RealGM

http://news.steelers.com/article/91969/

A tidbit of the article.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers begin defense of their AFC North Division title when the entire team reports to training camp Sunday, July 27, at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. This will be the 42nd year the Steelers will train at Saint Vincent College.



Head Coach Mike Tomlin enters his second training camp as Steelers head coach with 81 players on the roster, including one player as part of the NFL International Practice Squad Program. The roster includes 54 veterans, eight first-year players and 19 rookies.



The first official practice will take place Monday, July 28 at 9 a.m. Generally, morning practices will begin at 9 or 10 a.m. and afternoon sessions will start at 2:55 p.m. Only the afternoon practices are open to the public.

Observations from the Steelers first day of camp. Few article bits

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... ef=netzero

"He ain't heavy, he's my nose tackle: While Steelers defensive tackle Casey Hampton will apparently be allowed to sleep at night in one of the dorms at Saint Vincent, it's far more accurate to say that for the time being he has taken up fulltime residence in head coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse. Hampton, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, showed up in Latrobe a tad overweight on Sunday, making a mockery of the 325 pounds that he's listed at on the Steelers roster (Do I hear 370?)."


"Laying it on the line: Jeff Hartings is a year into retirement. Alan Faneca is a Jet. And most people rightfully consider the state of the Steelers' offensive line as the single-biggest area of concern on Pittsburgh's roster. And with good reason. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times in 2006 and 47 more last year. That's the highest two-year total in franchise history, and the Steelers have been around since 1933. Keeping Big Ben upright more often is job one in '08 for the OL."

"The Rookies: Getting Rashard Mendenhall in the first round and Limas Sweed in the second round gives a pretty potent Steelers offense two more high-quality weapons at coordinator Bruce Arians' disposal. Mendenhall is expected to contribute early and form a one-two punch in the backfield with Willie Parker, who has come back strong from a broken fibula in Week 16 last December. The rookie from Illinois told me Monday that he still can't believe his good fortune of landing in Pittsburgh."