Play.it Usa Forum

pandu86 wrote: stavo scherzando...volevo solo vedere se leggete tutto o saltate i mie post a piè pari

pandu86 wrote:
*Polamalu shaved his head!!!
stavo scherzando...volevo solo vedere se leggete tutto o saltate i mie post a piè pari

vestanik wrote: :lol2:

Whatarush wrote:

fanculo

LATROBE, Pa. – If numbers are your thing, the temperature was at 87, but it's also accurate to call it the hottest day of this training camp. The afternoon practice was just about to enter its final 30 minutes, but those minutes were reserved for team drills, and it's the team drills that include all of the hitting.

Coach Mike Tomlin gathered the team around him and laid it out for them. There was one more field goal attempt left in the special teams period, and then it would be time for 30 minutes of banging heads … but … if Jeff Reed made the final field goal of special teams period – 42 yards out with the ball on the left hash – practice would be over. Miss it, and the team drills would start with the no-huddle. Oh, and Reed had just missed on his previous attempt.

"The hardest thing in practice is trying to create game-like situations," said special teams coach Bob Ligashesky. "That was pretty much as close to a game situation as you could get right there."

This special teams period had begun with Connor Hughes kicking field goals, and when he was finished, Reed stepped up for his turn. By then, Tomlin had told Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward what was coming, because they started yelling to the kicker, "Take us home, Reed. Take us home."

Reed made his first couple of kicks, and then hooked one. That's when Tomlin called the team together and gave everybody the news. There was a lot of expectant chatter at the prospect of 30 minutes cut off an afternoon practice as Reed went through his normal pre-kick routine.

"At this time of year, the guys are a little leg weary," said Tomlin. "I told Jeff last night the possibilities of it, and I asked him to keep it to himself so he could sleep on it a little bit. He wore it well, and he delivered for his teammates. And really, that's what training camp is about. We're pitting these guys against each other and coming out here and competing here every day. We want to make sure we're providing that same opportunity for Jeff."

Reed knew what was on the line, even if it wasn't going to show up in the standings.

"Coach Tomlin mentioned it to me and told me to keep my mouth shut, and not tell anybody else. Actually, it was worse that he did mention it, because I thought about it all night last night," said Reed. "I didn't want to let my team down. I'm glad it worked out for the best, and actually the one before that I mis-hit. It was good that it all wasn't riding on that one."

There are several themes emerging as Tomlin's first training camp continues to unfold, and among those are an emphasis on special teams, and the reality that while there is going to be hard work, there are rewards for working hard.

"I was finished after that period anyway, so if anything, it helps those guys," said Reed about the significance of his kick. "At this point, we're pretty tired anyway, and we're fighting through camp. Team drills was coming up, and if there are any hits that occur, that's the period when they occur, so I saved them a few bruises."

INJURY REPORT: Rookie Darnell Stapleton hyperextended his knee. "I don't think it's anything major, but he might require a day or two before he can get back out there," said Tomlin … Willie Parker, Chris Hoke and Travis Kirschke were given the afternoon off. "It's training camp, and there are bumps and bruises along the way," said Tomlin. "We try to take care of a few guys like Willie Parker, Chris Hoke, Travis Kirschke. Yesterday, we took a little bit off Verron Haynes. We want to make sure we keep our horses up and running."

He didn't have as far to go this time, which may explain why Alan Faneca took it upon himself to block two guys.
Defensive end Brett Keisel and linebacker Larry Foote felt Faneca's wrath in succession during a goal-line drill on Sunday.

Running back Willie Parker jogged into the end zone.

So much for Faneca's being disgruntled over his contract status becoming a distraction.

"I just happened to catch those two guys," Faneca said. "I think Keisel had somebody actually hanging on him a little bit, so he probably wasn't even worried about me."
Keisel might also have been more than a little bit surprised to see Faneca heading in the direction he was heading.

For years, the Steelers have pulled Faneca from left to right in such situations.

They used to have so much faith in a play called "Boss 38" (the "Boss" standing for "back on strong safety" in honor of Jerome Bettis) that they once moved Faneca from left tackle to left guard for a critical two-point conversion in Denver. So convinced were the Steelers that Faneca would get The Bus into the end zone that they apparently didn't care if the Broncos knew what was coming.

Now, the Steelers are becoming adept at running to either side (running behind Faneca remains the constant).

It's all a part of a training camp that has been characterized in part by an offensive line that's "doing a great job," in Keisel's estimation.

"He's being generous," Faneca said. "But we're probably starting out a little better than we have in the past. Normally, it takes a little time before we start to mesh."

Cohesion has been quickly achieved, at least in part because of consistency.

The center, right guard and right tackle positions were considered up for grabs when camp began.

But once again on Monday the starting five remained unchanged.

Head coach Mike Tomlin continues to maintain that the Steelers will experiment eventually.

But unless something changes drastically in the exhibition games, the questions have been all but answered.

Max Starks, a mess in minicamp, has slimmed down, stepped up and is going to be difficult if not impossible for Willie Colon to move from right tackle. Colon's having a good camp, but Starks is having a better one.

At right guard, Kendall Simmons is resurrecting his game and Chris Kemoeatu isn't offering much of a challenge.

Even if free-agent addition Sean Mahan eventually wrestles the starting center position away from Chukky Okobi as expected, the offensive line will experience a transition rather than an upheaval.

Once center is settled, the only lingering issue will involve whether Faneca will make good on his threat to "think about" playing through injuries he's played through previously.

When healthy, Big Red is still motivated enough to get 'em blocked two at a time.

It's the defense that doesn't look like it's coached, and that's perfectly fine with Dick LeBeau, who this spring, on third downs, put 11 undisciplined players on the field and let them figure it all out for themselves.

At least that's the way it looked. "we hope it looks like that", said LeBeau. "But there's a method to our madness".

That method is to take what Troy Polamalu has given the defense the last few years and compound it. That's why it only looked like six or seven players were thinking on thier feet and using thier instincts instead of thier playbook this spring.
LeBeau, again, chuckled at the notion.

"No, they all know where they're going", he said. "It's harder for the offense to read, harder for them to get thier protections set, thier formations set".

Thus, the organized chaos that is the new Quarter defense has been born. It's a third down defense designed to get the quarterback. Only one man- usually Aaron Smith- puts his hand on the ground while several others mill about the line of scrimmage as if they're on a grade-school playground. They even go as far as to walk around and chat with eachother before the snap.

"Definitely", said Brett Keisel. "We're trying to act like the only person that they know that's rushing, maybe, is the nose. He's the only guy who's going to be on the line. The rest of us are going to be in the back where the linebackers are, just walking around, talking, pretending like we're doing something, and hopefully we'll do the complete opposite and screw them up and get a free sack."

Keisel is the featured player in the scheme. A defensive end, Keisel has practiced the last few seasons as an emergency linebacker. So LeBeau knew the 285-pounder had the required agility and coverage skills, and when LeBeau watched the way the Baltimore Ravens swarmed the quarterback last season, he put the ideas together. It's now the latest off-shoot of his zone-blitz schemes.

"It's just an attempt to cause a problem for the offense to identify who's who, really", LeBeau said. "We can rush any combination or cover with any combination."

"You act like you're going to do this and then you do that", said Keisel. "Troy is the master of that. That's where I think all this wizardry comes from".

"It started off", Polamalu said, "in that we were very flexible in how we ran things. We had different packages with those rover type of guys. But then Baltimore kind of took it to another level where they started adding more bigger guys. So then we're kind of taking it to another level."

"When you have a 3-4 type defense and ends like we have, you can use that athleticism. That's the advantage, why Baltimore and a team like us would be able to do it and not, maybe, a 4-3 team."

While the first-round draft choice has spent the past five days standing around on the practice field, LaMarr Woodley has made more valuable use of his time at training camp.

While Lawrence Timmons continues to slip further and further in his development because of a groin injury, Woodley continues to grow and grow in his transition from collegiate defensive end to NFL outside linebacker.

"He's strong, man," outside linebacker Clark Haggans said. "He's got great explosiveness, and he plays with great leverage. He's only going to get better."

Woodley, the Steelers' second-round draft choice, was such a dominant defensive end at Michigan he won the Lombardi Award as the college football's top lineman and the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end last season.

Now, he is trying to follow in a tradition of defensive ends who have made the transition to stand-up outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense --Jason Gildon, Joey Porter and even Haggans, the starter at left outside linebacker. Woodley is even wearing Porter's former jersey number (55).

And while he still has a long way to go to get comfortable with formations and the nuances of pass coverage, Woodley certainly has shown the coaches he is very comfortable doing what he does best -- rushing the passer.

"He's a good football player," linebackers coach Keith Butler said.

"He's strong and he can move. We like the matchups we will get from him. He has shown he can do the things we thought he could do."

Woodley has done them so well he has a chance to be a contributor this season in third-down situations, spelling Haggans and perhaps even James Harrison, the starter at right outside linebacker, to rush the passer.

He will get a chance to put those skills on display Sunday night when the Steelers open the NFL preseason against the New Orleans Saints in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio.

"I'll probably go in there, give Clark a breather, and use my rushing skills and try to get to the quarterback," Woodley said.

"It's a great opportunity. If stuff happens during the season, while you never wish anything bad on anybody, I got to be ready when I get called."

Haggans, who has 15 sacks the past two seasons, says he is not upset by suggestions he might be replaced in third-down situations.

"Doesn't bother me at all," said Haggans, a defensive end at Colorado State before making the transition to outside linebacker.

"Whatever formula we need to win, if we're going to be successful at something, we have to do it full steam ahead. Him coming in, just rotating and keeping everybody fresh, is probably a good thing."

Butler compared Woodley (6 feet 2, 264 pounds) to Harrison (5-11, 242) because both are small, quick and very strong.

"He's quick and he stays low coming off the edge," said right tackle Max Starks, who usually goes against Woodley in practice.

Woodley did that so well at Michigan he ranks second in school history in sacks (25) and tackles for losses (50 1/2). In addition, he has strong hands, using them to force a school-record 10 fumbles in his career.

Of course, in the NFL, he will be going against offensive tackles who, for the most part, are bigger, quicker and stronger.

"It's just using your hands and your technique," Woodley said.

"You can't just overpower everybody. You have to use the technique you got."

Whatarush wrote: poi quando avrete voi palla inizierà il vero divertimento  

pandu86 wrote: The New "Quarter Defense"

pandu86 wrote: La OLine era la nostra maggiore preoccupazione...leggere quest'articolo è rinfrancante, ma un'altra cosa sarà in Regular Season...fino ad allora nn si potrà stare tranquilli.

Cmq i giochi sembrano fatti: Smith, Faneca, Okobi, Simmons, Starks.
Al Massimo Mahan può ancora togliere il posto a Okobi per il ruolo di centro.

Da notare un altro soprannome: Big Red per il #66.
E (forse l'avevo già postato) proprio il Big Red durante una sessione di autografi ha dato l'impressione di uno       che vuole finire la sua carriera a Pittsburgh (con le dovute certezze economiche)

pandu86 wrote: mi ricordo ancora al draft, su msn con whata che nn faceva altro che ripetere: "dobbiamo prendere Woodley al secondo giro" 

pandu86 wrote: The New "Quarter Defense"

Jim Wexell

ziojean wrote: Ci sono dei video di sta cosa? Sono proprio curioso di vederla 

Ciao
Maurizio

Whatarush wrote: Anch'io non vedo l'ora di vederla all'opera.
Comunque dovrebbe essere una cosa molto simile alla D dei Ravens.

PS: ma per Saints-Steelers come siamo messi? La danno su Nfl Network?

LATROBE, Pa. -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker missed practice for the second day in a row Wednesday because of a sore knee and is not expected to play in the Hall of Fame exhibition game Sunday night.

Parker has some swelling in his left knee and the Steelers are going to be cautious with their top running back.

Parker was a Pro Bowl back last season while rushing for 1,494 yards, the third-highest total in team history. His 75-yard touchdown run was pivotal in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over Seattle in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

The Steelers' Hall of Fame Game against New Orleans in Canton, Ohio, will begin the NFL's preseason schedule.

pitt wrote: Parker saltera' la prim partita di preseason contro i Saints.

Inside the ropes

By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 2, 2007


The secondary shone in 11-on-11 play, making four interceptions during the morning session. That included a spectacular, leaping pick of a Brian St. Pierre pass by free agent Grant Mason (Michigan). Fittingly, the session ended with an interception by free agent cornerback Jovon Johnson (Iowa). This prompted much celebrating among the defensive backs.
"They say it's contagious," said cornerback Ike Taylor. "Hopefully, we can keep it going. ... It's hard for us to make plays, so when we do, we have to celebrate a little bit."


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He's alive!: First-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons (groin) once again sat out practice, but he did do some pass-defense drills with team orthopedist Dr. James Bradley, who would hold out a ball and move it in the direction he wanted Timmons to go.
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Safety first: Strong safety Troy Polamalu made the play of the day when he reached over Heath Miller's right shoulder and intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass. Miller dropped a pass from Charlie Batch earlier in the session.
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Go, Willie, Go!: Second-year receiver Willie Reid continued to impress from the slot position. On one play, Reid hauled in a short pass over the middle from Batch and sped down the right sideline toward the end zone. On another, he burned Grant Mason, which prompted coach Mike Tomlin to yell, "Hey, Willie Reid, all right!"
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Trickery: The kicking game got crazy late in the afternoon session. First, holder Daniel Sepulveda took a snap on a field-goal attempt, picked it up and raced around the right end. Later, the team lined up for a 52-yard field-goal attempt, and kicker Jeff Reed took a direct snap and pooch-punted. When Reed went to cover the kick, he was on a collision course with linebacker Clark Haggans and ducked out of bounds. Reed turned to reporters, laughed, and said, "He would have kicked my (butt)."
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Nice haul: The receivers had their moments during 11-on-11 play in the morning session, particularly on a series of red-zone plays that started at the 15-yard line. Santonio Holmes made a leaping touchdown catch in front of Bryant McFadden, and Walter Young jumped high in front of Taylor and landed with both feet in-bounds in the back of the end zone. Later, in the middle of the field, Hines Ward made a one-handed catch in front of Taylor.
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Legends of the game: Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Franco Harris watched part of the afternoon session together on the hill behind the bleachers at newly christened Chuck Noll Field.
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Getting his kicks: Directional punting wasn't supposed to be rookie Daniel Sepulveda's strongsuit, but he put on an impressive display of it during the morning session. Sepulveda seemingly placed the ball wherever he wanted -- left sideline, right sideline, down the middle.
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Warding them off: On a red-zone play in the afternoon session, the Steelers lined up with three tight ends, a wide receiver (Ward) and a running back (Najeh Davenport). QB Charlie Batch connected with Ward on a short touchdown pass.

Big Ben hasn't been perfect, but he's been close

By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, August 2, 2007

Ben Roethlisberger's first interception of training camp didn't occur until Wednesday morning, as good an indication as any of the type of training camp Roethlisberger has been having.

"He's been amazing," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said.

"Feelin' good," Roethlisberger said.

So good that he was able to laugh off an ill-advised toss to tight end Heath Miller that wound up in the hands of strong safety Troy Polamalu.

"That actually was a new play that we put in today," Roethlisberger said. "I blame Bruce for that."
You can do that in August.

When it happens in September and October, as it did to Roethlisberger repeatedly last season along the way to an NFL-high 23 interceptions, it's no laughing matter.

Roethlisberger, to his credit, has refused to cite his offseason motorcycle accident, his preseason appendectomy and the concussion he suffered Oct. 22 in Atlanta as factors.

And Arians, to his credit, has looked beyond such obvious extraneous influences and detected flaws the Steelers would like to correct beyond Roethlisberger making regular trips to the hospital.

One was Roethlisberger's habit of sticking with his first and/or second progression a little too long.

"When you're staring down No. 1 and you don't throw it, you bring a lot of guys over to No. 2 and No. 3," Arians said.

Another was Roethlisberger's continued insistence on trying to force the ball into what Arians called "a little bitty hole."

That stuff hasn't been happening in camp.

Roethlisberger has demonstrated an ability to look off a target and a confidence in that receiver still being where he's supposed to be if and when Roethlisberger comes back to him.

And he's taking fewer chances when it comes to threading the needle in the red zone, although a couple of lasers in such situations made it through the DBs and into the hands of their intended targets for touchdowns last Friday night at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe.

Roethlisberger also delivered a perfectly thrown fade to Miller in the same red zone drill.

There was nothing Polamalu or anyone else could have done to prevent the touchdown.

In addition to making quicker decisions and, at times, decisions that aren't quite as risky, Roethlisberger will be asked to make changes in the blocking assignments for his offensive line.

That's something he'll have to do maybe twice a game in Arians' estimation, or not at all if Roethlisberger is comfortable that the "hot read" response to an anticipated blitz is a viable option.

The biggest change in his line-of-scrimmage responsibilities will involve audibles.

For the first time in his career Roethlisberger is being encouraged to call them.

"Total freedom," Arians said.

Arians is also adamant that the no-huddle offense Roethlisberger has been longing to run "should be a big part" of what the Steelers do on offense.

"We're going to try to experiment with things in the preseason and just keep growing," Arians said.

Roethlisberger has grown to the extent that Arians' goal for him is to reduce those 23 interceptions by more than half.

"Single digits," Arians said, "and somewhere between a 2:1 or 3:1 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio, and a high completion percentage."

So far thus summer, Big Ben has struck one, but only one.

His resurrection is off and running.