zulater
08-04-2013, 05:21 AM
The rolling hills wrapping St. Vincent are suddenly alive with the sound of Steelers professing their commitment to conditioning.
Which is, of course, awesome.
I mean, who wouldn't applaud Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman for dropping roughly 20 pounds each to compete for a running back spot neither of them claimed last season?
Or LaMarr Woodley for dropping roughly 20 from his playing weight of the past two seasons?
Or Troy Polamalu for showing up hale, healthy and more active in drills than anyone's seen from him since INACTIVE dominated his ledger?
There are other examples, and they even include poor Marcus Gilbert. You've no doubt heard how he cramped up on the opening run test and had to be carted off but, in reality, has received sterling reviews for his shape.
It's all wonderful. Really is.
Just one problem: Put all these various warm-and-fuzzy pieces together, and it exposes, now more than ever, that the sore-thumb shortcoming of those 8-8 Steelers from last season was and I'll say it because Mike Tomlin won't being overweight and out of shape.
Think that's oversimplifying?
Think again: Those Steelers lost five games by three or fewer points. And in at least three of those Titans, Bengals, Raiders all they needed was one play in the waning minutes to flip the outcome.
One play!
And if anyone can't see how running an extra lap, taking one more turn at the weights might have made up the difference, I'll assure there are plenty in this camp, no less who can.
I don't think there's any question, guard Ramon Foster said before practice Saturday. We're in better shape as a team, and we've got a better mindset.
Why now, not then?
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/4442862-74/steelers-guys-shape#ixzz2azijmG5O
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
Which is, of course, awesome.
I mean, who wouldn't applaud Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman for dropping roughly 20 pounds each to compete for a running back spot neither of them claimed last season?
Or LaMarr Woodley for dropping roughly 20 from his playing weight of the past two seasons?
Or Troy Polamalu for showing up hale, healthy and more active in drills than anyone's seen from him since INACTIVE dominated his ledger?
There are other examples, and they even include poor Marcus Gilbert. You've no doubt heard how he cramped up on the opening run test and had to be carted off but, in reality, has received sterling reviews for his shape.
It's all wonderful. Really is.
Just one problem: Put all these various warm-and-fuzzy pieces together, and it exposes, now more than ever, that the sore-thumb shortcoming of those 8-8 Steelers from last season was and I'll say it because Mike Tomlin won't being overweight and out of shape.
Think that's oversimplifying?
Think again: Those Steelers lost five games by three or fewer points. And in at least three of those Titans, Bengals, Raiders all they needed was one play in the waning minutes to flip the outcome.
One play!
And if anyone can't see how running an extra lap, taking one more turn at the weights might have made up the difference, I'll assure there are plenty in this camp, no less who can.
I don't think there's any question, guard Ramon Foster said before practice Saturday. We're in better shape as a team, and we've got a better mindset.
Why now, not then?
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/dejankovacevic/dejancolumns/4442862-74/steelers-guys-shape#ixzz2azijmG5O
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook