Day 10: Goal line drill

Monday was aim line day. And hardly anybody knew it.

At the least within the press field.

What was once essentially the most anticipated and hyped drill of coaching camp yesterday was an afterthought as reporters as an alternative started their trek down the stadium bowl to the interview space.

However, one individual paid consideration, and here is my assessment:

1. Najee Harris by means of proper guard for a landing. The formation started with 9 up entrance, however wing man Derek Watt motioned again to an offset-I fullback and led Harris by means of the outlet. It could be the one rep through which Harris ran behind a fullback.

2. Harris was tackled for a loss by a mob after defensive deal with Chris Wormley initially blew up the play.

3. Beginning QB Mason Rudolph faked a handoff and threw incomplete to fit receiver Chase Claypool.

4. Working again Kalen Ballage reduce left and scored simply after reserve left deal with Aviante Collins crashed down his aspect of the road.

5. QB Dwayne Haskins faked a handoff, rolled proper and threw poorly and incomplete to Jaylen Samuels.

Watt was dropped at reporters as certainly one of two simultaneous choices. However since I used to be interviewing Diontae Johnson on the identical time, I did not get an opportunity to ask the fullback concerning the goal-line drill. Nobody else did, both.

Sigh.

However, he did make a point out of it to the sleepy mob.

“Right now was huge,” Watt opened. “I did some work at tight finish in particular person drills, acquired concerned within the offense, short-yardage/goal-line day. I higher be concerned in short-yardage/goal-line day, in any other case what the heck am I doing?”

Nice level. However, as talked about, he was a part of solely transient success.

“I assumed they answered the bell at the moment,” stated Mike Tomlin. “I assumed we gained the road of scrimmage after we needed to. I did not see lots of guys within the backfield when it comes to among the negativity. More often than not in these situations, you win the road of scrimmage and also you get a varsity runner to the road of scrimmage clear, he does the remaining. So largely I assumed they did what it’s they wanted to do.”

There’s little doubt that Harris is a varsity runner, and I believe the identical from Ballage.

Tomlin additionally made a reference that indicated Zach Banner was a part of the aim line drill, and that got here as a shock to me. Banner returned from the damage record to play proper deal with, however just for the primary two reps of seven Photographs. Common Joe Haeg was accountable for proper deal with for what I assumed was the remainder of observe, however it’s potential Banner performed throughout aim line since I did not confirm the linemen.

As for different accidents, Terrell Edmunds was down once more and changed by Miles Killebrew, also called “Harmon’s Boy” within the press field.

No, he is not likely the son of Harmon Killebrew, however we wish to have enjoyable after we’re not sniping at one another on Twitter.

P.S. Tomlin sniped at a reporter who requested twice about Edmunds’ absence. That was after the taped model of Tomlin’s press briefing. Through the briefing, Tomlin reminded the reporter that Edmunds had undergone offseason shoulder surgical procedure.

P.S.S. We do not all snipe at one another. I used to be requested to look on WDVE with Mike Prisuta and Bob Labriola final evening they usually practically introduced me to tears with their optimistic assessments of “Polamalu.”

I need to say this about these interviews concerning the e-book: I simply babble solutions as a result of I can hardly keep in mind writing it. As I attempt to inform individuals, I used to be only a instrument of a universe that assigned me the work.

OK, transferring on from associates, feelings and God …

MINKAH

That is an interview to which I’ve been wanting ahead, notably since Cam Heyward talked about the opposite day that Minkah Fitzpatrick has been taking over extra of a management position …

MF: Coach T this offseason stated he needed me to be extra vocal, not simply on the sphere however within the locker room, within the weight room, and likewise on the sphere. Simply attempting to take to that problem.

Q: Are individuals responding?

MF: I feel so. Sure, sir.

Q: Are you lining up in numerous spots this camp?

MF: No. I do not count on something totally different proper now.

Q: Are you guys kicking that concept round?

MF: No, sir.

Q: Would you wish to?

MF: No. I am cool with what I am doing.

Q: Are you able to present any perception into the competitors between Antoine Brooks and Arthur Maulet at slot nook?

MF: I feel they’re each doing an ideal job. They each have two totally different talent units. Toine is greater, can blitz and do what Mike Hilton did lots of final yr. Arthur is a vet, extra savvy man, covers rather well within the slot. Each guys are doing a very good job.

Q: How essential is that place?

MF: It is actually essential. It is a very huge position. Plenty of our protection is centered round what that man’s able to doing. Whoever fills that position could have an enormous accountability.

Q: Why did you are feeling the necessity to step up vocally?

MF: I am older now, 12 months 4. It is time to begin sharing my expertise, sharing my knowledge, as a result of I’ve lots of expertise. I feel I can impart lots of my knowledge on youthful guys, even older guys. I am very assured in what I do, very assured in my talents. I put together rather well. I feel I deal with myself like knowledgeable. Guys see that. It has been demanded from me; lots of younger guys are coming to me and asking me questions and choosing my mind. I’ve a accountability to take them in, fill them in and take them underneath my wing.

Q: What do you consider the Madden rankings?

MF: Man, I imply, it’s what it’s. I am not an enormous Madden participant as a result of I try to play prefer it’s an actual sport and I all the time get my butt whupped. I am not joyful about it, however I am not elevating a fuss about it.

Q: Do you are feeling a little bit disrespected (being rated tenth)?

MF: Greater than a little bit. Greater than a little bit.

For the remainder of the interview, try our South Side message board.

NOTEBOOK

I am engaged on a bit on the late Invoice Nunn about which I am very excited. So, please forgive the dearth of full consideration to this observe. After all, I did take notes, they usually observe:

* Tomlin, when requested by the reporter who above had requested Fitzpatrick about being moved round extra typically: “We’re exploring extra methods to get work out of everybody. What we do with him oftentimes has nothing to do with what he is able to. It is what others are able to. I will put him in 11 totally different locations on a soccer area.”

* And Tomlin on the state of vaccinations inside the group: “We now have such good international participation that I am not losing my time speaking about that. I will depart that between the individual we’ve accountable for that area, (coach) John Norwig, and the people it applies to. Our prepare is rolling, and I respect the efforts of the blokes the place it would not change into a world dialogue, that we’re singularly centered on soccer.”

* Recall final week I reported that Steelers coaches and help employees have been absolutely vaccinated, and that over 90 p.c of the gamers have been absolutely vaccinated. That quantity didn’t embrace Harris, who has since change into freed from the figuring out yellow wrist band.

* Professional Soccer Focus ranks the Steelers’ offensive line thirty first, forward of solely the New York Giants. The Steelers completed final season ranked seventeenth by PFF.

* So, the younger lions on the OL continued to play with aggression Monday. A lot has been manufactured from yesterday’s “struggle” between rookie OL Kendrick Green and Dan Moore towards Heyward, however it was extra of a taffy pull. Sure, it is good to see the younger linemen enjoying with aggression. No, it actually wasn’t a lot price reporting.

* Out yesterday have been Anthony Coyle, Eric Ebron, Stephon Tuitt, T.J. Watt, Marcus Allen, Cody White, Chuks Okorafor and Edmunds. A lot of them labored on the aspect. Some participated in particular person drills. Nothing seems to be critical.

* 4 touchdowns have been scored in 7 Photographs: Ben Roethlisberger to JuJu Smith-Schuster; Rudolph to Anthony McFarland; Haskins to Pat Freiermuth; and Haskins rolled proper and into the tip zone.

* As soon as once more, Freiermuth and Zach Gentry fared nicely within the edge-setting competitors interval towards Alex Highsmith and Melvin Ingram, respectively.

* In a drill through which working backs ran vs. inside linebackers, McFarland routinely ran previous all comers, Ulysees Gilbert particularly.

* Watt caught a play-action deep cross, and, because the norm, reporters excitedly took questions on “wheel routes” all the way down to the interview space.

1.) “No person coated me so I acquired out that manner. Minkah gave me an excellent hit on the finish there,” stated Watt.

2.) “It is a wheel route however it’s not just like the ball goes to me by any means. I do not even know if I am the primary learn, however once they do not cowl you – Ben stated he appeared on the market and he thought he did not see it correctly as a result of I used to be so broad open.”

I am virtually optimistic there have been different questions on “wheel routes” however I ended writing down the solutions.

* Rudolph twice rolled proper, and smack dab into sacks by Cassius Marsh, who was dashing straight up the sphere.

* Ever since Rudolph minimize his hair within the spring (most likely after studying my story on how he appeared like Tommy Maddox in 2002), he is misplaced his effectiveness.

* Smith-Schuster took a slant from Roethlisberger to “the home” after beating cornerback Joe Haden off the road.

* Claypool took an finish round down the sideline for a piece acquire.

* Within the third crew scrimmage, Roethlisberger flexed his deep arm and related with Johnson and James Washington.

“Folks saying (Ben lacks arm energy) are loopy,” stated Johnson. “They are not out right here with Massive Ben. I am on the market with him so I understand how he is throwing the ball. He nonetheless has it, regardless that he is up there in his age. I am not calling him previous, however he is nonetheless acquired it. He is exhibiting it at observe, deep balls, brief or intermediate.”

Are his deep balls extra correct than final yr?

“It is nonetheless the identical to me. Nothing’s modified. His arm’s nonetheless nice,” Johnson stated.