Steelers News: Mike Tomlin ready for the pads to pop on practice Monday

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. With the start of training camp now behind us, it looks like we’ll have to wait until opening weekend to see the Steelers take the field. Just because the NFL has cancelled the preseason doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how head coach Mike Tomlin is ready to get the real training camp started on practice Monday with players donning pads for the first time.

Let’s get to the news:

• It isn’t really training camp until the pads pop, right?

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin ready to get most out of practice time once hitting begins

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If the coronavirus pandemic had not altered the NFL landscape, Monday would represent just another ordinary practice day in the training camp grind for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They likely would be holding a morning walkthrough followed by a two-hour practice in the late afternoon at Saint Vincent College. They would be turning the page from the second preseason game and building toward an Aug. 23 encounter against the New Orleans Saints.

Instead, with the pandemic changing the training camp regimen for all NFL teams, the Steelers will put on pads for the first time Monday. And they will do so at Heinz Field, not their customary training camp headquarters in Unity Township.

Although Steelers players will don pads for the first time just three weeks later than under a regular camp setting, it might seem like an eternity considering the amount of offseason work eliminated because of covid-19 concerns. Those included rookie minicamp, organized team activities and regular minicamp.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Kerrith Whyte Jr. doesn’t have to listen to others, he believes in himself.

Camp Blog: Whyte believes in himself

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Whyte believes in himself: Going into the 2019 season if any of these names were thrown at you for the leading rusher in one of the Steelers 16 games, you probably wouldn’t have thought twice about it.

James Conner. Jaylen Samuels. Benny Snell.

With the way the Steelers have been known to mix things up in the running game, any one of the three being the leading rusher in a particular game wouldn’t have come as a shock. And it would have even been more expected as injuries started to mount.

But throw another name out there and you might be a bit more surprised.

Kerrith Whyte.

A name that most Steelers fans probably weren’t familiar with before he was signed by the team on Nov. 19 from the Chicago Bears practice squad, Whyte was tied for the team’s leading rusher with Snell in a Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, it was 41 yards rushing, but at the same time remember he was on a different team’s practice squad less than a month before that.

“Last year was a big blessing, it was a great year for me thank God,” said Whyte. “Leaving school early, being drafted by the Chicago Bears, making the 53-man roster, being placed on the practice squad for a couple of weeks. Then to get the call from the Pittsburgh Steelers to come and play for them was an absolute honor. I am so grateful for the opportunity they have given me. To be able to play meaningful downs in games, it meant a lot. I will forever appreciate it.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Minkah Fitzpatrick sets his goal for interceptions high in 2020.

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s goal is six (or seven) interceptions this season

By: Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made 57 tackles, five interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his first season with the Steelers. So what is he planning for an encore?

Fitzpatrick wants even more takeaways.

“I am going to go with six [interceptions],” Fitzpatrick said, via Teresa Varley of the team website. “I had five last year. I am trying to beat that. I think I missed some opportunities last year. I am going to go with six or seven.”

Fitzpatrick’s role will remain the same as last season, leading to raised expectations after a season at the position, in the system.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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