Steelers Analysis Steelers Training Camp
Steelers Camp Takeaways: Sit/Start for Preseason Opener
Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: We find out who is playing in the preseason opener.
UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers held what essentially amounted to a glorified walkthrough on Thursday as they got ready to face the Houston Texans in their 2024 preseason opener on Friday night.
While it was a padless practice, with no seven shots and scant few competitive team periods, we still learned a good bit about who will be taking most of the reps in the preseason opener.
SEVEN SHOTS SEVERAL PLAYS
With no seven shots, we’ll just chart the first seven plays of the first team period.
1) Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle, Broderick Jones at right tackle and Russell Wilson under center for this one. Jaylen Warren ran what looked to be mid zone to the right. He made a nice upfield cut before Patrick Queen came from a gap over to tag him down.
2) Calvin Austin III in jet motion, Warren runs left square into the face of Isiahh Loudermilk for a very short again.
3) Wilson takes a shotgun snap and waits for Pat Freiermuth to come open across the middle for about a 10-yard completion. DeShon Elliott was trailing Freiermuth in coverage.
4) Wilson doesn’t find anyone open and checks it down to Jonathan Ward, who was tackled quickly by Elandon Roberts.
5) Justin Fields checks in, mostly with second-teamers. He throws a screen to the left, nicely disguised. Ward makes the catch and had a lot of room to run before Kalon Barnes got to him. A least 10 yards.
6) Fields gives to Ward on another mid-zone run for a short gain.
7) Fields shows some pocket patience and his Quez Watkins on a crossing route for about 5-10 yards. Thomas Graham, the slot corner, was in coverage.
In general, this kind of practice is more about working on the plays you want to run, and not evaluating personnel, so it’s notable that every pass thrown except the screen was in the middle of the field. Look for that to be a focus.
NOTES FROM STEELERS TEAM PERIODS
? Several of the periods were run with one team playing “off cards,” meaning they were calling Texans plays. So the evaluation today was very fraught.
? Spencer Anderson replaced Isaac Seumalo very quickly in the first team period, which makes sense. Seumalo is not going to play on Friday. Expect Anderson to start at left guard, with Mason McCormick rotating in some eventually. Anderson might be on the outside of the roster bubble, but he’s had a nice camp.
? Expect Loudermilk to replace Cam Heyward (also sitting) in the base defense, and Nick Herbig will start at outside linebacker. I’m not sure who will join him, as Markus Golden missed the last two practices. If not him, I’d lean to Jeremiah Moon. Kyron Johnson and Julius Welschof will round out the rotation. Expect Leal to get some reps at defensive tackle and outside linebacker. He’s been the second-team defensive tackle and a third-team edge rusher.
? Cam Sutton will play, but probably not as a slot cornerback. Most of his reps lately have come at safety, where Minkah Fitzpatrick will not be playing. The Steelers will want to evaluate Beanie Bishop, Grayland Arnold and Graham in the slot. Damontae Kazee will start with Elliott, as long as he plays. Sutton and rookie Ryan Watts will be the second unit, with just-signed Jalen Elliott working with Miles Killebrew, though they may jumble those pairs.
? Queen will not play at inside linebacker, and I doubt you’ll see much of Roberts. Expect a heavy dose of Payton Wilson and Mark Robinson, with Tyler Matakevich and Jacoby Windmon rounding things out.
? Get in your seats at 7 p.m. if you want to see Fields. I doubt he plays more than two series.
? After Calvin Austin III, expect Scotty Miller and Watkins to get some looks returning punts. Ward, John Rhys Plumlee, Watkins and La’Mical Perine will return kicks.
SUMMARY
The Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to play a game, and after a thoroughly dull practice on Thursday, I’m ready to watch one. We’ll learn a lot more about the 2024 Steelers in the next 24 hours.
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