Steelers (2007) (1 Viewer)

[Gold Mike Tomczak]

Metals may rust and fade in time....My legacy, never.

 

[Plain Ol' Mike Tomczak]

Watching film gave Gay a head start

Thursday, May 17, 2007

By Teresa Varley

Steelers.com

When you are a rookie, you have to use every little thing to your advantage to get a leg up on the competition. Fifth-round pick William Gay, a cornerback from Louisville, had that jump before he even reported for the team's first mini-camp.

While at Louisville Gay saw plenty of footage of the Steelers defense as they tried to mimic some of the coverage packages that defensive coordinator **** LeBeau is known for.

"We tried to disguise our coverages and we always looked at Pittsburgh tapes," said Gay. "They have the best ways to disguise their coverages. You get out there, and you don't know where they're coming from. It's a very aggressive defense."

His early knowledge of the Steelers defense is something that his coaches definitely feel will be an advantage for him and were impressed when they talked to him about his role in that style of defense.

"They ran a couple of plays that we run, and I asked him what he did on a couple of those plays," said defensive backs coach Ray Horton. "He was able to explain exactly what he did and really what the other 10 men on the field did. That really just impressed me because not only can the kid play, but now I feel that he'll be able to come play a multitude of roles for us right away.

"I feel comfortable putting him on the inside, on the outside, and then possibly down the road, if the kid's tough enough—which I think he is—he can play a little bit of safety for us down the line."

Gay also has the same mentality and aggressive approach that the defensive is traditionally known for.

"I want to attack the ball," said Gay. "I have that mindset. That's what the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is all about, so I'm ready to get in there and get involved when I can."

One reason why Gay lasted until the fifth round was his speed. While he isn't slow, he isn't a guy with blazing speed. But he makes up for it with a lot more.

"I'm not a 4.3 guy, but on the field, I have that hunger," said Gay. "There's a difference between football speed and track speed. I feel like I can get on the field and run with anybody."

Horton compared Gay to cornerback Deshea Townsend, especially from the mental standpoint, something that is a big compliment as Horton considers Townsend one of the most mentally sound players on defense.

"He's instinctual, aggressive and has very good hands," said Horton. "I think that he'll come in right away and compete for a third cornerback spot, a fourth cornerback spot and special teams. I think that this is a young Deshea that can come in and probably apply himself right away with his mental capacity to learn.

"I was very impressed with this young man as far as explaining his position and what the defensive linemen do on particular plays. So, I'm very excited about this young man."

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cf...68632&rfi=6

Minicamp was no place for phonies

By: Jim Wexell, For the Herald-Standard

05/16/2007

Updated 05/17/2007 12:06:05 AM EDT

From the notebook of a reporter who was blown away by the real-ness - if that's a word - of this Steelers minicamp past:

This was no place for phonies. Alan Faneca made sure of that from the get-go.

So we walked into the locker room - we, meaning the horde of reporters at the first day of minicamp - and went directly to Faneca's locker. He had his back to us. The most veteran of reporters asked Alan if he had a minute. He stood up, bent down and then up to flip his hair back, and said, 'Go ahead.' The best reporter in the room was allowed to ask the first six questions or so to get the ball rolling. When it was over, one reporter tried to joke with him, but Faneca didn't want to play nice. We got the message and left him alone.

After every reporter left the locker room, a source told me Hines Ward tried to make small talk but Faneca waved him off. The source said Ben Roethlisberger then walked up to Faneca and began chatting. Alan put on his I-pod and walked away.

Faneca's so-called rant was thoughtful and he never crossed the line. He just made the point that he wasn't going to settle for the Steelers coming up a little and "winning" this contract battle as they had with Ward.

It was the best front-row seat I'd had to such fierceness since three of us had our Richard Huntley interview busted up by Earl Holmes's fist in 2000. That was ridiculous. Faneca's fierceness was controlled, perhaps even sublime.

I thought he'd crossed the line initially, but upon re-examination of the quotes found that he hadn't. I felt it was both impromptu and in control. The line about abdicating leadership came close to crossing the line, but he's right: If you're going to question management, how can you justify some type of phony captain-ship?

Captaincy at minicamp is plain ridiculous, but even during the season it's just the bequeathed honor of a figurehead. Faneca will play hard and will want to win and will expect that will-to-win from everyone else on game day. That's all the leadership anyone should want. The line about security came close to crossing the line of public decency, but I understood what he was getting at: contract security, not the type of security Latrell Sprewell rendered absurd when he asked reporters how he was expected to feed his family on $15 million a year.

Faneca has some crazy in him. I've seen it before. One time, after the infamous third strike was dropped and rolled back into play during the Angels-White Sox playoff series, a reporter, who had bet on the Angels, was whining about the ump's call. I kept repeating what that catcher has heard since Little League: "Just tag him." The argument got louder. I kept saying "Just tag him." Faneca finally turned around and hollered, "Hey, shut the -- up!" Man, that room got quiet.

I sense a bit of a crazy streak in Art Rooney II as well. I understand that NBC got the story wrong, that it wasn't Rooney who made the remark that sent Faneca into shutdown mode Saturday morning. But I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been Rooney II. He's no wallflower, that guy. It makes me think the two - Faneca and Rooney II - are made for each other and will respect each other's bluntness. I might be the only one who has this feeling, but I think they'll work something out.

On the other side of the room was more truth. Troy Polamalu had returned from a religious retreat on an island in Greece. He was pure ... just pure. The reporters peppering him with questions about money, money, money made me laugh. The reporters pushing to get to Troy, banging their microphones off my head, those guys made me leave. I got a chance to talk with Troy later. He's leaving all of the renegotiations talk to his agent. It's not a driving force for him at all. He just doesn't want to be taken advantage of and trusts both his agent and the Steelers to be fair. He also promised me some books on spiritualism and his recent trip. I'm told by everyone who knows him to expect the books the next time I see him. Can't wait.

The difference between the renegotiations of Polamalu and Faneca is that Faneca is 30 and looking for a third contract. It's easy for Polamalu, 26, to expect to be treated fairly; Faneca understands he must take extraordinary measures to be paid fairly ... and to remain in Pittsburgh. Four of us reporters were sitting at lunch when Troy came up to reply to one reporter's interview request. Troy told him not to rush his lunch, that he would wait in the hall until he was done eating. The reporter would hear none of it, of course, and immediately left to get the interview done. He came back a few minutes later shaking his head. "Is that guy for real?"

One more note on Polamalu's politeness. Well, two more. One, Myron Cope wrote a short story that included a line from a restaurant owner who said that Polamalu and his wife were just in and he gave the waitress a $100 tip. The second note, when I approached Troy for our chat in the locker room, he couldn't get his glove off to shake my hand. He was persistent, though, and finally did yank it off to follow the code of polite society. I didn't care, but he did. That made me care a whole bunch in the end. Polamalu's quote on this team, that's supposedly off to a troubled start, spoke to the real-ness I'm trying to get at here: "I think it's troublesome but I think it's good. I think it's good that everything is really shaken up and everybody's got to re-work and re-establish themselves. It's a good thing, and I think it is natural that whenever a new coach comes in you have to do this. I had to deal with it in college. We were all very wary about Coach (Pete) Carroll and what was going to come about. Obviously, everything turned out pretty well for him and hopefully the same for Coach Tomlin."

Tomlin's show was just as real - and as good - as Faneca's and Polamalu's. He didn't spit or stammer or make faces and tell us he wasn't going to talk about Faneca. He talked about it at every turn, with honesty and intelligence. He said it will only be a problem, basically, if he lets it, and he didn't let it. No one did.

Faneca's rant was the most unimportant and overplayed rant since Joey Porter went off on Jerramy Stevens the week of the Super Bowl.

I know Bill Cowher's childish stammerings worked because he won - a lot. But I already respect Tomlin. Now I just hope he wins, because treating everyone like human beings should have that kind of payoff.

I asked someone in the organization why they were so quick to give rookie LaMarr Woodley No. 55 - Porter's old number. "If anything happens to Chukky (Okobi), we'll give him No. 56." Wow. I had figured the first-team center was in trouble, but obviously I'm not the only one. He just makes too much money and has made it clear that he won't take a salary cut. Not a good move by Chukky.

If Faneca indeed proves impossible to re-sign, that helps Okobi stick around and helps Kendall Simmons and Max Starks in their renegotiations. Would be a shame to keep the guys you don't want and lose the guy you want. That's why I believe the Steelers will give in to Faneca more than they did with Ward. They may even call him back from the airport the way they did Sean Mahan when they realize what direction their once-proud line is headed.

I got out early the first day to watch Lawrence Timmons and Woodley. The former moved smoothly through drills. I liked what I saw. Woodley wasn't as pure in his agility movements. He also had to be directed into the proper position a few times by the inside backers. In other words, he was lost. I thought it was smart to back both players off and let them learn from the sideline. I figure their injuries were extremely minor.

Tomlin left the cafeteria with Timmons on Sunday. This is obviously his pet project and he appears determined to make the No. 1 pick work.

Kevan Barlow may not be real. He may be Duce Staley. He's wearing No. 22, using his locker and sitting out drills with minor injuries. Guys like Carey Davis and Gary Russell were running hard - real hard - in his place. Dan Sepulveda really can boom the ball. Poor Mike Barr. The talent gap between the drafted punter and the guy trying for a fourth time to make the team is also very real.

Willie Reid looks like the fastest guy on the field. He appears to be fully recovered from his foot injury and is returning both punts and kickoffs, not to mention catching the ball pretty well as a receiver.

Three security men were standing off to the side of the practice field. I asked them if they knew Richard Seigler had been a pimp.

Security Man No. 1: "We worked one of the player parties at a bar once and a girl asked Seigler if he was a player. He said, 'I'm no player, I'm a pimp!'"

Security Man No. 2: "I heard him say that a lot, but I thought he was just, you know, into rap music."

Security Man No. 3: "It's so hard to be a pimp in the NFL!"

In the same spot the next day stood the chairman of the board, Dan Rooney. He'd just walked in from the far field, where he'd watched another practice up close. I asked him what he thought of the just-concluded minicamp, expecting him to roll his eyes at some of the trying moments, but he smiled and his eyes lit up. "It's been great. The enthusiasm here is just great. I'm very happy."

If he'd been displeased, he'd have told me. They don't come much more real than Dan Rooney.

Updated 05/17/2007 12:06:05 AM EDT

©The Herald Standard 2007

 

[Stillers Jr.]

"Willie Reid looks like the fastest guy on the field. He appears to be fully recovered from his foot injury and is returning both punts and kickoffs, not to mention catching the ball pretty well as a receiver."

I like to hear that...thanks for the post..

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Legendary sportscaster Myron Cope may have retired from the Steelers' broadcast booth, but he's working his way back on to your television screen with the announcement of Myron's Memorable Moments DVD. The loveable Myron has scoured through hundreds of hours of his personal collection of video tapes to find his favorite sportscasts, commentaries, stories, and other hilarious moments from his 35 year broadcasting career. It's enough to make Pittsburgh sports fans exclaim "Triple Yoi".

Popular segments such as Dr. Cope and his Cope-Ra-Scope, Cope's annual Christmas Carols, and Myron's poetic pontification are featured on the DVD. Cope's fans will either remember or enjoy for the first time classic stories such as "The myna nird who healed Bradshaw", "Losing a bet and swimming the Mon", and "Joe Green's pie in Myron's eye".

Additionally, Myron's Memorable Moments features Cope roasts, honors and tributes.

The nearly 2 hour DVD makes a great gift for Father's Day or any special occasion.

$18.99, order here :

http://wpxi.justpayhalfonline.com/index.ph...l&pid=22980

 

[Franknbeans]

I just wanted to add that this thread rules

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cf...68632&rfi=6

Minicamp was no place for phonies

By: Jim Wexell, For the Herald-Standard

05/16/2007

Updated 05/17/2007 12:06:05 AM EDT

From the notebook of a reporter who was blown away by the real-ness - if that's a word - of this Steelers minicamp past:

I know Bill Cowher's childish stammerings worked because he won - a lot. But I already respect Tomlin. Now I just hope he wins, because treating everyone like human beings should have that kind of payoff.

I asked someone in the organization why they were so quick to give rookie LaMarr Woodley No. 55 - Porter's old number. "If anything happens to Chukky (Okobi), we'll give him No. 56." Wow. I had figured the first-team center was in trouble, but obviously I'm not the only one. He just makes too much money and has made it clear that he won't take a salary cut. Not a good move by Chukky.

Updated 05/17/2007 12:06:05 AM EDT

©The Herald Standard 2007

This part really scares me.

 

[Lutherman2112]

Just as he stated in mini-camp, Faneca was a no-show for the voluntary workout today.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07142/788052-66.stm

 

[beavers]

Gardocki released...

Steelers release punter GardockiWednesday, May 23, 2007The Steelers released veteran punter Chris Gardocki today.Gardocki was the team's punter for the past three seasons. He was drafted in the third round in 1991 by the Chicago Bears and also played with the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns before joining the Steelers. He has never had a punt blocked in his career, with a league-record 1,177 punts.In April's NFL Draft, the Steelers drafted punter Daniel Sepulveda in the fourth round out of Baylor University.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

1 mini camp for Sepulveda was apparently enough.

 

[SteelerMurf]

1 mini camp for Sepulveda was apparently enough.

I had read his kicks just shoot off like a rocket from his foot.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers have begun preliminary discussions with the agent of QB Ben Roethlisberger about a contract extension.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

A summary of Alan Faneca's morning, in smiley form:

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers have begun preliminary discussions with the agent of QB Ben Roethlisberger about a contract extension.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers have begun preliminary discussions with the agent of QB Ben Roethlisberger about a contract extension.

I really like this move. Shows some confidence in him. Maybe get him a bit cheaper than after a good year too.

 

[DrunkinDwarf]

http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/07145/788950-66.stm

Big Ben champions no-huddle schemes

Friday, May 25, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mario Lemieux might be Ben Roethlisberger's most famous ongoing golf partner these days, but no match may be more telling for the Steelers' quarterback than the one he had early this week with someone else.

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians delivered a message to his quarterback that fit him to a tee while they were on the course.

"He said 'This is your offense; you tell me what you like and don't like,' " Roethlisberger related yesterday.

Not the bashful type, Roethlisberger spoke up. He wants to use the no-huddle offense more often. It was a big topic during training camp last year but never really materialized during the season. He believes it will in 2007.

"I like the way he wants to run the no-huddle," Roethlisberger said. "Last year, we talked and talked and talked about doing it and never did it. We did it in the preseason against coach [Mike] Tomlin and Minnesota -- we marched down the field and I was done for the rest of the game. It was great. And then we never saw it.

"I like that he wants to do that and I truly believe this year that we will do it."

They will do much more of it if Roethlisberger can run it the way he did in practice Wednesday.

"He just had one of the best practices I've ever seen him have, and it was the no-huddle package," Arians said then. "He ran it to perfection -- smooth, without a hitch, his completion percentage is way up right now.

"I'm real pleased. I couldn't ask for anything more. His snap count, he's doing a great job with it, we're not jumping offsides. Those little things can create big things and make you a better offense."

The Steelers' new offense won't look like Peyton Manning's, but a bigger dose of the no-huddle seems in order.

"I think we'll see it at least once a game," said Roethlisberger, who ran a steady diet of no-huddle at Miami University. "That was pretty much all we did was no-huddle. We called it Little Muddle where just the linemen huddled, and I signaled out to the receivers."

The Steelers will use the no-huddle in both the shotgun formation and with Roethlisberger under center.

"We have 60-some plays in that no-huddle package that I can call," Roethlisberger said. "That's another thing that we talked about; it's me calling the plays, but, if Bruce or someone sees something, they can tell me, 'Ben, we want to see this real quick in the no-huddle,' and I can call it from there. But I like that he has the confidence in me to do that."

Arians has taken the bridle off his fourth-year quarterback. Whereas the coaches protected Roethlisberger in his first few years, they are now allowing him to call audibles, call the pass protections and, as he hopes, run more no-huddle.

"I think the first year they tried to [protect me] a little more, but it didn't work as well because I was just kind of running around crazy," Roethlisberger said. "My second year I think they did a little bit, and it worked pretty well. I think they still tried to do it a lot last year as well, even though I thought I'd grown a lot. I think they did it mostly because of the injuries; I didn't think they needed to.

"This year, I think it's gotten to the point where B.A.'s putting a lot of trust in me and me in him."

Roethlisberger has eased into a leadership role over his first three years, but seems to be embracing it now. He has done little things, like taking teammates' questions about a recent story to a reporter. His more famous leadership moment came, as described by Peter King in Sports Illustrated last week, when he had dinner with Mike Tomlin shortly after he was named Steelers coach.

Roethlisberger told his new coach that a lot of players were unhappy that Russ Grimm or Ken Whisenhunt did not get his job, and that he would have to earn the players' respect and trust.

"It wasn't like one of those things where I stood up and told Tomlin you need to earn our respect," Roethlisberger said. "It wasn't anything like that. It was just that we have a lot of guys and a lot of differences going on and we have to earn each others' respect, and I think that we've done that."

Roethlisberger admits there was some resentment toward him in the Steelers' locker room early in his career because of the big money he made as a No. 1 draft choice, but he sees a big change.

"I think there was at first, but I think guys have learned that it's OK, we've grown into that," he said.

"As in everything, I always want to get better and I'll want to get better at being a leader -- not taking over, just being a presence in there for guys. I want guys to know that if they're in any kind of problem, if they need to come talk to someone, if they need a place to stay, a car, anything I can help them with I will be more than happy and willing to do that. I just want them to always know that and I think guys are starting to understand that more, especially the younger guys as they come up."

As for the even bigger money he stands to make on his next contract, something agent Ryan Tollner has broached with the Steelers, Roethlisberger wants no huddle on that one.

"I have enough to think about right now. Job security is always important, but there's a lot going on right now with other guys and so I'm not going to sit here and gripe and complain. I'm just going to let things happen that happen."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Not purely Steelers-related, but since Mark Madden was mentioned above. I just came from lunch where Madden was sitting at a table in the same room. I would think guys like him put their personality on as a show for the radio, but would be fairly normal in person. Not the case with him. He's every bit as loud and obnoxious out in public.

Some tidbits from him:

"I hate Hines 100 times more than I hate Bettis."

"Hines is the kind of guy who will make a lot of money as a pro, but will be broke in less than 10 years after his career ends. That's because he thinks he has great money-making ideas, but he's an idiot."

"If Hines blew his knee out tomorrow, I'd love it."

On Portis' comments about Vick's dogfighting: "I say this in a racial way, not a racist way: White America is just about fed up with all these black athletes and all this crap. Over 90% of the arrests in the NFL are blacks. Of course 70% of the league is black so the number will be skewed, but come on."

"Did you guys hear that the idiot from the Cardinals who got drunk and killed himself, his dad is suing the bar that served him???"

On the Steelers coach emailing porn: "Hey, I'm sure I like porn more than the average guy, but even I wouldn't do something stupid like that!"

There was a bunch of other material I missed because my boss was trying to talk business while I tried to mentally note this stuff.

Keep in mind he is a LOUD guy and the whole room was pretty much uncomfortable with him bellowing this crap, especially the "racial" stuff.

 

[beavers]

Mark Madden = Look at me, look at me!

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Steelers ready for safety switch?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_509785.html

By John Harris

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, May 28, 2007

One day, Ryan Clark is the Steelers' starting free safety.

The next day, it's Anthony Smith.

Then it's back to Clark again.

Smith, Clark. Clark, Smith.

"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said he wanted to see us battle it out,'' said Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2006. "They've got us rotating. Every other day I'll start, and then he'll start, and then I'll start.''

Given that Smith is younger than Clark, has a bigger upside and is one of the most ferocious tacklers on the team, the smart money says he'll be in the starting lineup for the season opener at Cleveland.

Like it or not, even Clark sees the logic in Smith's replacing him on the depth chart.

"With the way he (Smith) played (last season), I think they want him to start,'' Clark said. "He's a bright young player. They drafted him for a reason. (But) a lot of coaches came to me this offseason saying they watched the film and that I played good ball. I think out of respect for me and the way I played last year, they at least have to give me the opportunity to compete.''

So there you have it.

Smith, who started the final four games last season, is taking the company line.

"We know we're two good safeties, so whatever happens, happens,'' Smith said.

Clark, an undrafted free agent who missed three games because of injuries, isn't conceding the starting job to Smith. However, Clark raised the possibility of his coming off the bench and joining fellow safeties Smith and Troy Polamalu in packages that would highlight his ability to defend the pass.

"It's a long way from being decided, or maybe it's not. Maybe they already know who's going to start,'' Clark said at the conclusion of Thursday's organized team activity session. "Looking at some of the things Anthony did, some of the spectacular plays he made, I feel like it's hard to keep him off the field.''

Clark is more than just football smart. He's a fighter and a survivor who takes nothing for granted. It's why he's still in contention for a starting job entering his sixth season with his third team.

"I expected it,'' Clark said of rotating with Smith as the No. 1 free safety. "Coach (****) LeBeau kind of even told me at the end of the year that was what it was going to be, so it was no surprise at all. We're going to alternate all the way through until a decision is made, I guess when the season starts.''

While Smith's physical attributes outweigh his lack of actual game experience, he said he has a greater understanding of how he fits into the defense.

"Each day it's been easier for me,'' said Smith, who developed a reputation as a headhunter his rookie season. "You have to be a general when you're back there in this defense. They're looking for that, and a guy who can make plays.''

Said Clark: "We have a lot of talented guys. Who do you keep off the field? I just want to play -- period.''

Stay tuned.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

 

[Cookiemonster]

Steelers ready for safety switch?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_509785.html

By John Harris

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, May 28, 2007

One day, Ryan Clark is the Steelers' starting free safety.

The next day, it's Anthony Smith.

Then it's back to Clark again.

Smith, Clark. Clark, Smith.

"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said he wanted to see us battle it out,'' said Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2006. "They've got us rotating. Every other day I'll start, and then he'll start, and then I'll start.''

Given that Smith is younger than Clark, has a bigger upside and is one of the most ferocious tacklers on the team, the smart money says he'll be in the starting lineup for the season opener at Cleveland.

Like it or not, even Clark sees the logic in Smith's replacing him on the depth chart.

"With the way he (Smith) played (last season), I think they want him to start,'' Clark said. "He's a bright young player. They drafted him for a reason. (But) a lot of coaches came to me this offseason saying they watched the film and that I played good ball. I think out of respect for me and the way I played last year, they at least have to give me the opportunity to compete.''

So there you have it.

Smith, who started the final four games last season, is taking the company line.

"We know we're two good safeties, so whatever happens, happens,'' Smith said.

Clark, an undrafted free agent who missed three games because of injuries, isn't conceding the starting job to Smith. However, Clark raised the possibility of his coming off the bench and joining fellow safeties Smith and Troy Polamalu in packages that would highlight his ability to defend the pass.

"It's a long way from being decided, or maybe it's not. Maybe they already know who's going to start,'' Clark said at the conclusion of Thursday's organized team activity session. "Looking at some of the things Anthony did, some of the spectacular plays he made, I feel like it's hard to keep him off the field.''

Clark is more than just football smart. He's a fighter and a survivor who takes nothing for granted. It's why he's still in contention for a starting job entering his sixth season with his third team.

"I expected it,'' Clark said of rotating with Smith as the No. 1 free safety. "Coach (****) LeBeau kind of even told me at the end of the year that was what it was going to be, so it was no surprise at all. We're going to alternate all the way through until a decision is made, I guess when the season starts.''

While Smith's physical attributes outweigh his lack of actual game experience, he said he has a greater understanding of how he fits into the defense.

"Each day it's been easier for me,'' said Smith, who developed a reputation as a headhunter his rookie season. "You have to be a general when you're back there in this defense. They're looking for that, and a guy who can make plays.''

Said Clark: "We have a lot of talented guys. Who do you keep off the field? I just want to play -- period.''

Stay tuned.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

Smith's hit on Eagle's returner in pre-season was one of the most vicious I have ever seen in pro football. Kid can lay the lumber. I thought Clark did O.K. last year, but what I remember the most about him was how many RB highlight reels he was involved in on '05 clips... lying on his back. I don't know who I'd rather have starting right now, as Clark seems to be the better S in pass coverage, but last year was Smith's 1st. Polo (when healthy) is a very good tackling SS, Townsend and Taylor are both better tackling CBs than coverage, so to balance out the secondary, a pass-cover FS may be more beneficial.

 

[east2west]

Steelers ready for safety switch?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_509785.html

By John Harris

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, May 28, 2007

One day, Ryan Clark is the Steelers' starting free safety.

The next day, it's Anthony Smith.

Then it's back to Clark again.

Smith, Clark. Clark, Smith.

"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said he wanted to see us battle it out,'' said Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2006. "They've got us rotating. Every other day I'll start, and then he'll start, and then I'll start.''

Given that Smith is younger than Clark, has a bigger upside and is one of the most ferocious tacklers on the team, the smart money says he'll be in the starting lineup for the season opener at Cleveland.

Like it or not, even Clark sees the logic in Smith's replacing him on the depth chart.

"With the way he (Smith) played (last season), I think they want him to start,'' Clark said. "He's a bright young player. They drafted him for a reason. (But) a lot of coaches came to me this offseason saying they watched the film and that I played good ball. I think out of respect for me and the way I played last year, they at least have to give me the opportunity to compete.''

So there you have it.

Smith, who started the final four games last season, is taking the company line.

"We know we're two good safeties, so whatever happens, happens,'' Smith said.

Clark, an undrafted free agent who missed three games because of injuries, isn't conceding the starting job to Smith. However, Clark raised the possibility of his coming off the bench and joining fellow safeties Smith and Troy Polamalu in packages that would highlight his ability to defend the pass.

"It's a long way from being decided, or maybe it's not. Maybe they already know who's going to start,'' Clark said at the conclusion of Thursday's organized team activity session. "Looking at some of the things Anthony did, some of the spectacular plays he made, I feel like it's hard to keep him off the field.''

Clark is more than just football smart. He's a fighter and a survivor who takes nothing for granted. It's why he's still in contention for a starting job entering his sixth season with his third team.

"I expected it,'' Clark said of rotating with Smith as the No. 1 free safety. "Coach (****) LeBeau kind of even told me at the end of the year that was what it was going to be, so it was no surprise at all. We're going to alternate all the way through until a decision is made, I guess when the season starts.''

While Smith's physical attributes outweigh his lack of actual game experience, he said he has a greater understanding of how he fits into the defense.

"Each day it's been easier for me,'' said Smith, who developed a reputation as a headhunter his rookie season. "You have to be a general when you're back there in this defense. They're looking for that, and a guy who can make plays.''

Said Clark: "We have a lot of talented guys. Who do you keep off the field? I just want to play -- period.''

Stay tuned.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

Smith's hit on Eagle's returner in pre-season was one of the most vicious I have ever seen in pro football. Kid can lay the lumber. I thought Clark did O.K. last year, but what I remember the most about him was how many RB highlight reels he was involved in on '05 clips... lying on his back. I don't know who I'd rather have starting right now, as Clark seems to be the better S in pass coverage, but last year was Smith's 1st. Polo (when healthy) is a very good tackling SS, Townsend and Taylor are both better tackling CBs than coverage, so to balance out the secondary, a pass-cover FS may be more beneficial.

If all things are equal ( or very close to ) I allways say start the young guy, if he's as good as a vet at that age, he should get better, which of course, helps the team more in the long run.

 

[Bojang0301]

Steelers ready for safety switch?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_509785.html

By John Harris

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, May 28, 2007

One day, Ryan Clark is the Steelers' starting free safety.

The next day, it's Anthony Smith.

Then it's back to Clark again.

Smith, Clark. Clark, Smith.

"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said he wanted to see us battle it out,'' said Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2006. "They've got us rotating. Every other day I'll start, and then he'll start, and then I'll start.''

Given that Smith is younger than Clark, has a bigger upside and is one of the most ferocious tacklers on the team, the smart money says he'll be in the starting lineup for the season opener at Cleveland.

Like it or not, even Clark sees the logic in Smith's replacing him on the depth chart.

"With the way he (Smith) played (last season), I think they want him to start,'' Clark said. "He's a bright young player. They drafted him for a reason. (But) a lot of coaches came to me this offseason saying they watched the film and that I played good ball. I think out of respect for me and the way I played last year, they at least have to give me the opportunity to compete.''

So there you have it.

Smith, who started the final four games last season, is taking the company line.

"We know we're two good safeties, so whatever happens, happens,'' Smith said.

Clark, an undrafted free agent who missed three games because of injuries, isn't conceding the starting job to Smith. However, Clark raised the possibility of his coming off the bench and joining fellow safeties Smith and Troy Polamalu in packages that would highlight his ability to defend the pass.

"It's a long way from being decided, or maybe it's not. Maybe they already know who's going to start,'' Clark said at the conclusion of Thursday's organized team activity session. "Looking at some of the things Anthony did, some of the spectacular plays he made, I feel like it's hard to keep him off the field.''

Clark is more than just football smart. He's a fighter and a survivor who takes nothing for granted. It's why he's still in contention for a starting job entering his sixth season with his third team.

"I expected it,'' Clark said of rotating with Smith as the No. 1 free safety. "Coach (****) LeBeau kind of even told me at the end of the year that was what it was going to be, so it was no surprise at all. We're going to alternate all the way through until a decision is made, I guess when the season starts.''

While Smith's physical attributes outweigh his lack of actual game experience, he said he has a greater understanding of how he fits into the defense.

"Each day it's been easier for me,'' said Smith, who developed a reputation as a headhunter his rookie season. "You have to be a general when you're back there in this defense. They're looking for that, and a guy who can make plays.''

Said Clark: "We have a lot of talented guys. Who do you keep off the field? I just want to play -- period.''

Stay tuned.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

Smith's hit on Eagle's returner in pre-season was one of the most vicious I have ever seen in pro football. Kid can lay the lumber. I thought Clark did O.K. last year, but what I remember the most about him was how many RB highlight reels he was involved in on '05 clips... lying on his back. I don't know who I'd rather have starting right now, as Clark seems to be the better S in pass coverage, but last year was Smith's 1st. Polo (when healthy) is a very good tackling SS, Townsend and Taylor are both better tackling CBs than coverage, so to balance out the secondary, a pass-cover FS may be more beneficial.

My buddy went to high school with Smith and that's basically the way it goes with him... he will hit the #### out of people but can't cover worth a damn.

 

[kevinray]

Steelers ready for safety switch?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_509785.html

By John Harris

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, May 28, 2007

One day, Ryan Clark is the Steelers' starting free safety.

The next day, it's Anthony Smith.

Then it's back to Clark again.

Smith, Clark. Clark, Smith.

"Coach (Mike Tomlin) said he wanted to see us battle it out,'' said Smith, a third-round draft pick in 2006. "They've got us rotating. Every other day I'll start, and then he'll start, and then I'll start.''

Given that Smith is younger than Clark, has a bigger upside and is one of the most ferocious tacklers on the team, the smart money says he'll be in the starting lineup for the season opener at Cleveland.

Like it or not, even Clark sees the logic in Smith's replacing him on the depth chart.

"With the way he (Smith) played (last season), I think they want him to start,'' Clark said. "He's a bright young player. They drafted him for a reason. (But) a lot of coaches came to me this offseason saying they watched the film and that I played good ball. I think out of respect for me and the way I played last year, they at least have to give me the opportunity to compete.''

So there you have it.

Smith, who started the final four games last season, is taking the company line.

"We know we're two good safeties, so whatever happens, happens,'' Smith said.

Clark, an undrafted free agent who missed three games because of injuries, isn't conceding the starting job to Smith. However, Clark raised the possibility of his coming off the bench and joining fellow safeties Smith and Troy Polamalu in packages that would highlight his ability to defend the pass.

"It's a long way from being decided, or maybe it's not. Maybe they already know who's going to start,'' Clark said at the conclusion of Thursday's organized team activity session. "Looking at some of the things Anthony did, some of the spectacular plays he made, I feel like it's hard to keep him off the field.''

Clark is more than just football smart. He's a fighter and a survivor who takes nothing for granted. It's why he's still in contention for a starting job entering his sixth season with his third team.

"I expected it,'' Clark said of rotating with Smith as the No. 1 free safety. "Coach (****) LeBeau kind of even told me at the end of the year that was what it was going to be, so it was no surprise at all. We're going to alternate all the way through until a decision is made, I guess when the season starts.''

While Smith's physical attributes outweigh his lack of actual game experience, he said he has a greater understanding of how he fits into the defense.

"Each day it's been easier for me,'' said Smith, who developed a reputation as a headhunter his rookie season. "You have to be a general when you're back there in this defense. They're looking for that, and a guy who can make plays.''

Said Clark: "We have a lot of talented guys. Who do you keep off the field? I just want to play -- period.''

Stay tuned.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

Smith's hit on Eagle's returner in pre-season was one of the most vicious I have ever seen in pro football. Kid can lay the lumber. I thought Clark did O.K. last year, but what I remember the most about him was how many RB highlight reels he was involved in on '05 clips... lying on his back. I don't know who I'd rather have starting right now, as Clark seems to be the better S in pass coverage, but last year was Smith's 1st. Polo (when healthy) is a very good tackling SS, Townsend and Taylor are both better tackling CBs than coverage, so to balance out the secondary, a pass-cover FS may be more beneficial.

My buddy went to high school with Smith and that's basically the way it goes with him... he will hit the #### out of people but can't cover worth a damn.

I never got the impression he was terrible in coverage. He has an instinct for the ball, and great closing speed. He seems like a guy that will play the ball instead of the man when the int is there and take his head of when its not. The only downside I see with this kid is a higher risk of giving up the big play, but other wise he’s a play maker that needs to be out on the field.

 

[Godsbrother]

My buddy went to high school with Smith and that's basically the way it goes with him... he will hit the #### out of people but can't cover worth a damn.

I never got the impression he was terrible in coverage. He has an instinct for the ball, and great closing speed. He seems like a guy that will play the ball instead of the man when the int is there and take his head of when its not. The only downside I see with this kid is a higher risk of giving up the big play, but other wise he’s a play maker that needs to be out on the field.

I thought he looked decent in coverage last year as well. I'll believe my eyes more than what some guy that went to HS with him says...

 

[llogilvie]

Steeler Linemen Update

PITTSBURGH - The Steelers' fourth voluntary OTA workout was sprinkled with new starters, but only one was noteworthy:

Willie Colon played with the first team at right tackle over a healthy Max Starks, who played left tackle with the second line.

It may have been made just to give Colon - and Starks - some needed experience, and to give new line coach Larry Zierlein some information, but it's a far more significant change than those made for yesterday's absent starters: Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and James Farrior.

Of course, Bryant McFadden played right cornerback ahead of Deshea Townsend yesterday, but that switch - both ways - was done to death last year. We'd never before seen Colon play ahead of a healthy Starks.

"That definitely doesn't mean I've got the spot," Colon said. "They want to see if I can fit the mold, see how I do out there with the first-teamers, and try to build something with them. He's trying different guys in different roles."

Colon was a fourth-round draft pick out of Hofstra last year and impressed the coaching staff because he didn't back down from anyone. In other words, he didn't play like a rookie.

He ended up starting the last two games last season when Starks was hobbled by a knee injury, and Colon played well enough that many observers were surprised three months ago when the Steelers gave Starks a first-round tender in restricted free agency.

However, the Steelers haven't signed Starks to a long-term deal, and yesterday they took a peek at Colon.

"I think I do have a legitimate shot. I think that's obvious," Colon said. "I've been working just as hard as him, if not harder. It's for him to try to maintain and for me to take. That's my mentality."

Colon, at 6-3, 315, is built like a guard, but hasn't received any reps at either guard position this spring. He has remained after practice to help out at center, as he does in the warm-up.

"They asked me if I can do it and I said, yeah, I can. I'm an emergency center," he said.

Colon said his primary concern at right tackle is building a rapport with first-team right guard Kendall Simmons. Colon also agreed with the obvious, that he's well ahead of where he was at this point last year.

"One, you know the playbook. Two, things don't seem as all-over-the-place," he said. "It's a little bit easier, but the thing is to keep going. Don't regress. If you keep progressing, you get on the field."

Notes

Wide receivers Cedrick Wilson and Nate Washington worked with the first team, but the interesting news is that rookies Dallas Baker and Eric Fowler received multiple scrimmage reps and both played well.

Baker (6-3, 206) is the seventh-round draft pick out of Florida and Fowler (6-3, 198) is a free agent from Grand Valley State. Fowler isn't a burner but has big hands and catches everything.

Scout Bruce McNorton and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians pushed for Fowler's post-draft signing.

"I'm excited about both him and Dallas Baker," Arians said. "They looked good out there. I think those guys are going to give us some competition at camp."

Clint Kriewaldt replaced Farrior at inside buck linebacker.

The interesting aspect of the evolving "quarter" defense: It's a pass-downs defense with one down lineman. Much of the defense hovers near the line of scrimmage at the snap; some blitz and some drop into coverage. It's organized, orchestrated chaos and just the right place for Brett Keisel to help as a "linebacker."

In the two-minute portion of team scrimmage, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ran to the six-yard line to convert a fourth-and-four. He got up and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 14 seconds left. On the next play he threw a touchdown pass to Willie Parker, who was alone coming out of the backfield and made an impressive catch of the high-and-behind pass.

 

[The Hank]

Steelers Sign Two Draft Picks

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers announced the signing of two of their 2007 NFL Draft picks, punter Daniel Sepulveda and offensive lineman Cameron Stephenson. Financial terms of both three-year deals were not released.

Sepulveda and Stephenson are the first two of the eight 2007 Draft selections the Steelers have signed this year.

Sepulveda (6-3, 230), from Baylor, was chosen by the Steelers in fourth round (112th overall). He is the first two-time winner of the Ray Guy Award, given to the top punter in the nation, after winning the award in 2004 and 2006. Sepulveda set school records with 21 punts for 60 yards or longer and 94 punts for 50 yards or longer. His career long was 78 yards.

Stephenson (6-3, 306), from Rutgers, was the Steelers' first of two fifth-round picks (156th overall). As a starting right guard his senior season, Stephenson helped the Scarlet Knights average 180.2 yards per game on the ground. A second-team All-Big East selection, he switched from defensive tackle following his junior season and allowed just one sack in 2006.

link

 

[Heinz 57]

Steelers Sign Two Draft Picks

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers announced the signing of two of their 2007 NFL Draft picks, punter Daniel Sepulveda and offensive lineman Cameron Stephenson. Financial terms of both three-year deals were not released.

Sepulveda and Stephenson are the first two of the eight 2007 Draft selections the Steelers have signed this year.

Sepulveda (6-3, 230), from Baylor, was chosen by the Steelers in fourth round (112th overall). He is the first two-time winner of the Ray Guy Award, given to the top punter in the nation, after winning the award in 2004 and 2006. Sepulveda set school records with 21 punts for 60 yards or longer and 94 punts for 50 yards or longer. His career long was 78 yards.

Stephenson (6-3, 306), from Rutgers, was the Steelers' first of two fifth-round picks (156th overall). As a starting right guard his senior season, Stephenson helped the Scarlet Knights average 180.2 yards per game on the ground. A second-team All-Big East selection, he switched from defensive tackle following his junior season and allowed just one sack in 2006.

link

Stephenson used to play defensive line too, good to know he is versatile.more on Stephenson....

OVERVIEW

Stephenson is an emerging talent who found a home at right guard as a senior. Throughout his college career, he bounced around between both front walls. He began his career as a defensive tackle at Los Angeles Harbor College, but shifted to offensive tackle when he transferred to Rutgers in 2004.

Stephenson moved back to the defensive line in 2005 for the Scarlet Knights, but after that season he spent preseason drills acclimating to playing on the offensive line. His stellar performance in the trenches led to him earning All-Big East honors, as a he was part of a line that allowed the fewest sacks (eight) in the nation in 2006.

At Hawthorne High School, Stephenson was a three-year starter on the offensive line, competing at the demanding left tackle position. During his three years with the varsity, he earned All-Bay League honors each season.

Stephenson enrolled at Los Angeles Harbor College in 2002. He started at defensive tackle as a freshman, earning second team All-South Coast Conference and all-state honors. He was scheduled to play on both lines in 2003, but on the first play of the season opener he suffered a knee injury and did not return, earning a medical redshirt.

In 2004, Stephenson transferred to Rutgers. He appeared in seven games as an offensive lineman, earning his first career start on that side of the ball at right tackle against Temple. The following season, he returned to the defensive line, recording 10 tackles (two solos) with a sack, two stops for losses and a fumble recovery.

As a senior, Stephenson started all year at right guard, where he earned second-team All-Big East Conference honors. He allowed just one of the eight sacks given up by the front wall, as the Scarlet Knights averaged 180.2 yards per game on the ground.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Has a thick frame with wide hips, good muscle mass and very good lower-body strength to anchor … Lacks timed speed, but in the short area, he has soft feet and good lateral movement to break down in space … Tough and competitive drive blocker who has excellent strength and explosion … Can play with leverage and generates good pop coming off the ball … Efficient trap blocker who could shift to tackle at the pro level because of his ability to move off the snap to explode into defenders … Shows good arm extension to seal off the edge rush … Maintains position and knows how to go low to take defenders off their feet … Effective moving in the short area … Positions himself properly to wall off his man and follow through in run blocking … Slides his feet and mirrors the rusher's moves in pass protection … Uses his big hands forcefully to get control in the trenches … Simply man-handles the pass rushers with his brute strength … Works well with his center pulling on sweeps, but needs to keeps his balance better going after second-level defenders … Shuffles his feet and extends his arms properly dropping back in pass protection … Generates very good power behind his good hand punch to redirect his man … Adequate at handling the speed rush, getting proper arm extension to wall-off and lock onto the blitzers … Knows how to use his size to lean, push and engulf the smaller defenders … Shows decent knee bend and kick slide setting up in pass protection.

Negatives: Lacks foot quickness needed to be effective pulling on long sweeps, laboring at times to maintain balance in the open field … Has a very strong hand punch to shock and jolt, but needs to use them with better consistency … Will get his hands out of his framework, leaving his body exposed … Despite his strong base, he struggles at times getting movement vs. two-gap defenders … Needs to be more consistent bringing his feet setting up to protect the pocket … Will get high in his stance, losing leverage in the process … Must do a better job of keeping his feet under him when on the move … Could play tackle, but lacks ideal size and arm length for that position.

Compares To: Sean Mahan, Pittsburgh -- With his raw strength and work ethic, Stephenson could emerge as a quality starter in a few years … He will need patient coaching to teach him proper hand technique and utilize his power base better to blow defenders off the ball … He lacks elite size to play outside, but earlier in his career, his experience at both guard and tackle will get him more than just mop-up duty.

INJURY REPORT

2003: Missed the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in the season opener vs. Saddleback College.

AGILITY TESTS

Campus: 5.4 in the 40-yard dash … 29-inch vertical jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 33 times.

Combine: 5.45 in the 40-yard dash … 1.88 10-yard dash … 3.13 20-yard dash … 4.81 20-yard shuttle … 7.72 three-cone drill … 28½-inch vertical jump … 8-foot-5 broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 34 times.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Hawthorne (Calif.) High School … Lettered three times as the team's starting left offensive tackle, earning All-Bay League honors in each season.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

Spent the 2002-03 seasons at Los Angeles Harbor College … Started at defensive tackle for the Seahawks in 2002, earning All-South Coast Conference second-team and all-state honors … Was scheduled to start on both sides of the ball in 2003, but hurt his knee in the season opener, missing the rest of the season (granted a medical hardship).

 

[wefcpa]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...kend/index.html

After the fall

Wiser Roethlisberger looks to return to form in 2007

Posted: Thursday May 31, 2007 4:45PM; Updated: Thursday May 31, 2007 5:47PM

Ben Roethlisberger looks forward to having more control of the offense in 2007.

Ben Roethlisberger and his father, Ken, were driving the quarterback's dogs to the vet the other day in Pittsburgh (supply your own Michael Vick joke here), and the subject turned to the tumult of 2006. They began listing everything the young passer had experienced over the past year -- the life-threatening motorcycle crash, the appendix that nearly burst, the rocky season, the departure of a coaching legend -- and it all felt so overwhelming.

"When you really think back on everything you went through," Ken told his son, "it was a lot of stuff."

That realization triggered a few seconds of contemplative silence from Big Ben, who was driving his new black pickup truck and, for you non-Libertarians who fret about such things, was indeed taking the necessary safety precautions.

"I was wearing my seat belt," he assured me last Sunday during a phone interview. "I even had a helmet and shoulder pads on."

Yes, he was joking about that last part, and that in and of itself is a good thing. As the NFL's youngest quarterback to have captured a Super Bowl tries to re-establish himself as one of the league's brightest young stars, add levity to the long list of attributes that can help him pull it off.

Last season, Roethlisberger was understandably a bit touchy about the gruesome crash that very nearly killed him -- and which, even as he underwent seven hours of surgery with injuries to his jaw, head, sinus cavity, knees and mouth, brought out an ample share of bad-taste yucksters and righteous critics blasting him for not having worn a helmet.

"It kind of sucked," he conceded. "They didn't even know if I was going to be all right, and a lot of people were all over me. They were making jokes about a guy that almost lost his life. I don't know how that's funny, but I guess that's the way it is.

"The good thing is that my friends and I are at the point now where we can laugh about the crash and the appendix and all that stuff. The other day, my buddy Brian tripped and hit his head, and he gets up and yells, 'Damn, I should've been wearing my helmet.' "

Last season, the competitor in Roethlisberger refused to concede that either the accident or his emergency appendectomy four days before Pittsburgh's season-opening victory over the Miami Dolphins (he returned 10 days after surgery and started the team's final 15 games) took a toll on his performance. His disappointing numbers included a 75.4 passer rating (down from 98.1 and 98.6 in his first two seasons), a league-high 23 interceptions and, most troubling to Big Ben, an 8-8 record that deprived the Steelers of a shot at defending their championship.

Now that he's somewhat removed from the turmoil, Roethlisberger realizes he had a great deal to overcome. And what excites him most about a potentially redemptive 2007 season is that, if all goes according to plan, he'll be asked to assume a greater share of responsibility than ever before. He'll make blocking adjustments at the line of scrimmage and get to show his improvisational flair, honed at Miami of Ohio, with the installation of the no-huddle offense. And he'll be coached by a man, 35-year-old rookie Mike Tomlin, whom he believes implicitly will trust him more than his former boss did.

Thrust into the starting lineup early in his rookie season after then-starter Tommy Maddox's injury, Roethlisberger, straight out of the MAC, accomplished more than any rookie quarterback since Dan Marino 21 years earlier. But even as Big Ben helped guide Pittsburgh to a 15-1 record and an AFC Championship game appearance -- and, in '05, followed up with the team's first Super Bowl victory in 26 years -- he felt he was treated like a little kid by Steelers coach Bill Cowher.

To be fair, it could be argued that Cowher's approach was somewhat merited: Roethlisberger struggled to learn the offense as a rookie, incessantly glancing down at the cheat sheet on his wristband during games and sometimes calling phantom plays in the huddle. His supreme self-confidence was not matched by a commensurate zest for film study, as he admitted to me shortly before Super Bowl XL.

That Cowher had lectured his quarterback about the need to wear a motorcycle helmet long before the horrific crash only reinforced the notion that Roethlisberger was the petulant teenager to The Chin's grumpy dad.

Cowher resigned in January after 15 seasons as Pittsburgh's head coach, and three months later Roethlisberger made some mildly critical comments about his former boss, telling reporters their "relationship wasn't great." In our conversation Sunday he clarified his earlier remarks, saying, "It wasn't the fact that I disliked Cowher. I like Cowher a lot, and I think he respected me. It's just that he'd been there so long, and I was kind of the young kid -- and that's how I was treated.

"I was always going to be that young guy to Cowher. I mean, think about it: He was in the league longer than I was alive. So of course he saw me as someone who needed to be treated that way."

Roethlisberger is aware of the perception that Tomlin is off to a rocky start in Pittsburgh. Many players believed former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt or line coach Russ Grimm should have succeeded Cowher, and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca has made waves with his displeasure over his current contract.

As Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, a Pittsburgh native who is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, told me Wednesday, "They've got a mess up there. They've got a new coach, players questioning whether he should be there. He's got to find a way to demand some respect. I don't know what to expect, to be honest."

Says Roethlisberger: "Guys were a little nervous at first. But people have been making a big deal about Alan, like everybody's mad and doesn't like Coach Tomlin, and that's not the case. I think the change is cool. The new thing is not necessarily a bad thing. He's come on and kind of brought some new, youthful playfulness to all the guys, and he seems to have brought a new, uplifting spirit."

When the new coach and incumbent quarterback met for the first time, dining at La Tavola Italiana in Pittsburgh, Tomlin told Roethlisberger, "I'm not trying to become your best friend overnight. The friendship, the respect, the lightness in our relationship, that's going to come over time."

Says Roethlisberger: "He's not going to try to force the issue, and I like that. I told [offensive coordinator] Bruce Arians, 'Treat me like a man. That's how I always wanted to be treated. Treat me like a man. You don't have to scream.' And that's the way it has been since Coach Tomlin arrived."

Roethlisberger expects to be more of a team leader this season, if only as part of an evolutionary process that accelerated with the offseason release of linebacker Joey Porter, who had become the team's largest locker-room presence upon halfback Jerome Bettis' retirement following Super Bowl XL.

"People say, 'The starting quarterback's got to be a leader.' I believe that 100 percent," Roethlisberger says. "But I never wanted to step on the toes of the leaders we already had in our locker room -- Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward, Joey Porter, Alan Faneca. Now Jerome's gone and Joey's gone, and my role will increase, though I'm still not going to step on the toes of Hines and Alan. It's all part of the maturation of me."

He may be older and wiser, but Roethlisberger isn't any less confident than he was before his 2006 struggles. "I said this before and I'll say it again -- I had a bad year," he said toward the end of our conversation. "It's probably going to happen again, to be honest." He laughed and continued: "Look at the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and all of them have had a bad season or two or three.

"Do I want to be that quarterback I was two years ago? No. I want to be better."

I extracted a couple of more mildly interesting responses -- yes, he rides his bike every day (with helmet), but it's a bicycle; he says he hasn't ridden a motorcycle since the wreck -- before the subject turned to Whisenhunt, now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and Grimm, who signed on as Whisenhunt's assistant head coach/offensive line coach after being passed over in Pittsburgh.

Mindful that Super Bowl XLII will be played at the Cardinals' home stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Roethlisberger said, "I wish Whiz and Russ nothing but the best in Arizona. I hope we see them there for the Super Bowl. I mean, we're going to see them one way or another, but I hope they're in the game, too."

And no, this time he wasn't joking.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Steelers' offensive line could get face-lift

3 spots will be open when camp begins

Saturday, June 02, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Football can be a kid's game for the Steelers, especially in the offensive line where it has looked like musical chairs all spring.

One minute, new center Sean Mahan plays guard and old guard Kendall Simmons will be at center. Max Starks, the starting right tackle the past two seasons, has taken snaps at left tackle, where Marvel Smith has made a Pro Bowl.

Since left guard Alan Faneca has been absent all but three days this spring, Chris Kemoeatu has taken his place, but he really is competing to take Simmons' job at right guard. Willie Colon has run with the first team at right tackle this week, although it is still Starks' job to lose.

Then there's Chukky Okobi. He has run with the first team all week at center in, perhaps, an all-or-nothing deal for him. It's possible either Okobi wins the starting center's job left vacant by the retirement of Jeff Hartings or be jettisoned to save his $2 million salary.

There's more changes than having a new coach for the offensive line this fall.

"A lot of things could happen," said Larry Zierlein, who took over for the departed Russ Grimm as line coach. "Nobody's going to lose their job in [the spring].

"Whoever the starters are, they are, no matter where we're lining them up now. You're either going to gain or lose your job in the preseason. Where we're lining them up right now, really doesn't mean a whole lot."

Zierlein announced two changes that will not happen; Smith will remain at left tackle and Alan Faneca at left guard. The other three spots are open.

"There's a lot of jobs up for grabs in that line," coordinator Bruce Arians said.

The key to it all is the center, as it always has been on this team. The Steelers have had, essentially, three starting centers since 1977, starting with Mike Webster, who became a full-time starter at the position that season. He made his first Pro Bowl after the 1978 season and went on to nine Pro Bowls. Dermontti Dawson succeeded him in 1989 and went to seven Pro Bowls. Hartings succeeded Dawson in 2001 and went to two.

That's 18 Steelers centers in the past 30 Pro Bowls. That's a habit the Steelers would like not to break.

"I think it will be a great challenge to whoever wins that job to uphold the traditions that have been set at that position," said Arians. "I won't say they can, I won't say they can't."

Okobi, a Pittsburgh native, has spent his past six seasons as the heir apparent at center. But the Steelers made their only high-end outside signing in free agency a center, luring Mahan from Tampa Bay, where new coach Mike Tomlin once coached the secondary. Mahan also has started at guard, but he said he was brought here essentially to play center.

Mahan and Okobi have split time at the position this spring, but, if Okobi does not win the job in training camp, he could be released, and the Steelers seem to be preparing for that outcome. They are teaching guard Kendall Simmons the position and last year carried rookie Marvin Philip as their third center. Also, Okobi's strongest supporter, Grimm, is coaching the offensive line in Arizona.

Paying $2 million for a backup lineman is not something the Steelers usually do. But the Steelers also could lose three of their five current starters in the line who are in the last year of their contracts -- Faneca, Simmons and Starks.

The Steelers have not talked to agent Joe Linta about Okobi possibly taking another pay cut, as he did last year, and Linta said they would not do it anyway.

"I don't try to anticipate anything, honestly," Okobi said. "It's competition, so let's compete. If all things are fair, then I like my chances. If there are other circumstances, then I don't know. I can control what I can control, and let's go form there."

Arians wants better pass protection from his line, in concert with blockers at the other positions and wide receivers running better "hot" routes on blitzes.

"No, we were not as good a group as the year before," he said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Sorry to momentarily hijack this thread, but I'd like to point your attention to this thread. I have one opening in my Pittsburgh live-draft, redraft league.

 

[The Hank]

He's Baaaack!

Running back Haynes re-signs with Steelers

Monday, June 04, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Veteran running back Verron Haynes, released by the Steelers in March, re-signed with the ballclub today.

Haynes, who was with the Steelers the past five seasons, had surgery on a knee last fall after it was injured in a game at Oakland Oct. 29. He has been rehabilitating his knee at the Steelers facility this year.

Haynes played in seven games last season and rushed for 78 yards and caught 18 passes. He has played in 60 games in his career, with 738 yards rushing and 57 receptions.

Haynes had been the Steelers third-down back the past several seasons but will compete for that job with newly signed veteran running back Kevan Barlow and returning veteran Najeh Davenport.

link

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Haynes had been the Steelers third-down back the past several seasons but will compete for that job with newly signed veteran running back Kevan Barlow and returning veteran Najeh Davenport.

link

Oh boy this competition should be as exciting as the American Gladiators re-runs on ESPN Classic. I think Turbo, err, Davenport should still have the inside track.

 

[Memphis Foundry]

[Highlander]THERE CAN BE ONLY .... UM, THREE OR FOUR BESIDES PARKER![/Highlander]

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Rumors percolating that Willie Reid injured the same foot that was injured last year.....can't find any confirmation yet.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Rumors percolating that Willie Reid injured the same foot that was injured last year.....can't find any confirmation yet.

did find this from wexell:http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cf...68632&rfi=6

Willie Reid began his second week of inactivity due to a foot injury. It's the same foot he injured last year, "but in a different place," said offensive coordinator Bruce Arians

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Slow news week.......

Bettis opens his restaurant on the north side.

http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_157080007.html

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Hopes still high for injured No. 1 pick Timmons

But 2nd pick Woodley is shining in practice

Friday, June 08, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Five weeks after the Steelers flooded a team weakness by drafting outside linebackers with their first two picks, the news from the practice field is mixed.

Second-round draft choice LaMarr Woodley's development has been unprecedented for his position. On the other hand, Lawrence Timmons, the draft's flagship choice, has made no progress on the field.

Timmons, the 15th player chosen in the April 28 draft, took his usual position in shorts and his gold Steelers practice shirt on the sideline yesterday. A persistent groin injury that hit him in his first pro practice, May 11, has kept him from practicing. He tried once last week but quickly shut things down when he realized his injury was not healed.

He might try to test the waters again next week.

"We'll try to get him a couple of reps next week and see where he's at," said Keith Butler, who coaches the team's linebackers.

Timmons is the second consecutive first-round draft choice who will have missed virtually all of the team's spring practices. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes made only the weekend minicamp last year because by NFL rule he was not permitted to join his new teammates until Ohio State finished with its final exams in June.

It's a different case for Timmons, because he at least is learning the defense, if not physically participating. The Steelers want to make sure he's ready for training camp July 23.

"You don't want to keep having a recurring problem," Butler said. "I'd rather see him get well, get healthy, make sure he's in great shape. I don't think it's possible for a rookie to understand what it's like to be in NFL shape until they've done it, until they've been around the guys who they're playing with. These two guys are no different, they don't understand what it is to be in great NFL shape."

At least Woodley is healthy and able to practice, and he has made the kind of progress rarely seen by a college defensive end converting to outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. The Steelers have him on the left side, where Clark Haggans starts, and he was dropping into pass coverage in the zone defense yesterday.

"Compared to the other guys we've had here and trying to make the transition with them, he's further along than anybody we've had," Butler said.

Usually, a player making that kind of transition does not play on defense his first season, spending most of his time as a rookie learning the position and on special teams. It could be different for Woodley and Timmons, too, provided his injury heals and he shows he can handle it in training camp.

Both are 6 feet 1, but Woodley weighs 30 pounds more than Timmons at 265. At the least, Woodley could rush the passer from end when they go to their dime defenses. They have much different plans for Timmons, when he is healthy. He's quick and speedy and versatile enough that they would like to replace Troy Polamalu with him when they are in certain passing defenses.

Replace an All-Pro safety with a rookie linebacker?

"We're going to stand him up and play him inside in that situation," Butler revealed. "Not in the middle spot, more so what Troy's doing in our quarters [defense, which uses three safeties and three cornerbacks]."

The idea is when an offense, on third down, uses three wide receivers, a tight end and a back, it's better to add another linebacker to the mix and go to what they call the nickel defense with five defensive backs and not six.

"Sometimes, it's better to have a bigger body in there," Butler said. "I think coach [****] LeBeau always has been partial to the quarter package. But we feel Lawrence can cover and blitz and play the run and we're going to try to utilize those talents."

There are just three things left: Timmons' groin must heal, he must get into shape and he must show them on the field he can do it.

"Lawrence's education has to continue this summer," Butler said, "in terms of trying to get into the top shape he's going to need to be in to contribute to this football team."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )

 

[Fiddles]

http://www.profootballhof.com/hall/story.jsp?story_id=2430

> VIP Premier – Join the Rooney family, Hall of Famer Franco Harris and

> Steelers Alumni Andy Russell at a private VIP Premier at the Pro

> Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. (ET).

> Enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a special program, exhibit

> ribbon cutting, debut of the Steelers' 75th Anniversary Film, and

> limited edition Steelers' 75th Anniversary & Pro Football Hall of Fame

> commemorative coin. Tickets are $150 and are limited to 200 fans.

> Purchase your tickets now!

> https://www.profootballhof.com/hall/Steeler...5thPackages.jsp

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Legendary sportscaster Myron Cope may have retired from the Steelers' broadcast booth, but he's working his way back on to your television screen with the announcement of Myron's Memorable Moments DVD. The loveable Myron has scoured through hundreds of hours of his personal collection of video tapes to find his favorite sportscasts, commentaries, stories, and other hilarious moments from his 35 year broadcasting career. It's enough to make Pittsburgh sports fans exclaim "Triple Yoi".

Popular segments such as Dr. Cope and his Cope-Ra-Scope, Cope's annual Christmas Carols, and Myron's poetic pontification are featured on the DVD. Cope's fans will either remember or enjoy for the first time classic stories such as "The myna nird who healed Bradshaw", "Losing a bet and swimming the Mon", and "Joe Green's pie in Myron's eye".

Additionally, Myron's Memorable Moments features Cope roasts, honors and tributes.

The nearly 2 hour DVD makes a great gift for Father's Day or any special occasion.

$18.99, order here :

http://wpxi.justpayhalfonline.com/index.ph...l&pid=22980

Got this last week. Cope does commentary between all the sketches....man, he's not sounding good. But, good stuff on the DVD.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Steelers lineup set ... for now

Friday, June 15, 2007

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Coach Mike Tomlin penciled in starters at several contested positions when he ended the Steelers' spring practices yesterday, emphasizing that's precisely how they're written -- in pencil.

The more permanent ink won't be used until well into training camp.

"You define guys on how they play this game when they play it in pads," Tomlin said. "I like what I saw out there, but I am not making decisions on what I saw in this offseason."

Because someone has to go first, Chukky Okobi will open training camp with the first team at center over Sean Mahan; Deshea Townsend over Bryant McFadden at right cornerback; Ryan Clark over Anthony Smith at free safety; Max Starks at right tackle over Willie Colon; and Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.

That last one was a ringer, even if Tomlin talked as if not many positions are written in ink yet.

"No job is secure," Tomlin insisted. "This is not a security business and if they are looking for security, they need to find a new line of work."

Of course, players such as Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, Alan Faneca, Marvel Smith, Heath Miller, the entire defensive line and halfback Willie Parker have as much job security as any NFL players. But Tomlin, as a new coach, probably will be quicker to make changes than Bill Cowher might have been.

"I told those guys that I am going to base my decision on them and what they do on a day-to-day basis, not their reputation or resume -- and I mean what I say in that regard," Tomlin said.

"People want to establish depth charts at this time of year, which is good, so be it. They change. I am not worried about who the starting center is or who the starting corners are. I am worried about acquiring guys that are capable of doing a job and fighting it out in Latrobe and in the preseason."

One player who has worked himself back into the good graces with the new regime is left cornerback Ike Taylor. Benched by Cowher last November, Taylor ran all spring with the first team as McFadden and Townsend rotated on the right side.

"There are known position battles that everybody knows about," Tomlin said, "but there are also unknown position battles that are going to develop, because we are going to go into this thing with no preconceived notions. We are going to base our decisions on what we see in training camp."

Some other observations by Tomlin as he shut things down until training camp:

Roethlisberger has performed well.

"He is a tremendous competitor and he's a very talented guy. He communicated well with all of the other players. He's kind of a ball junkie. I didn't know that about him, but he is talking about football on a day-to-day basis. He is really into it and I was very pleased with him."

Rookie linebacker Lawrence Timmons tried to practice this week, but the coach opted to give him more time to rest his injured groin. Tomlin said the team's top draft pick should be ready to practice at the start of training camp, and he hoped he would miss no time because of contract talks.

"I think if you did a study on people who missed parts of training camp during their rookie year, the result would not be good and I think he knows that. Not only him, but everybody."

Tomlin will have more twice-daily practices than the Steelers have had in past training camps. "It will give them something to whine about."

Players were introduced to different positions this spring, just in case.

"Corners played nickel, corners played dime, safeties played nickel and dime, Deshea Townsend played some safety, linebackers flopped around. Wideouts exchanged positions. Tailbacks played fullback, etc. That has kind of been something that we impressed upon them all offseason. The more that you can do, the more that you are willing to do, adds value."

Toward that end, Colon not only competed to take Starks' right tackle job from him, he practiced at guard and center.

"Willie is pushing a lot of people. He has been one of the guys that we have moved around quite a bit, because we want to put him in a position to get into the top five."

His parting message to his players: "I want them to enjoy themselves, prepare themselves and to not be The Guy ... simply, not being one of 'the guys' we are usually seeing in the headlines this time of year. The guys that are making the headlines this time of year are not the type of guy that we are looking for. Don't be The Guy."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Because someone has to go first, Chukky Okobi will open training camp with the first team at center over Sean Mahan; Deshea Townsend over Bryant McFadden at right cornerback; Ryan Clark over Anthony Smith at free safety; Max Starks at right tackle over Willie Colon

3 outta those 4 make me a sad ahrn.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Story about Justin Strzelczyk in the NYT today.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/sports/f...nyt&emc=rss

June 15, 2007

Lineman, Dead at 36, Exposes Brain Injuries

By ALAN SCHWARZ

WEST SENECA, N.Y., June 13 — Mary Strzelczyk spoke to the computer screen as clearly as it was speaking to her. “Oh, Justin,” she said through sobs, “I’m so sorry.”

The images on the screen were of magnified brain tissue from her son, the former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, who was killed in a fiery automobile crash three years ago at age 36. Four red splotches specked an otherwise tranquil sea — early signs of brain damage that experts said was most likely caused by the persistent head trauma of life in football’s trenches.

Strzelczyk (pronounced STRELL-zick) is the fourth former National Football League player to have been found post-mortem to have had a condition similar to that generally found only in boxers with dementia or people in their 80s. The diagnosis was made by Dr. Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In the past five years, he has found similar damage in the brains of the former N.F.L. players Mike Webster, Terry Long and Andre Waters. The finding will add to the growing evidence that longtime football players, particularly linemen, might endure hidden brain trauma that is only now becoming recognized.

“This is irreversible brain damage,” Omalu said. “It’s most likely caused by concussions sustained on the football field.”

Dr. Ronald Hamilton of the University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Kenneth Fallon of West Virginia University confirmed Omalu’s findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition evidenced by neurofibrillary tangles in the brain’s cortex, which can cause memory loss, depression and eventually Alzheimer’s disease-like dementia. “This is extremely abnormal in a 36-year-old,” Hamilton said. “If I didn’t know anything about this case and I looked at the slides, I would have asked, ‘Was this patient a boxer?’ ”

The discovery of a fourth player with chronic traumatic encephalopathy will most likely be discussed when N.F.L. officials and medical personnel meet in Chicago on Tuesday for an unprecedented conference regarding concussion management. The league and its players association have consistently played down findings on individual players like Strzelczyk as anecdotal, and widespread survey research of retired players with depression and early Alzheimer’s disease as of insufficient scientific rigor.

The N.F.L. spokesman Greg Aiello said that the league had no comment on the Strzelczyk findings. Gene Upshaw, executive director of the N.F.L. Players Association, did not respond to telephone messages seeking comment.

Strzelczyk, 6 feet 6 inches and 300 pounds, was a monstrous presence on the Steelers’ offensive line from 1990-98. He was known for his friendly, banjo-playing spirit and gluttony for combat. He spiraled downward after retirement, however, enduring a divorce and dabbling with steroid-like substances, and soon before his death complained of depression and hearing voices from what he called “the evil ones.” He was experiencing an apparent breakdown the morning of Sept. 30, 2004, when, during a 40-mile high-speed police chase in central New York, his pickup truck collided with a tractor-trailer and exploded, killing him instantly.

Largely forgotten, Strzelczyk’s case was recalled earlier this year by Dr. Julian Bailes, the chairman of the department of neurosurgery at West Virginia University and the Steelers’ team neurosurgeon during Strzelczyk’s career. (Bailes is also the medical director of the University of North Carolina’s Center for the Study of Retired Athletes and has co-authored several prominent papers identifying links between concussions and later-life emotional and cognitive problems.) Bailes suggested to Omalu that Strzelczyk’s brain tissue might be preserved at the local coroner’s office, a hunch that proved correct.

Mary Strzelczyk granted permission to Omalu and his unlikely colleague, the former professional wrestler Christopher Nowinski, to examine her son’s brain for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Nowinski, a former Harvard football player who retired from wrestling because of repeated concussions in both sports, has become a prominent figure in the field after spearheading the discovery earlier this year of C.T.E. inside the brain of Andre Waters, the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back who committed suicide last November at age 44.

Tests for C.T.E., which cannot be performed on a living person other than through an intrusive tissue biopsy, confirmed the condition in Strzelczyk two weeks ago. Omalu and Nowinski visited Mary Strzelczyk’s home near Buffalo on Wednesday to discuss the family’s psychological history as well as any experiences Justin might have had with head trauma in and out of sports. Mary Strzelczyk did not recall her son’s having any concussions in high school, college or the N.F.L., and published Steelers injury reports indicated none as well.

Omalu remained confident that the damage was caused by concussions Strzelczyk might not have reported because — like many players of that era — he did not know what a concussion was or did not want to appear weak. Omalu also said that it could have developed from what he called “subconcussive impacts,” more routine blows to the head that linemen repeatedly endure.

“Could there be another cause? Not to my knowledge,” said Bailes, adding that Strzelczyk’s car crash could not have caused the C.T.E. tangles. Bailes also said that bipolar disorder, signs of which Strzelczyk appeared to be increasingly exhibiting in the months before his death, would not be caused, but perhaps could be exacerbated, by the encephalopathy.

Omalu and Bailes said Strzelczyk’s diagnosis is particularly notable because the condition manifested itself when he was in his mid-30s. The other players were 44 to 50 — several decades younger than what would be considered normal for their conditions — when they died: Long and Waters by suicide and Webster of a heart attack amid significant psychological problems.

Two months ago, Omalu examined the brain tissue of one other deceased player, the former Denver Broncos running back Damien Nash, who died in February at 24 after collapsing following a charity basketball game. (A Broncos spokesman said that the cause of death has yet to be identified.) Omalu said he was not surprised that Nash showed no evidence of C.T.E. because the condition could almost certainly not develop in someone that young. “This is a progressive disease,” he said.

Omalu and Nowinski said they were investigating several other cases of N.F.L. players who have recently died. They said some requests to examine players’ brain tissue have been either denied by families or made impossible because samples were destroyed.

Bailes, Nowinski and Omalu said that they were forming an organization, the Sports Legacy Institute, to help formalize the process of approaching families and conducting research. Nowinski said the nonprofit program, which will be housed at a university to be determined and will examine the overall safety of sports, would have an immediate emphasis on exploring brain trauma through cases like Strzelczyk’s. Published research has suggested that genetics can play a role in the effects of concussion on different people.

“We want to get a idea of risks of concussions and how widespread chronic traumatic encephalopathy is in former football players,” Nowinski said. “We are confident there are more cases out there in more sports.”

Mary Strzelczyk said she agreed to Omalu’s and Nowinski’s requests because she wanted to better understand the conditions under which her son died. Looking at the C.T.E. tangles on a computer screen on Wednesday, she said they would be “a piece of the puzzle” she is eager to complete for herself and perhaps others.

“I’m interested for me and for other mothers,” she said. “If some good can come of this, that’s it. Maybe some young football player out there will see this and be saved the trouble.”

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Hmm, good story. It's also cool to see that Christopher Nowinski is spearheading something like this.

 

[3C's]

http://www.o-ronline.net/weblog/football/

Back with the black (and) gold

After taking a month off - just from blogging - I'm back.

Just because I wasn't blogging doesn't mean I wasn't working. In that vein, here are my thoughts on what I saw at the Steelers' OTAs, which wrapped up this week:

© New head coach Mike Tomlin has shuffled a number of players in and out of the first-team offense and defense, something designed to do a couple of different things.

First, it helps serve notice that nobody is going to be given a job, even when we all know there are certain guys who will be. Casey Hampton will be a starter. Ben Roethlisberger will be a starter. Troy Polamalu will be a starter. You get the idea.

Secondly, Tomlin now has a better idea of the talent level of many of his backups, many of which he probably didn't have any film of since last year's training camp. Got to see if those guys have gotten any better.

© Willie Colon is one guy whom Tomlin singled out as somebody who's pushing for a starting job. Colon spent a lot of time running with the first team this spring, lining up at right tackle, right guard and even center.

The Steelers want Colon ready for the long-term with both right guard Kendall Simmons and right tackle Max Starks scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the upcoming season. Plus, if Colon actually beats one of those guys out now, it's a plus: one less offseason worry next year.

© This team worked on special teams like I've never before seen in 14 seasons of covering the Steelers. Large portions of practice were spent every day working on teams. I don't know if it will pay off in the long run, but it will be interesting to see.

© Tomlin has promised a tougher training camp than this team is used to, but that won't be hard to accomplish.

Despite the lip service Bill Cowher paid to tough, hard practices, his camps in recent years had become pretty easy.

Tomlin's camp schedule will feature two practices per day, just about every day. It will be interesting to see if the natives get restless.

© The undrafted rookie who has caught my eye the most in this camp is wide receiver Eric Fowler from Grand Valley State.

Fowler isn't particularly fast, but he has displayed fantastic hands and he seems to have a knack for using his 6-foot-3-inch frame to screen off defenders and make catches.

© This team won't miss Joey Porter nearly as much as many in the national media are predicting.

© The Alan Faneca situation has been the talk of the offseason, but I don't believe Faneca will be a problem once camp opens. He's too much of a professional to his contract to get in the way of his play and become a distractions.

© The biggest disappointment of the offseason workouts was first-round pick Lawrence Timmons.

Timmons injured his groin on the opening day of mini-camp and though he was in attendance at all of the team's offseason workouts, he did not participate.

I can't help but think that it will severely slow his learning curve. And I wasn't sold on Timmons as the pick to begin with. It's not a good start.

 

[3C's]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_513046.html

Steelers embrace evolution on defense

Mercifully, the Steelers finally have broken ranks and have five weeks or so to exhale before reuniting in Latrobe.

There's a lot to ponder between now and training camp at St. Vincent College.

The Steelers have become a much different team than the one that beat Cincinnati in overtime in Bill Cowher's final game on New Year's Eve, although not quite in the manner that initially was expected.

The defense, somewhat surprisingly, has remained committed to the 3-4, but radical alterations have nonetheless taken place under Mike Tomlin. It's not a switch to the 4-3 that has turned things upside down, but the adaptation of an apparent anything-goes approach on third down.

story continues below

And the offense, which seemed in line for a complete makeover upon new coordinator Bruce Arians' declaration that he's a "three-tight end guy," has been simplified rather than revolutionized.

The most intriguing development is what's happening on defense.

It seemed innocent enough when Brett Keisel spoke in late April during the first of two minicamps about the Steelers' intention to experiment with him as an Adalius Thomas-type rover.

But by the conclusion of the organized team activities last week, Keisel wasn't the only one jumping around on defense. Rian Wallace was doing it. So was rookie LaMarr Woodley. Even veteran defensive lineman Travis Kirschke was getting into the act, and rookie Lawrence Timmons appears destined to do it if he can ever get healthy enough to practice.

It used to be that the Steelers played either a 4-1-6 or a 4-2-5 defense on third downs, and that Troy Polamalu was the only one who had a little pre-snap fun.

Now, it's difficult to tell what the Steelers are doing and whom they're doing it with, which apparently is the whole idea.

"It really does give the offense hell," Keisel said. "We're playing a 2-3-6, a 3-2-6, a 1-5-5, all kinds of things.

"We've got a lot of things we're running around with right now. It's been really exciting watching them unfold, and watching (defensive coordinator ****) LeBeau's wizardry come through."

LeBeau apparently has advanced from master strategist to mad scientist, at least in obvious passing situations.

His wizardry includes Keisel covering receivers, such as Nate Washington, on occasion.

Call it the Baltimore factor.

"I think the whole league saw that," Keisel said of the Baltimore Ravens' ability to disguise, deceive and destroy on defense. "It's gonna be cool. I hope we run it a lot."

Those running the Steelers' offense suddenly have much less to digest.

"When you had five coordinators' offenses in the playbook, it can be like Chinese," Arians said. "It was hard for me to learn it when I came here. I'd see something and ask, 'Why would we call that?' Well, that's what we called when so-and-so was the offensive coordinator.

"Bill (Cowher) wasn't going to take some things out of that playbook that he liked. There were things in there we hadn't called in four years, but they were still in there."

They're gone now, the playbook having been thinned in a fashion that might make Kirstie Alley envious.

"Now, a younger player or a 'need' pickup off the waiver wire has a chance to learn your offense and play on Sunday," Arians said.

What'll they think of next?

 

[Sheriff66]

Steelers sign Hoke

I like this signing, Hoke is a nice backup, played well for Hampton when he was hurt...

 

[BigSteelThrill]

© This team worked on special teams like I've never before seen in 14 seasons of covering the Steelers. Large portions of practice were spent every day working on teams.

 

[Franknbeans]

http://www.o-ronline.net/weblog/football/

© The undrafted rookie who has caught my eye the most in this camp is wide receiver Eric Fowler from Grand Valley State. Fowler isn't particularly fast, but he has displayed fantastic hands and he seems to have a knack for using his 6-foot-3-inch frame to screen off defenders and make catches.

This is extremely good news if they finally have a guy who can make plays down at the goal-line.

 

[east2west]

Say it ain't so, Bill ... How dare Cowher talk to ClevelandSunday, June 24, 2007By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe story was bizarre, the reaction to it almost laughable. An Internet site reported last week that Bill Cowher has had secret talks with officials from the Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns to explore a possible return to coaching in 2008. You would have thought the world was ending, to listen to the talk shows and saloon conversations around here. How dare he? The nerve of the man. The Browns?Get over it, Pittsburgh.Cowher owes you nothing. He owes the Steelers nothing. What? You thought he wasn't going to coach again? You're naive and foolish. Darn right he's going to coach again, sooner rather than later.And why not Cleveland?In a lot of ways, Cleveland is the perfect fit.That isn't to say Cowher has talked to the Browns. It's hard to believe he or his agent has spoken to any of the teams. He's too big in the game to have to sneak around to find out what's going on. He should have too much respect for the coaches of those teams to do that. Maybe he hasn't been in the position of the Redskins' Joe Gibbs, 66, a Hall of Famer who probably will retire for good after the coming season. But he has been in the shoes of the Browns' Romeo Crennel and the Panthers' John Fox. He, too, was a coach under fire during the '98, '99 and '00 seasons when the Steelers failed to make the playoffs and he was fortunate the Rooneys picked him over player personnel man Tom Donahoe in their little power struggle. He wouldn't have appreciated another coach sniffing around for his job then, would he?When the time comes, almost certainly after this season, Cowher won't need long to find the right team. He figures to go to the highest bidder, the owner that's willing to pay him $8 million per year or more. Why not? This is America, right?Cowher still would be coaching the Steelers if the Rooneys had come up with the jack. Forget the party line that he wanted to spend more time with his family in North Carolina. He won a Super Bowl and was insulted the team didn't offer him more in a contract extension. That's his right. It's also the right of the Rooneys, who don't overpay for anyone.Neither side owes the other anything. Cowher gave the Steelers 15 great years. The team compensated him well. If anything, Cowher did the Rooneys a favor by not insisting on coming back as a lame-duck coach this season in the final year of his contract, which would have been a bad situation for everyone. He chose to walk away from about $4 million and sit out the season, not just setting himself up to become an in-demand free agent in January, but enabling the Steelers to get on to the Mike Tomlin era.And now you want to begrudge Cowher taking his next job?Wasn't it just a few years ago that so many of us thought he couldn't win the big game and would have loved for him to leave?Even for Cleveland?Any number of NFL teams could take a run at Cowher. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips after just one season to make a pitch for him. Patience is running thin with New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin. The same is true with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jon Gruden.But the Panthers, Redskins and Browns probably make the most sense.At least the Browns make sense.Carolina would be convenient for Cowher because of his new mansion in Raleigh, but Fox might not be going anywhere. His five seasons with the Panthers have gone like this: 7-9, Super Bowl, 7-9, NFC championship game, 8-8. Do you see a trend? Fox and the Panthers are on schedule to have a big year.Washington probably could pay Cowher the most, but does he really want to work for Dan Snyder? Talk about a culture shock after working for the ultra-supportive, ultra-patient Rooneys. Snyder has had five coaches since buying the Redskins in '99, Marty Schottenheimer among them for the '01 season. Do you think Schottenheimer might have a word or two of advice for his good pal, Cowher, about the job? You know, like, run the other way.Cleveland really might be the best fit for Cowher. He was a Brown long before he was a Steeler, playing for the Browns from '80-82 and coaching them from '85-88. Cleveland fans would love to see him as their coach. They aren't as fortunate as you to be living here. Certainly, they don't know what it's like to experience a championship team. It's not hard to imagine Cowher getting it done for them, doing with Brady Quinn there what he did with Ben Roethlisberger here.Terrifying?Get over it.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com. )

You guys see this nonsense? Personally, I could care less where Cowher goes. I'm only concerned about how our team does under Tomlin, but for this guy to be so stand-offish about it p's me off alot more than Bill going to Cleveland.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Say it ain't so, Bill ... How dare Cowher talk to ClevelandSunday, June 24, 2007By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteThe story was bizarre, the reaction to it almost laughable. An Internet site reported last week that Bill Cowher has had secret talks with officials from the Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns to explore a possible return to coaching in 2008. You would have thought the world was ending, to listen to the talk shows and saloon conversations around here. How dare he? The nerve of the man. The Browns?Get over it, Pittsburgh.Cowher owes you nothing. He owes the Steelers nothing. What? You thought he wasn't going to coach again? You're naive and foolish. Darn right he's going to coach again, sooner rather than later.And why not Cleveland?In a lot of ways, Cleveland is the perfect fit.That isn't to say Cowher has talked to the Browns. It's hard to believe he or his agent has spoken to any of the teams. He's too big in the game to have to sneak around to find out what's going on. He should have too much respect for the coaches of those teams to do that. Maybe he hasn't been in the position of the Redskins' Joe Gibbs, 66, a Hall of Famer who probably will retire for good after the coming season. But he has been in the shoes of the Browns' Romeo Crennel and the Panthers' John Fox. He, too, was a coach under fire during the '98, '99 and '00 seasons when the Steelers failed to make the playoffs and he was fortunate the Rooneys picked him over player personnel man Tom Donahoe in their little power struggle. He wouldn't have appreciated another coach sniffing around for his job then, would he?When the time comes, almost certainly after this season, Cowher won't need long to find the right team. He figures to go to the highest bidder, the owner that's willing to pay him $8 million per year or more. Why not? This is America, right?Cowher still would be coaching the Steelers if the Rooneys had come up with the jack. Forget the party line that he wanted to spend more time with his family in North Carolina. He won a Super Bowl and was insulted the team didn't offer him more in a contract extension. That's his right. It's also the right of the Rooneys, who don't overpay for anyone.Neither side owes the other anything. Cowher gave the Steelers 15 great years. The team compensated him well. If anything, Cowher did the Rooneys a favor by not insisting on coming back as a lame-duck coach this season in the final year of his contract, which would have been a bad situation for everyone. He chose to walk away from about $4 million and sit out the season, not just setting himself up to become an in-demand free agent in January, but enabling the Steelers to get on to the Mike Tomlin era.And now you want to begrudge Cowher taking his next job?Wasn't it just a few years ago that so many of us thought he couldn't win the big game and would have loved for him to leave?Even for Cleveland?Any number of NFL teams could take a run at Cowher. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips after just one season to make a pitch for him. Patience is running thin with New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin. The same is true with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jon Gruden.But the Panthers, Redskins and Browns probably make the most sense.At least the Browns make sense.Carolina would be convenient for Cowher because of his new mansion in Raleigh, but Fox might not be going anywhere. His five seasons with the Panthers have gone like this: 7-9, Super Bowl, 7-9, NFC championship game, 8-8. Do you see a trend? Fox and the Panthers are on schedule to have a big year.Washington probably could pay Cowher the most, but does he really want to work for Dan Snyder? Talk about a culture shock after working for the ultra-supportive, ultra-patient Rooneys. Snyder has had five coaches since buying the Redskins in '99, Marty Schottenheimer among them for the '01 season. Do you think Schottenheimer might have a word or two of advice for his good pal, Cowher, about the job? You know, like, run the other way.Cleveland really might be the best fit for Cowher. He was a Brown long before he was a Steeler, playing for the Browns from '80-82 and coaching them from '85-88. Cleveland fans would love to see him as their coach. They aren't as fortunate as you to be living here. Certainly, they don't know what it's like to experience a championship team. It's not hard to imagine Cowher getting it done for them, doing with Brady Quinn there what he did with Ben Roethlisberger here.Terrifying?Get over it.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com. )

You guys see this nonsense? Personally, I could care less where Cowher goes. I'm only concerned about how our team does under Tomlin, but for this guy to be so stand-offish about it p's me off alot more than Bill going to Cleveland.

Of all the racist and unknowledgeable sports writers in Pittsburgh, I have always thought Ron Cook was the dumbest and most bigoted. #### that guy.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Ron Cook has been working furiously for the past two years to unseat Madden as the biggest Tool in Pgh.