At Steelers training camp yesterday, the team took off the pads for a helmets-and-shorts practice, and for the first time they worked on kickoffs, which have undergone a remodeling by the NFL this season.
Under the new rules, the kicker tees up the ball at the 35-yard line, as before, but the coverage team stands with one foot on the receiving team’s 40, with the receiving team lining up at least nine players at their 35-yard line and two players between the 20 and the goal line. When the ball is kicked, no one except the returners can move until the ball comes down either within the 20-yard landing zone or into the hands of the returner.
Coach Mike Tomlin said they would review the video of yesterday’s practice to see how they did, and make adjustments after that.
The Steelers yesterday announced that they have signed outside linebacker Markus Golden to return to the team, and he attended practice in street clothes. He’s expected to be in uniform tonight when the team holds its “Friday Night Lights” practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
Tomlin was happy to welcome Golden back to the team.
Golden played 16 games in the regular season and started the Wild Card playoff game in place of the injured TJ Watt. He had 20 tackles, 14 of them solo, with four sacks, six tackles for a loss, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.
Linebacker David Perales was waived/injured to make room on the roster for Golden.
Tickets for Friday Night Lights are ten dollars, with kids ages 5 and under getting in free. Tickets can only be obtained through Ticketmaster. Proceeds benefit programs at Greater Latrobe School District and other community programs.
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