Friday morning was hardly the first time Joey Porter Jr. has visited the South Side. In fact, you could probably add up and combine all of the visits made by all of the players at this weekend's Steelers rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and it still wouldn't match how many times Porter's been there.
Yet, of all the trips he's made to South Water Street, this one felt a little different.
"I was in the locker room, I was staring at my jersey, and I was like, 'Damn, I really get to put this on today,'" Porter said Friday afternoon following the first day of rookie minicamp. "It's an unreal moment. I'm just happy to be out here. I remember as a kid just doing routes and stuff with (Antonio Brown) and everybody. It feels great."
Yet, even with the new feeling of taking the fields on the South Side for the first time as a player, Porter couldn't help but say, "Man, I just feel like I'm at home."
It wasn't that long ago that Porter tagged along with his father, Joey Porter Sr., to the the practice facility while he served on Mike Tomlin's coaching staff. Porter Jr. and Tomlin's son, Dino, would play around on the South Side practice fields. In turn, Porter became very acquainted with Tomlin himself and the rest of his family.
Porter formed a tight bond with both of Tomlin's sons, Dino and Mason, even playing boys and girls club basketball after the Porter family moved back to Pittsburgh. Those bonds continued with playing on the practice fields with Dino and walking the hallways of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, giving Porter an opportunity to learn as much as he could.
"I definitely remember a lot. That was a core memory of mine," Porter said at the NFL Combine. "Growing up and being able to have that experience with (Mike) and Dino Tomlin means a lot. ... I just came in to be a sponge with every guy that was in the facility. They really didn't have too much time to talk to me or tell me too much information. But, yeah, it was a great experience."
As for getting adjusted to a completely new level in his relationship with Tomlin, things are going smoothly. Porter actually said it's been "easy." However, Porter doesn't expect any different treatment just because of the name on the back of his jersey.
"At the end of the day, that's my coach. I'm going to treat him like my coach," Porter said of Tomlin. "We've had conversations here and there, like, 'Remember when you were young doing this?' But, now I'm here. It's been great so far. Coach T is going to coach me as hard as possible. I'm here to learn."
With rookie minicamp now underway, Porter is there to learn everything he can. He comes in as the Steelers' second-round pick in hopes that he'll bolster a cornerback position that needs to improve in other areas outside of taking the ball away.
While the Steelers were tied with the 49ers for the league lead in interceptions last season, the Steelers are making a concerted effort to limit the big plays through the air. Porter's length and physicality in press coverage could help with that.
For now, the minute details of how Porter can help in that area of the defense will be worked out in time. This weekend, it's all about getting acclimated to a new situation for all parties involved.
"Just learn. That's what we're all doing right here," Porter said. "Come together, work together as a team. It's the first time seeing everybody together. We're all just trying to work together, understand each other's vibes and everything, and also learn the playbook."
As for that chip on Porter's shoulder for not being selected in the first round, Porter's father reminded him of that motivation before making the drive over to the South Side on Friday morning.
"He texted me before," Porter said. "He said, 'Go out there and show them what you got. Be that pissed off football player like you are and just work.' That's what we're doing."
• The Steelers signed four of their draft picks and six undrafted free agents after Friday's workouts. Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, Cory Trice Jr. and Spencer Anderson were the first four draft picks to sign. I've got more on that in a separate piece.
• Washington brings freakish size and athleticism to the tight end room. That's very evident when he stands among the other tight ends on the field.
The Steelers are very intrigued by what he can add to Matt Canada's offense, though his role hasn't yet been etched in stone.
"I'm not sure how I'm going to be used, but any way possible I'm all for it," Washington said Friday. "If it starts off with special teams, whatever it may be, whatever it is, man, I'm all for it. I just recently came from a great tight end room at the University of Georgia. I'm just going to continue to do that and just continue to play my role."
• There isn't a whole lot to take from the workouts during rookie minicamp. Anyone remember former rookie minicamp star, Chris Rainey?
One thing I like to watch is how the players interact with the coaches, and how they respond to the drills throughout the workout. What stood out to me on Friday was watching Broderick Jones and Pat Meyer spend a good amount of time together during initial individual drills during the start of workouts. Meyer wasn't shy to coach him up on little details of each rep, and Jones was keenly focused on every word Meyer said.
That's the type of stuff I look for. And, that's a good thing to see from a first-round selection.
• Tanner Morgan, who was one of the six undrafted rookie free agents to sign on Friday, is going to be someone I watch heading into the next phase of offseason workouts (OTAs, minicamp). His skillset aligns with what Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky do well. Getting my eyes on him for the first time, I could see him possibly making the team as a third quarterback.
Yet again, it is very early. No conclusions can be drawn up from rookie minicamp. That's why I want to watch him little more closely going forward.
• Another undrafted free agent who signed Friday is Jordan Byrd. If Morgan is the most likely undrafted free agent to make the 53-man roster this fall, then Byrd has a real chance to make himself the second-most likely.
With Steven Sims now with the Texans, the Steelers need stability in the return game, and Byrd specialized in that at San Diego State. He was a return specialist there and was named first-team All-Mountain West at both kick returner and punt returner by the league's head coaches and media, the first Aztec to ever be named first team at both positions.
He's built a lot like Calvin Austin, so it'll be interesting to see them on the field together when OTAs start. But, anyone who can help the Steelers in that area of special teams has to be on a lot of people's radar.
• Day 2 of rookie minicamp continues Saturday. Corey Crisan and I will be there. Tomlin is also scheduled to speak, so it'll be interesting to get his takeaway from getting a much closer look at his new recruits.
