Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

First off, let me know what the plan is leading up to camp?

Right now I’m just trying to stay in shape. I’m working out at EXOS a lot with their trainers. My day usually ends around 2:00 physically. Then I’m studying and trying to finish my school work in time to graduate.

Were you surprised to get drafted by the Steelers?

I had my best meeting with them of all the teams at the combine I think. I met with 10 or so of them – Coach Tomlin, the defensive coordinator, the GM and a lot of other guys. There were a multitude of people in the room! It’s hard to remember exactly what they asked me, but a lot of what they asked were regular questions on things like my background, positions I’ve played over my time playing, how I’d describe my game. Things like that.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Back Ryan Watts”

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days? I notice you did a movie.

I was always a movie guy – watching, giving movie quotes – the whole deal. Ironically, the Steelers have a film history and connection. I remember staying at the Omni in downtown Pittsburgh during the preseason and was watching Ballers when the credits came up. When I saw Rashard Mendenhall’s name I said “What? The former Steelers running back was a writer?” That opened my eyes.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Canaan Severin, 2016”

Donnie Shell: “I was not drafted in 1974 but I received three opportunities to sign as an undrafted free agent. The opportunities were with the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers and Pittsburgh Steelers. I had kind of made up my mind to sign with the Denver Broncos because they signed my former South Carolina State teammate Barney Chavous in 1973. But after consulting with my college coach Willie Jeffries, I signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and you know the rest of the story. Young African American men need someone they can trust when they are making difficult decisions and Coach Jeffries was there for me.”

Chris Hoke: “The stress is part of the reason I may not miss it as much as I think. The stress was always there. I was always fighting for a job. No matter what I did, I had to prove myself, even when I was 17-1 as a starter. Draft picks have to prove they can’t play. Undrafted free agents, we always had to prove we could.”

Continue reading “Past Steelers Undrafted Free Agents Tell Their Stories:”

First off, what has the offseason been like for you – what have you been doing to keep busy?

I was coming off of my injury last year- I tore my pectoral tendon and had to have surgery around Thanksgiving last year. I was rehabbing this offseason in Minneapolis before I signed with the Steelers.

I live in Indianapolis, but I’ve been in Pittsburgh now training with the team – meeting the players and coaches. Spending time in the meeting rooms and learning what the coaches expect from us.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Defensive Lineman Dean Lowry”

First, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your time in the NFL?

After the NFL I took a year off to get my body right. My last season in the NFL was cut short after an injury to my knee that really ended my career.

I lost weight and after that year coached high school football at Pine-Richland then the last couple of years I’ve been helping out at Pitt with some video analysis for the team.

Any coaching lessons over your career influence how you coached?

I think it was really just basic stuff – it was high school so it wasn’t anything crazy I was teaching the kids. Basic stuff like pass protection calls and helping them to find the best way to identify blitzes and make calls.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Kraig Urbik, 2009”

First off, what made you decide to sign with the Steelers this offseason?

Well, I just felt like it was a good fit. A new beginning. Coach T. – everyone told me he was a great coach and when I spoke to him at the combine I could see that too.

Also, Frisman Jackson was my coach at Baylor. We had a great connection and I think we can continue that in Pittsburgh. So it was a good place for me to go.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Denzel Mims”

First off, what are your offseason plans before camp kicks in?

Well, we went back to Australia a couple of weeks ago to visit my family. That was a lot of fun. It was out son Max’s first birthday so my parents got the chance to meet him for the first time. That was a nice time.

Why sign with the Steelers? Did you talk about what the Steelers want from a punter versus, say, Philly or Houston?

I think teams are pretty consistent all-around with what they want. I just wanted to be a part of such an incredible organization. That was a massive draw. And my wife is from Ohio so being closer to home was a big draw too.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Punter Cameron Johnston”

First off, can you tell me how you got into coaching?

During my time playing at Maine I loved the training aspect of football – preparing to play. I was a nerd about it – I would ask my strength coach Will Beaverstein why we did this or that. He told me I should look into this as a career – I seemed so interested in it. I was a communications major then though and just shrugged it off then – I figured I’d go work for ESPN or something like that – get into broadcasting.

But my Senior year I worked with Loren Seagrave at Velocity Training – he is one of the most prominent track and field coaches around. I was picking his brain and he told me I was so inquisitive – that I should think about it as a career. I asked him how and he told me I’d need to get my Masters, intern, get certified…

Continue reading “Exclusive with Former Steelers Linebacker Matt King, 2007”

First off, what are your plans for the offseason?

All I’m doing now really is working out in the mornings and hitting the field some days. I’m not doing too much else though. I’m just waiting to report back to Pittsburgh. I’m just vibing at the house. I do have one trip planned in July – to Jamaica for my pop’s birthday.

Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Kalon Barnes”