Tough, full-pads first practice gets team's attention in a hurry

[Atlanta Dan]

Mike Tomlin's first practice as the Steelers' head coach proved more than its billing when he put the team through what many believe was the most physical practice session at Saint Vincent College since the days of Chuck Noll.

No one could remember a tougher camp practice in Bill Cowher's 15 years as coach, not even a player who was with Cowher from the get-go.

"That was pretty tough, pret-ty tough," said former linebacker Levon Kirkland, a Steelers rookie in 1992 who is spending this week as a scouting intern with the team. "I'm sure the guys who have been here under Cowher are used to a certain way. You do it that way it's kind of tough. Makes you wonder what the evening practice will be about."

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07206/804174-66.stm

Wow

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Mike Tomlin's first practice as the Steelers' head coach proved more than its billing when he put the team through what many believe was the most physical practice session at Saint Vincent College since the days of Chuck Noll.

No one could remember a tougher camp practice in Bill Cowher's 15 years as coach, not even a player who was with Cowher from the get-go.

"That was pretty tough, pret-ty tough," said former linebacker Levon Kirkland, a Steelers rookie in 1992 who is spending this week as a scouting intern with the team. "I'm sure the guys who have been here under Cowher are used to a certain way. You do it that way it's kind of tough. Makes you wonder what the evening practice will be about."

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07206/804174-66.stm

Wow

i really liked bens and okolbis comments on it. they seemed to like it and feel it was needed. hines ward admitted it was tough and expressed thoughts that the coach would let up when he felt it was time to let up.

someone (im not sure if it was okolbi) mentionned that it was the 1st time he ever heard the word "competition" in camp. the point was, that under the old regime there really was no competition and people pretty much knew whether they would be a starter or not before camp began.

i 2nd the sentiment of "wow".

i never thought i would feel the switch of coaches could ever possibly be a good thing. it just might.

[fansince'76]

If it was that rough, I'm glad that there were no "stress injuries" like the one Timmons sustained in mini-camp (at least none that I heard of). I can't count how many times last season that a significant number of players simply seemed to run out of gas in the 2nd half of games. It sounds like the '07 edition of the Steelers are going to be in much better condition than the '06 edition, if nothing else.

[MACH1]

Funny as it sounds it might help with the injury bug down the road, going into the season in shape instead of working into shape during the games.

[tony hipchest]

The new coach seemed more impressed by the afternoon walkthrough and how players overcame the disappointment of not being able to go through another grueling practice.

now thats funny!

Originally Posted by MACH1

Funny as it sounds it might help with the injury bug down the road, going into the season in shape instead of working into shape during the games.

cowher teams are notorious for starting off slow, but finishing as one of the strongest teams down the stretch. im willing to bet tomlin has noticed this trend and will toe the line to achieve balance.

no sense in reversing the trend, just for the sake of reversing it, where the steelers start strong and finish poorly.

[Preacher]

Actually...

I loved Ward's comment the most!

"Coach Cowher's not here anymore. We're doing it the way coach Tomlin's doing it," Hines Ward said. "He wants to prove to everybody he can be a great coach and he has a set way with the team. If you don't like it, get off the ship."

BEAUTIFUL!

[Elvis]

I dont know about everyone else, but sounds like this guy could be compared to Tom Coughlin... wonder who will be the first to complain? I hope the guy gets the job done and just doesnt get alot of injuries to our players during all these 2 a days...

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by wedosesteelers2006

I dont know about everyone else, but sounds like this guy could be compared to Tom Coughlin... wonder who will be the first to complain? I hope the guy gets the job done and just doesnt get alot of injuries to our players during all these 2 a days...

Nope....

Doesn't sound like that to me.

This guy seems to have it under control. Two a days... but not killing the guys. Knowing how to pull back when the guys give 100 percent like on the run day.

I really like this...

[Elvis]

Just sounds like alot of 2 a days to me. I just hope that all those dont cause us injuries that put our players out for along time. The NFL or players are talking all the time about too many preseason games, and then Tomlin wants to push them like this to show just how tough HE can be, just might bite him in the but if he is Not careful.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by wedosesteelers2006

Tomlin wants to push them like this to show just how tough HE can be, just might bite him in the but if he is Not careful.

i dont see it this way at all wedose. tomlin is not ego trippin. hes pushing the players to show them how tough THEY can be. sure he can lighten up, and the whole team can get out of extra work in january as they sit and watch all the teams who outworked them in the playoffs. i do know great players like jerry rice and walter payton would never complain about the camp tomlin is running. they will tell you they were the best because they outworked everybody else. tomlin wants to be the best. a writer who watched camp already debunked the idea that tomlin is tom caughlin like. im not worried about and giants like dissention. i still believe these players wanna get back to the superbowl.