Training Camp Visit - Tuesday

[Steel Maniac]

Do you see anything on offense that suggests they have plays that scheme players open, or is it all still contested and every yard gained is like squeezing blood from a turnip?

I feel ya Windy; we want to see some innovativeness from Canada. We've got to start seeing better offensive schemes. I'm tired of seeing Reid, LaFluer and Shanahan being the only offensives gurus in the league that seem to be able to scheme their guys open. I think every Steeler fan at this point wants to see SOMETHING innovative from Canada.

[Rocky Mtn]

Got to Latrobe for the afternoon and it was a great day and here are a few nuggets I noticed.

1. one of the most crowded camps I remember. 2-3x the crowd of last year for the 1st day of pads. Our spot we like to watch from that we often had all to ourselves in the past or would be around 2-3 other people was packed full. There is definitely some buzz around this team and people believe.

2. Lots of casual fans that really did not know who a lot of players were. Guys like JPJ, Cole, and Green were the 1st on the field long before practice started and no one seemed to know any of them. Then KP comes along and old men turn into fan girls. It was cute and funny.

3. There is music now during warm ups. Made me think about Chase Claypool saying they need music in practice. Now that he is gone, we got some music for him.

4. Dan Moore is not going down easy. He looks ripped. And he and Broderick seem close tagging along with each other and working together a lot. Was thinking maybe Dan can compete on the right side after he eventually loses out, but then you watch Chuks and he might be our best Olineman. Dude is a beast, powerful, and pretty athletic. Made me think back and really wonder why is Chuks not our LT. He really does look the part. Although Chuks also seems a little too pleasant to be a NFL player.

5. Isaac has mean resting face. He looks all biz. He will be a huge upgrade for us. The whole line looks night and day different and will be the strength of the O.

6. Everyone talks about George, but Johnson and Robinson are our best WRs. Both of those guys practice hard and run really good routes. Those 2 are some serious pros. Khan took the Rams to the cleaners getting ARob. Dude is legit. I was thinking he might be our best WR, then I noticed Diontae catching everything today. And he wasn?t running backward. He was possessed and he is flying under the radar and is going to have a huge year. Do yourself a favor and add Diontae on your FF football team when everyone else sleeps on him.

7. George is working on his routes. The catch he had against JPJ was right in front of us and might be the best catch I?ve seen in person. No clue how that happened but really cool to see how hard those 2 are going at each other. While everyone was excited about George and rightfully so, I was more excited about JPJ. He was glued to George and I thought, for other WRs to beat JPJ, they?re gonna have to make catches like George which aint gonna happen. JPJ gonna be special.

8. George makes great catches but then he drops some easy ones and his routes need to develop

9. Pat P is savvy. He had coverage a few times right in front of us and I saw a couple of slick little tugs on guys and holds. Our backend is gonna be good this year. Might be one of our best secondaries.

10. Herbig looks like a bundle of energy, but dude is small in person and it is noticeable. And it is not just a little, it like how Calvin Austin looks tiny.

11. On the flip side, Najee looks a little bigger too and is not a guy I would want to tackle. He looks ready to carry the load and other teams do not want to have to run into him 20+ times a game.

12. Kenny is throwing harder and you can really sense he is going 110% all the time. I also noticed him all over the field spending time with a lot of different guys. Lots of guys stick with their units, but Kenny, Najee, Cam, and TJ are all over and really engaging teammates.

13. While Kenny is throwing harder, I also noticed he is under throwing a lot of guys when he makes throws 30-40 yards down the field. Not sure if he is trying to let guys make plays or if it is unintentional. There were a couple guys open and with separation and had 10-15 yards to the back of the end zone and there?s no reason he shouldn?t have tried to put the ball out in front of them rather than turning it into a contested catch.

14. We made a lot of throws to the middle of the field.

15. Pat is not a blocker.

16. Darnell did ok against TJ in backs on backers, but in a couple of plays, TJ ran right by him to get to Kenny easily.

17. Some guys that seem the nicest - Larry O, Pat P, Calvin, and Matt Canada. Makes it easy to root for these guys.

18. Still anxious to see where Leal fits in. Guy is a beast. So thin and cut for a DLineman.

19. Our ILBs are physical and people are gonna like em.

20. Highsmith looks like his agent didn?t tell him he signed a contract yet. He seems to be playing to get paid. Guy is gonna get better and he is really getting after it every time I watched him.

Lots more info out there, but just tried to share some observation I have not seen others noticing.

Overall highly recommend the experience and get out to Latrobe if you can. These practice and experiences are almost better than any games.

And we met a lot of awesome fans. A lot were 1st timers. Some flew in from far away. Great vibe and excitement. Lots of great interactions with fans and players. Good giveaways and some decent food trucks. And the weather was fantastic. Coolest camp I?ve been to with temps in the mid 70s.

Thanks Flip! Always like your positive takeaways.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I feel ya Windy; we want to see some innovativeness from Canada. We've got to start seeing better offensive schemes. I'm tired of seeing Reid, LaFluer and Shanahan being the only offensives gurus in the league that seem to be able to scheme their guys open. I think every Steeler fan at this point wants to see SOMETHING innovative from Canada.

Well whether we like it or not, Canada is the thinking benind the offense Washington might be such a force as a run blocker that we have to play him feature him in more 2 TE set than Canada did last season. He blocked TJ Watt better than anyone has for in tenure as a Steeler. That is saying a lot. I wish reporters who ask Canada questions! Have they this camp?

Me, I go more to a 2 the set and one back offense with Warren starting, and incorporate play acton more often than we did last year. 'Muth can excellent in play action. They are also easier passes to complete that usually go for a distance greater than 6.2 yards per attempt.

It is getting to the point where the Steelers should stick with Jones at left tackle. A beat writer who make some snap judgments said he expects Moore start when camp opened. He has revised-ship on that statement as Jones is dominant.

We can run a low risk offense but thanks to Pickens and Warren still be an explosive offenses. Our LG situation as greatly improved. Or LT situation I think will be improved soon! Think about it.

But Pickett still need to see the feild better and work on his release. And Canada has to put it all together. We don't have many full practices were guys are going all out left.

[Steel Maniac]

Thanks for the comments, Flippy. Much appreciated. A little worried about Kenny comments. If he can't complete passes downfield, we are in for trouble.

And that was from Flippy...Mr. Optimist himself. So if Flippy isn't saying KP arm wasn't getting it done deep, that is a big concern.

[Steel Maniac]

Flippy, thanks for the report. Greatly appreciated my friend.

[Steel Maniac]

Well whether we like it or not, Canada is the thinking benind the offense Washington might be such a force as a run blocker that we have to play him feature him in more 2 TE set than Canada did last season. He blocked TJ Watt better than anyone has for in tenure as a Steeler. That is saying a lot. I wish reporters who ask Canada questions! Have they this camp?

Me, I go more to a 2 the set and one back offense with Warren starting, and incorporate play acton more often than we did last year. 'Muth can excellent in play action. They are also easier passes to complete that usually go for a distance greater than 6.2 yards per attempt.

It is getting to the point where the Steelers should stick with Jones at left tackle. A beat writer who make some snap judgments said he expects Moore start when camp opened. He has revised-ship on that statement as Jones is dominant.

We can run a low risk offense but thanks to Pickens and Warren still be an explosive offenses. Our LG situation as greatly improved. Or LT situation I think will be improved soon! Think about it.

But Pickett still need to see the field better and work on his release. And Canada has to put it all together. We don't have many full practices were guys are going all out left.

I appreciate Moore coming to camp ready to battle for his job. Flippy said Moore came to camp ripped & ready. I'm happy to have some depth on that O-line if both play the position well. Well, I'm going to watch Pickett closes in the 3rd preseason game where he should play the entire first half of the game. Now Flippy has me concerned about his down the field passing prowess...or lack there of.

Canada will have my first microscope thou..........I want to see a sophisticated passing scheme from him. Not that mickey mouse crap we say last year.

[flippy]

I appreciate Moore coming to camp ready to battle for his job. Flippy said Moore came to camp ripped & ready. I'm happy to have some depth on that O-line if both play the position well. Well, I'm going to watch Pickett closes in the 3rd preseason game where he should play the entire first half of the game. Now Flippy has me concerned about his down the field passing prowess...or lack there of.

Canada will have my first microscope thou..........I want to see a sophisticated passing scheme from him. Not that mickey mouse crap we say last year.

Re: KP, it is day one in pads so there probably is some adjustment needed around timing and knowing the various WRs and I don’t think this is going to be a problem long term.

[pfelix73]

My son and I were going to drive out yesterday, but didn?t. Makes me happy that we didn?t. I will go out on a less crowded day. Yea right. MAybe next week.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Thanks Flippy, love the notes.

[NJ-STEELER]

I appreciate Moore coming to camp ready to battle for his job. Flippy said Moore came to camp ripped & ready. I'm happy to have some depth on that O-line if both play the position well. Well, I'm going to watch Pickett closes in the 3rd preseason game where he should play the entire first half of the game. Now Flippy has me concerned about his down the field passing prowess...or lack there of.

Canada will have my first microscope thou..........I want to see a sophisticated passing scheme from him. Not that mickey mouse crap we say last year.

they threw a ball to kendrick green lined up as a fullback at today's under the lights practice

that's bill walsh esqe