Steelers Camp Takeaways: Mike Tomlin Pulls All the Right Strings
Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Elandon Roberts played the villain, as Mike Tomlin got a response out of his defense.
UNITY TWP., Pa. — Call this one a Mike Tomlin masterpiece. The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach pulled his team’s emotional strings to perfect on Wednesday, resulting in the best possible kind of brawl during the club’s sixth training camp practice.
First, let’s rewind to Tuesday, when in the first day of pads, the first day of backs on backers, and the first day of offensive line vs. defensive line 1-on-1s, the offense took the defense to the woodshed, winning all the way around the practice field and being the more physical unit on a day where they’re supposed to be beaten.
Then, before Wednesday’s practice, Mike Tomlin took to Instagram with a message — and you’d better believe it was directed as his team. Tomlin posted a photo of his outfit for Wednesday — all black (remember when he was wearing white earlier in camp?) with black Air Force 1s. The shoes, which have an association with shady characters out for no good, sent the message. Today was a day he was ready to see some stuff.
His team — especially his defense — delivered. Patrick Queen ripped the ball away from Justin Fields. There were multiple get-togethers throughout the practice session as a defense pushed to the edge snapped back, just the way Tomlin wanted.
At the end of the final team practice, Elandon Roberts trucked Fields. Troy Fautanu pushed him down. Mason McCormick took a running start to deliver a blow and all hell let loose. At the end of the fray, Roberts was smiling.
Pictures that are worth 1,000 words:
Elandon Roberts when asked about his hit on Justin Fields that started a late-practice fracas today pic.twitter.com/aMbyzkoVWJ
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) July 31, 2024
He called the fight unprofessional, and I’m sure he doesn’t want anyone throwing punches at helmeted teammates, but Tomlin got was he was looking for out of his defense on Wednesday.
SEVEN SHOTS
1) Justin Fields executed an RPO mesh, looked to his right and had George Pickens open in front of DeShon Elliott on a slant, but missed him high.
2) Jaylen Warren ran right up the middle for a touchdown, bowling over Payton Wilson on his way into the end zone.
3) Fields again ran an RPO mesh, then looked to his right for a slant. Again, the pass was high, but this time Van Jefferson came down with a slick one-handed catch in front of Donte Jackson for a touchdown.
4) The Steelers went to 13 personnel with three tight ends on the field, and Najee Harris ran right behind those tight ends, scoring after running over David Perales. Perales was injured on the play.
5) Kyle Allen sat in the pocket for what felt like forever, but no one flashed open. He eventually felt some pressure and threw it over the head of Dez Fitzpatrick in the back of the end zone. Anthony Averett had ver nice coverage.
6) Allen again surveyed the field, saw nothing, and this time took off running. He would have scored easily in real life, but Mike Tomlin put his finger on the scale and ruled Allen down, even though no defender was near him.
7) With the score tied at 3-3, it was the starters back in and Arthur Smith wanted more power. He added fullback Jack Colletto to the mix, and let Harris run an old-fashioned, I-formation bruiser. Colletto drove his man back, opening the hole for Harris, but Elliott came flying in to make the stop. So Harris elevated, diving over the charging safety and into the end zone for the winning score.
That’s three straight seven shots wins for the offense, which is up 3-2 on the year. Najee Harris has been the MVP for the offense since the pads went on. He has four touchdowns in the last two days.
NOTES FROM TEAM PERIODS
? Jack Colletto might have some competition. The big — and only — Steelers fullback has been utilized a whole heck of a lot more than expected so far, earning a note in this segment for the third straight day. But MyCole Pruitt has been blocking his butt off, as well. Pruitt had the lead on Harris’ first seven shots score. He’s played fullback before, and has also shown nifty hands in receiving drills. This could be a two guys for one spot situation, but there’s a long way to go.
? The two misses in seven shots are something of a continued concern for Fields. His accuracy has been fine in general, but after RPO meshes, he’s missed the mark a good bit. Considering how dang unstoppable he is running the ball — more on that in a sec — it’d be really nice to get that cleaned up.
? Fields was fine passing on Wednesday, but he really impressed running the ball, with several big plays in team run periods. He did fumble once, though it was when Patrick Queen hit him when he wasn’t supposed to be. Still Tomlin, credited the defense for their “ball search” ability
? Grayland Arnold had his second interception in as many days. Just as we were about to crown Beanie Bishop the slot cornerback, the vet has stepped up. Stay tuned.
? Montravius Adams gave Zach Frazier a tough time in the team pass period. He rooted out a screen to the point that he almost took the ball right out of Fields’ hand and then drove Frazier back into Allen for a pressure a little bit later.
? Larry Ogunjobi had an easy sack of Fields. I missed the number of the lineman he beat. DeMarvin Leal also had a pass batted down at the line and Willington Previlon rooted out and blew up another screen. The defensive line showed some strong push back after losing the day on Tuesday.
? The Steelers continue to find ways to get George Pickens open in the middle of the field, but we’ve seen very few deep shots down the sidelines.
? New wide receiver Tarik Black is wearing No. 17. … Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Isaac Seumalo all had the day off. … NFL officials were in town for the second straight day.
WIDE RECEIVER vs. CORNERBACK 1-on-1s
Backs-on-backers is the drill that is supposed to be unfair to the offense. This is where the offense is supposed to get its revenge. It didn’t really play out that way, though. This Steelers secondary is tough, even against the likes of George Pickens.
Pickens made the best catch of the day by going up and over Donte Jackson in front of the pylon. Steelers Now photographer Ed Thompson was all over that one.
But then Grady Brown pulled out his secret weapon. The Steelers secondary coach sent 5-foot-9 rookie slot corner Beanie Bishop out against Pickens. On the first route, Pickens bit off more than he could chew, trying a complicated combo of moves and basically beating himself. On the second, Bishop walled him off along the sideline, forcing Pickens to attempt one of his otherworldly catches. He did catch the ball and got his feet down, but when he bounced off the turf, the ball popped loose, giving Bishop a 2-0 record against the top dog of the Steelers offense.
Calvin Austin III was the receiver who did the best in the drill. I’m not sure anyone actually was able to get a finger on him. He is just too quick in the short area. Austin might be the team’s most-improved offensive player.
Arnold beat Quez Watkins here. Arrow up for No. 35.
SUMMARY
Mike Tomlin got what he wanted. The offense has shown that it can be physical, and the defense responded. That seven shots loss notwithstanding, this was a big day for the defense, as they turned things around and made their presence felt.
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