August 18, 2022 • 47 mins
Final day of public practice for Steelers 2022 Training Camp is upon us, and Labs and Tom talk about yesterday’s practice and hear from Coach Tomlin to kick things off. They preview what they are looking forward too in Jacksonville and hear from Larry Ogunjobi. They talk RB’s and the punting game to wrap up the Training Camp Report!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Man, We're really excited to be here. It's awesome to
get guarded. And so now we take off. She's the
training camp re report what Tom Opperman and Bob Labriole
on Steelers Nation Radio. We are finally at the end
of this majestic journey that you call training camp. Last
practice open to the public today at one the Steelers
(00:28):
will do a walk through before leaving for Jacksonville tomorrow.
So just two more days for the Steelers on campus
labs and low and behold. As we wind things down,
a fourth quarterback has emerged and injected himself into this
quarterback battle. Chris Olodokin got his first live action yesterday
in practice, and he's got to be right there with Kenny,
with Mason, with Mitch right absolutely three free company fours
(00:55):
a party, you know, but you know it's it. I
will give him credit for this, Chris Oladok. And I
mean he has not been anything but a team guy
throughout this. I mean he hasn't chafed about his situation.
(01:15):
Uh you know, he could have. There are ways that
he could have made this uncomfortable maybe, um, but he
never did. And um, you know, I I hope for
nothing for the best for him. I mean, I have
no idea what that's gonna be. I really don't. There's
so many rumors floating around. There's so many things that
(01:38):
could happen between now and August when the rosters are
cut and then you know, the next day is signing
practice squad guys, and how that shakes out, not only
here with the Steelers but league wide. There's no way
of knowing or predicting. So I just you know, I
do think that Chris olad Oaken deserves UM some credit
(02:04):
for being a professional, even though he's he's very very
young in that UM endeavor. So UM, as I said,
I nothing but the best for him, you can apply
that praise for every quarterback really in this quarterback room.
You know, Mason has been the utmost professional through this process.
Can't be easy for him. Mitch super professional helping all
(02:27):
the quarterbacks out despite you know, hey, you went out
and signed me and then a couple of weeks later
you picked a guy in the first round. So I
think you can apply that to every single one in
that room. They've been a very professional unit through this
whole endeavor. Yeah, I cannot disagree with that, and each
one I think um has faced their own unique challenges
(02:48):
in that respect. Um. You know, Kenny Pickett has been
very levelheaded. I I believe, ah he is UM. He
engages with the fans. I mean, he doesn't think that,
you know, he's all that UM good. You know, so
there's that. I mean you mentioned Mitch Trobinski. Um, you know,
(03:10):
because that kind of surprised me too. I didn't know that.
I didn't think that it was. UM, I won't say likely,
but probable that you know, you signed a guy like
him and then you draft a quarterback. But um, you
know that's the way he thinks shake out Sometimes. I
think Mitch Robinsky, having the most extensive professional resume of
(03:36):
the quarterbacks on the depth chart at this point, he
can certainly understand, you know, the business aspects of the
business side of the NFL and so UM. While he
may have the experience to give him that perspective, I
still think that it's worth praising him for the fact
(03:57):
that he has in fact maintained that perspective. Mason Rudolph,
his situation is difficult. I mean, I feel for the
guy because you know, I don't I don't think that
he deserves some of the scorn from the you know,
the public that he has been getting either on social media,
(04:20):
the booing at that. Yeah, I mean that that's just
I mean, that wasn't necessary. And let's let's be honest. Um,
the guy beat Dan Moore. It's not Mason Rudolph's falt.
You know, your left happy well and not even matter,
not for that. You know. I'm not saying fans aren't
(04:41):
a lot of boo. But it was one bad play.
I think that. You know, we look at the game
steal score thirty two points. Um, yeah, the offense rushed
for over a hundred yards. Uh you know, let's it's
a preseason game for goodn mistakes. People you know, get
a grip. Um. But anyway, Uh yeah, I don't. I
(05:02):
don't understand the vitriol being directed at Mason Rudolph. Um.
And um, you know we but so that's and then
we've already talked about Chris Oladokin. So yeah, I kudos
to the quarterbacks for handling this. I think that the process,
I won't say it has gone seamlessly, uh in terms
(05:23):
of the the competition, how it was constructed, how it
was executed. Um, but I mean all things considered Um,
it's about as good as it's ever gonna get when
you're dealing with elements like weather, you know, and that
kind of stuff and um injuries. So anyway, UM, yeah,
(05:44):
hats off to those guys for handling it. I believe
about as well as it could be handled. And you know,
now you move on from here. Let's stick with Kenny
Pickett for a bit here. I was reading your practice
report last night, as I always do when I tuck
myself into bed. It's the last thing I look at
when I closed my eyes. So then the dreams of
ideas of the show the next day exactly, either that
(06:06):
or put you to sleep three or four times before
that happens. It's so exciting and thralling. But you mentioned
in your lead this is shaping up to be a
pretty big week for Kenny Pickett and he keeps getting
trotted out there after Mitch with the Two's happened again yesterday.
We'll hear from coach Tomlin in a second, but he mentioned,
you know, that's just part of getting him preparation for
(06:28):
what's coming in Saturday's stadium experience against Jacksonville, where he's
going to get more varsity minutes for them to really
evaluate him. Yeah, I mean, and that's part but that's
part of the Mike Tomlin process, you know. He um
the depth chart. You know, as we've we've hashed this
over and over again, the initial camp depth chart is
done because the NFL made and you know, as we've seen,
(06:54):
the depth chart is pretty much, um, you know, a
recitation of guys because experience or their current their previous
you know, standing with the team. You know, if you
were a starter last year and weren't awful and didn't
get cut or leave as a free agent, you're probably
going to be penciled in at the same spot, um
this year, even though that doesn't necessarily mean that when
(07:17):
the games start to count that you're gonna still be
in that spot as a starter. So um, but and
how then the rest of it falls in line a
lot of times with experience in the league or your
draft position or you know those kinds of things. Um.
But the way Mike Tomlin does it is then he
views that you know, there's usually a fourth team, sometime
(07:39):
a fifth team in terms of how many numbers there
are at different positions, and you know, the fourth, fifth guys,
even the third guys a little bit off and are
referred to as junior varsity. So when you do well
on the junior varsity, you get moved up to the
varsity and then you know, you see if you can
maintain that level of performance, uh to stay there. And
(08:02):
so uh, you know, Kenny Pickett, I think it's a
combination of things. Um, he has, he has done well.
I believe, I don't I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
put him in the Ben Roethlisberger category. I'm just not
gonna do it. I'm not gonna put him in the
you know he's the next Dan Marino or any of
that stuff either, because as we've talked about that, that
(08:23):
is not fair to him. But he has done well,
and so I think he has shown that, Uh he
deserves a little shocked. It's here to see what he
can do against more varsity type competition, and you know,
for him, it's gonna be sink or swim. And this
is I believe, um the way Mike Tomlin wanted to
(08:47):
do this from the beginning because as he said, and
we talked about this last week, you know, the quarterback
competition is not something that's going to be be decided
by him. The players are going to decide it by
their forrmants, and so to make the decision, you have
to give can he pick it some varsity opportunity and
(09:07):
he can. He can either do well with it and
show that he belongs it at or near the top
of the depth chart, or he can not do so
well and show that well maybe you know, third is
where he's supposed to be at least in the start
of this regular season. So you know, again, that's what
is going to make Saturday night at seven o'clock so
(09:29):
uh so compelling. And I also think that that's the
way to conduct something like this to maintain, um, the
respect of the locker room because nothing players know. You know,
if if Kenny pick it goes out hypothetically and lights
(09:50):
it up there, the players that are out there will
know that. If he does not, they will know that too,
And so then you make your decision based on what
everyone has team and it's it's easy to accept the
decision like that. So, um, you know, here we go.
You know, seven o'clock Saturday night, buckle it up, you
(10:11):
said multiple times on this very award winning program the
past couple of weeks. Though it's not just enough for
one quarterback like Kenny to play really well to send
up a depth chart. Oftentimes you need the guy in
front of him to play a little below the line.
That just hasn't happened with Mason, you said yesterday. Yeah,
Kenny ran with the twos, but Mason was pretty much
matching him throw for throw. Uh. The only thing that
(10:33):
you actually noted as a difference between the two was
a couple of questionable exchanges between the center and quarterback
Mason Rudolph. That didn't go as planned. But like you said,
who knows where the fault lies on that. It could
be at the center, It could be at the quarterback
video review, and the coaching staff will decide that. But man,
it's not a case of Kenny looks great and you
(10:54):
know it's time to move him up because Rudolph just
keeps holding him off. You cannot demote the guy. Well yeah,
I mean, but unless um, you know, pick it shows
on Saturday night that um, you know he deserves to
play varsity and if he does do that, you know
you combine that in that instance with um, the fact
(11:14):
that you spent the overall picking the draft on the
guy and it was twenty, wasn't it. Okay, thank you? Okay, Well,
it's been a long time up here at camp, breathing
this dormitory air. I didn't know if my brain was
starting to fog. Um. But anyway, you know, you you
picked him for a reason. If he's going to show that, um,
(11:37):
you know, he's living up to um that expectations slash promise,
you know, And it's that's that's the way life in
the NFL. I mean, it's just is so um. You know,
Mason Rudolph My it's at no point lose his spot
um by his performance, but he still make it past.
(12:00):
I mean, that's that's life in the big city. So um,
you know, I don't know, I don't know what to
tell you in terms of that. I mean, yes, that's
something that I had come to believe. I still believe
that that. If you're looking for, you know, a change
on a depth chart situation, um, it has to be helped.
(12:22):
It's a it's a two way. Usually it's a two
way answer to the question. This guy is doing well
and this guy is not, so you switch them. Um.
Sometimes though, uh, there may be an instance where neither
guy messes up and you're just picking, picking based on
(12:42):
which one you think is better and has a brighter future,
or which one you think is better and you've invested
in more, or you know, there there's other there's other
elements to it. So you know, again, I think that
this Jacksonville game was gonna go a long way to
solve in this. And you know, we saw it last year.
Remember with Dwayne Haskins. Everybody wanted to see him get
(13:03):
a chance, get a chance, get a chance. They gave
him the chance in the preseason finale against Carolina, and um,
he didn't do very well and so then his he
kind of um sealed his own fate with that performance.
And really you never heard much about it after that.
I mean there was never any um, you know, let's
(13:27):
see what Haskins can do, movement brewing in the dark
corners of Steelers Nation. Uh, you saw he got a chance.
You saw what he did. That doesn't necessarily mean he's
never gonna be anything but for right now, and it's
it's the league. The league is a right now business
for right now. It wasn't his time. So um, you know,
(13:47):
there's another situation similar to that with different people in
different stakes going to happen on Saturday night in Jacksonville,
or at least round one of that mean, who knows
whether that's going to be the be all, end all
and then it's done, or maybe that's just another step
in the process. Lots of anticipation surrounding Saturday night's game
(14:10):
in Jacksonville. Coach Thomlins spoke to the media following practice yesterday.
Give a little look ahead into the Jacksonville game. Let's
take a listen to what coach had to say. Another
good day to day UM working card units UM in
preparation for Jacksonville. We think that's appropriate. We're excited about
taking the next step in development, a little bit more
game planning, going on the road, being in some of
(14:31):
the environmental challenges associated with that. Jacksonville has been in
one additional stadium, and so they're they're a week, you know,
further down the line in terms of collective maturity or development,
and and that's exciting. We look forward to measuring ourselves
against that and them in that environment. And and that's
probably our mentality is we lean in on the rest
of the week UM starting to prepare for for that
(14:54):
and provide more detail UH in depth to our planning
and so from that active it was a good day.
We got more work ahead of us tonight UH in
the classroom, and we'll continue to do similar things tomorrow. UM.
From a health standpoint, loud of Milk, Um wasn't able
to finish with a with a rib injury of some kind.
That's being evaluated. UM. No steps backwards for the people
(15:16):
that are working UM in an increased manner and an
effort to get back to us. And and so we're
excited about that trajectory. We're gonna need all hands on
deck this weekend. UM in Jacksonville. Apostle questions, like, you've
seen Kenny take reps with the Choose for a couple
of days. Now, what do you like about his development
this week? You know, it's preparation more than anything. UM.
(15:37):
He's gonna get some reps and more varsity like action
in this game and an effort to get to know
him and see how he fares, and what he's doing
out here is just preparing for it. What do you
think of Chris and his work on the scout team today?
Chris pulla dumpan Uh, he did some good things. UM.
You know he's been working diligently he has locked in. Um,
I appreciate his approach to business, the level of maturity
(15:59):
that he's just playing. And it's only a matter of
time before he gets more physical reps to to show
what he's capable of. Mike Taylor Lawrence carrying the football
around and happy with how he's handled this situation. To
take him too seriously as he's taken with all of
security they all do. That's just that's just standard operating
procedure for us. You suggest that to on birthday every
(16:23):
back on our our group does that we passed that
ball around? I mean, it's that is nothing new there, Um,
that's that's part of our culture. Like what you're talking
about with Jacksonville having you know, played in two stadiums
already and your preseason, you've got a bunch of teams
that have spots to be one on their roster. A
lot of guys compete hard. Did you notice that in Seattle?
And how does that prime you guys for other your
(16:45):
own players are trying to win spots. I don't worry
about the jones is to be honest with you, We've
got enough going on here in terms of taking ninety
or now eighty five to fifty three in the in
the divisional label within UM, those stadium opportunities awaited differently,
But because we're not simulating football, it is football, and
so UM we're excited about it. We're excited about the
challenge that Jacksonville presents us and UM, but again, it's
(17:08):
about us, it's not about what others are up to,
what their agenda. Maybe before Gunnar got here, he was
primarily a returner. Just what is he showing you with
his receiver skills so far? You know, he's he's he's adaptable. UM,
he's versatile, he plays multiple spots. UM, he's tough. I
can't say enough about his toughness that he displays, whether
it's related to toting the ball or blocking or otherwise.
(17:31):
He's UM, he's a game guy, Mike, what's been your
impression of prior of New York starts there so far?
Past doing a good job man getting on a moving train.
You know he missed some time because of injury, but
he's a wiredy and young guy. UM, but you're still
uncomfortable with young guys missing time. UM, it's reasonable to
expect him to take a significant jump here in year two, um,
(17:52):
in spite of the success that he had last year,
because he's just got the knowledge and the experience associated
with where he is and so UM, I expect him
to continue to work hard and continue to be a
guy on the rise. And I'm excited maybe with holes
for him, like what if Steven sims ru receiver. You
know he's working extremely hard. Um, he's working to define
(18:12):
a role. I don't know that I can describe it
from a role perspective. UM, he's a guy that's fighting
for a place or a seat on the bus. Mike,
are you treating this game with a final game as yours?
I don't know that. I'm addressing this game as address rehearsal.
We are doing more game planning this part of the
evolution of development, and we'll get the next week next
week anyone else, Coach, As you trimmed down the roster,
(18:35):
I think decision is hard. Are the easy or is
it just it is what it is because you have
to make them. You know, from a professional standpoint, they're
not very hard at the early stages of it. From
a personal standpoint, it is hard because they're men on
the other end of those decisions. That's Coach, Tomin speaking
to the media following yesterday's practice. Remember today is the
last practice open to the public at one your last
(18:57):
chance to see the Steelers at training camp today. Another Minder, coach, Tomlin,
will speak at eleven thirty for his press conference before
the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Be a little
bit longer than those post practice press conferences, and he'll
probably expand a little bit more on the plan for
Saturday nights game. We come back here on the Training
camp Report, we're gonna flip over to the defensive side
of the ball, talk about the defensive line. Hopefully we
(19:19):
see more of a starting unit against Jacksonville Saturday night there,
and we'll also hear from Larry Ogan. Job. That's all
on the way on the Training Camp Report on SNR.
This season Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman at Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio. I'm sure everybody's excited to
(19:44):
see the quarterbacks play for their second preseason game on
Saturday night. But everybody got to look at the quarterbacks
in the first preseason game. One position group that no
one really got a good look at was that defensive line.
Who knows if we'll see them at full strength on
Saturday against JACKSONVI. I think we will. That's just my hunch.
Tomlin might allude a little bit more to that or
(20:05):
shine some more light on that, uh in today's press
conference ATVEN. But we really won't know for sure, probably
until the Jacksonville game gets started. But if you do
see Ogan, Joe Blulo and maybe even number ninety out
there for a couple of snaps, a couple of series,
that's got to be something that you've been anticipating. Everybody
has really been anticipating to see that new look unit
(20:26):
really get their first game like action. Yeah, Tyson all
the wallo too? Um oh yeah, sorry, he's no no,
I mean because you know that's uh he Tyson was
drafted by the Jaguars in the first round, right, That's
where he his career was kind of born, huh. And
(20:47):
there was some belief slash uh initiative maybe take him
back to Jacksonville by the Jaguars. Um and uh, you know,
the Steelers weather that storm. I think some intervention by
Cam Hayward and some of although while those other teammates
(21:07):
might have, um, you know, helped him make the decision
to return to the Steelers. But you know, whatever it is,
I think that you know, he's a He's a critical
part of that unit. And we've talked about this only
about a thousand times since the training camp opened. You know,
the Steelers were last in the NFL and run defense
last year, and so you know that has to be
(21:31):
I won't say the priority, but it's certainly a priority
that needs to get fixed because you cannot sustain any
success in the NFL if your defense is last in
the league and stopping the run. UM. So yeah, and
that I think the defensive linemen are gonna be a
(21:52):
big part of that because I do think that that
the that the defensive line in its um injured state
last year was a factor in how that run defense
ended up being ranked come the end of the season. So, uh,
you know you mentioned some names. Uh you know, uh,
(22:13):
Stefan too, it has gone he retired. UM, Tyson alouis
back after missing I think I don't know fifteen games
with that ankle injury, So excuse me, UM, and I
do believe I don't know this for sure. I'm gonna
have to check my UM website later for the advanced
(22:36):
forecast in Jacksonville. But I cannot imagine. Right, it's gonna
be humid, the air is gonna be thick, and you know,
the place was notorious for sending Jerome Bettis to his
asthmin hailer. Uh. So you know, big guys often have
a little bit more difficulty with that kind of climate
(22:58):
uh than others, and certainly people who are not used
to it or living in it or working in a
daily um I would imagine are more h susceptible to
the impact of that as well. So I think that
when you know, whenever Mike Tomlins talking about the challenges
that are going to be posed by this second preseason
game against the Jaguars, he's he's including that, whether he's
(23:23):
saying it or not. Because as I mentioned, you know,
I've been wearing a jacket up here in the last
few days, and I never I mean you sometimes I
would wear a jacket when it was raining as a
you know, keep the rain off you kind of thing.
But I don't ever remember being cold up here. I'll
sleeping under a blanket, none of that stuff. And all
(23:45):
that's all happened this summer. So there's been a weird
summer up here. Weatherwise. We've got the full gamut of
the electrobe experience, hot and sticky, daily thunderstorms, and now
you know chili. I never I never think I never
thought I would ever say that about St. Vincent College
in August. So anyway, there is a roundabout way of
(24:08):
getting to the to the point. I think that not
that they're conditioning is going to be an issue on
Saturday night, but the change from um, this kind of
climate to that kind of climate and quickly uh is
going to be It's going to be an adjustment. And
so you know, we're gonna have to see not only
how the Steelers players react to it and respond to it,
(24:31):
but how Mike Tomlin chooses to use them in those situations,
because again, this is not a game that constant stand well.
If Tomlin decides for a series or two to throw
out the big three Hayward, Ogan, Job and Alualu at
the front of the defensive line, I'm not only interested
in seeing how they play together. I'm interested to see
how the inside linebackers play behind them. You mentioned how
(24:54):
you know it really starts with the defensive line when
it comes to improving your run defense. But those inside
line akers have a pretty big you know, hand in
that pile as well. They need to pull their weight
as well. So really interested to see, you know, that
kind of excuse being taken away of Hey, it wasn't
really the starters on the defensive line in the first
preseason game. Now it might be. Again, we're not gonna
(25:14):
assume anything, but it might be interested to see how
Jack and Bush react behind the big three up front. Yeah,
and I'm also interested to see if you know this
so far, I think in camp it's fair to say
that there's been a three man rotation going on for
the two inside linebacker spots you mentioned Miles Jack and
Devon Bush. The third person involved in that situation is
(25:37):
Robert Spillane. Now, all of those guys have their strengths.
All of those guys, I think have some weaknesses, because
if they didn't, there wouldn't be three guys competing for
two jobs. Or maybe it's a situation where they're just
going to play three, you know, and divided up however, uh,
either by snapcount or the particular opponent, or what the
(25:59):
particular or opponent likes to do offensively. You know, there's
all kinds of things that you know could be at
work there. Um, but yeah, and that's the other thing
I would want to see in addition to what you
just said, the specific performance, but whether they're looking for
two or are they just building this for three right
from the ground up. Um, and you know that that
(26:23):
there's a saying in the in the NFL that and
then this relates specifically to your favorite topic, quarterbacks. Um,
if you think you have two, you actually have none, because, uh,
you know, any team that really has a franchise quarterback
is not trying to divide playing time between that guy
(26:43):
and anyone else. It's just even when um, Samers had
Steve Young and Joe Montana, they picked one and played them.
You don't play both. So, UM, you know we're gonna
have to see how that shakes out an inside linebacker,
you know, a Devon Bush situation. Um, you know we've
(27:03):
we've talked about this too. I just don't feel comfortable
identifying specific aspects of play that are either lacking or
are um coming back to where they were before. But again,
I'll just go back to what I said about the quarterbacks.
If you know, Devin Bush was playing like the tenth
(27:24):
overall picking a draft four years ago, he would never
come off the field. I mean that was that was
the plan when they picked him. This guy's in all
situations linebacker. He was going to be what Ryan Chaser
was before that tragic injury. Um, so we're gonna have
to find out where he is now, how he's doing now, uh,
(27:44):
and what the Steelers planned to do with him and
or about him. Now, one guy that Steelers fans are
certainly excited to see jump out onto the field in
the black and gold is Larry Ogan job, the recently
signed defensive tackle. UH spent a lot of time in
Cleveland and then send Sinnati the previous year. Now he's
playing for his third d a f C North team,
the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he spoke to the media before
(28:06):
practice yesterday. Let's take a listen to what LARRYO had
to say. I'm sorry to be you know, he's welcoming
the fold, you know, you know, getting those guys. You know,
obviously everything takes his course, but for me personally, you know,
he's getting to know the guys, getting the field for them,
and then playing with the money field. Everything is kind
of being really cohesive right now. Um. Obviously they had,
(28:29):
you know, the scenes that happened last you know season.
But I feel like the biggest thing is, you know,
you make it a big point of emphasis. You know,
you do team run every day and when we're in
pass and stuff like that, so he's really trying to
make it fint the emphasis, really build on that, really
have a better run defense this year. I think it
is the biggest thing. If you have the feel for
this team last report five years, yeah, playing against him,
(28:49):
so I mean you kind of understand why they were good,
for why they've been so good for so long. You know,
you know, coach d does an amazing job of just
really you know, just rallying the guys you know, and
making the understand you know, all the aspects of football.
And I feel that that's very important on the side
now for a little while, yes, sir kind of confirmed that. Yes, yeah,
for sure, you see it, you know when you're when
you're not a part of it, but when you're part
(29:10):
of it and you see why you come too the
trope and you see why, you know, the camaraderie and
the team building it and just what's acts of it
all makes sense. You learn anything about the people if
you didn't know. Oh yeah, but a lot of gets,
a lot of gets. Stuff like it. Stuff shout with
you out and said your name said I like that,
(29:31):
I like that. Remember what that was? Um, we're just
doing one on one pass trips, you know, just getting
back to feel for things, getting back into focus, back
in the mix and now. And I like to compute.
So it's good that you don't get back into it.
What do you think it is about your intensity? That
he was shotting you out and letting everyone else know
that what you were doing what he wants to see. Um,
you winning, you know when you when you win your reps,
(29:51):
when you're working your technique, you know. And it's just
the environment that we create here. You know. I was
watching when I was the first couple weeks when I
got here, you know, because I wasn't good practice ship,
But watching how the environment being intensity and how you
practice and how you perform and being comfortable with competing.
I think that's the biggest thing to understand that we're
all brothers at the end of the day. Look, you know,
we're on the field, we're competing and trying to be
(30:12):
the best. And I feel like that's you know, the
end of the year. He wants to bring it every
day doesn't feel like his last couple of days. The
intensity is high. It's been against each other, just going
against each other, you know, getting a field from you
know preseason, you know two is coming up right now,
and you know you really wanted. It's almost kind of
like a dress rehearsal for a lot of teams. So
being able to come out and starting to play fastest,
really reporting, have you ever spense for the need? Who
(30:34):
was here for a guy like you to feel what
you do? And this is a level of responsibility to
be um. I feel like any time you're giving an opportunity,
and you know a franchise like this is a team
like this, you always have a responsibility, you know. He
he talks about every day you gotta pay your dues
to the people that came before you. And I've been
watching the Steelers since I was a kid, so I understand,
(30:54):
you know, just the level of intensity to level up,
you know, disrespecting this guarding that you have to put
in to really make this thing work. So as a
player and myself personally, I pride myself and my work
ethic and my consistency and trying to be great. So
every dem you know, bring that intensity and that does
that work of it. Is there a certain amount of
preseason game reps do you feel like you need to
(31:16):
have where you go into week one if you want
to be out there for a decent amount of time
to get back. I think it just depends, really. I
mean when you when you practice and you practice hard,
I feel like there's a whole bunch of different nuances
to the game. But I feel like for each player,
for everyone, I think it's it's different for everybody. So
has the physicality of these practices maybe helps with that.
It seems like it's a been interesting. Yeah, for sure,
(31:37):
it's good man being able to you know, tackle them
and hit and all that kind of stuff. I think
my first practice was the first that we were in
pass and we were tackling, so, you know, just being
able to you know, get back into foldings, just jump
into fire was really important something inside it, Hilary. You
look around the a f C, A lot of teams
made big moves on offense quarterback of Severs, Steelers kind
of went the other way a little bit, picking up
you mind, those guys like that, you still win with
(32:00):
being a defensive first in this League. Yeah, for sure,
I feel like and that's something that you know, you
gotta go out to improve. You you know, this seem
has always been built. You know, obviously had you been
hoping to the offensive weaples, but the staple has always
been defense. So you know, I think that's just what
they're trying to continue to builds, continue to grow on
they had, you know, they had a need for it
last year when they canna run defense, and you know what,
(32:21):
they're trying to share it up. So I feel like
it's just another opportunity in the rise to the occasion.
That's Larry Ogenjob speaking to the media before yesterday's practice
and labs. He seems to be well aware of the
task at hand for himself. He brought in to help
improve a really bad run defense last year, and I
think he's ready to take on that challenge. Yeah. And
with Larry Ogunjob, he also brings you know, I talked
(32:42):
about this as well as he will he will contribute
to the past rush. He is not simply a one
dimensional player off on third and long if you don't
want to exactly, and when the defense sees him out
on the field, it cannot just assume what we won't
run the ball, will just tire him out with some
path sprushes which won't get anywhere from him because he
(33:02):
can't do it, and then when they take a mob
will run the ball. Now, this is a guy who, uh,
you know, he's a three down player as a defensive lineman,
and that's what you have to be in the NFL
now to really be effective and really to be valuable
to your team. I expect him to have a really
big impact right away this year. I think talent wise,
(33:23):
he's still there. It really comes down to that liszt
Frank injury and if he's going to fully recover from it.
And you can tell the Steelers in the way that
they've been utilizing him through this camp process. You know,
they brought him along slowly. He didn't start initially when
camp started. I was thrown into the mix more and
more and more as we've worked on But you can
tell that they're really conscious about that too. I think
it's clear to them, hey, this guy is still talented
(33:45):
enough to be a premier guy on the front of
our defensive line. Can that injury hold up? Can he
come back at full strength? Is really the biggest question
mark around him. Not not anything play wise, well one
and one of the other aspects, uh, you know, playing
for the Steelers. I think this year that's going to
um be beneficial to Larry ogun Job and his individual
(34:07):
situation is defensive line coach Carl Dunbar is and always
has been a big fan of rotations. So you know,
he will he will rotate guys in and out. I
mean a lot. Often there will be six defensive linemen
uh with a helmet on game they excuse me, and um,
and they'll they'll all get a chance to play. So
(34:30):
you know, the guys like Isaiah louder Milk and uh,
the Marvin Leal and Henry Mondo and um. You know,
some of these people are important as well because they
have to be able to hold up their end so
that the rotation system can continue. And you know, and
it's not it's not something where there's a gigantic drop
(34:54):
off when you take out your three or four best
players and now you're not gonna take them all out
at the same time, of course, but you get what
I mean, you don't you want to maintain some sort
of some sort of consistent level of performance that's above
the line where you can then uh, save some of
these guys for the lot of parts of games and
(35:15):
then get from them what you need at those parts
of the games. And then you know, continue to do
that over the course of a season where you're not
asking three guys to play a thousand snaps each because
at that size physical size, you know, that's a lot
of pounding on the body. And you know, when you're
talking about a list frank injury. Um, you know, the
(35:37):
different kind of playing surfaces that are in the NFL.
Even some of the grass fields aren't necessarily as good
as some of the other grass fields, and so you know,
trying to do some different things to protect your own
guys without compromising. Um, the the overall success of the
unit is very important. And so you know, again, I
(35:59):
think for Larry Yogan Jobi to come to a team
with a defensive line coach like Carl Dunbar who was
in favor of that, and a head coach like Mike
Tomlin who allows that kind of thing to go on,
I think will help him. We're gonna take a look
at some more things to look forward to in Steelers
Jaguars on Saturday night, on the other side of the break,
(36:20):
did you just say Jaguars. Sorry, Steelers Jacksonville, Steelers Jacksonville.
I avoid saying it's just because Steelers Jacksonville Saturday night.
A lot of things to look forward to still, because
those people do not like Jaguars. They don't write like
they have a really weird detta against that. You're right,
(36:40):
you think you were calling him ins you know, sorry,
ed mean to interrupt Steelers Jaguars. Is that right? Wrong? Oh? Perfect? Perfect.
We'll keep talking about some things to look forward to,
including the running back position that's on the way as
we wrap things up on the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio. He sees the Training Camper Report with
(37:07):
Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio. Wrapping
things up here on the Training Camp Report, giving you
some things to look forward to in Jacksonville on Saturday
night's game Steelers and Jacksonville seven pm kickoff. There, Labs,
I'm looking at the running back room again. Strong showings
against Seattle from Anthony McFarland and Jalen Warren. Jalen Warren
(37:29):
did fumble the football, though, and Tomlin made sure to
make note of that after the game, as pretty much
his biggest takeaway from Warren's performance, But those two played
pretty well. You're gonna see Benny snell for sure against
the Jaguars. He played practice are He practiced yesterday again
for the second full straight day, so he's worked himself
back into the fold. Maybe you see number twenty two
for a carrier two. I know Naji said he definitely
(37:51):
wants to play. I don't think it's really up to him,
to be honest, but maybe we see him get a
carrier two. But I'm really looking forward to those three
behind him, Snell and then McFarland and Warren and seeing
if those two can build off of their strong debuts
against Seattle. Yeah, there's gonna be that plus again, um
whoever that is, whoever they are, because I believe there
(38:11):
will be more than one of those guys that you
just mentioned kept. Um, they gotta they gotta contribute something
special teams. You know, Benny snell Is has shown himself
to be a guy who uh makes tackles on in
kickoff coverage, So, um, the end of that's valuable. Anthony
McFarland is listed on the depth chart as a backup returner. Um. Now,
(38:35):
but I noticed in this past week was that Jalen
Warren was taken some snaps with the punt team as
the personal protector. That's the guy who stands in front
of the punter. He sets the coverage or sets the
protection excuse me, sex sets the protection and then um,
you know, calls for the snap and then he's like
(38:57):
the last line of defense should anyone break through where
there be any leakage, uh, in the in the protection
up front. So yeah, you can't. You can't mess it
up because if you call the protection the wrong way,
the kick gets blocked, and it's nobody's really fault but
your own, because if you're not accounting for, you know,
(39:18):
the numbers on each side of the long snapper or
a lot of times teams that are trying to block
a punt will make a change right before the ball
is snapped. So you have to I don't know, you
have to kind of know what the opponent likes to
do in that aspect. So there's film study involved. There,
(39:40):
time spent with Danny Smith. You gotta listen to what
he says and remember it, um, and then there's also
the execution of it once you're on the field. So
uh yeah, it's it's not an insignificant job to have,
and I don't know that it's one that's going to
be given to someone lightly either. You know, let's let's
(40:00):
let's make this backup running back the personal protector on
the punt team because that will help us keep him
on the roster. Well doesn't work that way. So, uh,
you know, these these games are important for you know,
more reasons than just how you look carrying the ball,
for these guys who are looking for those backup roster
spots at running back. Another thing offensively that I'm looking
(40:23):
forward to, And this is kind of more of an
if we'll get maybe a little bit more information from
coach Tom went at thirty when he has his press
conference before the Jacksonville game on who's gonna play, how
how long starters are going to play, and whatnot. But
if the weaponry on offense is at full strength, and
more so in the passing game, so pretend not we
(40:45):
don't care if twenty two plays or not. But Firemouth
Deonte Claypool pickings. Mitch had a really good opening drive
against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday, and he didn't have
a lot of his big dogs out there on offense. Again,
we don't know if we'll see that full Arsenal jest
yet against Jacksonville, but I really do hope we do,
at least for one series. I want to see what
(41:06):
Mitch can do game action with all of his weaponry
on the field. Well, the other thing that that is
going to be a factor on Saturday night is you're
playing on the road and there is a difference in
the NFL home versus the road, and by that I
mean it can create some communication issues. Now, when Ramon
(41:28):
Foster was the Steeler starting left guard, the way the
Steelers would operate out of the silent count with Ben
in the shotgun was, you know, Ben would lift his
one leg and that would either start motion or would
begin the count, and you know, Ramonte Foster would slap
pouncing on the side of his leg. So that now, okay,
(41:51):
now the count's starting, and everybody in their head, you
know one Mississippi tumbis or what however they would do
that to know if it was on one or on
two or you know whatever, and then the ball would
be snapped. So this is you know, it's a it's
a different procedure a little bit now because you're you're
having two guys compete for one job at left guard.
(42:13):
So what I've noticed in practice is that job of
kind of starting the metronome is James Daniels. He's the
right guard, and you know he makes a motion with
his arm uh that starts the clock. Now, his responsibility
beyond getting the timing right is you can't make a move,
(42:36):
a quick move that might be interpreted by the officials
as a false start, so you know you're actually moved.
They do allow the leak. The rules allow this kind
of a movement in the line to facilitate communication when
the crowd noise is allowed. So but you have to
do it correctly. So you know there's that you know,
(42:59):
want on a stupid false star penalties that are putting
you behind the chains. And then you know there's other
things that getting the whatever if there's audibles or um,
you know, little secret communication between the quarterback and the
receivers who are split wide, those kinds of things. I mean,
getting this all accomplished correctly within the time that's allotted
(43:24):
on the play clock is something that's you know, teams
work on, um. So that's another thing to watch a
little bit on Saturday night. Not only for when you're
judging the offense as a whole, but also the quarterback.
You know we're talking about Kenny Pickett getting more varsity
snaps or in varsity situations, Well that's one of them.
(43:48):
You know, are they burning time out so their delays
of game are there? You know, false starts or you know,
um illegal formations or you know that that all that
kind of pre snap stuff that can make coach lose
his mind, uh and just sabotage the performance of the
offense before really even has a chance to get going.
So you know there are I don't know how filled
(44:11):
the stands is gonna be in Jacksonville. I don't know
how um boisterous the crowd is going to be, but
you know it's not going to be that certainly not
the controlled environment that these guys have been used to
here Latrobe. I'm also hoping to see Number six let
go some boomers in the special teams game. You know,
you talked up his practice yesterday and how impressive he
(44:32):
was punting the football. I want to see it against
another paral laundry, you know, I want to see him
play do that against the different team in a visiting
stadium like you said, more of a hostile environment. You know,
it's great that he had that great practice, but we
we need to see him translate that to an actual
game situation, right and hope using k balls tomorrow night too.
(44:53):
Not not not that the Steelers put their footballs in
the dryer or anything for the punters, but it also
is going to be a situation where, um, you know,
the balls are the ones that are shipped directly to
whoever the referee is for Saturday night's game, and they
will be waiting for him in a sealed um carton
or however they're shipped um that night when he gets
(45:16):
to gets to the stadium and then he will open them.
I believe it's in the company of whatever NFL representative
has been assigned to the game. I mean it's they're
pretty serious, you know about preventing this kind of stuff
from being tampered with. So um yeah, and then there's
it's gonna be humidity, maybe it's gonna be wet, who
(45:37):
knows if it'll rain or not. So there are gonna
be conditions that are gonna test special teams. Christian Koon's
certainly um Pressley Harvin when he's punning Pressley Harvin when
um Chris Boswell or Nick Skiva is attempting placement kicks.
So yeah, there's a lot of things, a lot of
(45:59):
little things that are going to be different potentially Saturday night.
That you know, I think Mike Tomlin in a way
relishes and looks forward to most of them, happening to
see who reacts well and who does not well. Labs.
That's all she wrote for us. That's gonna do it
for the training camp report at Steelers Training Camp. Appreciate
(46:20):
you getting up early and entertaining me for the past
three or so weeks. Let me just ask you one question, Um,
what color um vest and tire you're gonna wear with
your tuxedo when we get the Emmy Award back and
goal so we don't clash. I'm gonna go black and
goal naturally, Alright, maybe a nice little red, yellow and
blue pocket square as well, you know, just for a
(46:42):
little extra flare. Okay, I'll I'll try, and yeah, I'm
sure we'll be back again next Well, you'll be back
again next year, for sure. It's probably fifty fifty on
me whether or not they're gonna bring me back or not.
But that's gonna do it for the Training Camp report.
Practice Practice today is the last one open to the public,
so get your butts up to St. Vincent. If you
(47:03):
want to see the Steelers at training camp, today is
your last chance to do so. Wolf and Starks are
in the locker room. Up next on Steelers Nation Radio.
Man, We're really excited to be here. It's awesome to
get guarded. And so now we take off. She's the
training camp re report what Tom Opperman and Bob Labriole
on Steelers Nation Radio. We are finally at the end
of this majestic journey that you call training camp. Last
practice open to the public today at one the Steelers
(00:28):
will do a walk through before leaving for Jacksonville tomorrow.
So just two more days for the Steelers on campus
labs and low and behold. As we wind things down,
a fourth quarterback has emerged and injected himself into this
quarterback battle. Chris Olodokin got his first live action yesterday
in practice, and he's got to be right there with Kenny,
with Mason, with Mitch right absolutely three free company fours
(00:55):
a party, you know, but you know it's it. I
will give him credit for this, Chris Oladok. And I
mean he has not been anything but a team guy
throughout this. I mean he hasn't chafed about his situation.
(01:15):
Uh you know, he could have. There are ways that
he could have made this uncomfortable maybe, um, but he
never did. And um, you know, I I hope for
nothing for the best for him. I mean, I have
no idea what that's gonna be. I really don't. There's
so many rumors floating around. There's so many things that
(01:38):
could happen between now and August when the rosters are
cut and then you know, the next day is signing
practice squad guys, and how that shakes out, not only
here with the Steelers but league wide. There's no way
of knowing or predicting. So I just you know, I
do think that Chris olad Oaken deserves UM some credit
(02:04):
for being a professional, even though he's he's very very
young in that UM endeavor. So UM, as I said,
I nothing but the best for him, you can apply
that praise for every quarterback really in this quarterback room.
You know, Mason has been the utmost professional through this process.
Can't be easy for him. Mitch super professional helping all
(02:27):
the quarterbacks out despite you know, hey, you went out
and signed me and then a couple of weeks later
you picked a guy in the first round. So I
think you can apply that to every single one in
that room. They've been a very professional unit through this
whole endeavor. Yeah, I cannot disagree with that, and each
one I think um has faced their own unique challenges
(02:48):
in that respect. Um. You know, Kenny Pickett has been
very levelheaded. I I believe, ah he is UM. He
engages with the fans. I mean, he doesn't think that,
you know, he's all that UM good. You know, so
there's that. I mean you mentioned Mitch Trobinski. Um, you know,
(03:10):
because that kind of surprised me too. I didn't know that.
I didn't think that it was. UM, I won't say likely,
but probable that you know, you signed a guy like
him and then you draft a quarterback. But um, you
know that's the way he thinks shake out Sometimes. I
think Mitch Robinsky, having the most extensive professional resume of
(03:36):
the quarterbacks on the depth chart at this point, he
can certainly understand, you know, the business aspects of the
business side of the NFL and so UM. While he
may have the experience to give him that perspective, I
still think that it's worth praising him for the fact
(03:57):
that he has in fact maintained that perspective. Mason Rudolph,
his situation is difficult. I mean, I feel for the
guy because you know, I don't I don't think that
he deserves some of the scorn from the you know,
the public that he has been getting either on social media,
(04:20):
the booing at that. Yeah, I mean that that's just
I mean, that wasn't necessary. And let's let's be honest. Um,
the guy beat Dan Moore. It's not Mason Rudolph's falt.
You know, your left happy well and not even matter,
not for that. You know. I'm not saying fans aren't
(04:41):
a lot of boo. But it was one bad play.
I think that. You know, we look at the game
steal score thirty two points. Um, yeah, the offense rushed
for over a hundred yards. Uh you know, let's it's
a preseason game for goodn mistakes. People you know, get
a grip. Um. But anyway, Uh yeah, I don't. I
(05:02):
don't understand the vitriol being directed at Mason Rudolph. Um.
And um, you know we but so that's and then
we've already talked about Chris Oladokin. So yeah, I kudos
to the quarterbacks for handling this. I think that the process,
I won't say it has gone seamlessly, uh in terms
(05:23):
of the the competition, how it was constructed, how it
was executed. Um, but I mean all things considered Um,
it's about as good as it's ever gonna get when
you're dealing with elements like weather, you know, and that
kind of stuff and um injuries. So anyway, UM, yeah,
(05:44):
hats off to those guys for handling it. I believe
about as well as it could be handled. And you know,
now you move on from here. Let's stick with Kenny
Pickett for a bit here. I was reading your practice
report last night, as I always do when I tuck
myself into bed. It's the last thing I look at
when I closed my eyes. So then the dreams of
ideas of the show the next day exactly, either that
(06:06):
or put you to sleep three or four times before
that happens. It's so exciting and thralling. But you mentioned
in your lead this is shaping up to be a
pretty big week for Kenny Pickett and he keeps getting
trotted out there after Mitch with the Two's happened again yesterday.
We'll hear from coach Tomlin in a second, but he mentioned,
you know, that's just part of getting him preparation for
(06:28):
what's coming in Saturday's stadium experience against Jacksonville, where he's
going to get more varsity minutes for them to really
evaluate him. Yeah, I mean, and that's part but that's
part of the Mike Tomlin process, you know. He um
the depth chart. You know, as we've we've hashed this
over and over again, the initial camp depth chart is
done because the NFL made and you know, as we've seen,
(06:54):
the depth chart is pretty much, um, you know, a
recitation of guys because experience or their current their previous
you know, standing with the team. You know, if you
were a starter last year and weren't awful and didn't
get cut or leave as a free agent, you're probably
going to be penciled in at the same spot, um
this year, even though that doesn't necessarily mean that when
(07:17):
the games start to count that you're gonna still be
in that spot as a starter. So um, but and
how then the rest of it falls in line a
lot of times with experience in the league or your
draft position or you know those kinds of things. Um.
But the way Mike Tomlin does it is then he
views that you know, there's usually a fourth team, sometime
(07:39):
a fifth team in terms of how many numbers there
are at different positions, and you know, the fourth, fifth guys,
even the third guys a little bit off and are
referred to as junior varsity. So when you do well
on the junior varsity, you get moved up to the
varsity and then you know, you see if you can
maintain that level of performance, uh to stay there. And
(08:02):
so uh, you know, Kenny Pickett, I think it's a
combination of things. Um, he has, he has done well.
I believe, I don't I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
put him in the Ben Roethlisberger category. I'm just not
gonna do it. I'm not gonna put him in the
you know he's the next Dan Marino or any of
that stuff either, because as we've talked about that, that
(08:23):
is not fair to him. But he has done well,
and so I think he has shown that, Uh he
deserves a little shocked. It's here to see what he
can do against more varsity type competition, and you know,
for him, it's gonna be sink or swim. And this
is I believe, um the way Mike Tomlin wanted to
(08:47):
do this from the beginning because as he said, and
we talked about this last week, you know, the quarterback
competition is not something that's going to be be decided
by him. The players are going to decide it by
their forrmants, and so to make the decision, you have
to give can he pick it some varsity opportunity and
(09:07):
he can. He can either do well with it and
show that he belongs it at or near the top
of the depth chart, or he can not do so
well and show that well maybe you know, third is
where he's supposed to be at least in the start
of this regular season. So you know, again, that's what
is going to make Saturday night at seven o'clock so
(09:29):
uh so compelling. And I also think that that's the
way to conduct something like this to maintain, um, the
respect of the locker room because nothing players know. You know,
if if Kenny pick it goes out hypothetically and lights
(09:50):
it up there, the players that are out there will
know that. If he does not, they will know that too,
And so then you make your decision based on what
everyone has team and it's it's easy to accept the
decision like that. So, um, you know, here we go.
You know, seven o'clock Saturday night, buckle it up, you
(10:11):
said multiple times on this very award winning program the
past couple of weeks. Though it's not just enough for
one quarterback like Kenny to play really well to send
up a depth chart. Oftentimes you need the guy in
front of him to play a little below the line.
That just hasn't happened with Mason, you said yesterday. Yeah,
Kenny ran with the twos, but Mason was pretty much
matching him throw for throw. Uh. The only thing that
(10:33):
you actually noted as a difference between the two was
a couple of questionable exchanges between the center and quarterback
Mason Rudolph. That didn't go as planned. But like you said,
who knows where the fault lies on that. It could
be at the center, It could be at the quarterback
video review, and the coaching staff will decide that. But man,
it's not a case of Kenny looks great and you
(10:54):
know it's time to move him up because Rudolph just
keeps holding him off. You cannot demote the guy. Well yeah,
I mean, but unless um, you know, pick it shows
on Saturday night that um, you know he deserves to
play varsity and if he does do that, you know
you combine that in that instance with um, the fact
(11:14):
that you spent the overall picking the draft on the
guy and it was twenty, wasn't it. Okay, thank you? Okay, Well,
it's been a long time up here at camp, breathing
this dormitory air. I didn't know if my brain was
starting to fog. Um. But anyway, you know, you you
picked him for a reason. If he's going to show that, um,
(11:37):
you know, he's living up to um that expectations slash promise,
you know, And it's that's that's the way life in
the NFL. I mean, it's just is so um. You know,
Mason Rudolph My it's at no point lose his spot
um by his performance, but he still make it past.
(12:00):
I mean, that's that's life in the big city. So um,
you know, I don't know, I don't know what to
tell you in terms of that. I mean, yes, that's
something that I had come to believe. I still believe
that that. If you're looking for, you know, a change
on a depth chart situation, um, it has to be helped.
(12:22):
It's a it's a two way. Usually it's a two
way answer to the question. This guy is doing well
and this guy is not, so you switch them. Um.
Sometimes though, uh, there may be an instance where neither
guy messes up and you're just picking, picking based on
(12:42):
which one you think is better and has a brighter future,
or which one you think is better and you've invested
in more, or you know, there there's other there's other
elements to it. So you know, again, I think that
this Jacksonville game was gonna go a long way to
solve in this. And you know, we saw it last year.
Remember with Dwayne Haskins. Everybody wanted to see him get
(13:03):
a chance, get a chance, get a chance. They gave
him the chance in the preseason finale against Carolina, and um,
he didn't do very well and so then his he
kind of um sealed his own fate with that performance.
And really you never heard much about it after that.
I mean there was never any um, you know, let's
(13:27):
see what Haskins can do, movement brewing in the dark
corners of Steelers Nation. Uh, you saw he got a chance.
You saw what he did. That doesn't necessarily mean he's
never gonna be anything but for right now, and it's
it's the league. The league is a right now business
for right now. It wasn't his time. So um, you know,
(13:47):
there's another situation similar to that with different people in
different stakes going to happen on Saturday night in Jacksonville,
or at least round one of that mean, who knows
whether that's going to be the be all, end all
and then it's done, or maybe that's just another step
in the process. Lots of anticipation surrounding Saturday night's game
(14:10):
in Jacksonville. Coach Thomlins spoke to the media following practice yesterday.
Give a little look ahead into the Jacksonville game. Let's
take a listen to what coach had to say. Another
good day to day UM working card units UM in
preparation for Jacksonville. We think that's appropriate. We're excited about
taking the next step in development, a little bit more
game planning, going on the road, being in some of
(14:31):
the environmental challenges associated with that. Jacksonville has been in
one additional stadium, and so they're they're a week, you know,
further down the line in terms of collective maturity or development,
and and that's exciting. We look forward to measuring ourselves
against that and them in that environment. And and that's
probably our mentality is we lean in on the rest
of the week UM starting to prepare for for that
(14:54):
and provide more detail UH in depth to our planning
and so from that active it was a good day.
We got more work ahead of us tonight UH in
the classroom, and we'll continue to do similar things tomorrow. UM.
From a health standpoint, loud of Milk, Um wasn't able
to finish with a with a rib injury of some kind.
That's being evaluated. UM. No steps backwards for the people
(15:16):
that are working UM in an increased manner and an
effort to get back to us. And and so we're
excited about that trajectory. We're gonna need all hands on
deck this weekend. UM in Jacksonville. Apostle questions, like, you've
seen Kenny take reps with the Choose for a couple
of days. Now, what do you like about his development
this week? You know, it's preparation more than anything. UM.
(15:37):
He's gonna get some reps and more varsity like action
in this game and an effort to get to know
him and see how he fares, and what he's doing
out here is just preparing for it. What do you
think of Chris and his work on the scout team today?
Chris pulla dumpan Uh, he did some good things. UM.
You know he's been working diligently he has locked in. Um,
I appreciate his approach to business, the level of maturity
(15:59):
that he's just playing. And it's only a matter of
time before he gets more physical reps to to show
what he's capable of. Mike Taylor Lawrence carrying the football
around and happy with how he's handled this situation. To
take him too seriously as he's taken with all of
security they all do. That's just that's just standard operating
procedure for us. You suggest that to on birthday every
(16:23):
back on our our group does that we passed that
ball around? I mean, it's that is nothing new there, Um,
that's that's part of our culture. Like what you're talking
about with Jacksonville having you know, played in two stadiums
already and your preseason, you've got a bunch of teams
that have spots to be one on their roster. A
lot of guys compete hard. Did you notice that in Seattle?
And how does that prime you guys for other your
(16:45):
own players are trying to win spots. I don't worry
about the jones is to be honest with you, We've
got enough going on here in terms of taking ninety
or now eighty five to fifty three in the in
the divisional label within UM, those stadium opportunities awaited differently,
But because we're not simulating football, it is football, and
so UM we're excited about it. We're excited about the
challenge that Jacksonville presents us and UM, but again, it's
(17:08):
about us, it's not about what others are up to,
what their agenda. Maybe before Gunnar got here, he was
primarily a returner. Just what is he showing you with
his receiver skills so far? You know, he's he's he's adaptable. UM,
he's versatile, he plays multiple spots. UM, he's tough. I
can't say enough about his toughness that he displays, whether
it's related to toting the ball or blocking or otherwise.
(17:31):
He's UM, he's a game guy, Mike, what's been your
impression of prior of New York starts there so far?
Past doing a good job man getting on a moving train.
You know he missed some time because of injury, but
he's a wiredy and young guy. UM, but you're still
uncomfortable with young guys missing time. UM, it's reasonable to
expect him to take a significant jump here in year two, um,
(17:52):
in spite of the success that he had last year,
because he's just got the knowledge and the experience associated
with where he is and so UM, I expect him
to continue to work hard and continue to be a
guy on the rise. And I'm excited maybe with holes
for him, like what if Steven sims ru receiver. You
know he's working extremely hard. Um, he's working to define
(18:12):
a role. I don't know that I can describe it
from a role perspective. UM, he's a guy that's fighting
for a place or a seat on the bus. Mike,
are you treating this game with a final game as yours?
I don't know that. I'm addressing this game as address rehearsal.
We are doing more game planning this part of the
evolution of development, and we'll get the next week next
week anyone else, Coach, As you trimmed down the roster,
(18:35):
I think decision is hard. Are the easy or is
it just it is what it is because you have
to make them. You know, from a professional standpoint, they're
not very hard at the early stages of it. From
a personal standpoint, it is hard because they're men on
the other end of those decisions. That's Coach, Tomin speaking
to the media following yesterday's practice. Remember today is the
last practice open to the public at one your last
(18:57):
chance to see the Steelers at training camp today. Another Minder, coach, Tomlin,
will speak at eleven thirty for his press conference before
the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Be a little
bit longer than those post practice press conferences, and he'll
probably expand a little bit more on the plan for
Saturday nights game. We come back here on the Training
camp Report, we're gonna flip over to the defensive side
of the ball, talk about the defensive line. Hopefully we
(19:19):
see more of a starting unit against Jacksonville Saturday night there,
and we'll also hear from Larry Ogan. Job. That's all
on the way on the Training Camp Report on SNR.
This season Training Camp Report with Tom Opperman at Bob
Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio. I'm sure everybody's excited to
(19:44):
see the quarterbacks play for their second preseason game on
Saturday night. But everybody got to look at the quarterbacks
in the first preseason game. One position group that no
one really got a good look at was that defensive line.
Who knows if we'll see them at full strength on
Saturday against JACKSONVI. I think we will. That's just my hunch.
Tomlin might allude a little bit more to that or
(20:05):
shine some more light on that, uh in today's press
conference ATVEN. But we really won't know for sure, probably
until the Jacksonville game gets started. But if you do
see Ogan, Joe Blulo and maybe even number ninety out
there for a couple of snaps, a couple of series,
that's got to be something that you've been anticipating. Everybody
has really been anticipating to see that new look unit
(20:26):
really get their first game like action. Yeah, Tyson all
the wallo too? Um oh yeah, sorry, he's no no,
I mean because you know that's uh he Tyson was
drafted by the Jaguars in the first round, right, That's
where he his career was kind of born, huh. And
(20:47):
there was some belief slash uh initiative maybe take him
back to Jacksonville by the Jaguars. Um and uh, you know,
the Steelers weather that storm. I think some intervention by
Cam Hayward and some of although while those other teammates
(21:07):
might have, um, you know, helped him make the decision
to return to the Steelers. But you know, whatever it is,
I think that you know, he's a He's a critical
part of that unit. And we've talked about this only
about a thousand times since the training camp opened. You know,
the Steelers were last in the NFL and run defense
last year, and so you know that has to be
(21:31):
I won't say the priority, but it's certainly a priority
that needs to get fixed because you cannot sustain any
success in the NFL if your defense is last in
the league and stopping the run. UM. So yeah, and
that I think the defensive linemen are gonna be a
(21:52):
big part of that because I do think that that
the that the defensive line in its um injured state
last year was a factor in how that run defense
ended up being ranked come the end of the season. So, uh,
you know you mentioned some names. Uh you know, uh,
(22:13):
Stefan too, it has gone he retired. UM, Tyson alouis
back after missing I think I don't know fifteen games
with that ankle injury, So excuse me, UM, and I
do believe I don't know this for sure. I'm gonna
have to check my UM website later for the advanced
(22:36):
forecast in Jacksonville. But I cannot imagine. Right, it's gonna
be humid, the air is gonna be thick, and you know,
the place was notorious for sending Jerome Bettis to his
asthmin hailer. Uh. So you know, big guys often have
a little bit more difficulty with that kind of climate
(22:58):
uh than others, and certainly people who are not used
to it or living in it or working in a
daily um I would imagine are more h susceptible to
the impact of that as well. So I think that
when you know, whenever Mike Tomlins talking about the challenges
that are going to be posed by this second preseason
game against the Jaguars, he's he's including that, whether he's
(23:23):
saying it or not. Because as I mentioned, you know,
I've been wearing a jacket up here in the last
few days, and I never I mean you sometimes I
would wear a jacket when it was raining as a
you know, keep the rain off you kind of thing.
But I don't ever remember being cold up here. I'll
sleeping under a blanket, none of that stuff. And all
(23:45):
that's all happened this summer. So there's been a weird
summer up here. Weatherwise. We've got the full gamut of
the electrobe experience, hot and sticky, daily thunderstorms, and now
you know chili. I never I never think I never
thought I would ever say that about St. Vincent College
in August. So anyway, there is a roundabout way of
(24:08):
getting to the to the point. I think that not
that they're conditioning is going to be an issue on
Saturday night, but the change from um, this kind of
climate to that kind of climate and quickly uh is
going to be It's going to be an adjustment. And
so you know, we're gonna have to see not only
how the Steelers players react to it and respond to it,
(24:31):
but how Mike Tomlin chooses to use them in those situations,
because again, this is not a game that constant stand well.
If Tomlin decides for a series or two to throw
out the big three Hayward, Ogan, Job and Alualu at
the front of the defensive line, I'm not only interested
in seeing how they play together. I'm interested to see
how the inside linebackers play behind them. You mentioned how
(24:54):
you know it really starts with the defensive line when
it comes to improving your run defense. But those inside
line akers have a pretty big you know, hand in
that pile as well. They need to pull their weight
as well. So really interested to see, you know, that
kind of excuse being taken away of Hey, it wasn't
really the starters on the defensive line in the first
preseason game. Now it might be. Again, we're not gonna
(25:14):
assume anything, but it might be interested to see how
Jack and Bush react behind the big three up front. Yeah,
and I'm also interested to see if you know this
so far, I think in camp it's fair to say
that there's been a three man rotation going on for
the two inside linebacker spots you mentioned Miles Jack and
Devon Bush. The third person involved in that situation is
(25:37):
Robert Spillane. Now, all of those guys have their strengths.
All of those guys, I think have some weaknesses, because
if they didn't, there wouldn't be three guys competing for
two jobs. Or maybe it's a situation where they're just
going to play three, you know, and divided up however, uh,
either by snapcount or the particular opponent, or what the
(25:59):
particular or opponent likes to do offensively. You know, there's
all kinds of things that you know could be at
work there. Um, but yeah, and that's the other thing
I would want to see in addition to what you
just said, the specific performance, but whether they're looking for
two or are they just building this for three right
from the ground up. Um, and you know that that
(26:23):
there's a saying in the in the NFL that and
then this relates specifically to your favorite topic, quarterbacks. Um,
if you think you have two, you actually have none, because, uh,
you know, any team that really has a franchise quarterback
is not trying to divide playing time between that guy
(26:43):
and anyone else. It's just even when um, Samers had
Steve Young and Joe Montana, they picked one and played them.
You don't play both. So, UM, you know we're gonna
have to see how that shakes out an inside linebacker,
you know, a Devon Bush situation. Um, you know we've
(27:03):
we've talked about this too. I just don't feel comfortable
identifying specific aspects of play that are either lacking or
are um coming back to where they were before. But again,
I'll just go back to what I said about the quarterbacks.
If you know, Devin Bush was playing like the tenth
(27:24):
overall picking a draft four years ago, he would never
come off the field. I mean that was that was
the plan when they picked him. This guy's in all
situations linebacker. He was going to be what Ryan Chaser
was before that tragic injury. Um, so we're gonna have
to find out where he is now, how he's doing now, uh,
(27:44):
and what the Steelers planned to do with him and
or about him. Now, one guy that Steelers fans are
certainly excited to see jump out onto the field in
the black and gold is Larry Ogan job, the recently
signed defensive tackle. UH spent a lot of time in
Cleveland and then send Sinnati the previous year. Now he's
playing for his third d a f C North team,
the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he spoke to the media before
(28:06):
practice yesterday. Let's take a listen to what LARRYO had
to say. I'm sorry to be you know, he's welcoming
the fold, you know, you know, getting those guys. You know,
obviously everything takes his course, but for me personally, you know,
he's getting to know the guys, getting the field for them,
and then playing with the money field. Everything is kind
of being really cohesive right now. Um. Obviously they had,
(28:29):
you know, the scenes that happened last you know season.
But I feel like the biggest thing is, you know,
you make it a big point of emphasis. You know,
you do team run every day and when we're in
pass and stuff like that, so he's really trying to
make it fint the emphasis, really build on that, really
have a better run defense this year. I think it
is the biggest thing. If you have the feel for
this team last report five years, yeah, playing against him,
(28:49):
so I mean you kind of understand why they were good,
for why they've been so good for so long. You know,
you know, coach d does an amazing job of just
really you know, just rallying the guys you know, and
making the understand you know, all the aspects of football.
And I feel that that's very important on the side
now for a little while, yes, sir kind of confirmed that. Yes, yeah,
for sure, you see it, you know when you're when
you're not a part of it, but when you're part
(29:10):
of it and you see why you come too the
trope and you see why, you know, the camaraderie and
the team building it and just what's acts of it
all makes sense. You learn anything about the people if
you didn't know. Oh yeah, but a lot of gets,
a lot of gets. Stuff like it. Stuff shout with
you out and said your name said I like that,
(29:31):
I like that. Remember what that was? Um, we're just
doing one on one pass trips, you know, just getting
back to feel for things, getting back into focus, back
in the mix and now. And I like to compute.
So it's good that you don't get back into it.
What do you think it is about your intensity? That
he was shotting you out and letting everyone else know
that what you were doing what he wants to see. Um,
you winning, you know when you when you win your reps,
(29:51):
when you're working your technique, you know. And it's just
the environment that we create here. You know. I was
watching when I was the first couple weeks when I
got here, you know, because I wasn't good practice ship,
But watching how the environment being intensity and how you
practice and how you perform and being comfortable with competing.
I think that's the biggest thing to understand that we're
all brothers at the end of the day. Look, you know,
we're on the field, we're competing and trying to be
(30:12):
the best. And I feel like that's you know, the
end of the year. He wants to bring it every
day doesn't feel like his last couple of days. The
intensity is high. It's been against each other, just going
against each other, you know, getting a field from you
know preseason, you know two is coming up right now,
and you know you really wanted. It's almost kind of
like a dress rehearsal for a lot of teams. So
being able to come out and starting to play fastest,
really reporting, have you ever spense for the need? Who
(30:34):
was here for a guy like you to feel what
you do? And this is a level of responsibility to
be um. I feel like any time you're giving an opportunity,
and you know a franchise like this is a team
like this, you always have a responsibility, you know. He
he talks about every day you gotta pay your dues
to the people that came before you. And I've been
watching the Steelers since I was a kid, so I understand,
(30:54):
you know, just the level of intensity to level up,
you know, disrespecting this guarding that you have to put
in to really make this thing work. So as a
player and myself personally, I pride myself and my work
ethic and my consistency and trying to be great. So
every dem you know, bring that intensity and that does
that work of it. Is there a certain amount of
preseason game reps do you feel like you need to
(31:16):
have where you go into week one if you want
to be out there for a decent amount of time
to get back. I think it just depends, really. I
mean when you when you practice and you practice hard,
I feel like there's a whole bunch of different nuances
to the game. But I feel like for each player,
for everyone, I think it's it's different for everybody. So
has the physicality of these practices maybe helps with that.
It seems like it's a been interesting. Yeah, for sure,
(31:37):
it's good man being able to you know, tackle them
and hit and all that kind of stuff. I think
my first practice was the first that we were in
pass and we were tackling, so, you know, just being
able to you know, get back into foldings, just jump
into fire was really important something inside it, Hilary. You
look around the a f C, A lot of teams
made big moves on offense quarterback of Severs, Steelers kind
of went the other way a little bit, picking up
you mind, those guys like that, you still win with
(32:00):
being a defensive first in this League. Yeah, for sure,
I feel like and that's something that you know, you
gotta go out to improve. You you know, this seem
has always been built. You know, obviously had you been
hoping to the offensive weaples, but the staple has always
been defense. So you know, I think that's just what
they're trying to continue to builds, continue to grow on
they had, you know, they had a need for it
last year when they canna run defense, and you know what,
(32:21):
they're trying to share it up. So I feel like
it's just another opportunity in the rise to the occasion.
That's Larry Ogenjob speaking to the media before yesterday's practice
and labs. He seems to be well aware of the
task at hand for himself. He brought in to help
improve a really bad run defense last year, and I
think he's ready to take on that challenge. Yeah. And
with Larry Ogunjob, he also brings you know, I talked
(32:42):
about this as well as he will he will contribute
to the past rush. He is not simply a one
dimensional player off on third and long if you don't
want to exactly, and when the defense sees him out
on the field, it cannot just assume what we won't
run the ball, will just tire him out with some
path sprushes which won't get anywhere from him because he
(33:02):
can't do it, and then when they take a mob
will run the ball. Now, this is a guy who, uh,
you know, he's a three down player as a defensive lineman,
and that's what you have to be in the NFL
now to really be effective and really to be valuable
to your team. I expect him to have a really
big impact right away this year. I think talent wise,
(33:23):
he's still there. It really comes down to that liszt
Frank injury and if he's going to fully recover from it.
And you can tell the Steelers in the way that
they've been utilizing him through this camp process. You know,
they brought him along slowly. He didn't start initially when
camp started. I was thrown into the mix more and
more and more as we've worked on But you can
tell that they're really conscious about that too. I think
it's clear to them, hey, this guy is still talented
(33:45):
enough to be a premier guy on the front of
our defensive line. Can that injury hold up? Can he
come back at full strength? Is really the biggest question
mark around him. Not not anything play wise, well one
and one of the other aspects, uh, you know, playing
for the Steelers. I think this year that's going to
um be beneficial to Larry ogun Job and his individual
(34:07):
situation is defensive line coach Carl Dunbar is and always
has been a big fan of rotations. So you know,
he will he will rotate guys in and out. I
mean a lot. Often there will be six defensive linemen
uh with a helmet on game they excuse me, and um,
and they'll they'll all get a chance to play. So
(34:30):
you know, the guys like Isaiah louder Milk and uh,
the Marvin Leal and Henry Mondo and um. You know,
some of these people are important as well because they
have to be able to hold up their end so
that the rotation system can continue. And you know, and
it's not it's not something where there's a gigantic drop
(34:54):
off when you take out your three or four best
players and now you're not gonna take them all out
at the same time, of course, but you get what
I mean, you don't you want to maintain some sort
of some sort of consistent level of performance that's above
the line where you can then uh, save some of
these guys for the lot of parts of games and
(35:15):
then get from them what you need at those parts
of the games. And then you know, continue to do
that over the course of a season where you're not
asking three guys to play a thousand snaps each because
at that size physical size, you know, that's a lot
of pounding on the body. And you know, when you're
talking about a list frank injury. Um, you know, the
(35:37):
different kind of playing surfaces that are in the NFL.
Even some of the grass fields aren't necessarily as good
as some of the other grass fields, and so you know,
trying to do some different things to protect your own
guys without compromising. Um, the the overall success of the
unit is very important. And so you know, again, I
(35:59):
think for Larry Yogan Jobi to come to a team
with a defensive line coach like Carl Dunbar who was
in favor of that, and a head coach like Mike
Tomlin who allows that kind of thing to go on,
I think will help him. We're gonna take a look
at some more things to look forward to in Steelers
Jaguars on Saturday night, on the other side of the break,
(36:20):
did you just say Jaguars. Sorry, Steelers Jacksonville, Steelers Jacksonville.
I avoid saying it's just because Steelers Jacksonville Saturday night.
A lot of things to look forward to still, because
those people do not like Jaguars. They don't write like
they have a really weird detta against that. You're right,
(36:40):
you think you were calling him ins you know, sorry,
ed mean to interrupt Steelers Jaguars. Is that right? Wrong? Oh? Perfect? Perfect.
We'll keep talking about some things to look forward to,
including the running back position that's on the way as
we wrap things up on the Training Camp Report on
Steelers Nation Radio. He sees the Training Camper Report with
(37:07):
Tom Opperman and Bob Labriola on Steelers Nation Radio. Wrapping
things up here on the Training Camp Report, giving you
some things to look forward to in Jacksonville on Saturday
night's game Steelers and Jacksonville seven pm kickoff. There, Labs,
I'm looking at the running back room again. Strong showings
against Seattle from Anthony McFarland and Jalen Warren. Jalen Warren
(37:29):
did fumble the football, though, and Tomlin made sure to
make note of that after the game, as pretty much
his biggest takeaway from Warren's performance, But those two played
pretty well. You're gonna see Benny snell for sure against
the Jaguars. He played practice are He practiced yesterday again
for the second full straight day, so he's worked himself
back into the fold. Maybe you see number twenty two
for a carrier two. I know Naji said he definitely
(37:51):
wants to play. I don't think it's really up to him,
to be honest, but maybe we see him get a
carrier two. But I'm really looking forward to those three
behind him, Snell and then McFarland and Warren and seeing
if those two can build off of their strong debuts
against Seattle. Yeah, there's gonna be that plus again, um
whoever that is, whoever they are, because I believe there
(38:11):
will be more than one of those guys that you
just mentioned kept. Um, they gotta they gotta contribute something
special teams. You know, Benny snell Is has shown himself
to be a guy who uh makes tackles on in
kickoff coverage, So, um, the end of that's valuable. Anthony
McFarland is listed on the depth chart as a backup returner. Um. Now,
(38:35):
but I noticed in this past week was that Jalen
Warren was taken some snaps with the punt team as
the personal protector. That's the guy who stands in front
of the punter. He sets the coverage or sets the
protection excuse me, sex sets the protection and then um,
you know, calls for the snap and then he's like
(38:57):
the last line of defense should anyone break through where
there be any leakage, uh, in the in the protection
up front. So yeah, you can't. You can't mess it
up because if you call the protection the wrong way,
the kick gets blocked, and it's nobody's really fault but
your own, because if you're not accounting for, you know,
(39:18):
the numbers on each side of the long snapper or
a lot of times teams that are trying to block
a punt will make a change right before the ball
is snapped. So you have to I don't know, you
have to kind of know what the opponent likes to
do in that aspect. So there's film study involved. There,
(39:40):
time spent with Danny Smith. You gotta listen to what
he says and remember it, um, and then there's also
the execution of it once you're on the field. So
uh yeah, it's it's not an insignificant job to have,
and I don't know that it's one that's going to
be given to someone lightly either. You know, let's let's
(40:00):
let's make this backup running back the personal protector on
the punt team because that will help us keep him
on the roster. Well doesn't work that way. So, uh,
you know, these these games are important for you know,
more reasons than just how you look carrying the ball,
for these guys who are looking for those backup roster
spots at running back. Another thing offensively that I'm looking
(40:23):
forward to, And this is kind of more of an
if we'll get maybe a little bit more information from
coach Tom went at thirty when he has his press
conference before the Jacksonville game on who's gonna play, how
how long starters are going to play, and whatnot. But
if the weaponry on offense is at full strength, and
more so in the passing game, so pretend not we
(40:45):
don't care if twenty two plays or not. But Firemouth
Deonte Claypool pickings. Mitch had a really good opening drive
against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday, and he didn't have
a lot of his big dogs out there on offense. Again,
we don't know if we'll see that full Arsenal jest
yet against Jacksonville, but I really do hope we do,
at least for one series. I want to see what
(41:06):
Mitch can do game action with all of his weaponry
on the field. Well, the other thing that that is
going to be a factor on Saturday night is you're
playing on the road and there is a difference in
the NFL home versus the road, and by that I
mean it can create some communication issues. Now, when Ramon
(41:28):
Foster was the Steeler starting left guard, the way the
Steelers would operate out of the silent count with Ben
in the shotgun was, you know, Ben would lift his
one leg and that would either start motion or would
begin the count, and you know, Ramonte Foster would slap
pouncing on the side of his leg. So that now, okay,
(41:51):
now the count's starting, and everybody in their head, you
know one Mississippi tumbis or what however they would do
that to know if it was on one or on
two or you know whatever, and then the ball would
be snapped. So this is you know, it's a it's
a different procedure a little bit now because you're you're
having two guys compete for one job at left guard.
(42:13):
So what I've noticed in practice is that job of
kind of starting the metronome is James Daniels. He's the
right guard, and you know he makes a motion with
his arm uh that starts the clock. Now, his responsibility
beyond getting the timing right is you can't make a move,
(42:36):
a quick move that might be interpreted by the officials
as a false start, so you know you're actually moved.
They do allow the leak. The rules allow this kind
of a movement in the line to facilitate communication when
the crowd noise is allowed. So but you have to
do it correctly. So you know there's that you know,
(42:59):
want on a stupid false star penalties that are putting
you behind the chains. And then you know there's other
things that getting the whatever if there's audibles or um,
you know, little secret communication between the quarterback and the
receivers who are split wide, those kinds of things. I mean,
getting this all accomplished correctly within the time that's allotted
(43:24):
on the play clock is something that's you know, teams
work on, um. So that's another thing to watch a
little bit on Saturday night. Not only for when you're
judging the offense as a whole, but also the quarterback.
You know we're talking about Kenny Pickett getting more varsity
snaps or in varsity situations, Well that's one of them.
(43:48):
You know, are they burning time out so their delays
of game are there? You know, false starts or you know,
um illegal formations or you know that that all that
kind of pre snap stuff that can make coach lose
his mind, uh and just sabotage the performance of the
offense before really even has a chance to get going.
So you know there are I don't know how filled
(44:11):
the stands is gonna be in Jacksonville. I don't know
how um boisterous the crowd is going to be, but
you know it's not going to be that certainly not
the controlled environment that these guys have been used to
here Latrobe. I'm also hoping to see Number six let
go some boomers in the special teams game. You know,
you talked up his practice yesterday and how impressive he
(44:32):
was punting the football. I want to see it against
another paral laundry, you know, I want to see him
play do that against the different team in a visiting
stadium like you said, more of a hostile environment. You know,
it's great that he had that great practice, but we
we need to see him translate that to an actual
game situation, right and hope using k balls tomorrow night too.
(44:53):
Not not not that the Steelers put their footballs in
the dryer or anything for the punters, but it also
is going to be a situation where, um, you know,
the balls are the ones that are shipped directly to
whoever the referee is for Saturday night's game, and they
will be waiting for him in a sealed um carton
or however they're shipped um that night when he gets
(45:16):
to gets to the stadium and then he will open them.
I believe it's in the company of whatever NFL representative
has been assigned to the game. I mean it's they're
pretty serious, you know about preventing this kind of stuff
from being tampered with. So um yeah, and then there's
it's gonna be humidity, maybe it's gonna be wet, who
(45:37):
knows if it'll rain or not. So there are gonna
be conditions that are gonna test special teams. Christian Koon's
certainly um Pressley Harvin when he's punning Pressley Harvin when
um Chris Boswell or Nick Skiva is attempting placement kicks.
So yeah, there's a lot of things, a lot of
(45:59):
little things that are going to be different potentially Saturday night.
That you know, I think Mike Tomlin in a way
relishes and looks forward to most of them, happening to
see who reacts well and who does not well. Labs.
That's all she wrote for us. That's gonna do it
for the training camp report at Steelers Training Camp. Appreciate
(46:20):
you getting up early and entertaining me for the past
three or so weeks. Let me just ask you one question, Um,
what color um vest and tire you're gonna wear with
your tuxedo when we get the Emmy Award back and
goal so we don't clash. I'm gonna go black and
goal naturally, Alright, maybe a nice little red, yellow and
blue pocket square as well, you know, just for a
(46:42):
little extra flare. Okay, I'll I'll try, and yeah, I'm
sure we'll be back again next Well, you'll be back
again next year, for sure. It's probably fifty fifty on
me whether or not they're gonna bring me back or not.
But that's gonna do it for the Training Camp report.
Practice Practice today is the last one open to the public,
so get your butts up to St. Vincent. If you
(47:03):
want to see the Steelers at training camp, today is
your last chance to do so. Wolf and Starks are
in the locker room. Up next on Steelers Nation Radio.
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