Steeler Training Camp Too Soft!

by ec on Aug 20, 2009 2:08 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

I have read more than one local article and blog suggesting that the Steelers training camp is more relaxed than last year and far more relaxed that Tomlin's first camp, or what Bill Belichick regularly runs in New England. One article noted that while players in many camps are fined for sitting on their helmets, the Steelers are regularly lounging around. Meanwhile, players have voluntarily stepped out of practices to chat with celebrities who have come to watch practices (John Legend and Ving Rhames are recent examples).

Now, I know that the Steelers looked pretty solid for the 10 minutes that the starters were on the field, but I worry that more of the '06 complacency, that left the team out of the playoffs following a SB win, is beginning to show. Much has been made about not talking about last season's championship, but watching Tomlin, Brett Kiesel, Tre Essex and Charlie Batch join Big Ben in Hollywood antics for the Shaq Versus show made me think that the team is not hungry enough.

I hope that I am wrong, and that the relaxed mood doesn't hurt their play. But there is a reason that few teams repeat, and maintaining focus over more than a season is very rare. I wonder what others think...

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One thing Tomlin learned his first year is that is a long season, he also understands he has old players who just played the longest season of anybody but Arizona. He needs to pace things.
He also understands that the players work out year round, no need to rush things.

I will worry if there is lack of discipline, because that normally comes back to haunt you.

by mikemex on Aug 20, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think this article from USA today will probably help shed some light on what Tomlin is trying to accomplish with a perhaps less physically demanding training camp.

Seems to me he is testing the mental aspect of his players mroe than the physical. They were super bowl champions last season with primarily the same group of men and talent physically. It is the mental toughness of this group that will be challenged in their persuit of Super Bowl XLIV.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2009-08-20-movie-day_N.htm

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Aug 20, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was brilliant

Train the mind as well as the body.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Aug 20, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully it is brilliant.

by Johnny_S on Aug 20, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

06 complacency

I’m tired of hearing this, go look at the list of injuries in that season, like BB vs Buick. When it’s the uniformed media saying it it’s stupid but expected, we of Steeler Nation should refrain from falling into the well I’ve heard it so many times it must be true trap.

by SNW on Aug 20, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think many Steeler fans are not happy unless they are worrying about something.

by worldtrip on Aug 20, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen to that.

Until this team is made up of an entire squad of HoF players, they aren’t good enough, and somebody will cost us the season.

And heck even if they were all HoF caliber we’d worry about injuries.

by Phantaskippy on Aug 20, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a risk....

…but so is running a tough camp for veterans. Tomlin’s first team, as we all know, was exhausted and faded in December. Not so last year.

The real key is that they come into camp in decent shape. Like the Big Snack, who was in far better shape this year than last. If they’re already in shape, what’s the point of beating up on them?

The other reward is that the younger players and the rookies get a better look-see. And with this year’s class of rookies and second-year men, that could pay BIG dividends.

by Homer J. on Aug 20, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A relatively easy camp means

they peak later in the season.

by steelerstyle on Aug 20, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Look at the veterans, many were here last time, and the players police themselves. No way Wallace or Sweed take it easy with the Vet’s while Hines is out there.

Even in the preseason we ran vanilla defense, why? No one on the starting squad needs to practice these plays in preseason games. They all know them.

I do expect it to cost us one injury and a lost game (maybe two) but a hard camp costs you at least one injury anyway, and with our schedule we can make up one loss if it happens.

by Phantaskippy on Aug 20, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One thing I've learned from Tomlin's two years at the helm:

Don’t question him. He’s coach and I’m blogger for damn good reason.

breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Aug 20, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

because you

can’t come up with one-liners of the top of your head like he can

by WVPiratesfan on Aug 20, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

one of many reasons…..

breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Aug 21, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A long season...

Last year he did the same exact thing, took it easy on some vets and basically training camp is for fine tuning, getting the rookies used to NFL speed and not the old school, lets kill each other….

Everyone said the same thing about last year’s camp, it’s too soft, Tomlin’s camps are soft, and well we won the super bowl…

With a veteran team like the Steelers who aren’t getting any younger, you can’t have an extra 5 weeks of killing their bodies and thus possibly leading to an injury…

Also, a yearly trip to the bowling alley or to the movies on the last day of camp was cancelled for a two a day…

Chill out

by daburgh73 on Aug 21, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like how right after this was posted,

Roethlisberger gets dinged up in a drill. I’m putting my faith behind the man who’s helped bring us a Lombardi in the first two years he’s headed this franchise.

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

by HighSchoolSteeler on Aug 21, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm ... I was thinking the same thing!!

Nice article … I was thinking the same thing!! It is being nicknamed something like camp cupcake. The one thing I believe is that Tomlin automatically gets a free pass in my book because of his drafting and game day coaching resulting in 1 Superbowl Championship in his first 2 years. Let’s remember to look back on this after the season and see where things land. If he can pull something like this off, he is a god!!

Greg
The Mayor

by Ironman55 on Aug 21, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs