Black and Gold Back to Work During Bye Week

 

While most teams get an extended break during their bye week, not the Steelers. New head coach Mike Tomlin has the Black and Gold at 4-1 and playing at a high level, so in keeping things going in the right direction, the team will get some extra work in this week. The team will practice today and tomorrow, then get Friday, Saturday and Sunday off before getting back to work on Monday. In years past under Bill Cowher, the team would get Monday and Tuesday off during the bye week, then have a light practice on Wednesday and Thursday then be off till the following Tuesday. Not under Tomlin.

“It’s a good thing,” LB Larry Foote said. “We’re 4-1, aren’t we? If we were 1-4, there’d be a question mark. But we’re 4-1 so whatever he’s selling, we’re buying. We may be moaning, but we don’t mean anything by it.” While the team was out there busting it up looking to get better, eight players were on the sidelines watching. Troy Polamalu, Casey Hampton, Bryant McFadden, Marvel Smith, Najeh Davenport, Jerame Tuman, Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward all were off nursing injuries. Ward, who hopes to be back for Denver on October 21st, says a new routine is not all that bad. “We bought into it,” Ward said. “We can’t complain about it because we had success to this point. Guys went out there and worked, it was hot out there, full pads, a lot of hitting going on. At the same time, it was some great quality work for the younger guys to get in because they haven’t seen many reps since training camp. In cases where we have injuries, those guys are expected to fill in and this is a great opportunity for them to get some work in.”

And for the team, it’s just another example why bringing in a new voice when they hired Tomlin was a good thing, and the results are already showing in the standings.