MONDAY MORNING PRACTICE JULY 28th
by Dale Grdnic
It didn't take long for business to pick up during the Pittsburgh Steelers' first training camp practice Monday morning at Saint Vincent College, and it should be no surprise that safety Anthony Smith was involved.
A third-year pro from Syracuse, Smith ticked off his offensive teammates again after a big hit on wideout Willie Reid. The two met last year during what basically was a non-contact drill and many offensive players, primarily veteran Hines Ward, admonished Smith for the over-aggressive play.
Smith smacked Reid during an 11-on-11 drill again Monday, and running back Carey Davis came to the wideout's aid this time. Smith and Davis had to be separated by teammates. Davis, like Ward last year, believed that Smith's excessive play could injure Reid. Smith was just doing what he's always done.
"I used to do that at Syracuse my first couple years,'' Smith said. "I guess I could have had a lot more picks, but I always tried to go for the knockout hit and get off a big shot. I wanted to hit the other player as hard as I could.
"As my career went on, the coaches told me that interceptions were more important, and that's when I started to look for the pick a little more. But I'll never pass up a chance for a big hit when it's presented to me like that.''
Smith also was nearby when another dust-up occurred a short time later.
Punter Daniel Sepulveda was the first player on the field for the morning practice, but he was quickly followed by long-snapper Greg Warren. The initial workouts are similar to those from the spring, helmets and shells on the upper body, but shorts and no hip pads. Full gear will be put on later in the week.
Sepulveda also went through extensive individual work with special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, who fired footballs at the punter's feet that forced him to scoop them and quickly uncoil to get off a punt without it being blocked. This wasn't a problem for the Steelers last season, but one never knows.
Willie Parker ran sweep left and got outside on the first play from scrimmage in the 9-on-7 drills... No. 1 pick Rashard Mendenhall burst up the middle with his first carry... Parker didn't get the ball too often during the opening session, but Mendenhall got quite a few reps and looked pretty good... However, when he wasn't going through running drills, Parker worked out on the sideline with a medicine ball. Running backs coach Kirby Wilson assisted Parker.
The first set of passing plays consisted of bubble screens, dump-offs to running backs out of the backfield and wideout screens, but then quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, backup Charlie Batch and Co. worked their way down the field... Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore showed that they have good hands and then quickly turned up field for additional yardage.
No. 2 pick Limas Sweed, the wideout from Texas, displayed his pass-catching skills on a sideline route. However, even though he went up and made an acrobatic grab, it came against cornerback Travis Williams. Sweed is listed at 6-foot-4, while Williams is a generous 5-9... Roethlisberger also hooked up with Ward on a nice crossing route despite tight coverage by cornerback Deshea Townsend.
While safety Troy Polamalu watched his teammates from the sideline, and occasionally having his left hamstring iced by trainer John Norwig, Casey Hampton worked out with several people on the lower field. Offensive guard Chris Kemoeatu, who joined the other two on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) to open camp, also worked out on his own.
Hampton was walked around the field by Steelers conditioning assistant Marcel Pastoor guarding the inside so the player couldn't cut corners. Pastoor also put Hampton through several agility drills.
Steelers Hall of Famer Mean Joe Greene walked around the field as well with Hampton even though he had a second hip replacement last year and is nearly 60 years old.
Former Steelers outside linebacker Kevin Greene (1993-95) is back at camp as a volunteer coach for the first week. He is working with the defense and, to no one's surprise, the linebacking corps. Greene, one of the NFL's career sack leaders, certainly could help rookie Bruce Davis sharpen his pass-rushing skills.
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