The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up Mini camp this week and now the true off season begins. Mike Tomlin has long discounted spring practices as “Football in shorts” and it is true that there isn’t a lot to be learned from these sessions. Hence, Jim Wexell’s report that Tomlin tersely snapped a “no” as a response to a question about whether the rookies impressed him should surprise no one.
- But this is 2015 the machine-like appetite of Steelers Nation must be fed.
Storylines emerge every year during Steelers OTA’s and Mini Camps and 2015 was no exception. The main storylines as the Steelers mini camp 2015 closes follow below Mike Tomlin’s picture.
The Steelers Offense is Poised to Explode
This should come as a surprise to no one. If the unit sputtered during the first half of 2014, it soared in the second. Ben Roethlisberger is playing the best football of his career, and Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant give him a potential lethal triple threat.
And that doesn’t include potential contributions from Heath Miller or rookie 3rd round pick Sammie Coates.
- And, for what it is worth, the consensus of the Steelers press corps is that Martavis Bryant is set up for a break out year.
Johnny Mitchell Is Happy
As Dale Lolley points out, neither man has put on the pads yet, but Daniel McCullers and Clifton Geathers have both come to camp in shape, and both have Steelers defensive line coach Johnny Mitchell beaming.
For Steelers Linebackers Two is Better than One
The shape and direction of the defense under new defensive coordinator Keith Butler was a hot topic of course. But truth be told, there was little real news on front and there will not likely be any until the Steelers open vs. the Patriots.
One change that people are talking about is the decision to split the linebacking coaching duties between Joey Porter and Jerry Olsavsky.
The interesting thing is that move was made at the behest of Butler, who himself apprenticed under Dick LeBeau as his linebackers coach.
Steelers Undrafted Rookie Free Agents Generating a Buzz
Kevin Colbert has been an ace at finding unrestricted rookie free agents who blossom into legit NFL players, from stars like James Harrison and Willie Parker, to solid starters like Steve McLendon, to role players like Isaac Redman.
Going into training camp members of the Steelers 2015 undrafted rookie free agent class who’re generating a buzz include tight end Cameron Clear, wide receiver C.J. Goodwin, cornerback Kevin Fogg and, while they’re signed officially as wide receivers, Tyler Murphy and Devin Gardner will at least get a shot at challenging Landry Jones for the third quarterback slot.
Although, it’s worth noting, that per Dale Lolley, Landry Jones looked pretty good in mini camp.
But, as Mike Tomlin would remind us, let’s see how things play out when the pads to on and the hitting starts. See you in Latrobe, Steelers Nation!
