The Steelers were back on familiar ground on Tuesday, returning to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after a productive training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Coach Mike Tomlin likes to utilize the first week back from camp to simulate a regular season schedule, going through all of the steps to help young players and newcomers to the team get acclimated, while it serving as a refresher course for others as they prepare to take on the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale.
"Had a really good day here," said Tomlin after practice. "Today was an in-season simulated Wednesday. We laid some foundational things down.
"Relative to our plan this week, we focused on some matchup components and some of the things that we do in high volume, some of the things that Detroit does in high volume. It's just really good to take the collective through what is a regular in-season Wednesday.
"It's good for us this week as we prepare for this opportunity, but it's also good for us when we get into the opening week, it won't be the first time we've gone through that exercise. I feel really good about that. We'll put the finishing touches on today in the classroom and do some other things tomorrow."
While putting the team through a simulated week is good for the players, it also helps the coaching staff see how players are able to take things in and adapt to a different environment and schedule.
"These mock weeks are big," said Tomlin "A big component of development individually and collectively, how people absorb information, how they absorb a ready list and so forth.
"So, there's physical work and things of that nature to be evaluated, but there's some intellectual components that are really significant as well as we make some of our final judgments and lean in on this last opportunity in stadium."
And as far as the in-stadium work, Tomlin didn't provide any details yet on who will see playing time, and how much, at quarterback against the Lions.
"We're still very much in the here and now," said Tomlin. "We'll make some of those judgments in the 11th hour in the preseason."
However, Tomlin did rule out running back Jaylen Warren for the game.
"He's out," said Tomlin. "Probably out for this week, but not anything that's a long-term concern."
The news is not as good for offensive lineman Nate Herbig, who was placed on the Reserve/Injured List. Herbig started the preseason opener at center, but Zach Frazier started last week against the Bills with Herbig injured and appears to be the heir apparent moving forward.
"I don't know that any of it has been surprising, just the close proximity to Morgantown and the relationships we have there," said Tomlin. "He is as advertised. He is mature beyond his football years. He is highly competitive. He has really good leverage.
"Obviously, there is a lot of growth ahead of him, but he has time to do it. We will just keep working day-to-day."
