Steelers Training Camp News & Notes

The Steelers were given Monday off, but that doesn't mean that I'm taking a day off.  With training camp in Latrobe, PA almost one week complete, there are plenty of news and notes to go around that could have huge dividends when the regular season rolls around.

-- Mike Wallace situation continues to loom over this 2012 team.  Even though everyone (and when I say everyone I mean GM Kevin Colbert, Head Coach Mike Tomlin, and all Steeler players) is saying the right things, the Steelers want Mike Wallace to be a part of this team.  Will the long term deal get done?  I sincerely doubt it, but they want him there to help the team win.  Someone will have to budge on that front, but even though I wrote that I think the offense could be lethal WITHOUT Wallace, I think it could be record-setting with him.  No news so far from either sides, although silly trade rumors (trade to Dallas) have been talked about for a while now even though Kevin Colbert has said they are not entertaining trades from other teams for Mike Wallace.  Time will tell how this unfolds.

-- DeCastro should be showing his worth sooner than later.  Even though the team has only had two practices with pads so far in this young training camp, the Steelers 1st round pick should be showing flashes of whats to come already.  I compare him to the other OL that was drafted in the 1st round, Maurkice Pouncey.  When they ran walk throughs and worked without pads it was thought that Pouncey could start at guard and get acclimated playing behind Just Hartwig at center.  It was only about a week into camp and a few reps with the second team that Pouncey showed that not only should be be playing center, but he should be starting with the first team.  He took the position and never looked back.  Now its that time for DeCastro to put all the speculation to bed that he is going to hold down that guard position for many years to come.

-- ILB Carousel keeps on turning.  For a long time now former 1st round pick, Lawrence Timmons, has been talked about as being a "freak" and having "a ton of potential"....but thats where the discussion typically ends.  Timmons is probably most remembered for over committing on plays, seemingly lost at times, and is being moved all over the defense to fill in for players that might be injured.  The Steelers are now going to try Timmons at James Farrior's old position to have him captain the defense.  If he learns the position well enough, it where he will stay.  Accompany that with the good showing OLB Chris Carter is having this training camp and there might not be an immediate need to move Timmons to the OLB position if Harrison or Woodley goes down.  Timmons is the perfect fit for the ILB position that Farrior used to uphold, but he has to be able to lead the defense as well as play the position.  I think he is up to it, and hopefully this is the year you see him blossom.

-- RB Situation still TBD.  We all can assume that Isaac Redman will be anchoring down the starting role until Mendenhall returns, but what about the other players (Batch, Dwyer, Rainey, Clay).  Who will jump out as the leader of the pack to back up Redman and be the third down back?  Hopefully as the pads get put on more and more, you will see that person jump out.  I personally think that the depth chart will look something like this: 1-Redman 2-Dwyer 3-Batch 3B-Rainey.  Sorry, but I don't see John Clay necessarily fitting into this offensive scheme.  We'll see how it pans out.

Until tomorrow, keep checking the site for updates on all of your favorite Pittsburgh Sports teams!