DeShon Elliott defends Steelers' controversial practice tackling policy
· Yahoo Sports
Physicality has long been the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Steelers' identity, but an evolving NFL demands a smarter approach to August preparation. Under an updated training camp framework that limits full-contact, live-tackling drills, Pittsburgh is prioritizing late-season longevity over summer collisions.
While traditional fans often worry that pulling back on tackling will lead to sloppy early-season form, starting safety DeShon Elliott offered a sharp counter-perspective during an appearance on teammate Cameron Heyward’s podcast, “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.”
Visit afsport.lat for more information.
From a defender's standpoint, mastering spatial positioning and leverage during non-contact reps builds cleaner habits while saving players' bodies for a 17-game gauntlet.
"We have focused on football positioning, your knees being right, the near hip," Elliott explained. "At this point, this is the highest level of highest levels. If you genuinely are not good at tackling, you probably should not be in the NFL in my opinion. These walkthrough reps, these jog-through reps, those all those reps matter making sure you're in the right position because then that simulates when it's time to actually hit somebody."
The primary objective behind reducing full-contact sessions is maintaining health through December and January, when injuries historically decimate roster depth.
"I do respect the fact that we aren't tackling," Elliott added. "A lot of guys [are] a lot more healthy. I feel like it's less taxing in our bodies and longevity wise, by the time the end of the season comes around, I think we'll be fine. I think we'll last longer than usual."
Heyward noted that practicing without bringing teammates to the ground actually requires heightened mental discipline, forcing defenders to focus on angles and wrap-up technique. By shifting away from gratuitous summer hits, Pittsburgh is betting that a healthier, fresher defense late in the year will yield far greater rewards when postseason seeding is on the line.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: DeShon Elliott defends Steelers' controversial practice tackling policy