Training Camp Report - Day 8

Labs and Tom go over yesterdays practice. They preview Friday Night Lights tonight, and hear from Coach Tomlin, Coach Arthur Smith, and George Pickens

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hec's done training camp report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
There are a few days throughout Steeler's training camp that
you circle on your calendar, but I think today Labs
is one that stands above all the rest. We have
officially arrived at the Friday night Lights practice. Always a
lot of fun and a little bit of a change
of scenery and a change of pace for the players
that have kind of gone into a nice rhythm now

(00:33):
that they've been in camp for over a week.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah, and you know, Bill Kauer invented this. I mean,
he deserves all the credit. And I really don't believe
he knew, you know, what it was going to become.
I mean, how could he. You know, he was his
first year as the coach, nineteen ninety two, and one
of the things that he thought was a decent idea was,
you know, you try and prepare your team for the

(01:00):
reality of a regular season NFL schedule at the time
meant you know, you could play at one o'clock or
four o'clock on Sunday or nine o'clock Monday night, and
you know there were games, you know, spread out, and
so rather than just have the same routine every day

(01:22):
at training camp. Practice the same time every day at
training camp. Billkuer said, well, let's mix it up. And
back then, Saint Vincent College didn't have lights. So the
closest place was Latrobe Stadium. So okay, let's go up
there and have a night practice. So they set it up,

(01:44):
and you know, it was a it's a short trip
from campus to Latrobe Stadium, so okay, let's bring the
team up there on yellow school buss right right, and
you know it's it's a high school facility. And at
that time, I mean it was a fairly primitive high
school facility even you know, to what it is now.

(02:05):
So the players had to get dressed here at camp
on campus so that you know, getting your uniforms. A
lot of them carried their shoulder pads and helmet and
get on the yellow school buses and you drive up.
You know, it takes what I don't know, less than
ten minutes. And you know, a lot of guys started

(02:25):
getting the nostalgia because this is the way we went
to high school game. Yeah, this is the way were
the games we were in high school. Okay, So and
that's all it was. It was just a practice and
then you know, then it started to evolve. You added
a autograph session, okay, and then they added what was next?

(02:51):
The fireworks came really late, but then you know, there
were other things added to it, and it became a phenomenon.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, like a festival with the football practice around it.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Right exactly. And then you know, one of the you know,
Bill Coward didn't do seven shots. His drill similar was
goal line and goal line. You put the ball to
one or two yard line and run three plays to say,
maybe four at the most, and that became you know,
they would save that to the end, a little sense

(03:23):
of drama, you know. Oh yeah. The other thing they
they had an autograph session and then they sold tickets
but tied the proceeds uh to a charity, which at
the time was the United Way of Westmoreland County. That
was the first charity that benefited from the proceeds from
the tickets. Because you know, the Steelers do their training

(03:46):
camp up here for nothing. I mean, you don't get
charged for parking, you don't get charged to watch, but
this was a little different. So they they tied it
into a charity. Okay, the people they embraced that. You know,
it was because it was for their community. The money
is going to their community. So then you know, goal line,
that's that developed a cult following slash reputation of its own.

(04:10):
I mean there was some Jerome Bettest moments, Kendro Bell moments,
Earl Holmes moments. Uh, you know, collisions, big time collisions
down at the goal line because it was live and
and now it's as you mentioned, it's something that Steelers
fans will travel to come see from all over the country.

(04:33):
I mean, you know, you start seeing people getting into
Latrobe for Friday Night Lights maybe yesterday, you know, and
some of them men stay through the weekend because then
Saturday and Sunday practice comes back to camp or a
campus on campus. So yeah, so yeah, that's and then

(04:56):
the famous high school famous television show about high school
football was Friday Night Lights. This was on Friday Night Bingo,
you got your you got your catchy name, you know
you had, you know, and that now they have fireworks
and all kinds of stuff. We can get into some
of that again later, but yeah, kudos to Bill Kauer

(05:17):
was his invention. He should have trademarked at who knows,
maybe he could have sold T shirts, made a couple
of bucks. But you know, as I said, it started
kind of innocently just to uh, you know, a coach
trying to come up with a way to teach his player,

(05:39):
the players, the team something in a different way. And
as as you said, it is a phenomenon though.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, and thankful that Bill Kauard did that because you know,
it's one of the favorite practices for both players and
the fans during the camp period. Like you said, we'll
get a little bit more into Friday Night Lights later
on in our show, but let's turn back the clock
and look at yesterday's practice. They did not come out
in pads yesterday. They had two padded practices than Tomlin
giving them a day off yesterday putting them in shells.
They'll be in pads tonight for Friday Night Lights. I

(06:08):
can pretty much guarantee that. It was also the debut
lab yesterday of the two minute drill, and it was
a pretty positive debut for both the first and second
team offenses.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah. The way that works is, you know, they set
up a scenario like yesterday it was the offense get
the ball on the on their on its own forty
seven yard line, so it had to go fifty three yards.
You get a certain amount of time one time out
and you need a touchdown to win. So and then

(06:40):
the NFL officials were here, so there was spotting of
the ball and you know that kind of stuff. It was.
It was handled pretty much like a real game, you know.
Now Mike Tomlin will occasionally inject himself into the proceedings
to either you know, extend the drill or you know,

(07:04):
you know, because for example, in the first first repetition,
first team offense versus first team defense, one of the
plays included a pass to Jalen Warren who didn't really
get out of bounds, but there was no tackling, and
so you know, it's kind of hard to how do

(07:27):
you spot the ball first of all, and then the
clocks running, So Mike Tomlin kind of injected himself, or
at least it appeared to me watching it from the
press box with my binoculars, he kind of said, no,
the ball's down here, he got out of bounds. You know,
let's keep the drill going because you want more reps.
You don't want the clock to run out on something.

(07:51):
You know, in a padless practice, maybe it was just
a brain cramp by Jalen Warren. I'm sure he would
know to get out of bounds if it was a real.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
Action, hope, so yes, And we've seen evidence that Jalen
would so yes.

Speaker 3 (08:05):
So anyway, there was that and that first one ended
with what I now can refer to as a George
Pickens special combat catch in the middle of the end zone,
the back middle of the end zone. And you know,
it so happened that Patrick Queen was the closest defender

(08:27):
to him. And we'll hear this, you know the Mike
tom when we listened to the Mike Tomlan post practice briefing,
he was asked that question, how did Patrick Queen end
up guarding George Pickens? And Mike Tomlan said something about, well,
you know, that's football or whatever. But you know, we
have talked about why having an all downs all situation

(08:52):
inside linebacker is so critical in the NFL nowadays because there, again,
there are things that can happen on the field where
you know, there's there's no time to change personnel. You
can't get personnel on and off the field even if
you tried. You know, the offense is ready to go,
and so then you're gonna get stuck with too many

(09:13):
men on the field or some kind of you know
penalty for that. Because in the in a real NFL game,
the offense dictates the pace. You know, they're not going
to stop the game. Like if the offense doesn't send
change personnel, the officials just let them go. You know,
there's no standing over the ball or anything. Say so

(09:33):
the defense can say, wait a minute, we want to
change personnel. Now, no, you don't get to do that
because the offense didn't do it. So you know a
lot of times what you see is the offense puts
its personnel grouping if they're in hurry up there, you know,
number of wide receivers, tight ends, whatever they want to use,

(09:55):
that's what they're going to use all the way down
the field, and so the defense can't adjust. You get
to put your eleven out there. The offense has it's
eleven out there and that's it. Let's play. So that's
why you need guys who can you know, handle different
situations and things like that. Now, obviously Patrick Queen on

(10:17):
George Pickens is a mismatch for the offense. But I
don't know, name me a linebacker that they wouldn't be
in the same situation in terms of being a mismatch.
And it was a combat catch, you know, throw up
who's you know, he's gonna come down with it against
your best defensive back too, So what's the difference exactly?
But it was it was a nice job by Justin

(10:42):
Fields in the first team offense getting it down the
field and getting it in the end zone.

Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, like you just alluded to, it was Justin Fields
and the first team offense again yesterday. It's still no
Russ in the team portion, but you noted in your
practice report on Steelers dot Com and that's up every
day after a practice for those of you that want
to read some of Bob's thoughts following practice. Still no
Russ with the team, but the arm talent just on
display when the individual work was going on.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, I mean, there's no there's no question that this guy,
you know, still has it. I Mean one of the
things that was said about Russell Wilson is that he
has you know, he throws a good deep ball, and
when the Steeler signed him, that was one of the things,
you know, imagine what he can do, could do with
George Pickens. But it was seven on seven it was,

(11:30):
and that was before the two minute period, right before
the end of practice, and he was just I mean, wow,
he was putting them down the field deep. First one
to Van Jefferson right in stride. There was another one
Calvin Austin the third couldn't hold on to it, but

(11:51):
the ball was delivered, you know, and it had that
nice arc you know they say drop it in the bucket.
That's what it looked like he was doing, you know,
just very nice parabola I think is the name of
it from my geometry class. We're going way in the
way back machine for sure. But and then he threw

(12:12):
another one to Pickens that was again they were just
beautiful and they were right in a row, so it
wasn't like, you know, he didn't need to warm up
his arm or you know, any of those kinds of things.
And any any fans who might have any doubts about,
you know, Russell Wilson's skill set, his arm strength, his

(12:34):
arm talent. I think it was on display really nice
right there for anyone who was paying attention.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
Well before we get to coach Tomlin and his thoughts
following practice, update on what happened in seven shots. Yesterday,
the offense had been on a winning streak. They had
won the two versions of the drill, and the pads
were on the previous two practices. But yesterday labs no pads,
and the defense gets a win again. But I mean
you got to add that cave out of no pads,
and that means no run plays either, which has been

(13:02):
what the offense has been really successful with in the
previous two installments.

Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, the defense, you know, it had its moments. I
mean on the defensive stops. Let's see one two. They
had five five to defense yesterday, right, yeah, five two defense.
So the one it was the second second repetition, second snap,
justin Fields had no one to throw to, no one.

(13:28):
I mean everyone was covered, you know, and then he
just tried something and the pass was incomplete, but everybody
was covered. And that's that's not easy to do for
a defense down there, right exactly. Then the next play,
Allen and Roberts came off the right side. I don't
know if it was an alignment that they used, because

(13:50):
stuff happens down there pretty quick, and with no replay. Boy,
am I spoiled with no replay? You know, that's just
second nature. Soon something happens to go. Let's see the
replay so I can see it. But he came off
the right side, and I don't know if he looped
out that way or he somehow lined up over there
that had created a mismatch in the counting for the
past blocking or whatever. But he came in clean. That

(14:12):
would have been a sack in real life, you know.
So that that was that play, and then that the
offense tried to run a shovel pass and let me
get the number here. Yeah, Aaron Shamplin. They ran a
show pass to him, but Peyton Wilson made play on

(14:33):
that tackled him short. Then there was a next one
was an attempted pass to Pat Fryarmouth, but Mark Robinson
got a hand on the ball. Now this is let
me just a little aside here. I really believe this
is it for Mark Robinson. He's this is this is
his camp. He has got to show that he is

(14:56):
now able to handle defense. I mean, this is a
guy who played offense most of his college career full back.
I played little linebackers last year, which was a Mississippi
and you know, he showed some flashes as a rookie
and his ability to find the ball, you know, make

(15:17):
hits in the running game, those kind of things. But
you know there's an instinct in a feel to playing defense,
and you know he never played defense before and you're
trying to learn it at the highest level of the
sport with what's always a finite amount of time because
you know, patience in this league, you know, is really

(15:40):
not the virtue that you know you should be counting on.
So you know, this is his third year. I think
he needs to show that he can, you know, assimilate
defense and have the instincts for defense. And because I
don't think he can make it just on special teams,
I just don't. So we'll have to see. But that

(16:02):
would be my sense of it right now. Mark Robinson,
big big summer for him if he wants to be
still wants to be on the Steelers roster at the
end of August. August twenty seventh, by the way, is
cut down down there. Yeah, And then the last play
because at this point Kyle Allen had been on the field,

(16:24):
an incomplete pass to me Cole Pruitt. I always hesitate
with that one because I want to make sure that
I'm getting the pronunciation right. I still don't know if
I am. I might have to, you know, Button will
Rob King and ask him. But the pass was high

(16:45):
and wide to him with Anthony Averett and coverage, the
guy that the Steelers signed after rookie Minni Caamp when
he was there as a tryout guy. So there's your
seven shots and.

Speaker 2 (16:57):
You'll definitely see a spirited version of seven shots later
on tonight at Friday Night Lights. Let's hear from coach Tomlin.
He speaks with the media following every practice, and here's
what he had to say yesterday.

Speaker 4 (17:07):
Man, a really good work day today. For a lot
of reasons. We doubled back to helmets today and it's
really an opportunity to teach and learn about a tire.
Tire cannot dictate attitude or approach. We've had some really
intense practices in past the last couple of days, but
the intensity cannot wane as we wear helmets, and so

(17:27):
that was a focus of ours. There's still a lot
of work that needs to get done. Oftentimes, we just
shipped our focus to skilled development and drills that are
less attire specific. We were in helmets today. We had
an opportunity to introduce two minutes, for example, and so
a lot of productive work being done regardless of a tire.
But again it's an opportunity to teach and learn. We

(17:49):
got to be inclusive at times during the course of
the season. Sometimes we work in helmets that allows more
people to be able to work, and sometimes we need
to be inclusive as we prepare, so, you know, just
teaching some of those lessons and learning some of those lessons.
Normal bumps and bruises associated with this process. A little
fatigued today heating some instances. We shut some guys down.

(18:11):
I'm sure we'll give them what it is they need
and we'll roll him back out for tomorrow night. Excited
about Friday night lights, always excited to get over there
and enjoy that venue, which is a tradition here. Obviously,
all pause and open it up for questions and anything more.

Speaker 3 (18:26):
Defended upon Roman Wilson if he talked to it up.

Speaker 4 (18:29):
No, he's got an ankle sprain. It could be characterized
as week to week. At this juncture. We got them
walking around in the boot for precaution. I'll give you
more information as he gets closer to health.

Speaker 5 (18:39):
Mike, what did you like about Marcus Gold last year
and an agreeing.

Speaker 3 (18:42):
To bring him out.

Speaker 4 (18:43):
You know, he is just a really solid veteran. He
is loaded, no maintenance, he's a pro. He's good wise
counsel and was highly productive when called upon. I think
he had four sacks for us in limited action. He's
solid against the run. He's just a pro. Put any
Greens from the kickoff period of a lot. I mean,

(19:05):
let's be honest, that's our first time actually looking at it,
and so man, we'll dissect this tape, we'll teach and learn,
we'll make some adjustments in terms of our teaching and
coaching and points of emphasis, and we'll get ready for
the next opportunity. And it's reasonable to expect us us
as players and coaches to be a lot better the
next time we roll out because of what we saw

(19:25):
and experience today.

Speaker 5 (19:26):
Like is that stiff fluid and little slips changing with times.

Speaker 4 (19:30):
I'm not worried about what's going on behind the scenes
in New York in regards to it. I'm simply focused
on the information that we have right now and teaching
that to our guys and our preparedness in those areas
were guys kicking that hoods on a some there's a
variety of kick options obviously in the landing zone, and
our kickers have been working hard off season, all off
season to have some variations and some of the things

(19:52):
that they do. And that's just probably reflected in the
question that you asked, Mike, what'd you.

Speaker 5 (19:56):
Learn about your cheating a.

Speaker 3 (19:57):
Two minute drills?

Speaker 5 (19:58):
Today?

Speaker 4 (19:58):
We're just teaching and learning. It's the first time. We'll
do it a lot more moving forward.

Speaker 3 (20:03):
I forget matched up on pickings. It's there on that.

Speaker 4 (20:05):
Last It happens from time to time.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
It's football coach Tomin speaking with the media following practice yesterday.
You heard a little injury update in there as well.
Roman Wilson characterized more as weak to week and he
is walking around in a boot for cautionary reasons. When
we come back, we're going to look at the Arthur
Smith offense and we're gonna hear from the coordinator himself
and Arthur Smith's media scrum from yesterday. That's all on

(20:31):
the way. On the training camp report on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (20:40):
This SE's done Training camp report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (20:48):
Steeler's got about seven practices, two of them in pads
under their belt, so we have a nice taste of
the Arthur Smith offense and labs. I think it's fair
for me to say that it's pretty much as advertised,
no things that we expected to see. We have seen
tight ends. They're running the football a lot, especially in
the padded practices, even some fullback with Jack Coletto being

(21:08):
sprinkled in there somewhat.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, and you know, one of the things that you
know I noticed right away is the willingness for Arthur
Smith to call running plays in the during seven shots. Yeah,
you know there were there were a couple of where
it seemed that there were more running plays into the
end zone than pass attempts into the end zone. So

(21:33):
you know that that to me is a is a difference.
And again it's it's just training camp. It's going to evolve.
I think Arthur Smith is trying to get a feel
for you know, his personnel as well. And so you know,
I'm just saying to fans who might be coming out
to practice, don't don't expect what you're seeing, you know,
in August, to be what you see in September and October,

(21:54):
because I don't think that that's his plan. And I
also think part of his plan is going to be
to adjust on the fly once you start into the
regular season, where you're game planning and calling plays against
the specific opponent that week.

Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yeah, and I think, you know, it's obviously reasonable for
fans to be excited about Arthur Smith and his arrival.
I'm not trying to disparage anything from the previous guy
or take a shot at him, but this is a
more established The resume is more qualified with Arthur Smith
than it was with Matt Canada. And you see, you

(22:31):
know those years in Tennessee with Tannahill and Derrick Henry,
a really good offense that was the number one seed
in the AFC at one point. Lab So, I mean
there is a track record recently that fans can look
back at and say, I was a pretty good offensive
coordinator in the league. I'm excited to see what he
can do here.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
Yeah. And one of the things, you know, you can
when you look back at Arthur Smith's history, you know,
an indicator to what kind of an offensive coordinator he was.
Now you know he was hired by Mike Munchek Okay
was the head coach at the time. Then you know,

(23:09):
there were subsequent coaching changes, and Arthur Smith was a
guy who was retained by each successive head coach on
his on the new coach's staff. It doesn't happen often
as that is an accurate statement. And so yeah, that
just goes to show that Arthur Smith, you know, has

(23:32):
some abilities, certainly as an offensive coordinator and as a
play caller, and it's a sound, proven NFL plan or
process that you know he employs. And you know, when
when coaches come in, a new head coach is hired
or promoted or you know, whatever it might be, there's

(23:56):
a I won't say a short window, but there is
a finite amount of time that that new head coach
is going to get to show either turn the program
around to continue the success or maybe build upon it
a little bit, you know, because and that that, and
that new head coach knows that. So when he's picking

(24:18):
his staff, you know, he's not I don't know, he's
serious about it. And so the fact that Arthur Smith
was retained through multiple head coaches during that time at
Tennessee says a lot for him and what his peers
in the business think of him well.

Speaker 2 (24:38):
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith had a nice lengthy chat with
the media yesterday talking about his start to his first
Dealers training camp experience. Let's hear what he had to say.

Speaker 6 (24:52):
So first, Arthur, your background is as a tight ends coach.

Speaker 2 (24:57):
How much do you want to get not just Pat
involved that even Darnell and maybe Connor involved more?

Speaker 5 (25:02):
And you well, all of them.

Speaker 7 (25:03):
You know, all these guys, they're good just finding out
what their strengths are, you know, how it fits the
overall scheme. But it's been fun. I mean, when you
can play with multiple tight ends guys that can do
a lot, especially in those early downs. I think it's
been a good camp for those guys. It's unfortunately Rodney
got hurt and we're working the back end. He was
having a good spring in camp. But Michael Pruitt, Darnell.

Speaker 5 (25:25):
Pat, it's a good it's a good group, good mix.
Would you like to get Darnell involved more in the past,
But it's all gonna play out. But yeah, all these guys,
they gotta be We.

Speaker 7 (25:34):
Just don't want to become obvious, right, So every time
this guy's in here in this formation is only doing that.
So we need everybody involved, and that'll be week to
week and you know how we want to scheme it all.
But you can't become obvious because you you know there
naturally there's gonna be tendencies, but that's what you're constantly
looking at, and we need everybody involved to make us
a more lethal offense.

Speaker 1 (25:53):
Yes, there's a.

Speaker 8 (25:53):
Little bit of a dust up from your point of
view as a former offensive line and what's your reaction
to see line?

Speaker 7 (25:58):
It was a lot, right, and I know Mike talked
about this yesterday. You know, nobody wants anything to hurt
the team and the penalties and it's gonna get chippy.
I mean, these guys are this is it's been a
hard camp.

Speaker 5 (26:07):
It's been awesome. It's good back and forth going on there.

Speaker 7 (26:10):
And there's a fine line. You're pushed to the edge,
you know when it comes to the quarterback. Those guys care,
so nobody wants anything to hurts the team. But those
guys stood up for the quarterback. So it's a fine line.
You know, there's a lot going on there. But I
love the way the lines competing and that mentality. They
got good competition really everywhere.

Speaker 9 (26:27):
The way that two of the guys that came in.
There were two rookies. I mean, does that kind of
echo what you saw in the draft evaluation process with
their edge and kind of that mean streak that they have,
that they're right in there in the thicket things.

Speaker 7 (26:38):
Yeah, they are who thought they were, you know, and
that's that's that part, you know, is a positive. But
you know, when if something happens in the game, we
can't can't hurt the team, you know with the personal
fouls and all that stuff. But yeah, it was good
to see them buying the caliber tight ends do you have.

Speaker 5 (26:54):
Does that land itself the more to tight end certainly,
And again it goes back and forth.

Speaker 7 (26:59):
You know, some weeks you they like more of a
heavy game plan, depending on who's up or what you think,
gives you an advantage, especially in early downs. Some weeks
you may be you know a little more wide open.
Just depends on the matchups. So it goes week to
week and so that's what we're working through right now.
But certainly gives you an advantage when you got guys
that can play multiple spots, change formations weekend and week
out or series a series.

Speaker 6 (27:20):
Guys for ass not only about playbook but the mentality
that you.

Speaker 1 (27:23):
Want them to play with.

Speaker 7 (27:25):
Yeah, I think we're further along in that in that
regard in terms of style of play than I anticipated,
and that's been a positive.

Speaker 6 (27:31):
Jack Kleto this isn't a Jack cletter question, but just
the full back, I'm.

Speaker 7 (27:34):
Sure how important is that what you want to do well,
if you've got a fullback that can help you and
there's a big picture involved, it's not you know, you
don't live in to full you know, full back eye
formation offset, but if the advantage you have up, but
that guy's also got to help in other spots. So
that is where a little bit where you see the

(27:55):
big picture coming from my previous experience, and so it's important.
And if you know, we had a very good special
teams player in Atlanta and Keith Smith, so it.

Speaker 5 (28:03):
Was a valuable member of the roster.

Speaker 7 (28:04):
He was a core teamer and he was a good
fullback and gave you advantage.

Speaker 5 (28:07):
But so you're just trying to find that.

Speaker 7 (28:09):
Out and then maybe some weeks, just like we're talking
about multiple tight ends, you may want to have a
fullback if it gives you an advantage, but it's also
got to play into the big picture and that's stuff
that Mike and Danny got to work out.

Speaker 5 (28:20):
But you know, as you talked through his staff, Arthur,
in the last two.

Speaker 6 (28:23):
Years in Atlanta, you know you ran a lot of
the pistol formation.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
Yeah, talk a little bit about like what sure.

Speaker 6 (28:29):
Terms of the shift in there and what are the
similar advantages you get from.

Speaker 7 (28:31):
It, Right, that's a great question. You know, the pistol
you see it trending in. It was big in college football.
More teams are running. We started really getting more into
in twenty two, depending on the personnel we had with Marcus.
You know, Marcus was such a good zone read. I mean,
he won a Heisman at Oregon, and you know it's
a little bit different sometimes when your run tracks and
you're under center.

Speaker 5 (28:51):
But if I felt we got good at it, and
it just keeps.

Speaker 7 (28:53):
The defense honest, Well, you don't have Tennessee's sometimes maybe
on early downs offset you know to the tight end
or off set away giving up Tennessees. It allows you
to do your whole package and then you've got quarterbacks
that can run, and then you add his own red
element to it and you're making people defend more. So
that's but you know, it's got to make sense for you,
and we're working through that right now.

Speaker 8 (29:13):
After and even the acclamation period, you want to see
who retains the play for sure.

Speaker 2 (29:18):
What did you want to see these last three days
or what.

Speaker 5 (29:20):
Did you want to establish these three days with pads?

Speaker 7 (29:22):
Yeah, I mean I thought we did. We established a
little bit of our style of play yesterday. Things that
we've been working on. There's some things you want to
call and work on wearing pads. You know, we want
to be smart both sides. I mean, it's seeing the
big picture. So days we got pads, we'll change the
schemes up a little bit, just so in today helmets
work in some different schemes. But been very pleased with

(29:44):
picking up the nuances and really our style of play
that was good. And then now you're pushing through day three,
so not just physically but mentally. Sometimes you see who
can push through as you get in the dog days
of camp. So it's a huge week for us.

Speaker 5 (29:56):
So how much you evaluate how just tennants done with
the person.

Speaker 7 (29:59):
You Yeah, I mean when you looking at it, you
have what you're planning coming in and all of a sudden,
just like in a game, right, maybe the first series
for a snap sudden change, and it's you know, unfortunately,
anytime anybody gets injured his league, but it becomes an
opportunity for another player. And so I think Justin's done
a fantastic job and we're getting to know him, and
you know, and Russell time to coming. I mean, good

(30:22):
thing is russ has been a veteran. So these are
critical reps for Justin, not just Justin. Now there's a
trickle down effect. You get to see more Kyle Allen,
Big Junior, Plumbley, So you know, plumb is getting more
reps and normally would have gotten and so we get
to evaluate him. So opportunities no different NFL receivers held
out or you know Isaac was held out yesterday and
somebody bumps up.

Speaker 5 (30:42):
I mean that stuff happens. That's game day.

Speaker 7 (30:43):
You know, guy unfortunately comes out, See who can can
step in? So you just gotta use it as a
positive best you can.

Speaker 6 (30:49):
Estefon made some of the most improvements that you've seen.

Speaker 7 (30:52):
Well, Ken, you know, when you're changing language on guys,
especially a young player. He's got experienced snaps in here.
It's been in a couple of systems. Now, well this
is his third system offensively, you know, going from the
first year in Chicago last years and everybody's got different
terminology and things you harp on and then things he
wanted from a self improvement. So we're all working through that.

(31:13):
But I've seen him he's really operating the offense.

Speaker 3 (31:15):
Well.

Speaker 7 (31:17):
There's a lot of things that we can play to
his shrinks and that's exciting. And then sometimes we're asking
to be aggressive. You know, even in Somebody seven on
seven we have to try and practice. Nobody wants to
see negative plays. But if we just sit there and
check down for completion percentage right now in practice, we
got to see what we can really do and what
we what he can.

Speaker 5 (31:35):
See in the pocket and all that stuff. But again,
him having more.

Speaker 7 (31:39):
Reps to me has accelerated that process and he's done
a good job so far.

Speaker 9 (31:44):
Justin said, Justin said that you used to trash tap
him when you faced him and he was on the
other side, and he said that he said, like he
would be running you go out of bounds. You have
a couple of words for him. You still have that
kind of fun way to challenge him and practice here
as he respects absolutely.

Speaker 5 (31:59):
That's what I love about it.

Speaker 7 (32:00):
I love guys like some of the defense, Like I
love talking to Land and Roberts and Patrick Queen, and
we got a fun group of the defense, really smart
football players. And trust me, I wouldn't anybody I'm not
between the white lines. But a little gamesmanship, and you
know that justin just twenty two we got him a
few times.

Speaker 5 (32:18):
And last year he broke off one fifty.

Speaker 7 (32:20):
I don't even remember what I said, and and and
he just kind of laughed, and you know, they got
after us that day.

Speaker 5 (32:26):
So I really like him. I really like his demeanor.

Speaker 7 (32:29):
He actually saw him talking some trash the other day
and just be himself.

Speaker 5 (32:32):
And that's all we're asking for.

Speaker 9 (32:34):
With his ability as a runner, I mean, what kind
of extra layer does that give this offense to work
with and kind of work into the mix of what
you want to do.

Speaker 7 (32:42):
Yeah, well, the good thing is all four of those
guys can move, so it's not some wholesale change. And
again that some some guys do other things better than other,
you know, playing in their strengths better way to put it.

Speaker 5 (32:52):
But you know, he's a dangerous football.

Speaker 7 (32:54):
Player with the ball in his hands, and so it
lots you get creative and you know, maybe you change
up a little bit of the defensive game plan and
he's done a good job. And for all our players
at wide out, quarterback, tight end, fullback, whatever, ah, we
need to play their strengths.

Speaker 5 (33:09):
And certainly he adds a different element which stood out
to you from that two minute drill that you guys are.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
In there with the first team.

Speaker 7 (33:14):
Yeah, just the operation again, we're in day three. You
do it at the end, right, We've got to be
great at the end of half in the games. So
who can think when they're tired. You know, historically that's
what a lot of your mintal errors happens when rop
deps get short. Guys get tired, and you're pushing through
your conditioning and being able to operate in those pressure situations.

Speaker 5 (33:29):
And I was fired up. It wasn't perfect.

Speaker 7 (33:31):
It never is, and then some of it's not real
and the quarterback knows he's not getting hit, but the
best we can in this environment, you're finding out about
guys and that just competitive spirit, always talking situations because
that's what his NFL comes down to.

Speaker 5 (33:43):
So from that stampoint, it was positive. You know, there
are some things we'll need a detail in the film.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
But I like that.

Speaker 5 (33:48):
I like the focus pushing through when we're tired. What
are you finding out about your wide receiver cord at
this point?

Speaker 9 (33:53):
Anybody kind of standing out or starting to pressing a
certain way.

Speaker 5 (33:56):
Yeah, I think a group as a whole, you know.

Speaker 7 (34:00):
I think George has made progress every day. I was
fired up to see him make that play at the
end of the two minute drive and his growth and development.

Speaker 5 (34:07):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (34:08):
George is a very instinctive football player. He sees the
game well and different ways you know, to to use George.
I'm really I'm really so far enjoyed working with George
and he and he's producing. He's a he's a critical
part of our offense. And the rest of those guys.
We've got some mature veterans, and we've got some tough
minded guys. Uh Van Uh certainly, Deskis Patrick shows up,

(34:29):
Quez Scotti. These guys are working in so it's a
it's a tough minded group.

Speaker 5 (34:34):
Calvin, of course, he's had a good spring since I've
been here in the.

Speaker 6 (34:37):
Camp, going going back to the pistol, I know, like
one thing like you implemented. I feel like in the
last couple of years that like wind back counter.

Speaker 7 (34:44):
I'm just curious on like where you I should get
you to come help me game plan now.

Speaker 6 (34:49):
I'm just curious on like the origination of that, Like
did you see that somewhere and where did you pick
that you got?

Speaker 7 (34:54):
Yeah, just just watch you know football, you know at
every level, and you make it an idea and if
he got a fit you or you think that there's
a there may be a reason. It may be an
over aggressive DN or ad aggressive linebacker. We are again
just a change up pitch for you, just using baseball
term time anologies and so so you're just looking things
on film and sometimes you as a staff, you're trying
to problems up. Somebody brings a idea and we kind

(35:16):
of tweak it the best fit us, or you've seen
it somewhere or you've done it in your past. You
bring it back. Certain things I've gone back from when
I was a tight end coach that may fit us
because of personnel. That's the fun part about coaching and scheme,
and you know you hit it, you execute it.

Speaker 5 (35:28):
It's good.

Speaker 7 (35:28):
Sometimes you feel like you got a great call and
somebody slips and it's not good. But that's the life,
you live, and then it's a fun part of coaching.

Speaker 5 (35:34):
All right, thank you?

Speaker 9 (35:37):
Okay, last one, Jeff, Sorry, we have another call.

Speaker 5 (35:39):
He has to get on soon. You have a couple
of rookies in their offensive line.

Speaker 3 (35:42):
How are they?

Speaker 5 (35:42):
How is that lyne kind of coming together and those
guys based again, well, it's also a mature group.

Speaker 3 (35:47):
You know.

Speaker 7 (35:47):
Those guys all had a lot of starts and obviously
stepping in an NFL in this environment. We'll find out
more in the preseason, but it's good. You can see
them starting to calm down and aggressing this.

Speaker 5 (35:55):
You know. Zach a young center.

Speaker 7 (35:57):
You know, there's good thing is when you don't even
notice because he's operating so cleanly, and we've seen that
the last couple of days and that's a positive. Where
he's been stout in the middle. I think we've had
really good communication from all our centers, with Nate, Zach
and then Ryan, and that's an important especially as we're
mixing and matching quarterbacks. You know, that's putting stressing centers too.

Speaker 5 (36:16):
Mason.

Speaker 7 (36:16):
I like where he's at playing guard, which is some
of the technique things we're changing with him, and then
Troy as well. So I've been pleased with those.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Three Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith yesterday following practice. Lots
of great stuff. There lots of excitement around Arthur Smith
and his offense for the twenty twenty four season. First
preseason game is a week from today Friday Night. Light
practices tonight, so we looked forward to continuing to see
that Arthur Smith offense grow as we march towards Week

(36:43):
one in Atlanta against his former team. Still got a
ton more to get to today on the Training camp
report when we come back. The Hall of Fame game
was last night. Don't worry, we're not going to talk
about that, but the kickoff rule was on display for
the first time. We'll get into that. Tomlin had some
thoughts about the new kickoff rule that we'll play for
you and later on today we'll also hear from George Pickens,

(37:04):
who caught up with Rob King following practice yesterday. A
lot to get to on the Training Camp Report with
Labs and Tom on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (37:15):
Hec's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steeler's Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
I was a really appreciative of you still doing the
show with me this morning, because I know how upset
you were with the Hall of Fame game ending early
last night due to weather, finishing that game off as
one of your favorite traditions of the preseason. So I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (37:36):
Well that's I know, I cried myself to sleep. You know,
I'm going to be honest, I'm going to you know,
share that with all the listeners that especially when, as
Jack Ham always said about these early preseason games, by
the start of the middle of the second quarter, everybody

(37:58):
you see playing is going to be working construction in
a month. So but I don't know, to me, the
biggest dud was the kickoff stuff.

Speaker 2 (38:09):
Well, that's the one reason you would watch nothing happens.
No one cares about that game in general unless your
team's involved in it. But you know, that was the
draw I tuned in to see that. You know, we've
seen it on footage from like the XFL, but this
is NFL team's NFL players doing it, And you're right,
it was very anti climactic.

Speaker 3 (38:27):
Yeah, and you know, I think that I'm not predicting
it's going to be that way. You know throughout the
whole regular season. I'm sure that you know, there's there's
a lot of factors that you cannot really reproduce in
a preseason game, you know, in early August. You know,
first of all, the the the experience of it. I

(38:51):
think it's going to take some time because you know,
you can watch it on TV or whatever and read
about it, or you know, read the because Toman always
referred to it. He says, all we have right now
are words on a page, meaning that when the league
passed the rule, you know, they send out these detailed
prospectus things where it explains all the and the jargon

(39:15):
is just I mean, I feel like I'm reading a
legal brief sometimes. But you know that has to be
digested and then implemented on the field with real people
in real time, in a lot of instances, in real
weather conditions. You know what's going to be like in
December as opposed to what's going to be like in September.
In terms of kicking the ball, and you know the

(39:37):
use of I think even in preseason games they'll use
k balls, which you know, the NFL has a special brand,
not a special brand of football, but special footballs, separate footballs.
They're not different separate footballs from the ones used on

(39:58):
on the offense and defense. We are on the field
and those balls are not as you know, worn down
or they're not as soft maybe or you know, they're harder,
they're slicker, So there's going to be that involved as well.
But you know, it seemed to me to just be
very anti climatic. But the Steelers did devote two full

(40:21):
special teams periods to the excuse me, to the kickoff yesterday.
One of the practice one of the sessions was all
about coverage. That was the primary you know, they were
working at eleven on eleven, but you know if the
focus of Danny Smith and the coaching part of it

(40:42):
was on, you know, teaching the coverage, you know, how
to line up, how to drop back, how to you know,
the things that they're allowed to do and not to do.
And you know, it was interesting to me one of
the things that I could actually kind of chart or
observe was the kind of personnel that you're gonna use, uh,

(41:02):
you know, speaking about the coverage, they were all defensive players.
They ran like a couple of different reps of it,
you know groups, but they were all defensive players everyone,
and you didn't you know, the biggest guy out there
was the Marvin Leal because you can't. I think that
the feeling is that you need the mobile guys who

(41:27):
can run and tackle in space rather than the bigger
defensive lineman who you know are our space eaters or
you know, holding the point of attack or because I
think the belief is that you have to be you know,
mobile and agile when you're you're covering these kicks because
there is space and you know. So these are some

(41:49):
of the guys that Steelers had out there. I wrote
them down, Beanie Bishop, Demonte Casey, Nick Herbig, Peyton Wilson,
Mark Robinson. We talked about him in a in a
pre previous segment, Tyler Medikevitch and as I mentioned, you know,
the biggest guy was the Marvin lee Alle. Now that's
not all of them. It was happening quickly, and I'm
trying to write him down and also watch what's going on, right,

(42:12):
But it seems to me again and this is initially,
the feeling is that you need these mobile guys on
coverage because it's probably not going to be like defending
a running play on third and one, as it is
maybe more like you know, a running play from the

(42:34):
spread formation, and that at least that's what the thinking
seems to be right now. So uh yeah, running backs
and excuse me, linebackers. Defensive backs I think are going
to be key or or coveted in terms of kickoff coverage. Now.
You know, when you look at the Steelers particular roster,

(42:57):
you know, then you start projecting, Okay, who can make
the team, who might be in danger? You know, who
who do you keep for special teams? And you know,
the Steelers situation this particular summer is a little bit
different than in previous summers for these reasons. For example,
Miles Boykin was a wide receiver who was an excellent

(43:18):
gunner on punt coverage. But the Steelers have no receivers
who are particularly good at it, at covering right ponds
or even being in coverage punt coverage, kickoff coverage. So
who knows, maybe you don't keep a sixth receiver this year.

(43:39):
Is Jack Koletto the fullback? Is he going to be
able to do something on special teams and show some value?
Because yeah, it looks nice down at the goal line
and seven shots. You put Jack Coletta, the fullback in
in front of Augie Harris or Jalen Warren, you know,
and you run a power running play between thes and

(44:01):
you know, Maggie Harris faults into the end zone or
Jaylen Warren slashes into the end zone or whatever however
they do it. Yeah, you like that, But how many
opportunities will you have for those kinds of plays in
an actual game? Can you can you commit a roster spot,
a game day roster spot to a guy who can

(44:23):
give you five or six offensive plays and doesn't really
give you anything on special teams. I don't know the
answer to that, And so these are some of the
tough decisions that are going to have to be made
when it comes down to roster cutdown day. One of
the guys. Here's another one, one of the guys. The

(44:44):
Steelers just signed him yesterday. Marcus Golden. Okay, he was
you know, we heard Mike Tomlan talk about him a
pros pro. He was productive on defense, had four sex
and limiteds snaps, and also was good against the run.
Doesn't play special teams. Can your fourth outside linebacker not

(45:06):
be a special teams guy? You know, I don't know
the answer to any of these questions. I'm just posing
the questions that I think are going to be discussed
debated in the room when they're cutting ninety to fifty three.

Speaker 2 (45:23):
Well, I'm addicted to social media, So last night I
was scrolling Instagram before bed for hours and I saw
this clip from Tomlin pop up on the NFL Networks
feed about the kickoff rule. It's just a quick minute
that I think is really amusing and I wanted to
share with everybody. Here's Coach Tomlin.

Speaker 4 (45:37):
You know we're going into uncharted territory with this kickoff concept.
There are actually no real visuals of the concept. My
son's played all the EA Sports games, but I got
a lot of respect for the realism of their product.
We reached out to those guys and wanted to just
kind of get a visual maybe of some of the schematics,

(45:59):
how the alignment might affect the timing of blocks and
so forth. That game is more than entertainment from my perspective,
it is a real simulator. We as a staff of
moving very intentionally regarding the implementation of the new kickoff rule.
We don't want to teach bad habits. It's some new
skills being displayed in a lot of ways, particularly from

(46:20):
a kicker's perspective having to drop the ball in the
landing zone and so forth. You know, we're really excited
about the unforeseen in this concept. We've shown that in
terms of some of our player acquisition, it would probably
behoove you to have some experience special teams players on
your roster. Not knowing the significance of the potential impact

(46:41):
of this change, you just can't have enough capable veteran
dudes that know what they're doing in that space when
you're pushing into uncharted schematic territory. We hope the fans
enjoy it. I'm excited about seeing how to unfolds.

Speaker 2 (46:55):
That's good stuff there from coach Tomlin, and he referenced
Madden Labs again. And you know, he doesn't need a
controller when he's playing mat and he just needs somebody
to hit play and he'll watch the simulation unfold. But
I think that's illustrating how you know he's willing to
turn over any rock to get even a slight advantage
or even a slight inkling of what this is going
to look like, even if he isn't a quote unquote

(47:16):
video game guy, or or you wouldn't think of him
to be one well.

Speaker 3 (47:20):
Yeah, And you know, one of the things he said was,
you know, we don't want to coach bad habits, and
that's so true because you don't even know that they're
bad habits yet. There's no experience with this. You know,
you're kind of guessing and so you know, are you
coaching the right things? Are you coaching because you haven't

(47:41):
seen it? Are you coaching in August what they're going
to need in November? You know, the landing zone stuff.
I mean, like I saw, you know, Matthew Wright was
doing a lot of the kicking in the one particular
period yesterday. You know, I'm sure Boswell will get his
turn as well, but you know, Matthew Wright was doing

(48:02):
a lot of the kicking and the Brad Allen, the referee,
was standing like right there watching him do this. And
there was a lot of conversation between Matthew Write and
Brad Allen. And you know, the ball placement. What you're
allowed to do? How are you allowed to you know,
one of the things I read was if you use

(48:24):
a t you have to put the ball down into
the tee, you know, up and down the traditional way.
You can't lay it flat on a tee. However, Brad
Allen after discussion, because I was watching this and I'm thinking,
because he had the ball flat, and I said, well,
I just read that you're not allowed to do that.
Why is he letting him do that? But then I

(48:46):
noticed the ball was flat on the ground. You can
put it flat on the ground, you can't put it
flat on the tee. So all of these different kinds
of things that you know, I don't know, trying to
learn this is going to be a challenge, but then
trying to learn it so that you can teach it

(49:08):
in a way where your players have a sense of
looking around the corner to see what might be coming,
as opposed to just reacting to as Mike Tomlin says,
the words on the paper, it's you know, I wild
wild West. I just don't know if it's going to
have that much of an impact, because you know, we

(49:31):
were I was talking earlier about making up your roster.
You know, what do you need how many you know,
are you going to keep a bunch of special teams
players and maybe leave yourself short at an offensive or
defensive position as a result of that, or you know.
One of the other things I read was booming out

(49:52):
of the end zone. I mean, the receiving team gets
the ball at the thirty. Well, if you did that
last year, was it the twenty five? Right? You know?
Is that that bad of a trade off? I don't know.
Maybe you make the judgment that it's not. But then
also maybe you get into December and you're playing in
Pittsburgh or Baltimore or Cleveland or somewhere, and then you

(50:15):
feel like you're kicking a brick because it's so cold out,
maybe it's windy and the winds in your face. Two
quarters out of four and you can't get it out
of the end zone. Then what happens. And here's another
thing for fans to remember. Danny Smith said this. You
remember recently that the return guys, whoever was deep, they

(50:37):
wouldn't even have to catch the ball. You know, they'd
kind of extend their arms parallel to the ground and
everybody would know that the ball was going into the
end zone as soon as it hit the ground it
was a touchback. That's not the case anymore. That's a
live ball. So if the receiver of the kickoff, if

(50:58):
the ball's going into the end zone, he's got to
catch it and touch a leap down, So you know,
and I'm old enough to remember a game, a Steeler
game in nineteen ninety one in San Francisco, Barry Foster
was on the kick return team, and you know, the
next year Barry Foster would go on to set a

(51:20):
single season Steelers rushing record was sixteen hundred and ninety yards.
So you know, he run the ball a little bit,
but he confused a kickoff bouncing around with a punt
bouncing around, and just let it bounce around. The forty
nine Ers came down and recovered it, went in and
scored a touchdown, and the Steelers lost a fairly close

(51:42):
game that day. So you know, these are things that
then you have to ingrain in players who maybe recently
have grown up with a different set of rules, and
so a lot of the instincts that they may have
and have developed, you have to change them now. And
you know, I think it just kind of sets a

(52:06):
stage or you know, maybe a set of occurrence as
factors that could lead to some significant blunders as it's
happening in real time in a real game.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
Yeah, no question about that. When we come back, we're
gonna look at George Pickens he spoke with Rob King
following practice yesterday, and he's had some of his classic
GP wow moments already through training camp. So we'll talk
about him in that Wide Receiver room when we come
back on the Training Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
DC's no Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (52:53):
Friday Night Lights. Practice tonight for the Steelers yesterday, though,
George Pickens had himself another nice day on the practice field.
And in a year labs where we're kind of keeping
an eye on who could emerge as wide receiver two,
this is also a season for George Pickens to really
cement himself as a wide receiver one in the NFL

(53:14):
and a superstar. He has that potential. He's already put
himself on the map and now it's kind of just
solidifying it. And it's been a pretty impressive camp from
him so far. We mentioned earlier today in one of
our first segments in a drill that the Steelers did,
he had an incredible catchover Patrick Queen in the back
of the ends on a total GP moment. Yeah, and

(53:38):
George Pickens actually, you know, talked to the media yesterday
caught up with our own Rob King, the new play
by play announcer for the team. Let's hear what he
had to say. George.

Speaker 10 (53:49):
First of all, offense has really showed last couple of days.
Seven shots in the two minute drill today. Very effective.

Speaker 5 (53:55):
Yeah. Man, We're just gonna keep working.

Speaker 3 (53:57):
Man.

Speaker 8 (53:58):
You know, we kind of keep a tally of it
because it's based off what we eat.

Speaker 5 (54:01):
Every day in the cafeteria dinner.

Speaker 8 (54:03):
So whether you get a Grade B dinner or you
get a Gray A which is like steak and potatoes.
So for us, you know, we just come out and
keep working.

Speaker 10 (54:10):
So is that catch worth something today on the two
minute draw?

Speaker 5 (54:13):
Yes, it was.

Speaker 8 (54:13):
It was for a first it was worth a touchdown
that we needed. And you know, crowd the teammates, so
you know, I love making catches and making play assembly
because I just want to boost the morale of the offense.

Speaker 10 (54:23):
Do you feel the energy here in the crowd when
you're at the trouble Oh yeah.

Speaker 8 (54:27):
It feels like it actually gives you the game setting
without giving you the game, you know what I mean.
You got people all on the on the ram, you
got people in the stands out here. It gives you
the game setting, so I feel like it really helps
us a lot of ton.

Speaker 2 (54:40):
Actually, one of.

Speaker 10 (54:41):
The things that I really enjoyed in watching practice is
that after drills, the defensive backs and the receivers you're
patting each other in the helmet or maybe working with
each other. Hey, you need to do this or you
need to do that. A lot of feedback, isn't there.

Speaker 8 (54:52):
Yeah, yeah, lots of feedback I probably saying previous years,
like strictly my first year it was just more you know,
guys having their way or defenses on one side, offices
on one side, and it was you can lose a
competition that way, you know what I mean? From both sides,
Guys forget to compete. So this year, you know, we
just compete to the highest level.

Speaker 10 (55:11):
What do you think of the defensive backs you've been
going against? Oh, yeah, they're super super good.

Speaker 8 (55:15):
We got JP of course, picked up a new guy,
Dante Jackson, super good, fast, twitchy dB. We still got
a lot of older guys that we had from injury
last year. Trice Cam Sutton got him back. He's played
with Steelers for like four or five years. So yeah,
we got a few vets in a prolific young guys.

Speaker 10 (55:33):
You know, George, you're seeing like a physical offense out there,
and an offense that wants to set the tone. How
do you feel about that kind of offense?

Speaker 3 (55:41):
Oh?

Speaker 8 (55:41):
I feel great about that, just specifically because you know
last year, in previous years, that's like the stillest model
first off and Joe, when you play below that and
that's the motto of the team, it just, you know,
kind of disappoints you personally for both sides of the ball,
offense and defense. So this year, ground and pound, physical,
getting on blo making plays downfield, that's gonna be the

(56:02):
most important.

Speaker 2 (56:03):
For sure.

Speaker 5 (56:03):
Love to hear that, and I know fans love to
hear that.

Speaker 10 (56:05):
Lastly, as you adjust to a new offense out here,
you've been through the OTAs, is there still a period
of adjustment or do you feel like you and your
teammates have this system down pretty well?

Speaker 3 (56:14):
Oh?

Speaker 8 (56:15):
I feel like we have it down pretty well. Like
I said, continually, every day were working. So some new
players get put in. You got to review and you
gotta study. So every day you got to you know,
lock in and work.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
George, Thanks for the time for sure, George Pickens catching
up with Rob King yesterday after practice we dusted the
coblebs out of our system. Labs is back, and you know,
you were talking before we went to that interview Labs
about this is a big year for George Pickens and
really cementing himself as that wide receiver one. And he's
displayed that talent already through camp.

Speaker 3 (56:41):
Yeah, and I think he has, you know, what you're
looking for in a wide receiver one. You know, he's
productive for the offense in all areas of the field,
meaning where the ball is snapped, he's producted. He can
be used by the offense and you know, short passes,
long passes, deep passes, middle of the field, outside the numbers,
you know all that kind of stuff. And you know

(57:04):
who is the guy the opponent focuses on stopping in
the passing game every time, you know they line up
against the Steelers offense, it's George Pickens. So you know,
I think that, you know, the wide receiver one thing.

(57:24):
I don't know if you need to have a certain
resume to be considered that. I mean, I don't even
know how that's done. But in my mind, I think
George Pickens is a number one wide receiver. And you know,
this is why, and maybe this is just me, but
this is why I'm not in favor of bringing in

(57:45):
a guy from the outside and paying him a big
amount of money to be a number two receiver when
a lot of times the way NFL players keep score,
we're judge their worth or gauge the respect that their
team has for them is with the contract. So you know,

(58:10):
my personal opinion again would be to consider strongly waiting
until maybe this season is over, and then if you
want to spend big money on a receiver, maybe you
keep the guy you have instead of trying to add
someone from the outside via trade or something else. Who

(58:30):
you're because you look at the contracts these guys are signing.
I mean it's twenty million dollars and that's a minimum
a year I'm talking about for a lot of these guys.
I mean DJ Moore, all due respect, you know, I mean,
just look at somebody twenty million, thirty million dollars. Some
of these guys come right, I mean, I'd rather have

(58:54):
George Pickens.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
Yeah, so potential wise for sure.

Speaker 3 (58:58):
So anyway, yeah, I think that, as I said, and
this might just be me talking, I'm certainly not speaking
a base on anything I've learned or from the Steelers
or anybody's whispered in my ear or anything, because that's
not the case. But if I were in charge, and
I were the person making the decisions, I would wait

(59:20):
till this season plays out when George sees it. Excuse me,
George Pickens would be going in to the last year
of his rookie contract, and then maybe I give him
that money that a lot of fans seem to want
to go to, someone that the Steelers would bring in
via a trade, you know, right around the start of
the regular season.

Speaker 2 (59:42):
Keeping it with that room just quickly before we had
to break. You know, there is a bit of a
battle to see who's going to be on the field
for that wide receiver too, spot Calvin Austin, You got
Van Jefferson out there, Quiz Watkins out there. You know,
there's a bunch of guys that are trying to make
a name for themselves. And we heard coach Tomlin and
his injury report in our first segment of the show
talk about Roman Wilson. Now it's characterized officially as week

(01:00:05):
to week he's in a walking boot. As a cautionary thing,
You hate to see that from a rookie, not to
say that that rookie was gonna, you know, take the
baton and run with it at wide receiver two from
week one to week eighteen next year. But he's missing
key opportunities for him to get ingrained into this offense.

Speaker 3 (01:00:21):
Yeah, and you know he is a rookie, and.

Speaker 2 (01:00:25):
That's a good place he continues to get ingraded into
the NFL in general too.

Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
Yes, yes, and it's you know, somebody like Russell Wilson.
He can if he's not participating in eleven on eleven.
You know, he can, as they refer to with take
mental reps because he has a resume, he has a
pedigree as at that position, and not only at that position,

(01:00:50):
but at that position in the NFL. Roman Wilson has
none of that. And so as you mentioned, he's trying
to adjust to the NFL, he needs physical repetition. He needs,
you know, to the muscle memory he has to create
of going against you know, NFL caliber defensive backs. You know,

(01:01:11):
he needs to learn how you and I don't even
know enough about receiving to to make some of these points,
but you know, if you're trying to set up a
defense defensive back because you're going to run a sideline route.
I'm sure there's a footwork that is involved in that.
Uh you know, maybe some other the way you use

(01:01:34):
your speed maybe to drive him off a little bit
and then bring it back and create separation for the
quarterback to deliver the football. Those kind of things. You
can't do that mentally as a rookie. You need to
do that physically on the field and do it again
and again and again because repetition. The ability to be

(01:01:54):
on the field to take those repetitions and then the
coaches to either critique it or evaluate it right there
or maybe later after some film study. Video study is
critical to your development. So you know when coaches say

(01:02:14):
your primary ability needs to be availability, that's what they mean. Right. So, Yeah,
it's just a bad It's unfortunate that Roman Wilson should
sustain this injury at this time. It looked like he
was kind of turning the bend a little bit in
terms of getting it and it's going to keep him

(01:02:35):
out now at this very critical training camp, preseason time
when he could be getting a lot of repetitions and
gaining a lot of experience. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
No, doubt about that. Got one more segment to go
here today on the Training Camp Report, we'll dip our
toes back into the Friday Night Lights water give you
a nice little preview of what to come or what's
to come at practice tonight up at Steelers Training Camp.
That's all on the way on the Training Camp Report
on Steelers Nation.

Speaker 1 (01:03:06):
This SE's no Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and
Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (01:03:13):
Friday Night Lights practice is tonight for the Steelers, seven
pm at Latrobe Stadium. Always a very exciting day on
the schedule at Steelers Training Camp. And like we were
saying in the opening segment, Labs, this is like a carnival,
a festival, and there just so happens to also be
a pretty important football practice there too.

Speaker 3 (01:03:31):
Yeah, and it's turned into a gigantic community event. I
mean it starts, I think it's it's called Latrobe Fest
starts at noon today, so you know, look at in
my little clock here, it's ten twenty am, so it's
gonna be starting pretty soon. And there'll be Steelers alumni
there for autographs. They got, you know, spin the prize wheel,

(01:03:54):
win a prize they got some interactive football game kind
of stuff. There'll be food trucks, merchandise will be Steelers
merchandise tent or something similar to that kind of set
up will be available. You know, I got one communication
from a fan. He says, you know, I always come

(01:04:16):
to training camp to buy all my Steelers merchandise at
the merchandise tent. This year, I'm coming to Friday night lights.
Can I get it there? And the answer to that
is yes, you know you can. And so, you know,
then the buses arrive right around seven o'clock, maybe a
little earlier because practice starts at seven. In the past,

(01:04:38):
the buses would get there around six forty and then
it's from six forty five to seven o'clock. It's a
gigantic autograph session where you know, the fans and attendance.
You know, it's a high school field, so they leave
this dance kind and come down. There's a cyclone fence
that circles yeah, and there's a there's a track there,

(01:05:01):
you know, because again it's a multi serve, a multipurpose
high school facility. I'm sure they have track needs there,
and you know, there's all kind of that stuff. So
the fans will come down to that and then people, uh, players,
coaches will autograph for fifteen minutes. The horn blows and
then that's the end of that and practice starts. You know,

(01:05:23):
as I mentioned Bill Cower his signature drill for Friday
Night Lights. And again it wasn't done on purpose, it
just kind of evolved that way. Was goal line. You know,
Mike Tomlin may have backs on backers tonight, there might
be goal line. I mean, he always tries to get
something that excites, you know, the crowd a little bit.

(01:05:46):
As you mentioned, they'll be packed, They'll be it will
be a padded practice. So and then at the end
it's not a it's not a Pittsburgh sports event without
fireworks of course, and are a fireworks. I believe there's
Zambelli fireworks too. You know, tickets are ten dollars now,

(01:06:09):
but that all of the proceeds go to now the
Greater Latrobe School District and other community organizations. I mean,
the Steelers don't they're not really looking to make any
money on this attendance or anything. They and as I said,
it's oh, here's one last thing. This shows really speaks
to me about how crazy in a good way, Steeler

(01:06:34):
fans can be. The Latrobe School District came up with
this idea for club seats, okay, and their club seats
were chairs that they put actually on the field maybe
five six well maybe more like seven to ten yards

(01:06:57):
off the sideline because you know, you need to be
like yes. And at one time they were one hundred
bucks apiece, and they sell out. I mean you cannot
get one of those, Like if you think you're gonna
go to Friday night lights and make a decision and say, yeah,

(01:07:18):
give me a couple of those club seats. Sorry, they're
sold out. So this is, as I said, it's a
community event. All the money goes to the school district
and the other community programs that you know, Greater Latrobe
decides are worthy of the proceeds. And so, like I said,
it's a it's like a community festival. Now it's much more.

(01:07:41):
Started out as just a practice and it has evolved
into something that's an all day thing. I think, if
I'm not mistaken, Chad Tyson of WDVE is going to
be there all after broadcasting live. So I mean this
is there's all kinds of stuff over there you can

(01:08:02):
spend the day. So if you're so inclined, enjoy yourselves.

Speaker 2 (01:08:07):
Come up and spend the day. Things get started at noon,
Like labs noted, practice is at seven tonight at Latrobe Stadium.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. That's going to
do it for us today though. On the Training Camp Report,
Training Camp Labs coming up next with Mike Persuda and
Max Starks Labs and I will be back again tomorrow
morning to recap Friday Night Lights nine am sharp with
another Training Camp report on Steelers Nation Radio.