Pure Steel
First and Ten with Craig Wolfley

Craig Wolfley, who played guard and tackle for the Steelers from 1980-1989, is the sideline reporter for the Steelers Radio Network and the co-host of "In The Locker Room" with Tunch Ilkin every Saturday night from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Pittsburgh's CW (Channel 15). PSR Editor Tony DeFazio chatted with Wolf a few days before Steelers' training camp.

TD: Do you expect Mike Tomlin to send a message in this first training camp?

CW: Oh I think he's already been sending a message all along. And I would expect more of a Chuck Noll-like camp than a Bill Cowher-like camp.

TD: Any thoughts on how some of the guys might react to that?

CW: I think there's going to be some griping. I would think there's going to be some whining. But I also think that there will be those who understand that this is the way it has to be. Because he's got to make it his team, his place, his camp. You've got to know ahead of time that this is the way it's gonna be.

TD: What does it mean for the defensive players on this team to have Dick LeBeau return as the defensive coordinator?

CW: Comfort. Confidence. Stability. You sit down with Dick LeBeau and you realize quickly that he's forgotten more football than you ever knew. When get a chance to sit down and talk with Coach LeBeau it's always very enlightening. Because he is that good.

TD: What, if anything, does it say about Mike Tomlin that he asked LeBeau back?

CW: Number one, it says he's not going to let ego stand in the way of sound judgment. He is willing to learn, and I think that was most notably illustrated when in the first week that he came on. Mike Tomlin sat in the chairs where the players sit and Dick LeBeau was enlightening him on the defense. I think that was very poignant. In other words, Mike Tomlin understands that there are people that have some great football knowledge to communicate, and Dick LeBeau is one of them. It's the old Bruce Lee - you've got to be willing to empty the cup.

TD: On the flip side of that, how much different do you expect Bruce Arien's offense to be as opposed to what Wiz ran?

CW: In think what we're going to see is a streamlined version that makes it more Ben-friendly. I think that getting Ben more involved in how the plays are called, and maybe streamlining some of the terminology so there is not so much to vocalize, or "mentalize," shall we say. I think it's going to be better for him and more efficient, and I think that Ben is really going to enjoy being able to put his input into it.

A lot depends on how much we see of that infamous two or three tight end sets we've heard about. Is he going to throw out of it? Is he going to run out of it? Personally, I'd love it. Two tight ends as a hog? You can take those big, big splits and just go after the defense. Because they've got to widen out with you.

TD: How much will that help a back like Willie Parker?

CW: I should be fantabulous. When you can split out and go two tight, maybe even three tight, and get some mismatches with Heath (Miller) out in the slot, boy oh boy, you get that defense sitting back on their haunches a little bit, and they can't tee off…you've got some really good stuff going on there. That's good mojo.

TD: What are your early impressions of Mike Tomlin?

CW: I dig the cat. Oh man, I'm starting to sound like Ellis here.

You know, you shake his hand, you look in his eye, and he exudes confidence. He's a natural born leader. He draws your attention and you understand who's large and in charge, and I think he's a clear thinker. He's a man who is not prone to second guess his own decisions. He's going to make decisions and he's going to make them rapidly, and I don't think he'll think twice about it.

But he also has, as he's shown, the ability to seek instruction from other areas, such as a Dick Lebeau, a Dan Rooney, an Art Rooney. Whether it's making personnel decisions or tactical decisions, I think he's shown that he's open to it.