LATROBE, Pa. -- With their Friday Night Lights practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium canceled because of inclement weather, the Steelers were forced to go to Latrobe High School's gymnasium to hold a walk-through practice Friday night.
That's an ideal setting for second-year defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.
The 6-foot-7 defensive end looks as if he'd be at home on the basketball court as a power forward. But even more so than he was as a rookie last season, Loudermilk is finding a home with the Steelers.
"Mentally, it’s different," Loudermilk said of the difference between this year and last for himself.
"I’m not coming in and trying to learn a whole new defense. Coming in this year, it’s just more coming in and playing and less thinking for me. That’s helped me a lot on the field. I’m able to go and not worry to much or think too much."
The Steelers traded a 2022 fourth-round draft pick to get a fifth-round selection last year they used to select Loudermilk. A player who fit the Steelers' ideal size-weight specifications at defensive end, the former Wisconsin product was supposed to be something of a project. Last season was supposed to be a year spent learning and not playing much.
But injuries to Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu and ineffective play by others speeded up the clock for Loudermilk. As the season wore on, his snap count continued to grow and he wound up playing nearly 25 percent of the team's defensive snaps.
With Alualu and newly signed Larry Ogunjobi sidelined as the team is cautious with bringing the veterans along, and Cam Heyward sitting out team drills the past couple of days, Loudermilk has gotten snaps with the first-team defense.
"I like where Loudermilk is trending," first-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. "I like the way he is trending. He’s doing a good job."
What does Austin, who had been the Steelers' senior defensive assistant/secondary coach like about his second-year defensive lineman?
"He’s a lot stronger than he was last year," Austin said. "He has a lot more familiarity with what we’re doing and the plan. You see him use his strength, use his smarts. He’s in a lot better shape. He’s doing all the right things and that’s exciting."
That's a big step and one often taken by players between their first and second seasons.
For Loudermilk, he's taken what he learned in his playing time last season and tried to build upon it. And he knows the coaching staff expects that to happen.
"I feel like they are because I’ve shown what I can do," he said. "I played in a lot of games. I know they trusted me, so coming in this year, I know they expect more. I have to step my game up. I have to take that Year-2 jump. I’m not coming in as a rookie, someone who doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do. I know what I’m supposed to do. The coaches have let me know what they expect. They’re just relying on me a little more this year."
How much playing time that will mean when the Steelers start to play games for real remains to be seen.
Ogunjobi was signed to help the Steelers deal with the loss of Tuitt to retirement. But the Steelers also selected DeMarvin Leal in the third-round of this year's draft, the highest they have selected a defensive linemen since taking Tuitt in the second round in 2014.
They're added to a group that also includes Heyward, veteran Chris Wormley, nose tackle Montravius Adams, twin brothers Carlos and Khalil Davis and Henry Mondeaux.
All but Leal have some level of NFL experience, but the Steelers typically only keep six defensive linemen, though they have kept seven on their 53-man roster in the past.
That means every day is a battle with so many guys fighting for spots.
"Of all those (young) guys, the guy who is showing more and showing more consistent traits is Loudermilk," Austin said.
Loudermilk took time in the offseason sculpting his already massive physical presence. And he trained to improve his stamina, as well.
One thing he didn't have to do was work on his confidence. That was sky high after he recorded 23 tackles, a sack and three batted passes last season.
"I feel like a lot of it is confidence," he said. "And I put some good stuff on film last year, so I’m coming in a lot more confident this year."
It's showing.
