Steelers No-Tackle Camp
Pittsburgh Steelers Implement 'Thud Up' Drills for Physical Camp, Banning Tackling.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is bringing pads — but not tackling — to his first training camp with the team. When players take the field at Chuck Noll Field on Monday, they will "thud up," meaning they wrap up ball carriers but do not bring them to the ground, according to AP News.
McCarthy joked that running the old-school two-a-day practices of decades past would land him in trouble today. "I'd go to jail today if I tried to do that," he said, according to Yahoo Sports. The NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement banned two-a-days long ago, and full tackling in training camp has effectively disappeared over the past 30 years.
What 'Thud Up' Means and Why McCarthy Chose It
"Thud up" is a controlled contact drill. Players engage and wrap up a ball carrier at full speed, but stop short of taking him to the ground. It is a middle ground between flag football and live tackling. McCarthy wants his team physical, but he also wants his players healthy through a long season, according to WBAL.
The approach reflects how the NFL has evolved. Full tackling in camp carries a high injury risk with little added benefit, according to Newsday. McCarthy says he wants to push physicality as far as the rules allow — and "thud up" is exactly that line.
Players Will Need Time to Adjust to the New Style
McCarthy acknowledged the shift will take getting used to. It is both a physical and a mental adjustment for players, according to Click Orlando. Players used to going full speed to the ground must learn to pull up at the last moment — every single rep, every single day.
High-profile defenders like Jalen Ramsey and T.J. Watt will be among those learning the new rhythm. The Steelers have invested heavily in their defense, and keeping those players upright and healthy through camp is a clear priority for McCarthy, according to WWL TV.
Sports Science and GPS Help McCarthy Track Player Load
McCarthy is not just relying on feel to manage his players. He is using GPS tracking, video analysis, and other sports science tools to monitor how hard players are working, according to AP News. The data helps the coaching staff know when to push and when to back off.
This kind of monitoring is now common across the NFL. But McCarthy is making it a centerpiece of how he runs camp in Pittsburgh. The goal is to get maximum effort from players while cutting down on the wear and tear that piles up over a full training camp, according to WHIO.
McCarthy Sets a New Tone in His First Steelers Camp
McCarthy replaced a long-tenured Steelers staff and is making clear from day one that he has his own way of doing things. Banning live tackling while demanding physical, padded practices sends a message: he wants toughness without recklessness, according to News4Jax.
Pittsburgh has a deep tradition of physical, hard-nosed football. McCarthy is trying to honor that tradition while fitting inside the modern NFL's rules and injury-prevention standards. How his players respond to the "thud up" approach will be one of the early tests of his tenure, according to Seattle PI.
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