Halicke: New guys stealing the show over first few days of camp

LATROBE, Pa. -- Four days of training camp are in the books, and the next time the players take to Chuck Noll Field, they'll don pads to start playing actual football. Even so, there are already some players making positive impressions. 

And it just so happens that a lot of them are newcomers.

Before I dive into who's looked great and who hasn't, please remember that this is training camp. Not to quote Allen Iverson or Ted Lasso's own rendition of the famous rant, but we are literally talking about practice. And, it's practice without pads thus far. So, let's be responsible and not allow positive first impressions to create an imaginary trail to a seventh Lombardi for the trophy case on South Water Street.

Now that that's out of the way ...

Some of these rookies already look like the real deal. And it's not just because of the reps we're seeing on Chuck Noll Field. It's because of the reactions from some of their teammates and their coaches.

Now, yes, when Roman Wilson is pulling in back-shoulder catches like this with ease ...

... you're going to keep your eyes glued to No. 10 when he takes the field to see if he continues to dazzle.

But there's also work that's paying off for Wilson. He told reporters that wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni was hard on him during OTAs and minicamp, and that he's seeing it bear fruit now. Over the past two days, the vast majority of targets throughout all phases of offense vs. defense have gone in Wilson's direction. 

Wilson's looked like a legitimate receiver in every way, too. His routes are crisp, he's securing the ball at the catch point and he's putting himself in position to make things happen after the catch. He's been able to line up both on the outside and in the slot, though the actual role he's going to have is yet to be determined.

One reason why Wilson is having success during the early stages of training camp: He isn't bogging himself down with the mental gymnastics that many young players force themselves to navigate, such as filling out his route tree and checking other routine boxes. Instead, he's just playing football and allowing the work done on the field and in the classroom lead him in the right way:

"Every day, every second, every meeting I go to, I'm just trying to get a little better every day," Wilson said after practice. "I don't believe anyone is perfect. Everyone can get better. That's my mindset, just getting better every day."

A lot is riding on Troy Fautanu, this year's first-round pick. If all goes according to plan, Fautanu will be one of the Steelers' book ends up front for a long time. But as expected, Fautanu hasn't been thrust into the starting five. At least, not until Sunday.

Broderick Jones dinged up his elbow during the first rep of seven shots, which gave Fautanu an opportunity to step in and make the most of first-team reps. Immediately, Fautanu made an impact. 

On a play in which Justin Fields felt pressure, backpedaled and fired a scoring pass to Scotty Miller, Fautanu stifled T.J. Watt in his tracks.

Yes, that T.J. Watt. The best defensive player on the planet. (I don't care what PFF says).

"It was an opportunity, and I feel like I made the most of it," Fautanu said. "I have to clean up some things. I can’t false start, things like that, things I can control. I’m hard on myself, so things like that overshadow some of the other things I did today. Hopefully, I’ll fix that come next week."

Now, pads aren't on yet, but there's still plenty of physicality up front during this seven shot or 11v11 drills. Watt's not going to take it easy on the rookie.

As for Fautanu, when I asked Saturday how he's trying to make the most of the reps he's given before the dial gets turned up to 11 with pads on, he said, "Honestly, I’m just treating it like I do have pads on."

Well, that's clear to see now. That was one of those reps, as Roman's done with his opportunities, that makes you keep an extra eye on him. And, as Jones was limited throughout the remainder of practice, Fautanu held his own. His footwork and athleticism were both on display, and he was never beaten in pass protection. That's all a player can do in such circumstances. It's a process that requires patience.

As he said, the only mistake for Fautanu was a false start later in practice, in which the rookie was made to run a lap -- something that's been instituted this summer for any player that commits a pre-snap penalty. But, that was the only mistake. And that's as encouraging as it gets for a player with high expectations.

I'd be remiss to not mention Payton Wilson, who's having a terrific camp thus far. One thing I keep seeing and hearing is the reactions from his teammates. In just chatting with a few players, they all have an almost identical reaction: 

"He's ... just a beast."

Payton's the first guy on the field every day. Mainly, that's just a routine for him as he says it's part of the way he gets his body ready for practice. But, whatever he's doing, it's working. He's making everything look easy. And, with the first-team reps he's earning alongside Patrick Queen, he's looking like a guy who belongs by making plays, such as stripping Pat Freiermuth for a fumble during Sunday's practice.

Free-agent and other veteran additions are making noise, too. Queen looks every bit of a star linebacker that's going to play all three downs. He looks like he's been playing in the middle of this defense for a long time, and his closing speed to the flat and sidelines is already on full display.

But another newcomer that's having a heck of a camp thus far is Donte Jackson, who was the asset the Steelers acquired when they created a huge void at receiver by parting ways with Diontae Johnson. Jackson had a great rep in the first day of practice last Thursday when he blanketed George Pickens for a pass breakup, but he's followed that with consistently competitive reps. And on Sunday, he was rewarded by being gifted the first interception of camp on a miscommunication on offense:

"That’s what I’ve been known for my whole time in this league,” Jackson said. “That’s what I’ve always been doing, making plays, getting around the ball, covering the best guys."

Should Jackson return to the form he was in a few years ago, he could give the Steelers a dangerous duo at cornerback alongside Joey Porter Jr.:

"Both of us love the game. Both of us love to compete," Jackson said. "You can pretty much get both of us to do anything when it comes to the term of football -- covering, zone, man, getting hands on the ball. We're one in the same when it comes to how we attack the position and how we attack the role."

Both rookies and veteran newcomers alike making such a large impact this early could do wonders for this team. It makes the work done over the offseason mean that much more if players such as Roman Wilson, Fautanu, Payton Wilson and Jackson keep doing what they're doing, especially if others follow along, as well.

As Freiermuth said to me as he came off the field, "All we have to do is stay healthy and we have a shot."

That's it. That's the belief that's creeping around, even though it's only July and the quarterback in "pole position" hasn't fully practiced yet. It's also early, but things sure feel a bit different this summer, and the new guys are a big reason for it.