Training Camp yesterday

First, Antonio Brown is as amazing as ever. Was torching anybody covering him, not dropping a single pass. Made it look like child's play. Simply amazing. And took time after practice was over to sign a bunch.

Number 13. QB. Dustin Vaughan. Laser Arm! Poised in the pocket. Threading the needle. Besides Ben who looked solid this kid needs to be on the roster! I was very impressed. Bye bye Landry. Horrible. And Grad might be the number 3. Just my opinion.

Timmons when in showed fire, blasting D Will with a little fore arm when tackled. Vince Williams was all over the place. And this rook Tyler Matakevich has a nose for the ball, good motor and should make the 53. Was quite impressive.

Hargrave will be the starting Nose. Tuitt is a beast.

And the Bell was tolling! Man what a talent. And didn't even turn on the jets.

Lets hope Pouncey stays healthy.

Sammie Coates was impressive.

Not a pad practice for Dupree was working on the sidelines.

Shazier was not there probably getting treatments. Got banged up on Tuesday.

Brad Wing was blasting punts! Gotta give some love...

All in all was an impressive day. The Offense seems unstoppable.

 

Brad Wing is back??

 

That was Jordan Berry who beat out wing last year

 

Thanks for the report, CK!

I would love it if Vaughn made the roster. Have you seen the youtube video he made?

 

Brad Wing is back?

 

I just typed up my report, rather than start a new thread, I'll put it here:

Thursday’s training camp

I had the chance yesterday to make my annual pilgrimage to St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe for the Steelers’ training camp. I missed last year, too busy, so it was nice to see the practice once again. Here is my round-up.


The day started off with me getting an extra point on the spinning wheel and winning a 2015 team picture. 92 once again has the biggest smile of all his team mates. My son spun a fumble and got a copy of the 2016 schedule. After that, we headed to the Steelers experience. On to the football...


Coates, Ayers, and Norwood were out early catch balls from the machine. They did a series of drills, in front, from behind, and one handed. My first view of Coates is that he is buff. He’s huge compared to the other wide-outs. While 84 proves you can be all pro without the typical measurables, Coates has the them: 6-1, 212, looks quick, has good hands, and his arms are twice any other wide-out. He is better with his right hand on the one-handed catch than his left. With two hands, he catches everything.


The o-lineman came out next. While just 4-5 inches taller than most others on the line, Villanueva looks to be a foot taller. He also led the team on the sidelines drill where they jump through hoops and over stuff, I think it might be called the ladder drill. Love this guy!


The team started with some drills, then during the stretch line they sang happy birthday to D Will. You could even hear Tomlin getting in on the action. It was cool to see, this team has great chemistry. Antonio Brown showed up late. I’d rather he be on time and participate with the team’s stretching. Harrison put Ben’s jersey on during the stretching; made for a good cheer from the crowd.


I enjoyed seeing Artie Burns, Doran Grant, and Sean Davis on the field. On a series of endzone drills, AB covered AB. On at least two plays, Burns had what looked like perfect coverage, but the 7-84 combination is just too good and Brown caught the pass. Burns showed a little frustration and bewilderment after the one play, he was all over AB. It was good to see. Made us wonder, in the history of the league, how many QB-WR combos have been as good as Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown? Artie Burns certainly isn’t going to see that level of talent week one with Cousins and Jackson. Bottom line, while I am a homer and so elevate Ben and AB in my own mind, if you think about great QBs and great wide receivers – they aren’t always matched up.


Doran Grant impressed me. He has his head in the game. With Golson out, he has an opportunity. Let’s hope he makes the best of it. #38 defense – not listed on the roster handout, recent pick up maybe? By the simple fact that I’m bringing him up is a sign that he made several nice plays. #40 – Montell Garner, not so much. He’s a first round cut.


Jordan Berry boomed several punts. Ayers looks like he has a lot of potential as a punt returner as well as filling the 5th wr slot.


Vince Williams held tight coverage on Le’veon Bell on a 30 yard out, pass incomplete. VW adds crucial depth to the ILB core and I’m glad we have him.


Wild Thing (that’s what I called him), Dustin Vaughan impressed me. He made accurate throws and has a quick release. LOLandry Jones appears to have a hitch when throwing, which slows his release. I’m no professional evaluator, but when he appears to do a fraction of a pump fake before every throw and then the pass always seems to be late, it just makes you wonder. If Jones cannot make the throws in practice, more incomplete than complete, then how is he going to make them in the game? Beyond that, if I notice his hitch, certainly DBs from opposing teams notice. Back to wild thing, Dustin Vaughan - he impressed me. More so than Gradkowski. Ben is light years ahead of any of them, but I’m anxious to see DV in the preseason games. This is Landry’s 4th year. Is the team really going to give him a second contract? Could DV be a serviceable back up?


Tight-ends: One of my favorite drills to watch has been the sled drill. The tight-ends would hit it, and then Heath would hit the sled. Even if you weren’t watching, you knew when Heath hit the sled, because you could hear it. I liked seeing Jesse James in all of the other drills, but he was a bit lacking in the sled drill. Xavier Grimble impressed on the sled drill and on the field. Though 3 inches shorter than James, he is the same weight. He is more buff. I see him as potential to be the blocking TE the team needs. David Johnson – eh, he did hit the sled hard, but his hands are the same as always.


Last by not least – coaches, I didn’t see Porter, I made a comment to my buddies that perhaps he isn’t allowed on the field even during practice. They laughed and said they saw him.

 

Pretty sure he meant Jordan Berry. I read somewhere that he's been killing the ball. Had a legit 80 yard punt.

 

I just typed up my report, rather than start a new thread, I'll put it here:

Thursday’s training camp

I had the chance yesterday to make my annual pilgrimage to St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe for the Steelers’ training camp. I missed last year, too busy, so it was nice to see the practice once again. Here is my round-up.


The day started off with me getting an extra point on the spinning wheel and winning a 2015 team picture. 92 once again has the biggest smile of all his team mates. My son spun a fumble and got a copy of the 2016 schedule. After that, we headed to the Steelers experience. On to the football...


Coates, Ayers, and Norwood were out early catch balls from the machine. They did a series of drills, in front, from behind, and one handed. My first view of Coates is that he is buff. He’s huge compared to the other wide-outs. While 84 proves you can be all pro without the typical measurables, Coates has the them: 6-1, 212, looks quick, has good hands, and his arms are twice any other wide-out. He is better with his right hand on the one-handed catch than his left. With two hands, he catches everything.


The o-lineman came out next. While just 4-5 inches taller than most others on the line, Villanueva looks to be a foot taller. He also led the team on the sidelines drill where they jump through hoops and over stuff, I think it might be called the ladder drill. Love this guy!


The team started with some drills, then during the stretch line they sang happy birthday to D Will. You could even hear Tomlin getting in on the action. It was cool to see, this team has great chemistry. Antonio Brown showed up late. I’d rather he be on time and participate with the team’s stretching. Harrison put Ben’s jersey on during the stretching; made for a good cheer from the crowd.


I enjoyed seeing Artie Burns, Doran Grant, and Sean Davis on the field. On a series of endzone drills, AB covered AB. On at least two plays, Burns had what looked like perfect coverage, but the 7-84 combination is just too good and Brown caught the pass. Burns showed a little frustration and bewilderment after the one play, he was all over AB. It was good to see. Made us wonder, in the history of the league, how many QB-WR combos have been as good as Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown? Artie Burns certainly isn’t going to see that level of talent week one with Cousins and Jackson. Bottom line, while I am a homer and so elevate Ben and AB in my own mind, if you think about great QBs and great wide receivers – they aren’t always matched up.


Doran Grant impressed me. He has his head in the game. With Golson out, he has an opportunity. Let’s hope he makes the best of it. #38 defense – not listed on the roster handout, recent pick up maybe? By the simple fact that I’m bringing him up is a sign that he made several nice plays. #40 – Montell Garner, not so much. He’s a first round cut.


Jordan Berry boomed several punts. Ayers looks like he has a lot of potential as a punt returner as well as filling the 5th wr slot.


Vince Williams held tight coverage on Le’veon Bell on a 30 yard out, pass incomplete. VW adds crucial depth to the ILB core and I’m glad we have him.


Wild Thing (that’s what I called him), Dustin Vaughan impressed me. He made accurate throws and has a quick release. LOLandry Jones appears to have a hitch when throwing, which slows his release. I’m no professional evaluator, but when he appears to do a fraction of a pump fake before every throw and then the pass always seems to be late, it just makes you wonder. If Jones cannot make the throws in practice, more incomplete than complete, then how is he going to make them in the game? Beyond that, if I notice his hitch, certainly DBs from opposing teams notice. Back to wild thing, Dustin Vaughan - he impressed me. More so than Gradkowski. Ben is light years ahead of any of them, but I’m anxious to see DV in the preseason games. This is Landry’s 4th year. Is the team really going to give him a second contract? Could DV be a serviceable back up?


Tight-ends: One of my favorite drills to watch has been the sled drill. The tight-ends would hit it, and then Heath would hit the sled. Even if you weren’t watching, you knew when Heath hit the sled, because you could hear it. I liked seeing Jesse James in all of the other drills, but he was a bit lacking in the sled drill. Xavier Grimble impressed on the sled drill and on the field. Though 3 inches shorter than James, he is the same weight. He is more buff. I see him as potential to be the blocking TE the team needs. David Johnson – eh, he did hit the sled hard, but his hands are the same as always.


Last by not least – coaches, I didn’t see Porter, I made a comment to my buddies that perhaps he isn’t allowed on the field even during practice. They laughed and said they saw him.

 

( description used for his school from steeler depot, Despite coming from a school that might sound like something out of a Key and Peelesketch) Vaughan had impressive college stats, but you have to wonder why he was cut by Dallas and only lasted a month at Buffalo, especially dallas who was desperate to get a back up, he might make a 3 QB or a PS candidate, slinging the ball around in shorts means little until they have to sling it in a real game....

 

Agreed, but compared to Jones who can't even sling the ball around in shorts...

 

You cant base a practice on 1 day, pre season games will be the barometer on who stays at QB and who goes, it's too early to set the roster at quarterback other than we know who the number 1 is.....

 

oh
the visual

 

I've read other places that The team is real happy with Hargrave's progress.

 

My bad

 

Your right Blast,You do know that every year at camp time theses fans have a crush on some new QB in camp to replace landry jones, last year it was Tajh Boyd they were drooling over, and this year their new crush is Vaughn, but LJ always keeps a spot on the roster after the last cut, this year it wont be any different, hate him or love him he is here to stay and will be the number 2 after they break camp.....

 

Hearing Jordan Berry do well gets me excited, him along with Bos. Improving on special teams is HUGE, a lot of people never factor that part of the game in. See Denver playoffs last year...

 

Not a crush... have you seen him slinging it around? Were you at camp? Laser throws. Decisive throws. And yes, there was a pass rush. In pads. Not shorts. Tajh Boyd was not better then Jones. Vaughn is better then Jones. Just what I saw.... oh, and i'm not alone...

 

Heck I am better than Jones ...I have not seen Vaughn yet, but I hope we actually have a guy who can play the QB spot if called on...

 

Todd Haley is blown away by his players in training camp:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/07/29/todd-haley-blown-away-by-what-hes-seeing-at-training-camp/