LATROBE, Pa. - Next.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown had already faced cornerback Artie Burns and then cornerback Stephon Tuitt in daily, one-on-one confrontations in training camp.
This afternoon, it was cornerback Coty Sensabaugh's turn to shadow Brown.
Brown's response was to beat Sensabaugh for two conversion/touchdown receptions in two attempts from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the "Seven Shots" drill at the outset of practice.
Sensabaugh continued to follow Brown from one side of the field to the other in 11-on-11 "tackle football" and in "pass under pressure."
The repeated attempts to defend Brown were interesting but far from defining for Sensabaugh.
The same could be said for all the good work he'd done at St. Vincent College prior to this afternoon.
A close look at the moment just before a catch is made.
"What we do in stadiums often times defines us," head coach Mike Tomlin had offered prior to practice regarding the good camp Sensabaugh has been having. "This guy's a veteran player, so I'm not overly shocked by his competence at practice.
"He's been highly competent but I'll be interested and excited to see him in game action."
SEVEN SHOTS: In addition to the two completions to Brown, Roethlisberger threw incomplete for wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the drill (safety Jordan Dangerfield had the coverage). The highlight play was cornerback William Gay reading a reverse to Smith-Schuster and making an emphatic tackle short of the goal line. Quarterback Bart Houston completed one of three passes. Wide receiver Eli Rogers had a conversion/touchdown catch. Cornerback Mike Hilton had a pass defensed. The defense won the drill, 4-3.
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MEDICAL FILE:** Quarterback Landry Jones, wide receiver Justin Hunter, wide receiver Demarcus Ayers, cornerback Cam Sutton, safety Mike Mitchell, cornerback Senquez Golson, safety Sean Davis, running back James Conner, linebacker Ryan Shazier, center Maurkice Pouncey, offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, outside linebacker William Gay, and outside linebacker Keion Adams were among those who didn't do any 11-on-11 work, either due to injury or a coach's decision.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Roethlisberger had a request for those on the sideline during work with the wide receivers. "No video, please," he said. "We're doing hand signals."
QUICK-HITTERS: Running back Fitz Toussaint had a carry for approximately 10 yards in "tackle football." … Rogers and running back Trey Williams worked on catching punts, but Williams left practice early with a left leg injury … Linebacker Tyler Matakevich intercepted quarterback Joshua Dobbs in "7-on-7." … Visitors to campus included former Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel … Wide receivers Martavis Bryant (not fully reinstated from suspension) and Sammie Coates (P.U.P. list) caught passes and received instruction from Hines Ward on the field the Steelers weren't using.
