Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

[RuthlessBurgher]

[url]http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/0-3-304/Five-questions-with-----Mike-Wallace.html[/url]

Five questions with ... Mike Wallace

August 10, 2009 1:30 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

LATROBE, Pa. -- There is a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers who is showing flashes in training camp -- both literally and figuratively.

Lightning-quick rookie receiver Mike Wallace has been impressive this summer. He is showing good hands and improved route-running, which hasn't gone ignored by Pittsburgh's coaching staff.

The AFC North blog recently caught up with Wallace to discuss his speed and starting a new rivalry with good friend and former college teammate Michael Oher.

1. Mike, what is it like for a rookie playing every day against last year's top-rated defense?

Mike Wallace: It's a big difference because our defense sends a lot of different blitzes. The main adjustment is learning the "hots" [hot reads] because I don't want to leave Ben (Roethlisberger) out there to dry. So I'm just working my way up to try to get as many reps as I can to help my team. But I believe we're going to have the best defense again this year. We have a lot of playmakers on defense, we have real good coaches, and we have a real good scheme.

2. You and Michael Oher of the Baltimore Ravens were college teammates at Ole Miss. What's your rapport with him?

Wallace: Me and "Big O," we've been friends ever since we stepped on campus. Sometimes I used to stay by his house in Memphis. We've been real good friends our whole time there at Ole Miss. That was one of my closest teammates when I was there.

3. How does it feel now to be on opposites sides of one of the NFL's best rivalries?

Wallace: It's going to be a change, but it's going to be fun. I can't wait to play against him. I feel like our team is going to go out and try to win a ballgame. We're going to save the [trash] talk for that week. We've just been talking lately to make sure each other is straight. We talked maybe two or three days ago to see how each other were doing.

4. Your Steeler teammates are already saying you're one of the fastest players on the team. Where do you think you rank?

Wallace: [Laughs] I don't know. I don't want to put it out there too early. You got to race a couple guys first, and those guys are established. Speed doesn't matter if I haven't done anything yet. So I'm just trying to work to get better.

5. What's it like learning under Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes?

Wallace: It's going to help me be the best player I can be, because they've been there. They've been at the top. With Hines and Santonio, I have two Super Bowl MVPs and not just one helping me out. What one hasn't done the other one has. So they've done pretty much everything.



Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Steelers rookie Mike Wallace is impressing coaches with his speed.

[phillyesq]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

He certainly says all of the right things.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

He certainly says all of the right things.

Except for that part about being friends with a Raven. That's blasphemous.

[Chavezz]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

I think Mike Wallace is going to be what Willie Reid was supposed to be.

[SteelTorch]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

He certainly says all of the right things.

Except for that part about being friends with a Raven. That's blasphemous.

He'd better make sure to say the right things, lest they put a bounty on him.

[SteelerNation1]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

I think Mike Wallace is going to be what Willie Reid was supposed to be.

What a great description of Wallace.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

I think Mike Wallace is going to be what Willie Reid was supposed to be.

What a great description of Wallace.

I thought Reid was supposed to be a punt returner and a slot receiver over the middle.

I think Wallace is supposed to be a kick returner and an outside receiver to go deep.

I want him to be able to replace the Nate Washington role in terms of big plays on offense, and the Antwaan Randle El role in terms of big plays on special teams.

[SteelerNation1]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

I think Mike Wallace is going to be what Willie Reid was supposed to be.

What a great description of Wallace.

I thought Reid was supposed to be a punt returner and a slot receiver over the middle.

I think Wallace is supposed to be a kick returner and an outside receiver to go deep.

I want him to be able to replace the Nate Washington role in terms of big plays on offense, and the Antwaan Randle El role in terms of big plays on special teams.

I gotta think if Wallace is that elusive and fast, he'd be a great PR. His role on offense probably won't be etched out until 2010.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Five questions with Mike Wallace; Not a 60 Minutes Interview

I think Mike Wallace is going to be what Willie Reid was supposed to be.

What a great description of Wallace.

I thought Reid was supposed to be a punt returner and a slot receiver over the middle.

I think Wallace is supposed to be a kick returner and an outside receiver to go deep.

I want him to be able to replace the Nate Washington role in terms of big plays on offense, and the Antwaan Randle El role in terms of big plays on special teams.

I gotta think if Wallace is that elusive and fast, he'd be a great PR. His role on offense probably won't be etched out until 2010.

I agree about him not having much of a role on offense this season. Sweed and McDonald will be more than capable of handling the 3rd and 4th WR roles. Perhaps if he is active on gameday due to his special teams prowess, they could use him for the occasional hail mary opportunities at the end of a half, for instance.