I'm interning for a local news station, and I've gotten to cover the training camp the last two days and will do so again for a few days next week, so I figure I'd pass along what I've seen and heard from talking to the players/coaches...
Everyone passed the run test, so no instances like the one with Casey Hampton (who looks a little trim) last year when he failed the test.
Big Ben talked to the media today, the first full day of training camp. I'm told he typically doesn't talk to the media much at all, let alone on the practice field after the very first practice. He turned aside any questions about off-the-field distractions, as expected, and even threatened to walk away if no one else had football questions. I didn't expect him to talk at all, but you can't blame him for not wanting to answer questions about the allegations.
Raw footage of Ben Roethlisberger interview: http://kdka.com/video/[email protected]
Rookie WR Mike Wallace has been intriguing to watch. He is VERY quick out of his breaks and practices very fast. We'll see how his route-running and hands develop, but if his training camp tempo and performance is any indication, he could be a #3 WR in the near future.
Free Agent acquisition Shawn McDonald has been mostly quiet thus far. I expect him to make a solid run for the #3 WR spot--and I still think he'll win it--but he certainly hasn't shown it yet. He's also been catching punts, though he could just be a body who can catch, not a return man.
We got word (I forget from who... sorry... maybe Tomlin, but not sure) that when Limas Sweed lines up at WR they'll try to move Santonio Holmes to the slot. Sweed is certainly more of a split end than a slot man with his size and ability to get off the LOS. He doesn't really possess the shiftiness that you typically see in a #3.
Lawrence Timmons looks athletic as hell, but that's to be expected. He put a lot of the pressure on the RB's in blitz pickup drills.
Frank "The Tank" Summers is physically imposing. He did well in the blitz pickup drills, and if he can learn the playbook and do well with the ball in his hands, he could make an impact. I also saw him running tail back on at least one play during 11-on-11 passing drills. Who knows, however, if that will stick.
James Harrison looks so incredibly physically imposing. It's amazing. The man CERTAINLY didn't stay out of the weight room this offseason. He was basically just running guys over in the blitz pickup drills. He's such a monster, even if he has been driving around in a Smart Car...
Screen passes and swing passes were a plenty today. I don't know if it's just because it is an easy play to install--not to be confused with "execute"--at this point in the season or because they're honestly working on the screen game and hoping to expand the use of the running backs in the passing game.
I'll try to evaluate the players a little more in the future. I have a job to do while I'm there, so I can't necessarily keep all my attention on certain players. However, I will relay what I hear during interviews and such.
Everyone passed the run test, so no instances like the one with Casey Hampton (who looks a little trim) last year when he failed the test.
Big Ben talked to the media today, the first full day of training camp. I'm told he typically doesn't talk to the media much at all, let alone on the practice field after the very first practice. He turned aside any questions about off-the-field distractions, as expected, and even threatened to walk away if no one else had football questions. I didn't expect him to talk at all, but you can't blame him for not wanting to answer questions about the allegations.
Raw footage of Ben Roethlisberger interview: http://kdka.com/video/[email protected]
Rookie WR Mike Wallace has been intriguing to watch. He is VERY quick out of his breaks and practices very fast. We'll see how his route-running and hands develop, but if his training camp tempo and performance is any indication, he could be a #3 WR in the near future.
Free Agent acquisition Shawn McDonald has been mostly quiet thus far. I expect him to make a solid run for the #3 WR spot--and I still think he'll win it--but he certainly hasn't shown it yet. He's also been catching punts, though he could just be a body who can catch, not a return man.
We got word (I forget from who... sorry... maybe Tomlin, but not sure) that when Limas Sweed lines up at WR they'll try to move Santonio Holmes to the slot. Sweed is certainly more of a split end than a slot man with his size and ability to get off the LOS. He doesn't really possess the shiftiness that you typically see in a #3.
Lawrence Timmons looks athletic as hell, but that's to be expected. He put a lot of the pressure on the RB's in blitz pickup drills.
Frank "The Tank" Summers is physically imposing. He did well in the blitz pickup drills, and if he can learn the playbook and do well with the ball in his hands, he could make an impact. I also saw him running tail back on at least one play during 11-on-11 passing drills. Who knows, however, if that will stick.
James Harrison looks so incredibly physically imposing. It's amazing. The man CERTAINLY didn't stay out of the weight room this offseason. He was basically just running guys over in the blitz pickup drills. He's such a monster, even if he has been driving around in a Smart Car...
Screen passes and swing passes were a plenty today. I don't know if it's just because it is an easy play to install--not to be confused with "execute"--at this point in the season or because they're honestly working on the screen game and hoping to expand the use of the running backs in the passing game.
I'll try to evaluate the players a little more in the future. I have a job to do while I'm there, so I can't necessarily keep all my attention on certain players. However, I will relay what I hear during interviews and such.
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