LATROBE, Pa. – Maybe Mother Nature is a Steelers fan after all.
Tuesday, July 30 was circled on the calendar as the date when players would wear pads for the first time during this 2024 training camp, but right up until a couple of hours before the 10:30 a.m. scheduled start simply being able to have the practice on the grass fields at Saint Vincent College looked like no sure thing.
But the storms passed, the skies lightened, and the rain stopped by the time the first players started trickling out of the locker room to make their way down to the fields. There even were hints of sun during the session, and about an hour after practice ended and the field had cleared, the next wave of showers drenched campus.
"I'll take it however it comes as long as it's not lightning, because we get an opportunity to work," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "If it was raining today, then it's ball searching and ball security as an emphasis. We're an outdoor sport. We play in a lot of circumstances, and I'm open to all of that during team development."
But because the weather cooperated, Tomlin was able to have the normally scheduled practice, and when it was over he assessed what he witnessed.
"A lot of spirited work," he began. "There are certain things we really want to see in this environment. You guys know that backs-on-backers is always a featured drill, and really we're just trying to check the mentality and the technique of the (offensive players) because you're not afforded the opportunity to warm up to quarterback protection. And so we're always interested in how that group represents itself in that drill. I thought they did a really nice job."
Leading the way for the offense in that regard were tight end Darnell Washington and running back Jaylen Warren. Both of them got several opportunities in the drill, and neither looked to be "warming up to quarterback protection." In fact, it got to the point where there were no real options for the defensive players matched up against Washington, because he was too nimble if they tried to run around him and too big and strong if they tried to run through him. And just to add to the kind of day Washington was having, he made a very nice catch of a ball thrown by Justin Fields on a deep drag route.
In defense of the defense during backs-on-backers, T.J. Watt was not called on to be among those who participated, and there was very little of Alex Highsmith. Forced to pick a defensive player who stood out, it could have been Jeremiah Moon, a second-year outside linebacker who was added via waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.
"You know, if there's a winner, somebody's got to be a loser," said Tomlin. "That's just the nature of this thing in Steelers vs. Steelers, and so I'm not overly alarmed about (the apparent one-sided nature of the drill). I'm sure that the next time we do the drill, the rushers will represent themselves well in a bounce-back. There is going to be ebb and flow in an environment like this. And so I'm less concerned about some of those things as we stand here today. It's not something that the (offensive players) can warm up to, and that's why I was excited about their performance."
While backs-on-backers was being conducted, there also were competitions matching offensive vs. defensive linemen and receivers vs. defensive backs. In watching the linemen, a couple of the highly-drafted rookies were being welcomed to the NFL.
On one play, Watt was lined up opposite No. 1 pick Troy Fautanu. Watt came off the ball, slapped Fautanu's hands away before the punch could be delivered, then used a spin move to create a clear path to the quarterback. A bit later, veteran nose tackle Montravius Adams lined up on No. 2 pick Zach Frazier's nose and pushed him right back into the quarterback's lap.
"They've come here in really good shape and ready for work, and that's a really good place to begin," said Tomlin about the young offensive linemen. "They're tireless workers in terms of what they're willing to do off the grass and in the classroom, and that just tees them up for quality reps. We'll just keep rolling the ball out and getting a look at them, but I like what they've done thus far."
The key now is to be able to stack good days on the practice field, because everyone in an NFL training camp is able to put together streaks of one-in-a-row. But it will be the guys who string solid performances together who will keep themselves in the mix for a roster spot and then for a role within the team come the regular season.
"I thought it was a good start," said Tomlin. "A lot ebb and flow, a lot of quality work. This tape is gold from a teaching and learning perspective, and so I'm excited about having the opportunity to view it this afternoon and start that process in the effort to have more clarity and a better performance tomorrow. We just keep pushing forward."
TOMLIN'S INJURY UPDATE: "It was unfortunate that we had an injury today. Roman Wilson hurt his ankle on a tackle. We'll have more information regarding his status in terms of how long he might be out. Russell Wilson got back to action today. We had him in a helmet, he played some 7-on-7, got a little 11-on-11 work, not a lot. We'll keep progressing with that throughout the week and moving forward with the mindset of no steps backward as we do so. Nothing new to mention with Rodney Williams; he's still out with that shoulder. It's probably going to be days, but we'll see. We'll keep monitoring it. I know he's chomping at the bit to get back into the fold."
7-SHOTS
The play where Wilson was injured came on the sixth snap of the drill. After taking a handoff from Kyle Allen on a jet-sweep, Wilson was tackled by cornerback Anthony Averett short of the goal line. That stop by the defense tied the score, 3-3, and Tomlin sent the first units back onto the field for the deciding play. Fields ran play-action out of the jumbo package, and he kept the ball and raced around the right side for the deciding touchdown to give the offense its second straight win.
