• Aaron Rodgers looked really good. The quick game was working very well against the defense, even in seven shots Rodgers threw touchdowns to DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth, both on quick outs. The one to Metcalf was on a quick out to the left side and, man, it was perfectly timed and perfectly placed.
"That's what I anticipate," Mike Tomlin said after practice. "I'm not going to throw a pep rally."
Rodgers also had a very nice layered pass down the right side to Calvin Austin III, coming out of a double move.
Again, don't count stats. But, the process matters. And today, the process looked very good.
• Metcalf will be imposing for a lot of defensive backs. However, I do wonder how things will work with Rodgers in a couple ways. First, Metcalf isn't the most detailed route runner. Rodgers is very detail-oriented. The quick game stuff looked good today, but still worth a closer eye. Second, Rodgers had a good ball to Metcalf during seven shots on a back shoulder fade and Metcalf couldn't haul it in. Back shoulder stuff hasn't really been Metcalf's game. Meanwhile, Rodgers pretty much invented the throw. He still likes to throw it, too. But, he needs guys he can trust to do it. It didn't work with Garrett Wilson when he was on the Jets. And since George Pickens is in Dallas, there isn't another clear option on this roster.
• We're still seeing a lot of Jalen Ramsey moving around. He's playing primarily as the nickel, but also lining up at safety in the base 3-4 defense. Also seen a good amount of him blitzing from the nickel, which he did on the second play of 11-on-11.
• The starting three on the defensive line appears to be set. Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon on the end, Keeanu Benton as the nose tackle. However, as for when they have two interior defensive linemen, Benton and Harmon are rotating when lining up next to Heyward. So, there is a bit of a position battle there brewing. And since the Steelers will be in the nickel and dime more often than anything else, it really matters.
• Brandin Echols has had a good start to camp. He hasn't been perfect, but he's competing his tail off, and he nearly had an interception of Mason Rudolph downfield if Chuck Clark didn't run into him. This is a good sign for the depth at cornerback.
• Cory Trice Jr. has also had a good first couple of days. He had a couple pass breakups today. He ran stride for stride with Robert Woods on a go route for one of them.
• Shortened practice today, so not much else to tell. However, still encouraging to see the offense look a bit more in sync.
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THE ASYLUM
Practice takeaways: Rodgers shines
Takeaways from today's practice:
• Aaron Rodgers looked really good. The quick game was working very well against the defense, even in seven shots Rodgers threw touchdowns to DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth, both on quick outs. The one to Metcalf was on a quick out to the left side and, man, it was perfectly timed and perfectly placed.
"That's what I anticipate," Mike Tomlin said after practice. "I'm not going to throw a pep rally."
Rodgers also had a very nice layered pass down the right side to Calvin Austin III, coming out of a double move.
Again, don't count stats. But, the process matters. And today, the process looked very good.
• Metcalf will be imposing for a lot of defensive backs. However, I do wonder how things will work with Rodgers in a couple ways. First, Metcalf isn't the most detailed route runner. Rodgers is very detail-oriented. The quick game stuff looked good today, but still worth a closer eye. Second, Rodgers had a good ball to Metcalf during seven shots on a back shoulder fade and Metcalf couldn't haul it in. Back shoulder stuff hasn't really been Metcalf's game. Meanwhile, Rodgers pretty much invented the throw. He still likes to throw it, too. But, he needs guys he can trust to do it. It didn't work with Garrett Wilson when he was on the Jets. And since George Pickens is in Dallas, there isn't another clear option on this roster.
• We're still seeing a lot of Jalen Ramsey moving around. He's playing primarily as the nickel, but also lining up at safety in the base 3-4 defense. Also seen a good amount of him blitzing from the nickel, which he did on the second play of 11-on-11.
• The starting three on the defensive line appears to be set. Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon on the end, Keeanu Benton as the nose tackle. However, as for when they have two interior defensive linemen, Benton and Harmon are rotating when lining up next to Heyward. So, there is a bit of a position battle there brewing. And since the Steelers will be in the nickel and dime more often than anything else, it really matters.
• Brandin Echols has had a good start to camp. He hasn't been perfect, but he's competing his tail off, and he nearly had an interception of Mason Rudolph downfield if Chuck Clark didn't run into him. This is a good sign for the depth at cornerback.
• Cory Trice Jr. has also had a good first couple of days. He had a couple pass breakups today. He ran stride for stride with Robert Woods on a go route for one of them.
• Shortened practice today, so not much else to tell. However, still encouraging to see the offense look a bit more in sync.
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