PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin has long said he would coach football 365 days a year if he could. The Pittsburgh Steelers are beginning to believe it.

The Steelers' training camps became relatively predictable during former coach Bill Cowher's 15 seasons, with a limited number of two-a-days and occasional practices called off to give the players a break or to take a trip to the movies.

When the Steelers start their first camp under Tomlin on Monday, the movies probably will be limited to film study sessions and days off will be almost nonexistent, with none in the first 14 days. The only planned days off before camp ends Aug. 17 occur the day after each of the first three exhibition games.

"This is what training camps are about," Tomlin said. "They are not supposed to be pleasant."

Tomlin isn't saying whether he thinks the Steelers had it a little too soft a summer ago. Maybe he doesn't have to. Then, coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Steelers won only two of their first eight games following a relaxed training camp.

It appears obvious Tomlin didn't pay much attention to Cowher's camp schedule when he planned his own — except to retain the traditional, middle-of-the-afternoon workouts that have been a staple since Chuck Noll's days as coach from 1969-91.

Maybe it's fitting the Steelers will hold a majority of practices on Chuck Noll Field, where St. Vincent College will renew its football program this fall following a 45-year lapse.

"I'm not familiar with how it is has been in the past," said Tomlin, who said he took considerable time planning his first camp. "I really can't speak to that, but it will be trying at times."