Steelers' Tomlin schedules tough camp

By Mike Prisuta
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, July 11, 2007


The Steelers will hit the ground running in their first training camp under head coach Mike Tomlin.

The players are due to report to St. Vincent College by 4 p.m. on July 23. That 4 p.m. deadline coincides with the annual camp-opening conditioning test.

Also on the itinerary are 15 two-a-days during the 25-day camp, which runs through Aug. 16.

"That is what NFL training camps are all about," Tomlin said in June upon concluding the offseason's organized team activities. "They are not supposed to be pleasant."

The Steelers had their conditioning tests the day after reporting during the Bill Cowher era.

Cowher also shied away from two-a-day practices in recent seasons.

The Steelers have two practices scheduled for five consecutive days, July 24-28.

Following an afternoon-only practice July 29, the Steelers will endure another set of five two-a-days (July 30-Aug. 3) in advance of opening the preseason against the New Orleans Saints at 8 p.m. Aug. 5 in Canton, Ohio, in the Hall of Fame Game.

The players' first off day, not counting the travel day to Ohio, will be Aug. 6, two weeks after their reporting date.

Their second and final off day will be Aug. 12, the day after hosting the Green Bay Packers at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Five more two-a-days have been scheduled between the Hall of Fame Game and the Steelers' third preseason game, at 8 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Washington Redskins, including three in a row over the final three days at St. Vincent.

The Steelers will break camp Aug. 17, the day before the Redskins game.

Night practices have been scheduled for July 27 (a Friday night at Latrobe High School) and Aug. 2 (a Thursday night at St. Vincent), both on the back end of a scheduled two-a-day.



Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.