The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first training camp practice is set to begin this morning at 11:20 AM/EST. The real fun won’t start until the team puts the pads on Monday, but there will be plenty to watch for during the “ramp-up” period of training camp.
By position group, here’s what I’ll be watching for and aiming to write about in our daily notes. If you’re new to the site, we’ll have a full description of practice later today.
Quarterback
– Mike McCarthy already confirmed part of the pecking order: Aaron Rodgers followed by Mason Rudolph followed by Will Howard/Drew Allar. Rudolph running over Howard is a little surprising considering Howard reportedly ran No. 2 during the spring.
Still, reps are reps, and the No. 2 and No. 3 could share equal snaps. The area to watch will be the distribution of reps between Howard and Allar. If Rodgers is working fully, it’s hard for the No. 4 to get reps. Perhaps Howard and Allar will rotate. McCarthy’s plan starting today and throughout camp will be worth watching.
– To a man, Howard and Allar have plenty to show. Howard the velocity on his throws to fit them into tight windows. Allar, consistent footwork that leads to accurate throws. The defense can’t push back too hard, so this is a time for the quarterbacks and passing game to impress.
Running Back
– I’m sure we’ll pass along word of who got the “first” snap in install between Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, even though we know they’ll split reps throughout the year. The “first” doesn’t mean much. McCarthy should put both on the field just to troll people like me.
– We’re not going to learn everything in a day. Still, a positive impression from Kaleb Johnson out of the gate wouldn’t hurt. Does he look like he’s lost any weight? Is he more natural catching the ball, and what work is he receiving on special teams? Pass protection is another key, but that’ll be hard to judge in this padless environment.
– Rookie Eli Heidenreich is poised to become a fan favorite if he isn’t already. His reps and place in the pecking order will be something to note. As will his work between aligning in the backfield and out wide to take advantage of his receiving ability. He won’t be the focus like he was at Navy, so Heidenreich will need to make the most of his chances without pressing and trying to do too much. Ball security for all these backs will be key. That includes Lew Nichols, who made a late impression last summer.
– Will rookie Riley Nowakowski play more fullback or tight end? He figures to do both, and the focus of plays for the day could dictate his alignment. A healthy group will, too. What kind of route tree is he running, and is he standing up on his feet or does he always have his hand in the ground?
Wide Receiver
– As we noted for the quarterbacks, this is a time for receivers to stand out. Roman Wilson has looked good in padless sessions before and needs to continue that more than ever. For him and rookie Germie Bernard, option routes to beat leverage are the way to Aaron Rodgers’ heart. Who catches the ball cleanly, who runs the right routes, who is detailed and confident will all be key. Those two figure to rotate into the offense throughout practice.
– Max Hurleman turned heads early last season but stumbled at the end. He must run through the tape this time around. We won’t judge that for a few more weeks, but a hot start will catch the attention of Pittsburgh’s new coaching staff, including new receivers coach Adam Henry.
– A.T. Perry has size and athleticism and might stand out in a setting like this. Joaquin Davis has speed. Can either of those guys make plays and help out a young quarterback like Howard or Allar, the two most likely arms to pepper them with targets?
– It’s hard to say what special team periods Pittsburgh will run today, but the more value guys at the end of the depth chart, like Perry, create for themselves, the better off they’ll be. Who is working in the return line? If it’s anything like past camps, there will be a lot of different people, but we’ll note them all.
Tight End
– Much has been made about Darnell Washington’s weight this offseason. I’m no good at gauging player weights, but that’ll probably garner some attention when Washington makes his way down the stairs tomorrow morning.
– It’s harder to track personnel groupings, but how much 12 personnel do we see with Washington and Pat Freiermuth on the field?
– There’s a big battle behind. Robert Tonyan is the veteran who thrived in McCarthy’s offense years ago. Lake McRee and JJ Galbreath are young guys who can catch the ball. Galbreath stood out last year before struggling once the pads came on. Jaheim Bell is versatile and functions like an H-Back.
Offensive Line
– It’s always good to touch base on who is aligning where. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick flipped to the left side in the spring. Are they remaining there to open camp? Most likely, but let’s confirm. Do Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook open up at right guard and tackle, respectively?
Is there any flip-flopping during practice, or will Pittsburgh keep the guys in one spot for the first outing? We’ve heard a lot from the coaches about moving players around but haven’t seen any evidence of that so far.
– Cleared to practice, what is Broderick Jones’ level of participation? Omar Khan and McCarthy indicated Jones will be eased into action, though neither detailed what that means. My guess is Jones either only practices during individual sessions or for just part of the team periods.
If he gets 11-on-11 work, does he align left or right side? Based on the depth chart, left makes sense, but we’ll need to check that box.
– What does the third-team line look like? Is Lorenzo Thompson playing tackle or is Steven Jones grabbing that spot? Those guys don’t draw headlines, but they’re fighting for a practice squad spot. A year ago, Dylan Cook began the year on the practice squad and ended the year as the team’s starting left tackle.
Defensive Line
– Keeanu Benton and Yahya Black have made for plenty of comment-section discussion this summer. Is Benton going to play more defensive end with Black at nose in Pittsburgh’s 3-4, or will things remain status quo? We’ll do our best to track.
– Today begins a month-long battle for the final d-line roster spots. We’ve highlighted it many times before. Esezi Otomewo, Gabriel Rubio, Kevin Jobity Jr., Logan Lee, and Dean Lowry are all duking it out. The job won’t be won today, or anytime soon, but the evaluation starts now. In a padless environment, the group’s effort might stand out. Otomewo, Rubio, Jobity, and Lee all chase the ball hard.
Knowing they can’t touch the quarterback even when the pads come on, who gets their hands up in throwing lanes to bat a couple passes down? That’s one way to make an impact.
Linebacker
– It might take time to get answers, but Pittsburgh’s three outside linebacker grouping and T.J. Watt’s newfound versatility will be worth noting throughout the summer. Let’s see if Pittsburgh dives into it right away.
– Is former first-round pick Jamin Davis playing on the edges or off-ball linebacker? Or both? He has a steep path to make the team, but his opportunity starts now. Will Jacoby Windmon play inside/outside or just work off-ball? He has versatility.
– Who is slotted opposite Patrick Queen in Pittsburgh’s base 3-4? Will it be Payton Wilson as he enters his critical third year? Or will it be Cole Holcomb or Malik Harrison? Second-year Carson Bruener is also someone to watch. His game might take a jump.
– Finally, will Wilson continue his streak of being the first player on the field? Or will someone beat him to the punch?
Secondary
– Pittsburgh’s already down three defensive backs: Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, and Donte Kent. For training camp purposes, that begins to make lines thin. However, it gives players toward the end of the depth chart a real chance for snaps. That’s good news for guys like Tamon Lynum, Doneiko Slaughter, Ahmari Harvey, and whoever graduates to third-team slot, assuming Brandin Echols and D’Shawn Jamison are working first and second team.
– At safety, the lines should thin out for Jack Henderson to see regular reps. Sebastian Castro and Robert Spears-Jennings also begin making their case to push for the 53-man roster. Veteran Darnell Savage can use his experience to impress early, too.
– Finally, big-picture. What does a Mike McCarthy practice look like? What’s the flow and pattern? We’ll learn more when the pads come on, but for me, tomorrow will be a good starting point.