Thousands of fans filed into Heinz Field Saturday to get the latest glimpse of the 2021 version of the Steelers.
They saw some great weather, experienced a lively atmosphere, but were not able to witness much go particularly right for Mike Tomlin’s team, especially on offense.
Poor execution, inept run blocking and lackluster decision making from Pittsburgh’s backup quarterbacks became a front-and-center issue for the Steelers, if they weren’t already.
The crux of the miscues came during the team’s ‘7 shots’ period, when the offense looked out of sorts during the first five attempts at scoring from the two-yard line.
Ben Roethlisberger, despite taking part in many parts of the padded practice — the second of that variety in a row for the Steelers — did not take any snaps during 7 shots.
Mason Rudolph took the first three plays, and did not perform well. Rudolph sent a ball high and through the extended hands of Chase Claypool on the first try. An accurate pass would have been an easy touchdown.
On the second play, Rudolph had mild pressure and fired a ball about five yards past JuJu Smith-Schuster who, to his credit, was covered fairly well by Joe Haden. But the throw gave the receiver no chance at making a play.
Rudolph finally through an accurate ball to Diontae Johnson — a short pass over the middle of the field — but Johnson, as has become a familiar sight, was unable to corral it.
In stepped Dwayne Haskins, who has been splitting time running the second team offense with Rudolph. Things didn’t go much better.
Haskins misfired on a shovel pass to tight end Kevin Rader, who was able to hold on, but was tackled shy of the goal line. Haskins then made an abysmal decision to throw a ball from his back foot, in pressure, into the end zone. The pass was intercepted by corner James Pierre, who continues to put together a solid offseason. The run-back was blown dead, but it would have been a touchdown for Pierre.
Josh Dobbs, who seems to be the odd man out of the quarterback group, then took over and confidently fired two touchdown passes to running back Kalen Ballage, a player who seems to be willing himself onto the team with his strong play this spring.
Drops, drops and more drops
Johnson, who also could not haul in in a quick screen pass from Roethlisberger later in the day, is not alone with his struggles to hold onto the ball, that’s for sure.
First-round pick tailback Najee Harris had a pair of drops during team drills, something he chalked up to be “just a part of the game.”
Rader dropped a pass while running a route over the middle and reserve tight end Zach Gentry had a Dwayne Haskins toss clank off of his hands and be intercepted.
“Yeah, Gentry’s got to catch it,” Tomlin said, bluntly.
Tomlin seemed to shrug off the drop problems though, but the reality is that his team led the NFL in dropped passes in 2020, and it does not appear that the issue has been rectified yet.
Mike, that offense line, woof!
Drops have a been a problem, sure. But a bigger issue seems to be the quarterbacks having enough time to get the ball to the receivers to begin with, and the running backs having space to do their jobs.
Tomlin, however, doesn’t feel the line’s play is an issue, at least not yet.
“I don’t know that I was upset at all,” Tomlin said. “It’s just ebb and flow associated with this time of year."
That said, Saturday was an ugly day for Pittsburgh’s offensive line. It was missing several key components, as Zach Banner, BJ Finney and Trai Turner did not participate in practice, as well as tight end Eric Ebron.
Harris tried to make the most of it, including a near spectacular five-yard run — if there is such a thing — in which the left side of the line was blown up by Cam Heyward and company. Harris eluded Heyward and was able to gain positive yardage.
“I’m not surprised (that Harris got away), I’m just pissed at myself for not making the tackle,” Heyward said.
“We’re playing good on good, this is the NFL,” Harris added. “Not every run is going to be blocked perfectly. My job is to make the most out of every run.
“I try to create as much as I can when a play is not blocked.”
The news from the front lines isn’t all terrible though. During 11-on-11, Harris was able burst through a large hole on an outside zone run to the left side of the line, accelerating through the opening for a big gain and for the offense’s best-looking play of the afternoon.
Injuries and unavailables
Tomlin did not provide an injury update after practice, but running back Benny Snell and offensive tackle Anthony Coyle both left the field with injuries. Snell went out fairly early, went to the locker room, and was not seen on the field again.
In addition to Finney, Banner, Turner and Ebron, TJ Watt, Stephon Tuitt, Cassius Marsh, Jaylen Samuels and Cody White did not participate in practice.
The Steelers will be off on Sunday before returning to training camp Monday in preparation for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Cowboys.