements,
and they announced it several times, but the players never
(02:07):
left the field. So I was watching Mike Tomlin, who
is a stickler for lightning, and he's not taking the
players off the field. So there's a difference apparently between
(02:28):
the you know, they have the lightning sensors around campus,
and someone from campus who works for Saint Vincent was
up in the press box with me and he said
that those sensors detect lightning thirty miles away. Now that's
(02:54):
you know, I don't know what the standard is. You know,
maybe the standard is for the protection of people sitting
on metal bleachers. You know, thirty miles is get them
out of there, you know, But if you're actually on
the field practicing, you know, there's a good chance that
(03:15):
maybe that doesn't you know, get to you. Again, I'm
no meteorologists. We have established that in several previous episodes
of this should be award winning podcast on SNR, but
show on SNR too. So I mean, I'm just watching
what's happening. So the players aren't leaving the field, and
(03:38):
so then the fans aren't leaving, you know, they're because
you can't see any lightning. It wasn't particularly dark or
ominous the sky, and it's it was just a weird
kind of dynamic for a while. Then they had to
get you know, some security involved because they did need
to clear the field, or not the field, they didn't
need to clear the stands and the hillside. I guess
(04:01):
for the you know, general protection of the people, which
is a you know, legitimate thing. There's a lot of
kids there, you know, and so there's that interest in safety.
But I guess people didn't I'm surmising they didn't believe it,
you know, because they're watching the team continue to go
(04:23):
through there, and it's the early part of practice, and
so it's the individual stretching. You know, you know how
that goes. So anyway, I'll wrap this up right here.
There never was any lightning. They did allow the people
to come back, I don't know, maybe fifteen or twenty
minutes later at the most, and they were allowed back,
(04:45):
but the team never stopped doing what they were doing.
So practice pretty much carried on as scheduled and even
was a little ahead of schedule. And so that also contributed,
I think to the bounce back nature of the afternoon
because if the players had left then they come back,
(05:09):
then they have to start over because you can't like
pick things up or you left off in terms of
their bodies. Then they got to go through the stretching again.
You know how that works. When a game is delayed,
a preseason game, whatever, they send the players off and.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
They don't know how it works, but I hear from
athletes that that's how it works.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yes, well, I meant you see it on TV at yes, right, Okay,
So anyway that was and again I'm not take it
sides or you know, they should never have let them
made the fans leave. I'm not saying any of that
I'm just telling you what happened. And so that was
I think part of And I don't think Mike Tomlin
(05:48):
didn't take the players off the field because you know,
he didn't want them to have to warm up again.
I mean, that's not how he is, that's not how
he's built, you know, none of that. I just think that,
you know, maybe his radar, in terms of the radar
that he's looking at or consults when determining, you know,
(06:10):
where practice is, when it's going to be held, that
kind of stuff might be a little bit more detailed
and that kind of thing than those sensors, which you
know don't again, so there you go. That's that's my story.
I'm sticking to it. And but it was a bounce
back day kind of and they did. They did, as
(06:31):
I mentioned, a lot of short field things and there
were no pads, so there was no tackling those kind
of things. But Mike Tomlin also pointed out that today
they're going back to you know, Friday night lights intensity
their short yardage goal line. There's going to be hitting today.
(06:53):
They'll be in full pads. So it's not like they
were on a long vacation or anything. They had a
night practice. That was you know, as I reference to me,
it's kind of like rock em soccerm robuts do play
that when you were here.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, some of the clips too, Labs made it's their
way to the internet, and I saw, you know, the
warren and the nausea battles between Queen and robertson Man.
You you weren't kidding when you were describing them on
our show yesterday. That was violence. That was violence on
a football field.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And you could hear it too. I mean, I don't
know if the clips had sound, but being down at
field level when they those collisions, you could hear them.
So yeah, it was. It was intense. And so I
guess today, I don't know if it's going to be
to that level. Again, I'm not saying that those are
(07:42):
going to be the kind of drills, but I know
short yardage and goal line that's pretty much live kind
of action, and you know, the offense and the defense
will be competing over not a whole lot of real
estate on that field, and so that should be pretty
intense too. And It's here's another thing. It's family day.
(08:06):
Family day, so the players' families will be here, you know,
and then after practice they have dinner and you know
that kind of nice. And one of the things that
Mike Tomlin believes about Family Night is nobody wants to
get their butt kicked in front of their family. So, uh,
(08:28):
this has kind of been part of his routine in
terms of, you know, lining up things and when you
do which drills on which days and family Night has
under the Mike Tomlin there has been one has been
a practice that is intense, and there are a lot
of competitive drills, competition periods, those kinds of things, because
(08:51):
you know, he has said, uh, you don't want to
get your butt kicked in front of family. You just don't.
And so guys are going to give it a little
extra maybe, and it should be fun for the fans
who are going to be out here. Practice starts at
one fifty five. There is no weather in the forecast.
I've been checking. It was really foggy this morning. The
(09:14):
fog is pretty much almost gone. But that's it today
and tomorrow, which is a player's day off.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
No rain.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Mid eighties today, low nineties tomorrow, which is day off,
so yay, and you know, then they're back at it.
Then Tuesday after that back to the morning, the normal
morning ten thirty practice.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, with that player's day off tomorrow too, it can
really be inviting for the coaches to really ratchet the
intensity up again. Yesterday's practice, though, defense needed some revenge.
In seven shots, they lost seven to nothing, and they
did that in front of a twelve thousand plus crowd
at Latrobe Stadium. You were saying, how you couldn't really
recall a seven to nothing in the past. Uh, And
(10:03):
then they got out to an early three to oh
hole in yesterday's version of seven shots. So that's ten
straight wins by the offense labs. But they were able
to pull off the reverse sweep and the old Boston
Red Sox versus New York Yankees, and the defense came
out on top.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Yeah, it was ten in a row, and it was
you know, the early the first three reps of seven
shots yesterday or yeah, yesterday were I won't say as
easy as the seven on Friday night lights, but I
mean the offense, you know, it's it's just clicking. And
(10:39):
because there were no pads, there wasn't any running really,
so you know a couple of things. George Pickens just
continues to be I'm not gonna say he's unstoppable, because
that's overstating it. But you know, the guy is a
legitimate threat in any area of the field. His body
(11:02):
control is special in my opinion, and he has he
is showing the ability, the pretty consistent ability. You know,
George Pickens snatches the ball out of the air and
he did this during the seven shots too for a touchdown.
(11:22):
You know, he snatches the ball out of the air
and then he doesn't necessarily tuck it to his body,
but he holds it in a place where you know
it's unlikely to be stripped out, and then he may
you know, he concentrates on his feet where he is
on the field, and he makes sure he gets you know,
his feet down and bounds and that completes the catch
(11:43):
and it's a touchdown. So that he did another one.
I'll just refer to that as a George Pickens special.
And he did that again yesterday. There was another play
where you know, justin fields servede the the receivers, the
(12:04):
you know whatever you would call that the end zone
because there, excuse me, real close down there. And it
wasn't a running play by any means, but a crease
just developed you could see it, you know, from up
up a little bit and it opened up, and I
mean that's you know, that's taking candy from a baby
(12:24):
for him. You know, he just waltzed into the end zone.
So anyway, it's three nothing. So then Fields is still
on the field for the four snap and he has
a chance to clinch the drill right there. But the
ball he had to pass bat it down at the
line of scrimmage. Now it was hard. Those are so
(12:46):
hard to determine. You know, you have a lot of
bodies down there. The best I can tell you, it
was either Isaiah louder Milk or Montravius Adams. And Montravius
Adams is having a good camp. He is, you know,
he's a physical presence in the middle of the line
(13:06):
of scrimmage, which you know you're looking for from a
guy who plays nose tackle. And so he's been moving
people around down their offensive linement. I mean, and uh,
you know he is. He's getting around too. I mean,
he's not just a big load that is a stationary.
He's pretty mobile for his size, gets his hands up.
(13:29):
So he's having a nice training camp. This is a
big training training camp for Isaiah Loudermer A louder Milk.
I believe for a lot of the same reasons that
it's a big training camp for de Marvin Leal. He's
in that part of his contract now where you know,
does he get a second contract or not. This is
his time's third year, so you know, he's trying to
(13:54):
again establish himself to the degree that the team wants
to continue to do business with him, or at least
he wants to establish himself to the degree where he's marketable.
If it's not here, then he has shown enough good
things on video that somebody else is going to be
interested in him. So he's at that spot, all right.
(14:15):
So anyway, it was either Adams or Loudermilk who made
that play first win for the defense. Then Kyle Allen
comes onto the field. It wasn't his finest hour. It
was just not the first play. I can honestly tell you,
I do not know who the pass was intended for,
(14:38):
because the only person that had a good chance to
catch it was the defensive back. Who did Thomas Graham
Junior right in the middle of the field. He threw
it to him. There didn't seem to me to be
a logical offensive player in there. So there's that. Okay,
it's interception three to two. Then the next play made
(15:03):
no sense to me at all. I have I can't
even begin to explain what I saw in terms of why.
But this is what I saw in terms of just
recounting it fields. Excuse me. Alan rolls to the right, right, rolling, rolling, rolling,
rolling to the right. He's just almost outside the numbers,
(15:26):
and he turns and he throws all the way back
to the other side of the end zone where Darnel
Washington is and he's covered, but he's there, and the
ball was broken up. Now you do that in a
real game where it could be intercepted and run back
for a touchdown. I don't think that that's a very
(15:51):
that's not going to endear you to Arthur Smith. Let
me put it that way. It was what we used
to refer to, you know, the long time members. He
pulled the Mike tom Zak because tom Zach was known
for just ridiculously foolish, careless things with the football. I
don't know if you remember this, but I certainly do.
(16:14):
Tom Zak stumbled one time, dropping back and just before
his back hit the ground and he had not been touched.
He just like stumbled, lost his footing, and just before
his back hit the ground, he just threw the ball
up in the air in the middle of the field,
which you know, again did not endear him at the
(16:35):
time to Bill Kower. So that was a similar kind
of play that Kyle Allen made in terms of throwing
it all the way across the field like that. Okay,
so now it's three to three and Mike Tomin did
not put the first team out there, so this was
(16:57):
still Kyle Allen in his group. But the Marvin Leal
came off the end the edge, it was a sack.
It would have been a sack if it was tackling.
He just ran past them. Allen then through the ball
was incomplete, but scoring the play. Personally, I gave Leal
the sack because I thought that was what would have been.
(17:20):
So for three, defense breaking offense, the offensive streak, the
winning streak, and their streak of ten touchdowns in a row.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
But now you got to keep an eye on today
seven shots because with the pads coming back on, defense
needs to get their first win of this training camp
session with pads. You heard Labs' thoughts from practice yesterday.
Let's hear what coach Holland had to say to the
media following practice.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Man, really productive day to day. The guys gave it
to us last night. It's our intentions to work hard
in this environment, but also work smart, and so we
did some things to help them with the bounce back.
We had several periods on the short field, for example,
in the effort to gain their legs back. We had
some guys they're the veteran players. We minimize them to
day in response to last night. It's just appropriate. They
(18:05):
gave us a lot, and that's a component of this process. Man,
they got to go hard, We got to make good
judgments as coaches. We got to find ways to make
every single day productive. But it's just productive on different levels.
I like the work that we got done today. We'll
tee up for tomorrow. Tomorrow be a big day short yardist,
goal line, you know, the competition will be hot. We'll
(18:25):
be right back at it. The great thing today we
had no additional negativity from a health standpoint. Really things
that's kind of status quo with the guys on that list.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Pausing open up for questions.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Or your rookie players are going now the good tea
them for more than a couple of weeks.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
They've got a lot of growth in front of them.
The thing that I like about the group individually and
collectively is they're not intimidated in their competitors, and that's
a great place to start. There's a lot of learning
and development that goes on here, and a lot of
it is just them adjusting to the professional and vironment,
taking new coach and learning from veteran players, and so
(19:04):
the learning curve, they make that up quick. But a
component of that is just them being confident in themselves
and being competitors, and that's a component of it that
I like from them.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
They really throw your head.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
Over there, the one on one by the side of
what we're trying to.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
See, how it's a flat tackle. We need offensive guys
that can win in that space and turn short to long.
We need defenditors that can consistently make that tackle and
get their fist in the air, for example on third down.
It's a really fundamental thing. Not a lot's talked about it,
but but being efficient in the flat is significant. We
(19:38):
got to defend the pylon in the red zone. We
can't get beat to the flat Let's be honest. Kansas
City's probably run of the last two Super Bowls in
the flat and so that's just a fertile territory of
real estate that we got to acclimate ourselves to see
who can make plays in it.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
And that's the component of it.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
What do you like about what.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Van Jefferson's added to your wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
Grew It's a steady, solid veteran. He knows what he's doing,
is obvious. He's got a really high floor in that
he is extremely consistent every day. He's bringing some leadership
skills based on his experience to the group as well,
and that's appreciated.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
Make me to.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
Fitzpatrick haus in practice for three days, is he working
through something?
Speaker 8 (20:19):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (20:20):
He practiced every day.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
He did seven or seven today, he did individually, did
the same thing last night. We're just minimizing him in
that effort to see others anyone else.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Of course, you'll put that rule.
Speaker 9 (20:33):
Assych to It's not something you're looking forward to work,
you know through the pre season.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
You know, ask me in a week or so, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
After I get in the stadium and see it with
my eyes, we respect it. The adjustment of the transition
that we're all going through, and we show our respect
to it with work and working to understand the nuances
of it. But none of us are really gonna be comfortable,
not in any of us here in Pittsburgh, not any
of us and into thirty one other cities until we
(21:02):
get more exposure to it.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Coach Tomlin speaking with the media following yesterday's training camp practice.
When we come back, Labs and I will look at
the offensive side of the ball. We'll hear from Pat Fryarmuth,
who we hope has a big year ahead of him,
and rookie offensive lineman Mason McCormick. That's on the way.
On the Training Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
This She's done. Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
The Arthur Smith offense is of great intrigue for Steelers fans,
and Pat Friarmouth within that offense is of great intrigue.
And before Labs and I discuss how his camp has
been going and what we hope is a big year ahead.
The tight end caught up with Mike Perzuda after practice yesterday.
Let's listen in on that conversation, kind of tensions bubbling
over earlier.
Speaker 10 (21:52):
You've been around here a while now, Yeah, last night's
backs on Backers, Well, that's.
Speaker 11 (21:57):
The that's the most energetic I've seen. It was great competition.
You know, it's gonna you know, iron Sharpern's iron and
that was the definition of it.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
And uh, yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 10 (22:06):
What's gotten into you guys?
Speaker 11 (22:07):
We're just we're trying to compete, We're trying to get
to that next step, and we're trying to do whatever
we can to get success in the playoffs. So you know,
as long as we're getting each other better out here,
keep each other healthy and safe and upright, and we're
going to continue to work and get as best best
as we can go in the week one.
Speaker 10 (22:21):
What has specifically gotten into thirty and twenty two?
Speaker 11 (22:24):
A man, they're they're they're energized, they're you know, they're competing.
You know, they're doing really well in this new offense,
and you know, I'm excited to see, you know, how
they play off each other this year.
Speaker 10 (22:34):
You know, the defense is supposed to win that drill. Yeah,
I mean it's it's kind of rid for them. Yeah, yeah,
you guys are two for two collectively, right.
Speaker 11 (22:41):
Yeah, yeah, I mean they're they're doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
You know.
Speaker 11 (22:44):
Obviously, you know some jos are slanthon in our favorite
some slanthon in the defensive favor and that's one of them.
That's slanth in the defensive favor and uh, you know,
we we smile on the face of it, like coach
t says, and we compete.
Speaker 10 (22:54):
Have you been practicing this offense enough where you can
see in the regular season you're gonna get a million
torg into the million catches and.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Hopefully that's the plan.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
But yeah, I know, man, it's been great, and uh,
you know, I got continued to work, stay healthy and
uh continued to work with the quarterbacks for that chemistry
and excited for the future.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
You know, Labs, it's amazing. Almost every veteran, even just
takes about two years around him starts repeating Tomlin's famous
lines smiling in the face of adversity with the offense
doing well in a drill rig for the defense. Uh,
it's just amazing that that shows how, you know, how
impressionable he is to these players, and how it's no
(23:33):
coincidence that not only do Steelers, but people around the
league say yeah, coach, I'd love to play for a
lot is Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
And he threw out the irons and sharpens iron one too.
I don't know if you caught that that was earlier,
but that's another Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Isn't there you go?
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I mean yeah, right, oh yeah, it was funny last
year and I even mentioned it to Mike Toman one time.
Broderick Jones, a rookie, started using the word collective about
late November. The collective, I mean, seriously, you know, I
(24:09):
just I'm not implying that you know anything about Broderick
Jones is intelligence or anything. That's not what I mean.
But the word collective is not used. I don't think
in any level of football to refer to the team
except the Steelers in you know, within the Steelers by
(24:31):
their head coach. I can guarantee you Kirby Smart never
used the word collective and talking about the team.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
So yes, you.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Understand or you understand how the message is getting through
when the players start parroting his phraseology is what I mean,
more than anything else, the way he chooses to speak,
the way he describes things iron versus iron. You know,
(25:00):
all of that stuff. Again, I don't know that Kirby
Smart would have used that. And I'm sure Georgia, you know,
they got the talent on that roster where you know there,
you know, offense versus defense at Georgia practice is probably
pretty good action too. But yeah, it's it's it's interesting
to me. Let me put it to you that way,
(25:21):
and you can always tell, you know, Markquise Ponce was
one of those guys too. He was always using the
same phraseology you know that Mike Tomlin did. And that's
I think, you know, when the message is getting across
to some of these guys.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Well, Pat Freiermuth a former second round draft pick. He
has a ton of talent, a ton of potential, and
he's realized some of that potential throughout his NFL career
so far. But there's an excitement around him this year, Labs.
I think the marriage with Arthur Smith has people intrigued
by what he can bring to the table. Maybe you
can start seeing him be more productive than he even
(25:54):
has been. And it's been a pretty good camp so far,
both usage wise and performance wise.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
From Firemouth.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Yeah, and you know, Pat Friermoof is going into the
last year of the contract he signed as a rookie.
He was a second round picking the twenty twenty one
NFL Draft. So you know, this is when this timeframe
for a player is when the Steelers typically will do
some business with them in terms of a contract extension,
(26:21):
if they are so interested and if a deal can
be you know, worked out. I can't tell you whether
this it's going to happen or not. I mean, the
deadline is, you know, fifteen minutes before kickoff of the
opener and then there is no more negotiating. That's the
way the Steelers choose to do business. So there is
(26:43):
something of a you know, a deadline involved in this negotiation.
So I can't predict whether Pat Fryermouf and the Steelers
are going to come to an agreement on a contract
extension or not. But this is when they would be
talking about this. You know, I think it's it's something
that would interest both sides certainly. You know, Pat Friarmouth,
(27:07):
if you look at his statistics over the course of
his previous three seasons in the NFL. You know, last
year he had the injuries and so he missed five
games and you know, but he was only targeted forty
seven times. Last year he only had thirty two catches.
Now again you have to, you know, grade those numbers
(27:30):
based on you know, the playing time. But you know
that's not of those aren't very eye catching numbers. Three
hundred and eight yards receiving for a guy who showed,
I believe a lot more than that in his previous
two seasons. I'm sure that Friarmuth is very excited for
this Arthur Smith offense. And when you look again at
(27:54):
the eligibles, you know who might Russell Wilson be throwing to.
You know, you have George Pickens. I think Van Jefferson
is having a very good camp. He's coming on. And
then Nurse Friarmuth. He could be a big part of
the passing game. And when you look at the tight
(28:15):
ends as a group, you know you have some options there.
Arthur Smith has some options there in terms of you know,
you can put Fiarmouth and Darneult Washington on the field
at the same time. One guy can be the receiving
tight end. I mean, if you want to label it,
let's let's call it that the other guy's the blocking
(28:38):
tight end. So you know, you put those two guys
on the field. At the same time, you're really not
necessarily tipping your hand to the defense about what the
play might be. You could run out of that grouping,
you could throw out of that grouping. If you throw
out of that grouping, who you're throw into, If the
(28:58):
defense might get a little too you know, enamored with
the ball going to Friarmouth, Well then George Pickens can
certainly make them pay for that. So, you know, there
seems to be a lot of options developing with the
the Arthur Smith offense. You know, we're gonna have to
see how it evolves once the games start being played.
(29:21):
And let's not forget I remind everybody this all the time.
Don't necessarily believe what you see in training camp in
the preseason, because twenty twenty three taught us all about that.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
I couldn't have said it better myself. I still have
some PTSD flashbacks for the preseason and then we win
of the first of the regular season. But another part
of that Arthur Smith offense is obviously the offensive line,
and the first two draft picks were spent on the
offensive line, But there is a third offensive line and
that is a part of this rookie class and he's
got a lot of potential. A lot of scouts were
high on him. Mason McCormick having a pretty good camp
(29:58):
so far as well. Caught up with the media. Let's
you what he had to say.
Speaker 8 (30:01):
It's bubbling over earlier in practice last week.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
You know, is that something that you do you kind
of you feel that situation for someone to protect the quarterback.
Speaker 9 (30:10):
Yeah, I mean that's what we get Maade to do
is protect the quarterback whatever it takes.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
And you know what a Rob did.
Speaker 9 (30:15):
I think it was accidental and we move on and
it is what it is. But we're gonna protect the
quarterback always. And you know, there's no love lost or
anything like that. We're all cool. Fine, So kind of
say something about you as a person or player.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Is that Is that what you bring to this team
in a way?
Speaker 9 (30:32):
Yeah, I mean that's something I'll always bring. I take
pride in protecting the quarterback and that's what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (30:38):
How much does that change your technique and how's.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
That going so far?
Speaker 9 (30:42):
He's he's changed it up a decent amount and I've
been trying it and just going out there not nervous
to fail or anything, and it's it's helped a ton already.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
I feel like I've grown so much already just being here.
Speaker 9 (30:54):
For this a little bit of time, and so seeing
that development makes me excited for a future. But he's
giving you a bunch of stuff in your on your
own when you feel like you're comfortable.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Is that sort of how it works? Kind of?
Speaker 9 (31:07):
I try to implement it as fast as possible because
I have full faith in those guys. I've seen some
of the safements of the guys that they've coached, and
I just want to get as good as I can
as quick as I.
Speaker 6 (31:19):
What does he work with you on or ask you
to do that.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
It's different different things, whether it's getting my hands on
people in past protection, different footwork, and different approaches to
different blocks versus different personnel. There's really a lot of
different things that have went into it so far.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Mason, you're one of three rookies.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
How much have you guys bonded and shared information ideas
things like that? But Ton, I mean me, Zach and
Troy are pretty close, and they're two awesome guys and
they're fun to go to work with because they both
work extremely hard. They both take pride in the game
like I do, and it's it's been pretty cool.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
Is the intensity of camp when you thought it would.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
Be it's Yeah, I would say it's pretty similar to
what I thought. I didn't know what to expect and
it was gonna be tougher than playing football southa Goda state.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
But it's been awesome so far.
Speaker 8 (32:07):
Mean, how are you planning the red zone? Because you
have to ready.
Speaker 12 (32:10):
We saw you run a lot gayling war and he
say the twenty how would develop?
Speaker 9 (32:17):
Yeah, you have to take You have to take pride
when you get into the red zone because you ultimately
you want to score score touchdown, score points, and so
when you get down there, you got to take advantage
of it.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
And the running game is going to be solid this year.
Speaker 9 (32:29):
Absolutely. I mean, of course I'm bins, but of course
I think the running game will be good this year.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
How much are just miss offense?
Speaker 7 (32:36):
They ask me you kind of get mobile, pull out.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
Hitting space, and how have you been adapting to the
what's the way that you use?
Speaker 9 (32:42):
Yeah, I think we do a ton of different things
on offense, and I feel like I'm pretty versatile and
I can do whatever they ask me to do and
it's it's been awesome to be able to learn and
see different things.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
So far.
Speaker 7 (32:53):
Do you prefer to hit because it's a pull out
hit on space?
Speaker 8 (32:56):
You more like, you know, hitting the trenches type of guy.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
I feel like I like at all.
Speaker 9 (33:01):
Pulling out in space is fun just because it's one
on one and usually you make a big play if
you if you make the block. But also the nitty
gritty of being an offensive lineman in the churches is
awesome too.
Speaker 8 (33:11):
You can come from more of a gap scheme or.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
A system in college or is it more zone? How
does that? How's that play?
Speaker 9 (33:18):
I would say it was pretty balanced. I would say
it's kind of similar to what we wrote. We ran
a bunch of different gap schemes outside zone Pincole.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
We we did all of it as well.
Speaker 8 (33:30):
You mentioned the intensity of this camp. What have you
learned about Arthur Smiths of intensity as an individual?
Speaker 4 (33:36):
It's awesome.
Speaker 9 (33:37):
You can tell that he was a true passion for
this game with the energy and stuff that he brings
every day to practice, and so it's it's been pretty
cool to be able to feed off that, and I
feel like everybody does.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
He seems like he's kind of a quiet, mild manner
guy away from the field.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
I mean, were you surprised by how fire you get?
Some pretty trash talks things like that.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
I think it's fun.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
I think Bill holding that competitive environment and a controlled
setting like practice is super beneficial to us to be
able to ramp up the stakes, make it feel like
it's fourth and one on a big, big game. It's
pretty cool and it allows us to adapt and be
ready for whatever is to come.
Speaker 6 (34:15):
Have you ever had anybody like that before?
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Oh? Yeah, I definitely have people like that.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
Mason, what's Friday night going to be like for you?
Speaker 6 (34:23):
With the emotions being what are you going to try.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
To prove out there?
Speaker 9 (34:26):
Obviously it'd be pretty cool my first time really wearing
a Steelers jersey and getting out there on that field.
I just want to be a good representative of this
organization and play the right way.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Steelers rookie offensive lineman Mason McCormick talking to the media
yesterday and labs you know, he's not a project, but
he definitely needs some seasoning before he sees some regular
time on the field. I like the depth that he
brings to the table, and I like the tenacity that
he brings to the table too. People were high on
that come the draft, and you see it already at
camp when he's mixing it up.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Right at the end of that interview, Mason McCormick said,
I hope I'm getting the words exactly right. He wants
to be a good representative of the organization and play
the game the right way. You know, from Mason McCormick
so far, what I would say his interpretation of the
right way is with the proper playing demeanor. And you know,
(35:21):
he there is a there is a little bit of
a history in terms of offensive linemen with a proper
playing demeanor on this team. Uh. And you know we're
seeing that. We've seen that again so far this training camp.
And Mason McCormick is a guy who's right up there
with you know, Nate Herbig and Broderick Jones and you
(35:44):
know some of these guys that the Steelers are developing
who will play with a no nonsense, take no guph
from the opponent kind of attitude. And uh, you know,
once he learns the techniques and adjust a little bit
to the to the NFL the game as it's played
(36:05):
in the NFL, that demeanor, Uh, is going to I
think take him to the next level.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
When we come back, we'll flip over to the other
side of the ball. Alex Highsmith had some words with
the media following practice. We'll hear from him. We'll talk
about how his camp's going. That's all on the way
on the Training Camp Report with Labs and Tom on
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
He sees the Training camp Report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
The defense got a big win in seven shots yesterday
after losing seven to nothing in Friday night lights practice
and then coming back from a three to zero hole.
Alex Highsmith was a part of that part of that defense.
Let's hear from him when he caught up with the
media following practice yesterday.
Speaker 8 (36:50):
Kind of tensions bubbling over earlier.
Speaker 6 (36:52):
To keep in touch with him during this while he
was away.
Speaker 13 (36:54):
I kept touching a little bit during the off season.
So you know, he's just a great guy. You know,
he's a great player. You know, he's he's a he's
a og and he's been asleep for a while, and
so having him just as a lot of value to
our defense, to our team.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
So it's no surprise than that he was signed. Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
You know, it's like I said, it's awesome happening back.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
How important isn't that somebody like that that understands.
Speaker 6 (37:13):
Or rolling or like to kind of do whatever for team?
Speaker 13 (37:15):
Yeah, I mean it's important, you know, have selfless guys
like that or you know, cause to me, if you
got a bunch of selfless guys on a team, that
makes it, that makes a great team. And he's someone
who knows the system because he was here last year
and so having him come back, you know, it's his
his big force.
Speaker 9 (37:29):
Likes to have a guy like that, especially, you know,
like maybe if you were PJ had to take a
break or take a breather, then you come in and
continue with what you guys have did.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
You would do out there? Yeah?
Speaker 13 (37:36):
Absolutely, Just like I said, you know, he's someone who
knows our system and you know he's he's been asleep
for a while, so he knows the game. And so
having guys like you know him and Nick to be
able to come in and make a lot of place
for us, it's good.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
He's just like last year. So it was very excited for.
Speaker 9 (37:50):
It was last night as spicy as you've maybe seen
some of those one on ones.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Get it was mean, it was very vis but you know,
it makes us better.
Speaker 13 (37:57):
Competition makes us better, and that's one thing coach t
uh just love loves to see let's see us getting
after it and let's see the competition. And so ultimately
it's iron on iron and it just makes us better.
But you know, it definitely got fighty last night and
it was it was it was cool.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
See how has campaign for you personally just as a whole.
Speaker 13 (38:13):
Yeah, I mean I thought he's been a good camp
so far. Feeling good, you know, going you're five now.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
It's crazy, it's play every year.
Speaker 13 (38:19):
Every year it's back faster and faster, and so body
feels well and so you know, I just think it's
been a good cancel part.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
He just gotta keep hip.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
NA say, how much of that uh chippiness last night
is trickled down from Mike and surping that he likes
to do when you guys carry your paths as.
Speaker 13 (38:32):
He likes to Yeah, I mean, I mean that's just
a jilli you know that that that gets chippy cause
it's it's one on one and you know, it's it's it's.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
About it's a backs on back.
Speaker 13 (38:39):
It's about getting past the guy that you're going against
and getting to the quarterback. And so I think he
gets chippy just cause of the nature of the drill.
But everything we do is about a competition. That's something
that he know and he wants us to be competitors
cause ultimately this this game is a con the the
biggest competitors league, and so he just wants to wants
us during this training camp time to be able to
to build that uh in this did.
Speaker 11 (39:00):
He say anything to you guys before that or was
it just kind of happened naturally?
Speaker 13 (39:03):
Happens natural, man. You know, football is an emotional game,
you know, and so you know, things happened at times.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
But you know, like I said, it just makes us better.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
You seem to have a bit of a rivalry going
on right now. How has he improved from last year
as a blocker?
Speaker 4 (39:15):
But you guys matched up all the time.
Speaker 13 (39:16):
Yeah, I mean he's he's definitely shown a lot of improvement.
You know, he's gonna be a huge force this year
when when it comes to go point of attack, blocking
in the run game and also making you know, catches, uh,
you know in the rad zone. Just whirl in the field.
But you know, he's he's a guy that's gonna be
huge force. And so it's been awesome be able to
go against him. Uh see him getting better and better
every day.
Speaker 7 (39:33):
How's he looking you better as a competitor with the
things that you're able to learn from a uniquely tall guy.
Speaker 13 (39:38):
Yeah, I mean he's a he's a big tight end
when they can, probably one of the biggest in the league.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
So going against him, you know, helps me because.
Speaker 13 (39:45):
You know, I've been able to work you know, power
moves against him and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
So being on the against guys like that, just like
I said, it's just the iron and Sharpen and iron.
Speaker 8 (39:53):
Hey, how how important is Nick carb On that?
Speaker 3 (39:57):
You know?
Speaker 6 (39:57):
Because the DEVI.
Speaker 13 (40:00):
You know, I mean, nix Ni's been getting better, better,
better every day, and so I'm just excited to.
Speaker 4 (40:03):
See what he does this year.
Speaker 13 (40:04):
And here two you know there where knows you know,
he came in and made a lot of place for
us to uh last year, He's gonna do the same
this year.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
And so I think it's just so important. And I uh,
I love the depth that we have in our room.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Ah, Like some of that thin should be noticed maybe
a little extra intensity that you're.
Speaker 4 (40:16):
Seeing 'em from the offense this year.
Speaker 13 (40:18):
I mean, I think just overall, it's just going back
to the competition park. You know, it's it's it's an
emotional games. So just having those drills well, just you know,
it bring us out that it brings out the emotion
and emotions and all of us, and it brings out
they they competitive nature and all of us. And so
that's what that's what that's that's what why Mike t
has us do in those drills. Uh, it's because of.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
You know, to bring out the competitive nature within us.
Speaker 6 (40:39):
What if you learned from justice.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Fence as a whole last year guys with six best
like scoring and.
Speaker 10 (40:43):
Is there other areas you that that's in place?
Speaker 4 (40:45):
How to strive forward and you know about that?
Speaker 13 (40:48):
He yeah, I mean, you know, we wanna be the
best in every area, and so whatever areas that we
work about, the best.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Team were opportunity get good in that area. So I
think for us, it's just about you know, being physical
or playing.
Speaker 13 (41:01):
Fast, playing smart, have a good communication and just just
being or being consistent.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
You know.
Speaker 13 (41:06):
I think that's one thing that he could take his
best step for his being sus this year. So that's
like where we goes so far to get this?
Speaker 4 (41:11):
What have been your things where you can get better?
You know, just kind of being better and being around
this a couple of times? You Where where else have
you been improved heading into this year? Yeah?
Speaker 13 (41:18):
You know, for me, just you know, being more consistent,
you know, with my production. I feel like and also
just continue to get better just throughout this camp, and
I continue to find my moods, and so I think
for me coming year five, you know, I feel like
I'm more of a leader now, so I just continue
to use my voice. I'm gonna help these younger guys
to be the best versions of themselves.
Speaker 6 (41:35):
What have you learned from justin going against him in
the seven shots and in some of these team periods.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Yeah, I mean he's he's fast, that's for sure.
Speaker 13 (41:42):
But you know he's been he's in uh, he's been
going so far, and so I'm just excited to see
the way that he's gonna get better every day. You know,
Like I said him about him being fast, you know,
I took a bad angle on I wanna like a
re readoption play and he got outside me for a touchdown.
So he's a he's a guy that you know, he's
very he's very unique in his talents, and so he's
gonna be a huge set for it.
Speaker 11 (42:00):
Is that the lot where he threw up the peace
sign to you guys as he went into the end zone?
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Uh might have been, I can't remember that.
Speaker 12 (42:05):
I'm part of the linebacker position lands at linebacker Patrick
Green right now he moved to defense, so flast how
did his health in difference?
Speaker 4 (42:12):
Ah?
Speaker 13 (42:12):
I mean he has so much. You know, he's a
decent guy who's a veteran this league. Now you know
it's year five as well, and so you know he's
he's a baller. So just having him, it's just he's
for our defense. He brings a lot of trickle listen
to our defense, and he brings a lot of A G
and g's to our defenses. So which is excited to
have him as part of our defensive now on our
team in seven?
Speaker 4 (42:32):
I guess our rights going.
Speaker 10 (42:33):
Going back to the stations b fields, I mean, you
guys have a lot of mobile.
Speaker 4 (42:36):
Quarterbacks in your plation from guns here and hurts this year.
Speaker 10 (42:38):
Is there some silver linings seen him? One of the
drainage to see him so much.
Speaker 13 (42:42):
Yeah, said, yeah, I mean absolutely. It's like you said,
we've played a lot of key keep mobility just throughout
the year, especially in the vision. So I think it's
just gonna help us over at the defense against NetDay.
Speaker 4 (42:52):
For for you, is there anything that people to improve on.
Speaker 13 (42:55):
During the off season as about like at maybe another
little too red FOI is it more about like five
ten and you know the passwork? N if you haven't,
it's really fun too and add a couple but more
it's just fine too and just getting biggers fromthing plastics
on alt.
Speaker 11 (43:07):
Did you notice any difference in like how to off
the tackles the plaine either off the season last year
at all?
Speaker 4 (43:12):
But yeah, I mean I know something, you know.
Speaker 13 (43:13):
For me, it's like you know voice, you know what
I must have been with a lot of guys, and
so I see a different tackle with the just of
that different ways and so he's trying to figure out
different ways to go that at guys, and so it
would also just reply to lose that already happen.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Here was outside linebacker Alex high Smith yesterday following practice
and labs at the beginning there of that audio. He
was talking about the acquisition of Marcus Golden. We haven't
talked about that yet, but that's just cementing that depth
at that position, which was already pretty solid. But now
that whole room from last year just gets to carry
over into this year.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Yeah, and it's you know, it's the same uh, the
same top four uh in terms of the personnel, and
so there's some familiarity there, not only familiarity with with
the scheme by the players, but also familiarity by the
players with each other. And you know, I think that
that's you know, important, and that is a very very
(44:08):
important position on the Steelers defense outside linebacker edge. However
you want to, you know, label it, but you know,
those guys are asked to do a lot of different things.
You know, you look at Alex Heisman, since we just
heard from him, you know, let's let's just focus on
him for a second. In his third season twenty twenty two,
he had fourteen and a half sacks and led the
(44:29):
NFL with five forced fumbles. Okay, now, last year his
sacks dropped down to seven, but he had two interceptions,
so one of which he returned for a touchdowns. Right,
So that just goes to show you that, you know,
in the Steelers defense, those guys are not always attacking
(44:49):
the backfield. You know, Kurt Warner found that out in
Super Bowl forty three. I could continue to use that
as an example for people who maybe not don't realize
it or understand in the prevalence of that that position
being used as something besides a rushman, you know, as
someone who attacks the quarterback. And you know, that's that's
(45:13):
one of the versatile things about the Steelers defense that
makes it difficult for the opposing offenses. So Alex high Smith,
you know, he has a range of skills and if
he's not sacking the quarterback, that doesn't mean he's not
being effective. So he is a very key part of
that defense.
Speaker 4 (45:30):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
Certainly when you're t J. Watt's running mate or you know,
partner in crime or however you want to label him, Uh,
you know, you're you kind of take second place in
terms of the attention and the hype and that kind
of stuff. But make no mistake, and I'm gonna say
it again, Alex Highsmith is a very significant important part
(45:53):
of the Steelers defense, and both he and t J.
Watt are known to function better over the course of
the game if they're not playing every snap. You know,
the Steelers like to give those guys some breathers. Uh.
They like to have them on the field and critical downs,
(46:15):
you know, that kind of stuff. They want them to
be to have something left in the tank in the
fourth quarter, you know, on third and six. Uh, you know,
in a one score game as an example. So, uh
that that's what really emphasizes the importance of the depth.
And Nick Herbig I think was a great draft pick.
(46:38):
Uh that he really has a lot of upside. Uh.
He he is quick, he is athletic. I mean he
presents a different issue for opposing offensive tackles or whoever
might end up blocking him than some of the other guys.
And you know, that's a good way, you know, to
have a different skill set, maybe a little different skill
(47:01):
set than the guys that you are filling in for.
And you know, Marcus Golden is just Mike Tollman refers
to him as a very low maintenance guy. He's a pro.
I mean, he slid against the run. He had four
sacks I believe was his total last year in somewhat
limited snaps. Because you don't get a lot when you're
(47:21):
backing up t J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Let's be honest,
and you know he is not a mowner. He's not
Melvin Ingram. You know he's here. He understands that he
is not t J. Watt or Alex high Smith. And
you know his job is to be a compliment c O.
M P L E M E N T. Compliment and
(47:47):
fill in or back up or give those guys the rest,
however you want to phrase it. So he has the
correct mindset for the job, he understands it, and he's
a good acquisition at a very important position for this defense.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Yeah, no doubt that knowing your role was such an
important part, especially for a veteran like him who's had
you know, runs in the NFL of being a number one,
number two outside linebacker in his past. We're gonna go
in the locker room next. That's gonna do it for
LABS and myself. Today. No show tomorrow as it is
an off day for the players, but we will be
back at nine am on Tuesday. So until then, enjoyed
(48:22):
today's practice. We'll talk to you then on the training
camp report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Decus Training Camp report with Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola
on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Labs in yesterday Steelers practice, and we'll hear Tom mentioned
this when we play his audio in a little bit
in this first segment. But it seemed like it was
a very conscientious effort to work smarter after the very
physical Friday night lights practice. Players said how physical it was.
You noted on our show yesterday. It was one of
the more physical Friday night lights that you can remember.
(00:33):
And it's good to see, you know, the coaching staff
recognizes too. Hey, they gave it. They're all two nights
ago for us. We're gonna, you know, not take the
pads off and go easy on them today, but we're
gonna have a nice little, you know, smart way of
going about things.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, there were you know, as Mike Tomlin thean explained it,
I really didn't notice it as it was happening in
this In this sense, a lot of the drills were
done on short fields, so you know, like they had
a red zone drill, which so the ball was you know,
right around the twenty yard line, so there wasn't a
(01:10):
lot of running distances, if you know what I mean.
That kind of thing. But it wasn't like it was,
you know, fifth grade gym class out there either.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
And one of the elements that was interesting about the
whole after excuse me, the whole afternoon was you know, there,
it's Latrobe. You know, it's August, it's uh so there's
weather potential for weather just about every day naturally. So
(01:44):
we're sitting there and uh, an announcement is made two
for the fans to return to their cars and the
media and guests to go to the Roger Center because
there's lightning in the area. So those were the announcements,
and they announced it several times, but the players never
(02:07):
left the field. So I was watching Mike Tomlin, who
is a stickler for lightning, and he's not taking the
players off the field. So there's a difference apparently between
(02:28):
the you know, they have the lightning sensors around campus,
and someone from campus who works for Saint Vincent was
up in the press box with me and he said
that those sensors detect lightning thirty miles away. Now that's
(02:54):
you know, I don't know what the standard is. You know,
maybe the standard is for the protection of people sitting
on metal bleachers. You know, thirty miles is get them
out of there, you know, But if you're actually on
the field practicing, you know, there's a good chance that
(03:15):
maybe that doesn't you know, get to you. Again, I'm
no meteorologists. We have established that in several previous episodes
of this should be award winning podcast on SNR, but
show on SNR too. So I mean, I'm just watching
what's happening. So the players aren't leaving the field, and
(03:38):
so then the fans aren't leaving, you know, they're because
you can't see any lightning. It wasn't particularly dark or
ominous the sky, and it's it was just a weird
kind of dynamic for a while. Then they had to
get you know, some security involved because they did need
to clear the field, or not the field, they didn't
need to clear the stands and the hillside. I guess
(04:01):
for the you know, general protection of the people, which
is a you know, legitimate thing. There's a lot of
kids there, you know, and so there's that interest in safety.
But I guess people didn't I'm surmising they didn't believe it,
you know, because they're watching the team continue to go
(04:23):
through there, and it's the early part of practice, and
so it's the individual stretching. You know, you know how
that goes. So anyway, I'll wrap this up right here.
There never was any lightning. They did allow the people
to come back, I don't know, maybe fifteen or twenty
minutes later at the most, and they were allowed back,
(04:45):
but the team never stopped doing what they were doing.
So practice pretty much carried on as scheduled and even
was a little ahead of schedule. And so that also contributed,
I think to the bounce back nature of the afternoon
because if the players had left then they come back,
(05:09):
then they have to start over because you can't like
pick things up or you left off in terms of
their bodies. Then they got to go through the stretching again.
You know how that works. When a game is delayed,
a preseason game, whatever, they send the players off and.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
They don't know how it works, but I hear from
athletes that that's how it works.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yes, well, I meant you see it on TV at yes, right, Okay,
So anyway that was and again I'm not take it
sides or you know, they should never have let them
made the fans leave. I'm not saying any of that
I'm just telling you what happened. And so that was
I think part of And I don't think Mike Tomlin
(05:48):
didn't take the players off the field because you know,
he didn't want them to have to warm up again.
I mean, that's not how he is, that's not how
he's built, you know, none of that. I just think that,
you know, maybe his radar, in terms of the radar
that he's looking at or consults when determining, you know,
(06:10):
where practice is, when it's going to be held, that
kind of stuff might be a little bit more detailed
and that kind of thing than those sensors, which you
know don't again, so there you go. That's that's my story.
I'm sticking to it. And but it was a bounce
back day kind of and they did. They did, as
(06:31):
I mentioned, a lot of short field things and there
were no pads, so there was no tackling those kind
of things. But Mike Tomlin also pointed out that today
they're going back to you know, Friday night lights intensity
their short yardage goal line. There's going to be hitting today.
(06:53):
They'll be in full pads. So it's not like they
were on a long vacation or anything. They had a
night practice. That was you know, as I reference to me,
it's kind of like rock em soccerm robuts do play
that when you were here.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, some of the clips too, Labs made it's their
way to the internet, and I saw, you know, the
warren and the nausea battles between Queen and robertson Man.
You you weren't kidding when you were describing them on
our show yesterday. That was violence. That was violence on
a football field.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And you could hear it too. I mean, I don't
know if the clips had sound, but being down at
field level when they those collisions, you could hear them.
So yeah, it was. It was intense. And so I
guess today, I don't know if it's going to be
to that level. Again, I'm not saying that those are
(07:42):
going to be the kind of drills, but I know
short yardage and goal line that's pretty much live kind
of action, and you know, the offense and the defense
will be competing over not a whole lot of real
estate on that field, and so that should be pretty
intense too. And It's here's another thing. It's family day.
(08:06):
Family day, so the players' families will be here, you know,
and then after practice they have dinner and you know
that kind of nice. And one of the things that
Mike Tomlin believes about Family Night is nobody wants to
get their butt kicked in front of their family. So, uh,
(08:28):
this has kind of been part of his routine in
terms of, you know, lining up things and when you
do which drills on which days and family Night has
under the Mike Tomlin there has been one has been
a practice that is intense, and there are a lot
of competitive drills, competition periods, those kinds of things, because
(08:51):
you know, he has said, uh, you don't want to
get your butt kicked in front of family. You just don't.
And so guys are going to give it a little
extra maybe, and it should be fun for the fans
who are going to be out here. Practice starts at
one fifty five. There is no weather in the forecast.
I've been checking. It was really foggy this morning. The
(09:14):
fog is pretty much almost gone. But that's it today
and tomorrow, which is a player's day off.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
No rain.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Mid eighties today, low nineties tomorrow, which is day off,
so yay, and you know, then they're back at it.
Then Tuesday after that back to the morning, the normal
morning ten thirty practice.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, with that player's day off tomorrow too, it can
really be inviting for the coaches to really ratchet the
intensity up again. Yesterday's practice, though, defense needed some revenge.
In seven shots, they lost seven to nothing, and they
did that in front of a twelve thousand plus crowd
at Latrobe Stadium. You were saying, how you couldn't really
recall a seven to nothing in the past. Uh, And
(10:03):
then they got out to an early three to oh
hole in yesterday's version of seven shots. So that's ten
straight wins by the offense labs. But they were able
to pull off the reverse sweep and the old Boston
Red Sox versus New York Yankees, and the defense came
out on top.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Yeah, it was ten in a row, and it was
you know, the early the first three reps of seven
shots yesterday or yeah, yesterday were I won't say as
easy as the seven on Friday night lights, but I
mean the offense, you know, it's it's just clicking. And
(10:39):
because there were no pads, there wasn't any running really,
so you know a couple of things. George Pickens just
continues to be I'm not gonna say he's unstoppable, because
that's overstating it. But you know, the guy is a
legitimate threat in any area of the field. His body
(11:02):
control is special in my opinion, and he has he
is showing the ability, the pretty consistent ability. You know,
George Pickens snatches the ball out of the air and
he did this during the seven shots too for a touchdown.
(11:22):
You know, he snatches the ball out of the air
and then he doesn't necessarily tuck it to his body,
but he holds it in a place where you know
it's unlikely to be stripped out, and then he may
you know, he concentrates on his feet where he is
on the field, and he makes sure he gets you know,
his feet down and bounds and that completes the catch
(11:43):
and it's a touchdown. So that he did another one.
I'll just refer to that as a George Pickens special.
And he did that again yesterday. There was another play
where you know, justin fields servede the the receivers, the
(12:04):
you know whatever you would call that the end zone
because there, excuse me, real close down there. And it
wasn't a running play by any means, but a crease
just developed you could see it, you know, from up
up a little bit and it opened up, and I
mean that's you know, that's taking candy from a baby
(12:24):
for him. You know, he just waltzed into the end zone.
So anyway, it's three nothing. So then Fields is still
on the field for the four snap and he has
a chance to clinch the drill right there. But the
ball he had to pass bat it down at the
line of scrimmage. Now it was hard. Those are so
(12:46):
hard to determine. You know, you have a lot of
bodies down there. The best I can tell you, it
was either Isaiah louder Milk or Montravius Adams. And Montravius
Adams is having a good camp. He is, you know,
he's a physical presence in the middle of the line
(13:06):
of scrimmage, which you know you're looking for from a
guy who plays nose tackle. And so he's been moving
people around down their offensive linement. I mean, and uh,
you know he is. He's getting around too. I mean,
he's not just a big load that is a stationary.
He's pretty mobile for his size, gets his hands up.
(13:29):
So he's having a nice training camp. This is a
big training training camp for Isaiah Loudermer A louder Milk.
I believe for a lot of the same reasons that
it's a big training camp for de Marvin Leal. He's
in that part of his contract now where you know,
does he get a second contract or not. This is
his time's third year, so you know, he's trying to
(13:54):
again establish himself to the degree that the team wants
to continue to do business with him, or at least
he wants to establish himself to the degree where he's marketable.
If it's not here, then he has shown enough good
things on video that somebody else is going to be
interested in him. So he's at that spot, all right.
(14:15):
So anyway, it was either Adams or Loudermilk who made
that play first win for the defense. Then Kyle Allen
comes onto the field. It wasn't his finest hour. It
was just not the first play. I can honestly tell you,
I do not know who the pass was intended for,
(14:38):
because the only person that had a good chance to
catch it was the defensive back. Who did Thomas Graham
Junior right in the middle of the field. He threw
it to him. There didn't seem to me to be
a logical offensive player in there. So there's that. Okay,
it's interception three to two. Then the next play made
(15:03):
no sense to me at all. I have I can't
even begin to explain what I saw in terms of why.
But this is what I saw in terms of just
recounting it fields. Excuse me. Alan rolls to the right, right, rolling, rolling, rolling,
rolling to the right. He's just almost outside the numbers,
(15:26):
and he turns and he throws all the way back
to the other side of the end zone where Darnel
Washington is and he's covered, but he's there, and the
ball was broken up. Now you do that in a
real game where it could be intercepted and run back
for a touchdown. I don't think that that's a very
(15:51):
that's not going to endear you to Arthur Smith. Let
me put it that way. It was what we used
to refer to, you know, the long time members. He
pulled the Mike tom Zak because tom Zach was known
for just ridiculously foolish, careless things with the football. I
don't know if you remember this, but I certainly do.
(16:14):
Tom Zak stumbled one time, dropping back and just before
his back hit the ground and he had not been touched.
He just like stumbled, lost his footing, and just before
his back hit the ground, he just threw the ball
up in the air in the middle of the field,
which you know, again did not endear him at the
(16:35):
time to Bill Kower. So that was a similar kind
of play that Kyle Allen made in terms of throwing
it all the way across the field like that. Okay,
so now it's three to three and Mike Tomin did
not put the first team out there, so this was
(16:57):
still Kyle Allen in his group. But the Marvin Leal
came off the end the edge, it was a sack.
It would have been a sack if it was tackling.
He just ran past them. Allen then through the ball
was incomplete, but scoring the play. Personally, I gave Leal
the sack because I thought that was what would have been.
(17:20):
So for three, defense breaking offense, the offensive streak, the
winning streak, and their streak of ten touchdowns in a row.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
But now you got to keep an eye on today
seven shots because with the pads coming back on, defense
needs to get their first win of this training camp
session with pads. You heard Labs' thoughts from practice yesterday.
Let's hear what coach Holland had to say to the
media following practice.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Man, really productive day to day. The guys gave it
to us last night. It's our intentions to work hard
in this environment, but also work smart, and so we
did some things to help them with the bounce back.
We had several periods on the short field, for example,
in the effort to gain their legs back. We had
some guys they're the veteran players. We minimize them to
day in response to last night. It's just appropriate. They
(18:05):
gave us a lot, and that's a component of this process. Man,
they got to go hard, We got to make good
judgments as coaches. We got to find ways to make
every single day productive. But it's just productive on different levels.
I like the work that we got done today. We'll
tee up for tomorrow. Tomorrow be a big day short yardist,
goal line, you know, the competition will be hot. We'll
(18:25):
be right back at it. The great thing today we
had no additional negativity from a health standpoint. Really things
that's kind of status quo with the guys on that list.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Pausing open up for questions.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Or your rookie players are going now the good tea
them for more than a couple of weeks.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
They've got a lot of growth in front of them.
The thing that I like about the group individually and
collectively is they're not intimidated in their competitors, and that's
a great place to start. There's a lot of learning
and development that goes on here, and a lot of
it is just them adjusting to the professional and vironment,
taking new coach and learning from veteran players, and so
(19:04):
the learning curve, they make that up quick. But a
component of that is just them being confident in themselves
and being competitors, and that's a component of it that
I like from them.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
They really throw your head.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
Over there, the one on one by the side of
what we're trying to.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
See, how it's a flat tackle. We need offensive guys
that can win in that space and turn short to long.
We need defenditors that can consistently make that tackle and
get their fist in the air, for example on third down.
It's a really fundamental thing. Not a lot's talked about it,
but but being efficient in the flat is significant. We
(19:38):
got to defend the pylon in the red zone. We
can't get beat to the flat Let's be honest. Kansas
City's probably run of the last two Super Bowls in
the flat and so that's just a fertile territory of
real estate that we got to acclimate ourselves to see
who can make plays in it.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
And that's the component of it.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
What do you like about what.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Van Jefferson's added to your wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
Grew It's a steady, solid veteran. He knows what he's doing,
is obvious. He's got a really high floor in that
he is extremely consistent every day. He's bringing some leadership
skills based on his experience to the group as well,
and that's appreciated.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
Make me to.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
Fitzpatrick haus in practice for three days, is he working
through something?
Speaker 8 (20:19):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (20:20):
He practiced every day.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
He did seven or seven today, he did individually, did
the same thing last night. We're just minimizing him in
that effort to see others anyone else.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Of course, you'll put that rule.
Speaker 9 (20:33):
Assych to It's not something you're looking forward to work,
you know through the pre season.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
You know, ask me in a week or so, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
After I get in the stadium and see it with
my eyes, we respect it. The adjustment of the transition
that we're all going through, and we show our respect
to it with work and working to understand the nuances
of it. But none of us are really gonna be comfortable,
not in any of us here in Pittsburgh, not any
of us and into thirty one other cities until we
(21:02):
get more exposure to it.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Coach Tomlin speaking with the media following yesterday's training camp practice.
When we come back, Labs and I will look at
the offensive side of the ball. We'll hear from Pat Fryarmuth,
who we hope has a big year ahead of him,
and rookie offensive lineman Mason McCormick. That's on the way.
On the Training Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
This She's done. Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
The Arthur Smith offense is of great intrigue for Steelers fans,
and Pat Friarmouth within that offense is of great intrigue.
And before Labs and I discuss how his camp has
been going and what we hope is a big year ahead.
The tight end caught up with Mike Perzuda after practice yesterday.
Let's listen in on that conversation, kind of tensions bubbling
over earlier.
Speaker 10 (21:52):
You've been around here a while now, Yeah, last night's
backs on Backers, Well, that's.
Speaker 11 (21:57):
The that's the most energetic I've seen. It was great competition.
You know, it's gonna you know, iron Sharpern's iron and
that was the definition of it.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
And uh, yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 10 (22:06):
What's gotten into you guys?
Speaker 11 (22:07):
We're just we're trying to compete, We're trying to get
to that next step, and we're trying to do whatever
we can to get success in the playoffs. So you know,
as long as we're getting each other better out here,
keep each other healthy and safe and upright, and we're
going to continue to work and get as best best
as we can go in the week one.
Speaker 10 (22:21):
What has specifically gotten into thirty and twenty two?
Speaker 11 (22:24):
A man, they're they're they're energized, they're you know, they're competing.
You know, they're doing really well in this new offense,
and you know, I'm excited to see, you know, how
they play off each other this year.
Speaker 10 (22:34):
You know, the defense is supposed to win that drill. Yeah,
I mean it's it's kind of rid for them. Yeah, yeah,
you guys are two for two collectively, right.
Speaker 11 (22:41):
Yeah, yeah, I mean they're they're doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
You know.
Speaker 11 (22:44):
Obviously, you know some jos are slanthon in our favorite
some slanthon in the defensive favor and that's one of them.
That's slanth in the defensive favor and uh, you know,
we we smile on the face of it, like coach
t says, and we compete.
Speaker 10 (22:54):
Have you been practicing this offense enough where you can
see in the regular season you're gonna get a million
torg into the million catches and.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Hopefully that's the plan.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
But yeah, I know, man, it's been great, and uh,
you know, I got continued to work, stay healthy and
uh continued to work with the quarterbacks for that chemistry
and excited for the future.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
You know, Labs, it's amazing. Almost every veteran, even just
takes about two years around him starts repeating Tomlin's famous
lines smiling in the face of adversity with the offense
doing well in a drill rig for the defense. Uh,
it's just amazing that that shows how, you know, how
impressionable he is to these players, and how it's no
(23:33):
coincidence that not only do Steelers, but people around the
league say yeah, coach, I'd love to play for a
lot is Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
And he threw out the irons and sharpens iron one too.
I don't know if you caught that that was earlier,
but that's another Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Isn't there you go?
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I mean yeah, right, oh yeah, it was funny last
year and I even mentioned it to Mike Toman one time.
Broderick Jones, a rookie, started using the word collective about
late November. The collective, I mean, seriously, you know, I
(24:09):
just I'm not implying that you know anything about Broderick
Jones is intelligence or anything. That's not what I mean.
But the word collective is not used. I don't think
in any level of football to refer to the team
except the Steelers in you know, within the Steelers by
(24:31):
their head coach. I can guarantee you Kirby Smart never
used the word collective and talking about the team.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
So yes, you.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Understand or you understand how the message is getting through
when the players start parroting his phraseology is what I mean,
more than anything else, the way he chooses to speak,
the way he describes things iron versus iron. You know,
(25:00):
all of that stuff. Again, I don't know that Kirby
Smart would have used that. And I'm sure Georgia, you know,
they got the talent on that roster where you know there,
you know, offense versus defense at Georgia practice is probably
pretty good action too. But yeah, it's it's it's interesting
to me. Let me put it to you that way,
(25:21):
and you can always tell, you know, Markquise Ponce was
one of those guys too. He was always using the
same phraseology you know that Mike Tomlin did. And that's
I think, you know, when the message is getting across
to some of these guys.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Well, Pat Freiermuth a former second round draft pick. He
has a ton of talent, a ton of potential, and
he's realized some of that potential throughout his NFL career
so far. But there's an excitement around him this year, Labs.
I think the marriage with Arthur Smith has people intrigued
by what he can bring to the table. Maybe you
can start seeing him be more productive than he even
(25:54):
has been. And it's been a pretty good camp so far,
both usage wise and performance wise.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
From Firemouth.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Yeah, and you know, Pat Friermoof is going into the
last year of the contract he signed as a rookie.
He was a second round picking the twenty twenty one
NFL Draft. So you know, this is when this timeframe
for a player is when the Steelers typically will do
some business with them in terms of a contract extension,
(26:21):
if they are so interested and if a deal can
be you know, worked out. I can't tell you whether
this it's going to happen or not. I mean, the
deadline is, you know, fifteen minutes before kickoff of the
opener and then there is no more negotiating. That's the
way the Steelers choose to do business. So there is
(26:43):
something of a you know, a deadline involved in this negotiation.
So I can't predict whether Pat Fryermouf and the Steelers
are going to come to an agreement on a contract
extension or not. But this is when they would be
talking about this. You know, I think it's it's something
that would interest both sides certainly. You know, Pat Friarmouth,
(27:07):
if you look at his statistics over the course of
his previous three seasons in the NFL. You know, last
year he had the injuries and so he missed five
games and you know, but he was only targeted forty
seven times. Last year he only had thirty two catches.
Now again you have to, you know, grade those numbers
(27:30):
based on you know, the playing time. But you know
that's not of those aren't very eye catching numbers. Three
hundred and eight yards receiving for a guy who showed,
I believe a lot more than that in his previous
two seasons. I'm sure that Friarmuth is very excited for
this Arthur Smith offense. And when you look again at
(27:54):
the eligibles, you know who might Russell Wilson be throwing to.
You know, you have George Pickens. I think Van Jefferson
is having a very good camp. He's coming on. And
then Nurse Friarmuth. He could be a big part of
the passing game. And when you look at the tight
(28:15):
ends as a group, you know you have some options there.
Arthur Smith has some options there in terms of you know,
you can put Fiarmouth and Darneult Washington on the field
at the same time. One guy can be the receiving
tight end. I mean, if you want to label it,
let's let's call it that the other guy's the blocking
(28:38):
tight end. So you know, you put those two guys
on the field. At the same time, you're really not
necessarily tipping your hand to the defense about what the
play might be. You could run out of that grouping,
you could throw out of that grouping. If you throw
out of that grouping, who you're throw into, If the
(28:58):
defense might get a little too you know, enamored with
the ball going to Friarmouth, Well then George Pickens can
certainly make them pay for that. So, you know, there
seems to be a lot of options developing with the
the Arthur Smith offense. You know, we're gonna have to
see how it evolves once the games start being played.
(29:21):
And let's not forget I remind everybody this all the time.
Don't necessarily believe what you see in training camp in
the preseason, because twenty twenty three taught us all about that.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
I couldn't have said it better myself. I still have
some PTSD flashbacks for the preseason and then we win
of the first of the regular season. But another part
of that Arthur Smith offense is obviously the offensive line,
and the first two draft picks were spent on the
offensive line, But there is a third offensive line and
that is a part of this rookie class and he's
got a lot of potential. A lot of scouts were
high on him. Mason McCormick having a pretty good camp
(29:58):
so far as well. Caught up with the media. Let's
you what he had to say.
Speaker 8 (30:01):
It's bubbling over earlier in practice last week.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
You know, is that something that you do you kind
of you feel that situation for someone to protect the quarterback.
Speaker 9 (30:10):
Yeah, I mean that's what we get Maade to do
is protect the quarterback whatever it takes.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
And you know what a Rob did.
Speaker 9 (30:15):
I think it was accidental and we move on and
it is what it is. But we're gonna protect the
quarterback always. And you know, there's no love lost or
anything like that. We're all cool. Fine, So kind of
say something about you as a person or player.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Is that Is that what you bring to this team
in a way?
Speaker 9 (30:32):
Yeah, I mean that's something I'll always bring. I take
pride in protecting the quarterback and that's what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (30:38):
How much does that change your technique and how's.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
That going so far?
Speaker 9 (30:42):
He's he's changed it up a decent amount and I've
been trying it and just going out there not nervous
to fail or anything, and it's it's helped a ton already.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
I feel like I've grown so much already just being here.
Speaker 9 (30:54):
For this a little bit of time, and so seeing
that development makes me excited for a future. But he's
giving you a bunch of stuff in your on your
own when you feel like you're comfortable.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Is that sort of how it works? Kind of?
Speaker 9 (31:07):
I try to implement it as fast as possible because
I have full faith in those guys. I've seen some
of the safements of the guys that they've coached, and
I just want to get as good as I can
as quick as I.
Speaker 6 (31:19):
What does he work with you on or ask you
to do that.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
It's different different things, whether it's getting my hands on
people in past protection, different footwork, and different approaches to
different blocks versus different personnel. There's really a lot of
different things that have went into it so far.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Mason, you're one of three rookies.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
How much have you guys bonded and shared information ideas
things like that? But Ton, I mean me, Zach and
Troy are pretty close, and they're two awesome guys and
they're fun to go to work with because they both
work extremely hard. They both take pride in the game
like I do, and it's it's been pretty cool.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
Is the intensity of camp when you thought it would.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
Be it's Yeah, I would say it's pretty similar to
what I thought. I didn't know what to expect and
it was gonna be tougher than playing football southa Goda state.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
But it's been awesome so far.
Speaker 8 (32:07):
Mean, how are you planning the red zone? Because you
have to ready.
Speaker 12 (32:10):
We saw you run a lot gayling war and he
say the twenty how would develop?
Speaker 9 (32:17):
Yeah, you have to take You have to take pride
when you get into the red zone because you ultimately
you want to score score touchdown, score points, and so
when you get down there, you got to take advantage
of it.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
And the running game is going to be solid this year.
Speaker 9 (32:29):
Absolutely. I mean, of course I'm bins, but of course
I think the running game will be good this year.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
How much are just miss offense?
Speaker 7 (32:36):
They ask me you kind of get mobile, pull out.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
Hitting space, and how have you been adapting to the
what's the way that you use?
Speaker 9 (32:42):
Yeah, I think we do a ton of different things
on offense, and I feel like I'm pretty versatile and
I can do whatever they ask me to do and
it's it's been awesome to be able to learn and
see different things.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
So far.
Speaker 7 (32:53):
Do you prefer to hit because it's a pull out
hit on space?
Speaker 8 (32:56):
You more like, you know, hitting the trenches type of guy.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
I feel like I like at all.
Speaker 9 (33:01):
Pulling out in space is fun just because it's one
on one and usually you make a big play if
you if you make the block. But also the nitty
gritty of being an offensive lineman in the churches is
awesome too.
Speaker 8 (33:11):
You can come from more of a gap scheme or.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
A system in college or is it more zone? How
does that? How's that play?
Speaker 9 (33:18):
I would say it was pretty balanced. I would say
it's kind of similar to what we wrote. We ran
a bunch of different gap schemes outside zone Pincole.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
We we did all of it as well.
Speaker 8 (33:30):
You mentioned the intensity of this camp. What have you
learned about Arthur Smiths of intensity as an individual?
Speaker 4 (33:36):
It's awesome.
Speaker 9 (33:37):
You can tell that he was a true passion for
this game with the energy and stuff that he brings
every day to practice, and so it's it's been pretty
cool to be able to feed off that, and I
feel like everybody does.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
He seems like he's kind of a quiet, mild manner
guy away from the field.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
I mean, were you surprised by how fire you get?
Some pretty trash talks things like that.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
I think it's fun.
Speaker 9 (33:59):
I think Bill holding that competitive environment and a controlled
setting like practice is super beneficial to us to be
able to ramp up the stakes, make it feel like
it's fourth and one on a big, big game. It's
pretty cool and it allows us to adapt and be
ready for whatever is to come.
Speaker 6 (34:15):
Have you ever had anybody like that before?
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Oh? Yeah, I definitely have people like that.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
Mason, what's Friday night going to be like for you?
Speaker 6 (34:23):
With the emotions being what are you going to try.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
To prove out there?
Speaker 9 (34:26):
Obviously it'd be pretty cool my first time really wearing
a Steelers jersey and getting out there on that field.
I just want to be a good representative of this
organization and play the right way.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Steelers rookie offensive lineman Mason McCormick talking to the media
yesterday and labs you know, he's not a project, but
he definitely needs some seasoning before he sees some regular
time on the field. I like the depth that he
brings to the table, and I like the tenacity that
he brings to the table too. People were high on
that come the draft, and you see it already at
camp when he's mixing it up.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Right at the end of that interview, Mason McCormick said,
I hope I'm getting the words exactly right. He wants
to be a good representative of the organization and play
the game the right way. You know, from Mason McCormick
so far, what I would say his interpretation of the
right way is with the proper playing demeanor. And you know,
(35:21):
he there is a there is a little bit of
a history in terms of offensive linemen with a proper
playing demeanor on this team. Uh. And you know we're
seeing that. We've seen that again so far this training camp.
And Mason McCormick is a guy who's right up there
with you know, Nate Herbig and Broderick Jones and you
(35:44):
know some of these guys that the Steelers are developing
who will play with a no nonsense, take no guph
from the opponent kind of attitude. And uh, you know,
once he learns the techniques and adjust a little bit
to the to the NFL the game as it's played
(36:05):
in the NFL, that demeanor, Uh, is going to I
think take him to the next level.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
When we come back, we'll flip over to the other
side of the ball. Alex Highsmith had some words with
the media following practice. We'll hear from him. We'll talk
about how his camp's going. That's all on the way
on the Training Camp Report with Labs and Tom on
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
He sees the Training camp Report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
The defense got a big win in seven shots yesterday
after losing seven to nothing in Friday night lights practice
and then coming back from a three to zero hole.
Alex Highsmith was a part of that part of that defense.
Let's hear from him when he caught up with the
media following practice yesterday.
Speaker 8 (36:50):
Kind of tensions bubbling over earlier.
Speaker 6 (36:52):
To keep in touch with him during this while he
was away.
Speaker 13 (36:54):
I kept touching a little bit during the off season.
So you know, he's just a great guy. You know,
he's a great player. You know, he's he's a he's
a og and he's been asleep for a while, and
so having him just as a lot of value to
our defense, to our team.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
So it's no surprise than that he was signed. Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
You know, it's like I said, it's awesome happening back.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
How important isn't that somebody like that that understands.
Speaker 6 (37:13):
Or rolling or like to kind of do whatever for team?
Speaker 13 (37:15):
Yeah, I mean it's important, you know, have selfless guys
like that or you know, cause to me, if you
got a bunch of selfless guys on a team, that
makes it, that makes a great team. And he's someone
who knows the system because he was here last year
and so having him come back, you know, it's his
his big force.
Speaker 9 (37:29):
Likes to have a guy like that, especially, you know,
like maybe if you were PJ had to take a
break or take a breather, then you come in and
continue with what you guys have did.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
You would do out there? Yeah?
Speaker 13 (37:36):
Absolutely, Just like I said, you know, he's someone who
knows our system and you know he's he's been asleep
for a while, so he knows the game. And so
having guys like you know him and Nick to be
able to come in and make a lot of place
for us, it's good.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
He's just like last year. So it was very excited for.
Speaker 9 (37:50):
It was last night as spicy as you've maybe seen
some of those one on ones.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Get it was mean, it was very vis but you know,
it makes us better.
Speaker 13 (37:57):
Competition makes us better, and that's one thing coach t
uh just love loves to see let's see us getting
after it and let's see the competition. And so ultimately
it's iron on iron and it just makes us better.
But you know, it definitely got fighty last night and
it was it was it was cool.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
See how has campaign for you personally just as a whole.
Speaker 13 (38:13):
Yeah, I mean I thought he's been a good camp
so far. Feeling good, you know, going you're five now.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
It's crazy, it's play every year.
Speaker 13 (38:19):
Every year it's back faster and faster, and so body
feels well and so you know, I just think it's
been a good cancel part.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
He just gotta keep hip.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
NA say, how much of that uh chippiness last night
is trickled down from Mike and surping that he likes
to do when you guys carry your paths as.
Speaker 13 (38:32):
He likes to Yeah, I mean, I mean that's just
a jilli you know that that that gets chippy cause
it's it's one on one and you know, it's it's it's.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
About it's a backs on back.
Speaker 13 (38:39):
It's about getting past the guy that you're going against
and getting to the quarterback. And so I think he
gets chippy just cause of the nature of the drill.
But everything we do is about a competition. That's something
that he know and he wants us to be competitors
cause ultimately this this game is a con the the
biggest competitors league, and so he just wants to wants
us during this training camp time to be able to
to build that uh in this did.
Speaker 11 (39:00):
He say anything to you guys before that or was
it just kind of happened naturally?
Speaker 13 (39:03):
Happens natural, man. You know, football is an emotional game,
you know, and so you know, things happened at times.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
But you know, like I said, it just makes us better.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
You seem to have a bit of a rivalry going
on right now. How has he improved from last year
as a blocker?
Speaker 4 (39:15):
But you guys matched up all the time.
Speaker 13 (39:16):
Yeah, I mean he's he's definitely shown a lot of improvement.
You know, he's gonna be a huge force this year
when when it comes to go point of attack, blocking
in the run game and also making you know, catches, uh,
you know in the rad zone. Just whirl in the field.
But you know, he's he's a guy that's gonna be
huge force. And so it's been awesome be able to
go against him. Uh see him getting better and better
every day.
Speaker 7 (39:33):
How's he looking you better as a competitor with the
things that you're able to learn from a uniquely tall guy.
Speaker 13 (39:38):
Yeah, I mean he's a he's a big tight end
when they can, probably one of the biggest in the league.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
So going against him, you know, helps me because.
Speaker 13 (39:45):
You know, I've been able to work you know, power
moves against him and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
So being on the against guys like that, just like
I said, it's just the iron and Sharpen and iron.
Speaker 8 (39:53):
Hey, how how important is Nick carb On that?
Speaker 3 (39:57):
You know?
Speaker 6 (39:57):
Because the DEVI.
Speaker 13 (40:00):
You know, I mean, nix Ni's been getting better, better,
better every day, and so I'm just excited to.
Speaker 4 (40:03):
See what he does this year.
Speaker 13 (40:04):
And here two you know there where knows you know,
he came in and made a lot of place for
us to uh last year, He's gonna do the same
this year.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
And so I think it's just so important. And I uh,
I love the depth that we have in our room.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Ah, Like some of that thin should be noticed maybe
a little extra intensity that you're.
Speaker 4 (40:16):
Seeing 'em from the offense this year.
Speaker 13 (40:18):
I mean, I think just overall, it's just going back
to the competition park. You know, it's it's it's an
emotional games. So just having those drills well, just you know,
it bring us out that it brings out the emotion
and emotions and all of us, and it brings out
they they competitive nature and all of us. And so
that's what that's what that's that's what why Mike t
has us do in those drills. Uh, it's because of.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
You know, to bring out the competitive nature within us.
Speaker 6 (40:39):
What if you learned from justice.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Fence as a whole last year guys with six best
like scoring and.
Speaker 10 (40:43):
Is there other areas you that that's in place?
Speaker 4 (40:45):
How to strive forward and you know about that?
Speaker 13 (40:48):
He yeah, I mean, you know, we wanna be the
best in every area, and so whatever areas that we
work about, the best.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Team were opportunity get good in that area. So I
think for us, it's just about you know, being physical
or playing.
Speaker 13 (41:01):
Fast, playing smart, have a good communication and just just
being or being consistent.
Speaker 4 (41:06):
You know.
Speaker 13 (41:06):
I think that's one thing that he could take his
best step for his being sus this year. So that's
like where we goes so far to get this?
Speaker 4 (41:11):
What have been your things where you can get better?
You know, just kind of being better and being around
this a couple of times? You Where where else have
you been improved heading into this year? Yeah?
Speaker 13 (41:18):
You know, for me, just you know, being more consistent,
you know, with my production. I feel like and also
just continue to get better just throughout this camp, and
I continue to find my moods, and so I think
for me coming year five, you know, I feel like
I'm more of a leader now, so I just continue
to use my voice. I'm gonna help these younger guys
to be the best versions of themselves.
Speaker 6 (41:35):
What have you learned from justin going against him in
the seven shots and in some of these team periods.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Yeah, I mean he's he's fast, that's for sure.
Speaker 13 (41:42):
But you know he's been he's in uh, he's been
going so far, and so I'm just excited to see
the way that he's gonna get better every day. You know,
Like I said him about him being fast, you know,
I took a bad angle on I wanna like a
re readoption play and he got outside me for a touchdown.
So he's a he's a guy that you know, he's
very he's very unique in his talents, and so he's
gonna be a huge set for it.
Speaker 11 (42:00):
Is that the lot where he threw up the peace
sign to you guys as he went into the end zone?
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Uh might have been, I can't remember that.
Speaker 12 (42:05):
I'm part of the linebacker position lands at linebacker Patrick
Green right now he moved to defense, so flast how
did his health in difference?
Speaker 4 (42:12):
Ah?
Speaker 13 (42:12):
I mean he has so much. You know, he's a
decent guy who's a veteran this league. Now you know
it's year five as well, and so you know he's
he's a baller. So just having him, it's just he's
for our defense. He brings a lot of trickle listen
to our defense, and he brings a lot of A G
and g's to our defenses. So which is excited to
have him as part of our defensive now on our
team in seven?
Speaker 4 (42:32):
I guess our rights going.
Speaker 10 (42:33):
Going back to the stations b fields, I mean, you
guys have a lot of mobile.
Speaker 4 (42:36):
Quarterbacks in your plation from guns here and hurts this year.
Speaker 10 (42:38):
Is there some silver linings seen him? One of the
drainage to see him so much.
Speaker 13 (42:42):
Yeah, said, yeah, I mean absolutely. It's like you said,
we've played a lot of key keep mobility just throughout
the year, especially in the vision. So I think it's
just gonna help us over at the defense against NetDay.
Speaker 4 (42:52):
For for you, is there anything that people to improve on.
Speaker 13 (42:55):
During the off season as about like at maybe another
little too red FOI is it more about like five
ten and you know the passwork? N if you haven't,
it's really fun too and add a couple but more
it's just fine too and just getting biggers fromthing plastics
on alt.
Speaker 11 (43:07):
Did you notice any difference in like how to off
the tackles the plaine either off the season last year
at all?
Speaker 4 (43:12):
But yeah, I mean I know something, you know.
Speaker 13 (43:13):
For me, it's like you know voice, you know what
I must have been with a lot of guys, and
so I see a different tackle with the just of
that different ways and so he's trying to figure out
different ways to go that at guys, and so it
would also just reply to lose that already happen.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Here was outside linebacker Alex high Smith yesterday following practice
and labs at the beginning there of that audio. He
was talking about the acquisition of Marcus Golden. We haven't
talked about that yet, but that's just cementing that depth
at that position, which was already pretty solid. But now
that whole room from last year just gets to carry
over into this year.
Speaker 3 (43:45):
Yeah, and it's you know, it's the same uh, the
same top four uh in terms of the personnel, and
so there's some familiarity there, not only familiarity with with
the scheme by the players, but also familiarity by the
players with each other. And you know, I think that
that's you know, important, and that is a very very
(44:08):
important position on the Steelers defense outside linebacker edge. However
you want to, you know, label it, but you know,
those guys are asked to do a lot of different things.
You know, you look at Alex Heisman, since we just
heard from him, you know, let's let's just focus on
him for a second. In his third season twenty twenty two,
he had fourteen and a half sacks and led the
(44:29):
NFL with five forced fumbles. Okay, now, last year his
sacks dropped down to seven, but he had two interceptions,
so one of which he returned for a touchdowns. Right,
So that just goes to show you that, you know,
in the Steelers defense, those guys are not always attacking
(44:49):
the backfield. You know, Kurt Warner found that out in
Super Bowl forty three. I could continue to use that
as an example for people who maybe not don't realize
it or understand in the prevalence of that that position
being used as something besides a rushman, you know, as
someone who attacks the quarterback. And you know, that's that's
(45:13):
one of the versatile things about the Steelers defense that
makes it difficult for the opposing offenses. So Alex high Smith,
you know, he has a range of skills and if
he's not sacking the quarterback, that doesn't mean he's not
being effective. So he is a very key part of
that defense.
Speaker 4 (45:30):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
Certainly when you're t J. Watt's running mate or you know,
partner in crime or however you want to label him, Uh,
you know, you're you kind of take second place in
terms of the attention and the hype and that kind
of stuff. But make no mistake, and I'm gonna say
it again, Alex Highsmith is a very significant important part
(45:53):
of the Steelers defense, and both he and t J.
Watt are known to function better over the course of
the game if they're not playing every snap. You know,
the Steelers like to give those guys some breathers. Uh.
They like to have them on the field and critical downs,
(46:15):
you know, that kind of stuff. They want them to
be to have something left in the tank in the
fourth quarter, you know, on third and six. Uh, you know,
in a one score game as an example. So, uh
that that's what really emphasizes the importance of the depth.
And Nick Herbig I think was a great draft pick.
(46:38):
Uh that he really has a lot of upside. Uh.
He he is quick, he is athletic. I mean he
presents a different issue for opposing offensive tackles or whoever
might end up blocking him than some of the other guys.
And you know, that's a good way, you know, to
have a different skill set, maybe a little different skill
(47:01):
set than the guys that you are filling in for.
And you know, Marcus Golden is just Mike Tollman refers
to him as a very low maintenance guy. He's a pro.
I mean, he slid against the run. He had four
sacks I believe was his total last year in somewhat
limited snaps. Because you don't get a lot when you're
(47:21):
backing up t J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Let's be honest,
and you know he is not a mowner. He's not
Melvin Ingram. You know he's here. He understands that he
is not t J. Watt or Alex high Smith. And
you know his job is to be a compliment c O.
M P L E M E N T. Compliment and
(47:47):
fill in or back up or give those guys the rest,
however you want to phrase it. So he has the
correct mindset for the job, he understands it, and he's
a good acquisition at a very important position for this defense.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Yeah, no doubt that knowing your role was such an
important part, especially for a veteran like him who's had
you know, runs in the NFL of being a number one,
number two outside linebacker in his past. We're gonna go
in the locker room next. That's gonna do it for
LABS and myself. Today. No show tomorrow as it is
an off day for the players, but we will be
back at nine am on Tuesday. So until then, enjoyed
(48:22):
today's practice. We'll talk to you then on the training
camp report on Steelers Nation Radio.
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