Pittsburgh Steelers coaching camp is just a little completely different than it’s for many groups. Not solely do they nonetheless journey away from Pittsburgh for camp, however their practices are additionally nonetheless very bodily. Aaron Rodgers pointed to that as one thing that he hasn’t seen in a very long time. Lately, Mike Tomlin spoke on why he continues to take that method to observe.
“Sure hills I’m gonna be keen to die on,” Tomlin mentioned Sunday on The Pivot podcast. “I’m gonna be mild on my toes. It’s a must to be, you gotta be open to alter and doing issues in a different way, for those who’re gonna do one thing at a excessive stage for a very long time. However it’s additionally some issues that’s gotta be non-negotiable. And for me, the development of physicality is non-negotiable.
“I’m doing these dudes a disservice if I don’t create an surroundings the place they present that part of their sport or develop that part of their sport or put together them for what I do know is ready for them in stadiums. I’m not within the hope enterprise. I hate hoping. And I believe typically whenever you don’t put together them, you’re hoping for efficiency.”
Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007, however he first entered the NFL in 2001. He got here up as a coach throughout a time when most groups within the league emphasised physicality. The NFL remains to be a violent sport, however again then that was much more true.
Participant security is necessary, so lots of the NFL’s modifications are for the higher. Nevertheless, Tomlin nonetheless desires to make his workforce as robust as doable. He places them by way of the wringer. Final yr, he lightened up on them just a little bit, shifting coaching camp practices to earlier within the day. This yr, he’s accomplished away with that, as soon as once more having the Steelers observe through the hottest a part of the day.
For newcomers like Rodgers, that’s been just a little little bit of a shock. Rodgers has been within the league since 2005, so he remembers how issues was. Having the ability to shock a 20-year veteran speaks to Tomlin’s unorthodox type.
Nevertheless, as Tomlin, that’s a hill that he’s keen to die on. Irrespective of how the NFL modifications round him, Tomlin goes to proceed preaching physicality. That’s how he desires his workforce constructed, which is obvious when wanting on the method he’s constructed the Steelers.
Their offense has Rodgers, however they wish to be a run-first group. They’ve invested so much into their offensive line lately. Additionally, their protection is loaded with bodily gamers. T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey are all elite, laborious hitters.
Maybe that’s a double-edged sword and a part of the explanation why the Steelers pale to finish the 2024 season. Nevertheless, that isn’t stopping Tomlin from persevering with to push his workforce. We’ll see if that pays off and helps the Steelers win within the postseason this yr.
