Training Camp Takeaways 7/29: Cam Sutton, Chase Claypool Continue to Battle

PITTSBURGH — Ray-Ray McCloud made a press release on Thursday. On separate particular person reps because the Steelers vast receivers and defensive backs went at one another 1-on-1 with simply the quarterback as the one different participant concerned, McCloud confronted each Minkah Fitzpatrick and rookie Mark Gilbert and took their ankles each occasions.

McCloud, who received his NFL begin primarily as a kick returner, has basketball-like releases by which he can crossover defenders and make cuts in a fast and explosive trend. These had been very a lot on show together with his fast ft and incredible eyes to divert the defensive backs and get their hips turned.

Diontae Johnson was nice that drill this in addition to a pure route runner. He beat Cam Sutton and Fitzpatrick on separate events. Sutton was put within the blender on a beautiful in-route as Johnson made a misleading minimize with each his head and eyes to the again pylon earlier than crossing Sutton’s face to win again inside.

James Pierre was a standout on the opposite facet of the ball. With Joe Haden given the day without work, Pierre confronted high competitors in James Washington and Chase Claypool, Pierre received each reps towards them by taking part in by means of the catch level. As Claypool tried to raise for the cross, Pierre put his arm completely in between his fingers and knocked it away. Extra importantly, Pierre is getting his head round and did so on each reps. So, these had been clear performs that will not have yielded flags both.

Sutton and Claypool are essentially the most heated battle of camp at the moment. They cut up reps towards one another, going again to Wednesday in seven photographs and the group interval on Tuesday. On one rep, Sutton skied with Claypool to play the ball by means of the catch level as soon as Claypool tried to physique catch it. That’s one thing that Claypool should clear up, but it surely was a strong play by Sutton.

Tre Norwood was an enormous winner on this drill as properly. Going through Isaiah McKoy, Norwood stoned McKoy on the line with nice fingers and physicality. On the catch level, Norwood initially went for the tip however concentrated as soon as the ball was within the air and snagged it for an interception. That was one in all two interceptions on the day for Norwood.

JuJu Smith-Schuster made a nifty bobbling, toe-tapping seize akin to the one he made in Oakland a number of years in the past. Towards Antoine Brooks Jr., Smith-Schuster merely made a nasty throw right into a landing, even with Brooks in his hip pocket on the play.

SEVEN SHOTS

Seven photographs is a every day set of gamers from the two-yard line, that includes the Steelers No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 protection for 3 performs, No. 2 offense vs. No. 2 protection for 2 performs and the No. 3 offense vs. No. 3 protection for 2 performs.

🏈: Ben Roethlisberger threw to Smith-Schuster in the best nook of the tip zone, however Smith-Schuster couldn’t come down with two ft in bounds. Pierre had protection.

🏈: The offense received Claypool remoted towards Sutton to the left of the formation and Roethlisberger threw it as much as the massive second-year goal, who got here down with it, getting in a win in what has been a heated one-on-one battle at occasions by means of the early a part of camp.

🏈: Roethlisberger discovered Claypool once more, as he motioned to the slot to place three receivers on the left of the formation after which darted over the center in entrance of linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III.

🏈: Arthur Maulet got here untouched on a blitz from the best slot and sacked Mason Rudolph.

🏈: Rudolph rolled left to flee strain and located McCloud simply over the objective line, sitting in between Gilbert and Buddy Johnson in zone protection.

🏈: Dwayne Haskins related with Tyler Simmons for a rating on a nook route over Stephen Denmark.

🏈: Haskins went to his sizzling learn on a blitz, however tight finish Dax Raymond didn’t get his head round in time and the cross caromed off the again of his helmet. Lamont Wade had protection.

NIFTY NORWOOD

Norwood was an actual winner from the day. The 2 interceptions indicated above, together with one in all former Oklahoma State rival quarterback Mason Rudolph, brought on Norwood to be one of many largest winners from the day. In a Cowl 3 robber scheme, Norwood was the robber over the center of the sphere and easily jumped an errant cross by Rudolph. It was a nasty learn by Rudolph, and an excellent play for Norwood to be heads up.

Norwood has been particularly good and the Steelers are merely holding him at security for now to get him comfy. Nonetheless, if he continues to make performs like he did in the present day, it’s arduous to not envision Norwood being the principle backup to Fitzpatrick within the occasion he must be injured.

“He’s a pointy child,” Tomlin stated. “He communicates properly. At this stage of the journey,  that communication signifies understanding. That’s an excellent place to be in a man in his spot. We’ll preserve placing him in place to do what he’s achieved thus far.”

STANDOUT DAY FOR DENMARK

Stephen Denmark is a kind of defensive backs that’s nonetheless caught in limbo because the Steelers maintain an open competitors for among the decrease roster spots within the cornerback room. However at 6-foot-2, Denmark has size and loads of athleticism that he flashed in the present day. He and the spectacular Rico Bussey had fairly a battle in the present day. Bussey and Denmark cut up their reps, and Denmark made a near-spectacular one-handed seize on a deep route.

Within the one-on-ones, Denmark made a number of performs with two cross breakups. On the day, Denmark made six cross breakups and solely surrendered two catches. It was solely sooner or later, however together with his fluidity and explosiveness for his measurement, Denmark is a really intriguing participant who needs to be watched carefully on the roster bubble.

PUNTERS GET A TURN

Punters Jordan Berry and Pressley Harvin III have been competing all through camp, however they took a flip at middle stage on Thursday, with the punters that includes closely in full-squad particular groups drills for the primary time. Harvin drew a robust comparability from Tomlin.

“He regarded like Ray Man a time or two, didn’t he?” Tomlin stated. “These guys have been battling. We respect all of the battles which might be occurring out right here.”

TWO-MINUTE TROUBLES

Tomlin was displeased when the protection received a two-minute drill rep after Fitzpatrick tackled Fitzpatrick with in bounds, permitting the clock to expire. He was extra upset concerning the lack of information by the offense than the protection making a robust play.

“At 15 seconds, we’ve received to take photographs on the finish zone,” Tomlin stated. “When Minkah tackled that man on the sphere of play, the sport is over and we’ve received to have that degree of consciousness. It was annoying, sure, however I additionally acknowledge that the educational course of is a part of this.”

MORE COVERAGE FROM TRAINING CAMP THURSDAY:

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Sights and Sounds from Steelers Training Camp: WRs Work Combo Routes

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