August 4th from Dale Grdnic
Latrobe PennsylvaniaTUESDAY PM:
Mike Tomlin isn't going to pat himself on the back too hard, but he and his staff "coached'' the team on its "practice etiquette,'' and to his delight there was no extracurricular activity during Tuesday afternoon's training camp practice at Saint Vincent College.
"We'll see what happens Wednesday,'' Tomlin said. "(But) I thought the guys had a little more bounce in their step this afternoon after we gave most the morning off and had a light practice with our special teams work. But we're not going to read much more into it than that.''
Hines Ward has not practiced since Saturday, the opening day of camp, and he only worked once on that day. He has sat out five straight practices, but has been on sideline helping the receivers and cheering for his teammates. But his absence doesn't bother Tomlin.
"We're still preserving some of those older veteran guys (like) Deshea (Townsend), Troy (Polamalu) and Hines,'' Tomlin said. "(And) Hines has money in my emotional bank account, so I take care of Hines.''
Townsend and Polamalu were nursing hamstring injuries when they arrived at camp, so it's natural to take it slow with them, but Tomlin doesn't believe in overworking the aforementioned players who come to camp in premier shape and shouldn't take long to get ready for the season once they get going.
Tomlin noted that tight end Heath Miller (sports hernia surgery) and center Justin Hartwig (right big toe) "took a step forward'' with their injury situations, so the two should be back to full strength sooner rather than later. However, there were a couple injuries Tuesday, as running backs Willie Parker (sore shoulder) and Mewelde Moore (slight hamstring pull) might sit out Wednesday.
Center-guard Darnell Stapleton's situation has not improved. He had an MRI on his right knee, but "he'll get some more work done there, and we'll talk about that later on when we know a little more,'' Tomlin said. While the starting center and key backup - Hartwig and Stapleton - are out, first-year player Doug Legursky and rookie A.Q. Shipley have gotten more repetitions.
"Justin's misfortune provides an opportunity, and Darnell's misfortune provides an opportunity,'' Tomlin said. "And that's really how I approach training camp. There are some capable men out there who just need an opportunity, and that's what is going on with our center position where Doug is getting an opportunity to get some quality snaps with some quality people.
"And A.Q. is getting more looks. So, that's what we're focusing on right now. And until those other two guys fight their way back (from injuries), Doug and A.Q. will continue to get opportunities. And so far, I think they're representing themselves very well and taking advantage of it.''
Ben Roethlisberger bemoaned throwing an interception in every afternoon practice mostly because his arm is still loosening up and getting into shape. He should have been picked off again Tuesday, but rookie Joe Burnett dropped an easy one. Tomlin wasn't concerned about Roethlisberger.
"I wouldn't overreact to that,'' Tomlin said. "It's camp, and he's our lead-dog guy. So, we're going to ask him to throw a lot of balls. I know that through the initial phase of it, he's not going to throw great. But he'll find his rhythm.
"It's not an area of concern of ours whatsoever. He came out and launched a couple deep ones today, which is what we expected, and I'm sure that's what he expected. So, we'll continue to search for the ceiling.''
Roethlisberger hit wideout Santonio Holmes with a long pass that went for an 85-yard touchdown, as Holmes beat safeties Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter and cornerback William Gay. Holmes split the defense, and Roethlisberger hit him in stride. Holmes, by the way, looks like he has picked up where he left off.
Roethlisberger also looked good in the team session, as he connected with first-year wideout Martin Nance (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) on a sideline pattern and then across the middle for a first down. But in the hurry-up drill following the two-minute warning, Roethlisberger could not take the team into the end zone.
Second-year quarterback Dennis Dixon moved up to second-team for the two-minute drill and looked as good as he has since camp began, but that's not saying much. He continues to be inconsistent, as his passes sail far and wide and high and low. Charlie Batch continues to get his timing back after missing last season with a broken collar bone in the preseason opener.
While it's been noted that last year's No. 1 pick, Rashard Mendenhall, has looked stronger, quicker and not as tentative this summer he also has shown a more well-rounded game. Mendenhall has caught a few passes here and there and also had two nice blitz pickups Tuesday. But the best run of the day was by Frank "the Tank'' Summers, who burst up the middle and kept going into the end zone about 70 yards away. No DB was getting in his way, either.
And, finally, while kicker Piotr Czech has not displayed consistent leg strength as a punter in this camp, he boomed a 58-yard field goal Tuesday. It was his first opportunity to work extensively on the better of his two talents.