It was a busy day in Latrobe as the Steelers reported to training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Here are some quick hits about what I learned today:
© As I stated after the Flozell Adams signing, he will move in at right tackle with Trai Essex at right guard and Max Starks staying at left tackle.
The Steelers don't want to tear their entire line up unless they have to.
© Starks took some no-so-veiled shots at Adams being somebody who could contribute to the team "if he was in shape" and of the right mindset.
It sounds to me like Starks doesn't want a veteran coming in and trying to upset the applecart by doing things his own way.
The offensive line is a tight group and they expect Adams to adapt to them, not the other way around.
© Hines Ward said the hamstring injury that kept him out most of the offseason is healed up and he's ready to go.
Ward also said he's much lighter than he has been in recent years.
© Maurkice Pouncey signed his deal with the team, but not in time to do the team's run test. He'll do that at 6 a.m. Saturday. I don't think I'll be up to watch it.
© Casey Hampton looks lighter than he has in several seasons.
The defense is talking like it has a bit of a chip on its shoulder. That could be a good thing as these guys are motivated to make an attempt at showing last season was a fluke.
© Ben Roethlisberger barely spoke to the media today, but he was awfully polite trying to move through the crowds gathered around him.
Roethlisberger did say that he's happy to be back on the football field and hopes to put the offseason behind him.
© There were no casualties in the run test. Then again, many of the veterans, or over 30 guys, as Mike Tomlin called them, did not have to run.
© Troy Polamalu looked good running. We'll see if that holds up.
Good for Starks. Is there a leader on the Oline? It has been a while since we have had Faneca and Hartings.
ReplyDeleteCamp Cupcake 2!
ReplyDeleteIt's fine if they start camp with Hartwig at C and Essex at RG, but one or both of them had better be replaced by week 1.
The norm is usually for the rookie to replace the vet coming out of the bye week. That's if the rookie is any good.
ReplyDeleteBut that was always the Cowher way. We'll see how Tomlin handles it.
BTW, you can listen to me on the radio on Fox-970 from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday from Sharky's in Latrobe.
I'm glad Starks has a chip on his shoulder, but that's no way to welcome a new teamate. The Steelers went shopping for an O-lineman so if Starks has a problem with it he should take it up with the front office. If Starks wants to be a leader then he saves those comments for the locker room where he can talk to Adams man to man and let him know "how the cow eats the cabbage". You call a guy out like that in the media and it kills team chemistry.
ReplyDeleteI like Max Starks but that's just wrong.
-SK
Please. It's not like Adams is joining the 01 Steelers OL. Adams isn't Oliver Ross, and Starks/Kemo/Hartwig/Essex/ isn't Gandy/Faneca/Hartings/Smith. Adams has more pro bowls than the Steelers have linemen good enough to start, and still have 4 probowls left over. It'd be like Nickelback bringing in Jimmy Page, then backbiting about it. If this was a pretty established unit of proven/accomplished vets, fine. But this is a revolving menagerie of turds and jags.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was that kind of attitude that sent Starks to the bench and Faneca off to NYC when the new HC and OL coach arrived a few years back.
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ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with your sentiment in general, using Jimmy Page as an example there is just sooo flawed.
Guy is one of the greatest thieves of Black American music to ever traipse the face of the Earth. If he were brought into a band I was in, and wanted to 'do things his way', I'd tell him to go steal on someone else's nickle.
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Dale, will you be broadcasting any other times this week? I was nowhere near a radio during that time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, can anyone tell me when and where Colon made the monumental leap to some peoples' 3rd-best Tackle in the NFL (read that on Behind the Steel Curtain)? I seem to remember lambasting the guy throughout the 07-08 seasons for holding and offside penalties. Now he is arguably the best RT in the league? I've never perceived him to be anything other than slightly above average.
Perhaps the inconsistencies with the RG position throughout Colon's tenure hurt his side, but come on!? Does anyone else agree that he's a little overrated?
He's our best run blocker
ReplyDeleteHis short arms are the cause for his, overly exaggerated by people, penalties and false starts. But his run blocking overshadows his negatives. As a pass blocker he is nothing special though
Good thing is, we get him for cheap next year. yay!
I'll be on 970-am from noon to 2 today.
ReplyDelete