Five thoughts after the Steelers' reporting day at training camp here at Saint Vincent College ...
• I'm gonna guess Omar Khan freaked out half the Nation with this response when asked if he's still seeking external help, specifically at WR2: "I feel really good about where our team is right now. So, to say we're out there trying to find someone, that's not the case. If an opportunity comes available, we'll look at it. But I just feel really good about our team."
My friends, there's nothing else he can say. Which is why every GM says it, except in the most glaring settings. If Khan says he's aiming to beat down every backwater bush to find WR2, he's essentially dumping on Roman Wilson, Robert Woods and any other in-house candidate before they've run a single drill.
He'll keep looking, and he'll do so at both WR2 and FS1, for that matter.
When asked if the defense might utilize Jalen Ramsey to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick, or if it'd be Juan Thornhill, Khan tellingly replied: "Yeah, we signed Juan. That's not to say we won't look to see what else is out there."
Ha! The glare!
• The term 'position-less football' comes up so often in the dialogue within this team that I couldn't have been surprised when Mike Tomlin described Ramsey's role within the defense, as well as Jonnu Smith's role within the offense, akin to being rovers. You know, three defensive backs and three tight ends, all interchangeable to a degree.
Remains to be seen how it'll unfold in execution, but I love the concept. I love anything that makes the Steelers feel a whole lot less predictable on both sides of the ball. Also, there are smart, experienced players at hand. Use that as a weapon unto itself.
• Both Khan and Tomlin lauded Fitzpatrick for his tenure in Pittsburgh, but there's no way this quote from the former could've escaped notice when asked if part of the motivation for trading Fitzpatrick was to move on from him: "Yeah, I don't know if necessarily it was moving on from Minkah. We had an opportunity to acquire two Pro Bowl players that we felt, with where we are as a team, made sense for us. I have a lot of respect for Minkah. Minkah was a great football player for a few years for us and wish him the best."
He sure was ... for a few years.
• I was somewhat surprised by Tomlin suggesting Aaron Rodgers will see fairly regular duty through training camp, calling Rodgers "a workaholic" and adding, “I think he's hardened himself over the course of his career with his attitude toward work. Certainly, I'm gonna limit him in some instances, but when I do, it's gonna be more about elevating opportunities for guys like Will Howard and less about preserving him, to be quite honest with you.”
I'm not opposed. Just somewhat surprised.
• I don't ever advise fans on what to think, what to do ... but I'll always feel comfortable making anyone feel foolish for not coming out here. Special place. Football at its purest. Unrivaled framing for it. You'll never forget it.
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THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
1:57 am - 07.24.2025Latrobe, Pa.DK: Omar's done? Oh, please
Five thoughts after the Steelers' reporting day at training camp here at Saint Vincent College ...
• I'm gonna guess Omar Khan freaked out half the Nation with this response when asked if he's still seeking external help, specifically at WR2: "I feel really good about where our team is right now. So, to say we're out there trying to find someone, that's not the case. If an opportunity comes available, we'll look at it. But I just feel really good about our team."
My friends, there's nothing else he can say. Which is why every GM says it, except in the most glaring settings. If Khan says he's aiming to beat down every backwater bush to find WR2, he's essentially dumping on Roman Wilson, Robert Woods and any other in-house candidate before they've run a single drill.
He'll keep looking, and he'll do so at both WR2 and FS1, for that matter.
When asked if the defense might utilize Jalen Ramsey to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick, or if it'd be Juan Thornhill, Khan tellingly replied: "Yeah, we signed Juan. That's not to say we won't look to see what else is out there."
Ha! The glare!
• The term 'position-less football' comes up so often in the dialogue within this team that I couldn't have been surprised when Mike Tomlin described Ramsey's role within the defense, as well as Jonnu Smith's role within the offense, akin to being rovers. You know, three defensive backs and three tight ends, all interchangeable to a degree.
Remains to be seen how it'll unfold in execution, but I love the concept. I love anything that makes the Steelers feel a whole lot less predictable on both sides of the ball. Also, there are smart, experienced players at hand. Use that as a weapon unto itself.
• Both Khan and Tomlin lauded Fitzpatrick for his tenure in Pittsburgh, but there's no way this quote from the former could've escaped notice when asked if part of the motivation for trading Fitzpatrick was to move on from him: "Yeah, I don't know if necessarily it was moving on from Minkah. We had an opportunity to acquire two Pro Bowl players that we felt, with where we are as a team, made sense for us. I have a lot of respect for Minkah. Minkah was a great football player for a few years for us and wish him the best."
He sure was ... for a few years.
• I was somewhat surprised by Tomlin suggesting Aaron Rodgers will see fairly regular duty through training camp, calling Rodgers "a workaholic" and adding, “I think he's hardened himself over the course of his career with his attitude toward work. Certainly, I'm gonna limit him in some instances, but when I do, it's gonna be more about elevating opportunities for guys like Will Howard and less about preserving him, to be quite honest with you.”
I'm not opposed. Just somewhat surprised.
• I don't ever advise fans on what to think, what to do ... but I'll always feel comfortable making anyone feel foolish for not coming out here. Special place. Football at its purest. Unrivaled framing for it. You'll never forget it.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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