Defensive Coordinator and newly inducted Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau returned to his coaching duties on Monday and spoke with the Pittsburgh media for the first time since his induction speech. He held court as only he can hold and turned an after practice interview into a must see. What a great man he is. Mark Kaboly talked to linebackers coach Keith Butler, who is rumored to be the heir apparent at defensive coordinator when Dick LeBeau finally retires in 25 more years. I am kidding about 25 years, but judging by his HOF speech, it is too early to even suggest when he might retire. Age is just Read more [...]

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said on Tuesday that he wants to keep the passing game right where it was last year and just improve those situations that are critical running areas. You can read the full transcript here as well as listen to the audio right here. Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon joined John Seibel and Joe Starkey for a Tuesday interview to discuss his situation at the beginning of training camp and what he expects to focus on as camp continues. Injured Steelers right tackle Willie Colon is hoping to mentor his replacement, recently signed free agent Flozell Adams, Read more [...]

This post is going to be a close spin off to the Steelers and Rashard Mendenhall needing to run better against the division post I did a few days ago. Tuesday, Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians talked with John Seibel and Joe Starkey about the running game where Arians said in the first 15 seconds of the interview, "We ran the ball well last year from the 20's, 20 to 20!" Stop the tape right there. In all of my recent research, I thought something did not sound right so I researched the numbers. In the first table below, I compiled all 32 teams running back stats from their own 20 Read more [...]

Ken Laird, of ESPN Radio 1250, tweeted that Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians hinted in between practice sessions that quarterback Dennis Dixon might be used early on this year as a change of pace quarterback. This offers up a unique chance for the Steelers to really keep defenses honest as we all saw first hand what Dixon can do with his legs as was evident in his lone start versus Baltimore last year. Dixon has had limited snaps thus far in training camp, but reportedly has been accurate with his passes. Throwing this type info out there is smart in the light of it surely will be Read more [...]

The first official practices start in Latrobe very soon as two a days officially begin. We will have news, notes, nuggets and practice information from today posted up on this page as we get it in. Check back often through out the day to see the updates. Only the second practice at 2PM is open to the public. Compiled from interviews and info on Steelers.com | ESPN Radio Pittsburgh | 93.7 The Fan Radio | Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Pittsburgh Tribune | Twitter Updates Steelers started first training camp practice with Ben Roethlisberger running 1st team, Byron Leftwich the 2nd team & Dennis Read more [...]

Friday is almost upon us and the Steelers will start arriving in Latrobe for the 2010 training camp. Besides all the questions surrounding quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, I have compiled 6 questions that need answers before camp breaks. 1. Is Troy Polamalu healthy? - It is no secret safety Troy Polamalu is the catalyst on defense. Reportedly he is healthy and ready to go after missing 11 games due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The biggest test will be when the tackling starts and most would expect he will be eased into action. 2. Can the offensive line gel quickly? Read more [...]

When the Steelers report to Latrobe on tomorrow, so will begin several training camp battles that we will be keeping a close eye on. We have narrowed them down to six to match the six championships the Steelers have. They are as follows. 1. Quarterback - Byron Leftwich vs. Dennis Dixon - Mike Tomlin has let veteran Byron Leftwich receive most of the first team snaps since his re-acquisition from Tampa Bay. The Steelers will need a starter for at least 4 games with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspended to start the season and Leftwich looks to be the guy unless Dennis Dixon can Read more [...]

Dick LeBeau says it still has not sank in that in little over a week from now, he will be National Football League as a Hall of Famer. LeBeau on Tuesday, “It really hasn’t and I don’t know when it will. I still get up in the morning and pinch myself and count my blessings and say I guess I am not dreaming, I guess this is all really happening. We all look forward to his speech. Tom Kowalski has a small piece on LeBeau on the Michigan Live website today as well. The stars appear aligned against Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in 2010 according to Steve Heiser of The York Dispatch. Read more [...]

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians says they need to run the ball better, but not necessarily more. Arians goes on to say he thinks it is the quality of the runs more than the quantity that worries him. This ought to get the blood pressure up of Steeler Nation on Thursday. Quarterback Dennis Dixon was back in Eugene, Oregon and gave KEZI an interview. Dixon says he is working on becoming more vocal and working on his leadership skills. He also said he expects head coach Mike Tomlin to name a starter after the first pre-season game. First round draft pick Maurkice Pouncey denied on Read more [...]

2010 was already slated to be a year in which the Steelers focused more on getting back to a power running game with much more balance on offense. The suspension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in April, made it even more apparent that the running game would be relied upon more heavily as well. Let's face it, regardless if it is Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon under center for the first 4 weeks, neither can be relied on to throw 33 times a game like Big Ben averaged in 2009. Now let us throw in the loss of right tackle Willie Colon. According to the offensive tackle stats on Pro Football Focus, Read more [...]

If it was not bad enough that right tackle Willie Colon tore his Achilles on Wednesday, he lost in the free agent game as well when the owners and players' union failed to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement by the beginning of March. Colon was sheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, but the lack of a new deal triggered a clause that pushed from five to six the years of service a player has to accrue before he can become an unrestricted free agent. Colon was tendered a one year deal by the Steelers instead as a restricted free agent this offseason and still won't be able to test the Read more [...]

Doug Farrar of Yahoo Sports and Football Outsiders has contributed an article as part of Yahoo's Under Surveillance series prior to NFL training camps that looks at the major strengths and weaknesses of all 32 NFL teams. Farrar points out the Steelers biggest weakness being the inability to run the ball consistently and offers up a solution of more bunch receiver formations in 2010 and how the Steelers ran effectively out of that formation in 2009. Steelers.com has posted part 1 of their "Ask The Steelers" segment with wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. El talks about leaving the Steelers after Read more [...]

Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison and defensive end Brett Keisel did not practice on Wednesday so Andre Frazier and Nick Eason worked in their places respectively. Ziggy Hood has been working at left end this OTA. Keyaron Fox, Justin Hartwig and Hines Ward also did not practice and Troy Polamalu is back in California. Channel 4 Action Sports' John Meyer sat down with Steelers first-round draft pick Maurkice Pouncey on Tuesday for a candid interview. Teresa Varley of Steelers.com wrote about how Hines Ward has taken on a new role during the Steelers OTAs this offseason of mentoring Read more [...]

Chris Mortensen is reporting that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended for four to six games on Wednesday for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. I have heard less, but can not reveal my sources. Regardless, we should know very soon. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is looking forward to second year receiver Mike Wallace taking the next step and replacing Santonio Holmes as their starting split end. Arians said he would be thrilled if the Steelers could find another receiver in the NFL draft like Wallace. We will know soon enough, but I for one would be surprised if they Read more [...]

All of the Steelers brass is down in Orlando for the NFL owners meetings and the media is doing their best to catch back up with Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin. Tomlin shed light on many subjects, on Monday, that included the rumors of Bruce Arians being fired, running the football more in 2010, Dennis Dixon and Antwaan Randle El. The biggest statement was that he intends to find and use a fullback that can block like Dan Kreider did. Scott Brown has a complete Q & A of the talk with Mike Tomlin on his blog. KDKA's Bob Pompeani got a chance to sit down one-on-one with Steelers Read more [...]