The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived at Latrobe for training camp on Friday and here now is your recap of the news and notes from the day.
- Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is now on Twitter, and you can follow him at @coachtomlin. Tomlin said he wants to show his players how Twitter can be used responsibly, and that he also figured it was time to get on the social media platform being as his kids are also starting to use it.
- During his afternoon press conference, Tomlin said he was happy with the conditioning level of the team following the run test. In addition, he said Heath Miller, David Johnson, Sean Spence and Alameda Ta\’amu would start training camp on the PUP list. Ta\’amu figures to be the first one off the list, but not until his hamstring heals. The Steelers head coach would not speculate as to when the other three players would be ready to practice, but as far as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his knee goes, Tomlin said he still has some minor discomfort, but that it shouldn\’t hinder him from doing what he does on the practice field.
- Spence said he has been cutting more on his injured knee and said he has regained some of his speed back during his rehab. The young linebacker, however, expects to remain on the PUP list when the season gets underway with the goal being to play sometime later in the year.
- Tackle Marcus Gilbert reportedly had some issues after the conditioning test was over and needed to be carted off the field as a result. Gilbert is expected to be fine, but he might need to improve his conditioning level over the course of the next few weeks.
- Tackle Mike Adams and rookie cornerback Terry Hawthorne were not listed on the PUP list, and that is good news. Tomlin said that Adams has been cleared to practice, and the second-year offensive lineman said he would be ready for the start of the season upon his arrival to training camp.
- Tight end Matt Spaeth, said he thinks Miller will be ready to play in the season opener. Take that for whatever it is worth. Spaeth said he has been working out with Miller recently.
- Center Maurkice Pouncey really handled himself well with the media today. He apologized again for his actions in regard to the “Free Hernandez” hat and is now ready to move on. He said he and Tomlin talked about the incident, but left it at that. “I know I took a lot of heat for it and I probably should have,” Pouncey said. Pouncey also said the one goal in Pittsburgh is to win championships, and that he is ready to be the leader of the Steelers offensive line this season. He added that not making the playoffs last year was unacceptable and made it known that he\’s ready to put the work in during training camp just like everybody else.
- Mark Kaboly reported that defensive end Cameron Heyward showed up to Latrobe weighing 298 pounds, which is the lightest he has ever been since he was drafted.
- Rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton is a very soft-spoken kid, and he told Kaboly that he knows everybody is curious about what he can do on the field being as he was forced to miss all the OTA sessions and the mandatory mini camp because of the graduation requirements. Wheaton said his goal in training camp is to pick up what he needs to learn as far as the offense goes and make the team. The Steelers third-round draft pick also said he expects it will take some time for him and Roethlisberger to get their timing down with each other.
- Ed Bouchette reported that there have not yet been contract extension talks with Ryan Clark, Brett Keisel, Emmanuel Sanders, Isaac Redman and Ziggy Hood. In reality, that\’s not too surprising, as the team usually focuses on them during training camp. As far as Sanders goes, he said he\’s not worried about right now. The wide receiver made it known that he worked out daily during the six weeks off with strength coach Garrett Giemont at the Steelers facility.
- Speaking of Keisel, he topped his arrival to Latrobe last year by showing up this year driving an off-road dump truck. Keisel, who arrived wearing a Steelers hardhat, said Latrobe is a construction area this year, and that they are constructing a team. Keisel also said he fully understands that 2013 could very well be his final season, and that he just wants to enjoy the year.
- Linebacker Larry Foote let be known that James Harrison left some pretty big shoes that need to be filled and that while Jason Worilds took a big step last year, he\’s expecting another step forward from him in 2013. “We’re used to winning; this organization is used to winning. This town is used to winning,” Foote said. “(So the) young guys better fall in step.”
The Steelers will practice for the first time on Saturday, and we will recap all the action for you later in the evening.
