Ball on the one, Game on the line

Sunday - Steelers Training Camp Report

It's the day of practice that everybody loves. It's what everyone travels to Latrobe to see. It holds a certain mystique, a certain aura, and a definite place in the heart of all football fans.

Goal Line.

Charged with adrenaline, the offense and defense go toe to toe and may the best man win. Put the ball on the one-yard line, and let's see who can control the trenches.

In the beginning of the drill, the defense dominated. The line stuffed Rashard Mendenhall on three straight tries (Willie Parker was held out of practice again as a precautionary measure.) This wasn't surprising because this match up pitted the best defense in the league against an injury-plagued offensive line. But the amount of intensity pulsing through this drill matched that of a playoff game. After each stop, Willie Gay stormed the d-line yelling and screaming with Ryan Clark joining in. Eventually, Hines Ward was asking for a flag due to excessive celebration.

The second team defense did allow two touchdowns to rookie running back Isaac Redman. I talked to him after the drill. Though he's had a questionable camp up until this point, he looked impressive in the full contact drill. He says he's grateful to have this opportunity with the Steelers because no other team was interested, just glad it happened to be the "best team in the league." He is also excited for the preseason to start on Thursday against the Cardinals. Redman said he feels a strength of his is being able to break tackles and without much contact at camp, the game provides the perfect arena for showing his skill.

When Mike Tomlin was asked about Isaac's performance, he said it was too early to evaluate. Even though he looked good during the drill, Tomlin refuses to make a snap judgement about the rookie runner. "You know that's not my style," he said.

Today was also without question the hottest day at camp so far. At the beginning of practice, another media member informed me the temperature was 85 degrees, but on the field the thermometer read 92. Tomlin liked the weather to be hotter, but maintained weather is not a concern because they can't control it.

The Steelers will be back at it again tomorrow with another double day, still driving toward the Thursday night Super Bowl rematch.