Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches his team in the second day of minicamp Saturday at the South Side practice facility.

A Steelers practice in baseball caps abbreviated by 30 minutes ended coach Mike Tomlin's first minicamp with whoops and pats on the back, including a big one from Ben Roethlisberger yesterday.

Players broke the huddle around their new coach but the weekend did not end before Roethlisberger gathered the offense around him for a few final words.

"Guys, don't get frustrated because the defense is probably better than us [right now] but this is their stuff they've been doing for a long time and for us, this is all new," their quarterback told them.

"I think we came a long way in these couple of days. We still have a long way to go, but we all know that and that's what's important, that we know we can still get better and I think we will."

	Related articles Character issue comes to forefront in 2007 NFL draft Cowher content with his new life Rooney, Cash, Crosby honored at Dapper Dan Dinner Smizik: Nobody asked me but ...

When Tomlin was hired to replace Bill Cowher, it appeared the defense would be the side that would go through more changes because Tomlin's six-year history as an NFL defensive coach has all been with a 4-3 Cover 2. But Tomlin kept coordinator Dick LeBeau, most of his staff and the 3-4 zone blitz defense.

The offense is what underwent change. New coordinator Bruce Arians, promoted from wide receivers coach, changed the language in the playbook, will use a slightly different philosophy and put more on Roethlisberger's shoulders to call protections, among other things.

"Terminology, cadence, there are a lot of things that tripped us up," Roethlisberger said. "But I'm real proud of the offensive line. They have a lot to deal with and they've done a great job.

"We've been doing a lot of stuff the past couple of weeks that when we first started doing it, we were griping -- 'We don't want to be here, it's April' -- but I'll tell you what, after this minicamp, everybody's very appreciative that we did it and we think it really made us a lot better."

Roethlisberger said the players took to their new coach in the first weekend together on a practice field.

"I think it went well," Roethlisberger said. "He kind of sat back and watched a lot, which is good because I think that's the way he is. He likes to feel us out. That's what he did. He stood back and watched.

"The thing I liked about him is he walked around and watched every position's drills. He wasn't just watching one group or the other. He was walking around and I think everybody appreciated that he was interested in everybody."

Tomlin said he was happy with the learning that took place on offense but, "We've got miles to go before we sleep, as they say, from that standpoint."

Tomlin did not cancel the final practice of minicamp, the way Bill Cowher often did, but he cut the scheduled 110-minute session short by 30 minutes and he allowed players to wear caps instead of helmets.

"When you have a great weekend -- and I think we had a great weekend leading up to this morning -- you want to reward guys if you can," Tomln said. "If throwing them a bone and letting them put hats on and go out and have some fun is a good thing, then great. You don't want to get to this point in the weekend and it's been so positive and have an injury because somebody accidentally collides with one another."

NOTES -- Tomlin's next minicamp is May 11-13 and that one is mandatory, so guard Alan Faneca would face a fine and possibly revocation of part of his signing bonus if he does not attend. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Tomlin said. Tomlin talked to Faneca and knew he planned not to attend the past weekend. Tomlin expects to talk to him again and encourage him to practice with his teammates. ... WR Willie Reid, who did not play again after his foot was sprained Oct. 8, went through the practices over the weekend with no apparent problems. ... Punter Chris Gardocki attended minicamp but did not punt because of what Tomlin called a back injury.