LATROBE, Pa. – Signing an unrestricted free agent punter doesn't move the needle in the same way as when a team adds an all-situations inside linebacker, or a starting quarterback with a Super Bowl win on his resume. But getting Cameron Johnston via a 3-year, $9 million deal that included a $2.875 million signing bonus to replace Pressley Harvin III has been looking very significant in its own right.
During the 2023 season with Harvin as the punter, the Steelers ranked 30th in the NFL in average per punt. Individually, Harvin ranked 31st in the NFL in gross average and 29th in net average. By comparison, Johnston, who punted for the Houston Texans from 2021-23, was 15th in the NFL with a 47.7-yard gross average and 4th in the league with a 44.0-yard net average.
During Saturday's practice at Saint Vincent College, Johnston put on a show with a series of punts that were long, high, and well-placed. During the special teams period devoted to punting, Johnston launched several punts that traveled more than 60 yards and were placed within 5 yards of the sideline.
It might seem incongruous to be highlighting a punting exhibition during a practice that came less 24 hours after the Steelers engaged in a two-hour version of rock-em sock-em robots at Latrobe Stadium during Friday Night Lights, but Coach Mike Tomlin explained the reasoning.
"A really productive day today," said Tomlin. "The guys gave it all to us last night. It's our intention is to work hard in this environment, but also work smart. And so we did some things to help them with the bounce-back. We had several periods on a short field, for example, which was an effort to gain their legs back. We had some guys who are veteran players, and we minimized them today in response to last night. It's just appropriate. They gave us a lot (Friday night), and that's a component of this process.
"They gotta go hard, and we've got to make good judgments as coaches. We've got to find ways to make every single day productive, but it's just productive on different levels. I liked the work that we got done today. We'll tee it up for tomorrow. Sunday will be a big day – short-yardage, goal-line, and you know the competition will be hot. We'll be right back at it."
7-SHOTS
Also in the category of a bounce-back was the defense's performance in 7-Shots. After absorbing a 7-0 loss in Friday night's version, the defense erased an early 3-0 hole to bounce back for a 4-3 win in the drill.
Justin Fields staked the offense to a 3-0 lead, with a run for a touchdown followed by consecutive passes to George Pickens in the end zone on the next two plays. With a chance to clinch the drill with an 11th straight touchdown, Fields had his pass batted down at the line of scrimmage, and it appeared that either Isaiahh Loudermilk or Montravius Adams made the play.
Kyle Allen came onto the field and threw an interception to Thomas Graham Jr. in the middle of the field; then rolled far to his right before attempting unsuccessfully to throw all the way back to the left side of the end zone for Darnell Washington; and then he was "sacked" by DeMarvin Leal to give the defense the win.
NOTES
Beanie Bishop had the other interception for the defense when he anticipated a quick throw to the receiver he was covering, fired into the backfield and made the catch. Bishop then maintained his balance and raced untouched for what would've been a pick-six.
TOMLIN'S INJURY UPDATE
"The great thing today is we had no additional negativity from a health standpoint, and really things are status quo with the guys on that list."
Sunday's practice at Saint Vincent College is scheduled to begin at 1:55 p.m.
