LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers just finished two days of mostly live hitting in pads, and the hits set quite the August tone. As some teams scale back the physicality, the Steelers embrace it. National media coming into town notice the difference right away.
No dirty hits, but some can be heard from the top of the hill at St. Vincent College.
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has coached in six different NFL cities over 20-plus years. Pittsburgh's camp stands alone.
"Of all the places I've been, it's ratcheted up a little bit form a physicality standpoint, which is exciting," Haley said. "I believe in getting them ready for combat. They've worked really hard to get themselves ready for this. I think it's all part of the preparation for a 16-game season."
The highlight was Sunday's 'backs-on-backers' drill, where the linebacker goes one-on-one with a blocking running back. Linebacker Ryan Shazier obliterated the drill, shedding three different blockers with relative ease. Linebacker James Harrison beat a double team.
"You're built like a strong safety. Need more than that," a coach blurted out when sixth-round rookie linebacker Travis Feeney went too high on a rush.
Both days, the Steelers did 11-man work with live hitting, mostly in the inside running game.
Monday's session created a few injuries, including cornerback Senquez Golson with a mid-foot injury. He was carted off. The Steelers are hoping for the best after the second-round pick missed all of 2015 with a torn labrum. Golson has received some first-team slot corner reps.
Harrison also left early with a minor ankle injury.
For coach Mike Tomlin, live hitting is "very much an element of our game."
"We're not trying to set a tone. We're trying to prepare," he said.
In other camp notes...
* Rookie cornerback Artie Burns struggled Monday, getting outmuscled on two shorter plays (one screen, one rush) and lost a receiver deep. These days will happen with young players.
* Antonio Brown loves to hear the applause from the Chuck Noll Field crowd. So, he keeps making them cheer by getting free for big gains.
* Sammie Coates dropped a few Sunday but came back strong, connecting on two deep balls with Ben Roethlisberger in one-on-ones, easily separating from the corners.
* Two sides of tight end Xavier Grimble: Trucked safety Ross Ventrone one play, dropped an easy over-the-middle pass on another.
* Expect the Steelers to experiment with safety Robert Golden blitzing off the edge. Golden is getting many first-team reps alongside Mike Mitchell and corners William Gay and Ross Cockrell, who's standing his ground so far.
* Tackle Vernon Hargreaves’ burst off the line is noticeable.
