PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Attendance was high, intensity was good, rookies are learning. Here are 7 observations from the Steelers Organized Team Activities and mini-camp which closed on Thursday on the South Side.
Kenny’s team
It is one of the first things discussed when the team opened voluntary workouts last month. The confidence in Kenny Pickett. Having seen him on the field, they have an idea of who he is and what he’s about. What they’ve seen his him coming in with a confidence, not a cockiness, there is a difference. He comes in the unquestioned offensive leader and he embraces and embodies that. The team knows to prepare for work with number 8. Najee Harris said it’s much different with Pickett as the leader this year, it seems that way.
2 first rounders gone
Big plans for 2018 first-round pick Terrell Edmunds and 2019 first-round pick Devin Bush, neither performed as hoped. Edmunds was much more consistent than Bush, but there was anticipation for more.
Bush and Myles Jack gone, there is only one holdover left from in the middle linebacker room and Mark Robinson has only played the position a couple of years. Cole Holcomb has made some plays in the league, but coming off a foot injury and not full-go during offseason work. Elandon Roberts is coming off a career-high 107 tackles, but there are questions about his game.
Minkah Fitzpatrick said he already has some chemistry with Damontae Kazee and expects a rotation with Keanu Neal also in the mix at safety. For years the talk of Edmunds was he had value because he knew how to play with Minkah, we’ll see how that moves forward without him.
Plenty of captains
Got to imagine Pickett replaces Mitch Trubisky as an offensive captain with Mason Cole, James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo as options. Allen Robinson has come in and embraced a leadership role in just a few months with the team. Defensively, leadership abounds. Eight-time captain Cam Heyward is joined by TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick as established mentors. Four free agent additions have been NFL captains-Holcomb (Washington), Roberts (New England), Patrick Peterson (Minnesota), Neal (Atlanta). Should any situation arise, there are plenty of options.
Seriousness
It’s not that they would lollygag or goof-around in previous seasons, but there was a definite seriousness about OTAs and mini-camps this year. The example set by several leaders mentioned above but in particular how the oldest player on the team, Cam Heyward, went through every snap as if the Super Bowl is on the line. The attention to detail, the energy, focus and feeling like he’s attacking practices as if he needs them to make the team. What does this mean in the regular season, maybe little, but in what they need to accomplish now it’s been impressive how the team attacked its work.
Flexibility
The obvious are the discussions in the secondary, several different players can play different positions. Defensive backs moving in-and-out of the slot, safety Neal can play like a linebacker.
Peterson potentially moving inside in packages. Tre Norwood, Chandon Sullivan can play multiple positions, maybe Cory Trice at some point. There is also flexibility, or maybe better said versatility, on the defensive line. DeMarvin Leal can play several positions across the line and outside linebacker. Montravius Adams can move side-to-side as can a few others. They can get as creative as the players knowledge of the system will allow.
TE size
When fans attend camp at St. Vincent College in July, it will be immediately noticeable. This tight end group is huge. So much so if you compared the Steelers tight end room to that of NCAA basketball champion UConn, the tight ends collectively are only nine inches shorter than the Huskies starting five. If you started WR Hakeem Butler instead of Connor Heyward, it’s only a four-inch difference. Look for Heyward to be more than a tight end, used often like a H-back. Pat Freiermuth should have the opportunity to get downfield, especially if the Steelers don’t have a consistent three receiver. Zach Gentry has improved every year. The potential is there, let’s see what rookie Darnell Washington does when the pads come on next month.
Highsmith showed
Different players have handled wanting new contracts in different ways, but Alex Highsmith showed up for all of the offseason workouts. Not only showed up, but competed fully in all of the drills. He says he carries a walk-on mentality after doing so at Charlotte. Would veterans have had an issue if he would have held out, likely not. But he said he wanted to be there to work with his team.
He helped set a mindset and example by his actions. Attendance was high overall, especially on the offensive line where the main group participated in nearly every drill.