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Earlier than his first-ever coaching camp as the pinnacle coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin supplied this little bit of perception into how he deliberate to strategy issues.
“No job is safe,” Tomlin promised on the eve of that 2007 journey to Saint Vincent Faculty. “This isn’t a safety enterprise, and in the event that they’re searching for safety, they should discover a new line of labor. I informed these guys that I’m going to base my selections on what they do on a day-to-day foundation, not their popularity or resume, and I imply what I say in that regard. Folks need to set up depth charts at the moment of 12 months, so be it. They modify.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already got opened their fifteenth coaching camp beneath Tomlin, and this version is to be held at Heinz Discipline as a substitute of Saint Vincent Faculty. But when the venue has modified and the coach is older, what’s the identical is Tomlin’s view of a depth chart at this stage of the method.
The Steelers launched their camp opening depth chart at the moment, and anybody who has been by way of this course of even as soon as throughout Tomlin’s tenure shouldn’t be shocked by a single factor on this explicit model. And as you peruse it, for leisure functions solely, do it with these phrases from Tomlin rattling round in your head: “They modify.”
On offense, the Steelers checklist 12 “starters” in recognition of the truth that modern NFL groups usually change place groupings from one snap to the following. The opening dozen contains three huge receivers for passing conditions, but additionally a fullback for these events when coordinator Matt Canada desires to make the most of one. The protection additionally contains 12 “starters,” with No. 12 being the nickel cornerback.
There is just one rookie listed among the many 22 starters, and that’s working again Najee Harris. That is an instance of Tomlin confirming the apparent, as a result of he even mentioned on Friday when requested concerning the apply rotation at working again: “Clearly, (Najee’s) getting a whole lot of work and a whole lot of vital work within the first group, as a result of that is the place we (drafted) him.”
As for the remainder of the offense, there are two beginning positions that had been opened up through the offseason – middle due to Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement, and proper guard following the discharge of David DeCastro.
Veteran Trai Turner was signed within the instant aftermath of the DeCastro transfer, and he is listed because the beginning proper guard. J.C. Hassenauer, who began 4 video games at middle final season, is listed No. 1 at that place on this depth chart. B.J. Finney, who returned as an unrestricted free agent signee through the offseason, is listed No. 3 on the middle place – with rookie Kendrick Inexperienced presently at No. 2 – and because the backup to beginning left guard Kevin Dotson.
As anticipated, Chuks Okorafor is listed because the beginning left sort out, with rookie Dan Moore Jr. as his backup; and Zach Banner is the beginning proper sort out, with veteran free agent addition Joe Haeg as his backup.
The highest three huge receivers are Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and JuJu Smith Schuster, with no designation of which amongst them would align the place. James Washington is No. 2 behind Johnson. The quarterbacks are listed this fashion: Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins, and Josh Dobbs. Eric Ebron is the No. 1 tight finish, rookie Pat Freiermuth is No. 2, after which it is Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, and Dax Raymond behind them.
The beginning protection holds no surprises. Robert Spillane is alongside Devin Bush at inside linebacker; Alex Highsmith is the starter at proper outdoors linebacker, with veteran Melvin Ingram III behind him. Cam Sutton is the beginning cornerback reverse Joe Haden, and Antoine Brooks Jr. will get to start camp because the No. 1 nickel cornerback, with Arthur Maulet listed No. 2 behind him.
Once more, this was Tomlin from Friday on the state of affairs at slot cornerback: “Proper now, we’re working Artwork (Maulet) and (Antoine) Brooks there. However there shall be instances while you’ll see different guys, however proper now we’re centered on these two. Proper now, we’re working (rookie) Tre Norwood at security. He might be a man who might roll down and play in there. He did that in school, however we’ll cross that bridge after we come to it. Proper now, we do not need to give too many individuals too many issues to concentrate on. We’re conserving them locked down and letting them work there for a few days. We’ll have a gathering of the minds after which decide who’ll work (the slot) for the following couple of days.”
As for a way among the backups on protection are aligned:
Cassius Marsh and Quincy Roche are behind T.J. Watt; Ulysees Gilbert and Buddy Johnson are behind Bush, with Marcus Allen behind Spillane. It is Justin Layne behind Haden, and James Pierre behind Sutton.
For the specialists and returners, Tomlin caught with the fellows who did these jobs in 2020. Diontae Johnson is listed because the backup punt returner, and Anthony McFarland Jr. is listed because the backup kickoff returner.
Should you hear intently, you’ll be able to hear Tomlin’s voice within the background:
“Folks need to set up depth charts at the moment of 12 months, so be it. They modify.”
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