PHILADELPHIA — The Steelers are 2-0 in the preseason. Nestled into Thursday night’s victory over the Eagles were a lot of new additions to the lineup as compared to the Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys. One of those clear improvements and additions was Melvin Ingram coming over from the Chargers. While Ingram was solid in his first game action, it seems to be the culture that the Steelers have built around playing for the organization itself.
“This team, just the way we go about work, the way we work day in and day out, the competition, the competitive nature, down from the front office to the coaching staff to the players is phenomenal here,” Ingram said. “To see it on a day-to-day basis, lets me know it can be a special year.”
While Ingram is over from the Chargers, that is the only team he has been on in the NFL. Still, he says that the Steelers are drastically different from the Chargers.
“Here, it is definitely different,” Ingram said. “The energy, the work ethic, it is Grade A. When you get to see it first hand and be a part of it, it just makes everybody a gamer.”
Ingram notes that not only is the stuff that he sees on day to day basis impressive, he sees the leadership that is fostering throughout the Steelers locker room. That goes from the top down.
“Starting with the coaches, the leadership is amazing,” Ingram said. “Trickling it down to the players on this team, it is definitely Grade A.”
A lot of that leadership begins with Head Coach Mike Tomlin. For Ingram, the consistency that Tomlin brings to the table every day is exactly what he looks for from his coach.
“He’s consistent,” Ingram said. “He’s going to give you the same energy every single day. No matter what the day is, he’s bringing the energy every single day. There is no difference, and that’s what I love about him.”
Ingram is still acclimating to his new team in Pittsburgh after multiple seasons in California with the Chargers. However, it certainly seems that the adaptation to the culture of the team is one that is going seamless.