The Steelers want a physical camp. Mike McCarthy’s answer: Thud up, no tackling
“I'd go to jail today if I tried to do that,” McCarthy joked. The Collective Bargaining Agreement banned two-a-days long ago. Well, when the Pittsburgh Steelers walk onto Chuck Noll Field on Monday for their first padded practice of the McCarthy Era, they'll do it with one particular instruction in mind: no tackling.
Mike McCarthy, the new coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has announced a significant change to the team's training camp this season. Unlike his predecessor Mike Tomlin, McCarthy is opting to ban tackling during the first padded practice at Chuck Noll Field, despite the Steelers' storied history of physical play. This decision comes as part of the team's "Tempered Steel" approach, emphasizing risk assessment and safety measures in preparation for the upcoming season.
While the NFL has been moving towards more regulated training practices over the past three decades, McCarthy acknowledges that his Steelers will need to adjust to this new policy. Instead of tackling, players will "thud up," focusing on wrapping up opponents without taking them to the ground. This adjustment will be both physical and mental, with the team utilizing new tools like GPS tracking and video analysis to refine their tackling technique and ensure they are in peak condition for the start of the regular season.
McCarthy stresses that the mental adjustment will be just as important as the physical one, aiming to keep the defending AFC North champions healthy and ready for Week 1.
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