Bell: Steelers start from scratch with young defense

Jarrett Bell | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Steelers have high expectations entering 2015 USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell highlights what you need to know about the Steelers as they begin training camp.

LATROBE, Pa. — As the Pittsburgh Steelers put the wraps on their first training camp practice on Sunday, there was one final matter of business for the young defense that looms as such a huge question mark.

Grass drills.

Snap. Drop. Roll. Rise. Pursue — like 40 yards downfield. Drop to the grass again.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anything like this,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told USA TODAY Sports as he observed this from the sideline. “I’ve never seen it before here. Maybe I saw it in college. Or high school.

“Look at them! They’re busting their butts. They’ve got starters and All-Pros, going hard.”

Roethlisberger, in his 12th season, has seen just about every situation the game has to offer — including so many exotic defensive schemes, an assortment of injuries and the jubilation and despair of being on both sides of a Super Bowl outcome.

For such a grizzled vet to stop in his tracks to watch grass drills is a pretty good a testament about the mindset as the Steelers christened camp.

Of course, Mike Tomlin is an even better testament.

Tomlin, beginning his ninth season at the helm, is still the coolest coach in the NFL. He knows how much work is needed for a defense that is undergoing its biggest transition in years.

Dick LeBeau, the long-time coordinator, is gone, replaced by former linebackers coach Keith Butler. Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Jason Worilds are gone, too. And it’s not like those departures left a unit that mimicked the Steel Curtain.

Last season, the defense allowed 4.36 yards per rush — worst by a Pittsburgh unit since 1964. And as bad as it was against the run, Pittsburgh allowed, according to ESPN Stats and Information, an NFL-worst 54.2% completion rate on throws of at least 20 yards. Furthermore, there was a California-like drought of big plays. The Steelers were the only team in the league not to get an interception from a safety, and the 33 sacks were fewest by the team since 1989.

This, from the Steelers defense?

And now they are so, so young.

No wonder they were doing grass drills. It sends quite the message.

“We’ve got to build a good core fundamentals in them, in terms of hustling and running to the ball,” Tomlin told USA TODAY Sports. “And we just can’t talk about it. We’ve got to find ways to instill it in them. When you’re young, there are elements of the game that are going to be issues for you. We’re not going to be perfect. We’re going to make mistakes. That comes with youth.

“But also, a positive of that, is that we should be able to run all day, and physicality has got to be an asset. We’ve just got to make sure that shows up on a consistent basis.”

There was no question about Tomlin’s mindset on Sunday. He still has that confident strut, still grumbles a lot and still operates as a ball of energy who runs and yells from one group to another.

As camp opened, the Steelers announced that they had signed Tomlin to a two-year contract extension that secures him through 2018. Likewise, general manager Kevin Colbert was extended two years through 2018.

That’s the Steelers’ way of doing business. Keep the continuity. Tomlin is one of only three Steelers coaches since 1969.

But that security comes with the expectation to compete for championships. Tomlin, who pushes his teams to play hard for him, has certainly produced results. In eight seasons, he has won four division crowns, including another one last season, and went to two Super Bowls. He’s never had a losing season.

Only five NFL coaches — Bill Belichick, Marvin Lewis, Tom Coughlin, Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton — have been on their current jobs longer than Tomlin, and yet Tomlin, at 43, is the second-youngest coach in the league.

Typically, he grumbled when asked about the extension.

“I don’t think any of us get into this looking for longevity,” Tomlin said. “We’re competitive. That’s what it speaks to. Just how competitive this league is and these jobs are. I don’t take it for granted.”

While all of the starters return from an explosive offense, it’s natural to expect that Tomlin will be spending more time this season with the defense.

“If they need more of me, they’ll get it,” he said.

When the offense was tweaked after Todd Haley came in as a coordinator in 2012, Tomlin was “heavily” involved with the unit, as he put it.

“But it’s my job to see them through the transition,” he said.

He can’t be happy about the secondary in particular. Tomlin’s first NFL job was coaching defensive backs.

Think he takes the issues in the secondary personally?

“Man, I take it all personal,” Tomlin said.

At least he’s undefeated at the moment. The season, which opens at New England on Sept. 10, in the NFL kickoff game, is ahead of him.

“Next time you see me,” he promised, “it won’t be as pleasant.”

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.

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