The Pittsburgh Steelers held their annual night practice at Latrobe Memorial stadium Friday night and head coach Mike Tomlin briefly addressed the media afterwards to discuss the session.
“A good practice,” said Tomlin. “Love the energy and enthusiasm, the competition. Guys are really warming up to it and getting a sense of what we’re looking for with some of these designed drills and we’re really meeting the challenge in terms of not only technique, but intensity. And obviously, intensity is a big element of some of these scripted situations that we put these guys in.”
Tomlin was asked if the first week of training camp practices were as productive as he hoped they be.
“I don’t view it as an extra week,” said Tomlin. “It’s just the first week and from that standpoint it was a good start. But I’m not looking to judge it along the way. We’ll judge it by the way we perform in stadiums, because that’s reflective of how our journey is once we get into the regular season.”
Center Maurkice Pouncey (PUP), quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (PUP), tackle Mike Adams (PUP), cornerback Senquez Golsen (PUP), safety Mike Mitchell (undisclosed) safety Ross Ventrone (leg), safety Gerod Holliman (lower leg), tight end Heath Miller (day off), linebacker James Harrison (day off), cornerback Cortez Allen (undisclosed) and safety Will Allen (day off) all sat out Friday night. After practice, Tomlin was asked to update Holliman’s status.
“He had a lower leg injury of some kind,” said Tomlin. “We’ll evaluate him day-to-day.”
The team apparently got through the practice without any new injuries.
“A bump and a bruise here or there, said Tomlin. “We’ll visit in the morning and see, but nothing of any significance.”
The Steelers will be back practicing at Saint Vincent College again on Saturday afternoon.
