August 3, 2024 • 46 mins
Labs and Tom recap an intense Friday Night Light’s Steelers practice. Hear Coach Tomlin’s thoughts, discuss the Defensive line and TJ Watt making the NFL 100 top 10.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
DC's No Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It was a very successful Friday Night Lights practice for
the Steelers. A little over twelve thousand people in attendance.
That's more than show up on Saturdays for pit games
at Akroshuer Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
And I can make that joke.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I can make that joke because I'm a season ticket
holder and a huge pit fan, so I'm allowed to do.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
That, okay. And it was just not you know, nitpick,
but it was twelve and sixty eight wow. And I
can tell you I've been to every one of those
that's ever been staged and it was packed. I mean,
(00:52):
you know, the number is the number. That's the number
that we were given in Bertlout and the PR director
he you know, put it on social media and you know, hey, whatever,
because it's it's it's Latrobe High School's event. They come
up with a number. Whatever. But I can tell you,
I mean I've been to that. I've been to Latrope
(01:13):
Stadium a lot, both for these Friday Night Lights and
before that in a former life as a sports reporter
for the Greensburg Tribune Review. It was packed. I mean
both sides, the stands, there were the fans ringing, the
(01:35):
the cyclone fence there which is just outside the track.
I mean, they were everywhere, and they stayed. You know
a lot of times. You know, it's football practice. I mean,
you know it's boring for the most part. I mean,
you know it is. I don't I'm not trying to
disparage it or but you know, there's it's your mind,
(01:59):
water wanders. But they stayed and usually a lot of times,
I won't say usually, a lot of times. You know,
it starts with an autograph session. You know, the team
got there about I don't know, six forty six forty
five to seven o'clock. They were signing autographs and you know,
(02:21):
the people were very vocal, kids screaming players' names, and
I mean just the whole the whole scene was was intense.
And after that was over, you know, they blow the
air horn and then practice starts. Well, they stayed. Nobody left.
(02:41):
I won't say nobody, but very very few people left
because I kept glancing up into the stands. It was packed.
And you know, for staff or players, if you need
to use the restroom, you know it's underneath the stands,
(03:02):
and you know it looked kind of like the locker rooms.
I guess they are, and you needed they had to have,
you know, their security. There sheriffs, state police, you know,
the whole the whole group. You needed when when people
said go to the restroom, they would take you because
(03:23):
not that the people were unruly or anything, but you
needed a little help or they needed a little help
getting through the crowd because people were packed around that.
I don't know what it is. The track is like
closer inside the fence, but you know there's this concrete
circle around the You've been to high school fields, you
(03:45):
know what I'm talking about. And they had to be
escorted to be able to get there and back in
any kind of timely fashion. That was the case. There
were some instances of you know, people needing to get
to the press box. Well that was another thing because
you had to they had to be walked up there
(04:07):
kind of because people were everywhere. As I said, it
was very very well attended. People stayed and then at
the end there's the fireworks. Of course, it's not a
Pittsburgh sporting event without fireworks, and you know, the busses
bug out quick because that's part. I think that's you know,
(04:30):
La Trope came up with this idea. Again, it's their event.
They came up with the idea for the fireworks as
a way to kind of keep the fans there for
just a little bit longer so the buses can get out.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Right, So when we when we came back to campus,
we were on campus, walking across the one thing up
to the Benedict Hall. You could look over on the
horizon maybe I think it was to the kind of
(05:06):
the left you could still see the fireworks. They were
still going on. So, I mean the fans didn't get
cheated in terms of the you know, it wasn't just
a couple of bottle rockets and that was the end
of it. I mean, this was it was a real
fireworks show. So yeah, I mean the whole and then
the community that the people lining the streets waving at
(05:29):
the buses and cheering at the buses both on the
way into the stadium and then on the way out,
honking their horns, and it was seriously, it was. It
was an event. It was a sight to see. People
were into it, and practice I think was a little
(05:51):
bit more than a normal mundane boring football practice because
if if you like pads popping, oh, there was a
lot of that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I mean, with twelve thousand people in the building, I
could only imagine the energy transitioning to the players on
the field before we get to we'll start with backs
on backers, because that's where the pads were really popping.
You know, A big factor, It sounds funny to talk
like this, but a big factor with events around the
trope is the weather cooperating. And it was clear in
its throat a little bit yesterday, right, it was kind
(06:26):
of starting to threaten, but obviously it held off and
Friday night lights in the past has had weather put
a damper on the occasion.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Not the case yesterday.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, you know, and it was weird too, because the
gloom and doom forecasts were more late on Thursday night
into early Friday morning. But once you know, the sun rose,
things progressively got better over the course of the day.
(07:00):
You know, there were a couple of instances, let's see
to put a time on it, maybe like three in
the afternoon or so. There were some gray clouds, but
that we're also a big, big hunks of the sky
where was beautiful blue and just a little a couple
of white, puffy clouds, and there was a nice breeze,
(07:23):
and so it was moving. The clouds were moving quickly,
you know, over the campus. And there were a couple
of times when I was getting a little nervous because
I was out there, you know, just sitting what kind
of waiting for the afternoon to get to progress, so
you know, got closer to the time to getting ready
(07:43):
to leave. And one of the things that I've learned
about Latrobe is is that if you're outside and it's
warm and then all of a sudden it gets cool,
you feel the difference, you know, in the temperature just
on your skin, you're gonna get wet. That happened a
couple of times, but we never got wet. Maybe it
(08:04):
was moving too fast. I have no idea. We can
maybe contract a meteorologist. Why don't you use the the
podcast budget to add, you know, some science to this.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
The podcast has a budget.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
What do you how do you think you get paid? Okay, no,
but seriously, and uh, I don't I can't explain it scientifically.
But it seemed like it was going to rain a
couple of times, but it never did. And even when
we were at the stadium. You know, people were looking
(08:43):
at the radar maps and stuff, because over the course
of the day, the weather the potential for thunderstorms maybe
with some light, and kept getting pushed back later, later, later,
and you know, we were seeing the radar perd for
like nine thirty, and then the raidar predicted for like ten,
(09:04):
and then they've predicted for even later, and then everybody
kind of kissed it off because it's over. You know,
at that point the maybe the fireworks would have had
to have been cut short. But as it turned out,
nothing happened. There were no weather issues in fact, and
(09:24):
this was kind of weird too. It seemed to get
warmer over the course of the evening, over the course
of practice, and had nothing to do with the intensity
of backs on backers. I don't think. I don't think
there was enough intensity in backs on backers to actually
have a meteorological effect on what was going on.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
But the noise of the pads though, might have sounded
like thunder and some people might have gotten a little
scared because that was an epic session that backs on backers.
And I read dale Ally's practice report our colleague and
the highlight that he had was not She and Jalen
Warren were mean s obs in that drill.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, you know, these guys are. They're just they're both
having spectacular training camps in every sense of you know,
running back play. You know that we've talked about how
Arthur Smith has incorporated more running during seven shots, and
(10:28):
you know a lot of times it's those guys or
one of those guys, Nause Harris or Jalen Warren getting
the carries and they're they're exhibiting very tough running down
by the goal line. But we also saw starting from
the first practice in pads, which was also the first
edition of backsaw Backers for this training camp, you know,
(10:51):
Mike Tomlin talked about how the offense cannot warm up
to the drill, they cannot warm up to the concept
of protecting the passer, and so you know, he was
looking for them and others on the offense, the running
backs to bring it for lack of a you know,
more scientific or football focused term, and they did and
(11:16):
they're continuing to do that, and they are talking and
they are taunting, well not taunting, I mean, because that
is a negative connotation, but they are woofing at the defense.
You know, Patrick, Queens and the land and Roberts are
not exactly shrinking violets.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Either, giants. I mean they're playing.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Well, but I mean they those guys also like to
talk and they do not like to lose. And you know,
it's it was. It was great theater. Uh, it was
great theater. Let me let me leave it at that
great theater.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, I mean in the right up there. It was.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It was fun to see, you know, nause you get
the better of Queen and Queen like a true competitor,
like a true all pro, wants the rematch, right, gets
right up, give me that rematch, Give me that rematch,
and then he's stoned again.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
By nause that.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
That'll that really encourages you when you hear that from nausea,
when you hear Jalen Warren stopping a Landon Roberts. We
talked about it a couple of days ago when we
were talking about the running back position such an important
part in the NFL, and playing that position isn't just
stacking up the yardage and scoring touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It's keeping your quarterback off his ass.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, and there was you know, again, I don't know
who would do this in like an actual boxing match
at the end. But you know when it's a decision
and the referee standing out there and they you know,
they raised one guy's hand and someone will announce it
still undefeated heavyweight champion, and they announce what it is. Well,
they could have done that last night and said and
(12:48):
still undefeated number eighty Darnel Washington.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Nobody can get.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Nobody wants any of that. You know, I'm not don't
don't mean that they're afraid of him. But you know,
if you're looking to win a rep repetition, or you know,
you're looking to put something good on film, you know,
maybe you want to figure out a way, you know,
in the line to get up against somebody but him,
(13:19):
because there is no I keep saying this, there is
no sound or any technique or procedure or tactic that
makes any sense with him. I mean it got to
the point where, you know, there was on one play,
(13:40):
Nick Herbig looked like maybe he was going to get
around him, but he felt you know, his feet slipped
on the on the turf and he fell, and there
were guys saying, well, you know he would have, well
he would have, but he didn't, you know, see why well, yeah,
and then another one where I forget who it was,
(14:02):
might have been herbig again, but I don't want to
keep naming him. And you know, it.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Sounds like anybody labs because it sounds like nobody can
have success against this guy.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Well, but you know, different, different people get opportunities for
reps against him. I mean, it's not the same guy
every time, It's what I mean. But he did, whoever
it was, did seem to get half a step and
start to turn the corner and get outside him. But
Darneld Washington, he has those long arms, he's so strong.
He just pushed him, you know what, past the quarterback
(14:35):
and this was funny. So he pushes him past the
quarterback and all the defense, you know, they're yelling, yeah
he beat him. It's weird for us and Nausey, who
was hilarious the whole time. He's standing over on the
side and he gets the defense's attention and he just
pretends like, you know, he stands like he's the quarterback,
(14:58):
you know, and gets in the pose and then he
just stepped up into the pocket through the ball, you know,
like that. So yeah, they and they were helping their
teammates those two guys, Nause Harris and Jalen Warren. I mean,
they were supporting their teammates and it was a lot
of fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
It just was Yeah, I mean, Nase was a leader
really since he stepped foot on the field as a Steeler.
Now he's entering year four, so that leadership I expect
to just keep bubbling over. One guy who I'm sure
was watching that and very appreciative of Darnell's efforts, Nause's efforts,
Jalen's efforts was Russ Wilson. That's going to help him
out a lot throughout the season. Before we get to
coach Tom and just a quick update on him, kind
(15:41):
of more of the same. Right, did some handoff work
in eleven on eleven, did some throwing in seven on seven,
but nothing as far as the seven shots was concerned
with the first team offense.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Did have pads on and a helmet today, all right.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Yesterday that yeah, I mean it. You know, it was
pretty much status quo for Russell Wilson in terms of
what was presented. You know, on the field, he was
in full uniform. He took part in some of the
individual drills and seven on seven and those kinds of things.
But when it came to time for team drills, justin
(16:14):
fields excuse me, was worked with the first team Kyle
Allen and then John Reese plumb Lee got some snaps
as well.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So we'll keep an eye on Russ Wilson as we
start to look towards that first preseason game and the
Steelers start to turn their focus to preparing for the
Houston Texans coming to town next Friday. Coach Tomlin spoke
following Friday Night Lights yesterday. Let's hear what he had
to say.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Man, just can't say enough about this atmosphere to night.
We really appreciate the relationship that we have with this community.
We appreciate their support. Hopefully we showed that with our
efforts tonight.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
We had a high intensity practice, but it's part of
the process.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
It's iron on ironst versus Steelers, but we do it
with the mindset that we're working towards something. There's the
only way to do it. It's no shortcuts, man. I
just really tip my cap to the guys for the
intensity that they brought to.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
The work tonight.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Bumps of bruises associated with play, nothing of any significance
will assess that I have more information for yous to
move forward tomorrow. I'll pause and open up for questions.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Like that from us.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Were talking about intense. That seemed to be very intense.
How would you best summarize that portion of tonight?
Speaker 5 (17:25):
I can't say enough about those top two backs, Nas
and Jalen. They set the tone for the drill.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Man.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
That's a drill that's advantaged linebackers obviously, but when you
got some strong minded runners, man, it makes it highly competitive.
And those two in particular don't run from the fight.
They run to the fight. I respect it.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We tak your offensive is confusing your defenses seven shocks
pretty regularly.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Now keep watching.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
It's early. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 5 (17:51):
I'm a reserve judgment man. We do it every day.
We building a large volume of plays. More than anything,
that area of the field is so significant. I'm just
worried about our overall trajectory, man, our knowledge of what
we're doing, how the game gets played down there, how
quickly decisions need to be made, And so I'm less
concerned about specifically what happened tonight.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Man.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
We'll be continually working. Put eight pounds in that five
pound bag.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Probably feels the.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
New offense was coming along at this point.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
So far, so good, but we're just a week ind
to it, man, We're really just starting to put some
of the significance components into place. Yesterday was our first
day introducing a play clock, for example, and so we
had the very early stages of it. But so far,
so good.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
When you're thinking a lot.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
More than one matchups for the individual drills, how much
of that is you've scripting it previously versus trying to
feel it in the moment and who you.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Want to see it's both.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
We come into it with a mindset like bodies people
at the same stage of development. We want the competition
to be intense and fair. You win enough for your battles,
you move up in competition. You don't win enough of
your battles, you move down in competition. That's just the
nature of this thing. So we come here with a mindset,
but we're willing to adjust based on what it is
we say, all right, coach, Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Coach Tomlin with the media following Friday night lights practice yesterday,
you could hear him speaking about the high intensity backs
on backers, giving praise to nausey and Jalen.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Like Labs and I were talking about.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
In that first segment, we'll kick around some of the
other stuff that he talked about. We'll get into seven
Shots from yesterday who was successful, and we'll hear from
Larry Ogunjobi as well. All that on the way on
the Training Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
He sees the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steeler's Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
The offense got the better of the defense again in
seven Shots yesterday. Labs seems that when the pads come on,
that's how it goes. But this was a bit of
an overwhelming victory. We heard Tomlin in the last segment
asked about it and he said, it's early, you know,
not to worry too much about the defense, but the
early returns are heavily favoring the offense with the pads on.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
It was a seven to nothing victory yesterday for that
side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Yeah, and let me let me say this what Mike
Tomlin says to the media after practice. In that sense,
his tone was a little different during the drill. You know,
we were talking about nausey Harrison, Jalen Warren and Patrick Queen,
and you know the trash talking that was going on
(20:28):
during backs on backers, Well the head coach got a
little involved during back excuse me seven shots and I'll
get to that. Here is, you know, we go, uh,
I'm gonna I'm gonna run down the seventh place. And
let me say this too. I can never remember seven
Oh I can. I cannot. I'm not saying that it
(20:51):
never happened, you know, because there was some times early,
you know, when the drill was first introduced.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
You had.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Ben Roethlisberger was a quarterback, you had Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell,
Heath Miller. I think it was at some point Martavis Bryant, Yeah,
you know, I mean and Ben was just standing back
there in the shotgun just picking it. I mean, who
(21:22):
are you going to cover? You know they're running crossing
routes in the end zone. You know, Ben would quick decisions,
accurate throws. I mean, it was, you know, when it started,
I thought, what's the point of this? You know, you
know it looks like a highlights package. But still I
don't ever remember it being seven to zero.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
So I mean because labs that you know, an offensive
player drops the pass, that's one point for the defense.
You know, it's not only beating the defense seven times,
it's not beating yourself too.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Right, So okay, it started out again. As you mentioned
earlier in the previous segment, Russell Wilson was not a
PARTI team drills, so Justin Fields was out there first.
They threw a It was a you know, if I
was a defensive player, I might have said, you know
(22:13):
that there was a kind of a pick play on
safety Deshaun Elliott, or if you were an offensive player,
you might say that he was just confused, you know,
there was a mental error in the coverage. But it
looked like it was a quick kind of crossing thing
(22:34):
and Pat Fryer move broke clean towards the sideline. He
was wide open. Throw it to him, pitch and catch, touchdown.
The second play, another pass George Pickens right at the
goal line. I boxed out the defender. Touchdown. Third play
Nausey Harris up the middle, touchdown. Fourth play Justin Fields.
(23:01):
He held the ball a little bit to give George
Pickens some time to get across the back end line
right around the goalpost, and he put it up there
high for him. It was one of those pickings, you know,
snatched the ball out of the air and then as
he's coming down with he's holding the ball in both
of his hands but kind of away from his body
(23:23):
a little bit, and he's looking down and got his
feet in, uh touchdown. So that was for then that's
the win for the offense. Okay. So then Kyle Allen
comes out. It was he. It was a similar play,
only it was des Fitzpatrick was the receiver, and that
(23:45):
was another nice back of the end zone kind of
thing with a toe tap and NFL officials were working there,
which makes it a lot easier for me because they
call it and you can tell, you know, it was
easy touchdown. So that's five. The sixth play, they went
(24:05):
back to the run and well Michael p Ran powered
into the end zone six nothing. So then, as I said,
you know, the head coach was into this. So usually
Mike Tomlin will send the first units back out onto
(24:25):
the field if it's a three to three tie, but
this was six nothing. He sent the first units out, okay,
And if anyone didn't understand, you know, why he was
doing that, it became understandable very quickly because again justin
(24:49):
Fields was looking for Pickens, and it was kind of
a I won't call it a fade pattern, but it
was towards the side of the end zone, towards the
back and fields delivers the ball. Joey Porter Junior was
man on man with Pickens. Pickens tried to make a
move for the ball. There was some you know, hand fighting,
and the officials right there through the flag pass interference
(25:12):
in the end zone. So Tomlin ruled it a touchdown,
you know, passing because I didn't know what they would do,
you know, because if if that was a real game,
it's not a touchdown. I mean, first down, the ball
to one, and I didn't know if they'd run another
play or what. But Mike Tomland made it a touchdown,
as he is allowed to do since it's his practice
(25:35):
and he's the guy with the whistle, and he started
yelling seven oh seven, oh, you know that kind of thing.
And I know that I know everybody on defense could
hear him, because I could and I was farther away
than that. So again, a very spirited seven shots, another
win for the offense. And you know we heard Mike
(25:58):
Tomlin asked in his post practice briefing about the offense
fooling the defense. You know, I don't know if that's
the case or not, but they handled them yesterday and
it was you know, it's fairly definitive. Uh. And I
(26:19):
like what this is. This is Arthur Smith. This is
Arthur Smith's fingerprints all over this. Some running, some passing,
physical at times, smart at times, get the ball out quickly.
As I mentioned, you know, there were some passes thrown
to outside the numbers, some passes thrown you know, into
(26:40):
the middle of the end zone, you know, towards the
back part of it. Nice mix again, nice day for
the for the offense. Seven to zero. As I've said,
I never saw that before. I'm sure that that has
been mentioned and will be mentioned once or twice in
meeting rooms, probably the defensive meeting rooms more often than
(27:05):
the offensive meeting rooms. And it'll be interesting to see
how the seven shots works out today.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, definitely something to keep on an eye on in
today's practice. And you know, like you said in the
media session, it is early to have any worry about
the defense, But is there any kind of you know,
you're keeping an extra close eye on them now moving
forward to see if they can start to turn the
tide in the right direction because it is three and
ohero in pads for the offense so far in this camp, I.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Don't I don't think so you know what I see.
I think it's well, this is the way I'm looking
at it. It's such a refreshing change for the offense
to beat decisive and physical and uh, you know successful.
(27:56):
So no, I'm not looking at that way, looking at
at at it that way at all. I'm looking at
it in the way that you know that maybe the
we can argue about what the most significant offseason move was,
you know, adding Patrick Queen, signing Russell Wilson, you know
(28:17):
the steel them trade for Justin Fields, any of that stuff.
But one of the things that I keep bringing bringing
up is hiring Arthur Smith. I really like this guy.
I like his attitude, his mindset. I think it fits
well with this team's mindset. Historically, he's a good fit
(28:38):
with the head coach. I think he's a pretty good
fit with the offensive personnel on hand. You know, this
offensive line is getting to be, you know, a strength.
Certainly it already is a unit that you should not
trifle with. We have seen these guys as individuals stick
(29:02):
up for their teammates. They are willing to mix it up,
They're physical, they play with a nasty streak, or as
coaches say, they have a good playing demeanor. And you know,
we've talked about Nate Herbig Broderick Jones. You know, these
are guys that I don't think you want to mess with,
(29:25):
and they're they're developing this attitude, this personality over the
course of this training camp, and that to me is
much more exciting and looking at it the other way
and being worried about the defense because I don't think
that there's going to be a whole lot of other
(29:47):
defenses that are going to have a lot of luck
with this team in those kind of situations. You know,
when you have Nausey and or Jalen Warren as an
option in terms of of a short yardage run behind
that offensive line, you have pickings, you have friar mouth.
You know, you have those kind of weapons also available
(30:08):
to the quarterback. You know I mentioned earlier, you know,
Bend with some of the weapons he had. I'm not
going to say that this group can be that group,
but it certainly can be a whole lot better than
any group.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Maybe in between, well, the defensive line has to mix
it up with that offensive line every day at training camp.
And I have a couple of things that I want
to just throw at Labs before we wrap up this
segment with that unit, but before we get there. Larry
Ogunjobi caught up quickly with Missy Matthews before Friday Night
Lights practice yesterday.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Here's what he had to say.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Larry, Friday Night Lights and the annual tradition. What's it
like when you guys get here in this place is
just completely packed to watch practice?
Speaker 6 (30:48):
It's surreal. It's very humbling. You know, you come out
to the city and you just feel the energy. You
feel the crowd. They're super excited for us to be
so man, it's an amazing experience. Man, it almost has
been a lost for words there you go.
Speaker 7 (31:02):
Isn't nostalgic getting on those yellow buses to make the
trip here?
Speaker 6 (31:06):
Definitely? You know we all come through football in different
kinds of ways and fashions, but you know that Friday
night Light scenes is very different than you know, especial
to and near did all of our hearts and get
on that bus, the lights to fans, the crowd like
the kind of puss in perspective with this game really means.
So it's super awesome and.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
How great is it to just kind of break up camp.
You're not on the same practice field. It's a night practice.
It's a little different.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
I'm gonna just feel the energy. You know, You're feel
the crowd and the fans are super excited. Everybody's out
here having a good time. You know, it's very theatrical
when I love it. Man, is this it just really
puts things to perspective for me.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Larry Ogunjobi with Mithy Matthews before practice and labs. You know, Larry,
oh big contributor on that defensive line. We know what
we're gonna get from Hayward, or at least we hope
we know we're gonna get from Hayward Keanu Benton. We
hope to see him take a big year, two step forward.
But the guy that I kind of wanted to bounce
off of you is someone that's been having a very
good start to his camp and he kind of needs
(31:57):
to because it's robber meat road time for his career.
And that's the Marvin Leal and I noted in Dale's
practice report yesterday, another noteworthy play from him during practice.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Yeah. Let me, I'll get to that in just one second.
Just one comment on the on the sound we just
heard that was that happened? I saw it being taped.
Larry Ogunjobi was actually signing autographs at the fence wow,
while he was doing that interview. Yeah, so that's kind
of you know, again, it's it's one of the unique things,
(32:31):
special things about Friday night lights. I mean, he is
actually there. I think you could hear him say once
here you go. He was handing you know, one of
those little football white footballs back to a kid you know,
who was waiting for his autograph. And so he's doing
the interview signing autographs. There's people six seven deep around
(32:51):
that fence just waiting, you know, for whatever. And that's
part of it, you know that you kind of have
to to see that, I think to really appreciate it.
We see autograph sessions, you know, up here at Saint
Vincent College all every day, but that to me is
(33:11):
a special one because everybody participates. And it's again it's
that that that cyclone fence rings that the whole field
area and there are fans packed everywhere and you see
ninety guys divide up and just you know, kind of
(33:32):
everybody goes to a different area and they just signed
for fifteen minutes. It's it's unique, unique, let me say that. Okay,
now back to your point. Yeah, the marvel Leale, this
is a big, big year for him.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Yeah, kind of like how we were talking about Mark
Robinson you were yesterday having a big year.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
It's it's similar, right, yes, it because they're at that
point in their contracts where now the team or any
NFL team for any player in that sit situation, he's
going to have to make a decision on you know,
this guy's future or what they perceive to be his future.
And this would be a second contract when you get
(34:12):
to this point in your in your rookie contract, your
third year, and it's it's a business, you know, and
so you know they're making decisions, you know, financially, and
if you're just a guy or as they call it
in the scouting profession, a jag jayag just a guy,
(34:37):
they can get somebody cheaper than you to be just
a guy. So uh, sometimes it's not a big savings,
but rather than pay someone in their second contract, I
don't know, seven eight nine million dollars a year, they
can get another guy younger, either you know, another rookie
or a first year player, you know, something like that
(34:59):
for the vetter or minimum, which would be just around
a million, maybe a little bit more. So, you know,
those are the kind of decisions that NFL front offices
make all the time. And so to Marvin Leale Mark Robinson,
since they're both in the same situation in terms of
the years of service, this is what they are looking at.
(35:22):
Big season for both of them. Now, you know, to
Marvin Lelle he came out of college Texas A and M.
He was a third year junior. I think he was
twenty going on twenty one or something, very young, very young,
and physically very young. And by that, what I mean
(35:43):
by that is, if you're a twenty one year old
defensive lineman in an NFL training camp, you could be
lining up against a twenty seven or twenty eight year
old offensive lineman and a drill. Now, you know, you
look at that and you think, well, it's not that
much of an age difference, you know, six seven years,
(36:05):
but the human body at those two respective periods in
its development, it's significant. You know, one guy is maybe
just old enough to be able to order, you know,
a drink in a bar, and the other guy, as
they say in scouting rooms, he's a grown ass man.
(36:27):
So that's that's a significant that's a significant difference. You
can look at it either as a significant advantage for
the older player or a significant hurdle to be scaled
by the younger guy. So that's what the Marvin Leale
was facing. He also is something of a tweener for
(36:50):
lack of a better word. You know, he's not a
two hundred and ninety five pound end, nor is he
you know, a two hundred and fifty five I've found
mobile TJ. Watt Alex Highsmith kind of guy that maybe
you can use on the edge, So you know, you
got to find some place for him. I think his
(37:13):
one of his early years, I don't know if it
was his rookie year here TJ. Watt was injured, maybe
it was his second year, I don't remember now, but
they used him a little bit out there, certainly not
in the same ways that you would use T. J.
Watt with all the different assignments and freedom, but they
put him out there because he had some movement ability,
(37:35):
but he also had some size, and you know they
were looking for somebody you know, your grasp when its
straws when you're trying to fill a hole in the
lineup because of an injury to TJ. Watt, So they've
been trying to find a spot for him. He's trying
to develop as a human being, physically and as a
(37:57):
football player. You know, this is big gear for him.
He has flashed some things where you think maybe it's
starting to turn the corner for him. And he's a
guy again we talked about this yesterday. When you're looking
at who you're gonna deploy on those kickoff teams, coverage
(38:21):
and returns, you know, a guy like the Marvin Leal.
He had some size, he's had some mobility. He's a
defensive player, so tackling, you know, is in his DNA.
Maybe that's you know, maybe he can give you something
in that area that another defensive lineman. Not that he couldn't,
(38:45):
but maybe you don't want him out there because you
don't want a lot of players on that kickoff coverage team.
I don't think certainly, not based on what we saw
Thursday night, but you wouldn't think you want guys who
are bigger and stouter as opposed to guys who are
somewhat mobile and athletic to make plays in space, tackles
(39:07):
in space, one on one tackling situations, you know those
kind of things. So you know, we'll see, but it
is a it is a big season for Marven Leale.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Well, you mentioned TJ.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Watt a little bit in your answer there, and he
had a big accolade bestowed upon him again last night,
a long list of accolades that he's had in his career.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
So we'll talk about that.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
The NFL Top one hundred revealing their top ten where
he landed in that top ten. I know you love
list laps, So we have to get this in before
we wrap up our show today, so that'll be on the.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
Right huh huh. Got to get me up early on
a Saturday, after Friday night lights and then get me
all wound up and okay, I'm ready for you though.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
My job, That's what I'm here for. So that's up next.
We wind labs up on the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Hec's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
As we said, going to break in the last segment
Labs hasn't met a list that he doesn't want to
break down, So we're going.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
To do that now.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
The NFL Top one hundred completed last night, a big
television program on NFL network, make it a big spectacle
of it. But a Pittsburgh Steeler is firmly cemented in
that top ten.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
It is TJ. Watt.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
He comes in at number eight. I'm sure there is
a bunch of debate happening on if he's too low.
I think he is too low. He should be a
little bit higher in my mind. But you know, when
it comes to lists like this, you tip your cap
to it, you say, thanks for recognizing TJ as an
all time great, but also who the hell decided that
he was number eight?
Speaker 3 (40:46):
And what's the merit behind that at all?
Speaker 4 (40:49):
Well, you hit it the nail on the head earlier
in describing it a giant TV show on NFL network.
That's what it's about. A television show. They use it
to generate buzz over I don't know how many days
and weeks because they you know, reveal it in little chunks. Okay,
(41:12):
is a ten? Because I only pay I don't pay
attention enough to even know that. That's how ridiculous I
think it is. You know, they say that the players vote.
I don't believe that. I don't believe that players take
the time to do that. I just don't. I Mean,
(41:34):
that's not that's not where their mindset is, that's not
where their interests lie. There's not any you know, I
have my own skepticism even about Pro Bowl voting, whether
that you know, the players actually do that or how
that is done, because I've always believed this. Okay, let's
(41:57):
just use an example here of in the in the
defensive line room when it's time to vote for the
Pro Bowl. Okay, so you're not allowed to vote for
anyone on your team. Okay. So let's say though, that
somebody on your team is a candidate, a legitimate candidate
(42:24):
for a Pro Bowl. Berth as an offensive lineman. So
the defensive lineman say, okay, we're going to vote for
Joe Blow, who has no chance because by doing that,
you're taking away votes from your guys top competitor. So
(42:45):
you're not allowed to vote for him, but you're not
voting for his competition either. So his main competition, right,
So you're helping him get to the Pro Bowl. You
don't think that happens, Come on, I do. So that's
the kind of thing that happens, in my opinion, in
(43:09):
a lot of these voting situations, especially involving players who,
as I said, that's not their mindset. I mean, they don't,
you know, they're not. I just I cannot imagine a
realistic scenario where you know, the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati
(43:29):
Bengals all gather and they're ranking the top hundred players.
I mean, because and I don't know how this votes
or this this vote works, but you're telling me that
the Bengals can't vote for Joe Burrow or can they
if they excuse me? And if they can, you think
(43:51):
that would be ninety votes for him number one exactly, Yeah,
you know, or the at least the best quarterback. You know,
maybe it's not number one. I don't even know how
it happens if you're voting for guys you know, one
through one hundred, or if they chop them up into
positions and vote for them that way. But you know
(44:12):
who who does this? Who organizes this? Where do you
when do you get the players together? You know that
this is going to happen you're doing it at mini camp,
you know, gee, they don't have anything else on their
minds then, or maybe this would be an even better idea.
Maybe you wait a mini camps over and they're all
(44:34):
off until the started training camp. Yeah yeah, right, try
and herd the cats, you know, and get that done.
So I just again, you you summed it up perfectly
in my opinion. It's a gigantic TV show. It apparently
does well for NFL network, you know, good for them. Uh,
you know, I don't. I don't want to. I don't
(44:57):
want to see anybody at that place lose their oh
because nobody's watching it or you know, anything like that.
But I just don't. It's not for me. I don't
believe in it. Who was number one?
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Tyrie Hill was number one this year. Unbelievably, Patrick Mahomes,
who I think is on a generational all time level
run at quarterback, the most important position in all of sports,
he landed at number four somehow, So.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
There you go. Okay, so thank you for making my case.
I mean, because it's Patrick Mahomes or others at his
position who enable receivers to be what they are quite simply,
you know, uh, Tyreek kill has himself a pretty good
(45:42):
quarterback himself in Tua Tuga, I loa, where was he? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (45:48):
You know, I'm not off the top I had, but
he was on the list for sure. He was in
the top.
Speaker 4 (45:52):
Okay, okay, well yeah, I would hope so. But I mean,
how could you know you're the best receiver. I would
assume the quarterback would have to be up pretty high too.
And did Tom Brady win it every year when he
was playing? You know again, who was Because if you
would informally maybe pull every every other coach in the NFL,
(46:17):
you know who is a guy that you know you
hate going against, I bet your Brady was hig up
on the list. So anyway, that's that's my rant on lists.
And thanks forgetting my blood boiled.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
I love it. This is exactly what I wanted.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
I wanted to push the buttons and it worked out
like a planned Thanks for listening for us today. We're
gonna hand it off to Wolf and Starks. We're gonna
go in the locker room now for the next couple
of hours practices at one fifty five today at Saint
Vincent College. The team is back on campus and labs
and I will be back again tomorrow morning at nine
am for another edition of the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio.
DC's No Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It was a very successful Friday Night Lights practice for
the Steelers. A little over twelve thousand people in attendance.
That's more than show up on Saturdays for pit games
at Akroshuer Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
And I can make that joke.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I can make that joke because I'm a season ticket
holder and a huge pit fan, so I'm allowed to do.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
That, okay. And it was just not you know, nitpick,
but it was twelve and sixty eight wow. And I
can tell you I've been to every one of those
that's ever been staged and it was packed. I mean,
(00:52):
you know, the number is the number. That's the number
that we were given in Bertlout and the PR director
he you know, put it on social media and you know, hey, whatever,
because it's it's it's Latrobe High School's event. They come
up with a number. Whatever. But I can tell you,
I mean I've been to that. I've been to Latrope
(01:13):
Stadium a lot, both for these Friday Night Lights and
before that in a former life as a sports reporter
for the Greensburg Tribune Review. It was packed. I mean
both sides, the stands, there were the fans ringing, the
(01:35):
the cyclone fence there which is just outside the track.
I mean, they were everywhere, and they stayed. You know
a lot of times. You know, it's football practice. I mean,
you know it's boring for the most part. I mean,
you know it is. I don't I'm not trying to
disparage it or but you know, there's it's your mind,
(01:59):
water wanders. But they stayed and usually a lot of times,
I won't say usually, a lot of times. You know,
it starts with an autograph session. You know, the team
got there about I don't know, six forty six forty
five to seven o'clock. They were signing autographs and you know,
(02:21):
the people were very vocal, kids screaming players' names, and
I mean just the whole the whole scene was was intense.
And after that was over, you know, they blow the
air horn and then practice starts. Well, they stayed. Nobody left.
(02:41):
I won't say nobody, but very very few people left
because I kept glancing up into the stands. It was packed.
And you know, for staff or players, if you need
to use the restroom, you know it's underneath the stands,
(03:02):
and you know it looked kind of like the locker rooms.
I guess they are, and you needed they had to have,
you know, their security. There sheriffs, state police, you know,
the whole the whole group. You needed when when people
said go to the restroom, they would take you because
(03:23):
not that the people were unruly or anything, but you
needed a little help or they needed a little help
getting through the crowd because people were packed around that.
I don't know what it is. The track is like
closer inside the fence, but you know there's this concrete
circle around the You've been to high school fields, you
(03:45):
know what I'm talking about. And they had to be
escorted to be able to get there and back in
any kind of timely fashion. That was the case. There
were some instances of you know, people needing to get
to the press box. Well that was another thing because
you had to they had to be walked up there
(04:07):
kind of because people were everywhere. As I said, it
was very very well attended. People stayed and then at
the end there's the fireworks. Of course, it's not a
Pittsburgh sporting event without fireworks, and you know, the busses
bug out quick because that's part. I think that's you know,
(04:30):
La Trope came up with this idea. Again, it's their event.
They came up with the idea for the fireworks as
a way to kind of keep the fans there for
just a little bit longer so the buses can get out.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Right, So when we when we came back to campus,
we were on campus, walking across the one thing up
to the Benedict Hall. You could look over on the
horizon maybe I think it was to the kind of
(05:06):
the left you could still see the fireworks. They were
still going on. So, I mean the fans didn't get
cheated in terms of the you know, it wasn't just
a couple of bottle rockets and that was the end
of it. I mean, this was it was a real
fireworks show. So yeah, I mean the whole and then
the community that the people lining the streets waving at
(05:29):
the buses and cheering at the buses both on the
way into the stadium and then on the way out,
honking their horns, and it was seriously, it was. It
was an event. It was a sight to see. People
were into it, and practice I think was a little
(05:51):
bit more than a normal mundane boring football practice because
if if you like pads popping, oh, there was a
lot of that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I mean, with twelve thousand people in the building, I
could only imagine the energy transitioning to the players on
the field before we get to we'll start with backs
on backers, because that's where the pads were really popping.
You know, A big factor, It sounds funny to talk
like this, but a big factor with events around the
trope is the weather cooperating. And it was clear in
its throat a little bit yesterday, right, it was kind
(06:26):
of starting to threaten, but obviously it held off and
Friday night lights in the past has had weather put
a damper on the occasion.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Not the case yesterday.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, you know, and it was weird too, because the
gloom and doom forecasts were more late on Thursday night
into early Friday morning. But once you know, the sun rose,
things progressively got better over the course of the day.
(07:00):
You know, there were a couple of instances, let's see
to put a time on it, maybe like three in
the afternoon or so. There were some gray clouds, but
that we're also a big, big hunks of the sky
where was beautiful blue and just a little a couple
of white, puffy clouds, and there was a nice breeze,
(07:23):
and so it was moving. The clouds were moving quickly,
you know, over the campus. And there were a couple
of times when I was getting a little nervous because
I was out there, you know, just sitting what kind
of waiting for the afternoon to get to progress, so
you know, got closer to the time to getting ready
(07:43):
to leave. And one of the things that I've learned
about Latrobe is is that if you're outside and it's
warm and then all of a sudden it gets cool,
you feel the difference, you know, in the temperature just
on your skin, you're gonna get wet. That happened a
couple of times, but we never got wet. Maybe it
(08:04):
was moving too fast. I have no idea. We can
maybe contract a meteorologist. Why don't you use the the
podcast budget to add, you know, some science to this.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
The podcast has a budget.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
What do you how do you think you get paid? Okay, no,
but seriously, and uh, I don't I can't explain it scientifically.
But it seemed like it was going to rain a
couple of times, but it never did. And even when
we were at the stadium. You know, people were looking
(08:43):
at the radar maps and stuff, because over the course
of the day, the weather the potential for thunderstorms maybe
with some light, and kept getting pushed back later, later, later,
and you know, we were seeing the radar perd for
like nine thirty, and then the raidar predicted for like ten,
(09:04):
and then they've predicted for even later, and then everybody
kind of kissed it off because it's over. You know,
at that point the maybe the fireworks would have had
to have been cut short. But as it turned out,
nothing happened. There were no weather issues in fact, and
(09:24):
this was kind of weird too. It seemed to get
warmer over the course of the evening, over the course
of practice, and had nothing to do with the intensity
of backs on backers. I don't think. I don't think
there was enough intensity in backs on backers to actually
have a meteorological effect on what was going on.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
But the noise of the pads though, might have sounded
like thunder and some people might have gotten a little
scared because that was an epic session that backs on backers.
And I read dale Ally's practice report our colleague and
the highlight that he had was not She and Jalen
Warren were mean s obs in that drill.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, you know, these guys are. They're just they're both
having spectacular training camps in every sense of you know,
running back play. You know that we've talked about how
Arthur Smith has incorporated more running during seven shots, and
(10:28):
you know a lot of times it's those guys or
one of those guys, Nause Harris or Jalen Warren getting
the carries and they're they're exhibiting very tough running down
by the goal line. But we also saw starting from
the first practice in pads, which was also the first
edition of backsaw Backers for this training camp, you know,
(10:51):
Mike Tomlin talked about how the offense cannot warm up
to the drill, they cannot warm up to the concept
of protecting the passer, and so you know, he was
looking for them and others on the offense, the running
backs to bring it for lack of a you know,
more scientific or football focused term, and they did and
(11:16):
they're continuing to do that, and they are talking and
they are taunting, well not taunting, I mean, because that
is a negative connotation, but they are woofing at the defense.
You know, Patrick, Queens and the land and Roberts are
not exactly shrinking violets.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Either, giants. I mean they're playing.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Well, but I mean they those guys also like to
talk and they do not like to lose. And you know,
it's it was. It was great theater. Uh, it was
great theater. Let me let me leave it at that
great theater.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, I mean in the right up there. It was.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It was fun to see, you know, nause you get
the better of Queen and Queen like a true competitor,
like a true all pro, wants the rematch, right, gets
right up, give me that rematch, Give me that rematch,
and then he's stoned again.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
By nause that.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
That'll that really encourages you when you hear that from nausea,
when you hear Jalen Warren stopping a Landon Roberts. We
talked about it a couple of days ago when we
were talking about the running back position such an important
part in the NFL, and playing that position isn't just
stacking up the yardage and scoring touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It's keeping your quarterback off his ass.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, and there was you know, again, I don't know
who would do this in like an actual boxing match
at the end. But you know when it's a decision
and the referee standing out there and they you know,
they raised one guy's hand and someone will announce it
still undefeated heavyweight champion, and they announce what it is. Well,
they could have done that last night and said and
(12:48):
still undefeated number eighty Darnel Washington.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Nobody can get.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Nobody wants any of that. You know, I'm not don't
don't mean that they're afraid of him. But you know,
if you're looking to win a rep repetition, or you know,
you're looking to put something good on film, you know,
maybe you want to figure out a way, you know,
in the line to get up against somebody but him,
(13:19):
because there is no I keep saying this, there is
no sound or any technique or procedure or tactic that
makes any sense with him. I mean it got to
the point where, you know, there was on one play,
(13:40):
Nick Herbig looked like maybe he was going to get
around him, but he felt you know, his feet slipped
on the on the turf and he fell, and there
were guys saying, well, you know he would have, well
he would have, but he didn't, you know, see why well, yeah,
and then another one where I forget who it was,
(14:02):
might have been herbig again, but I don't want to
keep naming him. And you know, it.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Sounds like anybody labs because it sounds like nobody can
have success against this guy.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Well, but you know, different, different people get opportunities for
reps against him. I mean, it's not the same guy
every time, It's what I mean. But he did, whoever
it was, did seem to get half a step and
start to turn the corner and get outside him. But
Darneld Washington, he has those long arms, he's so strong.
He just pushed him, you know what, past the quarterback
(14:35):
and this was funny. So he pushes him past the
quarterback and all the defense, you know, they're yelling, yeah
he beat him. It's weird for us and Nausey, who
was hilarious the whole time. He's standing over on the
side and he gets the defense's attention and he just
pretends like, you know, he stands like he's the quarterback,
(14:58):
you know, and gets in the pose and then he
just stepped up into the pocket through the ball, you know,
like that. So yeah, they and they were helping their
teammates those two guys, Nause Harris and Jalen Warren. I mean,
they were supporting their teammates and it was a lot
of fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
It just was Yeah, I mean, Nase was a leader
really since he stepped foot on the field as a Steeler.
Now he's entering year four, so that leadership I expect
to just keep bubbling over. One guy who I'm sure
was watching that and very appreciative of Darnell's efforts, Nause's efforts,
Jalen's efforts was Russ Wilson. That's going to help him
out a lot throughout the season. Before we get to
coach Tom and just a quick update on him, kind
(15:41):
of more of the same. Right, did some handoff work
in eleven on eleven, did some throwing in seven on seven,
but nothing as far as the seven shots was concerned
with the first team offense.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Did have pads on and a helmet today, all right.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Yesterday that yeah, I mean it. You know, it was
pretty much status quo for Russell Wilson in terms of
what was presented. You know, on the field, he was
in full uniform. He took part in some of the
individual drills and seven on seven and those kinds of things.
But when it came to time for team drills, justin
(16:14):
fields excuse me, was worked with the first team Kyle
Allen and then John Reese plumb Lee got some snaps
as well.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So we'll keep an eye on Russ Wilson as we
start to look towards that first preseason game and the
Steelers start to turn their focus to preparing for the
Houston Texans coming to town next Friday. Coach Tomlin spoke
following Friday Night Lights yesterday. Let's hear what he had
to say.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Man, just can't say enough about this atmosphere to night.
We really appreciate the relationship that we have with this community.
We appreciate their support. Hopefully we showed that with our
efforts tonight.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
We had a high intensity practice, but it's part of
the process.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
It's iron on ironst versus Steelers, but we do it
with the mindset that we're working towards something. There's the
only way to do it. It's no shortcuts, man. I
just really tip my cap to the guys for the
intensity that they brought to.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
The work tonight.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Bumps of bruises associated with play, nothing of any significance
will assess that I have more information for yous to
move forward tomorrow. I'll pause and open up for questions.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Like that from us.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Were talking about intense. That seemed to be very intense.
How would you best summarize that portion of tonight?
Speaker 5 (17:25):
I can't say enough about those top two backs, Nas
and Jalen. They set the tone for the drill.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Man.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
That's a drill that's advantaged linebackers obviously, but when you
got some strong minded runners, man, it makes it highly competitive.
And those two in particular don't run from the fight.
They run to the fight. I respect it.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We tak your offensive is confusing your defenses seven shocks
pretty regularly.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Now keep watching.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
It's early. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 5 (17:51):
I'm a reserve judgment man. We do it every day.
We building a large volume of plays. More than anything,
that area of the field is so significant. I'm just
worried about our overall trajectory, man, our knowledge of what
we're doing, how the game gets played down there, how
quickly decisions need to be made, And so I'm less
concerned about specifically what happened tonight.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Man.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
We'll be continually working. Put eight pounds in that five
pound bag.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Probably feels the.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
New offense was coming along at this point.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
So far, so good, but we're just a week ind
to it, man, We're really just starting to put some
of the significance components into place. Yesterday was our first
day introducing a play clock, for example, and so we
had the very early stages of it. But so far,
so good.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
When you're thinking a lot.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
More than one matchups for the individual drills, how much
of that is you've scripting it previously versus trying to
feel it in the moment and who you.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Want to see it's both.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
We come into it with a mindset like bodies people
at the same stage of development. We want the competition
to be intense and fair. You win enough for your battles,
you move up in competition. You don't win enough of
your battles, you move down in competition. That's just the
nature of this thing. So we come here with a mindset,
but we're willing to adjust based on what it is
we say, all right, coach, Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Coach Tomlin with the media following Friday night lights practice yesterday,
you could hear him speaking about the high intensity backs
on backers, giving praise to nausey and Jalen.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Like Labs and I were talking about.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
In that first segment, we'll kick around some of the
other stuff that he talked about. We'll get into seven
Shots from yesterday who was successful, and we'll hear from
Larry Ogunjobi as well. All that on the way on
the Training Camp Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
He sees the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola on Steeler's Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
The offense got the better of the defense again in
seven Shots yesterday. Labs seems that when the pads come on,
that's how it goes. But this was a bit of
an overwhelming victory. We heard Tomlin in the last segment
asked about it and he said, it's early, you know,
not to worry too much about the defense, but the
early returns are heavily favoring the offense with the pads on.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
It was a seven to nothing victory yesterday for that
side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Yeah, and let me let me say this what Mike
Tomlin says to the media after practice. In that sense,
his tone was a little different during the drill. You know,
we were talking about nausey Harrison, Jalen Warren and Patrick Queen,
and you know the trash talking that was going on
(20:28):
during backs on backers, Well the head coach got a
little involved during back excuse me seven shots and I'll
get to that. Here is, you know, we go, uh,
I'm gonna I'm gonna run down the seventh place. And
let me say this too. I can never remember seven
Oh I can. I cannot. I'm not saying that it
(20:51):
never happened, you know, because there was some times early,
you know, when the drill was first introduced.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
You had.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Ben Roethlisberger was a quarterback, you had Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell,
Heath Miller. I think it was at some point Martavis Bryant, Yeah,
you know, I mean and Ben was just standing back
there in the shotgun just picking it. I mean, who
(21:22):
are you going to cover? You know they're running crossing
routes in the end zone. You know, Ben would quick decisions,
accurate throws. I mean, it was, you know, when it started,
I thought, what's the point of this? You know, you
know it looks like a highlights package. But still I
don't ever remember it being seven to zero.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
So I mean because labs that you know, an offensive
player drops the pass, that's one point for the defense.
You know, it's not only beating the defense seven times,
it's not beating yourself too.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
Right, So okay, it started out again. As you mentioned
earlier in the previous segment, Russell Wilson was not a
PARTI team drills, so Justin Fields was out there first.
They threw a It was a you know, if I
was a defensive player, I might have said, you know
(22:13):
that there was a kind of a pick play on
safety Deshaun Elliott, or if you were an offensive player,
you might say that he was just confused, you know,
there was a mental error in the coverage. But it
looked like it was a quick kind of crossing thing
(22:34):
and Pat Fryer move broke clean towards the sideline. He
was wide open. Throw it to him, pitch and catch, touchdown.
The second play, another pass George Pickens right at the
goal line. I boxed out the defender. Touchdown. Third play
Nausey Harris up the middle, touchdown. Fourth play Justin Fields.
(23:01):
He held the ball a little bit to give George
Pickens some time to get across the back end line
right around the goalpost, and he put it up there
high for him. It was one of those pickings, you know,
snatched the ball out of the air and then as
he's coming down with he's holding the ball in both
of his hands but kind of away from his body
(23:23):
a little bit, and he's looking down and got his
feet in, uh touchdown. So that was for then that's
the win for the offense. Okay. So then Kyle Allen
comes out. It was he. It was a similar play,
only it was des Fitzpatrick was the receiver, and that
(23:45):
was another nice back of the end zone kind of
thing with a toe tap and NFL officials were working there,
which makes it a lot easier for me because they
call it and you can tell, you know, it was
easy touchdown. So that's five. The sixth play, they went
(24:05):
back to the run and well Michael p Ran powered
into the end zone six nothing. So then, as I said,
you know, the head coach was into this. So usually
Mike Tomlin will send the first units back out onto
(24:25):
the field if it's a three to three tie, but
this was six nothing. He sent the first units out, okay,
And if anyone didn't understand, you know, why he was
doing that, it became understandable very quickly because again justin
(24:49):
Fields was looking for Pickens, and it was kind of
a I won't call it a fade pattern, but it
was towards the side of the end zone, towards the
back and fields delivers the ball. Joey Porter Junior was
man on man with Pickens. Pickens tried to make a
move for the ball. There was some you know, hand fighting,
and the officials right there through the flag pass interference
(25:12):
in the end zone. So Tomlin ruled it a touchdown,
you know, passing because I didn't know what they would do,
you know, because if if that was a real game,
it's not a touchdown. I mean, first down, the ball
to one, and I didn't know if they'd run another
play or what. But Mike Tomland made it a touchdown,
as he is allowed to do since it's his practice
(25:35):
and he's the guy with the whistle, and he started
yelling seven oh seven, oh, you know that kind of thing.
And I know that I know everybody on defense could
hear him, because I could and I was farther away
than that. So again, a very spirited seven shots, another
win for the offense. And you know we heard Mike
(25:58):
Tomlin asked in his post practice briefing about the offense
fooling the defense. You know, I don't know if that's
the case or not, but they handled them yesterday and
it was you know, it's fairly definitive. Uh. And I
(26:19):
like what this is. This is Arthur Smith. This is
Arthur Smith's fingerprints all over this. Some running, some passing,
physical at times, smart at times, get the ball out quickly.
As I mentioned, you know, there were some passes thrown
to outside the numbers, some passes thrown you know, into
(26:40):
the middle of the end zone, you know, towards the
back part of it. Nice mix again, nice day for
the for the offense. Seven to zero. As I've said,
I never saw that before. I'm sure that that has
been mentioned and will be mentioned once or twice in
meeting rooms, probably the defensive meeting rooms more often than
(27:05):
the offensive meeting rooms. And it'll be interesting to see
how the seven shots works out today.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, definitely something to keep on an eye on in
today's practice. And you know, like you said in the
media session, it is early to have any worry about
the defense, But is there any kind of you know,
you're keeping an extra close eye on them now moving
forward to see if they can start to turn the
tide in the right direction because it is three and
ohero in pads for the offense so far in this camp, I.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Don't I don't think so you know what I see.
I think it's well, this is the way I'm looking
at it. It's such a refreshing change for the offense
to beat decisive and physical and uh, you know successful.
(27:56):
So no, I'm not looking at that way, looking at
at at it that way at all. I'm looking at
it in the way that you know that maybe the
we can argue about what the most significant offseason move was,
you know, adding Patrick Queen, signing Russell Wilson, you know
(28:17):
the steel them trade for Justin Fields, any of that stuff.
But one of the things that I keep bringing bringing
up is hiring Arthur Smith. I really like this guy.
I like his attitude, his mindset. I think it fits
well with this team's mindset. Historically, he's a good fit
(28:38):
with the head coach. I think he's a pretty good
fit with the offensive personnel on hand. You know, this
offensive line is getting to be, you know, a strength.
Certainly it already is a unit that you should not
trifle with. We have seen these guys as individuals stick
(29:02):
up for their teammates. They are willing to mix it up,
They're physical, they play with a nasty streak, or as
coaches say, they have a good playing demeanor. And you know,
we've talked about Nate Herbig Broderick Jones. You know, these
are guys that I don't think you want to mess with,
(29:25):
and they're they're developing this attitude, this personality over the
course of this training camp, and that to me is
much more exciting and looking at it the other way
and being worried about the defense because I don't think
that there's going to be a whole lot of other
(29:47):
defenses that are going to have a lot of luck
with this team in those kind of situations. You know,
when you have Nausey and or Jalen Warren as an
option in terms of of a short yardage run behind
that offensive line, you have pickings, you have friar mouth.
You know, you have those kind of weapons also available
(30:08):
to the quarterback. You know I mentioned earlier, you know,
Bend with some of the weapons he had. I'm not
going to say that this group can be that group,
but it certainly can be a whole lot better than
any group.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Maybe in between, well, the defensive line has to mix
it up with that offensive line every day at training camp.
And I have a couple of things that I want
to just throw at Labs before we wrap up this
segment with that unit, but before we get there. Larry
Ogunjobi caught up quickly with Missy Matthews before Friday Night
Lights practice yesterday.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Here's what he had to say.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Larry, Friday Night Lights and the annual tradition. What's it
like when you guys get here in this place is
just completely packed to watch practice?
Speaker 6 (30:48):
It's surreal. It's very humbling. You know, you come out
to the city and you just feel the energy. You
feel the crowd. They're super excited for us to be
so man, it's an amazing experience. Man, it almost has
been a lost for words there you go.
Speaker 7 (31:02):
Isn't nostalgic getting on those yellow buses to make the
trip here?
Speaker 6 (31:06):
Definitely? You know we all come through football in different
kinds of ways and fashions, but you know that Friday
night Light scenes is very different than you know, especial
to and near did all of our hearts and get
on that bus, the lights to fans, the crowd like
the kind of puss in perspective with this game really means.
So it's super awesome and.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
How great is it to just kind of break up camp.
You're not on the same practice field. It's a night practice.
It's a little different.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
I'm gonna just feel the energy. You know, You're feel
the crowd and the fans are super excited. Everybody's out
here having a good time. You know, it's very theatrical
when I love it. Man, is this it just really
puts things to perspective for me.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Larry Ogunjobi with Mithy Matthews before practice and labs. You know, Larry,
oh big contributor on that defensive line. We know what
we're gonna get from Hayward, or at least we hope
we know we're gonna get from Hayward Keanu Benton. We
hope to see him take a big year, two step forward.
But the guy that I kind of wanted to bounce
off of you is someone that's been having a very
good start to his camp and he kind of needs
(31:57):
to because it's robber meat road time for his career.
And that's the Marvin Leal and I noted in Dale's
practice report yesterday, another noteworthy play from him during practice.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Yeah. Let me, I'll get to that in just one second.
Just one comment on the on the sound we just
heard that was that happened? I saw it being taped.
Larry Ogunjobi was actually signing autographs at the fence wow,
while he was doing that interview. Yeah, so that's kind
of you know, again, it's it's one of the unique things,
(32:31):
special things about Friday night lights. I mean, he is
actually there. I think you could hear him say once
here you go. He was handing you know, one of
those little football white footballs back to a kid you know,
who was waiting for his autograph. And so he's doing
the interview signing autographs. There's people six seven deep around
(32:51):
that fence just waiting, you know, for whatever. And that's
part of it, you know that you kind of have
to to see that, I think to really appreciate it.
We see autograph sessions, you know, up here at Saint
Vincent College all every day, but that to me is
(33:11):
a special one because everybody participates. And it's again it's
that that that cyclone fence rings that the whole field
area and there are fans packed everywhere and you see
ninety guys divide up and just you know, kind of
(33:32):
everybody goes to a different area and they just signed
for fifteen minutes. It's it's unique, unique, let me say that. Okay,
now back to your point. Yeah, the marvel Leale, this
is a big, big year for him.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Yeah, kind of like how we were talking about Mark
Robinson you were yesterday having a big year.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
It's it's similar, right, yes, it because they're at that
point in their contracts where now the team or any
NFL team for any player in that sit situation, he's
going to have to make a decision on you know,
this guy's future or what they perceive to be his future.
And this would be a second contract when you get
(34:12):
to this point in your in your rookie contract, your
third year, and it's it's a business, you know, and
so you know they're making decisions, you know, financially, and
if you're just a guy or as they call it
in the scouting profession, a jag jayag just a guy,
(34:37):
they can get somebody cheaper than you to be just
a guy. So uh, sometimes it's not a big savings,
but rather than pay someone in their second contract, I
don't know, seven eight nine million dollars a year, they
can get another guy younger, either you know, another rookie
or a first year player, you know, something like that
(34:59):
for the vetter or minimum, which would be just around
a million, maybe a little bit more. So, you know,
those are the kind of decisions that NFL front offices
make all the time. And so to Marvin Leale Mark Robinson,
since they're both in the same situation in terms of
the years of service, this is what they are looking at.
(35:22):
Big season for both of them. Now, you know, to
Marvin Lelle he came out of college Texas A and M.
He was a third year junior. I think he was
twenty going on twenty one or something, very young, very young,
and physically very young. And by that, what I mean
(35:43):
by that is, if you're a twenty one year old
defensive lineman in an NFL training camp, you could be
lining up against a twenty seven or twenty eight year
old offensive lineman and a drill. Now, you know, you
look at that and you think, well, it's not that
much of an age difference, you know, six seven years,
(36:05):
but the human body at those two respective periods in
its development, it's significant. You know, one guy is maybe
just old enough to be able to order, you know,
a drink in a bar, and the other guy, as
they say in scouting rooms, he's a grown ass man.
(36:27):
So that's that's a significant that's a significant difference. You
can look at it either as a significant advantage for
the older player or a significant hurdle to be scaled
by the younger guy. So that's what the Marvin Leale
was facing. He also is something of a tweener for
(36:50):
lack of a better word. You know, he's not a
two hundred and ninety five pound end, nor is he
you know, a two hundred and fifty five I've found
mobile TJ. Watt Alex Highsmith kind of guy that maybe
you can use on the edge, So you know, you
got to find some place for him. I think his
(37:13):
one of his early years, I don't know if it
was his rookie year here TJ. Watt was injured, maybe
it was his second year, I don't remember now, but
they used him a little bit out there, certainly not
in the same ways that you would use T. J.
Watt with all the different assignments and freedom, but they
put him out there because he had some movement ability,
(37:35):
but he also had some size, and you know they
were looking for somebody you know, your grasp when its
straws when you're trying to fill a hole in the
lineup because of an injury to TJ. Watt, So they've
been trying to find a spot for him. He's trying
to develop as a human being, physically and as a
(37:57):
football player. You know, this is big gear for him.
He has flashed some things where you think maybe it's
starting to turn the corner for him. And he's a
guy again we talked about this yesterday. When you're looking
at who you're gonna deploy on those kickoff teams, coverage
(38:21):
and returns, you know, a guy like the Marvin Leal.
He had some size, he's had some mobility. He's a
defensive player, so tackling, you know, is in his DNA.
Maybe that's you know, maybe he can give you something
in that area that another defensive lineman. Not that he couldn't,
(38:45):
but maybe you don't want him out there because you
don't want a lot of players on that kickoff coverage team.
I don't think certainly, not based on what we saw
Thursday night, but you wouldn't think you want guys who
are bigger and stouter as opposed to guys who are
somewhat mobile and athletic to make plays in space, tackles
(39:07):
in space, one on one tackling situations, you know those
kind of things. So you know, we'll see, but it
is a it is a big season for Marven Leale.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Well, you mentioned TJ.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Watt a little bit in your answer there, and he
had a big accolade bestowed upon him again last night,
a long list of accolades that he's had in his career.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
So we'll talk about that.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
The NFL Top one hundred revealing their top ten where
he landed in that top ten. I know you love
list laps, So we have to get this in before
we wrap up our show today, so that'll be on the.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
Right huh huh. Got to get me up early on
a Saturday, after Friday night lights and then get me
all wound up and okay, I'm ready for you though.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
My job, That's what I'm here for. So that's up next.
We wind labs up on the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Hec's the Training Camp Report with Tom Opferman and Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
As we said, going to break in the last segment
Labs hasn't met a list that he doesn't want to
break down, So we're going.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
To do that now.
Speaker 2 (40:15):
The NFL Top one hundred completed last night, a big
television program on NFL network, make it a big spectacle
of it. But a Pittsburgh Steeler is firmly cemented in
that top ten.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
It is TJ. Watt.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
He comes in at number eight. I'm sure there is
a bunch of debate happening on if he's too low.
I think he is too low. He should be a
little bit higher in my mind. But you know, when
it comes to lists like this, you tip your cap
to it, you say, thanks for recognizing TJ as an
all time great, but also who the hell decided that
he was number eight?
Speaker 3 (40:46):
And what's the merit behind that at all?
Speaker 4 (40:49):
Well, you hit it the nail on the head earlier
in describing it a giant TV show on NFL network.
That's what it's about. A television show. They use it
to generate buzz over I don't know how many days
and weeks because they you know, reveal it in little chunks. Okay,
(41:12):
is a ten? Because I only pay I don't pay
attention enough to even know that. That's how ridiculous I
think it is. You know, they say that the players vote.
I don't believe that. I don't believe that players take
the time to do that. I just don't. I Mean,
(41:34):
that's not that's not where their mindset is, that's not
where their interests lie. There's not any you know, I
have my own skepticism even about Pro Bowl voting, whether
that you know, the players actually do that or how
that is done, because I've always believed this. Okay, let's
(41:57):
just use an example here of in the in the
defensive line room when it's time to vote for the
Pro Bowl. Okay, so you're not allowed to vote for
anyone on your team. Okay. So let's say though, that
somebody on your team is a candidate, a legitimate candidate
(42:24):
for a Pro Bowl. Berth as an offensive lineman. So
the defensive lineman say, okay, we're going to vote for
Joe Blow, who has no chance because by doing that,
you're taking away votes from your guys top competitor. So
(42:45):
you're not allowed to vote for him, but you're not
voting for his competition either. So his main competition, right,
So you're helping him get to the Pro Bowl. You
don't think that happens, Come on, I do. So that's
the kind of thing that happens, in my opinion, in
(43:09):
a lot of these voting situations, especially involving players who,
as I said, that's not their mindset. I mean, they don't,
you know, they're not. I just I cannot imagine a
realistic scenario where you know, the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati
(43:29):
Bengals all gather and they're ranking the top hundred players.
I mean, because and I don't know how this votes
or this this vote works, but you're telling me that
the Bengals can't vote for Joe Burrow or can they
if they excuse me? And if they can, you think
(43:51):
that would be ninety votes for him number one exactly, Yeah,
you know, or the at least the best quarterback. You know,
maybe it's not number one. I don't even know how
it happens if you're voting for guys you know, one
through one hundred, or if they chop them up into
positions and vote for them that way. But you know
(44:12):
who who does this? Who organizes this? Where do you
when do you get the players together? You know that
this is going to happen you're doing it at mini camp,
you know, gee, they don't have anything else on their
minds then, or maybe this would be an even better idea.
Maybe you wait a mini camps over and they're all
(44:34):
off until the started training camp. Yeah yeah, right, try
and herd the cats, you know, and get that done.
So I just again, you you summed it up perfectly
in my opinion. It's a gigantic TV show. It apparently
does well for NFL network, you know, good for them. Uh,
you know, I don't. I don't want to. I don't
(44:57):
want to see anybody at that place lose their oh
because nobody's watching it or you know, anything like that.
But I just don't. It's not for me. I don't
believe in it. Who was number one?
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Tyrie Hill was number one this year. Unbelievably, Patrick Mahomes,
who I think is on a generational all time level
run at quarterback, the most important position in all of sports,
he landed at number four somehow, So.
Speaker 4 (45:21):
There you go. Okay, so thank you for making my case.
I mean, because it's Patrick Mahomes or others at his
position who enable receivers to be what they are quite simply,
you know, uh, Tyreek kill has himself a pretty good
(45:42):
quarterback himself in Tua Tuga, I loa, where was he? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (45:48):
You know, I'm not off the top I had, but
he was on the list for sure. He was in
the top.
Speaker 4 (45:52):
Okay, okay, well yeah, I would hope so. But I mean,
how could you know you're the best receiver. I would
assume the quarterback would have to be up pretty high too.
And did Tom Brady win it every year when he
was playing? You know again, who was Because if you
would informally maybe pull every every other coach in the NFL,
(46:17):
you know who is a guy that you know you
hate going against, I bet your Brady was hig up
on the list. So anyway, that's that's my rant on lists.
And thanks forgetting my blood boiled.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
I love it. This is exactly what I wanted.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
I wanted to push the buttons and it worked out
like a planned Thanks for listening for us today. We're
gonna hand it off to Wolf and Starks. We're gonna
go in the locker room now for the next couple
of hours practices at one fifty five today at Saint
Vincent College. The team is back on campus and labs
and I will be back again tomorrow morning at nine
am for another edition of the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com