As they head into the final week of their OTAs, the Steelers seem to have seemingly accomplished everything they set out to do.
Put the Antonio Brown saga in their rearview mirror? Check.
Acclimate rookie Devin Bush into the defense? Check.
Re-establish a firm leadership from within? Check.
The Steelers have been all business this offseason, something that has been punctuated by this OTA process. Attendance has been very good and the work has been crisp.
More importantly, unlike last year, when both Jerald Hawkins and tight end Jake McGee went down with what would be season-ending injuries, the Steelers have avoided anything of that magnitude.
Sure, guys have been missing from practice here and there, but the issues have been minor.
Perhaps the biggest thing has been Ben Roethlisberger's full engagement in the process. Roethlisberger attended only the initial OTA last year and then spent the rest of the process with his family, something that had long-lasting, unintended consequences.
Young players such as receiver James Washington, a second-round draft pick, never got to know Roethlisberger. They viewed him as Ben Roethlisberger, Hall of Fame quarterback, not a real person.
Because of that, they walked on eggshells when they were around him.
This year, things are different. Roethlisberger has been on the field, even when he hasn't participated in practice. And he's made a concerted effort to engage the young guys as much as possible.
It should pay dividends for young players such as rookie receiver Diontae Johnson and even new receiver Donte Moncrief.
"Oh, for sure," Washington told me. "I would have approached the season much differently. Every time I was in the huddle with him, I was always nervous because you didn’t want to mess up when you’re getting reps with that guy."
It's rubbing off on the team's young quarterbacks, as well. Part of the reason the Steelers didn't mind Roethlisberger not being around last season was because they wanted to get second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs and rookie Mason Rudolph as many practice reps as possible.
Now, with both of those guys having another year under their collective belts, the Steelers aren't as concerned about Roethlisberger's reps. It's more important he is around and visible.
"That has been a big difference. (My) rookie year, he was here the whole time," Dobbs told me. "Last year, he had some family things. It is good seeing him around, being able to bounce things off of him. Being able to pick his brain and interact with him. It’s good to have him around. You never take him for granted. It’s good to have him here."
Even at 37 years old, Roethlisberger seems reinvigorated.
"I’m excited. I think we have a great team," he said. "I think we’ve got a bunch of guys that are buying into each other. That’s what it takes to win football games."
