August 10, 2022 • 48 mins
Bob Labriola and Tom Opferman recap yesterday's practice including how the Quarterbacks played before we hear from Coach Tomlin and his thoughts. We then tackle the third OLB spot and how the Wide Receivers have been shining so far in camp on this edition of The Training Camp Report!
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Man, We're really excited to be here. It's awesome to
get started, and so now we take off. PC's the
training camp report what Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola on
Steelers Nation Radio. Steelers practice was moved yesterday to ten
thirty in the morning, and our very own Bob Labriola
loved the change so much that he petitioned no, He
(00:28):
demanded that the Steelers do the exact same thing today.
Practice has again been moved up to ten thirty am today,
So if you're planning on heading up to Latro, make
sure you get there a little bit earlier than you
originally planned. Tickets will still be honored for the one
pm practice today, So just moving up to ten thirty
in the morning, labs, someone's looking at that Doppler radar
(00:49):
even more than you are up at camp, and that
Doppler rador might be the m v P so far
in Steelers training camp. Well. You know, UM, I won't
say I demanded the change. Dreamt about it though, you know, Um,
and sometimes dreams do come true. Uh. You know, I'm
just happy we're not getting on busses again, you know, seriously, Um,
(01:12):
And I'm sure Mike Tomlin wants to avoid that at
all costs as well. So you know, what happened yesterday
was and so much changes from day to day. I mean,
you know, in terms of the weather up here. Um,
I'm kind of a little bit out of touch what's
going on with the weather in Pittsburgh. But um, so
much changes based on you know what happens in the
(01:35):
uh late afternoon early evening, because that has seemed to
be the time when the floodgates open. And yesterday it
seemed based on the forecast that it was on chance
of rain. When I saw when I read it, uh,
it didn't turn out to be like that. So you know,
(01:56):
what the what the Steelers had done, you know, the
one day that they went to Latrope Stadium to have practice,
it wasn't so much because the fields here were soaked. Uh,
the actual you know, fifty three by a hundred yard
rectangle field that was soaked as it was the sidelines,
(02:17):
you know, the areas between um, the fields, and you
know that's not good either. I mean, you know, you
can't have guys because they were running out of bounds.
I mean, you know, it's it's football, and so you
don't want that where they're running from fairly sure footing
into muck, because that's an injury waiting to happen. Plus,
(02:38):
you have all of the equipment over there, and you
know you don't want stuff to like sag into the
mud and can't get it out, or it ruins the grass,
or you know, all those kinds of things. So yesterday afternoon,
for a while I noticed that instead of tarping the
whole field, they tarped sidelines. Um, so that you know,
(03:00):
if it did rain, that wouldn't it wouldn't add to
that issue, the issue that they already had. Um, apparently
it worked. Um, you know, I haven't been out to
see or I walk around it. I mean, I wouldn't
do that because I don't want to be down there
in the way. Um, you didn't run your fifty laps
(03:20):
around the field this morning like you usually do. I say,
I say that. Plus my uh, you know, I do
my gassers, hundred yard gassers. That's half. I don't want
to scare any of the people who might be here
early watching. Do you think the players, you know, this
is the second day in a row. Now they're gonna
(03:41):
wake up in the morning and find out they got
to practice in just a few hours. Do you think
they welcome that opportunity to kind of get things done
a little early and then have their afternoon watch some film, uh,
do their own individual stuff and really have a day
for themselves. Or do you think they're getting a little
tired of all this change? I know Tomlin wants them
to be ready for change. You have to be ready
for anything to happen. Like, like you mentioned on an
earlier show we did, what about the COVID year. You're
(04:03):
playing on a Wednesday at three in the afternoon, all
of a sudden, you have to be flexible in the NFL.
But do you think they're getting a little tired of Man,
it's every single day. We don't we go to bed
at night. We don't know what's going to happen the
next day. Uh, you know, I really don't know what
they're feeling. Is I think that you know, guys who
have ascended to this level of this sport, they've learned
(04:24):
a few things, and one of them is um as
that one famous Mike Tomlin quote when asked about something
changing during the COVID losing the bye to the Titans,
we do not care um and I think that, you know,
players have come to understand that when it comes to
(04:46):
a lot of these things, there's no sense complaining about
it because that's the that's the response they're going to
get from, you know, the head coach and the and
the people who gather to make these decisions. You know,
we do not care that you would rather practice at
one And who knows, maybe some of them actually prefer it,
(05:07):
because as Mike Thomlins said after yesterday's morning practice, I
prefer to practice in the heat of the day so
it's not as hot now. Uh. In fact, it might
not even be seventy degrees outside. I'm not really sure
because as I said, I haven't been out um to
feel what it's like, so you know, it could be
(05:30):
something that they actually prefer. Actually, I just looked for
at the temperature seventy degrees exactly, so you know, it's
not gonna be much warmer than that by the time
then thirty rolls around. So who knows, you know, especially
the big guys, maybe they prefer it in the morning
because it's not as hot. Yesterday, on this very program,
we anointed not only Kenny pick At the starting quarterback
(05:52):
after making some offl looking throws. I started sketching his
bus for Canton. I have several rough drafts in my
notebook right here. I was going to send it along
to Can't today after the show, but then I read
your practice report last night. He's throwing two interceptions, one
to James Pierre, one to Chris Steele. This guy now
should be cut. We should probably look into firing members
of the front office, the scouts that decided to pick
(06:12):
him in the first round. I mean in my office here, yes, okay,
in a word, yes, um, but uh, he also continued
to make some nice throws. I mean he down in
the they call it tight red zone. You know that's
a that's a critical area obviously, and you know for
(06:33):
the reasons that, um, you know our mathematical you know,
sevens instead of threes is one prime example. But another
thing in terms of the evaluation process of a quarterback,
especially in a young quarterback, why it's uh an important
area is that everything's in tight quarters, you know, So
(06:55):
you have to be precise with your throws. You have
to be on time. If your throws, I have to
be accurate, and um, you know you have to put
some zip on it because if you lolligag it in there.
You guys make up ground really fast in this league.
So I mean there was one play just that, just
a as an example of that guy's making up ground
(07:17):
very fast in this league. Um Uh. During one of
the red zone drills, George Pickett ran a more of
a post pattern than a slant because he was running
uh shallow in the end zone for a while, you know,
maybe from I don't love for maybe fifteen yards. Say
(07:38):
he's running across the middle and the ball was delivered
to him. Uh, and he caught it. Okay, he made
a nice catch, But you could see Minca Fitzpatrick coming
from the other direction and he's flying and you know,
Pickens catches the ball and then Fitzpatrick just flies by.
You know, he's a veteran enough too, He's not gonna
(08:00):
have a brain cramp and hit the guy. But if
that's the game, there's gonna be contact there. Uh. And
he had enough time and Fitzpatrick is savvy enough and
good enough that he could aligned him up and hit
him with his shoulder in the chest, you know, not
gone for the head. He wouldn't take out his knees
(08:21):
if it was an opponent say hit right, And so
you know that's that's another thing that you know, you
have to quarterbacks have to be aware of because a
lot you know, Tom Brady has said this, a lot
of these hard hits these guys that they call unnecessary
roughness and stuff, that's quarterback's fault. You shouldn't you shouldn't
(08:44):
lead a guy. You know, you should know what as
the quarterback, you should know what the coverage is. And
I don't lead a guy into you know, a car
wreck with the ball because the receiver's got to be
looking at the ball and concentrating on that and his
jaw up. He's been trained, you know, you don't want
to hear footsteps and all that stuff. So he's concentrating
(09:05):
on the ball. He's running fast and get the ball.
And if the quarterback is I won't say lazy, but
makes that mistake, you know that one's on you. You
know when when your receivers lying there, um, maybe busted up,
hopefully not concussed. So um, yeah he was he can
he Pickett made some nice throws in that tight area.
(09:29):
Um and so but yeah he did throw a couple
of picks too, and the one pick the James Pierre
pick was, you know yesterday on this very show. To
use your phrase, Um, we were talking. I was talking
about one of the big time NFL throws Kenny Pickott
made in the previous practice. Was that long out pattern.
(09:51):
You know he was on the other hash. You know,
he delivered it about I don't know, thirteen or fifteen
yards down the field, but all the way across. That
was one of those ones he threw that again. Now
it was It's hard for me to judge, you know,
if the ball had a little bit too much arc
on it or James Pierre just made a great play.
Who knows. Maybe I don't want to not give him credit.
(10:14):
He may have just known what's coming or read the
receiver the way he was, you know, shuffling his feet
and you know, sinking his hips or whatever he's looking for,
and he just made a great play because he did
have to dive for the ball. It was one of
those ones where you know he just caught it like
he was the intended receiver. Um, but you know again
(10:38):
that that's maybe we'll we'll let Mike Sullivan and Matt
Cannon to handle this part. Uh, that maybe is not
a throw he should have made or attempted UM. But
again that's I'll leave that to the coach and the
coordinator and they can and the head coach too, They
can talk to Kenny Pickett about that however they want to.
(10:59):
But the out come was not obviously what the offense
was looking for. We've talked a lot about Kenny the
past couple of days. We've heard from Kenny as well.
We haven't really touched a lot on Mitch the past
couple of days. And you have to admit, there's definitely
been some scene improvement out of Mitch Trobinsky. He's starting
to show some flashes of why the coaching staff is
so confident in him being that number one quarterback and
(11:20):
have been pretty much since signing him to the team. Yeah.
And you know what I continue to see him do
and I think do well is his understanding and usage
of when to run. Uh, you know, he's not I've
gone over this with UM a couple of questions and
(11:42):
asked and answered where you know, trying to explain the
difference between a mobile quarterback and a run quarterback. You
know you don't want a guy, Well, let me say this,
Mitch trobisk Mitch Trobinsky is not the kind of guy
whose skills that lends itself to um, you know, trying
(12:05):
to be Lamar Jackson. He's not that. You know, you
don't want him Trabinsky if he's in the shotgun, you know,
looking for one receiver and then pulling the ball down
and trying to make a play with his legs. But
there was a play in seven Shots where you know,
Trabinsky rolls out a little bit and if a lane
(12:26):
opens up, you know, he only needs two yards to
get the ball in the end zone. And so you
want him to do that, you know, uh, use your
legs because a lot of times that's safer than putting
the ball in the air. As I mentioned, it's close
quarters a lot of defensive players you know, in an
enclosed area. Uh. So you know again, I think he's
(12:47):
starting to show that, which is uh something that the
Steelers found attractive about him. And I think that, um,
you know, it can really help the offense too, because
you know, you know, when it's on, when the shoes
on the other foot you're playing the Buffalo Bills. I
can tell you that Mike Tomlin and and the the
(13:08):
defensive coordinator last year was Keith Butler this year will
be you know, Tara Austin and Brian Flores will be
involved in this too this year. You gotta keep him
in the pocket, you know, because if you get slompy
with your rush, your pass rush and guys, you know,
if the if the guys on the outside try and
you know, beat their block or inside to get pushed inside,
(13:29):
and that kind of opens up that side of the field.
Josh Allen is the kind of guy who's gonna take that.
And then he either gets out on the on the
flank and runs for big yardage sometimes depending upon what
coverage you're in, or he breaks down the coverage because
someone leaves their man, or someone thinks I've gotta go
(13:49):
tackle him, or you know, whatever the reaction might be.
And then he hits you know, throws a pass over
your head or where you were supposed to be or
where you once were and are not there any longer,
and you know, you're you're giving up big plays. So
I think that the Steelers had seen enough of that
and dealt with that enough that they decided, well, you know,
(14:11):
let's kind of join that club a little bit now
that Ben's retiring. Um And because you have a chance
to you know, first of all, get a younger guy
who hasn't been as beat up as Ben was at
the end of his career. Uh. And uh, you know
that's there seems to be a lot more of those
kinds of quarterbacks in the league than there were in
two thousand and four, the last time the Steelers were
(14:32):
looking to draft a quarterback, you know, high in a draft.
Coach Tomlins spoke to the media following practice yesterday. Let's
take a listen to what coach had to say. Man
A minor changes to the schedule today. We just thought
it was very necessary to get our work in. We
looked at the doppler and thought this afternoon might be
questionable at best, and so we made the necessary changes.
(14:55):
It is our preference to practice in the heat of
the day. We believe it it aids team development, particularly
from a conditioning standpoint. But but we have a hardcore plan.
We remain light on our feet and do what it
is that we need to do in an effort to
get the work done. I appreciate the spirit and the
attention of the guys. They woke up this morning and
woke up to a schedule of change and and that's
an awesome part of team development as well. UM. Often
(15:18):
times they're gonna be things without outside of our control
that we have to adjust to, uh, flight delays, etcetera. Um,
But at the same time, when it's time to play,
we're gonna be responsible for the play lightning delays, and
so we always approach subtle changes and adjustments we have
to make in that spirit understanding that is preparing us
for the journey. UM, good days work. Today, Man Adams
(15:42):
went down during practice with with an ankle injury. He's
being evaluated. UM. They're They're countless guys that are working
themselves back to us in a variety of of of
levels of participation. And that's important, UM, because it's good
for them and it's good for us, particularly with what
awaits us at the end of the week stepping in
to a stadium as a big component of development and
(16:03):
in dividing the labor and getting a sense of really
where we are. Questions, coach, you're talking about Isaiah Louder
If he looks like a totally different person right now,
and you always look for growth from your one to two,
two to three, Where is he right now? I think
he's taking a step that we would anticipate. Um, but
obviously there's a lot of ball out in front of
him and us so and that remains to be seen.
But he's done a great job of shaping his body.
(16:26):
He came highly conditioned per his position, and so he
has positioned himselves to do the things that we expect
guys like him to do, uh second lap around the
track with the knowledge of the journey and a certain
level of expectation, at least culturally. What we're trying to
do from an environmental standpoint is a leg up for
those guys and and and so we expect those players
to come with it. She said. He's been working with
(16:47):
Braindon Marshall and diagnosing defensiones, watching films, things like things
like that. How have you seen him get better at that?
Are improve of that just through this short time. He's
missed some time and so he's just just getting his
feet under under him. I don't know that those things
have revealed him else to this point. With those extra reps,
how have you seen George Pickens progressed from this our
campus all now he's continually getting better, he is. What
(17:08):
about Jalen Warrant, He's another kid who just comes in
there and makes places. Say. You know, one man's misfortune
is another man's opportunity. We say that often and we
mean it. Uh. There's an attrition component to this process.
And and we don't waste time worrying about the time missed.
We're focusing on things. As you mentioned, a guy like
Jalen getting additional reps, a guy like Mastertigue is kind
(17:29):
of getting on a moving train and getting an opportunity
to show what he's capable of. Uh. These are awesome
days and opportunities for young people with the schedule changing.
How did that impact walk through? Is that before you
guys can do that after We're gonna get all our
work work done today. We just flipped it around a
little bit like the Bolton neck player. Cam Sutton, hands
are going the way I can see it out there
(17:50):
on the field and house. It always has been. UM.
I think back to the night I met Cam Sutton
the day before is Pro day, when he was coming
out of Tennessee. Um, we met with him as we do.
We talked schematics, he got on the board, he drew
up all twenty two. He talked in a real global
sense and Kevin Colbert and I and I just looked
at each other. Um, his his global football knowledge and
(18:13):
awareness and his ability to articulate it is unique, has
been unique, and it shows up often in his play.
Not only in his play, but his communication helps others.
Don't you liked about Derek Chriscarrett not third outside, he's working, Um,
he's working with a group of others to distinguish themselves.
And and so we'll just keep snapping the ball and
(18:34):
seeing what those guys do. But not enough yet, uh
to speak in the manner which you reference. We see
some chemistry developing fourteene sis. I think it's reasonable to
expect chemistry to develop with all guys. Um, we're working here,
and we're working here daily. That's kench Thomlin speaking to
the media following practice yesterday. Reminder, practice today was moved
(18:56):
up to ten thirty in the morning, so just a
little over an hour until today's practice gets underway. When
we come back, though, we're gonna kick around what Tomin
was talking about at the end there about the Lante
Scott and the third outside linebacker group. Take a look
at that position battle and also talk about the wide
receiver group that continues to shine throughout training camp for
your Pittsburgh Steelers. That's all on the way next right
(19:17):
here on the Training Camp Report on snr VC Star
Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman at Bob Labriola on
Steelers Nation Radio. Steelers practice just about an hour away
from getting started at St. Vincent College. Day again moved
(19:38):
up due to inclement weather threatening the afternoon session, So
ten thirty am start for your Pittsburgh Steelers Labs. To
end that last thing made, we listened to Tomlin as
we always do in our opening segment here on the
Training Camp Report, and he was asked the question about
what he thought of Derrek Tusca's play and basically just
that third outside linebacker spot in general. You noted in
(19:58):
your observations U from uh yesterday's practice that Delante Scott
made a play. He's been showing up you. You mentioned
on the night show you did on d V last night.
You know, you've kept saying, who's that number fifty, Who's
that number fifty out there making plays? So there's a
couple of guys, you know, with their hand in the pile.
As far as that third outside linebacker spot is concerned, No,
one's worried about number one outside linebacker. Obviously, Alex Heismith
(20:21):
is a very solid NFL capable starter. He's proven that
over the past couple of years. But it's that third
spot at that outside linebacker group that I think gives
a lot of people pause. Yeah, and I'm not, um,
I'm not willing to, you know, proclaim Delante Scott the winner,
you know, of any competition, even you know for the
third spot. You know, Derrek Tusca, I thought that, um,
(20:43):
you know, he showed some things over the course of
last season after the Steelers, I believe they picked him
off the Denver Broncos practice squad. Excuse me, especially you
know in terms of his ability to be somewhat productive
in you know, those periods of a game where you know,
t J. Watt and or Alex Tysmith come out just
(21:05):
to get a breather. So you know, the Steelers like him,
uh tusk. I mean, you know, Delonte Scott was one
of those guys who was added later in the season,
and he tried to get on, as Mike Tomlin always says,
get on a moving train. Um, I think that they
were a little reluctant to have to play Delonte Scott
(21:27):
you know, down the stretch last season in terms of
him be ready you know for you know, all the
different nuances of the position. You know, very Uh possibly
could have used this offseason, you know, to to kind of,
um get up to speed on a lot of the things,
the nuances. And then the Steelers also signed Gerard avery
(21:50):
Uh as a free agent. He's a you know, a
fifth year player. He has some NFL experience and you know,
knows what it's about, I think. And he's also a
guy you know, I mentioned who's number fifty, and sometimes
I'm saying who's number forty nine because that's Avery Um,
you know, Tusk I'm more familiar with because that's been
(22:11):
his number. Um. So as I'm learning the numbers of
the new guys, um, you know that that always helps
me learn them when they're doing something that you have
to continue to look down at the roster. Who was
that guy? Because he's making himself noticed. So, ye know what,
we're gonna have to see how that how that works
(22:31):
out now one of the guys, and this shows you
what I know, one of the guys that I was
a little bit excited about, you know, during the off
season program. Um you know O t as mini camp
and stuff was Tyree Johnson. He was an undrafted rookie
from Texas A and M. You know, and when I
looked him up, he had eight sacks for Texas A
and M last year. He played with the Marvin Leal
(22:55):
down there on that ages defense, and I thought, well,
maybe this guy is going to turn out to be
a find um and help with that outside linebacker depth
that you know, we all knew was an issue on
the drive up to here. So but he got cut quick. Uh,
he wasn't well, He wasn't waved injured. So I won't
(23:16):
say he wasn't injured, but he wasn't waved injured. So
I'm just assuming that, you know, there was something about
him that wasn't special enough, uh to keep or to
try and develop or you know, I heard he ran poorly,
and sometimes in the NFL, if you run poorly, you
know you're below them and dooze line. You know, you
you may have been a productive player in college, you
(23:38):
can get away with being an outside linebacker running a
four nine or five oh in the forty, but that
doesn't cut it up here at this level. So I
heard he ran poorly. That's why he wasn't drafted. Maybe
his speed uh hampered him to the degree that you know,
the Steelers just decided that he wasn't gonna work out
and they needed to uh you know, cut to give
(24:00):
his reps to someone else that they can try and develop. So, UM,
you know, we're gonna have to see how it works out.
And this it's gonna be. These preseason games are gonna
be huge for those guys because I can't you know,
t J. Watt may want to play, I can't imagine
him getting a much playing time because we saw last
(24:20):
year he didn't even participate in team drills until just
about the season started. And yeah, yeah, yeah, So um,
I think that a similar preseason plan will be in
place for him, especially since you know he has taken
part in all all of training all the training camp practices. UM,
(24:42):
just let me throw this in since it's a a
little bit of news that just came across my laptop here.
You know, while I was over in Mike Tomlins room
earlier demanding the practice we moved to the morning. I
also I also said to them, you know, it would
help me and Tom on our show if you could
like send me a practice script, and so I have
(25:03):
the practice script. Now anything you want. I mean, you know,
you have to show a firm hand around, especially when
you're you talk about being at the bottom of the
depth chart. That would be me, that's describing me. So anyway, Uh,
seven shots, you know, start off as usual. Uh, and
then the drill will comminate or the practice excuse me,
(25:26):
will culminate with another session of two minutes. And you
know one of the things about two minute is they
UM set the the criteria. You know, so it's gonna
be the ball is gonna be on the on your
own forty. So that's gonna go sixty yards in a
minute and thirty eight, you've got one time out and
you need to touchdown to win. That's the offenses, uh job.
(25:49):
And then the defense obviously understands that, you know, they
have to defend sixty yards you know, in seconds the
other team has one time and you can't let him
get in the end zone. That's that's the situation for
the defense. So you know, that should be interesting. And
I would imagine that what we have seen UM in
the earlier rendition of two minutes. Two quarterbacks get to
(26:14):
do it. You know, they do it twice, so we'll see.
Now yesterday was it yesterday? See? I hate day Um,
but they did one of those little switches with Kenny
Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Okay, so you know, I don't
(26:35):
know if that's gonna be the way it is today,
but if it is, you know, Pickett would get his
first chance at two minutes and it wouldn't surprise me
if it was Picket today because I would imagine he's
gonna see some playing time on Saturday against the Seahawks.
I'm gonna make sure I got my days and teams
(26:55):
right here Saturday against Okay Acresure Stadium too. Don't try
and trick me. I know I know the name, Um
seven pm, right um. But um, so you know, if
if Pickett is gonna play, you would think that the
way depending on the rotation Saturday, I would think he's
(27:17):
either gonna be in the game at the end of
the first half or if Mason Rudolph goes in after Trabinsky,
then he would pick Up would probably be at the
end of the game. So you you could possibly have
a two minute situation either or they're regardless of the
quarterback rotation. So I think you want to get picked
some practice at that because it's not only what you
(27:40):
have to do in terms of uh, you know, on
the field, um, but you you know, you gotta practice uh.
There probably is no huddle you know in that situation.
So you're getting the call in your helmet uh from
the coordinator from Matt Canada, and then you gotta come
indicate that at the line of scrimmage you've got a
(28:02):
running clock or a play clock you've gotta deal with.
You gotta know how to manage that. You've gotta be
paying attention for when they want a time out. You
gotta be paying attention when you need to uh clock
it spike the ball. And so there's a lot of
communication that goes on, uh from the sideline to you
as the quarterback, and then from you to the breast
(28:22):
of the guys on the field as the quarterback. Maybe
there's personnel changes, groupings. You've gotta keep all of that straight.
You've gotta make sure you know, if two receivers come
on and to go off, Okay, who's supposed to be aware?
So when you when you get them on the line
of scrimmage, you gotta look around and make sure because
you're probably gonna be out there with young players yourself.
(28:43):
Maybe they're in a wrong spot, you know, are they
are they going in motion when they're supposed to, Are
there two guys in motion at the same time. All
of that stuff you have to be aware of. And
you know, I would think that for a rookie, you would,
even a young player, you want to have some um
practice at it before you have to actually do it
(29:03):
in a game, no question. Whoever the quarterbacks are well,
obviously Mitch will be one of them, but whoever takes
with the second team will certainly be hoping to get
some help from their wide receiving corps in that two
minute drill because the wide receiving corps has been given
them a lot of help so far in practice. We
know about Pickens, he's been the camp Darling. Claypool returned
to practice yesterday and had some pretty eye popping catches,
(29:24):
so it's good to see him come back from injury
and immediately make an impact. But Labs, you've actually noticed
another wide receiver that has been popping a little bit
in the receiving game that might be off of a
lot of people's radars. Excuse me. Yes, you know, when
when camp started, um, who's at a unine, I kept
saying to myself, you know, and now I'll have to
do that anymore, because that's Gunna Roschewsky and he has
(29:47):
done enough you know through this point, Um that you
noticed him. I noticed him enough times and um, you know,
so I know his number. And this is a guy
who he played for New England. Um, he was primarily
a kick returner, punts and kickoffs. They're also did some
(30:07):
slot receivers, spot receiver stuff. Kind of reminds, you know,
and I don't want to, you know, stick him with
a comparison then that he has to live up to.
But since he played New England, his size, his role,
and it kind of reminds me of Edelman maybe Am
and Dola, you know, Danny Am and Dola Julian Julian
Edelman and uh, you know, Steelers fans will remember from
(30:30):
games against the Patriots that those guys can often be
a pain in the butt for the opponents. So you know,
what I've noticed from Gunn Rochowski is, uh he runs
good routes. Uh he's apparently slashed obviously where he's supposed
to be because he's caught in a lot of passes
and you don't you're not doing that if you know
(30:51):
the quarterback can't find you are You're not where he
thinks you're gonna be. Uh. He works the middle of
the field very nicely, and you know, he is a
factor down in the red zone. So he's a guy
that I think it's better than Ray Ray McLeod because
you know, for just as a quick, cheap comparison, you know,
(31:14):
he's a he's a returner, which McLeod was, and he
is a you know, extra receiver, which McLeod was. And
you know, I looked it up because I remember at
the end of the last season thinking why did they
continue throwing the ball to Ray Ray McCloud. You know,
isn't you know, isn't there someone else? McLeod was targeted
(31:36):
sixty six times last year, called thirty nine pass which
to me is not a great percentage. I'm not saying
they were all his fault um, but again I'm just
gonna say thirty nine catches on six sixty six targets
is not a great percentage. So you know, I think
all Schefski is better than him. I haven't seen Oshofsky
(31:57):
returned kicks because you know, and when you're doing it
in camp, there's no hitting, So who knows if you
know he's really breaking all those long returns or you know,
people are just not tackling because they're told not to.
We've kind of seen him do that though before, you know,
like we we know he can do that and that's
in his bag. So it's more encouraging to me. What
you're saying is that we're seeing him really excel in
(32:19):
the receiving aspect, because that's where I thought he might
be left out in the cold. If someone can return
a little bit better or just as good as him,
and you're not bringing anything to the table receiving wise,
then what's the point of keeping you on the roster? Right?
And what I will say about him because this I
can actually quantify. He catches the ball and are trusting
him because of that? No, No, what I mean is
(32:39):
catching the ball and punts, okay, because no muss are
gonna happen. Yeah, well, I'm not saying no muss practice.
He has been very very consistent catching the ball. Because
I know there's a guy who wears a headset on
the sideline who has zero tolerance for that. UM and
usually his word is final. Uh during especially during games.
(33:02):
So you know you cannot if you want to, if
you want to light Mike Tomlins fire in a bad way. Um,
turn the ball over to the other team just after
his defense got off the field. UM. Yeah, that's your
You talk about tempting your fate, that is that is
one decidedly sure way to do that. Well, we all
(33:26):
hope that there's a fire lit under Chase Claypool this year,
hoping to see a return to the Claypool and not
Claypool encouraging signs from yesterday's practice, he high pointed a
ball in the end zone and got both feet down
for a touchdown, although I guess there was some controversy
with a picture that was taken by a Steelers team
photographer where it looked like his foot might have just
(33:46):
been out of bounds, But hey, it was ruled a touchdown,
so who are we to argue with the person making
that ruling. Uh. It's a huge year for Chase Claypool
this year, though not just for his ability, or not
just for what he can contribute to the offense as
a whole, but for himself individually as well. Yeah, and
you know, let me say this, Uh, I thought even
(34:07):
after he injured his shoulder, during the time that you know,
between his shoulder injury, which if my memory is correct,
it was before pads went on and okay, and then
so he was you know, the rehabbing that they wanted
to get it well because that's one of those things.
You don't want him going in with a sore shoulder
that's nagging him, that might not be better, you know,
(34:29):
all season, and that's just that's just a stupid way
to go about it. So it's that early in camp.
He's a third year receiver. You've seen him do you
know a lot of the things you're gonna want him
to do this season, So you want to make sure
that that shoulder is not bothering him anymore. Because as
an example, um, the last day or two, he went
(34:51):
high for a reception, you know, and came down and
hit his shoulder and I'm not sure that it was
the one that was injured, but it was there was
can intact with the ground in his shoulder area. And
even if it wasn't the specific one, usually the jolt
from that kind of contact, you know, he's He's a
tall individual, so he's up in the air pretty high,
(35:12):
so the fault of the ground is longer maybe than
it is for others. Um, you know, there's a jolt
there that I can't imagine. Uh felt good, you know
in the in the injured area, previously injured area. So uh,
you know, he bounced uff from that. Continued practicing. Didn't
show any you know, any effects of it even uh,
(35:33):
certainly not to the degree that he would come out.
But you know, there wasn't any you know how they
sometimes you'll see a guy try and loosen it or
hold it or something that indicates that it the last play.
He felt some pain there. So there was that, which
is a good sign. The other thing I thought was
a good sign was how engaged Chase Claypool was when
(35:56):
he wasn't practicing. Um. You know a lot of times
guys stand on the side, you know, they wear their
jersey but no helmets or shoulder pads. But clip Chase
Claypool was wearing his you know, jersey, no helmet, he
shoulder pads. But he's running water for the other receivers.
You know, they have a cooler out there with you know,
(36:17):
some of those Gatorade energy drinks and you know the
quick um recharge whatever that's called. You know that that
that is necessary in some of the hot days that
you inevitably have up here during training camp. And he,
you know, he was kind of again just being a
help to the receivers even though he wasn't practicing, So
he was engaged with what's going on. You could often
(36:39):
see him, you know, uh, consulting the the script of
you know, they have a script of place for every period. Uh.
Sometimes they give them to players who are not participating
so they can follow along so you know what the
you know, the formation is and you know all that
kind of stuff. So he was engaged in practice. I mean,
(37:00):
he wasn't just down there standing around, you know, looking
up into the stands. Uh. You know, we're tracking the
rain clouds they inevitably come over the mountain. Uh, So
he was engaged in that. Uh. He has once he
has returned to practice, he has shown no uh effects
of the previous injury. You know, he's making place now.
So uh all all uh, all arrows are pointing up
(37:24):
for Chase Claypool. In my mind, from a physical and
psychological perspective, in this season which you know, it's a
big season for him too. Yes, the Steelers need him
to be more like the version of Chase Claypool than
the than the one version, and Chase Claypool needs to
be more like the version of himself because he entered
(37:48):
the league as a second round pick. So he's got
a four year contract. That's it. There's no fifth year option,
uh to pick up or whatever. So, you know, Chase Claypool,
I believe, you know, this is a huge season for
him because if he's the Chase Claypool, I believe the
Steelers management, including you know, Mike Tomlin, are going to
(38:12):
start looking at him as a guy that we want
to give a second contract to. Now, you know, negotiating
that and coming to terms with the number and all
that stuff. Okay, that's for down the road. But the first,
I believe, first step is do we want this guy
or not? And I think that so this season is
going to be you know a big part of that
(38:34):
evaluation slash decision by the team because if you know, um,
if you decide that you don't want a guy that
the NFL, an NFL team decides they don't want a guy.
You know, this sitting in this season with another one
coming up, then you might see them pick another tall
wide receiver high in the next draft. Uh. If they
(38:55):
want him, think they're gonna keep him, then you know,
maybe they looked to other areas for those premium picks
in the three NFL draft. So you know, someone told
me a long time ago that NFL teams, at some
point in every player's contract, they make a fine a
financial evaluation slash decision on this guy. Not final decision,
(39:19):
but you get what I'm where I'm going here with this. Okay,
Uh's at a point before the guy's contract is up,
because especially rookie or a guy who's on his rookie
contract to be accurate, because the rookie contract is usually
a very team friendly situation. Um, it's the next one.
(39:42):
We saw what some of those second contracts for receivers were, Um,
you know a few months ago, and it's it's big money.
You're looking at twenty million dollars a year. Uh, just
as a general and as Omar Khan said, Um, you know,
as a salary cap keeps going up, these sellaries going
to keep escalating and just are so whether a fan
(40:05):
thinks twenty million dollars as stupid excuse me, stupid to
spend on a wide receiver or not. You know, that's
the going rate, and so you either decide you want
to pay it or you know. Uh so, As I said,
this is a big season for Chase Claypool in two
ways for how the Steelers look at him and how
(40:26):
he contributes to them in terms of their success potential
success in when we come back, we're gonna take a
look at the inside linebacking unit and a couple of
observations from a few guys in that unit. To wrap
things up here on the Training camp Report right here
on snr DC's no Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman
(40:49):
at Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio, wrapping things up
before practice gets started at ten thirty today here on
the Training Camp Report and Labs and you noted in
your practice or port from yesterday, a couple of observations
having to do with the inside linebackers Devin Bush and
Robert Spillane. And we've talked a lot about how the
defense has looked a lot better, especially that linebacking corps
(41:11):
as far as stopping the run so far in this
training camp period. But the observations you had yesterday had
to do with both Bush and Spillane and coverage and
very encouraging things to hear from both of those guys.
But I'd say Spillane even more so, just because that's
been such a glaring weakness for him and he's been
showing that it might not be that big of a
weakness for him anymore. Yeah, I mean, I think it's
(41:33):
it was accurate to refer to Robert Spillane last season
as a liability and coverage and you know, you saw that,
you know, when the Steelers were, you know, obviously having
problems stopping the run. You know, when Robert Splaine was
had shown himself to be, you know, pretty good at
that aspect of the game. But when he would get
(41:54):
in the game, um, you know, his offenses often are
they're uncooperative with you know, detail, some personnel grouping and yeah, right,
you almost want to turn off their headsets, you know,
so they can't. But okay, Coach Belichick, that was Tom
(42:16):
Offerman who said that, So when next time he visits
to leutt Stadium, make sure he gets stuck in the elvator. Um.
But uh so, and you know, opposing teams would uh
do their best to give him a bad matchup in
coverage and then take advantage of it. You know, I'm
not I'm not here to trying to say to Robert Spillane,
(42:37):
is um, you know, the best coverage linebacker in the
league night right now? Nor is he even the best
coverage linebacker on the Steelers anymore. But I don't think
you can call him a liability anymore. You know, he's
representative in that aspect of it. He's competitive, um, and
so I think that there will be less, uh fewer
(42:58):
qualms about you know, sticking them on the field. And
the way it looks to me at the way it's
going right now is there's three guys that um seem
to be considered front line inside linebackers on this team
right now, mouse jack Um, Robert Splane and Devin Bush.
And UM, you know, I think that what I'm seeing
(43:20):
so far in camp indicates to me that there's somewhat
of a comfort level with all of them. And uh
so you know, you you you need more than if
you're gonna play two at a time, you need more
than just two. So that's good that you know, Splaine
now is showing that his game has you know, rounded
out a little bit more. He's not some one dimensional
(43:43):
and uh, you know that that's just good for the
defense because you look at those three guys and what
they're doing and Larry Ogan joby, I'm telling you, stealers
fans I think are gonna love this guy. I mean
they may have hated him that after that evening or
whatever it was afternoon in Cleveland when Myles Garrett assaulted
(44:05):
Mason Rudolph. Uh but he's he's you know, as Mike
Tomerlan he was asked about him, he said, he's a
grown man, and he is. He is in the middle
of that defensive line, not necessarily in the middle, but
in the interior. He's hard to move and you know,
if you lose track of him, he'll be buying in
sacking your quarterback. He had seven sacks last year. So, um,
(44:29):
that's a big part of I think trying to fortify
the middle of that defense, especially against the run, without
it being incapable of generating pressure on the quarterback with
the same personnel. Uh. So you know, the things are
coming together kind of you know, I'm gonna go to
the basilica and lighted candle for Larry ogan Job's foot
(44:53):
because to me, that's if this guy is healthy all
year and can play, um, it would be my opinion
to try and figure out some kind of long, long
term arrangement with him, because I think he is exactly
what Steelers fans wanted the team to draft in the
first round, the ones who didn't want a quarterback, and uh,
(45:17):
he comes with the bonus of, in my opinion, being
someone who contributes to the past rush. He could be
Javon Hargreave. I mean that's the name Steelers fans should
recognize and remember, you know what he brought in terms
of his ability to play both against play against both
the running the past. Yeah, no question, is still only
(45:37):
twenty eight years old, So as long as he gets
over that injury, there's definitely a long term future for
Larry Ogan Job, hopefully with your Pittsburgh Steelers. One last
guy in the inside linebacker position to touch on is
undrafted rookie Mark Robinson. Uh. Not a guy that's really
going to threaten those top three guys that you mentioned
or even you know, maybe see himself on the field
and in the defense capacity, But he looks like he's
(45:59):
you know, coming along pretty well. And if he can,
you know, really make some hay in the special teams department,
I think there's definitely a spot on the roster for him. Yeah.
What what Mr Robinson has shown uh me so far,
not that you know that's significant for his advancement in
this business, but he's one of those guys who uh
(46:19):
finds the ball, finds the guy with the ball and
gets him on the ground. And you know, that to
me is pretty much a primary job description for an
inside linebacker in the NFL. Uh And the other thing
that you know, it gives me hope that he can
develop into the kind of guy you're looking for is
who's a running back and he played running back, so
(46:42):
he has well yeah, and not only that, but I
mean there's a certain skill set that goes along with
that movement, you know, change of direction, you know, those
kinds of things that you know translate well to the
linebacker position how it's played in the NFL now. So yeah,
I have some optimism for him. I think it was
(47:03):
a very nice pick with seven B second pick of
the seventh round, I believe, and um, you know, when
you get a guy like that at that point, you
understand he's a developmental guy, but you're looking for special
teams people. So one of the things to watch during
the preseason. Um, he's number ninety eight, right. Let me
(47:25):
check this here looking here, you no excuse me? So
check is the Marvin Leeal. So, um, check for number
ninety three. Watch number for number ninety three in the
preseason games because if he goes down on a couple
of kickoffs and makes tackles. Um, this guy is. You know,
(47:46):
I won't say he's cement at a roster spot, but
he's certainly on the road to doing just that. Steelers
practice starts at ten thirty, so just about a half
hour away. Wolf and Starks are up next. They will
take you through practice handing things off to them here
on SNR Labs, and I will be back again tomorrow
at nine am for another edition of the training camp
Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
Man, We're really excited to be here. It's awesome to
get started, and so now we take off. PC's the
training camp report what Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola on
Steelers Nation Radio. Steelers practice was moved yesterday to ten
thirty in the morning, and our very own Bob Labriola
loved the change so much that he petitioned no, He
(00:28):
demanded that the Steelers do the exact same thing today.
Practice has again been moved up to ten thirty am today,
So if you're planning on heading up to Latro, make
sure you get there a little bit earlier than you
originally planned. Tickets will still be honored for the one
pm practice today, So just moving up to ten thirty
in the morning, labs, someone's looking at that Doppler radar
(00:49):
even more than you are up at camp, and that
Doppler rador might be the m v P so far
in Steelers training camp. Well. You know, UM, I won't
say I demanded the change. Dreamt about it though, you know, Um,
and sometimes dreams do come true. Uh. You know, I'm
just happy we're not getting on busses again, you know, seriously, Um,
(01:12):
And I'm sure Mike Tomlin wants to avoid that at
all costs as well. So you know, what happened yesterday
was and so much changes from day to day. I mean,
you know, in terms of the weather up here. Um,
I'm kind of a little bit out of touch what's
going on with the weather in Pittsburgh. But um, so
much changes based on you know what happens in the
(01:35):
uh late afternoon early evening, because that has seemed to
be the time when the floodgates open. And yesterday it
seemed based on the forecast that it was on chance
of rain. When I saw when I read it, uh,
it didn't turn out to be like that. So you know,
(01:56):
what the what the Steelers had done, you know, the
one day that they went to Latrope Stadium to have practice,
it wasn't so much because the fields here were soaked. Uh,
the actual you know, fifty three by a hundred yard
rectangle field that was soaked as it was the sidelines,
(02:17):
you know, the areas between um, the fields, and you
know that's not good either. I mean, you know, you
can't have guys because they were running out of bounds.
I mean, you know, it's it's football, and so you
don't want that where they're running from fairly sure footing
into muck, because that's an injury waiting to happen. Plus,
(02:38):
you have all of the equipment over there, and you
know you don't want stuff to like sag into the
mud and can't get it out, or it ruins the grass,
or you know, all those kinds of things. So yesterday afternoon,
for a while I noticed that instead of tarping the
whole field, they tarped sidelines. Um, so that you know,
(03:00):
if it did rain, that wouldn't it wouldn't add to
that issue, the issue that they already had. Um, apparently
it worked. Um, you know, I haven't been out to
see or I walk around it. I mean, I wouldn't
do that because I don't want to be down there
in the way. Um, you didn't run your fifty laps
(03:20):
around the field this morning like you usually do. I say,
I say that. Plus my uh, you know, I do
my gassers, hundred yard gassers. That's half. I don't want
to scare any of the people who might be here
early watching. Do you think the players, you know, this
is the second day in a row. Now they're gonna
(03:41):
wake up in the morning and find out they got
to practice in just a few hours. Do you think
they welcome that opportunity to kind of get things done
a little early and then have their afternoon watch some film, uh,
do their own individual stuff and really have a day
for themselves. Or do you think they're getting a little
tired of all this change? I know Tomlin wants them
to be ready for change. You have to be ready
for anything to happen. Like, like you mentioned on an
earlier show we did, what about the COVID year. You're
(04:03):
playing on a Wednesday at three in the afternoon, all
of a sudden, you have to be flexible in the NFL.
But do you think they're getting a little tired of Man,
it's every single day. We don't we go to bed
at night. We don't know what's going to happen the
next day. Uh, you know, I really don't know what
they're feeling. Is I think that you know, guys who
have ascended to this level of this sport, they've learned
(04:24):
a few things, and one of them is um as
that one famous Mike Tomlin quote when asked about something
changing during the COVID losing the bye to the Titans,
we do not care um and I think that, you know,
players have come to understand that when it comes to
(04:46):
a lot of these things, there's no sense complaining about
it because that's the that's the response they're going to
get from, you know, the head coach and the and
the people who gather to make these decisions. You know,
we do not care that you would rather practice at
one And who knows, maybe some of them actually prefer it,
(05:07):
because as Mike Thomlins said after yesterday's morning practice, I
prefer to practice in the heat of the day so
it's not as hot now. Uh. In fact, it might
not even be seventy degrees outside. I'm not really sure
because as I said, I haven't been out um to
feel what it's like, so you know, it could be
(05:30):
something that they actually prefer. Actually, I just looked for
at the temperature seventy degrees exactly, so you know, it's
not gonna be much warmer than that by the time
then thirty rolls around. So who knows, you know, especially
the big guys, maybe they prefer it in the morning
because it's not as hot. Yesterday, on this very program,
we anointed not only Kenny pick At the starting quarterback
(05:52):
after making some offl looking throws. I started sketching his
bus for Canton. I have several rough drafts in my
notebook right here. I was going to send it along
to Can't today after the show, but then I read
your practice report last night. He's throwing two interceptions, one
to James Pierre, one to Chris Steele. This guy now
should be cut. We should probably look into firing members
of the front office, the scouts that decided to pick
(06:12):
him in the first round. I mean in my office here, yes, okay,
in a word, yes, um, but uh, he also continued
to make some nice throws. I mean he down in
the they call it tight red zone. You know that's
a that's a critical area obviously, and you know for
(06:33):
the reasons that, um, you know our mathematical you know,
sevens instead of threes is one prime example. But another
thing in terms of the evaluation process of a quarterback,
especially in a young quarterback, why it's uh an important
area is that everything's in tight quarters, you know, So
(06:55):
you have to be precise with your throws. You have
to be on time. If your throws, I have to
be accurate, and um, you know you have to put
some zip on it because if you lolligag it in there.
You guys make up ground really fast in this league.
So I mean there was one play just that, just
a as an example of that guy's making up ground
(07:17):
very fast in this league. Um Uh. During one of
the red zone drills, George Pickett ran a more of
a post pattern than a slant because he was running
uh shallow in the end zone for a while, you know,
maybe from I don't love for maybe fifteen yards. Say
(07:38):
he's running across the middle and the ball was delivered
to him. Uh, and he caught it. Okay, he made
a nice catch, But you could see Minca Fitzpatrick coming
from the other direction and he's flying and you know,
Pickens catches the ball and then Fitzpatrick just flies by.
You know, he's a veteran enough too, He's not gonna
(08:00):
have a brain cramp and hit the guy. But if
that's the game, there's gonna be contact there. Uh. And
he had enough time and Fitzpatrick is savvy enough and
good enough that he could aligned him up and hit
him with his shoulder in the chest, you know, not
gone for the head. He wouldn't take out his knees
(08:21):
if it was an opponent say hit right, And so
you know that's that's another thing that you know, you
have to quarterbacks have to be aware of because a
lot you know, Tom Brady has said this, a lot
of these hard hits these guys that they call unnecessary
roughness and stuff, that's quarterback's fault. You shouldn't you shouldn't
(08:44):
lead a guy. You know, you should know what as
the quarterback, you should know what the coverage is. And
I don't lead a guy into you know, a car
wreck with the ball because the receiver's got to be
looking at the ball and concentrating on that and his
jaw up. He's been trained, you know, you don't want
to hear footsteps and all that stuff. So he's concentrating
(09:05):
on the ball. He's running fast and get the ball.
And if the quarterback is I won't say lazy, but
makes that mistake, you know that one's on you. You
know when when your receivers lying there, um, maybe busted up,
hopefully not concussed. So um, yeah he was he can
he Pickett made some nice throws in that tight area.
(09:29):
Um and so but yeah he did throw a couple
of picks too, and the one pick the James Pierre
pick was, you know yesterday on this very show. To
use your phrase, Um, we were talking. I was talking
about one of the big time NFL throws Kenny Pickott
made in the previous practice. Was that long out pattern.
(09:51):
You know he was on the other hash. You know,
he delivered it about I don't know, thirteen or fifteen
yards down the field, but all the way across. That
was one of those ones he threw that again. Now
it was It's hard for me to judge, you know,
if the ball had a little bit too much arc
on it or James Pierre just made a great play.
Who knows. Maybe I don't want to not give him credit.
(10:14):
He may have just known what's coming or read the
receiver the way he was, you know, shuffling his feet
and you know, sinking his hips or whatever he's looking for,
and he just made a great play because he did
have to dive for the ball. It was one of
those ones where you know he just caught it like
he was the intended receiver. Um, but you know again
(10:38):
that that's maybe we'll we'll let Mike Sullivan and Matt
Cannon to handle this part. Uh, that maybe is not
a throw he should have made or attempted UM. But
again that's I'll leave that to the coach and the
coordinator and they can and the head coach too, They
can talk to Kenny Pickett about that however they want to.
(10:59):
But the out come was not obviously what the offense
was looking for. We've talked a lot about Kenny the
past couple of days. We've heard from Kenny as well.
We haven't really touched a lot on Mitch the past
couple of days. And you have to admit, there's definitely
been some scene improvement out of Mitch Trobinsky. He's starting
to show some flashes of why the coaching staff is
so confident in him being that number one quarterback and
(11:20):
have been pretty much since signing him to the team. Yeah.
And you know what I continue to see him do
and I think do well is his understanding and usage
of when to run. Uh, you know, he's not I've
gone over this with UM a couple of questions and
(11:42):
asked and answered where you know, trying to explain the
difference between a mobile quarterback and a run quarterback. You
know you don't want a guy, Well, let me say this,
Mitch trobisk Mitch Trobinsky is not the kind of guy
whose skills that lends itself to um, you know, trying
(12:05):
to be Lamar Jackson. He's not that. You know, you
don't want him Trabinsky if he's in the shotgun, you know,
looking for one receiver and then pulling the ball down
and trying to make a play with his legs. But
there was a play in seven Shots where you know,
Trabinsky rolls out a little bit and if a lane
(12:26):
opens up, you know, he only needs two yards to
get the ball in the end zone. And so you
want him to do that, you know, uh, use your
legs because a lot of times that's safer than putting
the ball in the air. As I mentioned, it's close
quarters a lot of defensive players you know, in an
enclosed area. Uh. So you know again, I think he's
(12:47):
starting to show that, which is uh something that the
Steelers found attractive about him. And I think that, um,
you know, it can really help the offense too, because
you know, you know, when it's on, when the shoes
on the other foot you're playing the Buffalo Bills. I
can tell you that Mike Tomlin and and the the
(13:08):
defensive coordinator last year was Keith Butler this year will
be you know, Tara Austin and Brian Flores will be
involved in this too this year. You gotta keep him
in the pocket, you know, because if you get slompy
with your rush, your pass rush and guys, you know,
if the if the guys on the outside try and
you know, beat their block or inside to get pushed inside,
(13:29):
and that kind of opens up that side of the field.
Josh Allen is the kind of guy who's gonna take that.
And then he either gets out on the on the
flank and runs for big yardage sometimes depending upon what
coverage you're in, or he breaks down the coverage because
someone leaves their man, or someone thinks I've gotta go
(13:49):
tackle him, or you know, whatever the reaction might be.
And then he hits you know, throws a pass over
your head or where you were supposed to be or
where you once were and are not there any longer,
and you know, you're you're giving up big plays. So
I think that the Steelers had seen enough of that
and dealt with that enough that they decided, well, you know,
(14:11):
let's kind of join that club a little bit now
that Ben's retiring. Um And because you have a chance
to you know, first of all, get a younger guy
who hasn't been as beat up as Ben was at
the end of his career. Uh. And uh, you know
that's there seems to be a lot more of those
kinds of quarterbacks in the league than there were in
two thousand and four, the last time the Steelers were
(14:32):
looking to draft a quarterback, you know, high in a draft.
Coach Tomlins spoke to the media following practice yesterday. Let's
take a listen to what coach had to say. Man
A minor changes to the schedule today. We just thought
it was very necessary to get our work in. We
looked at the doppler and thought this afternoon might be
questionable at best, and so we made the necessary changes.
(14:55):
It is our preference to practice in the heat of
the day. We believe it it aids team development, particularly
from a conditioning standpoint. But but we have a hardcore plan.
We remain light on our feet and do what it
is that we need to do in an effort to
get the work done. I appreciate the spirit and the
attention of the guys. They woke up this morning and
woke up to a schedule of change and and that's
an awesome part of team development as well. UM. Often
(15:18):
times they're gonna be things without outside of our control
that we have to adjust to, uh, flight delays, etcetera. Um,
But at the same time, when it's time to play,
we're gonna be responsible for the play lightning delays, and
so we always approach subtle changes and adjustments we have
to make in that spirit understanding that is preparing us
for the journey. UM, good days work. Today, Man Adams
(15:42):
went down during practice with with an ankle injury. He's
being evaluated. UM. They're They're countless guys that are working
themselves back to us in a variety of of of
levels of participation. And that's important, UM, because it's good
for them and it's good for us, particularly with what
awaits us at the end of the week stepping in
to a stadium as a big component of development and
(16:03):
in dividing the labor and getting a sense of really
where we are. Questions, coach, you're talking about Isaiah Louder
If he looks like a totally different person right now,
and you always look for growth from your one to two,
two to three, Where is he right now? I think
he's taking a step that we would anticipate. Um, but
obviously there's a lot of ball out in front of
him and us so and that remains to be seen.
But he's done a great job of shaping his body.
(16:26):
He came highly conditioned per his position, and so he
has positioned himselves to do the things that we expect
guys like him to do, uh second lap around the
track with the knowledge of the journey and a certain
level of expectation, at least culturally. What we're trying to
do from an environmental standpoint is a leg up for
those guys and and and so we expect those players
to come with it. She said. He's been working with
(16:47):
Braindon Marshall and diagnosing defensiones, watching films, things like things
like that. How have you seen him get better at that?
Are improve of that just through this short time. He's
missed some time and so he's just just getting his
feet under under him. I don't know that those things
have revealed him else to this point. With those extra reps,
how have you seen George Pickens progressed from this our
campus all now he's continually getting better, he is. What
(17:08):
about Jalen Warrant, He's another kid who just comes in
there and makes places. Say. You know, one man's misfortune
is another man's opportunity. We say that often and we
mean it. Uh. There's an attrition component to this process.
And and we don't waste time worrying about the time missed.
We're focusing on things. As you mentioned, a guy like
Jalen getting additional reps, a guy like Mastertigue is kind
(17:29):
of getting on a moving train and getting an opportunity
to show what he's capable of. Uh. These are awesome
days and opportunities for young people with the schedule changing.
How did that impact walk through? Is that before you
guys can do that after We're gonna get all our
work work done today. We just flipped it around a
little bit like the Bolton neck player. Cam Sutton, hands
are going the way I can see it out there
(17:50):
on the field and house. It always has been. UM.
I think back to the night I met Cam Sutton
the day before is Pro day, when he was coming
out of Tennessee. Um, we met with him as we do.
We talked schematics, he got on the board, he drew
up all twenty two. He talked in a real global
sense and Kevin Colbert and I and I just looked
at each other. Um, his his global football knowledge and
(18:13):
awareness and his ability to articulate it is unique, has
been unique, and it shows up often in his play.
Not only in his play, but his communication helps others.
Don't you liked about Derek Chriscarrett not third outside, he's working, Um,
he's working with a group of others to distinguish themselves.
And and so we'll just keep snapping the ball and
(18:34):
seeing what those guys do. But not enough yet, uh
to speak in the manner which you reference. We see
some chemistry developing fourteene sis. I think it's reasonable to
expect chemistry to develop with all guys. Um, we're working here,
and we're working here daily. That's kench Thomlin speaking to
the media following practice yesterday. Reminder, practice today was moved
(18:56):
up to ten thirty in the morning, so just a
little over an hour until today's practice gets underway. When
we come back, though, we're gonna kick around what Tomin
was talking about at the end there about the Lante
Scott and the third outside linebacker group. Take a look
at that position battle and also talk about the wide
receiver group that continues to shine throughout training camp for
your Pittsburgh Steelers. That's all on the way next right
(19:17):
here on the Training Camp Report on snr VC Star
Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman at Bob Labriola on
Steelers Nation Radio. Steelers practice just about an hour away
from getting started at St. Vincent College. Day again moved
(19:38):
up due to inclement weather threatening the afternoon session, So
ten thirty am start for your Pittsburgh Steelers Labs. To
end that last thing made, we listened to Tomlin as
we always do in our opening segment here on the
Training Camp Report, and he was asked the question about
what he thought of Derrek Tusca's play and basically just
that third outside linebacker spot in general. You noted in
(19:58):
your observations U from uh yesterday's practice that Delante Scott
made a play. He's been showing up you. You mentioned
on the night show you did on d V last night.
You know, you've kept saying, who's that number fifty, Who's
that number fifty out there making plays? So there's a
couple of guys, you know, with their hand in the pile.
As far as that third outside linebacker spot is concerned, No,
one's worried about number one outside linebacker. Obviously, Alex Heismith
(20:21):
is a very solid NFL capable starter. He's proven that
over the past couple of years. But it's that third
spot at that outside linebacker group that I think gives
a lot of people pause. Yeah, and I'm not, um,
I'm not willing to, you know, proclaim Delante Scott the winner,
you know, of any competition, even you know for the
third spot. You know, Derrek Tusca, I thought that, um,
(20:43):
you know, he showed some things over the course of
last season after the Steelers, I believe they picked him
off the Denver Broncos practice squad. Excuse me, especially you
know in terms of his ability to be somewhat productive
in you know, those periods of a game where you know,
t J. Watt and or Alex Tysmith come out just
(21:05):
to get a breather. So you know, the Steelers like him,
uh tusk. I mean, you know, Delonte Scott was one
of those guys who was added later in the season,
and he tried to get on, as Mike Tomlin always says,
get on a moving train. Um, I think that they
were a little reluctant to have to play Delonte Scott
(21:27):
you know, down the stretch last season in terms of
him be ready you know for you know, all the
different nuances of the position. You know, very Uh possibly
could have used this offseason, you know, to to kind of,
um get up to speed on a lot of the things,
the nuances. And then the Steelers also signed Gerard avery
(21:50):
Uh as a free agent. He's a you know, a
fifth year player. He has some NFL experience and you know,
knows what it's about, I think. And he's also a
guy you know, I mentioned who's number fifty, and sometimes
I'm saying who's number forty nine because that's Avery Um,
you know, Tusk I'm more familiar with because that's been
(22:11):
his number. Um. So as I'm learning the numbers of
the new guys, um, you know that that always helps
me learn them when they're doing something that you have
to continue to look down at the roster. Who was
that guy? Because he's making himself noticed. So, ye know what,
we're gonna have to see how that how that works
(22:31):
out now one of the guys, and this shows you
what I know, one of the guys that I was
a little bit excited about, you know, during the off
season program. Um you know O t as mini camp
and stuff was Tyree Johnson. He was an undrafted rookie
from Texas A and M. You know, and when I
looked him up, he had eight sacks for Texas A
and M last year. He played with the Marvin Leal
(22:55):
down there on that ages defense, and I thought, well,
maybe this guy is going to turn out to be
a find um and help with that outside linebacker depth
that you know, we all knew was an issue on
the drive up to here. So but he got cut quick. Uh,
he wasn't well, He wasn't waved injured. So I won't
(23:16):
say he wasn't injured, but he wasn't waved injured. So
I'm just assuming that, you know, there was something about
him that wasn't special enough, uh to keep or to
try and develop or you know, I heard he ran poorly,
and sometimes in the NFL, if you run poorly, you
know you're below them and dooze line. You know, you
you may have been a productive player in college, you
(23:38):
can get away with being an outside linebacker running a
four nine or five oh in the forty, but that
doesn't cut it up here at this level. So I
heard he ran poorly. That's why he wasn't drafted. Maybe
his speed uh hampered him to the degree that you know,
the Steelers just decided that he wasn't gonna work out
and they needed to uh you know, cut to give
(24:00):
his reps to someone else that they can try and develop. So, UM,
you know, we're gonna have to see how it works out.
And this it's gonna be. These preseason games are gonna
be huge for those guys because I can't you know,
t J. Watt may want to play, I can't imagine
him getting a much playing time because we saw last
(24:20):
year he didn't even participate in team drills until just
about the season started. And yeah, yeah, yeah, So um,
I think that a similar preseason plan will be in
place for him, especially since you know he has taken
part in all all of training all the training camp practices. UM,
(24:42):
just let me throw this in since it's a a
little bit of news that just came across my laptop here.
You know, while I was over in Mike Tomlins room
earlier demanding the practice we moved to the morning. I
also I also said to them, you know, it would
help me and Tom on our show if you could
like send me a practice script, and so I have
(25:03):
the practice script. Now anything you want. I mean, you know,
you have to show a firm hand around, especially when
you're you talk about being at the bottom of the
depth chart. That would be me, that's describing me. So anyway, Uh,
seven shots, you know, start off as usual. Uh, and
then the drill will comminate or the practice excuse me,
(25:26):
will culminate with another session of two minutes. And you
know one of the things about two minute is they
UM set the the criteria. You know, so it's gonna
be the ball is gonna be on the on your
own forty. So that's gonna go sixty yards in a
minute and thirty eight, you've got one time out and
you need to touchdown to win. That's the offenses, uh job.
(25:49):
And then the defense obviously understands that, you know, they
have to defend sixty yards you know, in seconds the
other team has one time and you can't let him
get in the end zone. That's that's the situation for
the defense. So you know, that should be interesting. And
I would imagine that what we have seen UM in
the earlier rendition of two minutes. Two quarterbacks get to
(26:14):
do it. You know, they do it twice, so we'll see.
Now yesterday was it yesterday? See? I hate day Um,
but they did one of those little switches with Kenny
Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Okay, so you know, I don't
(26:35):
know if that's gonna be the way it is today,
but if it is, you know, Pickett would get his
first chance at two minutes and it wouldn't surprise me
if it was Picket today because I would imagine he's
gonna see some playing time on Saturday against the Seahawks.
I'm gonna make sure I got my days and teams
(26:55):
right here Saturday against Okay Acresure Stadium too. Don't try
and trick me. I know I know the name, Um
seven pm, right um. But um, so you know, if
if Pickett is gonna play, you would think that the
way depending on the rotation Saturday, I would think he's
(27:17):
either gonna be in the game at the end of
the first half or if Mason Rudolph goes in after Trabinsky,
then he would pick Up would probably be at the
end of the game. So you you could possibly have
a two minute situation either or they're regardless of the
quarterback rotation. So I think you want to get picked
some practice at that because it's not only what you
(27:40):
have to do in terms of uh, you know, on
the field, um, but you you know, you gotta practice uh.
There probably is no huddle you know in that situation.
So you're getting the call in your helmet uh from
the coordinator from Matt Canada, and then you gotta come
indicate that at the line of scrimmage you've got a
(28:02):
running clock or a play clock you've gotta deal with.
You gotta know how to manage that. You've gotta be
paying attention for when they want a time out. You
gotta be paying attention when you need to uh clock
it spike the ball. And so there's a lot of
communication that goes on, uh from the sideline to you
as the quarterback, and then from you to the breast
(28:22):
of the guys on the field as the quarterback. Maybe
there's personnel changes, groupings. You've gotta keep all of that straight.
You've gotta make sure you know, if two receivers come
on and to go off, Okay, who's supposed to be aware?
So when you when you get them on the line
of scrimmage, you gotta look around and make sure because
you're probably gonna be out there with young players yourself.
(28:43):
Maybe they're in a wrong spot, you know, are they
are they going in motion when they're supposed to, Are
there two guys in motion at the same time. All
of that stuff you have to be aware of. And
you know, I would think that for a rookie, you would,
even a young player, you want to have some um
practice at it before you have to actually do it
(29:03):
in a game, no question. Whoever the quarterbacks are well,
obviously Mitch will be one of them, but whoever takes
with the second team will certainly be hoping to get
some help from their wide receiving corps in that two
minute drill because the wide receiving corps has been given
them a lot of help so far in practice. We
know about Pickens, he's been the camp Darling. Claypool returned
to practice yesterday and had some pretty eye popping catches,
(29:24):
so it's good to see him come back from injury
and immediately make an impact. But Labs, you've actually noticed
another wide receiver that has been popping a little bit
in the receiving game that might be off of a
lot of people's radars. Excuse me. Yes, you know, when
when camp started, um, who's at a unine, I kept
saying to myself, you know, and now I'll have to
do that anymore, because that's Gunna Roschewsky and he has
(29:47):
done enough you know through this point, Um that you
noticed him. I noticed him enough times and um, you know,
so I know his number. And this is a guy
who he played for New England. Um, he was primarily
a kick returner, punts and kickoffs. They're also did some
(30:07):
slot receivers, spot receiver stuff. Kind of reminds, you know,
and I don't want to, you know, stick him with
a comparison then that he has to live up to.
But since he played New England, his size, his role,
and it kind of reminds me of Edelman maybe Am
and Dola, you know, Danny Am and Dola Julian Julian
Edelman and uh, you know, Steelers fans will remember from
(30:30):
games against the Patriots that those guys can often be
a pain in the butt for the opponents. So you know,
what I've noticed from Gunn Rochowski is, uh he runs
good routes. Uh he's apparently slashed obviously where he's supposed
to be because he's caught in a lot of passes
and you don't you're not doing that if you know
(30:51):
the quarterback can't find you are You're not where he
thinks you're gonna be. Uh. He works the middle of
the field very nicely, and you know, he is a
factor down in the red zone. So he's a guy
that I think it's better than Ray Ray McLeod because
you know, for just as a quick, cheap comparison, you know,
(31:14):
he's a he's a returner, which McLeod was, and he
is a you know, extra receiver, which McLeod was. And
you know, I looked it up because I remember at
the end of the last season thinking why did they
continue throwing the ball to Ray Ray McCloud. You know,
isn't you know, isn't there someone else? McLeod was targeted
(31:36):
sixty six times last year, called thirty nine pass which
to me is not a great percentage. I'm not saying
they were all his fault um, but again I'm just
gonna say thirty nine catches on six sixty six targets
is not a great percentage. So you know, I think
all Schefski is better than him. I haven't seen Oshofsky
(31:57):
returned kicks because you know, and when you're doing it
in camp, there's no hitting, So who knows if you
know he's really breaking all those long returns or you know,
people are just not tackling because they're told not to.
We've kind of seen him do that though before, you know,
like we we know he can do that and that's
in his bag. So it's more encouraging to me. What
you're saying is that we're seeing him really excel in
(32:19):
the receiving aspect, because that's where I thought he might
be left out in the cold. If someone can return
a little bit better or just as good as him,
and you're not bringing anything to the table receiving wise,
then what's the point of keeping you on the roster? Right?
And what I will say about him because this I
can actually quantify. He catches the ball and are trusting
him because of that? No, No, what I mean is
(32:39):
catching the ball and punts, okay, because no muss are
gonna happen. Yeah, well, I'm not saying no muss practice.
He has been very very consistent catching the ball. Because
I know there's a guy who wears a headset on
the sideline who has zero tolerance for that. UM and
usually his word is final. Uh during especially during games.
(33:02):
So you know you cannot if you want to, if
you want to light Mike Tomlins fire in a bad way. Um,
turn the ball over to the other team just after
his defense got off the field. UM. Yeah, that's your
You talk about tempting your fate, that is that is
one decidedly sure way to do that. Well, we all
(33:26):
hope that there's a fire lit under Chase Claypool this year,
hoping to see a return to the Claypool and not
Claypool encouraging signs from yesterday's practice, he high pointed a
ball in the end zone and got both feet down
for a touchdown, although I guess there was some controversy
with a picture that was taken by a Steelers team
photographer where it looked like his foot might have just
(33:46):
been out of bounds, But hey, it was ruled a touchdown,
so who are we to argue with the person making
that ruling. Uh. It's a huge year for Chase Claypool
this year, though not just for his ability, or not
just for what he can contribute to the offense as
a whole, but for himself individually as well. Yeah, and
you know, let me say this, Uh, I thought even
(34:07):
after he injured his shoulder, during the time that you know,
between his shoulder injury, which if my memory is correct,
it was before pads went on and okay, and then
so he was you know, the rehabbing that they wanted
to get it well because that's one of those things.
You don't want him going in with a sore shoulder
that's nagging him, that might not be better, you know,
(34:29):
all season, and that's just that's just a stupid way
to go about it. So it's that early in camp.
He's a third year receiver. You've seen him do you
know a lot of the things you're gonna want him
to do this season, So you want to make sure
that that shoulder is not bothering him anymore. Because as
an example, um, the last day or two, he went
(34:51):
high for a reception, you know, and came down and
hit his shoulder and I'm not sure that it was
the one that was injured, but it was there was
can intact with the ground in his shoulder area. And
even if it wasn't the specific one, usually the jolt
from that kind of contact, you know, he's He's a
tall individual, so he's up in the air pretty high,
(35:12):
so the fault of the ground is longer maybe than
it is for others. Um, you know, there's a jolt
there that I can't imagine. Uh felt good, you know
in the in the injured area, previously injured area. So uh,
you know, he bounced uff from that. Continued practicing. Didn't
show any you know, any effects of it even uh,
(35:33):
certainly not to the degree that he would come out.
But you know, there wasn't any you know how they
sometimes you'll see a guy try and loosen it or
hold it or something that indicates that it the last play.
He felt some pain there. So there was that, which
is a good sign. The other thing I thought was
a good sign was how engaged Chase Claypool was when
(35:56):
he wasn't practicing. Um. You know a lot of times
guys stand on the side, you know, they wear their
jersey but no helmets or shoulder pads. But clip Chase
Claypool was wearing his you know, jersey, no helmet, he
shoulder pads. But he's running water for the other receivers.
You know, they have a cooler out there with you know,
(36:17):
some of those Gatorade energy drinks and you know the
quick um recharge whatever that's called. You know that that
that is necessary in some of the hot days that
you inevitably have up here during training camp. And he,
you know, he was kind of again just being a
help to the receivers even though he wasn't practicing, So
he was engaged with what's going on. You could often
(36:39):
see him, you know, uh, consulting the the script of
you know, they have a script of place for every period. Uh.
Sometimes they give them to players who are not participating
so they can follow along so you know what the
you know, the formation is and you know all that
kind of stuff. So he was engaged in practice. I mean,
(37:00):
he wasn't just down there standing around, you know, looking
up into the stands. Uh. You know, we're tracking the
rain clouds they inevitably come over the mountain. Uh, So
he was engaged in that. Uh. He has once he
has returned to practice, he has shown no uh effects
of the previous injury. You know, he's making place now.
So uh all all uh, all arrows are pointing up
(37:24):
for Chase Claypool. In my mind, from a physical and
psychological perspective, in this season which you know, it's a
big season for him too. Yes, the Steelers need him
to be more like the version of Chase Claypool than
the than the one version, and Chase Claypool needs to
be more like the version of himself because he entered
(37:48):
the league as a second round pick. So he's got
a four year contract. That's it. There's no fifth year option,
uh to pick up or whatever. So, you know, Chase Claypool,
I believe, you know, this is a huge season for
him because if he's the Chase Claypool, I believe the
Steelers management, including you know, Mike Tomlin, are going to
(38:12):
start looking at him as a guy that we want
to give a second contract to. Now, you know, negotiating
that and coming to terms with the number and all
that stuff. Okay, that's for down the road. But the first,
I believe, first step is do we want this guy
or not? And I think that so this season is
going to be you know a big part of that
(38:34):
evaluation slash decision by the team because if you know, um,
if you decide that you don't want a guy that
the NFL, an NFL team decides they don't want a guy.
You know, this sitting in this season with another one
coming up, then you might see them pick another tall
wide receiver high in the next draft. Uh. If they
(38:55):
want him, think they're gonna keep him, then you know,
maybe they looked to other areas for those premium picks
in the three NFL draft. So you know, someone told
me a long time ago that NFL teams, at some
point in every player's contract, they make a fine a
financial evaluation slash decision on this guy. Not final decision,
(39:19):
but you get what I'm where I'm going here with this. Okay,
Uh's at a point before the guy's contract is up,
because especially rookie or a guy who's on his rookie
contract to be accurate, because the rookie contract is usually
a very team friendly situation. Um, it's the next one.
(39:42):
We saw what some of those second contracts for receivers were, Um,
you know a few months ago, and it's it's big money.
You're looking at twenty million dollars a year. Uh, just
as a general and as Omar Khan said, Um, you know,
as a salary cap keeps going up, these sellaries going
to keep escalating and just are so whether a fan
(40:05):
thinks twenty million dollars as stupid excuse me, stupid to
spend on a wide receiver or not. You know, that's
the going rate, and so you either decide you want
to pay it or you know. Uh so, As I said,
this is a big season for Chase Claypool in two
ways for how the Steelers look at him and how
(40:26):
he contributes to them in terms of their success potential
success in when we come back, we're gonna take a
look at the inside linebacking unit and a couple of
observations from a few guys in that unit. To wrap
things up here on the Training camp Report right here
on snr DC's no Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman
(40:49):
at Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio, wrapping things up
before practice gets started at ten thirty today here on
the Training Camp Report and Labs and you noted in
your practice or port from yesterday, a couple of observations
having to do with the inside linebackers Devin Bush and
Robert Spillane. And we've talked a lot about how the
defense has looked a lot better, especially that linebacking corps
(41:11):
as far as stopping the run so far in this
training camp period. But the observations you had yesterday had
to do with both Bush and Spillane and coverage and
very encouraging things to hear from both of those guys.
But I'd say Spillane even more so, just because that's
been such a glaring weakness for him and he's been
showing that it might not be that big of a
weakness for him anymore. Yeah, I mean, I think it's
(41:33):
it was accurate to refer to Robert Spillane last season
as a liability and coverage and you know, you saw that,
you know, when the Steelers were, you know, obviously having
problems stopping the run. You know, when Robert Splaine was
had shown himself to be, you know, pretty good at
that aspect of the game. But when he would get
(41:54):
in the game, um, you know, his offenses often are
they're uncooperative with you know, detail, some personnel grouping and yeah, right,
you almost want to turn off their headsets, you know,
so they can't. But okay, Coach Belichick, that was Tom
(42:16):
Offerman who said that, So when next time he visits
to leutt Stadium, make sure he gets stuck in the elvator. Um.
But uh so, and you know, opposing teams would uh
do their best to give him a bad matchup in
coverage and then take advantage of it. You know, I'm
not I'm not here to trying to say to Robert Spillane,
(42:37):
is um, you know, the best coverage linebacker in the
league night right now? Nor is he even the best
coverage linebacker on the Steelers anymore. But I don't think
you can call him a liability anymore. You know, he's
representative in that aspect of it. He's competitive, um, and
so I think that there will be less, uh fewer
(42:58):
qualms about you know, sticking them on the field. And
the way it looks to me at the way it's
going right now is there's three guys that um seem
to be considered front line inside linebackers on this team
right now, mouse jack Um, Robert Splane and Devin Bush.
And UM, you know, I think that what I'm seeing
(43:20):
so far in camp indicates to me that there's somewhat
of a comfort level with all of them. And uh
so you know, you you you need more than if
you're gonna play two at a time, you need more
than just two. So that's good that you know, Splaine
now is showing that his game has you know, rounded
out a little bit more. He's not some one dimensional
(43:43):
and uh, you know that that's just good for the
defense because you look at those three guys and what
they're doing and Larry Ogan joby, I'm telling you, stealers
fans I think are gonna love this guy. I mean
they may have hated him that after that evening or
whatever it was afternoon in Cleveland when Myles Garrett assaulted
(44:05):
Mason Rudolph. Uh but he's he's you know, as Mike
Tomerlan he was asked about him, he said, he's a
grown man, and he is. He is in the middle
of that defensive line, not necessarily in the middle, but
in the interior. He's hard to move and you know,
if you lose track of him, he'll be buying in
sacking your quarterback. He had seven sacks last year. So, um,
(44:29):
that's a big part of I think trying to fortify
the middle of that defense, especially against the run, without
it being incapable of generating pressure on the quarterback with
the same personnel. Uh. So you know, the things are
coming together kind of you know, I'm gonna go to
the basilica and lighted candle for Larry ogan Job's foot
(44:53):
because to me, that's if this guy is healthy all
year and can play, um, it would be my opinion
to try and figure out some kind of long, long
term arrangement with him, because I think he is exactly
what Steelers fans wanted the team to draft in the
first round, the ones who didn't want a quarterback, and uh,
(45:17):
he comes with the bonus of, in my opinion, being
someone who contributes to the past rush. He could be
Javon Hargreave. I mean that's the name Steelers fans should
recognize and remember, you know what he brought in terms
of his ability to play both against play against both
the running the past. Yeah, no question, is still only
(45:37):
twenty eight years old, So as long as he gets
over that injury, there's definitely a long term future for
Larry Ogan Job, hopefully with your Pittsburgh Steelers. One last
guy in the inside linebacker position to touch on is
undrafted rookie Mark Robinson. Uh. Not a guy that's really
going to threaten those top three guys that you mentioned
or even you know, maybe see himself on the field
and in the defense capacity, But he looks like he's
(45:59):
you know, coming along pretty well. And if he can,
you know, really make some hay in the special teams department,
I think there's definitely a spot on the roster for him. Yeah.
What what Mr Robinson has shown uh me so far,
not that you know that's significant for his advancement in
this business, but he's one of those guys who uh
(46:19):
finds the ball, finds the guy with the ball and
gets him on the ground. And you know, that to
me is pretty much a primary job description for an
inside linebacker in the NFL. Uh And the other thing
that you know, it gives me hope that he can
develop into the kind of guy you're looking for is
who's a running back and he played running back, so
(46:42):
he has well yeah, and not only that, but I
mean there's a certain skill set that goes along with
that movement, you know, change of direction, you know, those
kinds of things that you know translate well to the
linebacker position how it's played in the NFL now. So yeah,
I have some optimism for him. I think it was
(47:03):
a very nice pick with seven B second pick of
the seventh round, I believe, and um, you know, when
you get a guy like that at that point, you
understand he's a developmental guy, but you're looking for special
teams people. So one of the things to watch during
the preseason. Um, he's number ninety eight, right. Let me
(47:25):
check this here looking here, you no excuse me? So
check is the Marvin Leeal. So, um, check for number
ninety three. Watch number for number ninety three in the
preseason games because if he goes down on a couple
of kickoffs and makes tackles. Um, this guy is. You know,
(47:46):
I won't say he's cement at a roster spot, but
he's certainly on the road to doing just that. Steelers
practice starts at ten thirty, so just about a half
hour away. Wolf and Starks are up next. They will
take you through practice handing things off to them here
on SNR Labs, and I will be back again tomorrow
at nine am for another edition of the training camp
Report on Steelers Nation Radio.
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