Moments before Elandon Roberts flattens John Lovett

Published August 1, 6:33 EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Latrobe, PA – It’s the first day of August and the second week of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Today is the first day of practices when the players are finally wearing shoulder pads. It is revered to the day that separates the men from the boys.

The atmosphere in the spring that revolves around OTAs and minicamps leans towards the side of team development. This introductory period is absent of the punishment players are about to withstand once those pads are put on underneath their practice jerseys.

“I don’t really show up in camp usually until the pads come on,” Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “So, if I’m showing up with no pads then you can just imagine how this shit is about to be.”

Basically, Roberts was saying that it’s about to get real for everyone on the field. A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots, this former sixth round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft knows that being physical is a characteristic that reigns supreme.

Signing as a free agent with Pittsburgh this spring we’ve only seen flashes of his intensity. During drills at OTAs a fuse was lit during Seven Shots (team drill) that sparked the nature Roberts reveals lies in him especially once the players put on the pads.

The fury came from Roberts’ inability to lower the boom as the player trotted into the end zone. It was something Roberts relayed back to the offense that once the pads are on the buyer beware sign is going to be posted across the goal line.

“From a physicality standpoint,” Roberts said. “I feel like I’m one of the most dominant hitters and run stoppers in the NFL.”

When the moment arrived for the backs-on-backers drill to commence, Roberts was more than ready. A crowd of players and coaches along with media watch No. 50 explode into newly signed running back John Lovett. The hit sent the defense into a frenzy, and he backed exactly what he said up with a tempo setting hit that fueled the linebackers to dominate the session.

“He does everything with intensity,” Mike Tomlin said post-practice. “That is one of the reasons we were so attracted to him not only in free agency but when he came out of the University of Houston.”

Describing his appetite for destruction of his opponents, Roberts should not be stereotyped as a hotheaded player without the merit to play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. While pads allow him to hit, and we know he loves to hit. Roberts reveals pads also educate and help teach the tendency of the game.

“For me personally, just having the pads on for me at this point in my career helps me with recognizing run or pass,” Roberts said. “Ok we are getting into this formation. Tendencies.

“Yeah, and that is why I say pads are beneficial. Now it brings that other aspect to it. To where it’s first and ten and you’re not just thinking pass all the time. You have got to read your keys and know if they get in this formation, they more so to run the ball or they get in this formation they’re prevalent to pass the ball.”

Tomlin’s affinity for Roberts’ playing style since he was in college all the hallmarks of his game. Spending one year at Morgan State before joining the Cougars, it was Roberts’ playing style that kept his game evolving. The attention to detail combined with the ability to harvest so much intensity is why he is entering his eighth season in the National Football League.

“Recognizing formations and communicating on a high level for our defense,” Roberts said. Staying poised. Controlling what I can control like if the offense hits a big play and calming the defense back down. Making sure we are still in a calm mindset and go out there and dominate from a physical standpoint. So, if they don’t fucking watch film that’s there fault.

“After practice I can’t really turn off the switch until I eat to get it to level down some,” Roberts laughed. Once the helmet goes on it’s time to go.”

The zest of watching players emerge when the physical nature of the game of football is breathed to life is a treasure. It’s a marvelous time, especially watching practices since early May. There is no hitting. No pads and in truth no real football. That constant teasing leaves us all craving to hear the game come to life. 

Pads expand the expertise of a player as well as build the stamina after repeated body blows the players are voided up during the spring. The freshness of their bodies will quickly evaporate in the summer heat by both the temperature and constant pounding on their bodies. 

Dropping your pad level in the heat of summer practices during one-on-ones or 11-on-11 team scrimmages is when tape these players are producing comes to life in the film room for each coaching staff around the league. The Steelers staff without question will rewind Roberts bull rushing and flattening Lovett and delight in having such a intimidator on their roster.