On the Steelers: Players doing little during lockout

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers generally have not followed the practice of some other teams, except for some informal and sporadic gatherings led by Ben Roethlisberger with his wide receivers and a few linemen at a local high school.

There have been no organized gatherings by the defense, and safety Ryan Clark believes this long rest from football will benefit that unit.

"The good thing for us," Clark said, "is there are no spring chickens on defense. This time's been good for healing of your bodies. The mental part? We know how to play football. We know how to run cover 3. That dog blitz will still be deadly. We'll be fine."

Most players have been working out on their own or with a few teammates. Ike Taylor, James Farrior, William Gay and others are working with trainer Tom Shaw in Orlando, Fla. The past week, that group traveled to Atlanta to work with another instructor's group of players there.

Clark said Roethlisberger's "workouts are good for receiver/quarterback timing, but if you can't get a whole gang together, there's definitely not much you can do there that you can't do on your own. There will never be OTAs, minicamp, but it's good to get the guys together and work.

"It's tough for us on defense. I don't know any DBs other than myself and Ryan Mundy who stay in this area. Asking guys who don't live here to come up, get housing and all that, it's a tough sell."

Nose tackle Chris Hoke agreed with Clark.

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