At their core OTAs are about the laying of a foundation, about an opportunity for players to either learn or to reaffirm techniques and procedures and to either grasp or re-establish an understanding of the work ethic, the preparation, the mindset and the attention to detail that will be demanded in training camp.
Seventh-round defensive tackle Joshua Frazier already has a handle on the latter, having come to the Steelers from Alabama.
"Just the way we work," Frazier maintained regarding what has separated Alabama at the college level in recent seasons. "I feel like we work the hardest in the country with everything we do. Coach Cochran (head strength and conditioning coach Scott) and Coach Saban (head coach Nick), he just has everything laid out each year, and it's basically the same things. He might switch up a couple little things, but you gotta go to work every single day. School, in the class room, and on the field, that's just how it is.
"When we're in the season, to get to that point we worked so hard, the running and the weight lifting and just all the extra hours we just put in, how can we lose? When you put in so much effort, we're not just going to go lose."
Alabama rarely does.
Frazier's four-year resume with the Crimson Tide includes three SEC championships, three consecutive appearances in the national championship game and two national titles.
"It's been a pretty good run," Frazier said.
And one that has prepared Frazier well for the challenges of transitioning to the Steelers, who attack each NFL season with the type of lofty standards and expectations Frazier grew accustomed to accepting at Alabama.
"Coach Saban's a really good guy," Frazier continued. "He's going to coach us hard and he's gonna love us and everything like that, but at the same time he's about his business. So if you don't come out there and do what you need to do every day, somebody's going to come up and take your spot. So you gotta bring it every day.
"I take those same fundamentals that I was taught at Alabama and I bring it out to this field and try to execute every day."
The Steelers participate in day 4 of the 2018 Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Steelers players participate in the Organized Team Activity (OTA) at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
It remains a long way from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, let alone an NFL Sunday.
Frazier isn't looking for any shortcuts.
"The older guys, (defensive end) Cam Heyward, (defensive end Stephon) Tuitt, all those guys are helping me out, just helping me make that transition a little bit cleaner," Frazier said. "Every year's a new year for me, you just go back to the drawing board. You just gotta keep getting better, better and better every year. You start off with zero sacks, zero tackles, zero everything. It's about coming back to the field and just going to work every day. You gotta come here and every day, keep going to work, keep getting better.
"I know what I can do and I'm going to take advantage of my opportunity."
