SEVEN SHOTS: The offense went a perfect 7-for-7 in the practice-opening, 2-yard, 11-on-11 drill ... QB Ben Roethlisberger was 3-for-3 on touchdowns/conversions, hitting RB Le'Veon Bell, TE Heath Miller and WR Antonio Brown … QB Landry Jones was also 3-for-3, hitting TE Jesse James, TE Cameron Clear and QB/WR Devin Gardner … The final play of the drill saw RB Cameron Stingily run through S Gerod Holliman and into the end zone.
**
The offense went 7-for-7 today in the "Seven Shots" drill during today's practice at Saint Vincent College.
SPECIAL TEAMS:** WR/RB Dri Archer and WR Kenzel Doe spent some time fielding "punts." The balls they caught were actually simulated punts thrown by strength and conditioning assistant Marcel Pastoor and the throws were majestic (60 to 65 yards on the fly).
SPECIAL TEAMS II: DE Matt Conrath and DE Ethan Hemer put a little pre-practice time in catching kickoffs from the Jugs machine. The idea was to prepare would-be blockers on the kickoff return team stationed in the vicinity of the 25-yard line to fair catch a short/"pooch" kickoff.
MOVIN' ON UP: CBs Cortez Allen and William Gay were among those not participating, which afforded CB Brandon Boykin an opportunity to work with the first-team defense in 11-on-11 drills.
BEN COMES UP BIG: Roethlisberger claimed victory in another round of "Throw the Ball in the Garbage Can," removing his helmet and raising it up to the crowd upon the pre-practice competition's completion. Only Roethlisberger and Jones actually threw the ball in the garbage can (once each). QB Tajh Boyd, QB/WR Tyler Murphy and offensive coordinator Todd Haley also participated.
BEN AT IT AGAIN: Roethlisberger highlighted 11-on-11 work with a couple of long catch-and-run TD passes to Brown, and with a pump-fake deep ball to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey down the sideline that went for another score from distance.
HOUSEKEEPING: In addition to Allen and Gay, the list of players participating in practice in a partial capacity or not at all due to an injury or a coach's decision included WR Martavis Bryant, WR Markus Wheaton, S Robert Golden, S Mike Mitchell, RB Josh Harris, S Ross Ventrone, DT Daniel McCullers, G Ramon Foster, TE Matt Spaeth, LB James Harrison and LB Jarvis Jones. LB Vince Williams (hamstring) didn't finish practice.
