Training Camp Report From the Field: Day 1

by CarlWeathersMustache on Aug 1, 2009 6:45 PM EDT

Let me preface this fanpost by reiterating my view that you never find out anything good about your team in training camp. You might find out that certain players are not NFL material, but, beyond that, you have to wait until they put the pads on. On that note, I will relate what I can from my day spent on the field at Saint Vincent College.

Santonio Holmes was dogging it today. He was the last person to finish every warm up run and he attempted (emphasis on attempted) several one arm catches during receiver drills. Ben gave him a little pep talk after one catch, but he looked off the entire day. This may be premature, but I would not expect a breakout season from Santonio. He may think he's already arrived as one of the League's elite.

Mike Wallace and Limas Sweed looked pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but solid all around. Sweed made several catches which an NFL wideout should make but were nonetheless difficult.

Passing game looked in sync during drills toward the end of the day. This is especially heartening because the passing game takes timing and is usually late to come around. Today may be the best all around passing performance I've seen at a training camp this early in a season (and I used to work for the Steelers).

The pass blocking: different story. Missed assignments all over the place. I tend to think the coaching staff and stats are right: it's not ability holding these guys back. It should be easy to block when the QB can't be sacked but defenders repeatedly ran to the QB without being picked up. It does not appear this unit's time together has helped them communicate, at least to this point.

Troy's hammy did not seem to slow him too much.

Frank the Tank is a big guy. I think Sisyphus would rather roll his boulder up the hill than Frank Summers. If this guy can't get a yard on 3rd down we may need to consider bringing Jerome back.

Overall, it was a pretty smooth looking practice. Lots of joking around: Hoke doing a dance for the crowd, Jeff Reed clowning with a fan about his lack of hair, and Ben doing cartwheels from his D line position. Hopefully, this training camp report will sate your appetite until the season starts...or, at the very least, the next day of camp.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thanks for this

Enjoyed reading it. I was hoping Hills would be more promising and urbik too, maybe its the first day jitters IDK. But hopefully they improve. I like to hear sweed is doing well, he is going to be key if we plan on repeating.

by tannofsteel84 on Aug 1, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

Seems Urbik started the day out well then really lost it later on (I speaking through what other people have said).

For a lot of veterans this is their 2nd time around coming off a Superbowl victory, and they’re not messing around, but keep in mind that this is Holmes’ first time. Couple that w/his cockiness and love for the spotlight, and you’ve gotta a recipe for complacency. However Tone is a hard worker, and the sooner he realizes that the attention is off him, the sooner we’ll see him develop as a player. The kind of year he has will tell us how well he handles being on top, and how fast he can do this. He may have to learn the hard way, just like the guys in ’06, how hard it is to deal with success.

Good stuff about Wallace and Sweed, especially Sweed. As tannofsteel says above, if Sweed has a big year, he will be a key part any kind of repeat effort.

"That Troy Polamaga guy looks like Predator"-A keen observation during Superbowl 43. Thanks to Walterfootball.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Aug 1, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions

And I doubt Ben and Ward are going to stand Holmes being an idiot for long. I expect some veteran will slap him around soon.

by archon095 on Aug 1, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

expect ward

he really has a feel for players and I think he’ll get into tone’s head, its time to put 08 in 08 and focus on 09. We’re building a new team here.

by tannofsteel84 on Aug 2, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks and great info

by t1mmy10 on Aug 1, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

O-Line

Doesn’t surprise me at all. Those guys never had it mentally together last year. It wasn’t (just) lack of physical talent that got them. They just didn’t have their head in the game at times.

by SteelerBuddha on Aug 1, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

Let's mix it up a bit.

Hello my fellow NFL fans, Ive just put up a new fanpost titled Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. I did my best to give an accurate projected starting lineup for you guys. If any of you guys would care to look it over and let me know if I need to adjust any positions please let me know, and weigh in, its all in fun. I especially had trouble predicting the starting corers, so if anyone has a better suitor for the positions feel free to let me know.

Scott Hines

by shines on Aug 1, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

check out Bruce’s Raven Training Camp reports at the Beatdown. he’s earned some great access to the team. i hope all of SB Nation gets access like this as it will build the sites. check it out for real.

by raven on Aug 2, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions