PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s been an up-and-down competition at left guard as Mike Tomlin said of the recent work from Kevin Dotson after a Thursday camp practice.
“He’s having good days,” Tomlin said. “Right now, we are singularly focused on preparing ourselves for Sunday’s performance and that’s where we are. He is a part of that process. Today is a big day regarding some of the pressures you see on possession downs. He’s been a component of that, good day.”
Dotson took the first-team reps almost exclusively until mini-camp when Kendrick Green worked his way in moving from center to his more natural position at guard. An ankle injury before the first game allowed Green to run with the first team and then start again on Saturday. However Green struggled against Jacksonville and now Dotson is back with the first group looking like he will start on Sunday.
Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada confirming they still have not decided their opening day left guard but tells 93.7 The Fan that competition wraps up on Sunday.
RB Work
There seems to be a closer battle right now as to who will be the back-up running back and what running backs they keep. Benny Snell came in as the incumbent number two with Anthony McFarland finally healthy and undrafted Jaylen Warren really impressing.
“You’ve seen 30 (Warren) come in here and play very, very well,” Canada told The Fan. “It’s been a real pleasant surprise for us to watch him go. Benny was out and came back, he obviously had a big play at the end of the half. We all kind of know Benny. It’s been great to watch Ant (McFarland) stay upright. He came in with COVID without a preseason and last year he was having a productive camp and then he got nicked up. They have all been playing well and we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
“Production,” Tomlin said of what he needs to see from those three. “Ball security, playing without the ball. Their contributions and production in the (special) teams game is a component of that. It’s something we highlighted this morning in a team setting. Not only for them, but for all the guys trying to value to their causes.”
New safety
Elijah Riley had his first practice Thursday after being picked up off waivers from the Jets. The 24-year-old is on his third NFL team, playing five games with the Eagles in 2020 and eight games/seven starts between the Eagles and Jets in 2021.
“Hop aboard and get right to it,” Riley said referring to the Tomlin saying of new players ‘getting on a moving train’. “I’m not going to try to slow anybody down. I want to speed the process up and have an impact. I have to dial in, get into my playbook and get on track as fast as I can.”
Tomlin said it’s difficult, but not impossible for 6’, 205-pound Riley to be able to make the team and eventually make the impact he hopes.
“It’s an organization with a lot of good history, winning history,” Riley said. “I’m proud to be a part of it and look forward to seeing where it takes me.”
“We are going to continue to turnover to get the best collective we can in this process,” Tomlin said. “It’s just a function of business this time of year.”
Tomlin plan for Sunday
The Steelers head coach will hold his more formal weekly news conference after practice on Friday. The Fan’s Josh Rowntree will have the latest on how the snap counts will work and his plans for the Detroit game.