LATROBE, Pa. – It was somewhat predictable. Having gone through back-to-back practices in pads, and with Friday Night Lights on tomorrow's schedule, the Steelers took the field at Saint Vincent College for Thursday's on-field session wearing helmets and shells.
"We had a really good work day for a lot of reasons," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We doubled back to helmets today, and it's really an opportunity to teach and learn about attire. Attire cannot dictate attitude or approach. We've had some really intense practices in pads the last couple of days, but the intensity cannot wane as we wear helmets, and so that was a focus of ours.
"There's still a lot of work that needs to get done. Oftentimes, we just shift our focus to skill development and drills that are less attire specific. Today we had an opportunity to introduce two-minute, for example. A lot of productive work being done regardless of attire, but again, it's an opportunity to teach and learn."
One of the teaching-learning highlights came during the two periods of the practice that were devoted to special teams. Both of those sessions were spent on kickoffs based on the new rules that will go into effect this season, with one centered on coverage and the other on returns.
The coverage session had the Steelers line up 11 mobile defensive players – mostly linebackers and defensive backs – because one-on-one tackling could end up being highlighted. The session devoted to the return aspect included some bigger bodies ideally suited to creating creases for the returners, and with Cordarelle Patterson still on the non-football injury list with a hamstring issue, the Steelers deployed two players deep to field the kicks because balls that go into the end zone now will be considered live.
"That was our first time actually looking at it, and so we'll dissect this tape, we'll teach and learn," said Tomlin about those special teams sessions. "We'll make some adjustments in terms of our teaching and coaching and points of emphasis, and we'll get ready for the next opportunity. And it's reasonable to expect us as players and coaches to be a lot better the next time we roll out because of what we saw and experienced today."
Another teaching period during Thursday's practice came during the first repetitions of two-minute. The offense got the ball at its 47-yard line, with one timeout and needing a touchdown to win.
The first repetition matched the No. 1 offense (Justin Fields at quarterback) vs. the No. 1 defense, and it ended with George Pickens making a great combat catch in the back of the end zone. The second repetition matched the No.2 offense (Kyle Allen at quarterback) and ended with a touchdown pass to WR Jaray Jenkins.
OBSERVATIONS
Even though Russell Wilson again was held out of team drills as he continues to work his way back from a calf injury, his arm was in top shape on Thursday. On successive repetitions in 7-on-7, he threw three beautiful deep ball – the first was completed to Van Jefferson, the second was dropped by Calvin Austin III, and the third was completed to Pickens.
7-SHOTS
The defense broke a two-day losing streak with a 5-2 win in the drill during an installment that included no running plays by the offense, likely because it was a padless practice. The first four plays ended, 2-2, with Justin Fields throwing passes to TE Darnell Washington and WR Van Jefferson. The defensive stops came via blanket coverage on one play, and ILB Elandon Roberts coming in clean off the right side for what would have been a sack. With Kyle Allen taking over, ILB Payton Wilson stuffed a shovel pass to RB Aaron Shampklin, ILB Mark Robinson broke up a pass for TE Pat Freiermuth, and a pass intended for TE MyCole Pruitt was incomplete with CB Anthony Averett in coverage.
TOMLIN'S INJURY UPDATE: "Normal bumps and bruises associated with this process. A little fatigue today, heat in some instances, we shut some guys down, and I'm sure we'll give them what it is they need and we'll roll it back out for tomorrow night. Excited about Friday Night Lights. Always excited to get over there and enjoy that venue, which is a tradition here. Roman Wilson's got an ankle sprain. It could be characterized as week-to-week at this juncture. We've got him walking around in a boot for precaution. I'll give you more information as he gets closer to health."
