Training Camp 2019 news and discussion.

[Dcash4]

9 hours ago, bigben07MVP said:

Any podcast you recommend?

Not Steelers only stuff, but I’m a big Ringer fan. The NFL show from them and Duel threat with Russillo too (Ryen is my favorite sports talk guy) . Both good football shows. Been enjoying the Mina Kimes shows too. And then the Bill Simmons show for lines with cousin sal on Sunday nights/Monday mornings through the season. 

But I would like Steelers only recommendations as well too. I like their website as a gathering of information, but I can’t stand listening to the Steelers Depot podcast. Never found anything else worth while. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Dcash4

[3rivers]

13 hours ago, Chieferific said:

Ola was the star of Backs on Backers. It was noted that his strength is much improved. Also, Chick was mentioned. Apparently he had bone spurs removed from his ankle (the size of shrimp) and it is believed that this has been the reason he had no bend. Good to here about Ola and I guess we'll see about Chick. 

where did you read this? How has Dupree progressed? 

[3rivers]

12 hours ago, bigben07MVP said:

Diontae Johnson had a great practice today.

bad pass and still a TD. Maybe Burns will keep his place if Allen can't play better

[3rivers]

10 hours ago, wwhickok said:

I listen to several podcasts on google podcasts. They all have said similar things, his accuracy is an issue. They've admitted Rudolph isnt wowing anyone but Dobbs is currently 'losing ground' on the #2 spot. Let's take that with a grain of salt though cuz it's only 3 days into camp 

what are the podcasts saying about the OLB's? Maybe add CB's to that if you want...

[Chieferific]

19 minutes ago, 3rivers said:

where did you read this? How has Dupree progressed? 

Steelers homepage has a video for Backs on Backers. No mention of Dupree.  

[jebrick]

I do not think the Starters did much on the backs and backers.  I read that the 1st day in pads, Tomlin takes it easy on the vets/starters as the rookies/new players tend to over do it.

[Chieferific]

49 minutes ago, jebrick said:

I do not think the Starters did much on the backs and backers.  I read that the 1st day in pads, Tomlin takes it easy on the vets/starters as the rookies/new players tend to over do it.

I don't know how much the Starters did but they did do the drill with those 2 (among others) being mentioned. Ola getting a lot of praise and Chick showing more bend lending to the "bone spur theory". 

https://www.steelers.com/video/practice-report-backs-on-backers

Edited July 29, 2019 by Chieferific

[jebrick]

Quote

 

Backers on ‘Backers

1. Mike Tomlin wanted to see the rookie. Called him out by name. Benny Snell steps in and wins the rep, sealing Tyler Matakevich upfield.

2. Matakevich with a little payback as the coaches want to see it again, swimming over Snell.

3. Nice job by Xavier Grimble to stick and stay engaged with Anthony Chickillo.

4. Chickillo gets revenge, swimming over and past Grimble.

5. First rep for Devin Bush goes in the “L” column. Can’t corner and Jaylen Samuels seals him.

6. Bush opts for power this time but his bull rush against Samuels stalls out and the back is able to rebuff him.

7. Being 6’9 sucks in this drill. LB Robert Spillane forklifts the mountain of a man Christian Scotland-Williamson is, blowing the TE back.

8. Spillane wins again, pushing past CSW.

9. Nice job by Trey Edmunds to sit and anchor against Bud Dupree’s bull rush.

10. Ditto the next rep. Edmunds goes 2/2 against the Steelers’ starting ROLB. Want to see more power from Dupree (heard that one before, I know).

11. Kevin Rader, like your prom date, is a little handsy but ends up knocking JT Jones into the ground.

12. Same deal. Rader and Jones basically wrestle to the ground, Rader pulls the right shoulder pad of Jones out of his jersey.

13. Ralph Webb slips and falls trying to seal rookie LB Ulysees Gilbert III up the arc.

14. Webb does better here, successfully sealing Gilbert, before the rookie backer spins back late in the rep. Win for Webb though.

15. Tuzar Skipper converting speed to power against Zach Gentry. Gentry tries to re-anchor but his inside shoulder is softened up and Skipper is able to gain the edge inside. Before they go again, TEs coach James Daniel had a brief conversation with the rookie TE to go over a coaching point.

16. It didn’t help. Not on this rep. Skipper bulldozers his way through Gentry. An angry clap from Gentry after the rep. Tough start but that’s expected. Tall, young, raw tight end? Going to struggle in this environment.

17. One of the best reps of this drill. ILB Tegray Scales forklifts and puts Malik Williams on his butt. “Nice” Tomlin called out to Scales.

18. Williams – just barely – seals Scales upfield as the linebacker opts for a more finesses move here.

19. Late in the rep but Chickillo sheds Trevor Wood.

20. Ola Adeniyi steps in. Dips right past Jaylen Samuels. Easy win.

21. Decent job by UDFA rookie Travon McMillan to anchor vs Adeniyi’s bull rush. Adeniyi tried to fake the dip then counter with power.

22. McMillan vs Adeniyi again. OLB dips past and all McMillan can do is hold and drag him down. Win for the defense.

23. Sutton Smith rushes through an arguably gassed McMillan, his third straight rep.

24. Chickillo beat Scotland-Williamson, ripping him to the inside and getting past.

25. Chickillo outside-inside counter to get past Grimble.

26. “Benny Snell,” Tomlin again calls out for the rookie back to get in line. Matakevich is able to win the edge on him.

27. Snell gets the W this time around, staying square and anchoring to beat Dirty Red here.

28. Sutton Smith can’t rip through a (probably holding) Kevin Rader.

29. Adeniyi makes quick work of Trey Edmunds with a swim move.

30. Ditto with Samuels, Adeniyi ripping through and past.

31. Devin Bush with a good pop and leverage into Zach Gentry on this bull rush but the tight end is able to hang on.

32. Nice little out/in rush by Bush to beat Gentry.

33. Edmunds wins this rep on Gilbert III.

34. Gilbert’s attempted outside spin fails vs Edmunds and the back shoves him upfield.

35. Spillane beats Scotland-Williamson, who dropped his eye level on contact and lost the block.

36. Those two go again. Nice club by Spillane to win again vs CSW.

37. Skipper with serious power, jolting Webb backwards to win the rep.

38. Skipper wins again on Webb.

39. Wood seals Smith upfield.

40. Smith more direct this time, a quick swipe to dust Wood and win the rep.

41. JT Jones bends and wins the edge on RB Malik Williams.

42. Great rep again by Jones, a heavy bull rush that bowls Williams over.

43. Last couple reps. Tomlin wants to see Snell and Adeniyi go at it the next three reps. First time through, a good battle, Adeniyi showing power and Snell hanging in there. Call it a draw.

44. Adeniyi wins this time, ripping past.

45. Adeniyi tries to counter inside but Snell matches him. Great battles between those two.

 

 

[jebrick]

Quote

 

OL/DL

1. Alejandro Villanueva vs Bud Dupree to kick things off. Villanueva seals Dupree upfield.

2. Cam Heyward slips working on Ramon Foster, falling at Foster’s feet.

3. BJ Finney with a positive rep after struggling in drills like these in the past, anchoring and winning on Javon Hargrave.

4. Good leverage by Tyson Alualu. Call it a draw against David DeCastro.

5. Initial outside rush by Chickillo on Matt Feiler with a quick jab inside. Feiler is able to slide laterally and mirror him, using his length and size to get in the way and win.

6. Nice swipe and win by Dupree to beat Villanueva.

7. Bull rush by Heyward gets into Foster’s chest. Win for the defense.

8. Hargrave flashes his quick first step to beat Finney off the snap but Finney is able to steer him upfield. Positive moments for both of them here.

9. DeCastro seals Alualu.

10. Feiler nice job running Chickillo up the arc.

11. Swipe by Adeniyi and he beats Jerald Hawkins to the outside.

12. Nice swim move by rookie Isaiah Buggs, working over UDFA Damian Prince.

13. Poor Patrick Morris. Feel bad for him. Has to face Dan McCullers like last year. And McCullers is all gas, no breaks, snowballing momentum on his bull rush and sending Morris sprawling into the turf. Morris. Looked. Pissed.

14. Good rep for rookie guard Fred Johnson against Casey Sayles. Did end up hooking Sayles’ arm late and pulled back to try and avoid holding him. But a win for the rook.

15. Chukwuma Okorafor anchors versus Chickillo’s bull rush.

16. Good revenge for Hawkins. Knocks Adeniyi’s hands down and the OLB falls to the ground.

17. Buggs bull rushes JC Hassenauer backwards.

18. McCullers again plowing through poor Morris. At least Morris was able to keep his feet this time.

19. Hassenauer grabbing and pulling at Vince Williams’ jersey all throughout this rep.

20. Williams beats Hassenauer this time. Fakes an inside rush, spins away, and whoops him.

21. Good base and technique by Fred Johnson to beat Sayles again.

22. Okorafor slides and mirrors JT Jones’ attempted spin move.

23. Adeniyi clubs past Hawkins.

24. Winston Craig rips through Hassenauer and wins.

25. Greg Gilmore’s rip move fails on Morris. Late spin move as Morris gave up the inside and he’s able to win that way.

26. Good punch on Lavon Hooks by Johnson. Able to stun him and win the rep.

27. Jones bends the corner to beat Okorafor. Pretty sure Okorafor yelled out a four letter word that starts with “F” after losing this one.

28. Good punch by Craig to beat Prince inside.

29. Garrett Brumfield holding onto Conor Sheehy’s jersey for this rep.

30. Good first step and burst by Buggs to beat Hassenauer.

31. Vince Williams on Derwin Gray. Whew boy. Gray got the best of him. Hard punch that sent Williams off his feet and into the ground.

32. Williams goes at him again, getting into his pads with a bull rush but Gray is able to anchor.

33. Zach Banner anchors on Henry Mondeaux.

34. Last one for the heavyweight belt. Banner vs McCullers. That’s (listed) 712 combined pounds. Banner wins this one, holding onto McCullers bull rush.

 

 

[August4th]

 

[Chieferific]

Thanks for that @jebrick! Some good stuff in there. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Chieferific

[jebrick]

I do want to see what Gray can do in a game.  I have heard from others he is a sleeper to make the team.

[VigilantZombie]

14 hours ago, bigben07MVP said:

Any podcast you recommend?

Yes a few actually.

The Terrible Podcast w/ Dave Bryan & Alex Kazora - Alex actually attends TC and other events and they both try to stay on top of the news. They are a blunt, but opinionated and realistic duo. This podcast is also directly associated with the Steelers Depot site.

 

Behind the Steel Curtain - Jeff Hartman, Lance William's, and others - these guys pump out podcasts like crazy of all types, they also do their shows live on YouTube with a live chat (idk the schedule for that tbh). Their website (same as podcast name) is also very active

 

Steel City Underground - Of the 3 this one is a little more 'space cadet- With Brian E Roach (and I forget the main guys name). They put together a good show, could be a bit more prepared but they keep it pretty casual and light hearted for the most part.

 

I listen to all 3 on google podcast, which is 100% free.

[VigilantZombie]

Regardless of what we all wanted, Artie Burns will be on the 53 man roster. He got his signing bonus. Also, rumor is he is the next man up behind Haden.

[Chieferific]

1 hour ago, jebrick said:

I do want to see what Gray can do in a game.  I have heard from others he is a sleeper to make the team.

I've heard nothing but good things about him. I can't remember who (you, @warfelg or @Armsteeld2 ) was talking him up after signing him. It's early but he looks the part.