Monthly Archives: August 2014

[Video] Brief Melee During Thursday’s Steelers Bills Joint Practice

While no major brawls broke out during yesterday’s practice, it wasn’t quite as “peaceful and professional” as the joint practice on Wednesday. Following Wednesday’s practice, Coach Tomlin praised the professionalism and etiquette of both teams.

“I thought there was great etiquette,” said Tomlin. “I appreciate the restraint and professionalism by both teams. I think that doesn’t get reported often enough. We like to turn on the TV and see gory, unfortunate incidents like what happened between Dallas and Oakland, and we’re here to prove that teams are capable of coming together and doing it in a productive and professional manner. I compliment both teams for how they did it today.”

Tempers flared more on Thursday, and although there were no Raiders vs Cowboys type battle royals, I doubt Tomlin will be praising either team for their restraint or professionalism.

In the video below taken by a spectator at yesterday’s practice, you can see Steelers center Cody Wallace get into it with Bills defensive tackle Landon Cohen. From there it escalates and both teams get involved. The skirmish peaks when Antonio Brown throws punches at veteran DT Kyle Williams.

Interestingly enough, LaGarrette Blount tries to play the role of peacemaker during the melee. During a later altercation, Blount tries to diffuse the situation by going to the Bills sideline to calm an angry player down, but is called back by Tomlin and Haley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJ3CZQxd5U

Video Of Sammy Watkins Beating Lew Toler Goes Viral For Some Reason

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The Steelers hosted the Bills for the second and final day of joint practices at Latrobe today. There were roughly 8,000 or so fans in attendance for the conclusion of Steelers training camp, and while the fighting was kept to a minimum, there was plenty of action for the swarm of onlookers.

Receivers were putting on a show tonight with cornerbacks getting burned on a regular basis. You’d think I was referring to Steelers DB’s getting owned based on the title of this article, but actually it was the Steelers receivers who were regularly taking the Bills cornerbacks to school.

https://twitter.com/ScottBrown_ESPN/status/500050239836147712

https://twitter.com/BCTBradford/status/500045774500413440

https://twitter.com/ScottBrown_ESPN/status/500045774907260928

Here’s a great video showing just how good some of the Steelers receivers were in one on one drills with the Bills DB’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEpBsRvAwI

Regardless of how impressive the Steelers receivers were, what apparently gets clicks is Sammy Watkins beating a slow, short, undrafted rookie cornerback in a one on one drill. To add insult to injury for Toler, his name is getting misspelled at all of the major sites that I’ve seen this posted at. Here’s the clip shot by Mark Kaboly of the Tribune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiF7mSHsmcM

It’s probably going to sound like I’m dumping on Toler, but that’s not my intention. No doubt he’s grinding everyday, working as hard as he can in hopes of getting on a practice squad this year. Having said that…he ran a 4.61 at his pro day. Watkins, the 4th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft runs something like a 4.31 give or take. Obviously there’s a lot more to this incredible mismatch than 40 times. Toler didn’t play a down in the Steelers first preseason game. He’s at the bottom of the depth chart. Behind Isaiah Green. Behind Devin Smith. There’s no way he’ll make the 53 man roster and it’s safe to say that he’s unlikely to make the Steelers practice squad. As I said in jest earlier regarding the next Watkins video to go viral~

https://twitter.com/TheSteelersFans/status/500093488877551617

Cortez Allen went up against Watkins in the same drill and fared a little better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaaImCJeVA

Sammy Watkins is an impressive receiver for sure, and I’m sure he’ll give many a starting CB fits this season, but going gaga over him beating someone tremendously out of his league is pretty silly. We’ll get to see how Steelers cornerbacks deal with Watkins during game action on Saturday night when the Steelers host the Bills at Heinz Field.

Steelers Sign LS Luke Ingram

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The Steelers have signed long snapper Luke Ingram today. Ingram was with the team briefly in training camp last summer, before being waived in early August. The Jaguars claimed Ingram off waivers, but released him a few weeks later. Ingram is 6’6″, 225 lbs, and went undrafted out of Hawaii last year.

The signing shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Steelers had an open roster spot, and while Greg Warren is out for the next month, LS/TE Bryce Davis is the only active long snapper. Ingram is wearing number 48 and immediately began practicing with the team today.

Several Sitting Out For Last Practice At Latrobe

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The Steelers are holding their second joint practice with the Buffalo Bills tonight at St. Vincent, and the final practice of training camp. Several players are sitting out the joint practice tonight.

Will Allen, Will Johnson, Matt Spaeth, Jarvis Jones, Jordan Zumwalt, Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster are all sidelined this evening. The two Wills are nursing hamstring strains they suffered in practice yesterday. Spaeth has missed the last couple practices for undisclosed reasons. Jarvis Jones and Jordan Zumwalt have been battling with groin injuries, and Ramon Foster has been out with knee swelling. There’s no information available about why Pouncey is sitting out tonight.

Ryan Shazier is nursing a bruised knee according to Coach Tomlin. He is practicing today, but probably only in a limited capacity as has been the case for the past couple days.

Earlier today, Mike Tomlin characterized Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier as questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Bills. Vince Williams, who has been sidelined with concussion symptoms, is suited up and will participate in some fashion tonight.

Jarvis Jones And Ryan Shazier Questionable For Saturday

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During his press conference today, Coach Tomlin labelled linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier as questionable for Saturday’s game against the Bills at Heinz Field.

“We have some guys who are potentially questionable in terms of their participation in the game against the Bills, but like the preseason opener we’re going to hold out until the 11th hour to make a decision whether they’re available or not,” said Tomlin. “We want to try to give everybody an opportunity to play in this game. Jarvis Jones is nursing a groin and Ryan Shazier is nursing a knee bruise.”

Jarvis Jones has been hampered by a nagging groin injury on and off for the past couple weeks. He participated with the first team defense during last Saturday’s preseason opener, and recorded a sack, but his practice participation has been up and down. Ryan Shazier has only recently returned to practice in a limited capacity since suffering a knee bruise in practice a week and a half ago.

Tomlin went on to mention that a couple players who are recovering from injuries have a chance to play Saturday. “Rob Blanchflower is working his way back, he has worked extensively in the past couple of days and we expect him to participate in the game. Vince Williams has a possibility of playing, and we’ll see what he looks like from the ImPACT test standpoint.”

Blanchflower has been recovering from an ankle sprain he suffered early in training camp. Vince Williams suffered a concussion earlier this week.

Greg Warren Has A Torn Meniscus

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Steelers long snapper Greg Warren suffered a leg injury during practice yesterday, an injury which coach Tomlin later described as a potentially serious one.

In his press conference today, Tomlin gave an update on Warren’s injury revealing that the long snapper has a torn meniscus in his knee, and is expected to be out for four weeks. Warren, who will be 33 in October, has already had multiple ACL tears throughout his NFL career. He has been injury free for the past few seasons however, as he’s started at long snapper for the past 64 consecutive games.

While Warren is out, Bryce Davis will handle long snapper duties. Davis has never played in a regular season game, so there is always the possibility that the team could bring in another long snapper at some point if they deem it to be necessary.

Greg Warren Could Have A Serious Leg Injury

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Veteran long snapper Greg Warren left practice early today. Head coach Mike Tomlin told the media after practice that he suffered a potentially significant leg injury. According to Tomlin, he’s being evaluated. The Steelers re-signed Warren to a one year deal this spring for the veteran minimum. He’s been with the team since 2005.

The Steelers have one other long snapper on the roster right now- Bryce Davis. Davis was signed by the Steelers in January. He spent time on the Bengals practice squad in 2012, and was with Cincinnati for training camp last year, but didn’t make the team.

You might be saying “well, it’s just the long snapper”, and to that I say: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80bf828f/WK-8-Giants-safety-ties-game

Hopefully his injury isn’t as bad as it sounds. We’ll update when more info is available.

Jarvis Jones, Foster, Zumwalt, Spaeth And Williams Out For Practice Today

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There are five players not practicing today for the first of two joint practices with the Buffalo Bills. Vince Williams, who was being evaluated for a concussion yesterday, is sitting out today. Ramon Foster left practice early yesterday with some knee swelling is out today.

Jarvis Jones is also sidelined today, presumably due to his groin. Matt Spaeth is out again today. He was back yesterday after being out for undisclosed reasons on Monday. Lastly, Jordan Zumwalt has been battling groin issues on and off, is also not participating today.

Steelers Sign RB Stephen Houston

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The Steelers have signed rookie running back Stephen Houston today. Houston was cut by the Patriots on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/499580420078727168

Houston went undrafted out of Indiana and was signed by the Patriots in May. The 5’11”, 225 lb running back put up some explosive numbers at his pro day- 4.4 40, 40″ vertical, and an 11′ broad jump. The former Indiana back amassed 2304 rushing yards during his three year career there.

Houston was touted as one of New England’s most promising UDFA signings, but a fumble in the 4th quarter Saturday night sealed his fate there. After the fumble, Houston was benched and was waived the next day. Here’s a gif of the fumble.

Stephen Houston Fumble

Here are some of Houston’s highlights from Indiana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxsd7d775-w

The Steelers still have one more roster spot available after the signing of Houston.

Steelers Have No Immediate Plans To Add A Punter

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I reported earlier that the Steelers placed P Adam Podlesh on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. The move was essentially a procedural one to free up the spot on the 90 man roster. When asked after practice if the team had plans to bring in another leg to compete with Wing, coach Tomlin said no. “Not as we stand here right now, no. Not that I’m opposed to it but not as we stand here right now,” said Tomlin.

About Podlesh’s current situation Tomlin said, “It is what it is right now. He’s on that list and his status will remain there until we hear otherwise. Right now we’re working with Brad, and I like the work that he’s doing.”

Podlesh can still rejoin the team. Being placed on the Reserve list doesn’t eliminate that possibility. While Wing may be the only punter on the active roster right now, I think the team taught us last year that the last punter standing after camp doesn’t necessarily have a job during the regular season.