DK: The conviction of Allar's throws is something to see
It's a pitcher thing, the whole concept of conviction behind a throw. At least that's where I picked it up. Baseball in the spring. Bradenton, Florida.
It came to mind again in, of all settings, the Steelers' opening day of mandatory minicamp on this sunsplashed Tuesday on the South Side, in studying Drew Allar: He'd step back, survey the scene and, if he'd like what he saw, he'd craft a smooth and successful result.
If he didn't like what he saw ...
"Yeah, it wasn't the same, huh?" the kid would respond to something I'd ask on that subject, beaming a bit sheepishly, as part of our extensive one-on-one following the team's two-hour practice. "I know that, when I've been at my best, whether it was at Penn State or even since I've been here, there's a little something extra that you feel before you let the ball go."
Part of our talk:
Don't bypass the big red button up there. He's worth it.
That's as far as I'll go, for real. These were light drills, scarcely any contact, all-vanilla schematics and, above all, pressure-free. So basically, on passing plays, they can be condensed to the simple art of throwing and catching. And what I watch of Allar's throwing was that, when he'd appear comfortable and confident before any release, that baby'd zip right where it needed to be with an almost effortless ease. As if he'd been doing it since rolling out of the womb.
It's something to see.
Kinda like what that No. 8 can still do, even at age 42.
"I mean, that's Aaron Rodgers, man," Allar would say. "But yeah, you can see it. Every throw. He knows where he wants it to go, how he wants it to get there, what he expects to happen."
And for Allar?
"I've been there. I'll get there again."
GREG MACAFEE / DKPS
Alex Highsmith goes through a drill Tuesday on the South Side.
• My goodness, Rodgers' arm is still there. Of any criticism, including my own, that can be made of bringing him back, it can't be based on anything related to how he throws.
• I want to have a stronger reaction to the four-year, $100 million extension the team signed with Nick Herbig a couple hours after practice -- three players for two positions, committing nearly $80 million to the edge rusher position, etc. -- but I'd much rather wait to learn more about the Steelers' broader outlook there. Feels fair.
• There's this, though: All three of these guys, including T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, were going to be here regardless. All that's changed in the past 24 hours is Herbig's contract status. And if Omar Khan's got the cap space to clear it through 2026 -- he does -- then the only real issue would be how Patrick Graham can utilize/rotate all three. It's been done.
• Joey Porter's going to get paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaid, and it'll be markedly more than Herbig. He was well within his rights in telling us on this day, "I feel like I've been an elite guy since I've been in this league. I'm happy that I'm getting the respect I feel like I'm owed." Including, I'll add, within our own city. Ideally, anyway.
• Nothing changed about any of the positioning of players on any offensive depth chart, as compared to OTAs. Quarterbacks, the line, wide receivers ... all the same. It's the firmest sign to date that Mike McCarthy's plan will stick through the start out at Saint Vincent. Which means it'll be, at quarterback, Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason Rudolph and Allar. On the line, left to right, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook. At wide receiver, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman and Germie Bernard.
• I, for one, eagerly look forward to the 2026 edition of Metcalf. All I'll say for now.
• McCarthy didn't blink when asked about secondary coach Joe Whitt's striking comparison a week ago of Jalen Ramsey to Charles Woodson within the scope of this defense, and I loved it: "Jalen has the same ability. He's a special piece to our defense. He can play nickel, he can play corner, he can play dime, and he can also play safety. I'm really looking forward to working with him. But yeah, I can see exactly why Joe says that. That's an excellent comparison."
• McCarthy, on Myles Garrett leaving the AFC North, with a laugh: "I'm all for it."
• Thanks for reading my football coverage. More to come following Day 2.
THE ASYLUM
DK: The conviction of Allar's throws is something to see
It's a pitcher thing, the whole concept of conviction behind a throw. At least that's where I picked it up. Baseball in the spring. Bradenton, Florida.
It came to mind again in, of all settings, the Steelers' opening day of mandatory minicamp on this sunsplashed Tuesday on the South Side, in studying Drew Allar: He'd step back, survey the scene and, if he'd like what he saw, he'd craft a smooth and successful result.
If he didn't like what he saw ...
"Yeah, it wasn't the same, huh?" the kid would respond to something I'd ask on that subject, beaming a bit sheepishly, as part of our extensive one-on-one following the team's two-hour practice. "I know that, when I've been at my best, whether it was at Penn State or even since I've been here, there's a little something extra that you feel before you let the ball go."
Part of our talk:
Don't bypass the big red button up there. He's worth it.
That's as far as I'll go, for real. These were light drills, scarcely any contact, all-vanilla schematics and, above all, pressure-free. So basically, on passing plays, they can be condensed to the simple art of throwing and catching. And what I watch of Allar's throwing was that, when he'd appear comfortable and confident before any release, that baby'd zip right where it needed to be with an almost effortless ease. As if he'd been doing it since rolling out of the womb.
It's something to see.
Kinda like what that No. 8 can still do, even at age 42.
"I mean, that's Aaron Rodgers, man," Allar would say. "But yeah, you can see it. Every throw. He knows where he wants it to go, how he wants it to get there, what he expects to happen."
And for Allar?
"I've been there. I'll get there again."
GREG MACAFEE / DKPS
Alex Highsmith goes through a drill Tuesday on the South Side.
• My goodness, Rodgers' arm is still there. Of any criticism, including my own, that can be made of bringing him back, it can't be based on anything related to how he throws.
• I want to have a stronger reaction to the four-year, $100 million extension the team signed with Nick Herbig a couple hours after practice -- three players for two positions, committing nearly $80 million to the edge rusher position, etc. -- but I'd much rather wait to learn more about the Steelers' broader outlook there. Feels fair.
• There's this, though: All three of these guys, including T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, were going to be here regardless. All that's changed in the past 24 hours is Herbig's contract status. And if Omar Khan's got the cap space to clear it through 2026 -- he does -- then the only real issue would be how Patrick Graham can utilize/rotate all three. It's been done.
• Joey Porter's going to get paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaid, and it'll be markedly more than Herbig. He was well within his rights in telling us on this day, "I feel like I've been an elite guy since I've been in this league. I'm happy that I'm getting the respect I feel like I'm owed." Including, I'll add, within our own city. Ideally, anyway.
• Nothing changed about any of the positioning of players on any offensive depth chart, as compared to OTAs. Quarterbacks, the line, wide receivers ... all the same. It's the firmest sign to date that Mike McCarthy's plan will stick through the start out at Saint Vincent. Which means it'll be, at quarterback, Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason Rudolph and Allar. On the line, left to right, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook. At wide receiver, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman and Germie Bernard.
• I, for one, eagerly look forward to the 2026 edition of Metcalf. All I'll say for now.
• McCarthy didn't blink when asked about secondary coach Joe Whitt's striking comparison a week ago of Jalen Ramsey to Charles Woodson within the scope of this defense, and I loved it: "Jalen has the same ability. He's a special piece to our defense. He can play nickel, he can play corner, he can play dime, and he can also play safety. I'm really looking forward to working with him. But yeah, I can see exactly why Joe says that. That's an excellent comparison."
• McCarthy, on Myles Garrett leaving the AFC North, with a laugh: "I'm all for it."
• Thanks for reading my football coverage. More to come following Day 2.
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