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Steelers' Stapleton has successful surgery
By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, August 8, 2009
[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_637415.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 37415.html[/url]
The Steelers got encouraging news on Darnell Stapleton's knee as coach Mike Tomlin said the arthroscopic surgery the starting right guard had Thursday went reasonably well. Tomlin indicated that Stapleton will miss at least the next couple of weeks before the knee is evaluated again.
"They liked what they saw," Tomlin said of the doctors who performed the surgery.
Stapleton started the final 15 games at right guard last season.
Trai Essex has been working with the first team in his absence and arrived at training camp intent on challenging Stapleton for his starting job.
"I'm just praying for a speedy recovery for him," Essex said. "He's part of our family, and we need him. He's a crucial part of our offensive line."
• Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley didn't practice Friday night at Latrobe's Memorial Stadium. Tomlin said he expects Woodley to return to practice soon. Also not practicing last night were running back Mewelde Moore (hamstring), wide receiver Martin Nance (hamstring) and tight end Sean McHugh (undisclosed injury).
• If camp has started to become a grind for wide receiver Santonio Holmes, practicing under the lights last night at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe no doubt energized him. The Super Bowl MVP has fond memories of playing high school ball on Friday nights. Holmes helped Glades Central (Fla.) to a pair of state titles as a prep star, and he said he often reminds himself of the time when football was just a game.
"That's been my mentality since college," said Holmes, who starred at Ohio State before the Steelers took him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. "Once the lights go back (on), you return to having fun. It was fun back in high school and continue to keep it a fun thing."
DIGITS
16.6 — Yards per catch Holmes has averaged in first three NFL seasons.
52 — Catches a season Holmes has averaged in three season.
Inside the ropes
A daily look at the best parts of the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe:
• Linebackers against running backs were the featured match-up Friday night at overflowing Memorial Stadium as they butted helmets in the backs-on-backers drill as well 11-on-11. As for which position prevailed as a group, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called it a draw "I thought the running backs won the drills," Tomlin said. "I thought the linebackers won 11-on-11." James Harrison proved to be virtually unblockable in each, but among the running backs that held their own was rookie Frank "The Tank" Summers. After whiffing on his first attempt against a blitzing Andre Frazier, Summers got the better of Donovan Woods, Keyaron Fox and Tom Korte. Summers held up OK against a Harrison bull rush but got beaten by the All-Pro linebacker with a swim move on the final play of the drill.
• Fans were treated to rare practice appearances by wide receiver Hines Ward and strong safety Troy Polamalu.Polamalu gave them something to cheer about when he intercepted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the first play of the initial 11-on-11 drill of the evening. Roethlisberger and Ward didn't provide any highlights. Ward said he needs to get his timing back after sitting out most of the practices during the first week of training camp so the younger wide receivers could get extra work.
• Speaking of wide receivers, Dallas Baker apparently had some sort of bulls-eye on his jersey last night. He got drilled during the 11-on-11 drills by safety Tyrone Carter and later by rookie linebacker Andy Schantz. Baker held onto the ball after Schantz hit him.
• An estimated 15,000 fans watched the traditional night practice the Steelers hold early in training camp. When asked about the crowd, Tomlin said, "I didn't get this many in high school, and this was homecoming at William & Mary." Tomlin played wide receiver at William & Mary from 1990-94.
By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, August 8, 2009
[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_637415.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 37415.html[/url]
The Steelers got encouraging news on Darnell Stapleton's knee as coach Mike Tomlin said the arthroscopic surgery the starting right guard had Thursday went reasonably well. Tomlin indicated that Stapleton will miss at least the next couple of weeks before the knee is evaluated again.
"They liked what they saw," Tomlin said of the doctors who performed the surgery.
Stapleton started the final 15 games at right guard last season.
Trai Essex has been working with the first team in his absence and arrived at training camp intent on challenging Stapleton for his starting job.
"I'm just praying for a speedy recovery for him," Essex said. "He's part of our family, and we need him. He's a crucial part of our offensive line."
• Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley didn't practice Friday night at Latrobe's Memorial Stadium. Tomlin said he expects Woodley to return to practice soon. Also not practicing last night were running back Mewelde Moore (hamstring), wide receiver Martin Nance (hamstring) and tight end Sean McHugh (undisclosed injury).
• If camp has started to become a grind for wide receiver Santonio Holmes, practicing under the lights last night at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe no doubt energized him. The Super Bowl MVP has fond memories of playing high school ball on Friday nights. Holmes helped Glades Central (Fla.) to a pair of state titles as a prep star, and he said he often reminds himself of the time when football was just a game.
"That's been my mentality since college," said Holmes, who starred at Ohio State before the Steelers took him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. "Once the lights go back (on), you return to having fun. It was fun back in high school and continue to keep it a fun thing."
DIGITS
16.6 — Yards per catch Holmes has averaged in first three NFL seasons.
52 — Catches a season Holmes has averaged in three season.
Inside the ropes
A daily look at the best parts of the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe:
• Linebackers against running backs were the featured match-up Friday night at overflowing Memorial Stadium as they butted helmets in the backs-on-backers drill as well 11-on-11. As for which position prevailed as a group, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called it a draw "I thought the running backs won the drills," Tomlin said. "I thought the linebackers won 11-on-11." James Harrison proved to be virtually unblockable in each, but among the running backs that held their own was rookie Frank "The Tank" Summers. After whiffing on his first attempt against a blitzing Andre Frazier, Summers got the better of Donovan Woods, Keyaron Fox and Tom Korte. Summers held up OK against a Harrison bull rush but got beaten by the All-Pro linebacker with a swim move on the final play of the drill.
• Fans were treated to rare practice appearances by wide receiver Hines Ward and strong safety Troy Polamalu.Polamalu gave them something to cheer about when he intercepted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the first play of the initial 11-on-11 drill of the evening. Roethlisberger and Ward didn't provide any highlights. Ward said he needs to get his timing back after sitting out most of the practices during the first week of training camp so the younger wide receivers could get extra work.
• Speaking of wide receivers, Dallas Baker apparently had some sort of bulls-eye on his jersey last night. He got drilled during the 11-on-11 drills by safety Tyrone Carter and later by rookie linebacker Andy Schantz. Baker held onto the ball after Schantz hit him.
• An estimated 15,000 fans watched the traditional night practice the Steelers hold early in training camp. When asked about the crowd, Tomlin said, "I didn't get this many in high school, and this was homecoming at William & Mary." Tomlin played wide receiver at William & Mary from 1990-94.
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