LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – The real feel reached triple digits and it felt even hotter as the Steelers practiced without any rain interruption Saturday afternoon at St. Vincent College. Head coach Mike Tomlin gave TJ Watt, Cam Heyward and Darius Slay the day off and Jonnu Smith is nearly full. LB Jeremiah Moon went down with the calf injury and a few other heat-related issues, but all finished.
Here is the Fan 5 from Steelers camp Saturday.
#1 Jonnu Smith nearly full
For the first time this camp new tight end Jonnu Smith participated in team drills, not all, but most. It’s a step up when he barely participated in the first practice on Thursday.
“We’re getting to know him,” Tomlin said. “Obviously, he's getting to know what to do from an assignment standpoint. He wasn't here with us in the spring, but he's a veteran guy anda quick study. So, we got a lot done today, but it's reasonable to expect more.”
At one point, Aaron Rodgers was clapping at a play he made down the field during 7-on-7 drills. Smith is enjoying being secluded at St. Vincent College.
“It was my first day out there,” Smith said. “This training camp, man, it's a true training camp. You know what I mean? It makes me feel like, you know, that, you get that feeling when you walk in. It's like, well, this is the NFL. You know what i mean? And that's good. It is good for the minds, good for the souls, good the body.”
#2 Frazier pulled
For the second straight day center Zach Frazier had a bad snap to begin the 7-shots drill. After today’s, he was pulled for Ryan McCollum. He would resume later in the drill with the starters and played there during the rest of team periods.
“We'll never like it,” Tomlin said. “We'll get through it. It'll become something in our rear-view mirror. It is not really significant, right now.”
Frazier said he continues to work hard, hopes to have a great season. He said this time of year you get full speed reps, but until the pads come on Tuesday afternoon, that’s when you get the real thing.
#3 7 Shots
· low snap, Aaron Rodgers threw it away
· Rodgers TD right side to DK Metcalf right at the goal line
· Rodgers floats a TD pass to Darnell Washington in the back of the end zone
· Mason Rudolph-great coverage and to throw it away
· Rudolph pass to Connor Heyward, he caught it in the back of the end zone, but didn’t get 2 feet in
· Will Howard middle slant TD to tight end JJ Galbreath
· Frazier returns with Rodgers, Nick Herbig tips Rodgers pass, Derrick Harmon disruptive in backfield forcing an early throw
#4 Jalen Ramsey pick
While rookie Donte Kent had an interception, Will Howard threw a nice out route, rookie kicker Ben Sauls from Pitt went 6 for 6 on field goals, there was the first mild scrum, the play of the day was by Jalen Ramsey. Late in the day, Ramsey stepped in front a Rodgers pass to Jonnu Smith.
“It was an amazing play by an amazing player,” Smith said, a teammate of Ramsey’s last year in Miami. “Having that guy fly around the ball and you know what type of competitor he is. You know everybody in this Pittsburgh organization, this Pittsburgh community will see that as well. You know it’s good to have 5 on our side.”
“We feel like he can cover anyone, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “He’s a utility back, by that I mean he's versatile. He plays outside, he plays nickel, he plays safety, and that's just a reflection of it. Very versatile and smart, detailed veteran.”
#5 Quotes
“He had a lot of off the field stuff I really enjoyed. I feel like the best one for me is when he got the pick vs. Ben with the Dolphins. I thought that was a good get-back moment for him. I know he enjoyed that.”
Joey Porter, Junior on his father going into the Steelers Hall of Honor
“I love that drill, when it goes my way.”
RB Jaylen Warren on backs-on-backers drill coming next week
“I'm a troll. He is an all-pro. And he a GOAT. He's gonna be a GOAT jacket guy one day. Honestly, when he got here, we communicated, we talked. He was a great person and a great football player. So a little bit of media is put out there. It's BS. I respect him a lot. I told him that. And I apologize to him for the things I was saying about him. Because honestly, he's a great man. And he has a great heart. So I appreciate him. And he's funny as hell. So it's cool.”
S DeShon Elliott on Aaron Rodgers
“What a what a heck of a class. I know all of those guys personally, and I know their contributions. They're so deserving. I am really looking forward to that weekend, because I know how their former teammates feel about them. It'll be a great weekend for former Steelers. I just want to send a congratulations to those guys and their loved ones. Just really proud of them and it's really, really great to be associated with those men.”
Mike Tomlin on the new Steelers Hall of Honor members