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St. Pierre works to keep roster spot
He might have the biggest guns among all NFL singal-callers.
"I think Donovan McNabb has me beat," said St. Pierre, who bench presses 350 pounds. "I'm pretty sure of that."
Daunte Culpepper might trump him as well, but that doesn't diminish what St. Pierre has done in crafting a body built for durability and absorbing hits.
His reporting weight of 240 pounds for training camp exceeded four linebackers on the Steelers roster, including starter Larry Foote.
And, at 6-foot-3, St. Pierre isn't always saintly when he lowers his shoulder.
"I work hard on the weights," he said. "It's how I've been since college. I feel like it keeps me healthy and helps me take hits. And, I enjoy working out with the guys. This is the biggest I've ever been. I feel like it's a good weight."
St. Pierre is battling for a roster spot at camp, something he's done since being drafted in the fifth round out of Boston College in 2003. He is behind starter Ben Roethlisberger, and veterans Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch.
"It's just the three of us competing," said St. Pierre, who spent much of last season on the practice roster and has attempted one pass in two seasons. " I'm at an all-time high in confidence and in my comfort level in the offense. It's to the point where I'd be comfortable getting thrown in there. I'm in my third year, and I'm still young, so I feel that my best years are ahead of me and I'm still eager."
One can only imagine how St. Pierre must have felt last year when the Steelers made Roethlisberger their first-round pick. He instantly faced a situation in which Roethlisberger and then-incumbent starter Tommy Maddox had guaranteed roster spots, and established veteran Batch was in solid position for the third job. St. Pierre might have been the odd man out had Batch not suffered a season-ending knee injury at training camp.
"I got put behind the eight ball," St. Pierre said. "Now, I'm up against Charlie and Tommy who have started a lot of games in the NFL. There aren't too many guys in my position, fighting two former starters to make the roster. But I feel I can play with those guys. They're very good quarterbacks, but it's not intimidating for me to be out there at all.
"I love competing against them."
A three-sport star in high school, St. Pierre not only threw well in college (5,837 yards, 48 touchdowns in two years as a BC starter), but also had a running component to his game. One of his strengths is buying time by sprinting out of the pocket similar to Roethlisberger, and freelancing.
"I'm very comfortable outside of the pocket and rolling out," St. Pierre said. "But we're a big dropback team and thats what we do. My goal is to keep learning, trying to make plays, and impress the coaches."
St. Pierre already has impressed Maddox.
"He's intelligent and he manages players well," Maddox said. "I think he has great leadership skills."
