REPORT DATE: July 26th
SITE: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: There is plenty of work to be done in Pittsburgh as age has slowly crept up on the Steelers. In fact, this could be the most important training camp for the Steelers in years as they have to move forward at multiple positions. Pittsburgh has moved on from former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton and really can't count on oft-injured safety Troy Polamalu. Meanwhile, two of the team's younger playmakers, wide receiver Mike Wallace and cornerback Keenan Lewis jetted in free agency to Miami and New Orleans, respectively. Former Georgia star Jarvis Jones said he would never get past the Steelers in the draft and sure enough he didn't. It's almost like the whole league conspires to give Pittsburgh impact 3-4 players. Poor 40 times sent Jones crashing out of the top 10, but the Steelers may have gotten a Terrell Suggs-like steal in the first round. Pittsburgh also may have found their successor to the declining Polamalu in fourth-round choice Shamarko Thomas, an undersized, high-energy thumper on the back end. Offensively, second-rounder Le'Veon Bell is supposed to install some of that Jerome Bettis-like toughness back into the Steel City's running game but he is a big back who doesn't run like one most of the time and hasn't shown the nastiness as runner the Steelers expect from their backs.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):
Aug 10 - vs. NY Giants, 7:30 PM Aug 19 - at Washington, 8:00 PM Aug 24 - vs. Kansas City, 7:30 PM Aug 29 - at Carolina, 7:30 PM
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