Training Camp is Coming Soon!

Holy shit. I guess it's a good thing, but the offseason certainly seemed to breeze by, didn't it?

Okay, it was torture. And I couldn't think of anything to write. And I made, like 2 1/2 posts from the draft through today. BUT, there is the small, little, almost insignificant fact that

TRAINING CAMP STARTS IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, people that get paid to write about these sorts of things are much more into Camp than I am. That could also be because they actually get access to the field and get to watch practices and talk to players and coaches and what not, but that's neither here nor there.

The important thing to remember is that we are, in fact, about 7 weeks away from football games that matter and about 3 weeks away from football games that don't.

I will say that, heading into the start of Training Camp, I don't think we're as boned as everyone else seems to think we are. I am concerned about two big things heading into camp: Lack of quality depth and who replaces Jeff Hartings at center.

I'll admit that I'm a little afraid of starting the James Harrison era at weakside linebacker. Joey Porter did so well for so long at that position (except last year, of course), that's it's hard for me to imagine someone playing the position better. Most importantly, I think that the defense as a whole will miss Porter's energy on the field and his mouth. We have found no one to replace Peazy's mouth.

Leaving intangibles aside (which is a dumb thing to do), I will focus on the two issues listed above:

1. Lack of Quality Depth: We're fucked. That's all there is to it. If someone gets hurt, there is very little quality depth anywhere on this team except at quarterback and safety. The o-line is thin and Faneca's still pissed off, the d-line still has the same three dependable guys as starters and a bunch of scrubs (Chris Hoke aside, but he plays in the third down defense, so he doesn't count), linebacker lost Porter and gained two rookies, Ike Taylor went from richly paid starter to ball bitch last season and there's not a whole lot behind him and Townshend (assuming either McFadden or Coclough doesn't start instead of Deshea), no one behind Fast Willie and Verron Haynes (assuming he's healthy). So... stay healthy everyone!
2. Since Mike Webster took over the position in 1974 there have been three different starters at the position (Iron Mike, Dirt Dawson, and Hartings). 23 season, three guys. Now, it's between three guys: Sean Mahan, Chukki Okobi, and Marvin Philip. Yeah. Those three guys are nowhere near as good as the three guys that came before them. And, when you've got three guys competing for a job, you really have no guys competing for that job. Let's just hope that Bruce Arians' offense doesn't count on the center as much as Whisenhunt's did.

So, stay injury free and hope the center's not important. We should be good to go. There's still a bunch of talent on offense, along the defensive line, and four solid guys at cornerback (though none is a can't-lose starter).

I'll just say this: The one thing I'm looking forward to in the pre-season is Daniel Sepulvida (who I am henceforth going to refer to as "Danny Vulva"). He's supposed to be a hell of a punter. I liked watching Josh Miller when he was on his game. Ditto Chris Gardocki.

And that's really freakin' sad.