Training camp with pads start today!
Training camp with pads start today!
On Claypool...
Ben is going to love Claypool.
second full practice in a row for Ben
Dotson injured and carted off the field today.
Originally Posted by Dwinsgames
Enthroned Into The Good Old Boys Club - 2024
:drool:
Watt and Banner has some words at practice today.
Practice Report: Aug. 19
https://www.steelers.com/news/practice-report-aug-19
Rudolph's reports are not good, at least for yesterday's practice....
https://steelersnow.com/training-cam...es-to-impress/
I'm not going to freak out too much about these interim reports. Either positive or negative.
For instance on Monday/Tuesday of this week; Chuks was supposedly forcing his way to the starting RT position according to reports. Now on Wed/Thurs of the same week; Banner is separating himself. That seems like a push between the two at best...or different observers seeing different things...
It is, unfortunately, almost certainly true that Rudolph stinks. BUT...even the short write-up indicates that one of the incompletes was on the receiver falling down. If he is running with the second and third tier guys, what if they run the wrong route and Rudolph throws to the proper spot? That's an incompletion but who was at fault? Same with drops or whatever...without more details it is really hard to tell what is happening...
Probably should all take a breath and wait it out a bit. Plus, it doesn't really matter until the words "Maybe Paxton Lynch continues to get more reps with the second unit" start to appear in the reports. Until then, Rudolph is the back-up QB for better or worse...
This is one of the reasons why the preseason can be useful ... 4 games may be too much but 2-3 games can give us ideas on the questions mark (like Ben's arm) or on young players ... But unfortunately even if I understand we don't have much information and the reports from Mark Kaboly or others might be interesting but we need to pay to see his articles.
And what I've seen, for the most part Ben's reports are positive and he hasn't had a day off but his motion for his deep ball seems to be a question mark, at least for now.
spot on ...
this year it will be even more difficult than ever for us ( and the coaching staff ) to figure out position battles ... I normally go to camp myself and get eyes on key battles , this year not gonna happen .... coaches usually have more practices in pads , they have preseason games to use as tools to determine pos battles ...this year not gonna happen every year there is a guy or 2 from almost every team across the league that makes the club week 4 of the preseason none of those guys will do so this year .........
so 50-60 guys at the start of the season that ordinarily would be in the league will be pushing carts at local walmarts across the country or selling drugs on some inner city street corner because they didn't get a normal shot at the league ....
this season ( provided there is one ) will be far more fluid in terms to the practice squad and last roster spot or two is my guess
Kenny Pickett is who I though he was .. Eagles didn't value him either , now he is a Stain at the Mistake by the Lake 3 teams in 4 years more of a shooting star than a superstar
https://steelersdepot.com/2020/08/ri...egular-season/
I think this is kind of how a number of roster competitions are going to go down. Especially when the "loser" of the competition is still going to make the final roster. Why decide until you have to?
That’s the kind of battle I like.
Blocking has to start with "want to" and if Ebron hasnt been challenged to run block so far in his career, its on those teams. Have to be willing to do both, or else there is no value as a dual threat player.
Cant put a road pylon in at the TE spot who will not block in the run game. Otherwise its pretty obvious to the defense that when Ebron is in the game, its gonna be a pass. Or else its just the Steelers playing their 10 guys vs the other teams 11 in the run game. I cant believe the lazy clown seems to be complaining about hitting the sled.
Here's the "concern" I have. And this is likely totally flawed. But Ebron's got muscle memory from about a decade of college and the NFL where he doesn't block well when he's in the line. Can 3 weeks of drills and low contact walkthrough change that? So cool, he lights up the sled this week but Week 2 in the pressure and pace of an actual game which version shows up? Blocking sled 2020 or what's on game tape until now? Based on my own FAR less intense experience playing sports and being a fan; I gotta put my bet down on "previous to now".
This likely makes sense to no one but me.
Blocking doesnt take some type of elaborate muscle memory like its a reverse triple-somersault from the pike position in diving. Its literally like pushing a Toyota 4Runner to the gas station that ran out of gas. There are elements of the approach, hand position, stance, contact and finish with leg drive that he has done at sometime in his last decade of football.
Most likely, Ebron has been given a pass on being much of a blocker, since he has really been a receiving TE since he was a junior in highschool. Still, if the Steelers TE coach likes the 1 man sled and the TE's use it, then Ebron hasnt proven he is so great that he can pass on using it. Also, if he isnt as good a blocker as McDonald, Gentry, Rader, etc. then he needs to work on it in practice. When the head coach is calling you out about brining the same energy to run blocking as you do to pass catching, its not about technique and muscle memory...its about effort.
After all your discussion on the defense disguising their coverages and needing hybrid players, you can surely understand that having a 1 dimensional receiving TE on the field, really lets the defense know that its strictly a pass play. For a former 10th overall pick, who never lived up to his potential to be not willing to block is really a recipe for him getting released or not getting a hat on gameday, IMO.
For sure. It wasn't some elaborate defense of Ebron. I think he's a crappy blocker. A TE in name only and a package player who tips the offense hand when he's on the field. I also think 3 weeks in blocking boot camp isn't going to reset a players mindset. If you avoided pushing the 4runner for a decade, you aren't going to suddenly start leading the charge to do it.
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IMO....A TE's ability to run block is important but not half as important as pass catching. So long as the effort and technique are there to hold a block for a 2 count should be long enough for an NFL RB to get past. The ability to not tip run or pass to the defense is the important thing. If the defense knows Ebron refuses to block then he only comes in on passing downs is a huge tip-off. Just making him an OK blocker should be enough. We all already know it will be in the passing game where Ebron will be most effective. At 6'4" and 255lbs he should be OK as a blocker with good technique, whether on a edge rusher or 2nd level.
I understand your point .... He just needs to not be awful in run blocking and have an effort on that and he's going to be fine I don't know if it will be the case but we will see when the season start... Of course,the steelers must use Ebron's strengths as often as possible.
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