Steelers rookies getting creative in finding weightrooms, fields, other facilities
In a typical year, the newest Pittsburgh Steelers — those drafted and signed as rookie free agents — would have access to a state-of-the-art weight room; four on-site, pristinely maintained, full-sized football fields (one of them, under a climate-controlled roof); and a professional staff of athletic trainers, physicians, strength and performance experts.
This year, of course, is anything but typical. And this rookie class’ access to facilities is less than usual.
“I look to find any field I can around my home in Maryland,” sixth-round pick Antoine Brooks said when asked about his workout routine. “There’s a lot of fields that I can stop by, a lot of old fields I used to play on that I went on and worked out on.
“My weight room I use right now is a little (subpar), but my cousin, he was always into lifting weights and body lifting, so I go to my cousin’s house.”
Instead of the luxury of cutting-edge amenities at a $50 million facility, the newest Steelers are exploring their hometowns for open expanses of grass — or going to a cousin’s house to use their weight bench.
That is not ideal for a group that has little chance to make an impression on their new bosses. By extension, millions in future income could be at stake.
“I don’t really see it as us falling behind because, ultimately, everybody is in the same boat right now,” Steelers fourth-round pick Anthony McFarland said. “(Everybody) only can do so much … so I wouldn’t really see it as us being behind.”
That sounds a lot like Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who is perpetually averse to excuse-making.
Tomlin presided over the Steelers rookie minicamp this past weekend. It, of course, was done remotely. None of the organization’s newest players have set foot in UPMC Rooney Sports Complex since they officially joined the team.
“This class is going to be affected by these circumstances,” Tomlin said. “It will be fair in that, globally, this class will be affected by these circumstance — not only the Pittsburgh Steelers rookies but throughout the National Football League.
“I’m sure it is going to affect their abilities in some instances to participate and the amount of participation and contribution, but we will all understand the ramifications of that as we walk the journey. And until then, I don’t waste a lot of time worrying about what they might be.”
The unique circumstances surrounding 2020, of course, have made this #Steelers rookie minicamp unlike any prior, with plenty of (iPhone) FaceTime and Zoom (video conferencing).https://t.co/DDVlwsvmNx
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 9, 2020
Tomlin is right in that the Steelers are facing no competitive disadvantage relative to the league’s other 31 teams. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the rookies aren’t at a competitive disadvantage against their veteran counterparts.
It is difficult to quantify, but at some point, it would seem the rookies will miss out on what they need to properly prepare for their first NFL seasons.
Seventh-rounder Carlos Davis, for instance, does not have access to weights. That can be a problem for a 312-pounder who needs to maintain mass to play NFL nose tackle. Davis, though, insists he is getting by using resistance bands.
“I’m not losing any muscle tone,” Davis said, “I’m staying pretty fit but just eating cleaner.”
Second-round pick Chase Claypool is one the lucky ones. He said he has two trainers (one specific to speed) whom he has employed for the past five years. For now, like most of his rookie brethren, he said his focus is learning the Steelers playbook.
The playbook, of course, is in the hands (and laptops and tablets) of the players. Steelers coaches and training and performance staff are available for video and phone conferencing. So despite the difficulties, there is still plenty available to digest about becoming an NFL player.
“It’s all up to you if you don’t want to fall behind,” McFarland said. “At the end of the day, we are getting the installs. And being in the NFL, they are going to expect you to know the plays and expect you to know where you are lining up.
“I don’t really look at it (as falling behind) because I feel like everyone is in the same boat as me.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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