The Steelers are back at it with their OTAs - offseason training activites - which are optional to attend. That's not really the case - if you plan on making the team - but for the most part, everybody is in town, with Troy Polamalu being a notable exception.
Polamalu's training in California again this offseason, which, with Ryan Clark also out following his shoulder surgery, is giving Ryan Mundy a chance to work with the first team at free safety.
Mundy showed nice ball skills Wednesday, stepping up underneath a receiver on a crossing pattern and picking off a Ben Roethlisberger pass.
Mundy has excellent size and smarts. Getting plenty of reps - especially after missing a healthy portion of training camp last season due to injury – is going to pay dividends.
© I spoke with William Gay after practice.
The cornerback looked bigger than he was last season and he admitted he's up to 198 pounds. He came in at 183 pounds as a rookie and he attributed the weight gain to being on a good training program and eating healthy for the first time in his life.
Gay said as long as he doesn't lose a step, he plans on carrying the extra weight - which is all located in his shoulders - during the season.
© Speaking of Polamalu, there's a good chance he won't attend the meet and greet with the president Thursday at the White House. But there isn't a big deal being made of that.
31 comments:
Dale-
Good to hear about Mundy. I think he could be our future FS. How do the O-and D-lineman look (Hood, Urbik, Shipley, etc)? I know it is not easy when there is no contact. I've heard Sweed looks much better this year than last year, is that true? How does Mendenhall look?
Sweed looks more confident, like he has a better sense of what he's supposed to do.
Honestly, it's tough to judge anything from the lines in these things. Football in shorts with very limited contact.
As for Mendenhall, I didn't notice him today.
I did notice Willie Parker working with running backs coach Kirby Wilson on his receiving skills while the special teams drills were going on.
Dale,
Any news/reports on the rest of that draft class?
How did Tony Hills look and where did he play?
How about Bruce Davis? Any hope he's made the jump and is ready to be a backup OLB?
I'm hearing good thing about Sweed from other reporters. Confirm/deny?
Thanks in advance.
How about the rest of the WR? Is Nance still not practicing?
Has Cappizzi Been promoted to starting LT yet? Go IUP!! LOL
Thanks for the Gay update. If he's carrying the added weight in his upper-body I don't see it as an issue, in fact, I think a few extra pounds will help Gay (thought he was a little too light to begin with).
The kid is an absolute play maker and ball hawk. I look forward to seeing more of him this year.
I'll be the second to mention it: what was the big thing that was being looked into with Martin Nance. Tomlin's comments made it sound pretty important & serious considering it was a mini-camp practice that he missed (at least based on the Tomlin comments that were reported).
I am excited to hear that Mundy is playing well! I never even heard of him until he was drafted and really liked what I saw last preseason. I think this kid can make some noise and def help this team!
Dale,
I just wanted to thank you for this blog. I really enjoy your insight. You do a good job.
Rob
I really think Capizzi has a great shot to be a backup Tackle and Push Colon at RT.
He said, 'Push Colon'. hu-hu.
Whatever happens this is Cappizi's last chance to make the roster. He has to stay healthy this year, I am pretty sure he was hurt in camp each of the last two seasons.
yes he had a stress frature in the foot during last camp. I remember he was having a noticeable camp until the injury,so he should know it time now.
Capizzi sucks
That is a little harsh!
Give the kid a chance...
FTR, Polamalu was at the Steelers' WH visit:
"It's an honor," said safety Troy Polamalu, who flew here from California. "It's an honor to be around real warriors, the President and the White House. It's a beautiful setting."
Anonymous Sucks
Guys, you can't tell anything with linemen from these things. There's little to no contact.
Sweed looks good. Much more confident.
Nance was running and cutting. It's a knee problem.
Bruce Davis is working third team.
Dale,
If Bruce Davis is 3rd team OLB, which 2 players are lining up as the 2nd team OLBs, Andre Frazier and Patrick Bailey?
Unless Bruce Davis breaks through on special teams, then I think he will still be inactive on game days.
Dale, you heard it here first from me before the draft and I will reiterate here -- WR Mike Wallace is going to be a gem for the Steelers, whether WR, KR or punt team gunner. He and Santonio are going to be quite some combo when Ward finally steps aside.
Wallace looks good. I like what I've seen from the Williams kid from Wisconsin too.
Frazier is ahead of him. If memory serves, Bailey was opposite Davis on the third team. Arnold Harrison was with Frazier.
More evidence that Bruce Davis was a terrible pick. He needs to be at least be a backup in his second year. 3rd round isn't a throwaway pick.
Dale,
I might be wrong, but do you think this could be the fastest team overall that the Steelers have put on the field in a decade? Both sides of the ball seems to have a lot of speed, more than I can remember the Steelers having under Cowher.
What is your position breakdown as far as the numbers for each position do you think the Steelers will have this year -- for example 5 RBs, 3 TEs, 3 QBs, etc.
That is what happens when you invest all your picks in skill position guys, you end up with tons of speed on offense that can't produce cause they get tackled in the backfield or the QB gets murdered before he can throw them the ball.
yea i sure hope we can improve on our 4-12 record we had last year.
"That is what happens when you invest all your picks in skill position guys, you end up with tons of speed on offense that can't produce cause they get tackled in the backfield or the QB gets murdered before he can throw them the ball."
Yeah, what idiots the Steelers are... No wonder they never have any success.
My pryers go out to Silverbacks son. Get well soon kid.
Zeke
I don't know that Davis was a wasted pick. They've always kept the vets in front of younger guys - particularly ones who haven't proven anything. Wait until camp before we say he's a wasted pick or not.
I'm sure they're trying to light a fire.
Starks is quoted in the Gazette saying that he thought he was a higher priority in getting an extension that James Harrison.
Has he seen his play on the field compared to Harrison? Defensive MVP Harrison? One of the best plays in Super Bowl History James Harrison?
Starks is a mediocre talent opportunist, I hope he ruptures something in the last game of our season.
Nice. What a brilliant statement that was. Thanks for sharing.
alright upon further reflection that last comment was a little bit much.
My apologies to Mr Starks but really he should realize harrison is a more important player than he is.
I think what his thought was this: Since he's making a guaranteed big dollar this season and he wants to get a long-term deal done and it would behoove the team to get a long-term deal done for cap reasons, he thought he was a priority.
I don't think Starks thinks for a second that he's a better player than Harrison.
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