Training Camp Report Day 15

Labs and Tom discuss the corrections made in practice yesterday following the sloppy game against Houston. We hear audio from Coach Tomlin, Teryl Austin, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Beanie Bishop. Pro Football Hall of Famer Donnie Shell joins the show.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
DC's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Well, things are pretty sloppy for the Steelers' first preseason
game of the year Friday against the Houston Texans. So
what do you do when you make a lot of mistakes.
You make a lot of corrections labs, and yesterday was
a corrections day for the Steelers. They were only in helmets,
no pads, and it was a lot of fine tuning
some of the mistakes that happened on the actual football
field Friday night.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, and it was you know, it wasn't in pads.
So I mean a lot of times Mike Tomlan doesn't
necessarily believe that you need to be banging heads to
correct mistakes. And you know, I also got the impression
a little bit that after a rewatching of the video

(00:57):
and you know, you let it marinate a little bit
or simmer down, the disappointment that must have been flowing
through the coach's bloodstream pretty big time right after the
game ended. I think that there was maybe a little
bit of time to you know, take notice of some
of the good things that happened, some of the promising

(01:19):
things that you might have seen and that, you know,
even the mistakes that felt like fingernails on the blackboard
when they were happening, and then right after you know,
fumbled snaps, the gaffs with the punt return team, you know,
all of that kind of stuff. Yes, all of that

(01:42):
is bad, but it's also very correctable and it didn't
cost you anything. You know, it was a preseason game,
the first preseason game. And you know, I believe we
talked about this yesterday. You know, just go back and
feel and remember how good you felt last year after

(02:03):
the first preseason game and what all of that good
feeling actually meant for real. Ah, And so you know,
you can kind of look at this, you know, the
other way. But similarly, you know that you're not feeling
all that good and optimistic and everything, but you know,
this could very well turn out to not mean anything
either in the big picture.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, no, that's a great point. I'll continue to look
at it that way and say, hey, they were great
last preseason and they were bad at the regular season start,
so let's go to the opposite this time. Will be
great in Atlanta Week one. But you know, like Tomlin
said after the game, you know what we do from
here on is going to define us. How we correct
these mistakes is going to define our season, and they

(02:44):
just took the first step in that direction in yesterday's
practice labs. But his tone in his post practice pressure,
which we'll hear from in a little bit, and from
what I read from you and from a lot of
other people, it seemed like it was a good step
in the right direction, that there was some progress made
as far as those corrections are concerned.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, And you know it was some of the things
that you know were noticeable right away. I mean, uh,
what happens when practice begins. There's you know, individual periods
and then you know, some stretching, and then they break
into little groups. You know. One of the groups that
they broke into was punt returners. So the guys who

(03:26):
were lined up catching the punts were Calvin Austin, Quez Watkins,
John Reese, Plumley, the kind of quarterback. But this guy
is there there they were. They'd lined him up with
some wide receiver yesterday too. I mean, I'm not predicting
that he's the next Courtell Stewart or anything, but I

(03:48):
you know, I think they're just trying to see what
kind of athletic ability he has and also give him
an opportunity to maybe just showcase some of his talents
around the rest of the league. Scottie Miller and Cam
Sutton and so they're taking turns catching punts. Now you
know Danny Smith, the special teams coordinator, he has brought

(04:11):
all kinds of weird quirks to some of the drills
that otherwise mundane drills that these guys do. And you know,
one of the ones was and they're not doing this anymore,
but they used to do for the punt returners catching
the ball. You'd catch one and then you'd hold it

(04:32):
and then kick you another one n and then you
catch You know, how many can you catch without dropping
the ones that you already have.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
I'm sure because you're a huge fan. But they do
that during the Pro Bowl games. Now again you watch
that religiously and you know that Miles Killerbrew was amazing
at it last year. So I don't need to break
the news to you, but for people out there.

Speaker 3 (04:51):
So let me just for just for giggles, how many
he won? So how many did he catch?

Speaker 2 (04:59):
It was like five, was like four or five balls.
It was very impressive. Some of them were sticking to
his knees.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
It was.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
It was a tremendous athleticism.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, and guys get creative too, I mean, because you
can't let the other ones hit the ground. So sometimes
you know, when when somebody would be holding two and
the third one was coming to throw one up in
the air that you were holding, catch the new one,
and then catch the one that they just threw in
the air. But anyway, the record, Danny Smith told me
one time was Santana Moss with six So but this time,

(05:33):
the way they were doing it was if you're back
to catch the punt, you're holding a tennis ball in
each hand, So you got to catch the punt with
the tennis balls in your hand, so you're really catching
it without using your hands. You know, how can you
get got to judge it and get under it, and
you know, find a way to secure the ball while

(05:55):
you're while you're your actual hands are holding a tennis
ball in each one. So I can't imagine that was
really easy either, But yeah, that was the That was
a drill that was early in the practice session. And
you know, I will admit I was entertained.

Speaker 2 (06:13):
Well, how could you not be in it. It makes
a lot of sense, you know, entertainment wise, of course,
it's great for the fans and you to watch, but
it makes a lot of sense as far as practicality.
You want to suck that ball into your chest, Suck
it into your stomach, don't catch it with your hands,
especially on punts. You mentioned Ques Watkins. He was one
of the guys that was going through that drill, and
naturally he was someone who muffed a punt in the

(06:33):
game against Houston on Friday. But beyond his special teams contributions,
labs he Scottie Miller, who was also participating in the
punt return drill, had some good practices as far as
wide receiver was concerned, both in seven shots and in
the two minute drill sessions. For both of those guys,
you know, there's been so much noise about the Steelers

(06:54):
and a wide receiver this and a wide receiver that
these are human beings too, and they hear that noise
sometimes too, and I've seen nothing but them step up
ever since.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, and you know, Mike Tolman may have mellowed a
little bit from the way he was after the game,
but he can still be extremely blunt and I'm sure
that the you know, there were meetings held here yesterday.
You know, one of the reasons that the practice was

(07:23):
moved back to two fifty five was, you know, the
game was Friday. Players get the day off Saturday, and
then they're coming back to camp. Well, when they came
back yesterday, there were a series of meetings, team meetings,
and I'm sure that the head coach was presiding over
the video the matinee that was being shown, and I'm

(07:47):
sure that it wasn't necessarily written. The screenplay wasn't written
by Stephen King, but it might have been rated or anyway,
as some of those things end up being. But when
asked of out, you know, Qus Watkins made he made
a really nice catch both in seven shots and also

(08:13):
in the first repetition in two minutes. I also had
a nice catch deep down the sideline, you know, in
a seven on seven or something, and someone brought that
up to him to Mike Tomlin about it, and uh, Tomlin,
very matter of fact, he said, his quote was he
needed a day today. So, you know, bounce back a

(08:37):
lot of times pertains not only to groups or units,
but to individuals, because I would imagine if qus Watkins
had not had a day today yesterday, he might have
virtually cut himself, you know what I mean, Not that

(08:59):
he would have gotten, but there are certain things from
which players cannot come back from, So you know, good
for him. Whether how that impacts his future here, I
have no idea, and I'm not going to speculate, but yeah,
that was that was very necessary for him to show

(09:22):
what he showed yesterday in the practice field out here, and.

Speaker 2 (09:26):
Then hopefully he can show that it was just a
fluke in another game situation. I'm sure he'll get another
opportunity against the Bills on Saturday night to return another punt.
Go ahead, I'm sorry kind for a second. No, all right,

(09:48):
we got a little bug with labs here, so we're
gonna figure that out. And in the meantime, though, let's
go ahead and throw it to coach Tomlin and his
post practice presser following Sunday's padless practice at the Trope.

Speaker 4 (10:00):
Man, it's really an important day for us and to
get better cycle coming off a player off day. We
spent the morning analyzing our tape on Friday and making
necessary corrections and really plotting a course for this week
so we could position ourselves to be better. We got
a lot of work ahead of us this week, obviously,
but it's good to get back out here today this afternoon.

(10:21):
You know, corrections like practice. I think it's always important
at this stage of development that our physical labor matches
our needs. And so we saw some things in the
stadium that we didn't like. We we created a lot
of the work that we did here today to kind
of address some of that. We'll continue to push forward
through the week. We'll turn our attention toward Buffalo a

(10:41):
little later in the week. From an injury standpoint, you
guys got information on Troy after the game. Man, he's
got a knees spraying. He'll be out this week, and
I'll just kind of leave it at that. Man, we're
really optimistic about a quick return from him, but we'll
take it day by day. Some other guys Black had
a hamstring today, wasn't able to finish. Kylen Barnes had

(11:03):
acquired today, wasn't able to finish. We minimize some guys
today like we do in the process, give them some rest,
but more importantly than that, provide opportunity and elevated opportunities
for others. We lessen the workload of some of the
top corners and the effort to see some of the
other ones d rush for example, Corey for example. But

(11:27):
that's just part of a process some of these guys.
Then they got in the stadium for the first time
on Friday night, and so as reasonable to expect them
to make a significant jump between Stadium one and Stadium two,
just like we asked guys to make a significant jump
from year one to year two. There's no substitute for experience.
The first time has got experienced last Friday. We're really

(11:48):
leaning in on their work this week, and we expect
them to be dramatically better in their next opportunity. A
pause that it opened up for questions with that Troy,
what had you seen before the time? You know, he
was doing really well. Obviously we wanted to get him
a lot of work because he's just that's where he
is in development. But I like the general trajectory of.

Speaker 5 (12:08):
It, so exact, he's gonna getting some more moving with
the ones.

Speaker 6 (12:11):
Now have you seen him from.

Speaker 7 (12:13):
Press in his game.

Speaker 4 (12:14):
He's one of the guys that I'm talking about. He
was in the stadium on Friday. He's got that in
stadium exposure, and so it's reasonable to expect him to
be significantly better. Uh this week, we're gonna position him
to do so with an increased workloadrom with receivers.

Speaker 2 (12:28):
For tom though.

Speaker 4 (12:29):
No, he just you know, got in where he fit
in today. He's a versatile athletic guy. I think you
guys saw him some special teams returning kicks. He had
a tackle on punt. He is just a really versatile
and interesting athlete. The Lions got a little short to
day at receiver and so he got some work in.

Speaker 6 (12:44):
Once you're happy with Friday's game.

Speaker 8 (12:46):
What did you see, you know, in the boonce track
in the first practice HEAs today?

Speaker 4 (12:49):
It was in helmets. I like the spirit and wish
they work today, But obviously our answer is Saturday night.

Speaker 6 (12:56):
What did you see it from Raylan Arnold? You can
think he had some more first team rep here coming off.

Speaker 1 (13:00):
At any NAT.

Speaker 4 (13:01):
Yeah, you know, he's at full health now, and so
you know we're gonna not only give him more reps,
but more quality reps. When guys are often working themselves
back from injury, they don't get a lot of reps,
and we don't give him a lot of great reps.
He's healthy now, so he's gonna get some of those.

Speaker 6 (13:16):
Plus, Watkins was a guy had some of the negativity
and seemed to get.

Speaker 7 (13:19):
A pre Soli day to day. What did you see
him come bounce back?

Speaker 4 (13:23):
He needed a day to day.

Speaker 6 (13:25):
Anyone else You've the Senate Quarterback Exchange talk about a
lot after the game.

Speaker 4 (13:30):
Is that something you've seen as a problem with rout
camp or maybe something just cropped up in the game.
It is a global problem at every level of football
this time of year. It's a fundamental component to play.
That's why we start every day's work with attention to it.
But it's not something that's isolated or specific regarding us.
It's been an issue this time of year of every

(13:50):
football team I've ever been associated with since nineteen eighty.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
That's coach Tomlin following practice on Sunday speaking with the
media labs. We were talking before we had to throw
to that audio piece about Quees Watkins and he had
a bounce back day in practice, but now hopefully as
a bounce back day in a stadium on Saturday, he'll
definitely probably feel another punch for Tomlin would like to
see him get that opportunity when the Bills come to
town Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna gently disagree with getting getting
him another opportunity to feel the punt. I think that
that's Calvin Austen's job. Everyone knows it's his job, including
Mike Tomlin. Calvin Austin is good at it. He's done it,
just with some success in regular season games. I think

(14:37):
that the Quez Watkins thing was just maybe a little
bit of an experiment to see if maybe he could
supplement his receiving, you know, with something else. But you know,
I don't see him getting another chance to return punts.

Speaker 2 (14:52):
I'm an idiot sometimes, But thank you for telling me that, Jo,
that's why you're the best.

Speaker 3 (14:56):
Well, h hey, I could be wrong too, I mean,
wouldn't be the first time.

Speaker 2 (15:03):
Well, one other receiver that I did want to mention
before we hit our break here, we talked about Scotty
Miller a little bit. He hit the loan touchdown for
the offense in seven shots. It was a defensive dominated
day in that drill, but Scotty making a name for
himself on one of those possessions and then also had
a nice twenty one yard gain in the two minute
sessions to go along with that.

Speaker 3 (15:24):
Yeah, Scotty Miller is a guy who you know, he's
not really flashy. He is a veteran. He is familiar
with Arthur Smith's offense. Arthur Smith is familiar with what
Scotty Miller can do. You know, lately he has just
been in the right place at the right time. He
catches the ball and it's catchable. You know, he's not

(15:48):
going to dazzle you with size or speed or any
of that kind of stuff. But you know, the NFL
has filled with success stories, success stories of receivers like
Doddie Miller who you know, you might sell them a
little short when you look at them, maybe they don't
pass the eye test or you know, things of that nature,

(16:08):
but they're reliable and consistent and you know can be
assets for a team. So you know, for me, he
has been rising a little bit certainly in my eyes,
and it's you know, it's obvious by some of the
things you just described and what you've been doing on
the fields that you know this is a guy who

(16:28):
is making a name for himself. We'll have to see
how it goes now through the rest of this preseason.

Speaker 2 (16:34):
When we come back, we're going to get on the
defensive side of the ball. We're going to hear from
defensive coordinator Tarrell Austin, who spoke to the media before
practice on Sunday, and we're also going to talk a
little bit about the injuries. Tom mentioned it in his
pressure that we played for you just a little bit
of Ghosts Labs and I will dig a little bit
deeper into that when we return on the Training Camp

(16:55):
Report on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
DC's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (17:10):
Well, here're from Steelers defensive coordinator Tarrel Austin in just
a little bit, but we got to hear from meteorologist
Labs before we get to that. And you tease yesterday
and your weather report that it looks pretty good for
the remainder of training camp, a good week ahead for
the Steelers, and today a little bit of a chill
in the air from what I understand up at Latrobe.

Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yeah, you know, I had to had to put on
a little light jacket for the walk from the dormitory
over to Chuck Nolfield.

Speaker 2 (17:36):
Little football Well kind of well.

Speaker 3 (17:40):
Let's just say it's you know, not ninety eight, but
the sun's up, sky's clear, not a cloud in the sky.
You know, wind speed out of the southwest at twelve
miles per hour, barometric pressure is thirty point one one
inches of mercury two point is fifty seven degrees, and
you know the visibility for when you, you know, fly

(18:02):
your helicopter up here for practice after we're finished is
ten miles. So sixty four degrees looks to be beautiful today, Tomorrow, Wednesday,
Wednesday would be I must because Thursday is joint practice
at acter sure, so wednesday's the last practice up here.

(18:27):
Is expected or is forecast, to be eighty four degrees
and sunny on Wednesday, so you know, not a lot
of wind, really beautiful kind of weather. I think that
everybody probably likes it, except the head coach, who prefers,
you know, hot and miserable.

Speaker 2 (18:46):
For everyone, well, it looks like they're going to have
a lot of good weather luck this year up at camp.
That's not always the case when you go to La Trobe.
Sometimes mother nature can screw up a practice schedule, even
move a practice back to Pittsburgh. But today and Wednesday,
the final two practices. It looks like there ago so

(19:07):
all things perfect on that front. On the injury front,
things were going very well for the Steelers Labs. But
this tends to happen when you enter into an actual
game and play against another opponent. The big one to
note from Tomlin in his little media gathering yesterday after
practice Troy Fautanu suffering that knee injury against the Houston Texans,

(19:27):
and he just flat out said they're going to keep
him out this entire week.

Speaker 3 (19:31):
Yeah, and I mean there's optimism or Mike Tomlin expressed
optimism that it's you know, not a long term thing,
that he can come back quickly. It was described as
a knee sprain, which you know, again, I only play
a meteorologist on this show. I don't play doctors, right,

(19:53):
not doing doctors. But you know, hopes are you know,
hope springs a turnin in these kinds of situations training camp,
but you know, usually means that you know, they're awaiting
the results of US scan, usually an MRI to find
out you know, the extent of the damage. So you know, hey,

(20:18):
fingers crossed and all that stuff. But let me just
say this to all those amateur gms out there, got
too many tackles. Let's play file tone with guard. Let's
get rid of James Daniels because you know his contract
is coming up and we can save his salary cap
money and chase wide receivers around the country. You know,

(20:39):
let's do all of that stuff. Yeah, okay, fine, and
then all of a sudden you're short offensive linemen. So
that's you know, that's why you have reserves who are capable.
That's why you spend, as the Steelers did in this
last draft, three picks on offensive linemen. You know, if

(21:01):
even in a position where you only play one, like center,
you need more than one because you know, if one
gets hurt, you better have a two. So again, as
I'm just saying hopefully not, you know, follow Ton was okay,
But let me say this also, even if he is,

(21:25):
he's a rookie, so his development towards playing time in
the regular season is going to be impacted by this.
You know, if he doesn't, if he's out for Buffalo,
that probably means he's not going to practice for a week,
and then it's it's normal to expect or anticipate that

(21:46):
he's going to need some time to work himself back
to where he was before he was injured. So that
could be a few more days we're out of camp
close to the pre the last season game. Maybe he
doesn't play in that one or plays very little, and
then the regular season comes around. So you know, Broderick

(22:09):
Jones last year wasn't a starter until I could look
up the date, but it doesn't pop into my head
right away. Was right around Thanksgiving, I think, or it's
after Halloween, that kind of thing, and he didn't miss
any time. So how does this impact the other guy?
You know, these are just things that need to be

(22:31):
considered when you're looking at what you perceive to be
as an excess at a particular position. Because it's football,
it's professional football. Guys get injured and you need to
be prepared and ready for that.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yeah, that's such a great point. And the Steelers have
been so lucky in that area on the offensive line
in the past two season laps, just not suffering the
typical amount of injuries that a team sees at that
high end pack position. But despite that, thank god, Omar
Khan isn't like the armchair gms at home that just
want to trade this guy for that guy. And this
guy for that guy because despite having a healthy first

(23:09):
unit for the most part for two years running, now
he has really stockpiled the depth at that unit too,
and that is a great strength for them on top
of having talent at the top of that unit.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
Right, And you don't just throw in starting caliber offensive
lineman in a trade or angle them for a trade,
you know, to save or try and do something to
save salary cap space, you know, so that in the
you know, the next ranking of available cap space, you know,
people can look at it and wow, look, the Steelers
are fifth in the league and available cap space isn't

(23:44):
that great. But let me tell you, you can have all
the cap space in the world. Try to finding a
starting caliber NFL offensive lineman in mid September. Good luck
with that. Some things money cannot buy, and that's one
of them. If you know you're playing on having a
team that's going to contend for the playoffs, get into

(24:04):
the playoffs and maybe make some noise. You can never
have enough starting caliber offensive lineman in this league. You
just cannot. Now.

Speaker 2 (24:15):
Strong showing for the defensive side of the ball continues,
especially in seven shots the offense when the pads first
came on, labs started to have their way with the defense.
But I think some nice adjustments have been made. Pads
no pads doesn't seem to matter anymore. Defense has been
starting to get the better of the two sides, been
getting the better meal of late. Anything of note from
that side of the ball that you noticed before, we

(24:35):
hear from the guy controlling the strings on that side,
turl Austin.

Speaker 3 (24:39):
You know, seven shots again, there was no hitting and
it was pretty much an alternating situation with Justin Fields
and Russell Wilson. In terms of the quarterback. The very
first snap, Nick herbig shot off the line of scrimmage.

(25:00):
It would have been a sack if it was real football.
The play continued, he didn't touch the quarterback naturally, and
the pass was overthrown. But you know, those are some
of the things that we saw from the defense in
yesterday's practice that you know, you really didn't get to

(25:23):
see them completed because there was no hitting. But yeah,
the defense was doing some things yesterday, and you know,
I would say that the offense wasn't all that sharp either.
When they did manage to get things blocked up so
and it was almost by my accounting, anyway, And again

(25:45):
there were no NFL officials here, so there were a
couple of things that happened close to the goal line.
In terms of the guy with the ball, you're not
allowed to tackle him, so you know, when you touch
him up, as they say, would he have gotten into
the end zone or not if you actually had to
try and tackle him. I don't know, and those are

(26:06):
arbitrary rulings. But I had a six to oh defense
going into the last rep and that's when Scotty Miller
made a really nice catch at the pylon for a
touchdown to get the offense on the board.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
But despite that and avoiding the shoutout, the defense still
got the better of the drill and the better of
the meal. Defensive coordinator Tarrel Austin spoke with the media
before practice on Sunday gave a status report on that
side of the ball. Let's listening to what he had
to say.

Speaker 9 (26:35):
Like a cornerback play safety, No, he just looks like
a young guy who's never played safety.

Speaker 7 (26:41):
So but I am in terms of maybe sometime assignment.

Speaker 9 (26:45):
Wise or you know, he wasn't where he was supposed
to be. But the thing I really liked the bottom
was his run and tackle ability. He really showed an
appetite for that, and so I think the arrows pointed
up for him. It's like a lot of guys, it's
always an adjustment coming to this league.

Speaker 7 (26:58):
Anyway, He's coming to THEE and changing positions.

Speaker 3 (27:02):
Uh so.

Speaker 9 (27:03):
Uh, he may have a steeper learning curve than others,
but I like all the baseline stuff that he has,
and he's he's a heck of a kid and works
his tail off, and so I think he'll he'll get
it and he's gonna be end up being a pretty
good uh player force at some point.

Speaker 7 (27:14):
Do you know what about what about Beanie?

Speaker 8 (27:16):
What?

Speaker 10 (27:16):
What about?

Speaker 8 (27:18):
What I think?

Speaker 10 (27:19):
What did you think of.

Speaker 3 (27:19):
His first performance?

Speaker 10 (27:20):
Good? Good?

Speaker 9 (27:21):
Bean's Uh, you know Beanie's uh a a you know,
he's a feisty little guy.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (27:25):
He got a chance to see it when he came
in there and get placed on the running on the
running back and knock him around a little bit.

Speaker 3 (27:31):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (27:31):
But it's like any he's got a ways to go
in this game. But I think he's writing in the
competition in terms.

Speaker 7 (27:35):
Of of of you know, being in that that hunt.
If he had started Nickels uh so, Uh, that's a
good thing.

Speaker 9 (27:42):
Uh, but we just you know, we're gonna let this
play out over the next couple of weeks and then
see where where.

Speaker 7 (27:46):
He shakes out.

Speaker 10 (27:47):
What do you think?

Speaker 4 (27:48):
What do you think from louder Milk and you know
kind of where he kind of fits past in your.

Speaker 9 (27:52):
Yeah, Uh, you know, Uh, Milk is there super consistent. Uh,
you know what you're gonna get day in and day out.
Had a nice couple of nice rushes uh the other day.

Speaker 7 (28:01):
Yeah, and so uh, I'm I'm excited about.

Speaker 9 (28:03):
Milk in terms of uh, we know he gives us
good depth in in in there, he gives us strongly
steady Uh. So you know, just just hope he continues
to keep improving, uh his game.

Speaker 7 (28:15):
But we know what we got. When we have you,
we can put him on the field.

Speaker 4 (28:17):
You want't nickel where traditionally you wag guy in the
past and tried it out.

Speaker 7 (28:22):
On third and sixteen or yeah, some of those situations.

Speaker 9 (28:25):
Yeah, we're just giving those guys some reps. You know,
I want him to get in there and see what
it's like.

Speaker 7 (28:28):
So those backers don't get those third laws.

Speaker 10 (28:31):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (28:31):
But you know, there's no need I think it's at
this point, probably wanna see our guys plan and see
how they handle uh situational football, see how they handle
some things in space, you.

Speaker 7 (28:40):
Know, cause you you gotta learn about it, uh in
a game situation. So that's why I was just snicking.
Do you have a greater ability to play Nickel this year?

Speaker 8 (28:47):
I think we do.

Speaker 7 (28:48):
I think, uh, you know, we're pick here and and
and pay because those guys are the most you know,
they really can run. How they give us an opportunity
and they to stay in inn do in some situations
where we might not your pot. Tom gray Lean, oh right, well, uh,
he just got back into practice.

Speaker 9 (29:03):
Last week, and so uh it'll be I think this
week will be an interesting week for him to really
to see him.

Speaker 7 (29:08):
Full speed all week in practice leading up to the game.

Speaker 9 (29:11):
Uh and and I think that's gonna be an important
one for him.

Speaker 7 (29:13):
And and how he performs this this week.

Speaker 9 (29:15):
He keep If you think Thomas Grant's kind of come
on a little bit lessly, what do you see from
him that has allowed him to kind of stuff? I
think what what you see from TG is and he's
making some plays you see him around football based a.

Speaker 7 (29:26):
Couple you know, there. You know, all of a sudden
it will be a.

Speaker 9 (29:28):
Nice interception in that's teg uh be a nice play
guy tackle for loss and he show it's him showing
up as a blitzer and so he's shown.

Speaker 7 (29:35):
Uh some versatility and he's showing uh the ability to
get around the ball. So I think that's really a
good thing that you know, that that helps people.

Speaker 9 (29:41):
I mean, the bottom line in our business, Uh, if
you're playing a you can do all the assignments right
all you want.

Speaker 7 (29:46):
But if you don't make any plays and you're not
very good for us.

Speaker 10 (29:49):
Uh, we need guys that are that are able.

Speaker 7 (29:50):
To make plays, uh, get make tackle for losses, you know,
get turnovers, all those different things you didn't showing the.

Speaker 9 (29:56):
Ability and pretty comfortable with your death behind TJ and outs.

Speaker 7 (30:00):
I'm never comfortable with with with depth.

Speaker 9 (30:02):
Uh, I wish I could have for every position, but uh,
I'm really comfortable with I think herbig's make him jump.

Speaker 10 (30:09):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (30:09):
So that gives us thread. And now we're looking for
for and trying.

Speaker 10 (30:12):
To figure out uh where we are there.

Speaker 9 (30:14):
But uh, you know, so we're n We're we're never comfortable,
never satisfied.

Speaker 7 (30:18):
They're always looking to make sure he can upgrade your team. Uh,
because he's stronger we are there and then then that
helps yourself.

Speaker 9 (30:24):
Fine, So you know, uh I I guess like you said,
I'm not.

Speaker 3 (30:31):
N Has the Marvin showed you anything? Has the Marvin
showed you anything like that position?

Speaker 4 (30:36):
Off tide?

Speaker 9 (30:36):
He does, he's he's shown some flexibility. He's really good.
He's a really good athlete. Uh and he's a big man.
Uh so uh, he he does, he's he's shown some
things there. But you know, it's like anything, Uh, it's hard.
You you he spread him too thin and then you're
not getting what you want of so uh, you know,
his main position is still ah an inside guy, but
he has to flex to him about all right, evaluate

(30:58):
your death forms?

Speaker 7 (30:59):
Give a Carns Trice rush how they Yeah. I just
think that's that's to my determent. I don't think there's
a pecking order right there.

Speaker 9 (31:08):
I think those guys are going to have this down
that out because we get, you know, through this process
and it'll shake itself out. But I think it's a
it's a spirited competition. I think all the guys are
performing well and a lot of that is just like
we talked about.

Speaker 7 (31:23):
Excuse me, you guys, and you know the thirty fourth position.
You've got to be a special teams person as well.

Speaker 2 (31:28):
That's the shune.

Speaker 7 (31:30):
For yours.

Speaker 10 (31:32):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (31:32):
I was like, oh, wait here.

Speaker 9 (31:34):
Uh, you know, he's done a good job. He is
really physical, Uh, really likes to get down in there.
The biggest thing, excuse me with new.

Speaker 7 (31:41):
Guys is a lot of times the things that we
teach him or sometimes.

Speaker 9 (31:45):
Maybe a little different than where they came from, and
so you have to break some happiness and of course
some things that they've done before.

Speaker 7 (31:51):
And that's really it. But he's a willing learned He's a.

Speaker 9 (31:53):
Good pro and I think he can play the level
of physicality that he likes.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
See what's defensive coordinator Taryll and speaking with the media
prior to practice on Sunday and Labs, we're gonna talk
about the nickel corner position to begin the second hour
of our show. We'll hear from Beanie Bishop too, and
you heard from Austin coach Austin. They're talking about that.
But he was also asked about the depth on the outside.
What have your impressions been of not Joey and Dante Jackson,

(32:19):
but maybe the guys that are, you know, trying to
vie for positions on the depth chart behind them, like
a Corey Trice or a Rush. Guys who had you know,
potential that people noted when they became Steelers last year.
Unfortunately just weren't able to see the field a lot.
Trice of course, due to injury.

Speaker 3 (32:35):
Yeah, right, let's start with him. You know, he was injured.
He was unable to complete the first practice in pads
last summer with another significant knee injury. And he's had
those previous to coming to the Steelers. He had one
in college. So you know, you never know how that's

(32:57):
going to respawd. You never know if it's going the rehab.
Once they guy rehabs and gets back on the field,
you know, did he lose a little bit as a
result of it? You know, so there's always a little
bit of an unknown, especially for a player at a
position like corner. I mean, you not only need to
be fast, but you need to be able to change

(33:18):
direction quickly, you need short area quickness, and you know
a lot of that depends on you know, healthy wheels,
and he just didn't know, you know, the situation with
Corey Trice through the off season. Now, certainly, you know
last offseason he had a very good off season, showed
a lot of promise. But again, you had to, you

(33:42):
had to. I think it would have been foolish to
not address the position or pay attention to it during
this offseason thinking that, well, we have Corey Trice, because
as I said, he had not had any NFL career
to that point, he was coming off a significant injury,

(34:03):
and so you got it's not that he can't do it.
But I think assuming that he is going to is
a little optimistic or maybe foolish. So I think what
we've seen so far in this training camp is Corey
Trice was not put on physically unable to perform when
camp opened. So that was a good sign because he

(34:24):
passed the physical and there seemed to be nothing obviously
wrong with his knee in terms of the rehabilitation process
that would keep him from doing football activity. But you
still want to ease him into it a little bit.
I mean, I don't think you want to take a
guy who was who had gone through what he had

(34:47):
gone through and throw him out there, you know, as
if nothing had happened. You know, every third rep. You know,
he's out there on the field. You want to give
him some time to just kind of get his legs
a little bit, maybe regain the confidence in his knee.
It's gonna be okay, you know, play the way you

(35:08):
know how to play that kind of thing. But now
we're seeing more of him because all of he has
checked all of those boxes. And I think we're gonna
see more of Corey Trice here in the remainder of
training camp. I think we'll see more of him and
get some opportunities in the last two preseason games. And

(35:29):
that wouldn't surprise me at all to see Corey Trice
as a gunner on the punt team, because that's another
thing we saw. I believe there was an area that
was lacking in the preseason opener was you know, you
have a good punter now and Cameron Johnston, but you
need gunners. You know, Miles Boykin is not back, and

(35:49):
the Steelers like the punt directionally, and if your gunners
are getting handled, the directional punting doesn't work, and so
you don't know how to direct your coverage. And so
again that's a that's an important part of the punt team.
I don't know that the Steelers have any gunners on
their roster right now that they can count on. Maybe

(36:10):
Corey Trice becomes one of those. Another backup cornerback Anthony Averett.
You know, he was a guy, you know, he's a
he had five years in the league. He came to
a rookie mini camp on a tryout basis, as a
veteran without a contract. You know, you're allowed to have

(36:31):
a few of those attendre rookie mini camp, and you
know he did. And this is a guy who you know,
he started games for the Ravens, so you know he
can play a little bit, and he had to crawl
his way back into the league as a you know,
as a tryout of rookie mini camp. He showed enough

(36:54):
during that weekend the Steelers signed him. And I think
he's also growing a little bit during this time at
training camp. And again he's another guy that I think
you need to bring him along a little slowly, let
him get acclimated. It's a new team, a new system,

(37:15):
and just I don't know, like I said, if if
you throw too much at him too quickly, maybe he
gets overwhelmed. He also has had some history of injuries.
You don't you don't want to lose him or have him,
you know, fall back because of any anything that happened,

(37:37):
because maybe you got a little bit bit too ambitious early.
But this is a guy I think, you know, he's
been showing some things here more recently, and I think
he's looking for more playing time. Let me see as
I scan the depth chart here. Kaylin Barnes, Mike Tomlin
mentioned him and his presser as a guy that was

(37:58):
someone that they want to get more of an extended
look at here in the next few days of camp.
So I wouldn't say that it's bear behind your two
starters Joey Porter Junior and Dante Jackson. It has some promise,

(38:19):
but as Arl Austin said with regard to the outside
linebacker situation, I don't think you're ever satisfied or you think, Okay,
that's taken care of now, we don't have to worry
about that anymore.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
One player that returned from the injury, front Cordero Patterson,
spoke to the media for the first time this camp.
Will hear from him and kick around his role on
the kick return team when we come back. That's all
the way on the Training camp Report on the Steelers
Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (38:51):
DC's No Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (38:59):
Cordero Patterson opened up camp on the non football related
injury list with a hamstring injury, but he has returned
and he spoke to the media following Sunday's practice. Let's
listen in to what Cordero had to say.

Speaker 6 (39:13):
What do you think he's good kicking for? It's kind
of different, really different, you know, yes and no.

Speaker 8 (39:20):
You know, I watched the game last night.

Speaker 5 (39:21):
And seeing uh, the Jaguar, the guy he had, he
had a good return. So he give a lot of
guys like me a lot of hope.

Speaker 6 (39:27):
So that so hopefully we'll see a week one flam.

Speaker 7 (39:29):
Like you a good swift for that hoop you think
with each wood.

Speaker 6 (39:33):
I'll fit in any role. Just put me out there
on the football film, I'm the final with.

Speaker 3 (39:36):
I find himself watching more preseason football this summer because
of that.

Speaker 5 (39:40):
In the early days, it's crazy just going back and
just going to the NFL happens, just trying to see
everything I can't. It's just it's crazy. It's a different rule.
But you know, we got a good play. Danny Spinel
He's he's a crazy guy, man, He's that's all. He's sleep,
breathe and eat football. So I'm excited, you know, just
ready for week one.

Speaker 9 (39:57):
We were trying to talk him into playing you the
other night when you came out, you're union.

Speaker 6 (40:00):
Well if I have told Danny I wanted to play,
you know here the baby play. So like go I said,
we just really just try to try to take it
ahead at the time, just trying.

Speaker 7 (40:07):
To get smaller in up there and what was to.

Speaker 10 (40:09):
Deal with the fans.

Speaker 6 (40:11):
I been doing that my whole career, man, I mean
that's something I do. Then you turn back on the film,
you know, twelve years ago, eight years but a that's
something I do every every every game.

Speaker 8 (40:18):
You know, that's just just.

Speaker 6 (40:20):
Interacting, you know with all the fans, just trying to
win in the plans. I wan't trying to make somebody
to go. Giving your experience with Arcora where you feel
pretty how putting with what's going on in fig school.
Oh oh ah, absolutely, man.

Speaker 5 (40:30):
I mean that's one of the bigg reasons I came
here cause often you know, and I trust and you
know and believe in his play and all. And I'm
just excited, you know, you know, you just ready, Like
I said, I'm just ready for ready for the season
to do here.

Speaker 2 (40:40):
Yeah, you played on playing in the next preseason game.

Speaker 5 (40:43):
I'm sure they want me to play on. Man, i'm'a
have to play so mean, it's whatever coach something I.

Speaker 10 (40:48):
Want, you know what I mean?

Speaker 6 (40:49):
And now I don't make the rules around him, mana
and I just show up.

Speaker 7 (40:52):
You know my neighbors college.

Speaker 6 (40:53):
Just got to just go out there, just trying to
make a hill.

Speaker 8 (40:55):
What did happen between mini camping?

Speaker 3 (40:56):
Here? Did a hamstring?

Speaker 11 (40:58):
So I mean, stuff.

Speaker 3 (40:59):
Happens now you know a lot of guys going.

Speaker 5 (41:00):
Their own and then listen and they all but and
I'm decided to be here to look forward to moving forward.

Speaker 6 (41:06):
Do you see more space out there?

Speaker 7 (41:07):
As a returner?

Speaker 6 (41:08):
You you've kind of welcome that and welcoming that you
honestly a man Like I just told him earlier, it's different.

Speaker 5 (41:14):
You know, there's gonna be a lot of different. It's
not nobody used to It never happened for in the NFL.

Speaker 10 (41:18):
So you know, just just.

Speaker 5 (41:19):
Trying to just keep looking at film and just see
how I can get better right there, just just visual
lot of myself just kind of golf.

Speaker 2 (41:25):
This team.

Speaker 6 (41:25):
It's quote touchdowns.

Speaker 7 (41:26):
He wouldn't weak.

Speaker 8 (41:27):
He played the over and that shit.

Speaker 5 (41:29):
Absolutely Oh yeah, but I mean it's out of my control.
You know they're gonna change it.

Speaker 6 (41:34):
I feel like they're gonna change it again before as
I set it down.

Speaker 10 (41:36):
So I just got to go.

Speaker 6 (41:37):
Out there and just show up to just try to
leave the markin early all there.

Speaker 2 (41:43):
That's court Ero Patterson talking to the media following practice
on Sunday. And you know, Libs, I don't think it's
hyperbolic for me to say this guy's one of the
best kick returners in the history of the NFL. It
was really interesting to hear him in that interview talk
about how he's been, you know, going to the NFL,
app watching more preseason than he ever has, trying to
be a sponge when it comes to this new rule.
There's things he likes, there's things he doesn't like, but

(42:04):
ultimately he did say, hey, just throw me out there
and I'll make whatever I have to work.

Speaker 3 (42:09):
Yeah, I mean, you know, beyond hyperbole. You know this
this is a guy who he has stats. You know this,
he has five kickoff returns for touchdowns in his in

(42:29):
his four years you know at the Minnesota Vikings, he's
got two, four, five, six, seven eight in his career.
So you know, just looking at his stats, you know
one two three he led the NFL and kickoff returns
for touchdowns in a bunch of different seasons. Now I

(42:51):
understand that, you know, usually one kickoff return for a
touchdown in the NFL puts you at or near the top,
maybe tied for the lead. But you know, this guy's
been doing it for a long time. You know, his
first kickoff return for a touchdown was twenty thirteen. His
most recent one was twenty twenty two. He's played for

(43:11):
three teams and Steelers are now his fourth. Oh excuse me, one, two, three, four,
five teams. The Steelers are now his sixth. So yeah,
he is you know, when you when you use the
phrase been there, done that guy, this is this is
what he is one of them. So it's going to

(43:32):
be interesting to see how this works. I mean, his
addition was one of the first things that Steelers did
once this new rule was passed, and they're hoping that
Corderyl Patterson can make kickoff return a weapon. For the Steelers,
not necessarily only by getting one into the end zone,

(43:53):
but by providing this offense with some good field position.

Speaker 2 (43:56):
Yeah. And in that interview you heard presu to talk
to him about the interaction with the fans before the game,
saying that he does that at every stop. He's done
that in his whole career, just trying to win the
fans over. You were in the press box there too.
Can you give us a little glimpse of what that's like.
Is he just get catching balls with the fans or
just high five and signing autographs, the whole shebang.

Speaker 3 (44:15):
Yeah. I mean a lot of the new guys are
the I won't say new guys, but players who have
come to the Steelers who are new to this Saint
Vincent College experience and everything that's part of it. You know,
there's the fans are close, and you know we've seen
this from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and you know

(44:37):
some others too. I don't want to start naming names
because then inadvertently you leave somebody out, but yeah, there's
you're playing catch with fans, interacting with them, you know
after practice there are the way it works now for
these morning practices, you know, the autograph sessions and stuff.

(45:00):
The interactions with the fans happen you know, right after practice,
because then you know, they clear campus. Eventually, players go
to lunch and they clear campus. So a lot of
it is more what's the word I want structured maybe uh,
And it's more on a time schedule, And it doesn't

(45:21):
seem to me at all that the players are resisting
that in any way.

Speaker 2 (45:26):
When Labs and I come back, we'll start setting the
table for practice. Today. It's a little bit over thirty
minutes away for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're here from Beingie
Bishop who spoke to the media prior to practice on Sunday,
and Donnie Shell is going to join us at ten fifteen.
A lot to look forward to. On the Training Camp
Report on the Steelers Audio.

Speaker 1 (45:43):
Network, hec's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (46:00):
Steel is just about twenty nine minutes away from their
penultimate training camp practice. I look that word up before
the segment.

Speaker 3 (46:07):
I was just gonna say, I am impressed, Yes, very
not word smith. Tom, good job.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
And for those of you that aren't keeping up with
how smart I am. That means second to last. So
just one more following today for the Pittsburgh Steelers that'll
be on Wednesday up at Saint Vincent College. And we
noted throughout today's training camp report that yesterday was just
in helmets labs. We expect that to not be the
case today when they get onto the field ten thirty am.
See some padded practice.

Speaker 3 (46:37):
Yeah, I've already seen the script. It calls for pads,
so and that was sent out this morning. I'm sure
that there was some sort of early morning meeting before
that was sent out. So the plan for paths has
been approved or confirmed or you know, however you want

(46:57):
to look at it.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
If you're heading up. Practice starts just about twenty eight minutes.
Like I said, it'll be a full padded practice. Great
weather as well, So enjoy today's festivities up at Camp Labs.
Beanie Bishop and grayln Arnold. We talked a little bit
about the outside corners and the depth there in our
last hour. Nickel, you know, there's a spot up for
grabs because of the Cam Sutton suspension, and they're given

(47:20):
these to you know, the first run at it. We're
gonna hear from Beanie in just a second. But it's
been pretty you know, up and down. I'd say, as
it should be for players of their caliber. But there's
been good moments for both of these guys at that position.

Speaker 3 (47:35):
Yes, there have been good moments, you know, but Mike
Tomlin has been pretty adamant that the job has not
been won or lost. However you want to look at
it by any of the candidates. You know, Beanie Bishop
to me, you know, he reminds me a little bit
of Mike Hilton early in his career. You know, Beanie

(47:58):
Bishop seems to me to be you know, he's he's
small and in stature, but he doesn't play small. He
can handle things around the line of scrimmage in the box.
I don't know that he's uh as good a blitzer
as Mike Hilton was, but you know that can still come.

(48:21):
Grayland Arnold as a guy, I'm gonna be very honest
with you. I knew nothing about him before we came
out here to training camp, but he shows up around
the ball and had been so you know, both of
them seem to have some of the qualities that you're
looking for in that spot. It is a job that

(48:41):
is one that you know you're on the field a lot.
You know, it's it's not an irregular situation for a
team to go to five defensive backs and usually you know,
the fifth one is your nickel or slot or however
you want to refer to him. So yeah, I think
think that these next couple of weeks of the summer

(49:05):
are going to be important to see who emerges with
that job. And what I would say is to both
of them, try and stay as available as possible, because
I think an injury to either one might set him
back to a degree that he cannot recover in time
to be on the field against the Atlanta Falcons when

(49:29):
the regular season opens.

Speaker 2 (49:31):
And you know what labs even going into the regular season,
despite who wins this job, they're probably gonna need both
of these guys, or at least at the first half
of the season. And you know, Cam Sutton coming back
will be a nice boost at that position and a
guy who is able to play it at a high
level and has a track record of doing so in

(49:53):
the pros. But they have to survive eight games without him,
and these two guys are right at the top up
of the list for how they're going to do it.

Speaker 3 (50:02):
Right, and you know, who knows what the configuration might
be by the time Cam Sutton is eligible to return,
because what we're seeing out here is Cam Sutton's working
some at safety, working someone to slot. You know, he's
kind of doing a lot of different things because you know,
he is not able to play for the first eight games,

(50:25):
and when he's eligible to come back, maybe they need
help with safety, maybe they need help it outside corner.
Maybe they you know, maybe they maybe they maybe they.
So I don't think that, you know, the Steelers want
to slought him into a position, lock him into a
position too early, especially now you know that he is

(50:47):
able to practice and be with the team, because when
you're suspended, you can't practice, so and you know, so
he's kind of really a wild card in this. Again,
maybe he's the guy who takes over the slot after
first eight games, but maybe not. Maybe they need him
somewhere else.

Speaker 2 (51:07):
Yeah, and that is true. He is allowed to practice
all throughout camp, but once officially the regular season starts,
Cam Sutton and sideline from practices too.

Speaker 3 (51:17):
Yes, right exactly.

Speaker 2 (51:20):
Beanie Bishop caught up with the media prior to practice
on Sunday. Let's listen into what the first year corner
had to say, Okay, uh, you.

Speaker 8 (51:29):
Know I was really comfortable. You know, I felt that
I understand to play book.

Speaker 6 (51:33):
You know, all this takes those recents and things like that,
so I can.

Speaker 8 (51:35):
Just really go out there and see what the oufense
is doing. Should feel those mistakes. Once you saw it's like, okay,
those are easily correctable things.

Speaker 9 (51:43):
Little things here and there that experience maybe changes or fixes.

Speaker 11 (51:47):
Yeah for sure, you know, just things like I control
and I just wentn't.

Speaker 8 (51:50):
Really this really is Were there any nerves going into
it being your first year?

Speaker 6 (51:55):
No, not really.

Speaker 8 (51:57):
It's football. You know, I've been playing football since I
was four years old. Obviously this is at a much
higher level.

Speaker 10 (52:02):
You know, guys get paid for it and things like that.

Speaker 8 (52:03):
But you know, uh, I've been playing football, like I said,
since Quinings though, so I'm I'm going out there with
the Humbert and pads on.

Speaker 7 (52:09):
So yep.

Speaker 6 (52:11):
Yeah, let me just talk to Terrell Austin about you.

Speaker 9 (52:13):
He called you fight see yet again?

Speaker 6 (52:14):
Do you still feel that when you're out in a
game like situation too? Yeah?

Speaker 10 (52:18):
For sure.

Speaker 11 (52:18):
You know, always, the chip never leaves my shouldren, you know,
even even when I get down playing.

Speaker 3 (52:24):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (52:24):
I always have the chip on.

Speaker 11 (52:25):
My shoulder just because of the way that I grew
up and things like that, and and it's just something
that never.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
Does an he had the special team stuff go for
you man.

Speaker 11 (52:33):
I I feel that, you know, like I said, there's
still things that I can improve on. H you know,
I was winning up winning against guys.

Speaker 8 (52:39):
That uh on plant and.

Speaker 2 (52:40):
Stuff like that.

Speaker 11 (52:41):
You know, I I had opportunity to make a tackle,
I didn't shoot my shot. And it's just something I'm
gonna continue to build on next week.

Speaker 5 (52:48):
That deep punt inside the set on your procept for sure,
if if you've done much gunning.

Speaker 8 (52:53):
Uh, yeah, it's it's been a while. It's been a while.

Speaker 6 (52:57):
Can you were you able to you know, if you
were able to play fastball there.

Speaker 10 (52:59):
For your first game?

Speaker 8 (53:00):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 12 (53:01):
You know, especially on the on the Blitze's, I feel
that I could have got home on one. But you
know it's just things that you know, I watched by
them and correct those games. And you know, obviously the
team that we played next week, obviously you want to
have some things that show up and and just being
able to have the opportunity to play Dad, you know,
after having fenship.

Speaker 2 (53:22):
With the speed of the receivers, about what you thought
of the team.

Speaker 11 (53:24):
Where see with Beug City rat those Yeah, it's you know, guys,
guys are route runners and things like that. You know
what you you don't see not everybody on in college
can run routes, are really.

Speaker 8 (53:36):
Good at you know, breaking off routes and things like they.

Speaker 2 (53:41):
Serious defensive back Beanie Bishop talking to the media prior
to practice on Sunday, he heard them talk about working
as the gunner too. Labs talked about that earlier in
the show. There's there's opportunity on that side of special
teams as well. Maybe Beanie can stick in there as
well as Nickel Corner. Really excited for our next segment.
A Pro Football Hall of Famer is going to join us.

(54:02):
Former Steelers defensive back Donnie Shechell is just around the
corner on the Training Camp Report on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (54:14):
VC's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (54:22):
Really excited for our guest on today's Training Camp Report.
He is Pro Football Hall of Famer former Steelers defensive
back Donnie Shell. Donnie, thank you so much. For giving
labs of myself sometime today.

Speaker 10 (54:33):
Oh yeah, excited to be here, man, Uh, Donnie.

Speaker 3 (54:36):
I want to take you back in your memory a
little bit, because you know it was fifty years ago
when you walked onto this campus as an undrafted rookie
and then you became part of the greatest draft class
in NFL history. I want to ask you, why did
you decide to sign with the Steelers after that draft?
And was Bill Nunn a factor in your decision?

Speaker 10 (54:58):
You missed it? My favorite the name Bill Nunn. He
here was I had an opportunity to go to Denver
or the old Houston Oilers, and to the influence of
my head coach, coach Willie Jeffers and Bill Nunn talking
to him, I signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Speaker 3 (55:18):
So what did Bill Nunn say to you during that
talk that convinced you to come here.

Speaker 10 (55:24):
Well, he said that Chuck now didn't care where you
came from. You come from a HBCU or Notre Dame
of U c l A. But can you play? And
then will you are you diligent?

Speaker 1 (55:36):
Uh?

Speaker 10 (55:36):
When you give one hundred percent and your effort, and
that's all he particularly cared about. So that convinced me
to come to the Steelers.

Speaker 3 (55:45):
Okay, so you arrive at Saint Vincent College and practice begins.
You're a rookie, as you mentioned from an HBCU.

Speaker 10 (55:53):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (55:53):
But was there ever any doubt in your mind that
you would make the team or that you belonged in
the NFL.

Speaker 10 (55:59):
No. I was looking to get a fat break and
a fair chance, an opportunity to show what I could do.
I know once I got on the football field. Uh.
And and especially when we start scrimmaging the hitting, that
I could show what I could do.

Speaker 3 (56:16):
One of the strange quirks about that summer was that
a player's strike took a lot of the veterans out
of camp. They were walking the picket lines. Uh. And
so you know there were there were fewer bodies uh,
particularly at training camp uh to compete against. Do you
think that that was a factor in helping you get noticed? Oh?

Speaker 10 (56:40):
Absolutely, we got more time. I think I just talked
with a group here today at and Uh. I told
him to get six weeks or two of days.

Speaker 3 (56:55):
What was what was that like.

Speaker 10 (56:59):
A group of grueling And I've never experienced it before
in my life. So that was my first experience going
through that. It was tough. You know.

Speaker 3 (57:09):
The happy ending to that summer was you know you
made the team. How did back then, how did they
let players know that they made the team? Were you
told specifically or just not told to bring the coach
your playbook and you just figured it out on your own?

Speaker 10 (57:26):
No, you came in they told me, we practiced, and
you go home, and they said they were going to
announce and let you know where you made the team
or not. So I reported to practice of somebody named
name texting on my locker, I knew I had made it,
so I was. I was very happy.

Speaker 3 (57:49):
You were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
as a member of the Class of twenty twenty. The
last season of your career was you know almost was
more than two years before that. Had you, maybe in
your own mind, given up hope that that was ever
going to happen.

Speaker 10 (58:07):
No, I just kept my faith and trust in the
Lord that he would open the door that he wanted
open and keep the doors closed that he wanted to
keep closed. And I never lost that sense of trusting
him for for what I asked him for. And you

(58:28):
know something, sometimes you had to wait on things. Uh
when you when you really want them, and uh, he
granted me an opportunity to get inducted into the profo
my own of fame, so the weight was worth it.

Speaker 3 (58:44):
We'll get you out of here on this. You mentioned
that you know the way you found out about making
the team was you saw your name still on your locker.
How did you find out that you had been elected
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? And what was
that like for you?

Speaker 10 (59:02):
It was great. David Baker and called me from the
Pro Football Hall of Fame In the first first couple
of times I hung up on because it's the California
number and listening to me, and then I tell us
for the answer that might be David Baker from the
Hall of Fame. It's sure enough. When I got to

(59:25):
call man, I was almost speechless. My wife said, I
talk all the time, but went home, but I couldn't
find the words to spread my feeling at that time.

Speaker 2 (59:36):
That's just an awesome story, Donnie, And thank you so
much for giving us some time this morning. We really
appreciate it. Enjoy your time up at camp today.

Speaker 10 (59:43):
Hey, thanks a lot, guys.

Speaker 3 (59:44):
You have a good day there you.

Speaker 2 (59:46):
Go Steeler's Hall of Honor, Hall of Fame, member of
the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Donnie Shell. Great stuff there, labs.
Just got a couple more minutes here before we hand
things off. The training camp live and the fifteenth day
of training camp practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers is underway. Look,
I'm not gonna lie to the folks at home. You
and I can see the finish line. We're getting excited

(01:00:06):
to cross it. Do you think that creeps into the players'
minds as well? They are humans after all, And is
this maybe one of those little tester periods where Tomlin
can say, Hey, you know, I'm dangling the carrotive camp
is almost over out in front of you, or I'm
not doing it, but the calendar is. But I need
you to be at your best still for these last
two practices.

Speaker 3 (01:00:24):
Yeah, I think that, you know, there there has to
be a sense of urgency felt by these guys. I mean,
it's not that things have gone completely smoothly for any
one of them. Uh. You know, you can start at
the top of the roster with Russell Wilson with the

(01:00:45):
calf injury that slowed his development, or is being able
to take the reins of the first team offense, you know,
all the way down to you know whoever. You know
Quz Watkins, who had a tough go of it in
the preseason opener fielding punts. So, you know, these guys,

(01:01:06):
I think they have a sense of can't maybe ending,
but that doesn't necessarily mean they're automatically closer to achieving
their goal, which is making this fifty three man roster.
And even when this part of it ends, this Saint
Vincent College experience ends, you know, then go down to

(01:01:30):
Pittsburgh for a couple of more weeks. You know that
the roster isn't going to get cut until August twenty seventh.
It's only August twelfth, that's fifteen days from now. A
world of things can happen in fifteen days. Penhouse to
the outhouse or the other way around. So you know,
I don't think that there has to be a whole

(01:01:52):
lot of telling them, you know that this is still
very much a competitive fight, just.

Speaker 2 (01:01:57):
Kind of about thirty seconds your labs. But you know,
Tomlin mentioned in his postgame presser against Houston he expects
Russell Wilson to enter the stadium under the lights or
the next time that they are under the lights and play.
Do you expect to see a little bit more of
a ratcheted up workload for Russell as this week of
practice moves along.

Speaker 3 (01:02:15):
Yeah, I mean I would think that you definitely want
to see him play. I don't know that you want
to play him much, if at all, in the preseason finale,
so he didn't play in the opener. I expect to
see I don't know, maybe close to half of Russell
Wilson against the Bills.

Speaker 2 (01:02:32):
Well, we'll keep an eye on that, and that's going
to do it for us today on the Training Camp Report.
Training Camp Live with Mike Persuda and Max Starks is
up next. They'll take you through all of Steelers practice today,
which is underway in just about six minutes on Chuck
Nolefield Labs and I will be back again on Wednesday.
There is no practice tomorrow for the Steelers, so there
are no shows for us on the Steelers Audio Network,

(01:02:53):
but we'll be back at nine am on Wednesday morning
for our final training camp report and final day of
Steelers Training Camp twenty twenty four for Labs. I'm Tom,
Thanks for listening. As always, this was the Training Camp
Report on the Steelers Audio Network,