Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Another fight breaks out, tensions flare between teammates on day seven
It was supposed to be a light day for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it turned out to be anything but. Following yesterday's brawl to end the practice, the team got heated up rather quickly on Thursday. More on that and everything else from day seven of camp. Back To Back Days with Fights Per multiple […]
It was supposed to be a light day for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it turned out to be anything but.
Following yesterday's brawl to end the practice, the team got heated up rather quickly on Thursday.
More on that and everything else from day seven of camp.
Back To Back Days with Fights
Per multiple reports, offensive lineman Anderson Hardy and rookie DL Logan Lee got into a heated exchange that was then escalated by DL DeMarvin Leal who came in swinging, catalyzing a big scrum to end the first team period. The tension didn't cease, however, with many offensive players reportedly calling out the defense for hitting fairly hard without being in full pads.
Injury Update
- LB David Perales was not seen after being carted off with a knee injury on Wednesday (DeFabo)
- LB Kyron Johnson also not practicing following a pulled hamstring that took him out of yesterday’s practice (DeFabo)
- Vets return after a day off (Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Isaac Seumalo) (Kozora)
- RB-Returner Cordarrelle Patterson starts light jogging as he aims to return from the Non-Football Injury list. (Kozora)
- WR Roman Wilson was confirmed to be week to week by HC Mike Tomlin following reports of an ankle sprain. He is currently in a boot. (Tomlin)
Perales was released from the team following a reunion with veteran pass rusher Markus Golden, who recorded four sacks for Pittsburgh last year and will be a solid depth piece as a rotational pass rusher.
Seven Shots (Defense wins 5-2)
- QB Justin Fields out of empty hits TE Darnell Washington for the TD (Farabaugh)
- Pressure from DT Keeanu Benton and EDGE Alex Highsmith forces an early throw from Fields, incomplete (Farabaugh)
- LB Elandon Roberts pressures Fields who throws to WR Van Jefferson on a slant that is broken up by CB Donte Jackson (Farabaugh)
- Fields finds Van Jefferson for a TD on a slant (Farabaugh)
- RB-FB Aaron Shampklin stuffed by defense (Farabaugh)
- QB Kyle Allen aims for TE Pat Freiermuth but the pass is broken up by LB Mark Robinson (Farabaugh)
- Kyle Allen misses TE MyCole Pruitt who was covered by CB Anthony Averett (Farabaugh)
The defense bounced back after a dominant day from the offense on Wednesday, but it has to be noted that the team wasn't in pads, meaning some of the pressure that Fields felt would have been at least delayed if the team was suited up.
Backs on Backers (1v1’s)
- TE Darnell Washington wins on a seven route (Farabaugh)
- TE Matt Sokol beats LB Jeremiah Moon downfield for a catch (Kozora)
- LB Patrick Queen wins coverage rep against RB Jaylen Warren (DeFabo)
With the team being unpadded, it was all coverage reps in today's version of backs on backers. Look for that to change tomorrow when the team welcomes thousands on Friday night for their annual Friday Night Lights practice.
1st Team Period
- T.J. Watt blows up plays (Farabaugh)
- Justin Fields airs out a 30-45 yard bomb for George Pickens who hauls it in despite being underthrown (multiple reports)
- DL DeMarvin Leal in the backfield after winning off the snap (Kozora)
- EDGE Nick Herbig makes plays with speed rush (Farabaugh)
T.J. Watt dominating in pads is never a surprise, so when you have to face him with nothing but cloth to grab, good luck to everyone trying to block him. DeMarvin Leal continues his strong camp.
Special Teams (Practicing New Kickoff Rule)
- RB Jaylen Warren and QB-WR John Rhys Plumlee as first set of returners (Kozora)
- Calvin Austin and Quez Watkins follow (Kozora)
- RB Daijun Edwards, and RB Jonathan Ward as third-team returners (Kozora)
- EDGE Nick Herbig, LB Mark Robinson, CB Beanie Bishop, LB Payton Wilson, DL DeMarvin Leal, S Damontae Kazee among defenders (Saunders)
- PK Matthew Wright does all the kicking (Saunders)
With Pittsburgh only eight days away from their preseason game, it's time to start ramping up preparations for the unveiling of the new kickoff rule, which will first be in action during the Hall of Fame game on ESPN.
2nd Team Period
- LB Patrick Queen closes quickly on RB Najee Harris in the flat (Kozora)
- LB Patrick Queen rifles into RB Jaylen Warren for a hard hit even without pads (Farabaugh)
- TE Connor Heyward with an acrobatic catch over S Nate Meadows, wasn’t the cleanest pass from Fields (Pryor)
- CB Cory Trice Jr. sees an increase in snaps (Farabaugh)
- DB Thomas Graham jumps an out route and picks the ball off on a pass intended for TE Connor Heyward after Justin Fields’ pass is tipped at the Line of Scrimmage (Farabaugh)
- S Miles Killebrew with a big hit on RB LaMichael Perine (Farabaugh)
- Nickel Cam Sutton takes lots of reps at pure safety (Farabaugh)
You wouldn't know the team didn't have pads on based on Patrick Queen and Miles Killebrew, who brought the thunder after tensions continued to flare following the earlier scrum in practice.
7 on 7
- QB Russell Wilson hits WR Van Jefferson for a big gain over CB Joey Porter Jr. (Farabaugh)
- QB Russell Wilson with another great pass on a go route to WR Calvin Austin but the ball is dropped (Farabaugh)
- CB Beanie Bishop breaks up pass intended for WR Calvin Austin from Russell Wilson (Farabaugh)
Wilson was still very limited in practice despite the lack of pads, but he made the most of his reps in seven-on-seven, showing the excellent deep ball accuracy that enticed Pittsburgh to acquire him.
2 Minute Drill
In the first two-minute drill of camp, the first-team offense successfully marched down the field against the defense, capping it off with the above TD pass to George Pickens from Justin Fields. Pickens went over Patrick Queen to win with 15 seconds remaining (Multiple reports).
Kyle Allen followed up Fields with a successful drive to close out practice and give the offense a 2-0 lead in a 2-minute drill. Completions to Darnell Washington and Jarray Jenkins for the TD to end it during the second team 2-minute period.
Standouts
- TE Darnell Washington: Washington continues to be featured heavily in Arthur Smith's TE-friendly offense, making plays in one on one's as well as during the two-minute drill
- EDGE Nick Herbig: Herbig is developing into the pass rusher that Pittsburgh believes he can be, showing his speed and burst to create problems for tackles around the edge
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