LATROBE, Pa. — News with views related to your Pittsburgh Steelers …
So I went to a football practice, and a baseball column broke out. Or will break out. I’ll be working on that later tonight, and I trust you’ll see why I switched up.
In lieu of the promised Steelers column, though, here’s a mish-mash of thoughts, pics and a video from today’s really neat Steelers-Bills joint practice at Saint Vincent College:
• First off, it was a weird sight. I know there are joint practices around the NFL, but seeing the Bills on Chuck Noll Field, making that same winding walk through the fans down from the locker room … jarring, to say the least.
ALL PHOTOS: DEJAN KOVACEVIC
The action was physical. Not the drills, obviously, but the 11-on-11 stuff and even the special teams (the blocking portion) were outright punishing. And yet, other than a couple of early shoves, there was no real incident.
This, of course, is in stark contrast to the highly publicized Cowboys-Raiders fight-fest this week, and Mike Tomlin went out of his way to emphasize that afterward in saying: “Man, that was great work. Buffalo was a great dance partner. … I appreciate the professionalism of both teams.” He also bemoaned media coverage of the fights, as if it somehow actual fans wouldn’t be interested in the Cowboys and Raiders having fights that essentially spilled over into the stands, but whatever. His point was made, and his intent was fair. I noticed Tomlin going so far as to talking to Buffalo players during breaks in drills. Not offering instruction, obviously, but encouragement and small talk and the like. Fascinating to watch.
Almost as fascinating as Jarvis Jones’ chapeau …
Remarkably, Art Rooney II was sporting one of those, too.
As for observations, here’s the notebook: Starting with the negative, Greg Warren left with a knee injury that Tomlin described as ‘potentially significant.’ That’s terminology he uses only when he knows it’s bad. If you don’t know Warren, that’s a good thing, because he’s the long snapper. They only make it into news stories when they mess up. He won’t be easily replaced. … Will Allen and Will Johnson both were out with minor hamstring issues. Ramon Foster’s left knee is still heavily wrapped. So is Ben Roethlisberger’s, for that matter, but it’s funny how his injuries — of all people — just kind of get shrugged off. … Martavis Bryant was criticized publicly by Tomlin yesterday, but he responded with a wonderful showing in this practice, both on deep balls in one-on-one drills against corners, and in the 11-on-11. Hadn’t realized until today the kid was this tough. … Lance Moore catches everything. A ball today hit his fingertips at a tough angle, he essentially tapped it into the air to himself in stride and kept right on running. … I’d love to tell you more about the defense, but the reverse 11-on-11s were happening at the far end of the field, which was off limits to reporters on this day. … Interesting to see Tomlin at one point watch Joey Porter seethe over a Howard Jones miscue. The coach called Porter over and advised him, ‘Go easy. Go slow. Make it simple, and make it stick.’ Porter took a deep breath, walked over to Jones, basically just stared at the poor kid for a bit, then heeded Tomlin’s advice and offered simple instruction. … Markus Wheaton keeps making a believer of me. … Dri Archer keeps taking a licking. Seriously, it’s like DBs are eyeing him for that big hit, knowing he’ll go backward. … The offensive line just looks really good. That’s all. I won’t say more. I know better at this stage. … They’ll go at it again tomorrow, which will close camp for the Steelers, then they’ll meet Saturday at Heinz Field. Here’s guessing there will be some animosity built up by then.
In closing, here’s a question I had for Ben about his offensive line …
August 13, 2014
News with views: Latrobe, where Buffalo roam
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Steelers
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
LATROBE, Pa. — News with views related to your Pittsburgh Steelers …
So I went to a football practice, and a baseball column broke out. Or will break out. I’ll be working on that later tonight, and I trust you’ll see why I switched up.
In lieu of the promised Steelers column, though, here’s a mish-mash of thoughts, pics and a video from today’s really neat Steelers-Bills joint practice at Saint Vincent College:
• First off, it was a weird sight. I know there are joint practices around the NFL, but seeing the Bills on Chuck Noll Field, making that same winding walk through the fans down from the locker room … jarring, to say the least.
ALL PHOTOS: DEJAN KOVACEVIC
The action was physical. Not the drills, obviously, but the 11-on-11 stuff and even the special teams (the blocking portion) were outright punishing. And yet, other than a couple of early shoves, there was no real incident.
This, of course, is in stark contrast to the highly publicized Cowboys-Raiders fight-fest this week, and Mike Tomlin went out of his way to emphasize that afterward in saying: “Man, that was great work. Buffalo was a great dance partner. … I appreciate the professionalism of both teams.” He also bemoaned media coverage of the fights, as if it somehow actual fans wouldn’t be interested in the Cowboys and Raiders having fights that essentially spilled over into the stands, but whatever. His point was made, and his intent was fair. I noticed Tomlin going so far as to talking to Buffalo players during breaks in drills. Not offering instruction, obviously, but encouragement and small talk and the like. Fascinating to watch.
Almost as fascinating as Jarvis Jones’ chapeau …
Remarkably, Art Rooney II was sporting one of those, too.
As for observations, here’s the notebook: Starting with the negative, Greg Warren left with a knee injury that Tomlin described as ‘potentially significant.’ That’s terminology he uses only when he knows it’s bad. If you don’t know Warren, that’s a good thing, because he’s the long snapper. They only make it into news stories when they mess up. He won’t be easily replaced. … Will Allen and Will Johnson both were out with minor hamstring issues. Ramon Foster’s left knee is still heavily wrapped. So is Ben Roethlisberger’s, for that matter, but it’s funny how his injuries — of all people — just kind of get shrugged off. … Martavis Bryant was criticized publicly by Tomlin yesterday, but he responded with a wonderful showing in this practice, both on deep balls in one-on-one drills against corners, and in the 11-on-11. Hadn’t realized until today the kid was this tough. … Lance Moore catches everything. A ball today hit his fingertips at a tough angle, he essentially tapped it into the air to himself in stride and kept right on running. … I’d love to tell you more about the defense, but the reverse 11-on-11s were happening at the far end of the field, which was off limits to reporters on this day. … Interesting to see Tomlin at one point watch Joey Porter seethe over a Howard Jones miscue. The coach called Porter over and advised him, ‘Go easy. Go slow. Make it simple, and make it stick.’ Porter took a deep breath, walked over to Jones, basically just stared at the poor kid for a bit, then heeded Tomlin’s advice and offered simple instruction. … Markus Wheaton keeps making a believer of me. … Dri Archer keeps taking a licking. Seriously, it’s like DBs are eyeing him for that big hit, knowing he’ll go backward. … The offensive line just looks really good. That’s all. I won’t say more. I know better at this stage. … They’ll go at it again tomorrow, which will close camp for the Steelers, then they’ll meet Saturday at Heinz Field. Here’s guessing there will be some animosity built up by then.
In closing, here’s a question I had for Ben about his offensive line …
I’ll have that baseball column up later tonight.