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Sunday Practice Report: Batch steals the show in popular backs-on-backers drill
Sun, Jul 31st, 2011
By Dale Grdnic
LATROBE, Pa. -- After two days running around in shorts and T-shirts, the Pittsburgh Steelers eagerly anticipated the initial training-camp practice in full gear Sunday afternoon at Saint Vincent College, and Coach Mike Tomlin opened with a fireworks display.
The popular backs-on-backers drill where linebackers rush a "quarterback'' in a one-on-one opportunity against a running back or tight end was the first session. The pass-rushers appear to have an edge in this drill, because the back has to determine which among two options is rushing and then stop them despite the backer basically getting a running start.
Rookie Baron Batch, the club's seventh-round pick this year, stole the show. The rookie running back lost his first match badly to James Farrior, as he whiffed after stepping up to stop the 15-year veteran. Batch's second attempt was a complete turnaround, as he stuffed fellow rookie Mario Harvey.
Then came a series of attempts against second-year outside linebacker Jason Worilds, who decided to bull-rush him instead of using his incredible athleticism. Batch jammed Worilds for no advancement on the opener and was even more impenetrable on the second try.
Batch also got a shot against James Harrison, among the premier pass-rushers in the NFL, and held his own despite a power move by Debo. Batch then had an easy stuff against Harvey, but Worilds got around him on his final attempt.
"I'm the type of guy, I don't have too many emotional highs or too many emotional lows,'' Batch said. "I just do my job and do it the best that I can.''
He did it better than most and got a post-practice hug from Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Tomlin, however, stopped way short of praising him, noting that "he's a rookie.'' Tomlin then provided further comment.
"Some licks were passed,'' Tomlin said. "In some instances, we were high technically. In some instances, we weren't violent enough, (so) some Day One-type things.''
At one point during the session, Tomlin told some young players that they might as well have done the drill Saturday. That was a non-contact practice.
Here are the remaining backs-on-backers attempts:
Rashard Mendenhall was destroyed by Lawrence Timmons.
Mendenhall did a little better against rookie Chris Carter.
Isaac Redman did decent job until he fell down against Harrison.
Jonathan Dwyer with a weak effort against LaMarr Woodley.
Dwyer was much better against Chris McCoy and pushed him aside.
Dwyer was buried by Baraka Atkins on his next attempt.
[url="http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story/sunday-practice-report-batch-steals-the-show-in-popular-backs-on-backers-drill/41030/"]http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story ... ill/41030/[/url]
Sun, Jul 31st, 2011
By Dale Grdnic
LATROBE, Pa. -- After two days running around in shorts and T-shirts, the Pittsburgh Steelers eagerly anticipated the initial training-camp practice in full gear Sunday afternoon at Saint Vincent College, and Coach Mike Tomlin opened with a fireworks display.
The popular backs-on-backers drill where linebackers rush a "quarterback'' in a one-on-one opportunity against a running back or tight end was the first session. The pass-rushers appear to have an edge in this drill, because the back has to determine which among two options is rushing and then stop them despite the backer basically getting a running start.
Rookie Baron Batch, the club's seventh-round pick this year, stole the show. The rookie running back lost his first match badly to James Farrior, as he whiffed after stepping up to stop the 15-year veteran. Batch's second attempt was a complete turnaround, as he stuffed fellow rookie Mario Harvey.
Then came a series of attempts against second-year outside linebacker Jason Worilds, who decided to bull-rush him instead of using his incredible athleticism. Batch jammed Worilds for no advancement on the opener and was even more impenetrable on the second try.
Batch also got a shot against James Harrison, among the premier pass-rushers in the NFL, and held his own despite a power move by Debo. Batch then had an easy stuff against Harvey, but Worilds got around him on his final attempt.
"I'm the type of guy, I don't have too many emotional highs or too many emotional lows,'' Batch said. "I just do my job and do it the best that I can.''
He did it better than most and got a post-practice hug from Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Tomlin, however, stopped way short of praising him, noting that "he's a rookie.'' Tomlin then provided further comment.
"Some licks were passed,'' Tomlin said. "In some instances, we were high technically. In some instances, we weren't violent enough, (so) some Day One-type things.''
At one point during the session, Tomlin told some young players that they might as well have done the drill Saturday. That was a non-contact practice.
Here are the remaining backs-on-backers attempts:
Rashard Mendenhall was destroyed by Lawrence Timmons.
Mendenhall did a little better against rookie Chris Carter.
Isaac Redman did decent job until he fell down against Harrison.
Jonathan Dwyer with a weak effort against LaMarr Woodley.
Dwyer was much better against Chris McCoy and pushed him aside.
Dwyer was buried by Baraka Atkins on his next attempt.
[url="http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story/sunday-practice-report-batch-steals-the-show-in-popular-backs-on-backers-drill/41030/"]http://insidepittsburghsports.com/story ... ill/41030/[/url]
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