Steelers training camp observations: Will Howard shines under the lights as battle for quarterback No. 2 spot intensifies
The Steelers hosted their annual night practice on Saturday night, in front of a sellout crowd at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. The QBs and the resurgence of the offense stole the show, but here is a whole list of observations.
The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped their final practice of the week Saturday night, and they may have saved their best for last. The annual under the lights practice, held this year on Saturday, saw the Steelers offense start slow before finishing on a high note heading into preseason.
The early returns were rough. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers came out firing like he was on the Pat McAfee show again, only his first pass was a pick-six to cornerback Jamel Dean. The Franco period of 11-on-11 work ended on another sour note when quarterback Will Howard and center Lou Nichols botched a handoff exchange.
But when the session shifted to one-on-ones, Pittsburgh’s offense found its footing.
Rodgers and DK Metcalf continue to build chemistry
Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf flashed the connection that has Steelers fans excited heading into Year 2 of the pairing. The highlight of the night came during 7-on-7 work, when Metcalf hauled in a contested one-handed grab down the sideline over cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on a throw from Rodgers.
That play alone would have been the story of the night, but it was Howard who stole the spotlight.
Will Howard emerges as the story of the night
Howard looked like the most comfortable, most poised, and most locked-in version of himself all week during Saturday’s session. He delivered sharp throws over the middle, fired the ball up the seam to tight ends, and layered an out route with the kind of touch and anticipation that stood out from everything else he put on tape this week.
Howard was the second-best quarterback on the field Saturday, and that’s saying something given the way Rodgers bounced back after a shaky start. For a young quarterback battling to solidify his role, closing out the week with that kind of performance is exactly what the coaching staff needed to see.
Dylan Cook dominates at right tackle
The other standout from the week was offensive tackle Dylan Cook, who continued to be one of the biggest stories of training camp. Cook dominated one-on-ones at right tackle all week and capped it off Saturday by shutting down edge rusher T.J. Watt twice. For a player still building his NFL resume, stacking reps like that against one of the game’s premier pass rushers is a statement.
A few rough spots worth noting
Not everything was clean for Pittsburgh’s offense. Quarterback Drew Aller had a rough stretch during backs-on-backers drills, throwing a bad interception to linebacker Patrick Queen, who was covering running back Jaylen Warren. Those are the kinds of reps the Steelers need to see cleaned up before the games start to count.
Looking ahead
The Steelers offense started slow, rebounded, and ended the week on a high note for coach Mike McCarthy in his first year leading Pittsburgh. The focus now shifts to the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
