Coach Mike Tomlin on 'really good acclimation period' (July 27)

Coach Mike Tomlin on ‘really good acclimation period’ (July 27) | Pittsburgh Steelers

Man, another really good day of work. Uh, just beat the weather. Um, but just like the general, um, approach to work with the group. It’s been a really good acclamation period for us. An opportunity to talk about some cultural things that we value. Um, to really set the stage for how we work. Uh, so when we get in past next week, man, we can just get hyperfocused on the ball and the technique required to be effective under those circumstances. Uh, the groups has displayed really good conditioning largely. Uh but we’ve have have had some injuries associated with the start of camp. I think a wide receiver Montana wasn’t able to finish today with a soft tissue injury, lower body. Uh Brderick uh Jones, same thing. Um I imagine that those can be characterized as dayto-day. Uh DJ Thomas Jones at tight end looked like he had a more significant injury. That’s being evaluated. Next time we come together, I have some more information in in that regard for you. Some of the guys we’re managing, limiting their reps. Um sometimes it’s in an effort to take care of them. Sometimes it’s an effort to provide additional reps for others, for developing players. Um, there’s really no secret to getting better. It’s about coming in shape, having the ability to absorb additional reps, and then us, uh, utilizing those opportunities, uh, for improvement. And so, um, excited about the work we’ve done thus far. The guys got an off day tomorrow. Uh, we’ll rally as a staff, do some preparation for next week, these next block of days, and continue on with the team development process. Questions? Is Dylan Cook um is he kind of the leader in the clubhouse for that swing tackle role then with him going in there? We’re just acclimating. Um certainly he’s a veteran guy that’s been around and has served in that capacity before, but you know, I’m not assuming anything at this juncture um at this early stage of development regarding specific roles and specialization. Uh batting down passes might be a little bit of an art. Did Did 78 show that at Iowa or has he picked that up since he’s been here? He he did. Um, but you know, it’s something that we really value culturally. Um, obviously I think Cam probably led all the interior defensive linemen in the league last year. U Benton was also very high. Um, we work at it. He has an aptitude for it and hopefully it continues and even more so. When you talked about coverage guys, you know, not labeling them, do you include linebacker like a queen in that? And and if Peyton Wilson continues to show that, is that is that more of those coverage type guys that need to be in the field? The reality is in today’s game, man, so much of the matchup component is about uh guys ability to cover. People put dangerous people inside and underneath. And so athletic linebackers are an asset. And certainly Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson, man, are very capable from a linebacker perspective. And so, yes, I would include them as as significant components of the coverage unit. Mike Eckles had an interception today. Can you speak to the energy that he’s brought and what your impressions are of him early? I like I like Eckles a lot. Um, man, he’s a hardworking guy. He’s a professional. Certainly, we’ve competed against him in the past, not only as a defender, but as a core teamer. Um, that’s a veteran guy, man, that brings that energy every day. And so, um, he’s made some plays and, uh, it’s reasonable to expect that to continue. Another veteran guy on the other side, Scotty Miller. What does he add to this wide receiver room? Versatility. Um, he knows all the spots. He’s highly conditioned. He’s very competitive. Um, he’s a been there, done that guy. And so there’s a lot of value in his presence. Mike, you have a lot of moving pieces on both sides of the ball, different alignments that both sides are trying. Are you as coaches collaborating to match certain things up or is it just each side is going with certain things that they’re working on at different times? You know, it’s it’s both. Um there’s certain certainly collaboration because it’s just a major component of team development. We got to be cooperative workers in terms of our installs and what people are ready for. If we don’t, we waste snaps and waste days. But it’s not exclusive in terms of our planning. There’s certainly some independent component from a unit perspective regarding install and what we’re doing. Can you sense your players anticipating getting the pads on and getting ready for that next step? There’s no doubt, man. They’re like raceh horses. Um that’s just the next step in this thing. Um and they’re ready. Do you have a most anticipated uh matchup whether it’s in those backs on backers or O line D line one-on- ones? You know, I like I like Kenny G uh versus Peyton Wilson in in routes. Um, you know, Kenny G has shown a really good aptitude from a route running standpoint out of the backfield. Pton Wilson in his second year is a guy that that’s working to be dominant in that area. Uh, it’s just one of those matchups that has my attention. And coach, uh, reference to your running backs, of course, we know what Warren can do in addition to the rookie Johnson, but what about a Kenneth Gangwell and even a Trey Surman? You know, Kenny is is experienced and versatile. Um, that’s why we acquired him, not only as a runner, but also as a kick returner in the special teams game. Um, I know less about Trey, certainly. I know his college resume. Um, he’s a highly conditioned and ready guy. Um, he’s a professional in terms of his approach to business, so I’m excited about seeing what he brings next week as well. Coach, we were able to talk to uh Chuck Clark today for the first time. Just what does he add to this group? And also, I mean, he got off the plane and went straight to practice on Thursday. Does that impress you at all? Been really impressive with his ability to digest schematics in a short period of time and execute defense, but I’m not completely surprised by it because we’ve competed against him over the years and I just know he has a reputation of a really solid professional. I think he’s displayed that the short period of time he’s been here. Mike, can you learn much about Derek Harmon from these four days or do you really need to get the pads on to to have any kind of sense of where he is coming into his rookie year? The big man game is played in pads and I’m I’m looking forward to seeing him and others under those circumstances. Not to discount what he’s done, but that’s such a major component of his job description. Mike Caleb Caleb has talked about improving on his receiving ability in past pro since the since he was drafted into rookie mini camp. How how have you seen him kind of embrace that challenge and try to improve on those areas? Man, he’s a willing worker, but you know, he needs to improve in all areas. Um, all young people do. um we’ve yet to play in pads and obviously regarding his position that’s a major component and so um it’s an incomplete body of work but it’s an incomplete body of work for all of us at this juncture and so next week is big in terms of some of those things blitz pickup is something that’s really evaluated in pad certainly he’s been working to develop and hone his technique um but but the physicality component of something is something that that’s very difficult to simulate

Coach Mike Tomlin speaks to the media following training camp practice on Sunday, July 27

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