PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Just as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said they were starting to find a rhythm, team mini-camp ended Thursday afternoon on the South Side.
Tomlin used the phrase ‘bittersweet’. So did quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
“We are jelling,” Tomlin said. “The more reps we get the better we get. We are just getting to know each other’s strengths and repping the plays we like. Once we get on the same page, there is no telling where this offense can go.”
“I like where we are at so far. I thought we had a really good mini-camp and I’m excited for training camp.”
“At first, I wasn’t 100% about coming here,” said Steelers guard Kevin Dotson. “I like training the whole time, but we got to meld with our own people. That’s definitely a benefit that we got from this. We all get to come together and learn at the same time instead of someone coming in later than everyone else.”
For Dotson is was about melding with some new offensive lineman not to mention Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.
“Even though there is not hitting, it’s very competitive,” said new Steelers guard James Daniels of his first workouts as a Steeler. “I feel like everyone is taking it on them to listen to the rules and still play as hard as they can. People are taking it on themselves to compete, they want to get better. They are being professional and doing the best they can every day.”
“It set up everything,” said safety Terrell Edmunds of the importance of OTAs and mini-camp. “It set up our communication. It set up our standards. It sets up our foundation of what we want to build off of.”
“It’s the chemistry, you either have to get on the train or get off the train. We are going into training camp with energy.”
Now it’s about staying healthy, staying out of trouble and coming to Latrobe for the first time in three years ready to go on July 26.
“Some of the messages we’ve left these guys with are physical conditioning precedes anything else, it kind of starts there,” Tomlin said. “That’s the one element they can control regardless of their level of experience, exposure to professional ball, or what we do here. They show up in great shape, they’ll position themselves to perform well.”
“So that’s some of the messaging that we’ve talked about, but it’s been a good spring for us with a lot of opportunities to teach and learn. Obviously, the next time we come together in an official capacity is going to be compete time and I’m sure we’re all excited about that.
“I feel really confident with where we are at right now,” Trubisky said. “I feel very fortunate and lucky that I landed here in Pittsburgh. I’m happy to be here with this team, coaching staff, the City and the fans. I’m excited for the opportunity and what we are building here right now.”