PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers held their annual night practice, but had to do so at Heinz Field instead of Latrobe HS. It's amazing how different 6,000 people seem at the high school field, compared to 6,000 being 1/11 of capacity at Heinz Field.
The noise at Latrobe High is much more pronounced and it's usually followed by autograph sessions. Unfortunately COVID-19 restrictions didn't allow for the closeness fans usually crave. However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said they still got something out of it.
"It's always good when you change the environment," Tomlin said. "More fans in the stands, more energy, I liked the general spirit of the work. We are starting to find rhythm to our game in that dress (being in pads)."
Pads again Saturday
So to keep that rhythm, Tomlin will have the team in pads again on Saturday afternoon.
"I'm excited to see who can ascend and can rise up in the face of that type of adversity and who shrinks. That's what this process is about. You put them in somewhat uncomfortable situations and give them a chance to display their toughness mentally and physically. You get a chance to get to know them."
Backs on Backers
Linebackers going one-on-one with defensive backs is a crowd favorite.
"I liked the competitive spirit of 22 (Najee Harris) again," Tomlin said. "He lost some today because he was going against bigger men. We pit backs on inside linebackers and then outside linebackers are somewhat defensive end-like. Some of those matchups get a little challenging. We put Alex Highsmith on him today."
"He just has an appetite for the competition. He has a long way to go from a growth standpoint in terms of technique."
Missing starters
Ben Roethlisberger among those not going through team drills. TJ Watt, Stephon Tuitt, Zach Banner, Eric Ebron, JC Hassenauer and Jaylen Samuels were the others.
LB Cassius Marsh limped off and is being evaluated.
7 shots
It's a standard part of practice, the 7-shots. The offense getting seven opportunities in the red zone. The scorecard for Friday
· Mason Rudolph-1 for 3—a TD to Chase Claypool, interception, completion to Diontae Johnson short of the goalline
· Dwayne Haskins-1 for 2—TD to TE Zach Gentry and incompletion to Benny Snell running out of the pocket
· Josh Dobbs-0 for 2—a pair of incompletions
Dobbs did have a couple of beautiful throws-one to tight end Marcus Baugh on a scramble to his left in the back of the end zone. The other, a perfectly thrown deep ball to Rico Bussey in the back, left corner of the end zone.
Buckeye Add
Injured on a play along the sideline Thursday, the Steelers waived tight end Dax Raymond. They signed former Ohio State tight end Marcus Baugh on Friday.
Baugh, a teammate of quarterback Dwayne Haskins two different times in college with OSU and again in Washington. He caught one pass for two yards in eight total games with Washington.
The 6'5", 250 pound Baugh went undrafted in 2018, but signed as a rookie free agent with the Raiders, released before the season started. He spent some time in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers and the San Diego Fleet of the AAF grabbing 13 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Baugh played in 27 games at Ohio State with 55 receptions for 607 yards.
