LATROBE, Pa. - It normally takes a few days into training camp for things to play out and roles to be defined.
But it took no time at all for Sean Davis' role to be determined.
From Day 1 of camp Davis has been working at free safety, a spot that is new to him, but one he is embracing.
"I am getting more time there, getting used to it," said Davis. "I have to keep practicing at it and perfecting my craft.
"It just kind of happened. It wasn't anything written in stone in OTAs. Now that we are working towards our goal in training camp, I am going to focus on it.
"I do have to learn it and practice it. It's something I look forward to grasping it and getting better. I am looking forward to playing it and getting better."
Davis started all 16 regular season games last year at strong safety, while Mike Mitchell, William Gay, Rob Golden and J.J. Wilcox all got starts at free safety. Those for are gone, though, and with Morgan Burnett getting first team reps at strong safety, Davis is now the free safety.
"This is my first time so I am more comfortable in the box," said Davis. "This is just the start, so I am going to work out the kinks to play free. It's a transition but I can do it.
"The biggest transition is stopping being so close to the action every play. Being more of everyone depending on me. I can't let anything get past me now that I am the last line of defense. I like that pressure. I am glad they trust me to be that guy for the defense. It's new for me. I am using this time to develop my skills and get better."
It does take a special skill set to play free safety, and in addition to the physical skills, Davis thinks his background playing baseball will be an asset going against quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
Take a look at photos of the Pittsburgh Steelers 3rd day of training camp.
T.J. Watt and David DeCastro
Roosevelt Nix
Keion Adams
Damoun Patterson
Marcus Tucker
Justin Hunter
Terrell Edmunds
Terrell Edmunds
Stevan Ridley
Mason Rudolph
Farrington Huguenin
David DeCastro
Tyson Alualu
Keion Adams
Pharoah McKever
Antonio Brown and Artie Burns
Joe Haden
Cameron Heyward
Marcus Tucker
Mason Rudolph
Joshua Dobbs
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers Training Camp.
Antonio
Joe Haden
Jarvion Franklin
Greg Gilmore
Jordan
Justin Thomas
Roosevelt Nix, James Conner, Farrington Huguenin
Quadree Henderson
Landry Jones
Jamar Summers
Damoun Patterson
Tevin Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers Training Camp.
Roos
Roosevelt Nix
Christian Scotland-Williamson
Jordan Dangerfield
James Conner
Marcus Tucker
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers Training Camp.
Antonio Brown
Vince Williams
Tyson Alualu
Jarvion Franklin
Antonio Brown
Chuks Okorafor
Antonio Brown
James Saxon
Farrington Huguenin and Vance McDonald
Bud Dupree and Alejandro Villanueva
Fitzgerald Toussaint
Bud Dupree
Joshua Dobbs
Santonio Holmes and Antonio Brown
Bud Dupree and James Conner
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
T.J. Watt and Marcus Gilbert
Vance McDonald
Vance McDonald
Malik Golden
Farrington Huguenin, Jarvion Franklin, and Marcus Allen
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers training camp.
Cameron Heyward and B.J. Finney
Jake Rodgers and T.J. Watt
Stevan Ridley and Jon Bostic
Fitzgerald Toussaint
Chuks Okorafor
Matt Galambos
Landry Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers training camp.
Pharaoh McKever and Bud Dupree
Fitzgerald Toussaint and Matthew Thomas
Pharaoh McKever and Vince Williams
James Summers and Matt Galambos
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers training camp.
T.J. Watt and Xavier Grimble
Brian Allen, James Washington, and Damoun Patterson
Jarvion Franklin and Tyler Matakevich
Mason Rudolph
Marcus Allen and Ryan Malleck
James Washington and Coty Sensabaugh
Marcus Gilbert and Maurkice Pouncey
Bud Dupree
Antonio Brown and Vince Williams
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2018 Steelers training camp.
James Conner
Cameron Heyward
Justin Thomas and Matthew Thomas
Cameron Heyward
Justin Hunter and Terrell Edmunds
James Conner and Vince Williams
Artie Burns and Antonio Brown
Ryan Malleck
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Joe Haden
Ryan Malleck and Farrington Huguenin
Matthew Thomas and James Summers
Vance McDonald and Farrington Huguenin
Jaylen Samuels and Matthew Thomas
Kevin Colbert
Matt Galambos and James Summers
T.J. Watt
Daniel McCullers and Patrick Morris
Roosevelt Nix and Adeniyi Olasunkanmi
Artie Burns
Antonio Brown, Artie Burns, and Terrell Edmunds
Jamar Summers and James Washington
Parker Collins and Daniel McCullers
T.J. Watt
"I think I am a rangy guy, I can catch, and I can go to sideline to sideline. They see that as a more valuable weapon then keeping me in the box.
"I have a good background in baseball playing centerfield, seeing the ball off the bat, judging things. I can judge where the ball is going based of the trajectory. I am going to use that to my advantage to track the ball down and use my speed to fly around."
Davis, who played free safety in high school, knows it will take time, but he is just looking forward to doing his part to help a defense that struggled with missed tackles last year, finishing last in the league in that category.
"We were bad at missed tackles last year," said Davis. "That is a point of emphasis this camp. We are eager to put that on display. For us to be world champs that has to be a point of emphasis and be corrected.
"I need to do my part. I definitely think the coaches trust me to be the guy for the team. It's my job to get the job done."
