Plenty to Like in Latrobe

by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published July 23, 2025, 6:11 PM

LATROBE, Pa – I’m not going to lie. I’m going to be brutally honest, and I’ll echo something Mike Tomlin said earlier today, which probably sums up exactly why I feel the way I do:

“It’s juice time,” Tomlin declared, flashing a familiar grin. “This is who we are. The juice will be there regardless.”

It is juice time.

The Pittsburgh Steelers reported to Saint Vincent College earlier today for the start of 2025 training camp, and while veteran guard Isaac Seumalo was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, the team otherwise rolled in healthy, focused, and full of optimism.

A few months ago, specifically January 15, 2024, the day the Steelers limped out of M&T Bank Stadium after an ugly 31-17 playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. I would’ve told you there was little that could stir any excitement in me for the upcoming season. That game marked the final chapter in a season that felt more frustrating than promising, and I truly wondered what could reignite any belief.

But here I am, watching the players arrive in Latrobe, listening to Tomlin’s confident tone at the podium, and… I’m back. I’m all in.

It’s not blind faith. I’m cautious because yes, there are a lot of “what ifs” but Tomlin’s message is clear: This is a team in transition, not turmoil. A team assembling something fresh, bold, and built to contend.

“Certainly, we’re excited about the start of our camp for 2025,” Tomlin said. “It’s good to see this collection of talent that we’ve been able to assemble even into the summer, we continued to work on the talent acquisition component of team development.”

Look at who’s here now. Four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the building, bringing his Hall of Fame resume and leadership presence. Joining him are two elite defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, whose arrival gives Pittsburgh’s secondary a legitimate shot at being the league’s best. And let’s not forget an impressive draft class that adds speed, depth, and playmaking on both sides of the ball.

And don’t overlook the addition of tight end Jonnu Smith, a proven mismatch weapon who could be the final piece in turning the Steelers’ tight end group into one of the best in the NFL. With Pat Freiermuth fully healthy and emerging weapon Darnell Washington entering year two, Pittsburgh has a trio of tight ends who can block, catch, and create headaches for defensive coordinators across the league.

If offensive coordinator Arthur Smith leans into multiple tight end sets a hallmark of his past successes this group could help unlock an identity that’s tough, versatile, and hard to predict.

“Now it’s about developing individual and collective football skills, division of labor, roles, technical expertise,” Tomlin explained. “Just really excited to see the group work today and display their physical conditioning, their readiness.”

For all the talk about new faces, the familiar identity remains. This defense, anchored by T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen, and Cam Heyward. Adding Ramsey and Slay may allow Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to unleash even more pressure, knowing the back end is locked down.

The offense? It can’t be worse than what we’ve seen in recent years, especially since Ben Roethlisberger’s final game on January 16, 2022, a Wild Card loss to the Chiefs. That night felt like the end of an era. Now, finally, it feels like the beginning of something.

And this is where Tomlin, who has never had a losing season in 17 years, truly thrives. He’s a builder, a motivator, a believer in process and perhaps most importantly, a man unafraid of change when the time is right.

“I’m really excited about this,” Tomlin said. “Maybe in a lot of ways, from that perspective, this is new territory for us… but most of the guys we’ve acquired, we’ve had some intimate knowledge of them as individuals and as players, and it’s really like them at earlier portions of their career.”

So, yes. It’s juice time.

Hope is high. Talent is plentiful. The vision is forming. Whether it all works out is still months away, but as NFL camps open across the league, this is the time for dreams, for belief, for new beginnings.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back on the field. And you can feel it the juice is real.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com