Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!
More than 1,000 interviews of Steelers players, coaches, front office staff, media and more with those that played in the 50’s through today’s current roster.
First, let us know what you’re up to now?
Well, I’m training. Just waiting for a call. You know, the free agency process.
Has your agent told you anything? Any teams you are hoping for?
Just that I need to take it week to week. We’re just looking for a situation that works to get signed by a team. I’m not looking to get signed by any specific team really.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Shamarko Thomas, Steelers Safety, 2013-2016”
First, can you talk a bit about how being a successful undrafted free agent impacted your approach as a coach?
The biggest deal really of being an undrafted free agent is that people look at it as a terribly hard road to make it in the NFL. But it gives you the mindset to accomplish big things. The biggest thing for me was needing to understand the details quickly – the schematics in coaching. As an undrafted free agent I had to quickly learn all the wide receiver positions – the X, Z, slot…whatever they call it depending on the team. The details that also come with learning the run game and everything else. Just gaining the knowledge of the game. I constantly was learning the game and seeking information.
That’s because as an undrafted free agent you have the humility – you’re humble. And the veterans like that and will help you any way the can because of that humility. That helps me now as a coach – it’s the same deal. I always try to learn the details and be humble enough to ask questions and learn the work as humbly as possible.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Scottie Montgomery, Steelers WR Coach, 2010-2012”
First, let us know what brought you to your role as a scout for the Chargers – how did this come about?
I’ve been a scout for seventeen years now. I thought I’d get into the mortgage business – but the market fell through. I got the football bug so I went back to the University of Washington and finished my degree. I had ten credits left. I worked with the football program after then got a job as a coach at the University of Idaho – I was there for five years then I got a job at Nevada, I was there for seven-to-eight months But I had a young family and when the opportunity at San Diego to become a scout came up, I took that. It offered more security for me and my family – I took the job in 2000 and have been there ever since.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Paul Skansi, 1983”
First, can you let me know what you’re doing with yourself since you’ve retired from the NFL?
Well, I’m on the path to getting my MBA. I’m working on logistics and strategy in business. The holdup for me is that I have the have a certain amount of work experience – I was conditionally accepted for the program but I need real experience. I tried to convince them that my time on the NFL counted – to twist that, but they didn’t accept that understandably. So I have to build my resume.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers WR Isaac Blakeney, 2016”
First – you’re a busy guy – tell me about the various things you have going on right now
The first thing is my energy business – we ship coal to utilities and export them from West Virginia.
But I’m now in the Agro-Med business – we have obtained a license for growing medical cannabis and are constructing greenhouses in Pennsylvania. We were one of twelve companies to be issues licenses by the state and have to have them up and running by the end of the year. So that’s obviously on the frontburner…
And I’m still doing the broadcasts for Penn State – I’m staying busy…
Continue reading “Exclusive with Jack Ham, Steelers Linebacker, 1971-1982”
First – we’ve been chatting back and forth on Twitter as you’e been traveling across the country. Tell me about the trip – what drove you to start the trip and how it’s going.
Well I ride a lot – I have a couple of bikes. I stay on the West Coast normally – I usually go back and forth from Kansas City since I had kids in the area – I’ve probably done that ten times already. But I’m riding now to West Point to see my son – he’s a law major there. He plays football there and there’s a list of things other than football he can do. He’s struggling a bit – his older brother started at the Naval Academy and I think my younger son is trying to hold himself up to that too. I guess I’m going there to tell him it’s ok to walk away from the game – the game ends for us all at some point.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers OL Lonnie Palelei, 1993-1996”
First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?
I was coaching youth football for the past two years but stopped now since my son’s now playing baseball instead of football. I’m following him full-time – following him and his dream.
I’m retired now. And I’m giving back to the inner city community – that’s my passion. Seeing kids follow their dreams through athletics and coaching them to succeed.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Tight End Eric Green, 1990-1994”
First, how did you find your way to Pittsburgh as their Linebackers Coach in 1973 when you started with the Steelers?
I was the Linebackers Coach at the University of Minnesota previously, but I had coached at Michigan State before that. George Perles was the coach there and he used to be the Steelers Defensive Coordinator. So when the job opened up he recommended me to Chuck and I interviewed with him and he hired me.
Why do you think he wanted you to take over?
I had no experience as a player or coach in the NFL. But he told me he was looking for a teacher. That was his primary goal – he wanted someone to come in and teach his stuff to the players.
You’re a busy guy! So let’s start with some of the work you’re doing now with your LaMarr Woodley Camp5 6 program – tell us about that?
Well, Camp 56 is designed for all kinds of athletes. High school athletes who aren’t getting attention from colleges come to the camp – and we have coaches from D2 and D3 schools come in to work wth them to try to find those diamonds in the rough. Many of these kids are from small school, schools with bad teams or who have coaches that don’t do a great job of getting the word out about their players.
We give these kids the college feel – we bring it to life. I’ve been doing this for two years now. We had eighty kids last year – we try to keep it small so that all of the kids get reps and exposure. So far twenty-two of these kids have gotten scholarships.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Linebacker LaMarr Woodley, 2007-2013”
First, you more excited or nervous about camp starting this week?
I’m more excited about the opportunity ahead of me. It’s my first NFL camp – I’m just excited to get started.
How has being a local guy and Pitt alum helped you – especially as you’ve practiced as a college player next to the Steelers players? And how has having fellow Pitt alums like Orndoff, Conner, and Galambos helped you?
Yeah they’re familiar faces. You see those guys and they’re all faces you know and it makes you want to be the next guy. I’m just thankful as lots of guys don’t get that opportunity.
All of us Pitt guys – we all push each other. To do this or that and figure out what works and doesn’t work.
Continue reading “Exclusive with Steelers Cornerback Terrish Webb”