Camp opens today
Focus on quarterback situation With good reason, all eyes will be glued to the quarterbacks when the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp Friday at Latrobe’s Saint Vincent College.
Ben Roethlisberger’s minimum four-game suspension put his teammates and coaches in a unique situation of having to prepare two quarterbacks – Roethlisberger and his temporary replacement – for one season in one training camp.
Coach Mike Tomlin admitted that these are unchartered waters. “We’re kind of making it up as we go along,” Tomlin said.
But there are many other issues worth monitoring, as the Steelers prepare to descend on the small Benedictine college for the 45th consecutive July.
It’s been such a horrendous offseason for the Steelers that they can’t wait to get to St. Vincent and put the offseason in the rearview mirror and get on with the business of winning football games.
At the very beginning of the offseason, Steelers president Art Rooney II confirmed a conversation with Tomlin in which he and the coach agreed that the Steelers running game should come back to the forefront of the team’s modus operandi.
We’re about to find out whether the team simply chose not to run the ball as much or whether they were unable to move it sufficiently with the personnel they had. Here’s hoping they had the right personnel because they didn’t accomplish much of an upgrade. In fact, the loss of right tackle Willie Colon – acknowledged by the coaches as the team’s best lineman – for the season should make a weakness even weaker.
But that’s what training camp is all about. We’ll find out over the next few months whether the running game is rejuvenated or spinning its wheels.
Speaking of Colon, the battle at his right tackle spot should be intriguing and may last throughout camp. The primary combatants are free agent addition Jonathan Scott, holdover Trai Essex, second-year man Ramon Foster and third-year pro Tony Hills.
The new starting right tackle might be lining up next to first-round draft pick Maurkice Pouncey, who is the odds-on favorite to start at right guard coming out of his first professional training camp.
Of course, the progress on the right side of the offensive line may go a long way toward re-establishing Pittsburgh’s once-feared running game. Rashard Mendenhall managed a 1,100-yard season without the benefit of an excessive workload. The most intriguing newcomer among the runners is Jonathan Dwyer, but don’t forget about Frank Summers or last year’s camp phenom Isaac Redman.
Unsure that Mike Wallace can make the quantum leap from No. 3 to No. 1 at wide receiver, the Steelers brought back Antwaan Randle El and added Arnaz Battle. There will be enough battles among the receivers to last a few training camps.
Defensively, the Steelers hope to re-establish themselves as dominant unit. Injuries derailed last season, but this unit is another year older and can’t afford to look older. In particular, it will be interesting to see whether Larry Foote returns to replace Lawrence Timmons at one inside linebacker spot or to replace team captain James Farrior as a starter. Farrior is 35 and isn’t getting any faster. Foote is 30 and wasn’t brought back to ride the bench.
Up front, Ziggy Hood played well as a rookie last year, but for him to fully blossom, he must be on the field. That means he’ll have to beat out either Aaron Smith or Brett Keisel or move inside and battle Casey Hampton.
The secondary welcomes back cornerback Bryant McFadden, who beat out the guy who replaced him last year, new nickel back William Gay. McFadden really solidifies what could be one of the best secondaries in football, joining Ike Taylor at cornerback and safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu.
And then there are the special teams. The Steelers jettisoned coach Bob Ligashesky, and then bolstered their roster with the kind of players the special teams need to thrive. The Steelers were adequate in most return units, but flat out awful in all coverage units.
The Steelers used three draft picks on linebackers Jason Worilds, Thaddeus Gibson and Stevenson Sylvester and none of them is expected to crack the starting lineup this year. It’s no coincidence that all three have the tools to excel in special teams coverage. It will be interesting to see whether new coach Al Everest can bring out the best in these guys.
Tomlin underwent the first staff shake-up this offseason, as well. He allowed offensive coordinator Bruce Arians to survive, but parted ways with Ligashesky and line coach Larry Zierlein. Quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson retired and long-time defensive assistant Lou Spanos was hired to coach linebackers for the Washington Redskins. Tomlin moved receivers coach Randy Fichtner to quarterbacks coach and hired Scottie Montgomery as receivers coach. Sean Kugler replaces Zierlein. Former player Jerry Olsavsky was hired as defensive assistant, replacing Spanos.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com.