Jim Colony: Batch's Injury, Heyward's Progress, More
A fairly routine training camp practice quickly turned when rookie RB Baron Batch pulled up after a run some 35 yards down field. Batch immediately called for the trainers who examined his right knee as, among others, Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall and Troy Polamalu offered encouragement but the look on Batch's face pretty much told the story as he was carried off on a cart - a blank, glum stare. Batch was one of the feel-good stories of the first two weeks in Latrobe and figured to get long looks Friday in Washington .. but not now.
The highlight of the of the 2+ hour workout was individual OL pass block vs. DL pass rush. By my semi-trained eye ... Chris Scott and Ziggy Hood split the first two so Mike Tomlin ordered a third which was basically a standoff ... LaMarr Woodley and Wilie Colon played to a draw ... #1 pick Cameron Heyward beat Tony Hills twice ... #2 pick Marcus Gilbert held his own 1-on-1 against James Harrison and Gilbert is coming on after missing the first week with a hamstring pull. By definition, a standoff would be a win for the pass-blocker, so the OL did well. Heyward stood out for being particularly violent - and that's a good thing for the Steelers.
G Ramon Foster practiced, but he worked with the second OL in team drills. Chris Scott worked with the first team at RG and will be a guy to watch Friday night. LG Chris Kemoeatu is still on the PUP list and doing light running on the side.
