Steelers Up Camp: Pads On, Drills Different, Energy High

LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – Day one of pads at Steelers camp and not quite the same with only accidental players going to the ground and no staple of padded practice under Mike Tomlin, running backs going one-on-one with linebackers.

Mike McCarthy didn’t seem opposed to that drill at some point, but not on the first day. There were also no goal line drills for day one.

“Yeah, the drills we were doing were different,” said Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. “We didn’t have the competitive backs-on-backers, but it was really good work. Offense won some, defense won some. It was good.”

“O-line, D-line, when we put pads on, we’re going,” said guard Mason McCormick. “The first day in pads is always good.”

Guard Spencer Anderson concurred that, with the linemen, it’s always physical went they put on the backs and go at each other. It’s different this year without the tackling and some of the usual drills, but bottom line they need to hit to wear black and gold.

“Pittsburgh Steelers, we’re known for physicality. We got to bring the juice every day,” Anderson said. “As Coach Campen said, we’ve been playing in pajamas for a while, so now we can see what it is.”

Best pass

7-on-7 drills, Drew Allar found Cole Burgess deep for the strongest throw of the day. Burgess would later leave with an injury.

Best catch

There were several by DK Metcalf, but one on the sidelines from Aaron Rodgers during a two-minute drill. Metcalf made the tough catch, keep his feet in and then got out of bounds to preserve time.

Second best catch might be later in that drive when Patrick Queen leaped and picked off Rodgers in the end zone.

Notes

• Mason Rudolph fumbled a snap on an early 11-on-11 drill, he was immediately replaced by Will Howard
• Nick Herbig had a great inside move that beat Troy Fautanu
• Steelers ran some eye formation with Riley Nowakowski lining up as fullback in front of Rico Dowdle
• Roman Wilson jumped high for about a seven-yard reception from Rodgers later in practice
• Starting offensive line remained the same with Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook from left to right