Attached is the offensive player participation chart for all plays on offense and does not include penalties considered no plays. You can follow along play by play with the gamebook here. The thing that jumps out the most this week is that rookie Maurkice Pouncey received another 32 snaps strictly at center and none at right guard. In my opinion Pouncey is close to, if not already overtaken veteran Justin Hartwig for the week one job at center. It is hard to imagine that Pouncey would be started at right guard with so little preseason work. Doug Legursky received 27 snaps at right guard behind Read more [...]

Always tough to find something good to write about on gamedays of the preseason, but I thought I would make a point to cover undrafted free agent Dorian Brooks today. I did not add this to the 10 things to watch against the Giants as it's level of importance is way down the scale and it might not even come to fruition. First, who is Dorian Brooks? Brooks is the Steelers undrafted free agent from James Madison that made the transition in college from a defensive lineman to an offensive lineman after his freshman season. He is a bit undersized, but ended up making thirty-seven consecutive starts Read more [...]

Saturday the Steelers will travel to New York to play the Giants in the second preseason game of the 2010 season. Per my normal routine, I have listed below 10 things to look for Saturday heading into the game. Robo Kickoff Guy Watch #2? - Last week we were teased that Daniel Sepulveda could likely be allowed to kickoff against the Lions. It did not happen and as we showed on video this past week, nothing has changed with Jeff Reed and his kickoffs. This could be a huge step forward with special teams if Sepulveda can nail a few. Let's hope he gets quite a few chances to show what he has on Read more [...]

Day 20 of training camp is under way in Latrobe with just one practice today and the last one open to the public. Training camp practices at Saint Vincent are winding down as camp is about to break. 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 evening to see the updates per our usual all though reports get thinner daily. Compiled from interviews and info on Steelers.com | ESPN Radio Pittsburgh | 93.7 The Fan Radio | Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Pittsburgh Tribune | Twitter Updates 11 on 11 drills. Special Read more [...]

Day 19 of training camp is under way in Latrobe with just one practice today. Training camp practices at Saint Vincent are winding down as camp is about to break. 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 evening to see the updates per our usual all though reports get thinner daily. Compiled from interviews and info on Steelers.com | ESPN Radio Pittsburgh | 93.7 The Fan Radio | Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Pittsburgh Tribune | Twitter Updates 11 on 11 session. Maurkice Pouncey & Justin Hartwig Read more [...]

Mark Kaboly writes that the future may be now for Maurkice Pouncey at center and judging by his play Saturday, I totally agree. I suggested long ago that Justin Hartwig was not a lock to make the 53 man roster and Pouncey is making it more likely he won't. Sure it was just one game, but it was an impressive one at that. Mark Madden reminds everyone settle down and that it's just one preseason game. Madden goes on to state the obvious that Byron Leftwich will be the starting quarterback come week one, even if Leftwich stinks in the remaining exhibitions. As far as Flozell Adams goes at right Read more [...]

Saturday the Steelers will host the Detroit Lions to Heinz Field for the first preseason game of the 2010 season. We have listed below 10 things to look for Saturday heading into the game. Robo Kickoff Guy? - Daniel Sepulveda was allowed to kickoff last Friday under the lights and reportedly Mike Tomlin was happy with what he saw. Preseason is the perfect time to have a live game battle between Jeff Reed and Sepulveda for the rights to kickoff this year. I hope Robo punter gets a chance to become Robo kickoff specialist. Tomlin said it depends on how many kickoffs they get so hope for a ton Read more [...]

Steelers rookie Maurkice Pouncey thinks he may get his first action on Saturday against Detroit at center in relief of Justin Hartwig or Doug Legursky. Tomlin did say thought that Pouncey will see time at both center and right guard during the game. While we are on the offensive line, Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler talked with 93.7 The Fan reporter, Jim Colony, about the progress of camp so far in his first year as offensive line coach with the Steelers. Jim Wexell writes about the plight of kick returner Stefan Logan to once again make the 53 man roster as an undrafted kick return Read more [...]

Day 5 of training camp has started in Latrobe now as today features two practices with the later being open to the public. The morning session is an abbreviated practice focusing on special teams. 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 evening to see the updates. Compiled from interviews and info on Steelers.com | ESPN Radio Pittsburgh | 93.7 The Fan Radio | Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Pittsburgh Tribune | Twitter Updates Center Justin Hartwig was first Steelers player on the field this Read more [...]

Camp is only a few days old, but there have been enough practices and reports to get some initial impressions of what is going on and who is impressing and who is not. I have 5 winners and 5 losers listed below based on all reports and media stories. Winners: Ziggy Hood - Hood is right on schedule. You have likely read all the stories in the papers thus far as Ziggy is working everywhere on the defensive line including nose tackle. Hood can really spell all 3 guys on the defensive line most noticeably Aaron Smith on the left side. He is showing his athleticism and blowing by everybody on Read more [...]

It looks like the Steelers are indeed done with contracts for the offseason and once the season starts, no new deals are likely to be done, especially with the cloudy NFL labor situation. To the best of my calculations, the Steelers have 25 of 81 players on the final year of their current contract. I did not prioritize them below, but it is not hard to pick out those that are high profile moving forward. Those players would be: LaMarr Woodley, Ike Taylor, Jeff Reed and Daniel Sepulveda in my opinion. Dennis Dixon, Willie Colon and Trai Essex are fringe at this point. I have included a blurb on Read more [...]

Training camp gets closer and we continue on with our Steelers Training Camp Previews by position. This installment focuses in on the offensive line as I get you acquainted with the 2010 offensive line roster. Training Camp Preview – Defensive Line |Training Camp Preview – Safeties |Training Camp Preview – Linebackers | Training Camp Preview – Offensive Line | Training Camp Preview – Tight Ends | Training Camp Preview – Wide Receivers | Training Camp Preview – Running Backs | Training Camp Preview – Quarterbacks Overview: There are more questions than answers headed into the Read more [...]

The Steelers continued on in their OTA session on Wednesday and head coach Mike Tomlin met the media to answer a few questions. You can listen to the audio below from the PPG. Scott Brown has the transcript as well. [audio:http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20100602_tomlin.mp3] Wide receiver Hines Ward and center Justin Hartwig have been limited during offseason practices thus far, but Tomlin addressed the Hartwig situation when asked on Wednesday. He is still recovering from the shoulder surgery he had in the offseason and Tomlin sees no reason to rush him back. He reportedly be ready come Read more [...]

First-round draft pick Maurkice Pouncey got a scare on Wednesday as he had his toe stepped on by Trai Essex, who weighs 300 plus pounds. Pouncey escaped serious injury thankfully and got some work in at center with starting center Justin Hartwig and backup Doug Legursky both sidelined. All of the coaching staff is raving about the progress Pouncey is making and he surely could threaten Essex for the starting right guard spot. Running back Rashard Mendenhall said on Wednesday he would enjoy running behind a true fullback. “A fullback in the backfield he can probably see a lot of things a tight Read more [...]

Rookie linebacker Jason Worilds is slowly making the transition from left defensive end to a stand up right outside linebacker. Worilds is slowly being groomed to be the heir apparent to Pro Bowler James Harrison. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has notes from the Tuesday OTA practice session and lets you know who did and did not practice. It is interesting that center Justin Hartwig still slowed from off season surgery. Not a huge deal in May mind you, it just bares watching. Ed Bouchette's latest Steelers chat transcript is now up on the PPG website. Ed claims that rookie running back Jonathan Read more [...]