LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Mitch Trubisky had his most consistent day of at least of the week, if not camp, after it was confirmed he would start the preseason game on Saturday.
For the first time all training camp, Trubisky was 4-for-4 during 7-shots and later during an 11-on-11 drill found Steven Sims behind the defense for an 82-yard touchdown. He also threw a perfect wheel route to Anthony McFarland for a long gainer in a full padded practice.
7 shots
· Trubisky back shoulder left side TD to George Pickens
· McFarland sweep to the left side for a TD
· Trubisky screen to Anthony Miller, who stretched over for a TD
· Trubisky back shoulder right side as Pickens dove, it was disputed, but upheld that he had control even though the ball touched the ground, TD
· Kenny Pickett shovel to Gunner Olszewski, TD
· Pickett near INT by James Pierre
· Mason Rudolph slightly too high for Cody White, TD
11-on-11/2nd down drill
The results for the day's 11-on-11 passing drills, plus a variation of the 'every down is a third down drill' where they have two downs to get 10 yards.
Trubisky went 3 for 7 with a 72-yard touchdown to Sims, a well-timed 15-yard in route to Pat Freiermuth and a nice throw on an out route to Calvin Austin. He had a pass where Pickens wasn't ready after a cut, a ball batted down by Cam Heyward, a PBU by Terrell Edmunds and a dropped interception by Ahkello Witherspoon.
Rudolph went 2 for 5 including a nice pass to White for a first down and a sliding catch by Javon McKinley. Pickett went 4 for 5 with mostly short completions except for a 20-plus yarder to Miles Boykin on a nice back-shoulder adjustment.
10-yard drill
We don't know the name of it, but the premise for a new drill is grouping running backs and receivers together against defensive backs and linebackers one-on-one. The offense needs to gain 10 yards in about a 6-yard runway, the back/receiver gets a quick pass and heads upfield against the defender. Several standout plays:
· Pickens jumped over Justin Layne to gain the 10
· Minkah Fitzpatrick forced Miller to fumble
· Levi Wallace forced McKinley to fumble
· Pierre twice stopped Pickens with solid technique
· Master Teague lowered his head a few times, the last three against rookie linebacker Mark Robinson, winning two. That feud between the running back and linebacker continued into the next few drills.
Injuries
While Freiermuth went through most of the drills and Tyson Alualu went through a few. The following did not practice in team drills-Kevin Dotson, Derek Watt, Marcus Allen, Chase Claypool, Alex Highsmith, Zach Gentry, Genard Avery, Diotnae Johnson, Benny Snell, Larry Ogunjobi.
As scheduled
For the first time in a week, weather did not change locations for time of practice at St. Vincent College. The team worked out in the afternoon, although a few raindrops did fall, this time the heavy stuff went around the campus.
Steelers will be back in Latrobe on Monday for their final four days of training camp.
