LATROBE, Pa. – When it started here on July 23, Coach Mike Tomlin said, “It’s just good to be back in Latrobe, at Saint Vincent, and formally beginning this team development process.”
And when it ended on Tuesday, Aug. 12 with a padded practice conducted in a feels-like temperature of 103-degrees, he was no less enthusiastic.
“We had a really spirited day in our last day of Steelers vs. Steelers up here in Latrobe. Tomorrow we turn our attentions toward the work that’s waiting on us with Tampa Bay this week. It has been a really good experience up here. It’s been highly competitive. We’re just really appreciative of this environment. The energy and support that we get from our fan base here is special, and I don’t know any other way to say it. I liked the work that we got done today, continuing to work a lot of situations.
“But again, we just appreciate this environment, the support, the experience up here. Not a lot of teams go to destination camps anymore, and we value it. We value not only the tangible work up here, but the intangible work — the camaraderie, the informal moments — is really special.”
The Steelers will break camp on Wednesday and return to Pittsburgh and the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. On Thursday, there is a joint practice scheduled with Tampa Bay at Acrisure Stadium. And then at 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Steelers will host the Buccaneers in what will be the second preseason game for both teams.
7-Shots
With the players wearing pads, running the ball was more of an option in Tuesday’s version, and the offense utilized that on the first play. RB Jaylen Warren burst through a big hole over the left side to get into the end zone untouched.
QB Aaron Rodgers’ next two plays were both passes – the first was incomplete to WR DK Metcalf with CB Joey Porter Jr. in very tight coverage, and the second was a quick throw to TE Darnell Washington who used his height to go over the coverage by SS DeShon Elliott and make the catch in the end zone.
Mason Rudolph came in at quarterback for the next 2 plays. His first pass was intended for WR Max Hurleman but was intercepted by DB Sebastian Castro, but on the second he threw a quick slant to WR Brandon Johnson between the cornerback and the safety for the touchdown. At that point, the offense had a 3-2 lead.
Skylar Thompson came on for the final two plays, and the offense scored on both. The first was a run by RB Lew Nichols, and the second came on a quick throw into the flat to WR Lance McCutcheon. That gave the offense a 5-2 win in the final 7-Shots at Saint Vincent College.
Observations
• On the first play of the Team Run period, Jaylen Warren found a big hole through the middle of the defense when he literally ran into Jalen Ramsey, who stopped his progress but didn’t tackle him to the ground.
• Just because it was Team Run period doesn’t mean every play has to be a running play. On a play-action pass by Rudolph over the middle, ILB Cole Holcomb made a nice play to intercept a low ball.
• CB James Pierre got into the interception fun when he picked off an Aaron Rodgers pass over the middle about 15 yards downfield.
• In a subsequent 11-on-11 period, TE Connor Heyward reached out and made a one-handed catch of a Rudolph pass with Miles Killebrew right there in position to make the interception had Heyward not made the play.
• During 7-on-7, WR Roc Taylor ran by CB Kyler McMichael and caught a perfect pass from QB Logan Woodside deep down the field.
• If you’re a receiver when Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, be advised to get your head around to look for the football. Because it’s coming. During the red zone drill, Rodgers got some pressure and was flushed to the right and then drilled a pass directly at a receiver who was late looking back for the ball. The pass deflected off his hands and into the air, and CB Jalen Ramsey ended up securing the interception.
• Tomlin on the progress shown by LT Broderick Jones and RT Troy Fautanu during their time in Latrobe: “I think they’ve gotten better every day. Broderick got slowed by a little day to day injury there for a spell, but he’s really been on the uptick since his return. Same with Troy. I like the trajectory of the group. But as I mentioned, even though we’re leaving here, we still are very much in development. Got a lot of time in front of us between now and the opener.”
Tomlin’s Injury Report
“We have some people working their way back to us, further or complete participants, like Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. and others. It’s just part of the process. We still have some guys missing a little bit, but we can still characterize those guys as day to day, like Calvin Austin and Jonnu Smith and others. Hopefully they’ll be back to us sooner rather than later.”
About midway through the practice, Aaron Rodgers had a bandage or a wrap of some sort taped to his lower shin area. When asked about it, Tomlin said, “He just got stepped on. It was nothing, nothing of any significance. He finished his work. He didn’t miss a rep.”
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