Category: 2023 Steelers training camp

Steelers training camp: Takeaways from Tuesday’s practice

The offense dominate seven shots on Tuesday.

With the team’s first preseason game coming up on Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time getting to work on Tuesday with a full-speed practice. Head coach Mike Tomlin has taken full advantage of these opportunities this season as the Steelers prepare to make a push into the playoffs in 2023.

Here are our takeaways from Tuesday’s practice.

Steelers LB Elandon Roberts on his physicality in backs-on-backers: ‘That’s my fastball’

Elandon Roberts brings a physical presence to the Steelers defense.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers went out shopping for new inside linebackers, they knew they didn’t have an enforcer. A physical presence in the middle of the defense who gives opposing skill players something to think about on every play.

This is a big reason the Steelers opted to sign inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. He might not be the best athlete on the field but he plays every play full out. His new team is already getting a taste of that at practice during training camp as he’s delivered some blows in backs-on-backers.

Roberts talked about his physicality and while he said those hits are his fastball, he did admit he probably took a little bit off since they were his teammates.

The Steelers listed Roberts as one of the starting inside linebackers on its first depth chart of the year.

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Is it time to worry about Steelers s Minkah Fitzpatrick?

Minkah Fitzpatrick has yet to practice in training camp.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are two weeks into training camp and the most curious thing has been the absence of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. While Fitzpatrick has been with the team and at practice every day, he has yet to participate with the team in any on-field activities.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has only spoken on the matter once, stating that Fitzpatrick’s absence is excused and with his support. No Steelers players started training camp on the PUP list so we presume this isn’t an injury issue. Fitzpatrick signed a massive new contract in 2022 so we can’t see this being contract related either.

Pittsburgh plays its first preseason game in less than a week and even if he had been practicing, it’s highly unlikely Fitzpatrick would have played. Nevertheless, there is clearly something going on and while we hope whatever it is, Fitzpatrick gets it sorted, we have to wonder how this will impact the team if at all.

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Cast your vote and let us know if it is time to worry about Fitzpatrick.

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Steelers training camp: Injuries open the door for S Tre Norwood

Tre Norwood has had a very strong training camp.

Perhaps the biggest loss of the Pittsburgh Steelers offseason was safety Terrell Edmunds. Edmunds had never been an elite player but his steady and consistent production often went under the radar and made him underappreciated.

With Edmunds gone, the Steelers plan on leaning on a combination of Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal to fill the role. However, both players are both dealing with injuries. This is in addition to Minkah Fitzpatrick who continues to sit out with no explanation why.

But these absences have given Tre Norwood an excellent opportunity to get a ton of first-team reps. Norwood came into the league from the University of Oklahoma with a reputation for making big plays and big mistakes but this offseason he has been much more consistent and has shown a great deal of growth in run defense and pass defense. If Neal and/or Kazee can’t go, we are very confident that Norwood could be the starter next to Fitzpatrick this season.

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Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has the secret to improving the offense: ‘Starting fast’

Diontae Johnson says the offense is looking much better so far in training camp.

There is nothing more frustrating than when the Pittsburgh Steelers get the football first and fail to come away with points. It was an all-too-common occurrence, not just last season but over the last several.

But according to wide receiver Diontae Johnson, getting off to a faster start is something the team has been working on in training camp and he believes they are getting much better at it.

Last season, when the Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett hooked up with running back Najee Harris for a touchdown in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was the first time in 14 games the team had scored a touchdown on its opening drive. It tied the league’s longest streak of futility. Getting out and putting points on the board early has to be a top priority and it’s great to hear Johnson address it. This defense is too good to be forced to have to hold off offenses for drive after drive while the offense is stuck in neutral.

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Steelers rookie Broderick Jones compared Tomlin to his college coach: ‘Coach T is more mellow’

Mike Tomlin is mellow compared to Kirby Smart, according to Steelers rookie OT.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted former Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. When it comes to drafting players from the SEC, especially Georgia and Alabam, the reputation is that when they get to the NFL, the intensity is less at practice than what it was in college.

This appears to be true from Jones standpoint. When Jones spoke to the media during training camp, he was asked to compare what practices are like between Georgia and Pittsburgh as well as his coaches. Jones

“Coach Smart is always full go, all the time,” Jones said. “Coach T is just a little bit more laid back.”

I’m not sure how a comment like this will sit well with Tomlin. He prides himself on his intensity and energy at practices but it sounds like Smart has set the bar and Tomlin’s not quite there. Obviously, when it comes to pushing young guys fighting for a chance to go to the NFL, you can go much harder than pushing millionaires who have already made it.

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