We’re again after yesterday’s showers and storms closed observe to followers. Saturday, Pittsburgh held its annual evening observe, the one distinction being it approaching a weekend as an alternative of common Friday evening lights. Let’s discuss what went down at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
A reminder there’s a abstract/recap close to the underside of the publish for individuals who don’t have time to learn via all of immediately’s notes.
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Camp Notes (Day Eight)
– Damage roundup. Not practising tonight had been DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (unknown), OT Max Iheanachor (neck/shoulder), DL Logan Lee (unknown), RB Eli Heidenreich (proper leg), S Jaquan Brisker (unknown), CB Brandin Echols (left foot/ankle) and OL Steven Jones (unknown) together with the PUP guys: DB Jalen Ramsey, CB Joey Porter Jr., and CB Donte Kent. Ramsey, Brisker, and Porter hung round one another for a lot of the evening.
Heidenreich had a black sleeve on his proper leg in order that seems to be his ailment. Echols wore a grey boot on his left foot. That doesn’t at all times imply a extreme damage, typically it’s simply protecting and precautionary, however we’ll see when he can get again. Nonetheless may very well be a number of days.
Max Iheanachor didn’t put on a brace or sling, in order that’s a constructive signal. The Trib reported he had a brace on after Thursday’s observe.
WR Michael Pittman Jr. had his proper leg examined by trainers halfway via observe. Head coach Gabe Amponsah checked the again of Pittman’s proper leg, his hamstring area, and had him kick out his foot a few times. Pittman completed the day watching the remainder of observe and didn’t put his helmet again on or take one other rep, although the rest of observe was backup and run-game oriented. DK Metcalf didn’t get many reps on the finish, both. So it’s laborious to say for positive if Pittman would’ve missed reps, however I don’t suppose he was set to return in.
We’ll examine his standing for Monday’s session. Don’t need to increase main alarm bells however don’t be shocked if he wants a number of days to get well.
Reserve offensive lineman Lorenzo Thompson was sluggish to stand up after one play in workforce interval. He appeared okay however may’ve missed a ultimate rep or two. We’ll double-check for the subsequent session after the off day.
– Setup for the evening observe was somewhat completely different past the Saturday session and hour earlier begin time. Renovations to the stadium modified the format and I couldn’t make my method to the less-crowded customer facet after arriving at 4:45. It was closed early even earlier than the buses for the gamers left Saint Vincent Faculty. Needed to wait till after the gamers arrived and began stretch line earlier than I may make my method to the opposite facet.
– Coaching and help staffers had been first to the sector and arrange tables and gear nicely earlier than observe started.
– 5 yellow faculty buses, with police escorts forward and behind, pulled in round 5:14 PM. Mike McCarthy and Omar Kahn had been the primary onto the sector with gamers spilling out behind them. Renegade blared as followers cheered and shouted for autographs. New S Rayshawn Jenkins filmed the group strolling onto the sector. He appeared in awe of all of it. You possibly can see his vantage level on his Instagram story.
– One other robust crowd attended observe tonight, and it’s at all times a spotlight of camp. For what it’s price, there was a significant line that snaked across the stadium final 12 months. Not the case this 12 months. I used to be in a position to stroll mainly proper to the doorway and get contained in the stadium. Nonetheless, it stuffed up quick and each bleachers had been packed by the point observe acquired going. The 50/50 complete pool was $6,500 with the winner getting half.
– A gaggle of followers had a Gennings Dunker signal prepared for him alongside the fence line. I later noticed one individual sporting a Dunker jersey.
– Throughout set up/warmup, the offensive strains. Consider they blended and matched loads all through observe.
First workforce: Fautanu-McCormick-Frazier-Anderson-CookSecond workforce: B. Jones-Hoffman-McCollum-Dunker-DriscollThird Workforce: Nester-Thompson-Crippen-Dunker-B. Jones
With strains somewhat skinny, Jones and Dunker double-dipped reps.
– Newly claimed TE Lance Mason practiced throughout particular person durations, however I don’t suppose he labored in workforce. I didn’t see fellow declare WR Colton Dowell and his No. 27 on the sector. Guess he’s getting in late and can hopefully be accessible Monday.
Particular person Interval
– Defensive linemen labored on get-off drills throughout one of many particular person durations. On the similar time and proper subsequent to them, the EDGE rushers labored on pass-rush drills with positional coach C.J. Ah You performing because the offensive sort out to get round. The offensive linemen labored on stunt pickup.
– Quarterbacks throwing on air however tossing true 9 routes/go-balls to start. Jakobie Keeney-James with a pleasant monitor of 1 deep ball. Quickly after, Joaquin Davis confirmed his pace on a superb ball that hit him proper in stride. There are moments the place you possibly can see Aaron Rodgers and Drew Allar’s arm expertise whereas Will Howard’s passes can hold, rookie Kaden Wetjen slowing down a bit for certainly one of his targets.
Particular Groups Interval
– Workforce labored on kickoffs immediately. Kick-return pairings: Kaden Wetjen/D’Shawn Jamison, Roman Wilson/Jakobie Keeney-James, Kaden Wetjen/Kaleb Johnson, Max Hurleman/Kaden Wetjen.
– Some notable names on kick protection. Second-round rookie WR Germie Bernard and a pair of defensive linemen: DE Anthony Goodlow and NT Kyler Baugh. The brand new kickoff guidelines that don’t require 40-yard downfield sprints make taking part in massive guys viable. Goodlow and Baugh are plus athletes, and you need to see them work there through the preseason. On one rep, Goodlow and Baugh had been on the sector protecting a kick collectively.
– On one kickoff, the protection workforce was one man quick and had simply 10 on the market. Assistant Darian Thompson halted the second to get the eleventh man on, CB Doneiko Slaughter hustling out to fill the hole on the correct facet.
Competitors Interval (1v1)
Largely watched o-line/d-line however a few 7-on-7 notes I jotted down.
– DK Metcalf made an superior, one-handed contested seize down the correct sideline with – I imagine – CB Asante Samuel Jr. throughout him. Spotlight-reel stuff. Moments later, WR Brandon Smith burned the cornerback protecting him and made a full-extension diving seize. Actually good things.
– Daylen Everette with a superb plaster on one rep, forcing a breakup. Rayshawn Jenkins later broke up a throw over the center to Darnell Washington, the cross skirting via Washington’s arms.
– Tight finish Robert Tonyan beat Jack Henderson on a fade left sideline with a superb ball to place it in his arms.
OL/DL 1v1s I charted. They went into 2v2 stunt pickup afterward however I didn’t chart these a lot.
1. Alex Highsmith’s inside spin beats Troy Fautanu with ease. Good rep from Highsmith.2. Cam Heyward bull rush on Mason McCormick with reasonable effectiveness.3. Zach Frazier stalls out Yahya Black’s bull rush initially, however Black retains pushing and drives Frazier again.4. Spencer Anderson wins this rep in opposition to Keeanu Benton.5. Dylan Cook dinner a superb rep to seal T.J. Watt upfield.6. Nice rep from Broderick Jones, who tosses down Nick Herbig on the finish. Greatest rep of the drill.7. Brock Hoffman hop step again to decelerate Esezi Otomewo’s bull rush.8. Gabriel Rubio bull rush on Ryan McCollum, who stalls it out.9. Kyler Baugh generates some motion on his energy rush in opposition to Gennings Dunker.10. Good rep from Doug Lester. At left sort out, he seals Jamin Davis upfield.11. Constructive rep from Kevin Jobity Jr., who rips beneath Lorenzo Thompson.12. Dean Lowry put one of many facilities on his heels. I feel it was McCollum, but it surely may’ve been Greg Crippen.13. Swim transfer from Derrick Harmon beats Hoffman. Good rep from Harmon.14. Watt can’t rip beneath Cook dinner till the very finish on the high of the arc. Cook dinner will get the win.15. Fautanu seals Highsmith on his excessive/exterior rush.16. McCormick wins in opposition to Otomewo, whose swim transfer fails.17. Clear swim and win by Benton in opposition to Anderson. Heck of a transfer.18. Julius Welschof good points a step inside in opposition to Jack Driscoll.19. Fautanu retains Herbig broad, however Herbig is ready to get previous on the finish. Nonetheless, not a foul rep by Fautanu.20. Baugh can’t shed his lineman. Not sure who, maybe Hoffman.21. McCollum holds on in opposition to Harmon’s bull rush.22. Dunker stalls out Otomewo.23. Davis with a win, ripping beneath Thompson who aligned at proper sort out. Thompson was utterly upright and stiff right here, however he’s labored extra at guard than sort out.24. Nester seals Malik Harrison up the arc.25. Lowry bull rush strung along with a late swim transfer in opposition to Hoffman.26. Fast and wonderful win by Baugh in opposition to Crippen. A-plus second.27. Good rep by Jobity to shut it out. Fakes a spin transfer after which rips via Dunker, displaying the power to nook and bend via contact.
Workforce Interval (11 v 11)
First Session – Walkthrough
– Even with only one discipline to work with as an alternative of the same old three, the Steelers nonetheless labored their “2 Spot” dueling 11-on-11 durations. The primary workforce labored on the correct facet (from the house bleachers perspective) with the backups on the left facet.
– RB Lew Nichols labored with the two’s after spending time with the 1’s earlier this week. May very well be deliberate rotation between the backup runners however price noting.
– Normally, the hand held pole digital camera follows Will Howard and Drew Allar round when the quarterbacks get cut up up. Not immediately. It stayed with Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and the 1’s.
– With the two’s, TE Jaheim Bell acquired a few FB snaps through the goal-line walkthrough.
– Normally, a walkthrough is as low-intensity because it will get. Don’t inform that to C Ryan McCollum and S Rayshawn Jenkins. They blended it up after one goal-line rep. McCollum acquired his helmet knocked off, the 2 separated, after which McCollum threw an open-handed slap/punch to Jenkins. Teammates rapidly pulled the 2 aside and cooler heads prevailed.
Nothing flawed with somewhat early-practice scrum from two rivals.
Second Session
1. Ball on the 35. Derrick Harmon and Cam Heyward the d-tackles. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith the EDGEs. Asante Samuel at LCB, Jamel Dean at RCB, and Doneiko Slaughter at NCB. Rayshawn Jenkins and Robert Spears-Jennings the safeties.
Aaron Rodgers throws left on an out route/sideline throw. Dean reads and jumps it, selecting it off, staying inbounds, and housing it the opposite means for a pick-six. Massive defensive celebration ensues. Nice play by Dean.
2. Mason Rudolph is available in with the two’s. Seems proper after which comes again left to attach with Kaleb Johnson. He has it for a second, however the downhill defender closing knocks it out of Johnson’s arms. I feel it was Nick Herbig who knocked it away, however I’m not totally positive. I’ll name it a drop by Johnson.
3. Draw left facet to Johnson. Carson Bruener on the tag.
4. Devan Boykin blitzes from the protection’s left facet. Rudolph appears to be like left facet, but it surely’s practically picked just like Dean’s play above. Rookie Daylen Everette acquired his arms on it however couldn’t carry the cross in. Protection nonetheless acquired hyped for him with Jalen Ramsey pushing him in a way-to-go method afterward.
5. Brandon Smith and Ben Skowronek the surface receivers with Germie Bernard within the slot.
Rudolph full to Bernard on a crosser proper to left. He sits down and makes the seize.
6. Rudolph full to Johnson left facet, Johnson making a pleasant seize over his head within the flat.
7. Jack Henderson and Sebastian Castro the safeties. D’Shawn Jamison at LCB. Toss proper to Johnson. Good run protection by Jack Sawyer to gum up the works and decelerate Johnson’s path.
8. Rudolph finds Bernard on his second or third development and it’s a comparatively quick completion.
9. Rudolph climbs the pocket. Runs out of bounds with nothing there as Bruener chases him out.
10. Display screen left. Go batted down by the protection. Undecided by who – probably EDGE Jamin Davis.
11. Rudolph fires to Bernard left facet. Ball off his chest and out of bounds, a drop, with Everette protecting.
12. Steelers carry the sector aim unit out. Rookie Laith Marjan making an attempt a few 46-yard discipline aim. Has the space however he pushes it left with the refs beneath the goalposts signaling the kick is not any good.
13. Steelers reset and convey the subsequent group in for a quasi-two-minute drill.
Botched handoff between Howard and RB Lew Nichols. Seems like Nichols departed somewhat too early and Howard couldn’t attain out to suit the ball into him. Ball hits the bottom and rookie UDFA Kevin Jobity Jr. falls on it.
Coaches blow the whistle and that’s it. It’s a turnover so Howard and the remainder lose any remaining reps of the interval. Value you pay for a turnover.
Third Session
1. Roman Wilson and Brandon Smith the 2 receivers. Pat Freiermuth and Robert Tonyan the tight ends.
Play-action by Rodgers to Dowdle in the correct flat. Herbig comes all the way down to tag him.
2. Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward the d-tackles. DeShon Elliott working at security right here, getting some restricted workforce reps.
Dowdle draw. Riley Nowakowski lead block however Cam Heyward stuffs it at/close to the road of scrimmage.
3. Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilson, and Brandon Smith the receiver trio. Rodgers beneath middle.
Play-action. Rodgers hits Darnell Washington within the left flat, who throws a stiff arm in Queen’s face.
4. O-line of B. Jones-Hoffman-McCollum-Dunker-Driscoll. Nowakowski at fullback.
Toss to Jaylen Warren. Harmon crashes via and wraps him up. Wonderful rep from Harmon.
5. Tried display screen from Howard to Tonyan. Yahya Black reads it and will get in the way in which, a pass-game eclipse. Howard dirts the ball nicely wanting Tonyan and it’s incomplete.
6. Black and Lowry the d-tackles. Skowronek and Smith on the surface with Bernard within the slot. Jaheim Bell in at tight finish.
Toss to Nichols. Left facet however Nichols sees a lane and cuts it proper and upfield with Sebastian Castro making use of the tag.
7. Julius Welschof and Jamin Davis the EDGE rushers. Israel Mukuamu and Sebastian Castro the protection pairing. Tamon Lynum at LCB, Daryl Porter at RCB.
Nichols carry left facet. He will get tripped up and goes to the bottom.
8. Drew Allar play-action. Brandon Smith makes a diving catch left facet. Good play to achieve out and safe it as he goes to the bottom.
9. Gun run to Warren. Warren left facet however bounces off to the correct for a pair yards.
10. Rodgers full to Freiermuth beneath for about 5 yards.
11. Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener the within linebackers. Nick Herbig the LOLB, Jack Sawyer the ROLB. Doneiko Slaughter and Daylen Everette the cornerbacks. Aaron Rodgers at QB, Riley Nowakowski the FB.
Toss left to Dowdle. There’s a lane and he finds it, displaying good burst upfield and jetting away from Yahya Black’s outstretched hand.
12. Rudolph play-action. Hits Dowdle proper flat with Cole Holcomb chasing him out of bounds.
Fourth Session
1. Jack Sawyer at LOLB, Alex Highsmith at ROLB. Nick Herbig working off-ball.
Toss left to Warren. Payton Wilson will get off TE Darnell Washington’s block and jams Warren. Wilson jaws with Warren somewhat bit after the play.
2. Swing cross from Rodgers to Warren left facet. Herbig tags him within the flat.
3. Rodgers fast hearth to Brandon Smith with Tamon Lynum tackling him to the bottom.
4. Alex Highsmith at LOLB, Jack Sawyer at ROLB. Harmon at LDE, Black at NT, Otomewo at RDE. Rudolph beneath middle.
Dowdle carry up the center. Bounces to the correct and falls ahead for a pair.
5.. Holcomb and Harrison the within linebackers. Howard boots out and completes to Max Hurleman earlier than D’Shawn Jamison can shut and knock it away.
6. O-line of Nester-Hoffman-McCollum-Dunker-Driscoll.
Display screen left from Howard to Keeney-James. Couple of blocks to complete the rep down the sideline.
7. Kaden Wetjen within the slot, Joaquin Davis and Ben Skowronek the surface receivers. Drew Allar in at quarterback.
Allar’s throw to Wetjen is low and he can’t haul it in. Might’ve been a greater throw, no query, however Wetjen has a restricted catch radius.
8. Nowakowski in at fullback. Run up the center. Gabriel Rubio with a giant stick, together with others, on the again I failed to notice. Good play from the entrance on the line of scrimmage.
9. Rodgers boots to his proper. Fairly throw off his again foot full to Washington proper facet between two defenders. Couldn’t have walked up and handed it to him any higher and legitimately among the best throws I’ve seen Rodgers make in camp or common season since becoming a member of Pittsburgh.
10. Rodgers needs Roman Wilson on a curl route, however Jenkins closes and breaks it up with forceful contact excessive. Incomplete.
11. Kaleb Johnson up the center. Jenkins on the cease.
12. Brandon Smith and Ben Skowronek the receivers.
Low snap however Mason Rudolph handles it. Fires left facet to Hurleman, selecting up a superb block from Smith to create a lane. Good job by Rudolph to maintain it on monitor.
13. Allar boots left. Can’t get his hips sq. and his throw to Tonyan within the flat misses. Incomplete.
14. Anthony Goodlow at LDE, Gabriel Rubio at NT, Kevin Jobity Jr. at RDE.
Toss to Johnson. He bobbles the snap and loses the ball behind the road of scrimmage. He falls on the ball and it’s a useless play.
15. Nowakowski at fullback. Howard full to Tonyan downfield down the correct sideline. He pushes off on S Sebastian Castro, however I didn’t see a ref throw a flag. Castro, together with his white gloves turned upward, can’t imagine there wasn’t a name. He’s appropriate for wanting the flag.
16. Lake McRee in at tight finish. Howard finds him 20 yards downfield on a thin publish, a superb cross and catch. Howard with a fist pump in celebration.
17. Rodgers play faux. Can’t learn my notes right here. One thing to Warren, I feel, but it surely’s scribbled buried on the backside of the web page.
18. Benton at LDE, Black at NT, Lowry at RDE. Nowakowski at FB. Spears-Jennings and Jenkins the protection duo with Samuel and Dean the left and proper corners. Tonyan false begins and will get pulled from the rep, changed by Bell.
Warren on the carry. Payton Wilson slams into Nowakowski within the gap as Warren skirts previous, but it surely isn’t a future.
19. Sawyer and Highsmith the surface linebackers. Herbig over the B-gap within the three-outside linebacker package deal.
Rodgers full to Bernard, who requires a double catch however makes the reception and turns upfield.
20. Rudolph throw to Roman Wilson is incomplete. Payton Wilson protecting.
Fifth Session
1. Ball on the offense’s 48. Wilson and Bernard the wideouts. Freiermuth the tight finish.
Rodgers’ throw full to WR Brandon Smith.
2. Rodgers finds an open Freiermuth over the center. Spears-Jennings collided with somebody and fell down, leaving Freiermuth broad open.
3. Slaughter slot nook with Everette and Jamison exterior. Rodgers has nothing there so he scrambles and runs down the left facet because the followers’ cheers swell on the sight.
4. Washington, Nowakowski, and Tonyan the tight ends out of 13 personnel. Rudolph boots left. Nothing there so he matches Rodgers and runs.
5. Howard in at quarterback. Good contact to drift his throw proper sideline over Castro and full to Joaquin Davis.
6. Offense has to rehuddle after wires get crossed. Boykin within the slot. Wetjen motions left to proper.
Howard finds Wetjen open and sitting down between zone defenders.
7. Drew Allar in at QB, Kaleb Johnson in at RB.
Allar’s throw to Davis is incomplete. Perhaps a foul ball or Allar thought Davis would settle. Not sure. Seems like Broderick Jones false began, leaping a half-second too early. Ref threw the flag however the play didn’t cease.
8. Wilson and Bernard on the surface with Smith within the slot. Warren run left facet with Sawyer chasing bottom. Warren fumbled and the ball squirted free. Don’t know if offense or protection landed on it.
9. Rodgers throws to Warren left facet. Good job by Warren to achieve again and twist for the ball within the air.
10. Spears-Jennings and Henderson the safeties. Extremely-fast catch-and-release from Rodgers full to Freiermuth because the No. 3 slot receiver proper. Classic Rodgers.
11. Mason Rudolph in at QB with Lew Nichols at RB.
Rudolph flushed left. Throws to the sideline. I feel Roman Wilson caught it however I’m unsure.
12. Welschof and Davis the EDGE rushers, left and proper respectively. Lynum and Daryl Porter the cornerbacks. Allar at QB.
Nichols on the carry and he fees 4-5 yards forward.
13. Davis and Levi Wentz the receivers. Nowakowski standing up slot proper.
Allar needs Wentz proper facet however Boykin dives and breaks it up. Good play by the rookie defensive again.
14. Henderson on the blitz. Howard is squeezed and bounces into Kaleb Johnson for the sack to finish observe.
– The evening ended with fireworks, because it does yearly. A thunderstorm within the distance accompanied me on the drive dwelling, watching the lightning flash via the clouds. Cool scenes.
Camp Recap (TL;DR)
– Offense nonetheless too sloppy with fumbles, penalties, and total errors. Want to scrub it up quick earlier than the preseason opener.
– Not that he wants a lot consideration this time of 12 months, however actually good observe for Aaron Rodgers. Perhaps his better of camp. He zipped passes with pinpoint accuracy.
– Will Howard additionally had a pleasant day with nice accuracy to all ranges of the sector. Drew Allar flashed his arm expertise however he’s nonetheless lacking throws beneath.
– Vast receiver Brandon Smith had a heck of a day and caught every little thing in 7 on 7 and workforce durations. He’s made spectacular grabs this camp and might attain exterior his body. Has labored among the many 1’s for lots of the summer season and is a pacesetter for a observe squad spot as long as he can present one thing on particular groups.
– Couple of fumbles for Jaylen Warren this week. Must tamp that down. Nichols and Johnson with balls on the bottom on exchanges, too. That simply can’t occur.
– Love the tone and power S Rayshawn Jenkins brings. He loves soccer and it exhibits.
– There’s been some concern about CB Jamel Dean from followers/media all through camp. It’s been somewhat uneven however he’s made performs and his pick-six to open the day was an superior method to start. There’s been loads of good right here for him. It’s why I let camp play out as an alternative of constructing preliminary conclusions, constructive or adverse.
– Payton Wilson and Derrick Harmon proceed to shine. Their run protection and block shedding has been wonderful. Stacking big-time observe performances.
– Broderick Jones with good 1v1 reps, particularly in opposition to Herbig. That’s key for his confidence.
– General, observe was pleasant. It at all times is on this setting. However no tackling, much less physicality total, no true two-minute drill, and the absence of backs on ‘backers, a staple of these night sessions. It’s simply not the identical. Not even all that shut.
McCarthy’s strategy might show to be the right one, however I discovered myself lacking a Mike Tomlin coaching camp on an evening like this.
Saint Vincent Snapshot
The workforce on the line of scrimmage.
Tallest Gamers In Steelers Historical past
Highlighting the tallest gamers who’ve performed for the franchise.
You’re getting a two-fer of the “extras” immediately.
Matt Spaeth/TE – 6071
A university John Mackey Award winner, Spaeth’s NFL influence got here as a blocker. He spent seven years and two stints with Pittsburgh, the 1B to Heath Miller’s 1A, and gained a hoop with the Steelers throughout his sophomore season. He caught seven touchdowns, together with the ultimate of Ben Roethlisberger’s six throughout his record-setting outing in opposition to Baltimore in 2014.
Mike Adams/OT – 6072
A second spherical pick of Ohio State, Adams’ profession by no means met expectations. He struggled throughout his 20 NFL begins and was reduce after failing his bodily in 2016. As of late, Adams has slimmed down and is keen on yoga.
Soundtrack Of Camp
A track I listened to throughout my journey to or from Latrobe.
Weightless – ufo ufo
Let There Be Music – Orleans
Fred Rogers Quote Of The Day
“The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.”
“Life is deep and simple, and what our society gives us is shallow and complicated.”
