The Pittsburgh Steelers have now wrapped up their Wednesday training camp practice and that now means there are just two more sessions remaining at Saint Vincent College before the team leaves Latrobe. Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media at the conclusion of the rain-filled practice.
“Spirited work today, Steelers versus Steelers,” started Tomlin. “Getting back after a day off and I thought that this Wednesday was a better representation of what I’m looking for than last Wednesday, coming off an off day and getting after it. I think we’re very thoughtful about how we frame these work days up here and in a lot of ways, as we get closer to the season, we want it to reflect how they might work during the season. Yesterday was Tuesday, a natural in-season players’ day off, Wednesday’s a big day. I install a lot of base football during the regular season and I thought it was important that they came out here with energy and enthusiasm. I requested that of them and they delivered. Wasn’t perfect by any stretch. We’ll learn from it, look at it, evaluate it, but a good start for our week coming off an off day.”
Tomlin also somewhat updated the health of the team after practice.
“Nothing really new,” said Tomlin. “The guys who are out continue to be out. [Cameron] Clear with his knee. [David] Nelson, [Lawrence] Timmons, Vince Williams, [Jordan] Zumwalt, [Josh] Harris and [C.J.] Goodwin. The PUP guys are the PUP guys.”
Wednesday’s practice was very spirited and it included rookie linebacker Bud Dupree attempting to fight with several members of the Steelers offensive line while other players tried to restrain him. Tomlin was asked during his talk with the media if Dupree was a little feisty during practice.
“A little bit, said Tomlin.
He was then asked if there’s a point where he decides to either step in during altercations, or just let the players go at it.
“I play it by ear,” said Tomlin. “I don’t have a script for it.”
He later chalked it all up to it just being part of football and that he really doesn’t know what happened that caused Dupree to get so angry.
