Steelers Training Camp Day 9: The return of the fullback
When the Pittsburgh Steelers decided not to re-sign Derek Watt in free agency this offseason, many were surprised. A more modern approach? A new philosophy on offense altogether? We may have just found out the answer to those questions and many more at day nine of Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp: Kendrick Green…The Fullback? What was […]
When the Pittsburgh Steelers decided not to re-sign Derek Watt in free agency this offseason, many were surprised.
A more modern approach? A new philosophy on offense altogether?
We may have just found out the answer to those questions and many more at day nine of Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp:
Kendrick Green…The Fullback?
What was thought to be just a fun wrinkle to last night's practice may suddenly become a staple in Pittsburgh's offense.
Interior offensive lineman Kendrick Green has caught multiple passes over the past 48 hours and has been used in the run game as a plus-one to the blocking unit.
Perhaps Matt Canada is looking to redefine "Jumbo Personnel" as we know it in the NFL, keeping even the biggest players in the backfield alongside Najee Harris.
We will find out come September.
Minkah Makes His Return
Following an absence from camp due to an undisclosed personal matter, Steelers All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was back on the field today.
He didn't participate in many of the team drills but worked out individually before taking a couple of reps in seven-on-seven to close practice.
We know just how great the talented safety is, and wish him the best as he deals with his personal life.
Najee Harris…Meet Kwon Alexander
During the "Backs on Backers" period of practice, Steelers Pro Bowl RB Najee Harris faced off with recent free agent acquisition Kwon Alexander, seemingly meeting his match in brawn.
Alexander won all three reps against Harris, putting him on the ground with authority on the first rep.
Likely just another case of iron sharpening iron, expect these two to go back and forth over a few more times before camp is over.
Jaylen Warren Learns a Lesson
Continuing what was the most entertaining portion of practice on a slower day, Jaylen Warren and Elandon Roberts went head-to-head multiple times, getting the best of one another.
After Roberts won the first rep, Warren got him back and let him know about it, much to the dismay of Mike Tomlin.
Surely appreciating the tenacity, what Tomlin didn't like was Warren's taunting, using him as a teaching point to what would be a penalty in a live game.
But like Tomlin said just the other day:
"I rather have to woe em, than sic em."
George Pickens is a Menace
We may still have one practice left before I make my total list of winners and losers after the first week of pads, but it's safe to say GP14 is on the winning side of that equation.
Pittsburgh has thrown length, speed, experience, and everything else at Pickens in an effort to see who could guard him.
The result? Nobody.
Hopefully, that speaks more to the season that Pickens will be having and not the state of the secondary, however.
And that's a wrap on day nine in Latrobe. A lighter practice that didn't include much in terms of scrimmage reps. We still got our daily taste of "Seven Shots" but Mike Tomlin and the rest of the coaching staff likely wanted to take it easy on the players considering yesterday's practice and the final one of the week tomorrow.
Things are beginning to take shape in Pittsburgh, as indeed the coaches and decsion makers are beginning to see who here's to stay and who's on the way out.
The clock is ticking, with no time to waste in Latrobe.
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Featured image via:© Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
