Training Camp Battles: Defensive Tackle

Nate Guldry/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I will be alternating offense and defense in these posts. Links for the previous posts can be found at the bottom of the page. Before I get into the nitty gritty of this particular training camp battle, though, here is some information I think we all are glad to hear.

Peter King and some of the MMQB staff spent Monday’s practice at Latrobe, and King had lots of interesting things to say, which you can read about here. But what caught my attention was the short video by senior report Albert Breer, who had this to say:

Takeaway No. 1—that was probably the most physical practice I’ve been to in a couple of years anywhere in the NFL, and maybe one of the five or six most physical practices I’ve been to in a dozen years covering the league. 

The article quoted Mike Tomlin:

“It’s a necessary part of the team-building process for us,” he said. “We don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what others do, we want to have a winning edge. Physicality is still as much a part of the game of football as it’s always been, from my perspective. That’s why we take our approach to team building. We got 90 guys out there, many of which are new; we’re trying to evaluate them. When you play with that level of intensity, and tackling at times, it eliminates a lot of speculation and provides clarity.”

 

Hopefully it won’t just result in weeding out some guys via injury. Mind you, it doesn’t seem possible to avoid, no matter how careful everyone is.

Evaluating the Steelers’ 2016 Draft Picks: DT Jarvon Hargrave

Javon Hargrave is one of the guys I covered fairly extensively prior to the draft, although it was under the assumption he would be a Day Three guy.

You can see by the picture why I would have been suggesting him for a BLA draft candidate. He has a sweet smile, for one thing, and hardware, for another. These considerations presumably didn’t sway the Steelers one way or another. But here’s some of the things which might have:

Steelers ‘X’ Factors for 2016: Defense

Matt Freed—Post-Gazette

by Ivan Cole

Here’s Part II of my off-season speculations. (For Part I click here.) As noted in the previous article, the rules are simple:

The players I select could be in the conversation as key factors in the team’s success, but are probably not at this time. They can be anyone from established superstars to non-drafted newcomers (admittedly a tougher call, but a good part of the fun). This exercise is undertaken with the understanding that injuries and unanticipated personnel moves could radically alter the assumptions and landscape of the discussion, and that the conversation will evolve as the season progresses and more information is forthcoming.

As usual, please feel free to add your thoughts below.

Mocking the Draft: Day Three Odds and Ends

via foxsports—that’s a lotta beef…

More precisely, I’m going to cover defensive tackles and ends. That will be it for this year. All that remains is to publish my final Momma’s Mock Draft tomorrow, and then wait and see whether Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin and all have taken my advice or gone off on their own as usual.

Once again this will be a combination of players suggested for the Steelers after my original Rounds 1-3 posts were written, along with Day 3 prospects mocked to the Steelers. After, naturally, they have been subjected to my usual winnowing process. I know you only want to see the best of the best!