New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was as proactive as he needed to be in ensuring the rookies would quickly be brought up to speed.
Veteran Steelers, meanwhile, figured it out without prompting.
"The first thing that he did when we got here as rookies, he brought us in, everyone on offense, me and (guard) Mason (McCormick), (center) Zach (Frazier) and (wide receiver) Roman (Wilson), he took us in his office and basically put up a power point of, 'We want to be the most physical offense in the league,'" offensive tackle Troy Fautanu reported.
"That's the mindset, the attitude. Hopefully, we try and bring that every day."
That desire on offensive has been confirmed during OTAs.
Other characteristics of what Smith is bringing to the table have, likewise, been apparent.
"Urgency," tight end Connor Heyward noted.
"Detail," quarterback Justin Fields observed.
The Steelers participate in Day 4 of the 2024 Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo (73) and Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) participate in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Dean Lowry (94) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Breiden Fehoko (96) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson (74) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jacoby Windmon (45) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Ryan Watts (29) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Daijun Edwards (31) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers participate in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) participate in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick (82) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen (4) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Denzel Mims (15) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson (74) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) participates in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 28, 2024 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
"Intensity," wide receiver Calvin Austin III maintained.
"I think, honestly, it's just our approach and our mentality," tight end Pat Freiermuth summarized regarding what stands out as different under Smith.
The Steelers want to be physical.
And they want to be urgent.
But Smith's offense will also endeavor to operate with a sense of purpose.
"He's very meticulous in the way he explains the offense," Fields continued. "We've kind of been focused just setting the foundation, not really getting too far ahead of ourselves.
"Just setting that base and not working too far ahead but also getting a good amount to where guys can learn it, process it and know the 'why' behind certain things."
The Steelers' continued commitment to physicality was apparent with the selections of Fautanu (first round), Frazier (second round) and McCormick (fourth round) during this year's draft.
"Since Day One we understood what the goal was and what we want to be and I think we're all embracing that," Freiermuth said. "Obviously, with our new draft picks on the offensive line we're going to embrace the physicality aspect of it. We all have to grow into that and adapt to that and I think we have the right mentality to do that.
"It's almost like a fresh start. We're all going to embrace it and attack it."
Much remains to be determined.
The physicality won't crank up in earnest until the pads come on in training camp.
The use of specific personnel groups, how and when they're deployed and the personnel that will comprise those various groups are a long way from being resolved.
But a style has nonetheless been evident during OTAs, a signature of approach the Steelers hope will resonate no matter how they're attacking from quarter to quarter or game to game.
"Lots of urgency," Heyward said. "Art's not waiting on anything and neither are our (offensive) coaches. They're trying to get this going and get this thing pumpin' so when we hit the ground it's rolling and looks like we put this together before and it's not like we're not just trying to piece it together.
"Football's football at the end of the day, but our mindset and how we play and our crispness, I think that will show. And that's only going to continue to get better from now to camp and from camp to the games."
It's still early in the process.
But not too early to be meticulous, detailed and urgent.
"It's a lot more, I feel like, intensity and a push behind it," Austin said. "It's not a lot of, as we say around here, lip service, not just saying something. We'll say something in meetings and we're going out on the field and Coach (Smith) is looking for that, he's pushing for that. It's not just we're just saying it to sound good. We're actually going out there and you can feel that we're pushing on offense. We're pushing everybody to be perfect and detailed in everything. It's still early so we're not going to be perfect, but the coaches are pushing for that perfection.
"If it's not well received by any player then that player probably doesn't belong here. We're pushing to be great. We're not pushing just to have a winning record, no, no, no. We're pushing to be world champions."
