Mike Tomlin’s message to Steelers when they meet again at camp: ‘Show up ready to work’
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After gathering his players on the practice field Thursday afternoon at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, coach Mike Tomlin offered a few parting words.
He offered a message that he hopes resonates considering the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t reconvene again until July 24 at Saint Vincent College in Unity Township.
“Man, it comes to a screeching halt,” Tomlin said as the Steelers wrapped up their mandatory three-day minicamp. “It’s been a good offseason. We got a lot of good work done. We laid down some foundational things.”
Phase 1 of the offseason program began in April, then ramped up to include three weeks of organized team activities followed by the minicamp that took place this week. What follows is a break that lasts nearly six weeks, with most of Tomlin’s players scattering to all parts of the country.
Before his players departed, Tomlin gave them words of advice that he offers each year on the final day of minicamp.
“They have the right to expect the group to show up ready to work,” he said. “But there are also responsibilities that come with that right. They have the responsibilities as individuals to show up ready for the group.”
Reporting to training camp in prime physical condition is atop Tomlin’s wish list for his players. He reminded his players that effort is one intangible thing that can be controlled as they prepare for the three weeks they will spend training in Westmoreland County.
“Just make sure we’re ready to go,” first-round pick Troy Fautanu said. “You don’t know what to expect. Make sure you are in the best shape of your life because you don’t want to come in and have soft tissue injuries and things you can control.”
Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton is entering his second season with the Steelers. Last summer, he didn’t know what to expect when training camp arrived, and he has tried to temper expectations of what is in store for this year’s rookie class.
“I feel like everybody has their own idea of what camp is supposed to look like and what it actually does,” Benton said. “I’m telling them not to worry. I was one of those guys who made it harder than it was. I’m not saying it’s hard, but when you’re playing that mental game with yourself, it wears and tears on you even more.
“Go in with an open mind but be ready to work.”
Kickoff returner and running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who was signed in late March, admitted he’ll need the 41-day break to get into proper football shape. On a scale of 1 to 10, Patterson said his current level of conditioning is a two.
“When I get to camp, I’ll be a 10 out of 10,” he said, laughing. “It’s the same every year. I take the same approach every year. Every offseason, I go in, and I do my thing. When I get into OTAs and camp, I’ll get myself in the best shape of my life, but I don’t go stressing myself when I’m away from football.”
As he approaches 30, outside linebacker T.J. Watt has adjusted his training regimen. Watt played all 17 regular-season games last year — he was injured for the playoffs — after appearing in 10 in 2022.
“It’s just being smarter,” Watt said. “I’m not going crazy in the weight room anymore. I’m not trying to set personal records as far as max reps or weight. I’m trying to maintain and stay healthy. That’s the most important thing.”
Steelers veterans will encounter a practice schedule at Saint Vincent that is different than any the organization has used under Tomlin’s watch. All weekday practices, which encompass 10 of the 16 scheduled sessions, will be at 10:30 a.m. rather than in mid-afternoon.
The change was made by Tomlin in consultation with the team’s new strength and conditioning staff.
“We want to give them more time to interact with fans post-practice while at the same time taking care of their bodies and rehydrating and still having an appetite for dinner,” he said. “Under the later schedule, those things get a little cramped, and we want to create an environment where we keep the group upright and working.”