LATROBE, Pa. -- Mike Tomlin loves when the elements create challenges for his team during training camp. When a torrential downpour forced the Steelers to move over to the turf field for practice, Tomlin challenged his team to focus heavily on ball security.
The team not only had to shift from two straight days of practice with live tackling to no pads, Wednesday's practice came with undoubtedly the highest heat index of training camp. Near-90 degree temperatures and plenty of humidity made it a rather unpleasant day on Chuck Noll Field.
In addition, referees made their first visit to Saint Vincent College, giving the Steelers an opportunity to focus on real football situations, including the two-minute drill.
"It is not only important that we introduce that segment, but it’s also important when we introduce that segment," Tomlin explained. "We do it at the end of practice thoughtfully so that we work on developing conditioning and get displays of conditioning. It’s important that guys have the ability to operate, and operate with great detail, execute communication, and all of the things that are big in that situation, but do so at the end of practice when there’s a little less gas in the tank.
"I just think that it is reflective of what transpires at the end of halves or the end of games. This is football-like. We’ve been talking a little bit about the drill work that we do, but as closely as we can relate it to certain elements of ball it just aids the growth process."
We covered the two-minute drills in detail in our QB tracker.
Having referees in camp also gave the players an opportunity to learn the nuances of the game that aren't accounted for in the rulebook. Receivers like Gunner Olszewski were seen picking the brains of officials in between drills.
"You get to learn the unwritten rules of the game," Tomlin said. "There’s an official rulebook, and those are words on a page, but there’s no substitute for having these guys out here and getting the dialogue and getting their perspective on what the tipping points are."
The Steelers focused on discussions regarding offensive pass interference. In doing so, they learned that extended elbow contact is a trigger for officials.
"They get to hear little minutia like that," Tomlin said. "That helps them play the game and play it at a professional level."
• There was some definite coaching going on Wednesday at Saint Vincent College. During receivers on defensive backs, receivers coach Frisman Jackson and secondary coach Grady Brown were right there in the thick of it after every single drill, coaching up their players.
There's so much detail that goes into every portion of running a route or covering a receiver as he sinks his hips to go another way. Both Jackson and Brown weren't wasting any opportunity to coach their players every step of the way. And when officials were flagging players for pass interference or holding, neither coach would let their players use anything that was called as an excuse.
From what I saw, if either position underperforms this season, it's not from lack of coaching.
• T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Myles Jack earned veteran off days on the hot day in Latrobe. Pretty much, it boils down to preserving health while simultaneously providing opportunity for younger players to earn reps.
"It’s less about those guys, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. "It’s just a means of pinning the lines and providing more opportunities for younger guys. We’re going to treat everyone fairly, but we’re not going to treat everyone the same. More veteran players need fewer reps in order to be ready, younger players need more. So, we think of unique ways to provide everybody with what they need."
• Najee Harris did not practice as he remains day-to-day with a minor foot injury. The good news is he was on the field alongside the coaches and engaged throughout practice. He didn't seem hampered at all by the injury, so the Steelers are being cautious with their star running back.
• As for the rest of the injuries, Tomlin maintained the status quo on all of them. Levi Wallace (illness) missed his third straight practice, but was on the sideline throughout the day. Miles Killebrew has now missed a week with a pectoral injury. Chase Claypool (shoulder) and Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) continue to be engaged on the field and sideline during practice as they work their way back to health. Marcus Allen (hamstring) might be out for an "extended" period of time.
• The status quo remains the same with Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tyson Alualu and Larry Ogunjobi, though all three are progressing nicely.
