Voluntary OTAs are typically more similar to a walkthrough as coaches install concepts in the early phases of the team building process, but Mike McCarthy has things running a little differently in Pittsburgh this year. Multiple reporters have already noticed a palpable change in the practice atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been quite intense for an OTA in my book,\u201d Mark Kaboly said Monday via 93.7 The Fan\u2019s Morning Show<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Fan\u2019s Steelers reporter Jeff Hathhorn agrees.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been interesting to watch these guys go through drills and it\u2019s been very regimented,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very orderly and timely and regimented so far.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of that may have to do with the newness of it all. After two decades of doing things Mike Tomlin\u2019s way, there was a level of comfort that came with the routine. Players knew how each day and week was going to function. Not that Tomlin\u2019s routine was worse, but it was familiar. That can lead to complacency.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that McCarthy\u2019s coaching staff is larger than Tomlin\u2019s. Not including the strength and conditioning staff, there are 22 total coaches in Pittsburgh, up from 19 with Tomlin. There\u2019s an assistant head coach, a senior offensive assistant, and even a chief of staff in Steve Scarnecchia<\/a>. Part of Scarnecchia\u2019s job is logistics and scheduling, so perhaps he had a hand in making practice as regimented as it currently is.<\/p>\n Is McCarthy setting an early precedent and putting his best foot forward with the team early? Mike Tomlin famously did that to prove himself in 2007 with one of the most grueling training camps the players had ever been through. Will McCarthy\u2019s new model for practice carry over into training camp and the regular season?<\/p>\n \u201cMcCarthy doesn\u2019t need to prove that. He has that resume,\u201d Kaboly said. \u201cI\u2019ve been really impressed with how he\u2019s run these practices. I\u2019m just curious to see how the training camp goes now\u2026You can\u2019t really do that throughout the whole season or training camp I don\u2019t think.\u201d<\/p>\n