Tag: Steelers 2020 training camp

After a hectic start to training camp, Steelers WR James Washington is making his presence felt

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington has noticed a night and day difference in himself so far in 2020.

Steelers receiver James Washington had a bumpy start to training camp. First, he was placed on the reserve/COVID list; then, last week, he left practice injured.

But Washington is now back at full participation, and it’s a welcomed sight.

The wide receiver focused on adjusting his stance and his jumping ability this spring, and it seems to be paying dividends at training camp.

On Saturday, the Steelers pool report reflected that Washington caught two touchdowns from Ben Roethlisberger in the final team session and made two leaping contested catches.

Washington has basketball and rigorous offseason preparation at his 26-acre farm in Texas to thank for he calls a “night-and-day difference”.

“I would say growing up I was more of a basketball player. I didn’t have the best handles, but I developed them over the years,” Washington told the media on Monday. “I played low post. I was always jumping and getting rebounds. I guess it went hand-in-hand.”

His discipline with stance and start is allowing him to come off the ball and get into routes quicker.

Washington also dropped five pounds before heading back from Texas to Pennsylvania, and it’s made all the difference.

“I feel a lot lighter out there running around,” said Washington. “I feel more explosive coming off the ball. Just being able to jump is night and day different. I feel like an all-around new person. When you shed some weight like that and lean down a little bit more, it’s all paying off.”

Gerry Dulac, who covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, made a bold statement on Twitter.

“All I can do is go out and try to get better each and every day with the offense. Get on the same page with No. 7 and earn his trust. The rest will take care of itself.”

Washington was the Steelers leading receiver in 2019 and aims to continue that success in the upcoming season.

Pittsburgh has a special group of receivers this year, with more depth and talent than they’ve had in years. All of the timing work and chemistry they’re re-developing with Ben in practice will be a sight to see come game time.

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Sudden rash of COVID positives in Steelers camp cause for ‘caution’

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of many NFL teams who had positive COVID-19 tests returned from BioReference laboratory.

Several Steelers were held out of the “under the lights” practice at Heinz Field Saturday night due to a rash of COVID-19 positives returned from BioReference testing lab.

“We had a number of guys that we held out of work or missed work today because they are caught up in COVID procedures,” Tomlin told the media Saturday. “No one to mention at this time in terms of being on the COVID list, but they are in the procedure. We are going to exercise all caution.”

While other teams who had practice scheduled for Sunday opted instead for virtual meetings, the Steelers did not have a practice scheduled.

On Sunday, Kevin Colbert released the following statement:

“On Saturday, we had six players absent from practice due to our adherence to NFL COVID-19 protocol. None of those players were required to be placed on Reserve/COVID-19 and will be returning to meetings today and practice on Monday.”

It appears the Steelers took immediate measures to confirm and/or rule out the positive tests from Saturday.

All is safe on the Steelers front.

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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says Diontae Johnson and Terrell Edmunds are day-to-day with injuries

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wrapped up Friday’s training camp with news about two of his starters.

Two standouts at Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 training camp are dealing with injuries. Mike Tomlin said in his Friday camp wrap up that wide receiver Diontae Johnson and safety Terrell Edmunds are day-to-day with minor injuries.

Johnson was spotted at practice in a wrap on his lower leg.

Injuries are expected at this point in the offseason, especially considering this is their first time practicing as a team since last season.

There is cause for concern, however. Both Johnson and Edmunds will miss out on valuable reps with no timetable to return. Wide receiver James Washington has not participated in practice since his injury on Monday, nor has guard David DeCastro or defensive lineman Chris Wormley.

Rookie offensive lineman Kevin Dotson, who injured his knee on Tuesday, has also not returned.

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Opposition beware: Steelers ILB Devin Bush is just getting started

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Devin Bush is eager to build on what was an impactful rookie season.

Transitioning from college to the NFL is an overwhelming prospect, especially when you’re a linebacker coming to a team with such a rich front seven history as the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That was Steelers inside linebacker Devin Bush in 2019.

After an un-Steeler-like move to trade up 10 spots to select Bush 10th overall, the organization had high expectations for the rookie.

Armed with his innate ability to read plays and react quickly, Bush became the first Steelers rookie to lead the team in tackles (109) since the stat began to be tracked in 1994. As a linebacker, Bush finished the season tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries (4) and sixth in interceptions (2).

In 2020, those expectations are elevated, and Bush aims to exceed them.

“Last year I came in, just went in and played and learned as things came to me,” Bush said in a Friday press conference. “But now I have a pretty good idea of what I wanna get done, where I can get better as a player to help this team win.”

Bush added that he would like to be more efficient with his movements. Based on last season, it’s clear he possesses sideline-to-sideline speed; it’s now just a matter of taking more decisive routes to the ball. 

“I’m not saying my movements were bad, but just playing in the system I played in in college and switching to another system in the league, things have to change,” said Bush. “I had to get leaner. I had to train differently. I think I’ve done a good job of that.”

Bush’s work this spring laid the groundwork for what has been a strong training camp so far.

According to the Steelers training camp pool report, Bush has been paired up with rookie running back Anthony McFarland multiple times this week. When McFarland ran a post route in a coverage drill, Bush matched him stride-for-stride before he stepped in front of a deep pass intended for McFarland and knocked the ball away.

(Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Bush batted another target away from McFarland, this time in the end zone.

The pairing of Bush and the rookie is optimal, considering they’re both speedsters. Bush ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine and McFarland the same in 2020.

“He’s learned a lot from me, and I’ve learned a lot from him,” Bush said of McFarland. “Iron sharpens iron, so we get each other ready to take those live reps and go into the game action and put it on display.”

Naturally, Bush said he feels more comfortable calling defensive signals than he did as a rookie. “Everything has slowed down for me. I’m a lot more familiar with who I’m playing with and the scheme I’m playing… Watching myself from last season and critiquing myself during the offseason, I definitely picked up the playbook easier. I am more comfortable with who I am playing with and the scheme. I have a good foundation I laid down last year I am building off of. It is going to be easier for me this year.”

Opposition beware: A “more comfortable” Devin Bush is going to make for a more nasty Devin Bush in 2020.

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Steelers TE Vance McDonald loves Ben Roethlisberger’s ‘hunger for winning a championship’

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is excited to have No. 7 back.

Everyone is thrilled to have Ben Roethlisberger back in the fold, including tight end Vance McDonald, who is entering his fourth season with the Steelers.

From the time that he arrived in Pittsburgh three years ago to now, McDonald said that he sees a different Roethlisberger — in a good way.

“The way he attacks the day is just different than I’d seen him since I got here in 2017,” McDonald said in a Tuesday post-practice press conference. “So I’m loving the leadership from him, I’m loving again just that hunger and fire. Again, I think you will notice that trickle down to the entire offense as we kind of get started rocking and rolling here. Guys are just flocking to him. The hunger is real from Ben.”

Roethlisberger wasn’t shy about proclaiming his lofty aspirations for the 2020 season. He said last week that he wants to win “Lombardis” and stressed multiple.

So, Big Ben’s voracity at training camp hasn’t surprised McDonald in the slightest.

“This is the most I’ve ever seen Ben in terms of just hunger for winning a championship,” McDonald said. “Not to say he didn’t have that in the past. I can respect that being down last season made it all the more real for him. And being able to go through a very heavy surgery for a quarterback thrower for him and to be where he is right now has made him so hungry.”

McDonald added that timing was a big issue last season with quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. He said everything changed in terms of communication and routes and what to expect. “You don’t have to focus on that with Ben.”

The tight end can visualize how much the offense will improve with their fearless leader under center.

“Objectively — remove me from the fact I’m a Steeler — but I don’t see how our offense can not be super productive and be one of the top offenses in the NFL,” said McDonald. “I think the excitement is obviously everywhere here in our building (with) the potential we know we can reach, the numbers we know we can put up.”

In McDonald’s three seasons with Pittsburgh, he’s contributed 1,071 yards on 102 receptions and eight touchdowns. He’s currently under contract through the 2021 season.

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