Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell returned to practice today. (Photo Credit: vader29)
Comin’ back at you with another TC Roundup.
If you missed it, check out my Game Notes from the Giants’ game. Lots of information from the game. And hit up our snap count article to see how many snaps each Steeler participated in.
Shamless plugs aside, your notes from today.
As we usually do, starting with the injury report.
The Good? Le’Veon Bell, as expected, was back in practice and looking pretty good.
Bell practicing. Takes first rep in backs-on-backers
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) August 12, 2013
Later in backs-on-backers, Bell goes vs Timmons twice. Timmons wins both. Bell looks good in team running period. Quick, nice cuts — Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) August 12, 2013
5th round cornerback Terry Hawthorne, plagued by a knee injury, practiced for the first time all camp.
Terry Hawthorne actually suited up. 8/12/13 — James C Wexell (@jimwexell) August 12, 2013
The Bad? Hawthorne got burned by Wheaton for a 25 yard TD.
Terry Hawthorne welcomed to practice by getting beat by Wheaton for a 25 yd TD pass. Ben throwing. — Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) August 12, 2013
Wheaton 2, Hawthorne 0. Same play. — Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) August 12, 2013
And backup guard/center Justin Cheadle had to be carted off with what appears to be a leg injury.
Reserve guard Justin Cheadle went down with an apparent right leg injury in team drills. Trainers still working on him on the field. — Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) August 12, 2013
Here comes the cart for Cheadle. — Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) August 12, 2013
Mike Prisuta repored Mike Golic Jr filled Cheadle’s spot at RG.
Plaxico Burress celebrated his 36th birthday by undergoing torn rotator cuff surgery this morning.
A small update on the health of David Johnson.
David Johnson doing some running while chatting with trainers. Not sprinting (not close) but more of a leisurely jog.
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) August 12, 2013
Remember Johnson underwent a cleanup over a week ago that was expected to sideline him for two weeks. And he still just surpassed one year since his torn ACL so this recovery isn’t anything alarming. Still, it’d be nice to see some more noticeable progress for a player at a position that is as thin as a sheet of ice in July.
Stevenson Sylvester dodged a bullet suffering only an ankle sprain when Markus Wheaton tripped into him early in the second quarter Saturday. Will only miss a few practices per Ed Bouchette.
Steelers LB Stevenson Sylvester has ankle sprain, not high. Will miss a few days of practice — Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) August 12, 2013
Keeping you updated on the offensive tackle situation.
Steelers OLine coach Jack Bicknell Jr. says 76 still at LT, 77 at RT. “We’re gonna stay with it and see if there’s a reason to flop back.”
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) August 12, 2013
And rightfully so. On the whole, Mike Adams looked good in Saturday’s game. The team won’t change anything until they’re given a reason, as Bicknell states.
In backs-on-backers, Prisuta reported Baron Batch was the strongest, going 7-2. Woodley defeated Bell in their one matchup. Bell split two matchups against Timmons.
Markus Wheaton continues his strong day with a nice catch late in practice.
Finally a go-route for Markus Wheaton. Only 7 on 7 but Ben aired it out, great fingertip catch up sideline gets crowd applause
— Ken Laird (@Ken_Laird) August 12, 2013
Brian Rolle, coming off a strong showing Saturday, worked with the second team ILB with Marshall McFadden. Terrance Garvin ran with the second team following Stevenson Sylvester’s injury during the game so possibly a hint of a depth chart change.
Steve McClendon was held out of practice (personal) with Al Woods getting first team nose tackle reps ahead of Alameda Ta’amu.
QUOTES TO NOTE
Jarvis Jones
Playing in his first NFL game: “I enjoyed [the game]. Definitely some things I left on the field that I can definitely work on as an individual. As a team, I think we played ok. We still got a lot to work on, we still got a lot to learn. We have camp so we have time to develop and get better.”
His fumble recovery: “I took the college route to it to curl, made sure I kept the ball. The guys on the sidelines said I should have picked it up and ran so that was a learning curve for me too.”
LaRod Stephens-Howling
Evaluating the team’s performance running the ball: “All week we said we wanted to establish the run game. The offensive line did a great job making holes and we were able to execute that. ”
If he’s happy with his performance: ” I think I’m happy but at the same time, it’s never as good as you think it is or as bad. So I’m excited anticipating seeing the film and going over everything. Seeing if there was anything I missed.”
Le’Veon Bell
Not playing in Saturday’s game: “It was tough watching my guys go to battle, but I feel like it was a smart decision to sit me. ”
What he did during the game: “I just watched those guys pick up pass protections, how they react to the ball, read holes, being patient to the hole. Our RBs did a great job out there. They come off, I tell them a little bit of the things I seen. Try and help them out. Of course, they tell me and describe what they’re seeing. It was a great opportunity for me to watch and watch those guys go to work.”
Maurkice Pouncey
On Stephens-Howling’s play: “He did great, man. He has great vision as a running back. He sets the blocks up nicely for the offensive line and I’m pretty sure our offensive line appreciates that.”
Al Woods
What led him to do so well Saturday: “To be honest, just effort. Just keep working, trying to get to the ball, running to the ball, doing all the things we talked about in camp. Just try and help my team out. ”
Ryan Clark
Importance of preseason for rookies: I think these games are important for everybody. For different reasons, obviously. For the guys who start, it’s about fine-tuning. It’s about stretching yourself to see what you can do. Putting yourself in some bad positions and trying to get out of them in these games to understand what you can do once the regular season starts. It’s also important for the young guys because we need to figure out a division of labor. We need to figure out which guys are going to do what and which guys are capable of doing certain things. So I think it’s important from top down just for different reasons at each level.
Teaching the young guys to be “Steelers”: “Just through the way you live. The way you react, the way you behave around the team. Your work ethic. But the way you embrace them as well. Small conversations with new rookies. Taking some time, hanging out in their rooms. Extra meetings with different DBs. Just dong the different things that say ‘You’re apart of us’ without actually having to say ‘Ok, we accept you’.”
On this group of rookies: First of all, they’re talented. If you look at the guys, Jarvis, Le’Veon, to Shamarko, Markus. Very talented guys but the most humble group we’ve had come through here. As far as guys who want to help, want to work, who want to be apart of this organization and what we have going on, I’ve never seen a group accept it the way that they have.
Mike Tomlin
On Spaeth’s injury: “We’ll keep him alive and see where he’s at…we’ll probably get a little more clarity in the next couple weeks.”
On Al Woods: “He’s a guy that’s been working at end. He’s a big body guy. He’s performing well. We want him to add value to his cause and ours by showing position flexibility.”
