Steelers to Look at Injury Issues

[phillyesq]

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Team-to-investigate-rash-of-injuries/7a52fef7-d231-4726-99f1-624c12207ae0[/URL]

Would be great to see a renewed focus on training for a lot of those guys, especially Woodley and Gilbert.

[lloydroid]

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Team-to-investigate-rash-of-injuries/7a52fef7-d231-4726-99f1-624c12207ae0[/URL]

Would be great to see a renewed focus on training for a lot of those guys, especially Woodley and Gilbert.

It's kind of pathetic that they are JUST NOW looking into this. All you have to do is LOOK at Woodley and Colon to conclude that they are out of shape, fat, sloppy and likely to get hurt due to their conditions. But Art 2 is JUST NOW considering players condition and the impact that has on injuries? I would also like to know how much power rack lifting they are doing during the season. They should be cutting that way back or eliminating it. Do they?

[steelz09]

It's kind of pathetic that they are JUST NOW looking into this. All you have to do is LOOK at Woodley and Colon to conclude that they are out of shape, fat, sloppy and likely to get hurt due to their conditions. But Art 2 is JUST NOW considering players condition and the impact that has on injuries? I would also like to know how much power rack lifting they are doing during the season. They should be cutting that way back or eliminating it. Do they?

Here's a better question.... Why in the hell does it take ownership to get involved in this? This again is a discipline issue just like the others (listed below). This is on the coaching.

Ben calling out his OC
Mendenhall not showing up for the game
Wallace
Fumbling Issues
Penalty Issues

[lloydroid]

Here's a better question.... Why in the hell does it take ownership to get involved in this? This again is a DISPLINE issue just like the others (listed below). This is on the coaching.

Ben calling out his OC
Mendenhall not showing up for the game
Wallace
Fumbling Issues
Penalty Issues

Good point. But, as ownership, if you see any problems, you have to address them, but not necessarily in any public way. This is another disturbing example of Tomlin having problems with team discipline, and it could be one of the biggest problems this team has. Can he wake up and fix this? Art 2 is having to get involved because Mikey is screwing this up. Not only are his players showing up fat, but so did he. So they all fit in together.

[steelz09]

Good point. But, as ownership, if you see any problems, you have to address them, but not necessarily in any public way. This is another disturbing example of Tomlin having problems with team discipline, and it could be one of the biggest problems this team has. Can he wake up and fix this? Art 2 is having to get involved because Mikey is screwing this up. Not only are his players showing up fat, but so did he. So they all fit in together.

I was going to mention Tomlin's weight but I left that one out.... I knew someone else would cover that.

This is the most interesting comment by Art II:

"The other thing we have to do is make our players aware that under the rules that we’re all operating under now, it’s more on them to make sure they’re performing the offseason conditioning, because we only have access to them for nine weeks. It is incumbent on the individual players to be aware of that, and I think they are.”

^^ I surely hope the coaching staff is informing players of this. I would also hope that the coaching staff, players, nutrionists, and strength and conditioning personnel map out goals for each player.

[supersteeler]

Maybe the Steelers ( Players ) should consider Tom Shaw, I think thats his name. I read an article about him and he describes types of injuries and how to be better conditioned to avoid them.

He trains Ike taylor and other NFL stars. From what I'm hearing he offered his assistance in this matter so maybe the players will take him up on that. Ike was durable for many years and games, this is his first yr. I can remember being out on account of injury.
Some injuries you can't avoid but a better conditioned player who trains in the off season is less likely to have them.

Its really uncommon to have that many injuries on one part of the team( O-line) for 3 years in a row now, something is wrong.

[lloydroid]

I was going to mention Tomlin's weight but I left that one out.... I knew someone else would cover that.

This is the most interesting comment by Art II:

"The other thing we have to do is make our players aware that under the rules that we’re all operating under now, it’s more on them to make sure they’re performing the offseason conditioning, because we only have access to them for nine weeks. It is incumbent on the individual players to be aware of that, and I think they are.”

^^ I surely hope the coaching staff is informing players of this. I would also hope that the coaching staff, players, nutrionists, and strength and conditioning personnel map out goals for each player.

I don't know what the new CBA includes or allows, but if possible, they should employ the strategy where players get fined for every day they are not at their ideal playing weight. Obviously, they did not bother to do this with players like Woodley and Colon. I don't think Tomlin can handle administering this kind of discipline. He wants to be their best friend instead of a head coach. Tom Coughlin constantly gets on his players if they are not at their proper weight. It seems like the Steelers don't even mention it.

[lloydroid]

Maybe the Steelers ( Players ) should consider Tom Shaw, I think thats his name. I read an article about him and he describes types of injuries and how to be better conditioned to avoid them.

He trains Ike taylor and other NFL stars. From what I'm hearing he offered his assistance in this matter so maybe the players will take him up on that. Ike was durable for many years and games, this is his first yr. I can remember being out on account of injury.
Some injuries you can't avoid but a better conditioned player who trains in the off season is less likely to have them.

Its really uncommon to have that many injuries on one part of the team( O-line) for 3 years in a row now, something is wrong.

What is their work out regiment? Anyone know? Are the doing heavy squats and dead lifts, etc. during the season? If they are, that's one thing to change right there. With all the stress on the knees, legs and ankles just from practicing and playing, they shouldn't be hitting the power rack during the season. Are they?

[Slapstick]

I don't know what the new CBA includes or allows, but if possible, they should employ the strategy where players get fined for every day they are not at their ideal playing weight. Obviously, they did not bother to do this with players like Woodley and Colon. I don't think Tomlin can handle administering this kind of discipline. He wants to be their best friend instead of a head coach. Tom Coughlin constantly gets on his players if they are not at their proper weight. It seems like the Steelers don't even mention it.

Yeah! Casey and Tomlin were best buddies when Casey was on the PUP list for being fat...

[phillyesq]

Maybe the Steelers ( Players ) should consider Tom Shaw, I think thats his name. I read an article about him and he describes types of injuries and how to be better conditioned to avoid them.

He trains Ike taylor and other NFL stars. From what I'm hearing he offered his assistance in this matter so maybe the players will take him up on that. Ike was durable for many years and games, this is his first yr. I can remember being out on account of injury.
Some injuries you can't avoid but a better conditioned player who trains in the off season is less likely to have them.

Its really uncommon to have that many injuries on one part of the team( O-line) for 3 years in a row now, something is wrong.

Shaw is the guy. He is mentioned in this article and all but invites Woodley:

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/-topstories/3290286-74/injuries-steelers-players#axzz2I1EIprtl[/URL]

[lloydroid]

Yeah! Casey and Tomlin were best buddies when Casey was on the PUP list for being fat...

Oh my, that's about as "strict" as demoting Wallace from "Starter" to "Co-starter." As we all saw, Casey was still so fat he could barely walk during the season. He's a few pounds away from being considered "disabled." Heck, I bet he could apply for the handicapped parking sticker and get one issued to him right now. The players have such little to fear, that when Wallace dropped an easy TD pass, he let out the largest grin, ear to ear, that I have ever seen. He thought the whole thing was just hilarious.

[NorthCoast]

You guys are pointing at coaching staff for discipline and I won't disagree.

But I am also a firm believer in players stepping up to keep their own in line. Hate to say it, but a Ray Lewis would be riding Woodley's ass the entire season on staying in shape and contributing.
The defense lost a huge amount of leadership in Farrior. Clark tried to step up but I think the Steelers need a badass LB or lineman to be in charge, get in their teammates faces, set the mood for getting ready for an NFL game.
The players need self-policing now more than ever with the new NFL rules and I am not sure Tomlin has been able to find 'his man' to serve that role.

[Chadman]

Just pointing out that Tom Shaw, in the article provided, doesn't say Woodley was out of shape, but that he was training correctly. There is a difference.

Casey Hampton is fat, and always has been. Chances are, always will be. He didn't miss any games to conditioning this season.

Colon is concerning. It's all differing injuries with him. That could very well be on conditioning.

When we talk about injuries, let's not forget the role age will play. The older you are, the more your body breaks down. Ike Taylor, Willie Colon, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Heath Miller, James Harrison... these guys are all over 30. And Ben, Ike & Heath's injuries can hardly be blamed on conditioning.

Can the Steelers be fitter? Perhaps... sure, why not?

But Tom Shaw isn't saying the Steelers are out of condition- he's saying that the conditioning training the players are doing might not be correct.

It's certainly worth investigating.

As for discipline.... now that is something that the Steelers need to tighten up on. The responsibility will ultimately fall on Tomlin to bring them into line, but as Northcoast said- some of the players need to stand up & assume the leadership of this team. Forget team captains- guys like Keisel etc are probably terriffic captains.

But team leaders the way a Ray Lewis is a team leader, or how Jerome Bettis was... that is what this team needs. Discipline does not ALWAYS have to come from the boss- often times people will respond best to their peers. Case in point- imagine if Hines Ward had been in Wallace's ear all season. How would that have changed Wallace's output?

[SidSmythe]

Not really something you can address in midseason.

[steelz09]

Not really something you can address in midseason.

I don't think we are saying that it should have been. At least, I'm not. I think it's a good thing that Rooney is going to look into this. BUT...

I'm asking myself...

#1 - Hasn't Tomlin communicated that he's done this to Rooney. If not, has Tomlin communicated it to his players at all? If both are a "no" then that is a big problem.

#2 - Has the coaches, nutritionists, and strength and conditioning coaches set goals (and/or requirements) for each player?

#3 - If both 1 and 2 are a "yes" (doubtful) then the players need to be held accountable.