Steelers Analysis Steelers Training Camp
Steelers Camp Takeaways: No Rust on Russ, New-Look OL Shines
Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: There was no rust for Russell Wilson, who was back with the first team. A new look for the offensive line.
UNITY TWP., Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson emerged from his two-week injury hiatus to take his first full-team practice on Tuesday, and he looked just fine doing it.
The 35-year-old Steelers quarterback was efficient in limited reps, completing four of five attempts in 11-on-11 periods. The Steelers didn’t hold him back from anything, but Wilson and Justin Fields split the first-team reps, instead of having Fields work with the second squad.
The Steelers also fulfilled Pat Meyer’s promise to switch up the offensive line, and did so in a big way, getting Broderick Jones his most extensive work at left tackle and Troy Fautanu his most work with the first team.
Isaac Seumalo had the day off, and Dan Moore Jr. and James Daniels took somewhat limited reps, giving the Steelers a big jumble of players that combined to take all the first and second-team offensive line reps.
SEVEN SHOTS
1) Russell Wilson took the field for his highly anticipated first career Steelers training camp rep of seven shots, to the applause of the crowd ringing the hillside around Chuck Noll Field, and proceeded to hand the ball off to Najee Harris. Harris plowed over Elandon Roberts on the right side for an anticlimactic touchdown.
2) Justin Fields replaced Wilson at quarterback with Broderick Jones making the trek to left tackle and Troy Fautanu into the game. He tried a read-option keeper around the left side, but Donte Jackson sniffed it out nicely, for what would likely have been a tackle for loss.
3) Wilson re-entered the fray, with three tight ends on the field, as well. The Steelers got George Pickens isolated on safety Damontae Kazee on a corner route, and that’s a huge mismatch. Russ completed the easy pitch and catch for his first Steelers training camp touchdown.
4) Back to Justin Fields, who looked right, but big old Montravius Adams batted the ball up into the air and DeShon Elliott was Johnny on the Spot for an easy interception. Elliott just always seems to be around the football.
5) Kyle Allen in at quarterback, and he threw left for Dez Fitzpatrick, who was running a slant. Safety Nate Meadors came up and wrestled it away for an interception.
6) Aaron Shampklin ran behind Jack Colletto out of the I-formation, and pushed Tyler Matakevich back into the end zone. Dirty Red wanted a review, but he didn’t get one.
7) Starters back out for the final rep, and Wilson handed off to Harris again. He was stacked up by several defenders, including Nick Herbig, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk. It was very close, but he didn’t quite get into the end zone.
The 4-3 defensive win gave that unit a victory for the third straight practice session.
NOTES FROM STEELERS TEAM PERIODS
? The Steelers’ first team period was “backed up,” with the offense starting inside its own five-yard line — an obviously run-heavy period.
? Fields missed Pat Freiermuth on a crosser on the second play. I’ve talked a lot about how Van Jefferson seemed to shine with Fields playing instead of Wilson. I think the opposite may have happened with Freiermuth. He looked to have a better connection with Wilson.
? Scotty Miller made a nice catch in traffic over the middle from Allen and two more from Fields, one on a wide-receiver screen and another in the middle of the field. I probably haven’t mentioned him enough. He’s been solid, but today was probably his best day of camp.
? Jonathan Ward had the biggest play of the day, taking a wide zone handoff 80 yards over the right side. Miles Killebrew and Meadors had chances at him, but no one could bring him down. Ward has showed the most burst of the depth running backs.
? LaMical Perine had himself a nice day, too. He broke off a twenty-yarder after a missed tackle by Jacoby Windmon.
? Daijun Edwards did the thing you don’t want to do: put the football on the ground. Cam Sutton put his helmet on the ball, and Breiden Fehoko landed on it. The rookie has been a clear fourth in the depth RB battle, and that won’t help.
? So. Many. Screens. And this offensive line loves to get out there and block for them. You’re going to see a ton of Jaylen Warren in that role. He had about three today.
? Wilson’s last pass attempt came after about seven seconds of standing unfettered in the pocket, with no one open. He eventually found Darnell Washington, who shoved aside Meadors to make the grab. No refs to call OPI.
? Anthony Averett had an interception off a tipped pass. He’s gotten better as camp has gone on.
? Two more quarterback pressures for Willington Previlon. He was the first off the field and onto the golf carts after practice. I need to know which reporter earlier in his life hurt this man.
BIG PLAY OF THE DAY, PART I
The holes were wide open for the Steelers running backs for most of the day, and that meant that the team’s second-level defenders had to hit them with a level of fearlessness. If there’s a player on the field with less fear than Elandon Roberts, may he show himself. E-Rob came flying in like a lightning bolt, tracking Warren while running through a huge hole on the left side of the offense, put his facemask right into Warren’s, and slammed him to the ground.
BIG PLAY OF THE DAY, PART II
Justin Fields handed the ball off. The run went somewhere to the left. I can’t tell you who was running and I can’t tell you how far they got, because after the thunderclap of center Zach Frazier kicking out cornerback Beanie Bishop, all I could do was watch 54 drive his former college teammate upfield like a toddler an hour late for bedtime. Frazier on Bishop is a mismatch, but the second-round rookie has had several of those “wow” moments over the last few camp practices.
2-MINUTE DRILL
Technically, it was a 1:41-second drill, as Allen led the second-team offense against the second-team defense. This was a drubbing. After a completion to reserve tight end Matt Sokol, Quez Watkins dropped two straight, Averett broke one up that was intended for Miller, and then Jaray Jenkins dropped one that hit him in the face mask.
SUMMARY
Wilson looked just fine in coming back, the new-look offensive line played great despite mixing and matching parts, but the defense got the better of the team periods on the whole.
The Steelers also did some game prep things, by working with real sideline rules, play clocks, and live transitions between phases for the first time in camp.
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