It was the first day of the Steelers' three-day minicamp, which will conclude the team's offseason program. Here are some takes from Coach Mike Tomlin's post-practice press briefing following Day 1:

On Ben Roethlisberger taking an active role in teaching some of the young players on offense during the on-field practices:
"I think it has evolved in the nine years I've been with him, and it should. It's a natural maturation process, not only in terms of him understanding what he's doing, but also understanding the overall scheme and approach that we are taking offensively. We have some continuity in that area now. Coach (Todd) Haley has been here a number of years, so that's something we should expect."

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On what can be learned from the young players or new additions to the team in this football-in-shorts setting:**
"How they take in information, how they learn, how they communicate, and whether or not they're capable of learning from the mistakes or actions of others. There's a lot of information you can gain about a young man in this type of a setting."

On his reaction to players scuffling with teammates on the other side of the ball during the on-field drills:
"It's football. It's obviously not something you embrace, but it's an element that comes with the game. It's an opportunity to teach more than anything, and that's the way I approach it. Things are going to happen along the way, as we build this group, which will provide us with opportunities to instruct our guys on how to deal with situations when they occur in the fall. When it's happening out here, under this setting, that's the spirit in which I approach it. Obviously, if it happens later, this will be a different story."

On whether he's confident that continuity on defense will result from the mixing of new players with the returning veterans:
"I'm not looking for confidence. I'm really not. I'm just watching these guys work, and time will tell the story."