Mike McCarthy’s first training camp as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach has begun. While the organization has changed a lot this year, it’s still at Saint Vincent College for camp. Things look different under McCarthy, and while there’s likely to be a learning curve with the coaching staff almost completely overhauled, the head coach gave two thumbs up when asked about what he did and didn’t like from the first practice.
“I think the big thing there was I like the way they came out of the meetings,” McCarthy said Thursday via the team’s website. “They came out of talk-through. You can see they were sharp. Now, the execution part, we’ve got a ton of work to do.
“That’s what training camp looks like. Then, we get pads next week; pads are not going to be consistently low enough. We look like a normal starting day… I thought we got off to a nice start.”
Nothing is going to be perfect on the first day of training camp. That’s why players practice. If they were ready to suit up and play, then they would. Things weren’t always pretty on day one, with the defense seeming to win often.
However, this time is important for the team to iron out wrinkles. Don’t panic because Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on the first day of camp. The coaching staff isn’t the only thing that’s changed in Pittsburgh. There are several new pieces on the roster, too. Rookies are trying to get their feet wet. Also, veterans like Michael Pittman Jr. and Rico Dowdle are likely still finding their place in Pittsburgh.
What matters is that it sounds like the entire team has bought in to McCarthy’s message. Mike Tomlin was Pittsburgh’s head coach for almost 20 years, and the roster has a lot of veterans. It might’ve been tough for someone new to come in and fill Tomlin’s shoes. It seems like McCarthy is jelling well with the team, though.
We’ll see if things are cleaned up by the time that camp ends. The Steelers have a lot of work to do installing new offensive and defensive systems. While training camp just started, it sounds like the McCarthy era in Pittsburgh is off to a good start. Hopefully, the team can continue to stack good days as the regular season approaches.