July 30, 2025 • 44 mins
Labs and Tom talk about the first padded practice being delayed due to the weather yesterday, hear from Coach Mike Tomlin, and talk some Steelers Receivers
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Steelers Training Camp is presented by Fadex where Now meets
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(00:23):
Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by us steel.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
All Right Labs, Let's try this again, Steelers first Day
and Pad's Take two and Marker Mother Nature did not
cooperate with us yesterday. Welcome into the training Camp Report
Tom Offerman and Bob Labriola. Things were supposed to get
started in a real way. Some actual football was supposed
to be played, but because of thunderstorms in the area,
the team.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Had to move into the gym and did not put
the pads on.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what, I've never seen rain
like that up here in one short span like that,
because I mean the players were on the field, you know,
they were on.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The field, and then it had to evacuate, right well, yeah,
and all of.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
A sudden, and you know, Mike Tomlin does not evacuate
the field necessarily when they evacuate the bleachers and stuff,
because not that he is, you know, thumbing his nose
at that kind of thing. But there's a different standard
and detection system that the Steelers used than the College uses.
(01:33):
Uh So the College's you know alarm or horn or
whatever noise went off and indicated that, you know, there
was lightning in the area. Shortly after that, Uh, the
security people came and moved the people out of the
you know, the Meddal bleachers at chuck no Oldfield, which
you know, I don't think I would need to be
(01:54):
told twice if I was sitting on the metal bleachers
and they said lightning was in the area. But the
players jogged up and got off the field. So uh,
that kind of caught my attention. And then it started
to rain a little bit, and then the clouds just
opened up, I mean, and it was wow, it was
(02:16):
wow kind of rain. I didn't I messed up. I
should have timed it because you know, you keep thinking
you've seen Caddy Shack, you know that scene when the
guy says, well I think the worst of it's past
us or whatever. I kept thinking, I don't think the
come down. Yes, that's the exact line, Thank you, and
(02:36):
but no, the heavy stuff came right away and never left.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
We'll get more in depth with what happened yesterday with
the weather and how it derailed things. But being in
the gym labs, I mean, it's closed off to everybody
and media included. But I'm assuming that that's just a
glorified walkthrough, right, What else can you do?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Yeah, And I was just gonna say, I've never actually
seen anything going on in there like that because, as
you mentioned, and it is closed off because think about it,
you got ninety players, yeah, all those coaches. It's a
basketball court, you know, I mean, you know, it's a
(03:12):
regulation size basketball court and everything, but ninety football players
and all those coaches. I mean, there's no room for
anyone else at all. So no, I've never seen it,
and I can't imagine that they could do anything but
a walk through, and even before going over there or
going up there, because where the players dressed, then you
(03:34):
just go upstairs into the gym. They had to change
shoes and all that stuff too, because if you weren't
spikes on the hardwood, wouldn't do the hardwood any good
and you would get no traction at all.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
One silver lining is we did get to hear Tomlin
say his first i'd rather say woe than Sickham of
the year in the press conference following practice, and we'll
play that for you in the second segment, as we
always do. He did talk to the media following practice
and some players did as well, so we still have
that part of our show. And I wanted to actually
pick apart some things that Tomlin did mention labs because
I think they are worthwhile. One I think that headlines
(04:12):
the rest is we got an inkling that Broderick Jones
will probably practice today. He didn't fully commit and say
you can expect him out there, but they wouldn't be surprised,
or they would be surprised to excuse me. I feel
like if he was set back another day, and that's
good to see that it was really just a minor thing.
And he's ready to practice because every rep is so
valuable for him this year as he makes that switch
(04:33):
to the left side.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah, and you know, he's still a young, developing player,
young both in terms of experience both at the college
level and at the NFL level, and chronologically he's young,
So yes, all of that is important. You know, the
Steelers picked him traded up in the first round to
pick him a couple well not two years let's see, yeah,
(04:59):
two years ago, not counting this year. And so this
is a big year for Broderick Jones. You know, teams
that spend that kind of draft capital on a player
on a position, you know, this is now it's time
to produce. There's no more you were playing out a position.
(05:19):
You're a young guy, you know, all that stuff. Now
that's over. This is your third lap or on the
NFL track, and so you're expected to produce commensurate with
what the team invested in you to bring you into
the league. So, yes, it's very important. This is a
very important training camp for him because it's a very
(05:40):
important season for him. And you know, he's not the
kind of uh, you know, Alan Fannic or Dermanti Dawson,
multiple time first team All Pro where you could look
at him and say, well, you know, just get yourself
ready for the start of the regular season. You know,
training camp in the in the preseason isn't that significant
for you? Well, well, Broderick Jones is nowhere near that
(06:02):
status yet, and so what he needs to do is
to be able to string together a lot of practices
at camp so that then he can continue to use
those repetitions to improve. It's not so much that to show,
you know, to show the evaluators that he's worth keeping, because,
(06:26):
as I said, you trade up for a guy a
couple of years ago, he's going into his third year.
This is it. You're you're married, The team and the
player are married. He is it, and if he fails
or gets injured, you got problems. He's got problems in
terms of his potential future in this league, and the
(06:47):
Steelers have problems in terms of you know, being going
or getting where they want to get to this season.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
You know, I do want to know it has been
some adversity on the injury front for Roger Jones. If
you recall last year he dealt with an injury upper
body injury. This a lower body injury, and it doesn't
seem like it's too serious. They're comfortable with him returning
to practice today, or at least we think that's going
to be the case. But still, I mean, if he
has to play through something that makes him feel even
(07:14):
ninety percent, you know, that's just tough for a guy who,
as you mentioned, is still young and trying to find
his way into the NFL to have to deal with
that as well.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, but again, as I said, this is now his
third laper on the track, and there is you know
that that's a reality of his profession, playing through things.
I won't say minor injuries because they're only minor injuries
if they're not your injuries. So you know, I don't
(07:42):
know what the situation was in terms of his elbow
last year, but it was judged by the medical staff
not to be something that would keep him off the
field or the practice field. So then once that happens
in the NFL, okay, now you've got to play, and
it's you know, it's an excuse, and excuses aren't acceptable
(08:07):
or tolerated. So you know, I'm not trying to sound
overly harsh about Broderick Jones. I'm just trying to give
an accurate representation of how he will be viewed by
the team and the coaches this summer and then into
this season.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
It's a huge year for him.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
A lot is riding on it, like you said, for
the team's sake and for his individual's sake, getting that
money guaranteed fifth year option. I mean a lot riding
on Roger Jones having success. Glad to see that he'll
probably be out on the field again today.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Just let me just throw this out there, because you
know we've talked about this before. He's going into his
third year. He signed a four year deal that has
an option for a fifth. The Steelers are getting into
the time frame now like next May or something where
they're gonna have to decide whether they want to exercise
that option. And you know, teams, this is money, This
(09:01):
is significant money. Now we're talking about guaranteed too, yes,
and well beyond that. For example, you know, I was
talking to Max Max Starks the other day and I
said to him about Rashawn Slater, the Chargers left tackle.
I said, did you hear about Rashawn Slater? And he said, oh,
(09:22):
what happened? Usually when someone says that about a player
this time of year, you think he got injured, right,
I said, no, he signed a contract extension one hundred
and forty four twenty nine million dollars to sign. So
I mean, this, this is what we're talking about. Max's
eyes got big. Then, you know, well, you know that's
(09:44):
that's uh, you know, that's legacy money and grandchildren don't
have to work in labs.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I mean, that's Rashaun Slater. You're talking at the all
pro end of the spectrum. Just look at the guy
who just left here, Dan Moore. I mean, let's just
put it nicely. He was an adequate left tackle and
look at the bag that he got handed by the Titans.
I mean the money is there for that position.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Yes, but you have to show that you're dependable and competent.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
The other thing that Tomlin shed light on in his
comments was a little special team's note the punt returner
and the kick returners for the year. Now, the punt
return he just flat out said, Calvin Austin is going
to be returning our punts, and I don't think there's
any surprise there. He has shown that he is a
big time playmaker in that aspect.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, it is he is. And also beyond the playmaking
ability that he has shown, he's also shown good judgment.
And by good judgment, I mean he knows when the
fair catch. He knows when to take a chance and
try and return it. He is secure with the catch.
You know, all of these things are critical, even more
(10:51):
so than your ability to return it. Once you get
your hands on it. You know, they don't want you
catching a punt that you sh shouldn't a fair catching
in a punt that you could return, or trying to
return a punt that you should fair catch this. These
kinds of decision making things are are very important in
(11:11):
the punt return game from a team aspect. And last
night on the UH Show, those on DVE, me and
my pursuited were kicking around a little bit about you know,
he was saying that maybe Calvin Austin the third is
too valuable as a receiver to risk as a punt returner.
(11:35):
Now you know, I, you know, I don't think the
Steelers have enough weapons that they could cast one aside,
even though it's special teams. And you know the other
thing is, you know, again, the guy has shown good
judgment and decision making, so you just you just kind
(11:58):
of trust him and reinforce that you don't expect him
to go seventy seven yards with every punt that he catches.
You know, if it's not there, fair catch it, we
have confidence in the offense or you need to trust
the offense because you're part of that as well. To
go out there and move the football. Into scoring position
or maybe get in and hopefully get it into the
(12:20):
end zone so I can see. You know, there have
been times in Steelers history where receivers Lynn Swan, Lewis Lips,
who are outstanding punt returners as rookies, maybe into their
second seasons, were then taking off that job because they
were deemed to be too important to the offense. But
(12:43):
I don't think Calvin Austin is there yet, and I
think that he can handle it right now.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, he's certainly not here yet with the analogy that
I'm about to go to or the comparison I'm about
to go to. But you know, Mike Tom, when you
were mentioned in those receivers, Antonio Brown started as a
punt returner as well.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Yes there's another one, and.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Then he got taken off. But Mike Tom would like
to throw eighty four back there.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Every once in a while, didn't he, even when he
was in his primeate receiver.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Sure when he needed you know, that was one of
those things that when the Steelers needed a play on
a return, Mike Toma would go to Antonio Brown, who's
always willing, an anxious, eager to get his hands on
the football. So yeah, We're not there yet though, with
(13:26):
Calvin Austin all right.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Now, the other side of that is the kick return
competition because Cordell Patterson was released by the Steelers. We
mentioned that on yesterday's show, So there will be something
up for grabs here at camp. Somebody can get their
chance to get their hands on the ball and labs.
With the kickoff rule changes like this isn't just going
back there and kind of watching a ball sale over
your head and then you waving at the crowd and
maybe running through some sprints or something like that and
(13:49):
getting loose. You're going to return this thing if you're
back there now. The league wants kick returns, and it's
going to happen. A couple of names that Tomlin mentioned
were the three running backs, gain Well, Warren and Caleb
Johnson the rookie, and then he also threw Roman Wilson
into that mix.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
And there's obviously going to be some more that I
think have a chance.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, it's I'm still a little skeptical about the number
of kickoff returns that are going to be.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Even with moving that touch back up even more, you
think teams are still just gonna take it.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I don't I just don't know how much. You know,
there's a lot of depending on the kicker to place
the football. It's a in a in a space where
it can be defended. And I think that, you know,
for example, if you have the Steelers defense and well
(14:40):
you also have Chris Boswell, so that maybe this whole
kind of comparison or scenario I'm setting up doesn't exactly
hold water. But hey, this is radio and that's what
we do. You might say I'd rather give them five
more yards than a chance, you know, to return at
fifty or sixty. So again, I think it's it's going
(15:01):
to be a feeling out thing. It really is. I
mean last year the Steelers thought that, you know, Cordero
Patterson could have an impact. He's the most successful or
accomplished kickoff returner maybe an NFL history. He became available,
the Steelers thought, wow, you know this, we could really
add a weapon here. But it didn't pan out. Not
(15:24):
that he wasn't any good necessarily, maybe that was part
of it, but you just didn't see a lot of
There were some kickoffs return for touchdowns. But as you mentioned,
the league changed the rules again because they want to
put the play back in the game, so it didn't
pan out the way that some people thought Slash hoped,
(15:45):
and so Cordero Patterson. You know, we could see, in
my opinion, you could see by the end of last
year that as a kickoff returner he wasn't that much
of an asset, more because of the rules and the
way the play was unfolding than maybe necessarily his erosion
of skills, and he wasn't the running back or receiver
(16:05):
he had been in his prime either.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Something to keep an eye on throughout camp. Who will
win that kick return job, at least to start the year.
Of course, something like that could be very fluid. We'll
hear all of coach Tomlin's comments following practice yesterday when
we come back on the training camp Report, and we'll
get Labs's weather report, and in a lot of ways,
Labs truly became a weather man yesterday, and we'll explain
what we mean when we return. It's the Training Camp
Report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy AM and the
(16:30):
Steelers Audio.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Network Iheartradios Live coverage job Dot twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by Fadex. Where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by CGR Wholesale Roofing and
Sighting Supply Center, by Don's Appliances, by Always Safe Flagging
(16:55):
and Traffic Control by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by
Schneider Down, by Has's Steake and Seahouse, by your Neighborhood
Ford Store, by Castle Rock, by Clearview Federal Credit Union,
and by US Steel.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Tom Aferman and Bob Labriola on the Training Camp Report,
now's the time when LABS likes to share what the
weather's going to look like up on campus and Labs,
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We couldn't have been
more wrong with our forecast yesterday. We I like to
put myself into the line of fire as well with you, buddy.
We go down as a team, but we had words
thrown out there like the sun is out, I don't
(17:32):
think we're going to be getting wet. And then of
course practice was canceled because of the weather that came through.
So in a lot of ways, Labs, you've really mastered
now in our third year of doing this being a
weather man, because swinging and missing gloriously that's kind of
their forte.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So good for you, Yeah, I mean, I you talk
about swinging and missing. Wow, I mean I was I
missed so wildly that you know, I don't even know
who I would compare that to. But yeah, and and
and similarly, what I'm looking at in terms of the
afternoon's forecast on a National Weather Service website is similar.
(18:09):
Yesterday we were talking about a heat advisory. That's what
the warning was. There was no there was no real rain,
and you know today is similar. But let me just
kind of let me make my excuses here for a minute.
Of course, please about yesterday. Anyone who's been to Latrobe
(18:31):
knows how close Sharky's is to Saint Vincent College. Sharky's
got no rain none. I mean the fields were flooded yesterday.
Here Sharky's got no rain.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
And for people who aren't familiar and are listening, that's
about less than a mile away, just so you know.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Yes, So it was after it was finally over and
it was even clear enough, well the rain slowed enough
for me to leave to walk back up to hall
because the rain was such that, you know it was
I was afraid to leave the press box only because
you know, I have computer equipment.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, that's sideway stuff, right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
And so naturally I've been carrying around an umbrella I
think since the day I got here yesterday. I didn't
bring it, which I should have known that that was
going to bring the rain, and it did so. Uh.
And then by the time I got up to the
to Benedict Hall, one of the security guys in the lobby,
(19:34):
I was talking to him and as I mentioned, you know,
the Steelers have their own radar and systems in place
for the weather, and he said that the cell was
tiny and it never.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Moved, just very unlucky.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Well, since it was such sideways rain and heavy stuff labs.
Does that alter anything for today? Is there going to
be the turf involved at all? Are they still gonna
get onto the grass fields?
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Yeah? They There will be uh, you know, stretching, warm
up and maybe some individual periods on the turf field,
but when it comes time for practice, they will be moving. Yeah.
The walkthrough is gonna now be I look at the
(20:24):
schedule here fields one and two. So uh, there was
the morning walkthrough was on the turf. So the fields
one and two. What that means is the field one
is the closest one to the bleachers, at Chuck. No'llfield
two is the one next to it. Uh, And what
(20:44):
I did notice, I didn't think there was any way
they could have practice on field one after I left
here yesterday. But not only is it lyned beautifully, they
were watering it a little bit. And so they wouldn't
water it if if it was squishy, you know, or
if it wasn't if the water hadn't drained. So again,
(21:06):
kudos to the irrigation system that the Steelers installed. Must
be working. And yeah, looking at you know, the the
equipment staff put up, you know, some of the things
that the coaches use, you know, the I don't know
what they're called. Where the you know, the running backs
run through things and the linemen run under you know,
(21:30):
they teach them to stay low and then you know,
rise up. It looks like a like a gigantic croquet thing.
So but anyway, that's, uh, that's what we got in
terms of where and what it's gonna be is I
think it's pretty much exactly what we were gonna have yesterday.
Seven shots from the two yard line competition period. First thing,
(21:56):
backs on backers. Then there's gonna be the wide receiver,
defensive backs. One on ones. I don't know whether that's
going to be more of a little man backs on
backers where there's the receivers are blocking the defensive backs,
or if it's more of a hand fighting in the
(22:16):
you know what, receiver's trying to get off the line
of scrimmage against pat press coverage and the defensive backs
chucking them, you know, within the allotted yardage where they're
allowed to have their hands on the receivers. Then there's
team run, which we talked about yesterday. I think we
know what that is, tackle football, yep. So that's that'll
(22:40):
be interesting. Caleb john could be a very big game,
excuse me, a very big day for Caleb Johnson. We'll
start with backs on backers. I'm sure he's going to
get tested in that, and I'm sure he's gonna get
a few carries in team run. But after that, you know,
it's pretty much usual stuff. First and second down, pass
(23:03):
under pressure, seven on seven, but it'll be a little
bit different again because everything will be done in full pads.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
All systems appear to be a go, but take it
with a grain of salt because we basically said the
same exact stuff yesterday.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
And then the ready to tell you again how clear
the Skies are again.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
No, let's not jax it. Let's not jokes it this time.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Even though they were up in the gym without pads
on yesterday and no one could see practice. Coach Tomlin
stop buying, had a nice lengthy chat with the media.
Let's hear what coach had to say.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
Didn't get what we were looking for today, But such as
life in football and life in general, at this stage
of team development, you can always extract some positives out
of all circumstances. It gave us an opportunity to take
it to the gym and work through our walkthrough format.
The things that we get done in those scenarios, it's
almost always an opportunity to get better a rep at
(23:55):
something at some level of adjustment, whether it's individually or collectively.
And so we went through our script in the gym
and got some productive work done. We'll roll the ball
out tomorrow man, and hopefully we'll have more of an
environment geared to what our intentions were. And certainly we're
excited about carrying the past today. But we got a
whole off for twenty four questions.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Did you have some ancy people who wanted to get
out there on that field.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
There's no question. But I'd much rather say wold than
sick them. And it was appropriate to say, well, we
got a lot of water dumped on those fields in
a very short period of time.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
It would have been safe to do it today, like
it was turfy option at all or not.
Speaker 6 (24:34):
You know, I don't want to start like that, to
be honest with you. We'll have ample enough time to
develop in the ways that we need to develop. We
want to work hard, but we also want to work smart,
and the safety concerns are always a component of decision
making from my perspective.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Might given some of the weather interference that you've had
so far, do you consider varying any of the practice
times in the.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Next couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (24:56):
Not, as I said here today, you know, and when
we look back at the acclamation period, it's just that
it's the acclamation period, and so you know, today was
really the first real day of work and we had
to adjust and adapt today. But I'm not ready to
make wholesale changes or even anticipation of making wholesale changes.
Speaker 8 (25:14):
Mike Rogers is betting pretty regular participant.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Is there a plan for him or is it kind
of day to day?
Speaker 8 (25:19):
See how he's.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Going keep watching. Yeah, we got a plan. You know.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
My goal is to always give these guys what they
need to be ready. Depending on the guy, that may
change when I minimize certain guys based on their experience.
All it does is provide an avenue for more reps
for someone else. And so you know, any days I
might give Aaron off or reps that I might give
him off, and just an opportunity for a guy like
(25:44):
Will Howard to get additional work and aid his developmental process.
That's the lens through which I see all of it.
You can apply that to another position and other veteran players.
I'm gonna give you know, Jayalen Ramsey a day or
two oft in this process, and it's gonna be great work.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
For a guy like take Camp for example.
Speaker 8 (26:01):
At some point down the road, will you guys be
able to use that facility the building on days like this.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
I have no idea what the construction you know, guideline
is for all of that. I hadn't even begun to ask.
I know it's not gonna be available to us in
twenty twenty five, and so you know, I get kind
of singularly focused.
Speaker 9 (26:19):
Is there any update to Broaderick in the album for
him to return to practice.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
He should be out there tomorrow.
Speaker 8 (26:25):
Speaking of Ramsey, as Kimp goes on, what are you
learning about him as a person and how is his
personality traits meshing with the collective?
Speaker 6 (26:34):
You know, I think it's a little early for that.
I know that he's a football lover, He's highly engaged.
He's doing a really good job of learning multiple spots.
He's a good communicator. I like to develop a relationship
between him and Joey Porter Junior, for example. He's a
guy that's been through a lot in this game, and
he appears willing to share it.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
How is Robert woulds fit in with your receivers and
what's he kind of brought.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
To the screw Again, it's a little early for that,
but I like his approach to business. He's he's a professional.
His resume speaks for itself. He's a hard worker, diligent worker.
I'm excited to see him seeing about what he brings.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
You have a timetable for Isaac, I don't. You can
still characterize it as day to day.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
Any idea how the running game is sorting itself out
among the backs.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
In the backfield, we hadn't had a padded practice yet we're.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
The veteran defensive guy's play Ramsey, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Have you noticed anything intended the leadership side of that
kind of take your focus?
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Is that anything you mentioned to them?
Speaker 6 (27:35):
You know, they're certainly sharing their experience and wisdom. But
I think that those things reveal themselves as you get
further in the journey and you get faced with the
natural adversity that the game presents. I think that's when
it gets an opportunity to show and show legitimately.
Speaker 9 (27:51):
Mike, with as busy as an offseason as you guys had,
how much do you sort of relish the opportunity to
blend all that stuff together and what makes that successful?
Speaker 6 (28:01):
You know, I just think that's the job, the acquisition
of talent, and then the development of that talent, the
division of labor. It's just the process, and certainly I
enjoy every component of the process.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
Mike Slay has been pretty unique in his ability to
play at a high level of that position at his age.
Have you seen anything so far about the way he
works or the way he inducts his business that you
provide some insight into why and how.
Speaker 6 (28:26):
No, I hadn't. But again it's you know, these are
great questions. It's just really early in the process.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Guys.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
We just came out of acclamation and we lost our
first padded practice and so, you know, many of these
discussions are very much in development.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Like going back to Ramsey, we've seen him in the
nickel a lot.
Speaker 9 (28:44):
How has that position, the slot corner evolved over time
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Has it grown in importance or changed the what you're
looking for out of that position.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
It's probably about twenty five years in now. When I
was a young position coach man, it was guys like
Anias Williams and Ron Barber that were really shaping and
defining the position. It was right about the time that
the greatest show on turf was taking the league by storm,
and they were playing with three receivers just about every down.
(29:12):
And so it's probably twenty five years in development. It's
it's commonplace now, to be quite honest with you, These
kids grow up playing it now, and so it was
more of a you know, topic of discussion back then.
It's really common now you get guys being drafted exclusively
as nickelbacks, for example, Rumman Wilson.
Speaker 9 (29:34):
Sees they are very focused individuals, as you say, singularly focuses.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
He like that behind closed doors. Is that just with us?
Speaker 6 (29:42):
He is with me, and so he might be giving
you guys the same treatment he gives me.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
But it's appropriate.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
This is a big camp and a big process for
Roman going into year two with not having much participation
in year one, but the standard of expectation and improvement
in the same. But again, as I mentioned several times, Man,
he's not in uncharted waterspen Calvin Austin walked that same
journey very recently and missing a lot of time from
(30:10):
his rookie year, and it hadn't slowed the trajectory of
his progressing career to this point.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Mike, where would Roman fit in on special teams for you?
Speaker 5 (30:18):
That's to be determined. He's certainly a willing worker.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
He's caught kicks and punts and pre practice and so forth,
but his contributions are not gonna be exclusive to that area.
He's working with gunners on the punt team. He's a
very willing guy in that area. But how he performs,
uh will will determine those things.
Speaker 9 (30:36):
Mike, you guys have invested a lot in the offensive
defensive lines in the past few drafts. Is this a
unique opportunity that you see for both these younger units
to kind of mold with each other in these coming
in these coming weeks where you get to see them
be visiting.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
I know it didn't happen today.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Certainly, the iron on iron component to get better is
something that that we buy into. We've got some talented
young guys on both sides, and you know, when you
pit one against the other, it creates an environment for
the get better. And that's why you know we go
ones versus ones and twos versus two's. We're not looking
for the artificial feel good. We like to improve through competition,
(31:12):
catching some kicks. I'm sorry you referenced Roman catching kecks.
Cordero gone, that's a big vacancy there. We went into
the timing.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Of his release that you'd have to ask Omar that man.
Speaker 6 (31:22):
I didn't get into the reasons why from a timing perspective, do.
Speaker 7 (31:26):
You consider kick return kick returner a pretty open competition here?
Speaker 5 (31:31):
I do, but we're not devoid of candidates.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
I'm really really excited about Kenny Gainwell in that area. Certainly,
Jalen Warren's got some experience in that area. We're looking
at Caleb Johnson, We're looking at Roman Wilson. We're not
devoid of candidates. I'm pretty comfortable with the pool of candidates,
but it's still some work to sort out.
Speaker 8 (31:50):
Certainly more would you prefer Austin not to do that
if he takes on a bigger role.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
No.
Speaker 6 (31:56):
I like him there, man. He's got a desire to
be the best in the world. He's made some dramatic improvements.
He was moving in that direction over the course of
the last season. He's excited about taking another step in
that area.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Mike Dates said a few days ago he sees himself
with the best covers linebacker in the world, and then
Blake Harrison said.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
Eze I appreciate his mindset. He'll be giving an opportunity
to prove that.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Coach Tomlin, I'm sure very disappointed after yesterday's practice since
the pads weren't able to come on, but they'll get
another chance today at one fifty five, when Labs and
I come back. We're going to talk about the receivers
a little bit. Labs mentioned in the practice script today
there are going to be some DB's receivers.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Going one on one with those pads on.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So we'll talk about that some more, and we'll hear
from Robert Woods, one of the new editions, one of
the many new additions to the Pittsburgh Steelers in twenty
twenty five. It's tom Auferman, It's Bob Labriola, and you're
listening to the Training Camp report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh
nine seventy AM and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Heart Radios. Live coverage of about twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp is presented by fadex where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by Cger Wholesale Roofing and
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(33:21):
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and by US Steel.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Steelers will try to have their first day in pads
today at training camp. They were supposed to have it yesterday,
but the weather didn't cooperate.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Labs.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
You went over the practice script and the last segment,
and you talked about how there is going to be
a portion where defensive backs and wide receivers get to.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Go mono emano and a lot.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I think is highlighted on the trenches when the pads
come on. Maybe the running backs see what they're gonna
do now that contacts involved, but wide receiver and defensive
backs certainly have a chance to kind of put themselves
in the spotlight more with this now padded practice.
Speaker 5 (34:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Absolutely, you know, Uh, it's I don't know, there's just
so many things in my opinion, that are going to
be interesting now that the pads are coming on. There's
a lot of storylines and I just think that and
they build, you know, from one day to the next,
(34:28):
because whatever happens today in terms of which unit might
be good or which individuals might be good within the drills,
then you want to see how they bounce back the
next time it happens. And so you know, Mike Tomlan
constantly uses the iron sharpens iron thing. I think we're
(34:49):
really going to see a lot of that, and there's
a lot of things that are going to work themselves out.
You know. In the previous segment, we heard a lot
when Mike Tomlan was talking a lot of the questions
and his answers were, well, it's early for that, it's
early for that. He's really not ducking the questions. You
really don't know things until now, or now is the time,
(35:13):
let me say this, say it this way. Now is
the time when you start to learn the significant things
about players, about units, and then the coaches can also
start figuring out how they how they're going to deploy
those players, what the units might look like, what the
(35:35):
offense might look like, what the you know, how they're
going to deploy, and I'm just picking things out now,
and how they're going to deploy all the defensive backs.
So this is really the interesting part of training camp.
We're going to start today, you know, if if the
weather holds out, if your meteorologist is right for a
time for a change, I think, uh, real training camp
(35:57):
starts today.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Any particular dB wide receiver matchup you might be looking
forward to. We've seen them over the past couple of
practices in the acclamation period, but now again that the
pads come on, they can be a little bit more
physical with each other. Anyone that has your eye and
you're looking forward to in that one on one drill.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Well, I mean, you know, certainly, and I would imagine
you know DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey or DK Metcalf
and Joey Porter Junior. You know, certainly anyone against DK
Metcalf if you're looking for development or what you might
have from your defensive backs and flipping it around, you know,
(36:36):
Calvin Austen against one of the veterans, Darius Slay or
Joey Porter j You know that kind of thing, because
you want to see also and beyond Calvin Austin, you
want to see how or what your depth chart below
your top couple receivers might turn into what might you
(36:59):
have there? And so it's gonna be a good barometer
for well, Robert Woods is more of a veteran, but
still you want to see what he has. But some
of the other guys, maybe you have you know, a
young guy who I don't know, come out of nowhere,
so to speak, like Antonio Brown did in twenty ten.
(37:23):
Excuse me. Uh So it's I don't know if it's
so much matchups, but I want to see how different
guys respond to the competition on both sides of it,
because I don't think that really this team is a
(37:43):
finished product in any area. I mean, there may be
guys that may you figure, well, they have a roster spot. Okay,
you know, I'll grant that. But when it comes to
playing time or how they'll be used within that playing time,
all of that's still very much up in the air.
That could all a lot of it could come into
focus starting now.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Once the pads go on, we're gonna hear from Steeler's receiver,
Robert Woods in just a minute or two here labs.
But before we get to him, I'm curious, where do
you think he kind of fits in his puzzle piece
fits into this big picture.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I'm sorry I missed the name. Say it again, Robert Woods.
Oh yeah, I mean he's the you know, he's a
veteran and I don't know yet, I really don't. You know.
Is he Alan Robinson? You know, one of those kind
of guys. Can he be more? What kind of contributions
(38:38):
can he make? And then the other thing to me
is that you can't really ignore it when you're talking
about the receivers, is a how can he help Aaron Rodgers?
And how can Aaron Rodgers help him? So, you know,
I hate to sound like the coach, but I don't
know yet. I really don't, And I don't know anything
(38:58):
about Robert Woods in terms of what he has done
or what he was good at doing in his previous
stops to coming here. So I do know though that
you know, they need somebody in terms of names of
guys that they have brought in recently who kind of
(39:18):
fit the the Robert Woods biography. You know, have some
experience in the league, a couple of teams, you know,
Van Jefferson, Alan Robinson. You're hoping that he can give
you more than those two guys did, or maybe you
find out that it really wasn't Alan Robinson or Jefferson,
(39:39):
it was more of the quarterbacks they were playing with. So,
like I said, I hate to hate to sound like
I'm ducking the question, but you know, I don't know
enough to give you an intelligent answer right now.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
No, you're not ducking the question. It's fair.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
You're allowed to be honest, labs. We're not trying to
have you lie here on the show. And hey, Robert
Woods spoke to the media following practice yesterday, so so
maybe he can clue us in on some of the
things about him and what he's been good at over
the course of his career. Here is Robert Woods speaking
to the media.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
Did the pads go on? I know the lineman, the
running backs get excited.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
How about the how about the receivers.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
We're excited too. I mean we're playing full football.
Speaker 10 (40:15):
We don't playing shorts and T shirts and so now
we're actually getting the game going. Just another stepping stone
in our in our training camp, getting ready for for
a week one.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Robert, what are you most excited about today?
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Like you put them pads on, what are you most
excited to do or see?
Speaker 10 (40:29):
H same thing I've been doing these past few days
is trying to get open and then get the ball
in my hands. I feel like nothing changes for me.
Obviously playing physical using our hands, but the pads don't
change anything for me. I'm just trying to get open
and get the ball, and uh that's football. I mean
we'll hit when that comes.
Speaker 5 (40:46):
Are you worried about the heat at all?
Speaker 4 (40:48):
The heat?
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (40:49):
No, No, I mean in Houston the past two years.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Yeah, yeah, but today it's supposed to be real hot.
Speaker 10 (40:53):
Yeah's supposed to be hot, But I mean it is
what it is. You can't change the environment, can't change
the elements. Just got to go out there and play
our game. Obviously you hydrate and get ready for it,
but uh, that's it's a part of the game.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Robert hook corp Turned jud It's good.
Speaker 10 (41:07):
I've been catching punts the past few years now, and uh,
just being consistent with us. Still just trying to keep
my hands on the ball and uh putting our putting
our offense in in good full position.
Speaker 5 (41:19):
Robert is a receiving court.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
How do you set the rights and and or physically
in the first days.
Speaker 10 (41:25):
Uh, don't don't be soft, you know I would like
saying in other words, uh, but uh, don't be soft
is the main thing I would say.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
Go out there and be physical.
Speaker 10 (41:36):
Obviously the defense is gonna be hyped and the safety's
gonna feel.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Like they're doing something.
Speaker 10 (41:41):
But uh, just yeah, don't don't ever turn anything down.
Speaker 9 (41:44):
Probert, you played for some really great offenses, obviously playing
under Sean McVay with the rams and everything.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
What do you like about this offense in particular, is
whether it be something with nexis and o's or.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
Just the attention to detail or anything.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
What do you like about this offense?
Speaker 10 (41:58):
A little bit of everything. I like how obviously the
artists calling the plays and how it's schemed up right now,
trying to expose the defense and finding gaps and making
guys make decisions. We have a quarterback who is pulling
the trigger and making guys make decisions. And obviously you
see in our meeting room and out here on the
field guys that are paying attention to the detail. And
I think that's the key to being a high powered
(42:19):
offense is just paying attention to the details. Obviously everybody
knows ex's and those and routes, but when you focus
on the small things, big plays happen.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Robert or the young guys asking you questions, you know
they ask him the right lections, ye'hall say.
Speaker 10 (42:32):
They all are from from DB's to receivers, running backs,
whether it's diet, route depth, how do you take care
of your body? I feel like everybody is focusing on
this camp and just trying to get this whole team better.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Kind of going off of that, how do you help
the dbs out when they come to you and ask
for questions.
Speaker 9 (42:54):
I know it's a little bit you know different, but
how do you help them?
Speaker 10 (42:58):
Yeah, I feel like they're all asked like, you know,
what were you thinking on that on that route or
why did you go outside on that? And just leverage
and just playing making guys think. You know, you don't
want to always have the same route patterns. You want
to have it disguised a little bit. Sometimes we go
out to go in, go out to go out, and
they always want to keep the defense on their toes
and and for them it's just I'll just tell him,
(43:19):
play it honest. Whatever leverage you're you're playing, keep it
and make the receivers go through you. The biggest challenge
about uh. I think they're all about six two taller
than me, all the corners and even Jalen in there.
I think it's a good matchup. You see some tall corners.
They're all being physical, getting your hands on. I think
(43:41):
that's a key key component to our defense, especially with
our D line, when you see guys up in your face.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
I think that's a.
Speaker 5 (43:48):
Good good factor to have.
Speaker 8 (43:49):
What's bring into the table.
Speaker 10 (43:52):
Everything He's always brought energy, being a physical corner, his mouth.
Speaker 7 (43:58):
Uh.
Speaker 10 (43:59):
But I think today is one of my favorite players,
favorite corners I've played against, and just as energy that
he brings to come out here every single day and
show up and yeah, he doesn't give any any breaks
any passes.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
Steelers wide receiver Robert Woods from yesterday. When we come
back labs and are going to shift things over to
the defensive side of the ball, we're gonna hear from
Darius Slay and later on in the program we're gonna
hear from former Steeler Mike Logan. So there is still
a lot to get to. We are about an hour
away exactly from the Steelers hopefully throwing on the pads
(44:34):
for the first time in twenty twenty five's training camp.
Bob Labriola, Tom Opferman, It's the Training Camp Report on
Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy am and the Steelers Audio
Network
Steelers Training Camp is presented by Fadex where Now meets
Next and also brought to you by bud Light, Independence
Health System, by Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino,
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(00:23):
Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by us steel.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
All Right Labs, Let's try this again, Steelers first Day
and Pad's Take two and Marker Mother Nature did not
cooperate with us yesterday. Welcome into the training Camp Report
Tom Offerman and Bob Labriola. Things were supposed to get
started in a real way. Some actual football was supposed
to be played, but because of thunderstorms in the area,
the team.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Had to move into the gym and did not put
the pads on.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what, I've never seen rain
like that up here in one short span like that,
because I mean the players were on the field, you know,
they were on.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The field, and then it had to evacuate, right well, yeah,
and all of.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
A sudden, and you know, Mike Tomlin does not evacuate
the field necessarily when they evacuate the bleachers and stuff,
because not that he is, you know, thumbing his nose
at that kind of thing. But there's a different standard
and detection system that the Steelers used than the College uses.
(01:33):
Uh So the College's you know alarm or horn or
whatever noise went off and indicated that, you know, there
was lightning in the area. Shortly after that, Uh, the
security people came and moved the people out of the
you know, the Meddal bleachers at chuck no Oldfield, which
you know, I don't think I would need to be
(01:54):
told twice if I was sitting on the metal bleachers
and they said lightning was in the area. But the
players jogged up and got off the field. So uh,
that kind of caught my attention. And then it started
to rain a little bit, and then the clouds just
opened up, I mean, and it was wow, it was
(02:16):
wow kind of rain. I didn't I messed up. I
should have timed it because you know, you keep thinking
you've seen Caddy Shack, you know that scene when the
guy says, well I think the worst of it's past
us or whatever. I kept thinking, I don't think the
come down. Yes, that's the exact line, Thank you, and
(02:36):
but no, the heavy stuff came right away and never left.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
We'll get more in depth with what happened yesterday with
the weather and how it derailed things. But being in
the gym labs, I mean, it's closed off to everybody
and media included. But I'm assuming that that's just a
glorified walkthrough, right, What else can you do?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Yeah, And I was just gonna say, I've never actually
seen anything going on in there like that because, as
you mentioned, and it is closed off because think about it,
you got ninety players, yeah, all those coaches. It's a
basketball court, you know, I mean, you know, it's a
(03:12):
regulation size basketball court and everything, but ninety football players
and all those coaches. I mean, there's no room for
anyone else at all. So no, I've never seen it,
and I can't imagine that they could do anything but
a walk through, and even before going over there or
going up there, because where the players dressed, then you
(03:34):
just go upstairs into the gym. They had to change
shoes and all that stuff too, because if you weren't
spikes on the hardwood, wouldn't do the hardwood any good
and you would get no traction at all.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
One silver lining is we did get to hear Tomlin
say his first i'd rather say woe than Sickham of
the year in the press conference following practice, and we'll
play that for you in the second segment, as we
always do. He did talk to the media following practice
and some players did as well, so we still have
that part of our show. And I wanted to actually
pick apart some things that Tomlin did mention labs because
I think they are worthwhile. One I think that headlines
(04:12):
the rest is we got an inkling that Broderick Jones
will probably practice today. He didn't fully commit and say
you can expect him out there, but they wouldn't be surprised,
or they would be surprised to excuse me. I feel
like if he was set back another day, and that's
good to see that it was really just a minor thing.
And he's ready to practice because every rep is so
valuable for him this year as he makes that switch
(04:33):
to the left side.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Yeah, and you know, he's still a young, developing player,
young both in terms of experience both at the college
level and at the NFL level, and chronologically he's young,
So yes, all of that is important. You know, the
Steelers picked him traded up in the first round to
pick him a couple well not two years let's see, yeah,
(04:59):
two years ago, not counting this year. And so this
is a big year for Broderick Jones. You know, teams
that spend that kind of draft capital on a player
on a position, you know, this is now it's time
to produce. There's no more you were playing out a position.
(05:19):
You're a young guy, you know, all that stuff. Now
that's over. This is your third lap or on the
NFL track, and so you're expected to produce commensurate with
what the team invested in you to bring you into
the league. So, yes, it's very important. This is a
very important training camp for him because it's a very
(05:40):
important season for him. And you know, he's not the
kind of uh, you know, Alan Fannic or Dermanti Dawson,
multiple time first team All Pro where you could look
at him and say, well, you know, just get yourself
ready for the start of the regular season. You know,
training camp in the in the preseason isn't that significant
for you? Well, well, Broderick Jones is nowhere near that
(06:02):
status yet, and so what he needs to do is
to be able to string together a lot of practices
at camp so that then he can continue to use
those repetitions to improve. It's not so much that to show,
you know, to show the evaluators that he's worth keeping, because,
(06:26):
as I said, you trade up for a guy a
couple of years ago, he's going into his third year.
This is it. You're you're married, The team and the
player are married. He is it, and if he fails
or gets injured, you got problems. He's got problems in
terms of his potential future in this league, and the
(06:47):
Steelers have problems in terms of you know, being going
or getting where they want to get to this season.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
You know, I do want to know it has been
some adversity on the injury front for Roger Jones. If
you recall last year he dealt with an injury upper
body injury. This a lower body injury, and it doesn't
seem like it's too serious. They're comfortable with him returning
to practice today, or at least we think that's going
to be the case. But still, I mean, if he
has to play through something that makes him feel even
(07:14):
ninety percent, you know, that's just tough for a guy who,
as you mentioned, is still young and trying to find
his way into the NFL to have to deal with
that as well.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, but again, as I said, this is now his
third laper on the track, and there is you know
that that's a reality of his profession, playing through things.
I won't say minor injuries because they're only minor injuries
if they're not your injuries. So you know, I don't
(07:42):
know what the situation was in terms of his elbow
last year, but it was judged by the medical staff
not to be something that would keep him off the
field or the practice field. So then once that happens
in the NFL, okay, now you've got to play, and
it's you know, it's an excuse, and excuses aren't acceptable
(08:07):
or tolerated. So you know, I'm not trying to sound
overly harsh about Broderick Jones. I'm just trying to give
an accurate representation of how he will be viewed by
the team and the coaches this summer and then into
this season.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
It's a huge year for him.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
A lot is riding on it, like you said, for
the team's sake and for his individual's sake, getting that
money guaranteed fifth year option. I mean a lot riding
on Roger Jones having success. Glad to see that he'll
probably be out on the field again today.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Just let me just throw this out there, because you
know we've talked about this before. He's going into his
third year. He signed a four year deal that has
an option for a fifth. The Steelers are getting into
the time frame now like next May or something where
they're gonna have to decide whether they want to exercise
that option. And you know, teams, this is money, This
(09:01):
is significant money. Now we're talking about guaranteed too, yes,
and well beyond that. For example, you know, I was
talking to Max Max Starks the other day and I
said to him about Rashawn Slater, the Chargers left tackle.
I said, did you hear about Rashawn Slater? And he said, oh,
(09:22):
what happened? Usually when someone says that about a player
this time of year, you think he got injured, right,
I said, no, he signed a contract extension one hundred
and forty four twenty nine million dollars to sign. So
I mean, this, this is what we're talking about. Max's
eyes got big. Then, you know, well, you know that's
(09:44):
that's uh, you know, that's legacy money and grandchildren don't
have to work in labs.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I mean, that's Rashaun Slater. You're talking at the all
pro end of the spectrum. Just look at the guy
who just left here, Dan Moore. I mean, let's just
put it nicely. He was an adequate left tackle and
look at the bag that he got handed by the Titans.
I mean the money is there for that position.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Yes, but you have to show that you're dependable and competent.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
The other thing that Tomlin shed light on in his
comments was a little special team's note the punt returner
and the kick returners for the year. Now, the punt
return he just flat out said, Calvin Austin is going
to be returning our punts, and I don't think there's
any surprise there. He has shown that he is a
big time playmaker in that aspect.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, it is he is. And also beyond the playmaking
ability that he has shown, he's also shown good judgment.
And by good judgment, I mean he knows when the
fair catch. He knows when to take a chance and
try and return it. He is secure with the catch.
You know, all of these things are critical, even more
(10:51):
so than your ability to return it. Once you get
your hands on it. You know, they don't want you
catching a punt that you sh shouldn't a fair catching
in a punt that you could return, or trying to
return a punt that you should fair catch this. These
kinds of decision making things are are very important in
(11:11):
the punt return game from a team aspect. And last
night on the UH Show, those on DVE, me and
my pursuited were kicking around a little bit about you know,
he was saying that maybe Calvin Austin the third is
too valuable as a receiver to risk as a punt returner.
(11:35):
Now you know, I, you know, I don't think the
Steelers have enough weapons that they could cast one aside,
even though it's special teams. And you know the other
thing is, you know, again, the guy has shown good
judgment and decision making, so you just you just kind
(11:58):
of trust him and reinforce that you don't expect him
to go seventy seven yards with every punt that he catches.
You know, if it's not there, fair catch it, we
have confidence in the offense or you need to trust
the offense because you're part of that as well. To
go out there and move the football. Into scoring position
or maybe get in and hopefully get it into the
(12:20):
end zone so I can see. You know, there have
been times in Steelers history where receivers Lynn Swan, Lewis Lips,
who are outstanding punt returners as rookies, maybe into their
second seasons, were then taking off that job because they
were deemed to be too important to the offense. But
(12:43):
I don't think Calvin Austin is there yet, and I
think that he can handle it right now.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, he's certainly not here yet with the analogy that
I'm about to go to or the comparison I'm about
to go to. But you know, Mike Tom, when you
were mentioned in those receivers, Antonio Brown started as a
punt returner as well.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Yes there's another one, and.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Then he got taken off. But Mike Tom would like
to throw eighty four back there.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Every once in a while, didn't he, even when he
was in his primeate receiver.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Sure when he needed you know, that was one of
those things that when the Steelers needed a play on
a return, Mike Toma would go to Antonio Brown, who's
always willing, an anxious, eager to get his hands on
the football. So yeah, We're not there yet though, with
(13:26):
Calvin Austin all right.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Now, the other side of that is the kick return
competition because Cordell Patterson was released by the Steelers. We
mentioned that on yesterday's show, So there will be something
up for grabs here at camp. Somebody can get their
chance to get their hands on the ball and labs.
With the kickoff rule changes like this isn't just going
back there and kind of watching a ball sale over
your head and then you waving at the crowd and
maybe running through some sprints or something like that and
(13:49):
getting loose. You're going to return this thing if you're
back there now. The league wants kick returns, and it's
going to happen. A couple of names that Tomlin mentioned
were the three running backs, gain Well, Warren and Caleb
Johnson the rookie, and then he also threw Roman Wilson
into that mix.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
And there's obviously going to be some more that I
think have a chance.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, it's I'm still a little skeptical about the number
of kickoff returns that are going to be.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Even with moving that touch back up even more, you
think teams are still just gonna take it.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I don't I just don't know how much. You know,
there's a lot of depending on the kicker to place
the football. It's a in a in a space where
it can be defended. And I think that, you know,
for example, if you have the Steelers defense and well
(14:40):
you also have Chris Boswell, so that maybe this whole
kind of comparison or scenario I'm setting up doesn't exactly
hold water. But hey, this is radio and that's what
we do. You might say I'd rather give them five
more yards than a chance, you know, to return at
fifty or sixty. So again, I think it's it's going
(15:01):
to be a feeling out thing. It really is. I
mean last year the Steelers thought that, you know, Cordero
Patterson could have an impact. He's the most successful or
accomplished kickoff returner maybe an NFL history. He became available,
the Steelers thought, wow, you know this, we could really
add a weapon here. But it didn't pan out. Not
(15:24):
that he wasn't any good necessarily, maybe that was part
of it, but you just didn't see a lot of
There were some kickoffs return for touchdowns. But as you mentioned,
the league changed the rules again because they want to
put the play back in the game, so it didn't
pan out the way that some people thought Slash hoped,
(15:45):
and so Cordero Patterson. You know, we could see, in
my opinion, you could see by the end of last
year that as a kickoff returner he wasn't that much
of an asset, more because of the rules and the
way the play was unfolding than maybe necessarily his erosion
of skills, and he wasn't the running back or receiver
(16:05):
he had been in his prime either.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Something to keep an eye on throughout camp. Who will
win that kick return job, at least to start the year.
Of course, something like that could be very fluid. We'll
hear all of coach Tomlin's comments following practice yesterday when
we come back on the training camp Report, and we'll
get Labs's weather report, and in a lot of ways,
Labs truly became a weather man yesterday, and we'll explain
what we mean when we return. It's the Training Camp
Report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy AM and the
(16:30):
Steelers Audio.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Network Iheartradios Live coverage job Dot twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp. He's presented by Fadex. Where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by CGR Wholesale Roofing and
Sighting Supply Center, by Don's Appliances, by Always Safe Flagging
(16:55):
and Traffic Control by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by
Schneider Down, by Has's Steake and Seahouse, by your Neighborhood
Ford Store, by Castle Rock, by Clearview Federal Credit Union,
and by US Steel.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Tom Aferman and Bob Labriola on the Training Camp Report,
now's the time when LABS likes to share what the
weather's going to look like up on campus and Labs,
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We couldn't have been
more wrong with our forecast yesterday. We I like to
put myself into the line of fire as well with you, buddy.
We go down as a team, but we had words
thrown out there like the sun is out, I don't
(17:32):
think we're going to be getting wet. And then of
course practice was canceled because of the weather that came through.
So in a lot of ways, Labs, you've really mastered
now in our third year of doing this being a
weather man, because swinging and missing gloriously that's kind of
their forte.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
So good for you, Yeah, I mean, I you talk
about swinging and missing. Wow, I mean I was I
missed so wildly that you know, I don't even know
who I would compare that to. But yeah, and and
and similarly, what I'm looking at in terms of the
afternoon's forecast on a National Weather Service website is similar.
(18:09):
Yesterday we were talking about a heat advisory. That's what
the warning was. There was no there was no real rain,
and you know today is similar. But let me just
kind of let me make my excuses here for a minute.
Of course, please about yesterday. Anyone who's been to Latrobe
(18:31):
knows how close Sharky's is to Saint Vincent College. Sharky's
got no rain none. I mean the fields were flooded yesterday.
Here Sharky's got no rain.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
And for people who aren't familiar and are listening, that's
about less than a mile away, just so you know.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Yes, So it was after it was finally over and
it was even clear enough, well the rain slowed enough
for me to leave to walk back up to hall
because the rain was such that, you know it was
I was afraid to leave the press box only because
you know, I have computer equipment.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, that's sideway stuff, right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
And so naturally I've been carrying around an umbrella I
think since the day I got here yesterday. I didn't
bring it, which I should have known that that was
going to bring the rain, and it did so. Uh.
And then by the time I got up to the
to Benedict Hall, one of the security guys in the lobby,
(19:34):
I was talking to him and as I mentioned, you know,
the Steelers have their own radar and systems in place
for the weather, and he said that the cell was
tiny and it never.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Moved, just very unlucky.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Well, since it was such sideways rain and heavy stuff labs.
Does that alter anything for today? Is there going to
be the turf involved at all? Are they still gonna
get onto the grass fields?
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Yeah? They There will be uh, you know, stretching, warm
up and maybe some individual periods on the turf field,
but when it comes time for practice, they will be moving. Yeah.
The walkthrough is gonna now be I look at the
(20:24):
schedule here fields one and two. So uh, there was
the morning walkthrough was on the turf. So the fields
one and two. What that means is the field one
is the closest one to the bleachers, at Chuck. No'llfield
two is the one next to it. Uh, And what
(20:44):
I did notice, I didn't think there was any way
they could have practice on field one after I left
here yesterday. But not only is it lyned beautifully, they
were watering it a little bit. And so they wouldn't
water it if if it was squishy, you know, or
if it wasn't if the water hadn't drained. So again,
(21:06):
kudos to the irrigation system that the Steelers installed. Must
be working. And yeah, looking at you know, the the
equipment staff put up, you know, some of the things
that the coaches use, you know, the I don't know
what they're called. Where the you know, the running backs
run through things and the linemen run under you know,
(21:30):
they teach them to stay low and then you know,
rise up. It looks like a like a gigantic croquet thing.
So but anyway, that's, uh, that's what we got in
terms of where and what it's gonna be is I
think it's pretty much exactly what we were gonna have yesterday.
Seven shots from the two yard line competition period. First thing,
(21:56):
backs on backers. Then there's gonna be the wide receiver,
defensive backs. One on ones. I don't know whether that's
going to be more of a little man backs on
backers where there's the receivers are blocking the defensive backs,
or if it's more of a hand fighting in the
(22:16):
you know what, receiver's trying to get off the line
of scrimmage against pat press coverage and the defensive backs
chucking them, you know, within the allotted yardage where they're
allowed to have their hands on the receivers. Then there's
team run, which we talked about yesterday. I think we
know what that is, tackle football, yep. So that's that'll
(22:40):
be interesting. Caleb john could be a very big game,
excuse me, a very big day for Caleb Johnson. We'll
start with backs on backers. I'm sure he's going to
get tested in that, and I'm sure he's gonna get
a few carries in team run. But after that, you know,
it's pretty much usual stuff. First and second down, pass
(23:03):
under pressure, seven on seven, but it'll be a little
bit different again because everything will be done in full pads.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
All systems appear to be a go, but take it
with a grain of salt because we basically said the
same exact stuff yesterday.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
And then the ready to tell you again how clear
the Skies are again.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
No, let's not jax it. Let's not jokes it this time.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Even though they were up in the gym without pads
on yesterday and no one could see practice. Coach Tomlin
stop buying, had a nice lengthy chat with the media.
Let's hear what coach had to say.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
Didn't get what we were looking for today, But such as
life in football and life in general, at this stage
of team development, you can always extract some positives out
of all circumstances. It gave us an opportunity to take
it to the gym and work through our walkthrough format.
The things that we get done in those scenarios, it's
almost always an opportunity to get better a rep at
(23:55):
something at some level of adjustment, whether it's individually or collectively.
And so we went through our script in the gym
and got some productive work done. We'll roll the ball
out tomorrow man, and hopefully we'll have more of an
environment geared to what our intentions were. And certainly we're
excited about carrying the past today. But we got a
whole off for twenty four questions.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Did you have some ancy people who wanted to get
out there on that field.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
There's no question. But I'd much rather say wold than
sick them. And it was appropriate to say, well, we
got a lot of water dumped on those fields in
a very short period of time.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
It would have been safe to do it today, like
it was turfy option at all or not.
Speaker 6 (24:34):
You know, I don't want to start like that, to
be honest with you. We'll have ample enough time to
develop in the ways that we need to develop. We
want to work hard, but we also want to work smart,
and the safety concerns are always a component of decision
making from my perspective.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Might given some of the weather interference that you've had
so far, do you consider varying any of the practice
times in the.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Next couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (24:56):
Not, as I said here today, you know, and when
we look back at the acclamation period, it's just that
it's the acclamation period, and so you know, today was
really the first real day of work and we had
to adjust and adapt today. But I'm not ready to
make wholesale changes or even anticipation of making wholesale changes.
Speaker 8 (25:14):
Mike Rogers is betting pretty regular participant.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Is there a plan for him or is it kind
of day to day?
Speaker 8 (25:19):
See how he's.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Going keep watching. Yeah, we got a plan. You know.
Speaker 6 (25:23):
My goal is to always give these guys what they
need to be ready. Depending on the guy, that may
change when I minimize certain guys based on their experience.
All it does is provide an avenue for more reps
for someone else. And so you know, any days I
might give Aaron off or reps that I might give
him off, and just an opportunity for a guy like
(25:44):
Will Howard to get additional work and aid his developmental process.
That's the lens through which I see all of it.
You can apply that to another position and other veteran players.
I'm gonna give you know, Jayalen Ramsey a day or
two oft in this process, and it's gonna be great work.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
For a guy like take Camp for example.
Speaker 8 (26:01):
At some point down the road, will you guys be
able to use that facility the building on days like this.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
I have no idea what the construction you know, guideline
is for all of that. I hadn't even begun to ask.
I know it's not gonna be available to us in
twenty twenty five, and so you know, I get kind
of singularly focused.
Speaker 9 (26:19):
Is there any update to Broaderick in the album for
him to return to practice.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
He should be out there tomorrow.
Speaker 8 (26:25):
Speaking of Ramsey, as Kimp goes on, what are you
learning about him as a person and how is his
personality traits meshing with the collective?
Speaker 6 (26:34):
You know, I think it's a little early for that.
I know that he's a football lover, He's highly engaged.
He's doing a really good job of learning multiple spots.
He's a good communicator. I like to develop a relationship
between him and Joey Porter Junior, for example. He's a
guy that's been through a lot in this game, and
he appears willing to share it.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
How is Robert woulds fit in with your receivers and
what's he kind of brought.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
To the screw Again, it's a little early for that,
but I like his approach to business. He's he's a professional.
His resume speaks for itself. He's a hard worker, diligent worker.
I'm excited to see him seeing about what he brings.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
You have a timetable for Isaac, I don't. You can
still characterize it as day to day.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
Any idea how the running game is sorting itself out
among the backs.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
In the backfield, we hadn't had a padded practice yet we're.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
The veteran defensive guy's play Ramsey, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Have you noticed anything intended the leadership side of that
kind of take your focus?
Speaker 5 (27:33):
Is that anything you mentioned to them?
Speaker 6 (27:35):
You know, they're certainly sharing their experience and wisdom. But
I think that those things reveal themselves as you get
further in the journey and you get faced with the
natural adversity that the game presents. I think that's when
it gets an opportunity to show and show legitimately.
Speaker 9 (27:51):
Mike, with as busy as an offseason as you guys had,
how much do you sort of relish the opportunity to
blend all that stuff together and what makes that successful?
Speaker 6 (28:01):
You know, I just think that's the job, the acquisition
of talent, and then the development of that talent, the
division of labor. It's just the process, and certainly I
enjoy every component of the process.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
Mike Slay has been pretty unique in his ability to
play at a high level of that position at his age.
Have you seen anything so far about the way he
works or the way he inducts his business that you
provide some insight into why and how.
Speaker 6 (28:26):
No, I hadn't. But again it's you know, these are
great questions. It's just really early in the process.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Guys.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
We just came out of acclamation and we lost our
first padded practice and so, you know, many of these
discussions are very much in development.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Like going back to Ramsey, we've seen him in the
nickel a lot.
Speaker 9 (28:44):
How has that position, the slot corner evolved over time
in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Has it grown in importance or changed the what you're
looking for out of that position.
Speaker 6 (28:52):
It's probably about twenty five years in now. When I
was a young position coach man, it was guys like
Anias Williams and Ron Barber that were really shaping and
defining the position. It was right about the time that
the greatest show on turf was taking the league by storm,
and they were playing with three receivers just about every down.
(29:12):
And so it's probably twenty five years in development. It's
it's commonplace now, to be quite honest with you, These
kids grow up playing it now, and so it was
more of a you know, topic of discussion back then.
It's really common now you get guys being drafted exclusively
as nickelbacks, for example, Rumman Wilson.
Speaker 9 (29:34):
Sees they are very focused individuals, as you say, singularly focuses.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
He like that behind closed doors. Is that just with us?
Speaker 6 (29:42):
He is with me, and so he might be giving
you guys the same treatment he gives me.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
But it's appropriate.
Speaker 6 (29:48):
This is a big camp and a big process for
Roman going into year two with not having much participation
in year one, but the standard of expectation and improvement
in the same. But again, as I mentioned several times, Man,
he's not in uncharted waterspen Calvin Austin walked that same
journey very recently and missing a lot of time from
(30:10):
his rookie year, and it hadn't slowed the trajectory of
his progressing career to this point.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Mike, where would Roman fit in on special teams for you?
Speaker 5 (30:18):
That's to be determined. He's certainly a willing worker.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
He's caught kicks and punts and pre practice and so forth,
but his contributions are not gonna be exclusive to that area.
He's working with gunners on the punt team. He's a
very willing guy in that area. But how he performs,
uh will will determine those things.
Speaker 9 (30:36):
Mike, you guys have invested a lot in the offensive
defensive lines in the past few drafts. Is this a
unique opportunity that you see for both these younger units
to kind of mold with each other in these coming
in these coming weeks where you get to see them
be visiting.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
I know it didn't happen today.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Certainly, the iron on iron component to get better is
something that that we buy into. We've got some talented
young guys on both sides, and you know, when you
pit one against the other, it creates an environment for
the get better. And that's why you know we go
ones versus ones and twos versus two's. We're not looking
for the artificial feel good. We like to improve through competition,
(31:12):
catching some kicks. I'm sorry you referenced Roman catching kecks.
Cordero gone, that's a big vacancy there. We went into
the timing.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Of his release that you'd have to ask Omar that man.
Speaker 6 (31:22):
I didn't get into the reasons why from a timing perspective, do.
Speaker 7 (31:26):
You consider kick return kick returner a pretty open competition here?
Speaker 5 (31:31):
I do, but we're not devoid of candidates.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
I'm really really excited about Kenny Gainwell in that area. Certainly,
Jalen Warren's got some experience in that area. We're looking
at Caleb Johnson, We're looking at Roman Wilson. We're not
devoid of candidates. I'm pretty comfortable with the pool of candidates,
but it's still some work to sort out.
Speaker 8 (31:50):
Certainly more would you prefer Austin not to do that
if he takes on a bigger role.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
No.
Speaker 6 (31:56):
I like him there, man. He's got a desire to
be the best in the world. He's made some dramatic improvements.
He was moving in that direction over the course of
the last season. He's excited about taking another step in
that area.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Mike Dates said a few days ago he sees himself
with the best covers linebacker in the world, and then
Blake Harrison said.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
Eze I appreciate his mindset. He'll be giving an opportunity
to prove that.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Coach Tomlin, I'm sure very disappointed after yesterday's practice since
the pads weren't able to come on, but they'll get
another chance today at one fifty five, when Labs and
I come back. We're going to talk about the receivers
a little bit. Labs mentioned in the practice script today
there are going to be some DB's receivers.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Going one on one with those pads on.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So we'll talk about that some more, and we'll hear
from Robert Woods, one of the new editions, one of
the many new additions to the Pittsburgh Steelers in twenty
twenty five. It's tom Auferman, It's Bob Labriola, and you're
listening to the Training Camp report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh
nine seventy AM and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Heart Radios. Live coverage of about twenty twenty five Steelers
Training Camp is presented by fadex where Now meets Next
and also brought to you by Cger Wholesale Roofing and
Siding Supply Center, by Tons Appliances, by Always Safe Flagging
and Traffic Control, by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, by
(33:21):
Schneider Downs, by Has's Steak and Seahouse, by your Neighborhood
Forward Store, by Castle Rod, by Clearview Federal Credit Union,
and by US Steel.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Steelers will try to have their first day in pads
today at training camp. They were supposed to have it yesterday,
but the weather didn't cooperate.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Labs.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
You went over the practice script and the last segment,
and you talked about how there is going to be
a portion where defensive backs and wide receivers get to.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Go mono emano and a lot.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
I think is highlighted on the trenches when the pads
come on. Maybe the running backs see what they're gonna
do now that contacts involved, but wide receiver and defensive
backs certainly have a chance to kind of put themselves
in the spotlight more with this now padded practice.
Speaker 5 (34:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Absolutely, you know, Uh, it's I don't know, there's just
so many things in my opinion, that are going to
be interesting now that the pads are coming on. There's
a lot of storylines and I just think that and
they build, you know, from one day to the next,
(34:28):
because whatever happens today in terms of which unit might
be good or which individuals might be good within the drills,
then you want to see how they bounce back the
next time it happens. And so you know, Mike Tomlan
constantly uses the iron sharpens iron thing. I think we're
(34:49):
really going to see a lot of that, and there's
a lot of things that are going to work themselves out.
You know. In the previous segment, we heard a lot
when Mike Tomlan was talking a lot of the questions
and his answers were, well, it's early for that, it's
early for that. He's really not ducking the questions. You
really don't know things until now, or now is the time,
(35:13):
let me say this, say it this way. Now is
the time when you start to learn the significant things
about players, about units, and then the coaches can also
start figuring out how they how they're going to deploy
those players, what the units might look like, what the
(35:35):
offense might look like, what the you know, how they're
going to deploy, and I'm just picking things out now,
and how they're going to deploy all the defensive backs.
So this is really the interesting part of training camp.
We're going to start today, you know, if if the
weather holds out, if your meteorologist is right for a
time for a change, I think, uh, real training camp
(35:57):
starts today.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Any particular dB wide receiver matchup you might be looking
forward to. We've seen them over the past couple of
practices in the acclamation period, but now again that the
pads come on, they can be a little bit more
physical with each other. Anyone that has your eye and
you're looking forward to in that one on one drill.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Well, I mean, you know, certainly, and I would imagine
you know DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey or DK Metcalf
and Joey Porter Junior. You know, certainly anyone against DK
Metcalf if you're looking for development or what you might
have from your defensive backs and flipping it around, you know,
(36:36):
Calvin Austen against one of the veterans, Darius Slay or
Joey Porter j You know that kind of thing, because
you want to see also and beyond Calvin Austin, you
want to see how or what your depth chart below
your top couple receivers might turn into what might you
(36:59):
have there? And so it's gonna be a good barometer
for well, Robert Woods is more of a veteran, but
still you want to see what he has. But some
of the other guys, maybe you have you know, a
young guy who I don't know, come out of nowhere,
so to speak, like Antonio Brown did in twenty ten.
(37:23):
Excuse me. Uh So it's I don't know if it's
so much matchups, but I want to see how different
guys respond to the competition on both sides of it,
because I don't think that really this team is a
(37:43):
finished product in any area. I mean, there may be
guys that may you figure, well, they have a roster spot. Okay,
you know, I'll grant that. But when it comes to
playing time or how they'll be used within that playing time,
all of that's still very much up in the air.
That could all a lot of it could come into
focus starting now.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Once the pads go on, we're gonna hear from Steeler's receiver,
Robert Woods in just a minute or two here labs.
But before we get to him, I'm curious, where do
you think he kind of fits in his puzzle piece
fits into this big picture.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I'm sorry I missed the name. Say it again, Robert Woods.
Oh yeah, I mean he's the you know, he's a
veteran and I don't know yet, I really don't. You know.
Is he Alan Robinson? You know, one of those kind
of guys. Can he be more? What kind of contributions
(38:38):
can he make? And then the other thing to me
is that you can't really ignore it when you're talking
about the receivers, is a how can he help Aaron Rodgers?
And how can Aaron Rodgers help him? So, you know,
I hate to sound like the coach, but I don't
know yet. I really don't, And I don't know anything
(38:58):
about Robert Woods in terms of what he has done
or what he was good at doing in his previous
stops to coming here. So I do know though that
you know, they need somebody in terms of names of
guys that they have brought in recently who kind of
(39:18):
fit the the Robert Woods biography. You know, have some
experience in the league, a couple of teams, you know,
Van Jefferson, Alan Robinson. You're hoping that he can give
you more than those two guys did, or maybe you
find out that it really wasn't Alan Robinson or Jefferson,
(39:39):
it was more of the quarterbacks they were playing with. So,
like I said, I hate to hate to sound like
I'm ducking the question, but you know, I don't know
enough to give you an intelligent answer right now.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
No, you're not ducking the question. It's fair.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
You're allowed to be honest, labs. We're not trying to
have you lie here on the show. And hey, Robert
Woods spoke to the media following practice yesterday, so so
maybe he can clue us in on some of the
things about him and what he's been good at over
the course of his career. Here is Robert Woods speaking
to the media.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
Did the pads go on? I know the lineman, the
running backs get excited.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
How about the how about the receivers.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
We're excited too. I mean we're playing full football.
Speaker 10 (40:15):
We don't playing shorts and T shirts and so now
we're actually getting the game going. Just another stepping stone
in our in our training camp, getting ready for for
a week one.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
Robert, what are you most excited about today?
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Like you put them pads on, what are you most
excited to do or see?
Speaker 10 (40:29):
H same thing I've been doing these past few days
is trying to get open and then get the ball
in my hands. I feel like nothing changes for me.
Obviously playing physical using our hands, but the pads don't
change anything for me. I'm just trying to get open
and get the ball, and uh that's football. I mean
we'll hit when that comes.
Speaker 5 (40:46):
Are you worried about the heat at all?
Speaker 4 (40:48):
The heat?
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (40:49):
No, No, I mean in Houston the past two years.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Yeah, yeah, but today it's supposed to be real hot.
Speaker 10 (40:53):
Yeah's supposed to be hot, But I mean it is
what it is. You can't change the environment, can't change
the elements. Just got to go out there and play
our game. Obviously you hydrate and get ready for it,
but uh, that's it's a part of the game.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Robert hook corp Turned jud It's good.
Speaker 10 (41:07):
I've been catching punts the past few years now, and uh,
just being consistent with us. Still just trying to keep
my hands on the ball and uh putting our putting
our offense in in good full position.
Speaker 5 (41:19):
Robert is a receiving court.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
How do you set the rights and and or physically
in the first days.
Speaker 10 (41:25):
Uh, don't don't be soft, you know I would like
saying in other words, uh, but uh, don't be soft
is the main thing I would say.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
Go out there and be physical.
Speaker 10 (41:36):
Obviously the defense is gonna be hyped and the safety's
gonna feel.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Like they're doing something.
Speaker 10 (41:41):
But uh, just yeah, don't don't ever turn anything down.
Speaker 9 (41:44):
Probert, you played for some really great offenses, obviously playing
under Sean McVay with the rams and everything.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
What do you like about this offense in particular, is
whether it be something with nexis and o's or.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
Just the attention to detail or anything.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
What do you like about this offense?
Speaker 10 (41:58):
A little bit of everything. I like how obviously the
artists calling the plays and how it's schemed up right now,
trying to expose the defense and finding gaps and making
guys make decisions. We have a quarterback who is pulling
the trigger and making guys make decisions. And obviously you
see in our meeting room and out here on the
field guys that are paying attention to the detail. And
I think that's the key to being a high powered
(42:19):
offense is just paying attention to the details. Obviously everybody
knows ex's and those and routes, but when you focus
on the small things, big plays happen.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Robert or the young guys asking you questions, you know
they ask him the right lections, ye'hall say.
Speaker 10 (42:32):
They all are from from DB's to receivers, running backs,
whether it's diet, route depth, how do you take care
of your body? I feel like everybody is focusing on
this camp and just trying to get this whole team better.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Kind of going off of that, how do you help
the dbs out when they come to you and ask
for questions.
Speaker 9 (42:54):
I know it's a little bit you know different, but
how do you help them?
Speaker 10 (42:58):
Yeah, I feel like they're all asked like, you know,
what were you thinking on that on that route or
why did you go outside on that? And just leverage
and just playing making guys think. You know, you don't
want to always have the same route patterns. You want
to have it disguised a little bit. Sometimes we go
out to go in, go out to go out, and
they always want to keep the defense on their toes
and and for them it's just I'll just tell him,
(43:19):
play it honest. Whatever leverage you're you're playing, keep it
and make the receivers go through you. The biggest challenge
about uh. I think they're all about six two taller
than me, all the corners and even Jalen in there.
I think it's a good matchup. You see some tall corners.
They're all being physical, getting your hands on. I think
(43:41):
that's a key key component to our defense, especially with
our D line, when you see guys up in your face.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
I think that's a.
Speaker 5 (43:48):
Good good factor to have.
Speaker 8 (43:49):
What's bring into the table.
Speaker 10 (43:52):
Everything He's always brought energy, being a physical corner, his mouth.
Speaker 7 (43:58):
Uh.
Speaker 10 (43:59):
But I think today is one of my favorite players,
favorite corners I've played against, and just as energy that
he brings to come out here every single day and
show up and yeah, he doesn't give any any breaks
any passes.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
Steelers wide receiver Robert Woods from yesterday. When we come
back labs and are going to shift things over to
the defensive side of the ball, we're gonna hear from
Darius Slay and later on in the program we're gonna
hear from former Steeler Mike Logan. So there is still
a lot to get to. We are about an hour
away exactly from the Steelers hopefully throwing on the pads
(44:34):
for the first time in twenty twenty five's training camp.
Bob Labriola, Tom Opferman, It's the Training Camp Report on
Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy am and the Steelers Audio
Network
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