Steelers-no traditional captains, look out veterans

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His first news conference of the regular season led to some interesting changes for Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Plus, if you are a veteran, watch out or your job.

No more yearly captains

Cam Heyward’s run of being a season-long captain for 10 years is over. It’s over for everyone, McCarthy is doing away with yearly captains, rather they will have different captains every week.

“Without getting ahead of myself here, once we get to that point of the week, I'll have (Steelers Senior Director of Communications) Burt (Lauten) get that information to you.”

It’s a form of weekly motivation, but something that’s never been done with the Steelers.

Love these lines

For the last few seasons, Steelers GM Omar Khan and Assistant GM Andy Weidl have worked to improve both the offensive and defensive lines. They used first round picks in each of the last four seasons on the line (including three offensive tackles). McCarthy is impressed with both groups.

“I love everything about the D-line,” McCarthy said. “This D-line is as deep a group as I've been a part of. Thinking back over the last three decades, it's a group that I look to carry the team. O-line and D-line in this part of the country, this style of play, you've got to have it, and we've got it. I'm excited about our D-line.”

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Young guys

The Steelers kept all 10 of their draft picks and an undrafted free agent, that seems like its going to be more of the norm under the first-year head coach.

“This is a young league, and I think that's an important part of growth and development,” McCarthy said. “Older players and older guys may not want to hear that, but it's the reality of it. It's part of how this league is formed today. That's because of the business structure. You can only pay so many people, so youth is important as far as the makeup of your roster.”

McCarthy said every day they plan for the development of the younger players. They have meetings every day Wednesday through Saturday starting at 7a.

“Just to make sure we're continuing to grow those players,” McCarthy said. “I have a lot of experience coaching young teams and I've always took the teaching

approach, teaching to the youngest player in the room, and make sure those things are in place and utilize the value and experience of veteran players.”

“We have a great bunch of veteran guys here that do a really nice job helping our young guys.”

It doesn’t sound like they want to get rid of all the older players, but there is a constant look to the future.

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Checking with Aaron

McCarthy said when you have a quarterback of Aaron Rodgers’ proficiency and longevity there is ‘constant collaboration’ with him about game planning.

“I think it goes back to where my experience and training comes from, coming from the quarterback room,” McCarthy said. “But I think I made this statement back in the beginning when he was signed — when he returned is that we built this offense around his experience.”

”We've made terminology changes, but by no means do we want to slow him down. You're talking about a wealth of experience, talent, production, and I think it would be foolish for me not to tap right into that.”

“That has been the focus since we started this.”