Wednesday, May 28

Feeling right at home: DeShon Elliott is with his fourth team since entering the NFL in 2018, and in his second year with the Steelers, the hard-hitting safety feels right at home.

And now, all he wants to do is keep working hard for those who made him feel at home.

"I can definitely improve my game all around," said Elliott. "I did a pretty decent job of tackling, but I've got to get the ball more. I've got to be a bigger leader for this defense. Making sure we're all on our Ps and Qs.

"All I can do is thank God for the position that (Coach) Mike T(omlin) has given me, the opportunity to play this game. Because I've been to a lot of places but it's the only place where I feel like home, so I appreciate them so much for the opportunity."

That feeling of being at home is something that Elliott can't measure. It's something that touches him deeply, not just words, but deep feelings.

"You walk in the building, and honestly, it's hard to describe the feeling," said Elliott, showing in his eyes how sincerely he means it. "Just knowing that when a coach talks to you, he's not talking to you just to check a box. He's talking to you because he actually cares.

"If I'm talking to Mike T, it's about my family or the things I have going on at home, like my dad. They've reached out to try to help me with that. It feels like something different for me.

"I really love being here."

Elliott signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason. He made an immediate impact, starting 14 of the 15 games he appeared in, and finishing the season with 108 tackles, 73 of them solo stops, five tackles for a loss, six passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Now as he prepares for his second season with the Steelers, he knows there is more he can, and wants to do, being comfortable in the defense.

"It slowed down a lot probably like midway through (last) season," said Elliott. "Being able to be a Swiss Army knife, an interchangeable part where whatever they need me to play, I'll play it.

"And coming in, knowing this is my family, knowing that they want me here, they love me here. Being able play free and be myself. That's the biggest thing, me being able to be myself."

Ready to do his part: Cornerback Darius Slay was all smiles on Wednesday after the Steelers OTA practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, happy to be out there for his first day with his new team despite the miserable weather conditions.

"It was a great day, a great day, except for the weather," said Slay with a smile. "Other than that, it was a great day just learning and being around the guys, doing my best to help with whatever needs to be done.

"It was important for me to be here. Just trying to get ahead and learn as much as I can, and then work with the guys. So, it's got to be a coordination in the back end.

"It's a great opportunity for me to get to learn and meet new friends, meet new guys, meet new teammates, get a great chance with Joey (Porter Jr.) and help him develop. He can help me develop more."

Slay was signed by the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent in March, coming off a Super Bowl Championship season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He knows what it takes to be a part of a Super Bowl team, and that is part of the reason the 13-year veteran is taking part in OTAs.

"This is where championship football starts," said Slay. "I just came off the Super Bowl, and everybody's got to buy in, and this is the type of time that needs to be brought in. I know guys have families and stuff, I've got one as well, but if you want to be a champion, there's some stuff you've got to sacrifice. So, this is one of the jobs I want to sacrifice, which is coming here, being on time, being present, letting guys see my face, and let them know that it's important to me to be here, and I'm here to win."

Slay can be a strong voice of experience in the secondary, along with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, coming in with a resume that is impressive. He was a First-Team Associated Press All-Pro selection in 2017, a six-time Pro Bowl selection (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) and a starter for the Eagles Super Bowl LIX championship team.

Now, he brings that experience and more to the Steelers defense, with the ability to help younger players, something he welcomes as he gets to know them.

"I just kind of come out and be myself, hang around, laugh, giggle, play around, talk to them," said Slay. "I'm one of the guys that they know I'm going to talk to you. I'm not afraid for you to wait and come talk to me, I'll come invade your space a little bit. So, it's just learning each other and understanding. And that's how you become a better teammate and that's how you understand each other on the field.

"It's a great opportunity for me. I'm blessed and fortunate to play for 13 years, so I'm thankful for that. I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach younger guys, to help them try to reach that type of 13 years because I want everybody to be successful. I'd like to take that on my shoulder because it's a great opportunity."

Porter's learning more: In his rookie season, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. worked opposite veteran and future Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson. Last season, his running mate at cornerback was veteran Donte Jackson.

This season, for a third-straight year the Steelers will have a new cornerback starting opposite Porter, as veteran Darius Slay was signed in the offseason to hold down that job.

Each one of those players has carried something a little different to the table opposite Porter, and he believes what he can add from each player will help him in the long run become the best player he can be.

"Third year, I'm looking to take that next step. I want to be one of the best in the league, if not the best," Porter said Wednesday on the second day of the Steelers OTA sessions. "I know I've got to put in the work. That's the goal I'm chasing."

It's a goal Slay, 34, could help him achieve. Fresh off of winning a Super Bowl last season with the Eagles, Slay brings a different skill set to the table that, if Porter can learn from him, could help differentiate him from other top corners around the NFL. What is that skill set?

"He gets the ball," Porter said of Slay, who has 28 career interceptions and has averaged 13 pass breakups per season over his 12-year career. "In his Detroit tape, he was a great man-coverage guy. He still is. But he's also throughout the years been a savvy vet playing off (coverage). That's another thing I want to pick his brain on, just being a complete corner."

Porter has recorded one interception in each of his first two NFL seasons and has 17 pass breakups, including 10 last season. But he also had 12 accepted penalties against him last season, which led all NFL defensive backs.

"I feel like there were a lot of things I did well, but there were some little things," Porter said of his second season. "Clean up the penalties. That's the main thing for me. I looked at the tape. It's not as bad as it seemed. It's just little things I need to work on."

Five of those penalties came in one game. Overall, his second season was still very effective. He allowed a passer rating on passes thrown in his direction of just 82.7, well below the league average. Last season, the Steelers were breaking in three new starters in the secondary, with Jackson joining the team, as well as safety De'Shon Elliott and nickel cornerback Beanie Bishop.

Now, with Slay being the only newcomer in the group, Porter feels the secondary is ready to take a big step forward, which is saying something for a team that was tied for third in the NFL with 17 interceptions a year ago.

"We're all looking forward to this year," Porter said. "We all know what we need to work on. We're all excited to come back and see if we can correct our wrongs and play the way we need."

- Blog entry by Dale Lolley

Left, right, left: The Steelers drafted Broderick Jones 14th overall in 2023 to be their left tackle eventually if not immediately, but he wound up seeing the vast majority of his playing time on the right side as a rookie and as a second-year player last season.

OTAs, thus, are providing for Jones a welcomed opportunity to do some much-needed adjusting.

"The first few days have been alright," Jones maintained following OTA No. 2 today. "I'm just glad to get back out here with the guys, working on my techniques being back on the left side. So just trying to get back used to everything and just getting that second-hand nature back with everything that's going on over there, making sure everything's right in my head, not thinking I'm still on the right side.

"This is a great time for me to just keep building on what I've been doing all offseason, my whole life, really, and continue to just get better."

Jones had been a left tackle at the University of Georgia.

"When they initially moved me to right tackle and I played it for so long, and then they tried to make me, like, the swing tackle, it was kinda funky," Jones continued. "But I knew I would be going back to left (tackle), so this offseason I just tried to focus on nothing but the left side and just continue to work that way just to try and get back the feel of the position.

"Confidence is always high. Being back on the left I feel like it's a bigger boost for me just because I've been used to playing on the left side. Being out here going against people like (outside linebacker) Alex (Highsmith) and Nick (Herbig), it really helps with the confidence level. When you're able to block guys like that you feel like you can do it at any level versus anybody."

For Jones, the biggest challenge associated with his switch back to the left side has been making the necessary mental adjustments.

"It's just like flipping the plays in my head," he said. "Some of our plays, they're flip-flopped backwards so you hear them and they might be going one way but it may be called the other way, so staying locked in with the plays and just making sure you know them. You know the plays, you can play at 100 percent."

As Jones reacquaints himself with left tackle, 2024 No. 1 pick Troy Fautanu is bouncing back on the right side. Fautanu started at right tackle last Sept. 15 in Denver but a knee injury wiped out almost all of his rookie season.

"Troy's good," Jones reported. "They tried not to push him too much because he's still trying to work his way back but Troy's looking amazing."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Tuesday, May 27

Back at it: It was back to work for the Steelers on Tuesday, with the first day of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) taking place at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

OTAs aren't mandatory, but that didn't matter to linebacker Patrick Queen.

He wanted to be there.

"I think it's really important to get to meet new teammates, new players in new positions, new calls, new schemes, new things that you're putting in right now," said Queen. "So, I think it is important to be here if you can be here. A lot of people are dealing with a lot of stuff that we might not know about or stuff that we do know about, and they've just got to take care of it. So, I think it's important in all facets to be here, but also focus on yourself at the same time."

There was a large turnout of players on hand for Day 1, something that didn't go unnoticed by Queen.

"I think we've got mostly everybody that's going to be starting on defense," said Queen. "So, that's always huge to have those guys here. And like I said, we've got a lot of new stuff that we're doing, a lot people in different places, a lot of new schemes. So, it's definitely exciting to be here right now."

In addition to new faces, one change for Queen is working closer with fellow linebacker Payton Wilson. Last year it was Elandon Roberts who lined up alongside Queen. This year he is already seeing more of Wilson with Roberts departing via free agency.

"We've got young guys coming in with Jack (Sawyer) off the edge," said Queen. "We got some new corners; we've got new safeties. Payton now alongside me. So that's going to be fun. Offensively, haven't gotten to see too much of the new guys on offense, mostly handling my business on defense, but I think we got a lot of key pieces on the scene."

One thing Queen loves, is he is now on the scene for his second season. While he has a new position coach in inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley, unlike last year when there was a learning curve for him, adapting to a new team, new scheme, and honestly, new everything, this year, it's old hat.

"I'm actually looking forward to going throughout this offseason without this being all brand new," said Queen. "Being able to have some familiarity while you go through this entire team development process, it's a little bit better this time.

"I've still I got a new coach. A few new people on defense, nothing crazy. But still just getting comfortable with the new stuff that we're doing right now, just getting comfortable with the coach, how he wants things done, the way he wants us to play. It's just mostly the same fundamentals, but new little nuances here and there. So just getting used to all that stuff right now."

On hand Day 1: A player who could have easily been given a pass on being at Day 1 of OTAs is defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.

Entering his 15th season, Heyward has definitely been there, done that on the OTA front.

But he was there with his teammates working on Tuesday.

"I am going through the process, going through the process," said Heyward. "It's not anything crazy. I wanted to get out here. I'll get back to the offseason stuff, what I've been doing and training, but it's fun to mix it up."

Heyward even spent extra time on the field after practice, working with the other defensive linemen to just get a little bit more work in.

"These are things I practice every day," said Heyward. "So, if I get them in practice or I get them after practice, it doesn't matter. It's just sharpening the tools."

No doubt Heyward is the veteran presence on the line, his participation a sign to the younger players of what the offseason program is all about.

It's something he learned from players before him, guys like Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel, and now he is the shining example for rookies like Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black.

"It's early in the process, but I think it comes down to communicating the right way, getting on good footing, seeing what their questions are and then going from there," said Heyward. "I think learning from those guys before me, one, you've got to be receptive to it. I think Derrick, Yahya, they've all been receptive. It's the first day, but that's half the battle. And then questions will come around, just being a resource for them early on in their careers, trying to get them ready for the season."

As Heyward stressed, it is only the first day of OTAs, but from what he has seen of Harmon, the team's No. 1 draft pick, he likes.

"I think he moves well, plays with his hands," said Heyward. "Definitely gets on the edge a lot more than a lot of younger guys. I think it's just computing that to our scheme and getting guys caught up.

"He's definitely capable of playing this year. It's just getting caught up, dealing with the rookie wall as it comes about. But I think he's positioned himself well to contribute."

Heyward said it's not to the point where it's 'about passing the torch,' but rather making sure the young players are up to speed so they can make an impact.

"It's about how can we make this team the best it can be," said Heyward. "It's not about holding secrets or anything. It's about making sure we're all growing at a pace that by week one, we're ready to kick this thing up. I'll pass the torch when I have to, but I think the main thing is making sure that we're a strong unit that from top to bottom we can compete with anybody."

Taking care of himself: Nickelback Beanie Bishop knows if he does things the right way, there is a spot for him in the starting lineup when the season rolls around. But he also knows in football anything can happen.

"It's my spot right now, but you've got to always work and keep that competitive edge to remain with the one team," said Bishop. "I wasn't drafted at all. So, who knows. We're still in the offseason. They still could bring a guy in. But I always have that fire underneath me."

One thing is for sure, if the No. 1 spot is his when the season rolls around, it's because he has earned it on and off the field.

Bishop spent a good portion of the offseason getting himself in different shape, focusing on building muscle for strength.

"I lost a lot of fat, just changing my diet," said Bishop. "It was a long process too. Especially with my baking stuff. Guys were asking how do you do that with the baking? I was bringing a lot of the sweets here, cutting back on fried foods and making a lot of stuff myself. I was meal-prepping a lot. I got a smart scale at home. I even got in a routine of a breakfast that I eat every morning, just trying make sure that the calorie intake and stuff stays the same.

"Right now, since we're training more and started OTAs, the calorie intake goes up a little bit."

He said it: Receiver Calvin Austin III said he has made big strides heading into his fourth season, on the field and just with his overall approach.

"Just having that confidence that anytime I step on the field, no one can guard me," said Austin. "Just confidence in my abilities, confidence in my teammates, confidence in the things that I say, confidence in the way that I work and my routes, just overall confidence.

"I just want to go out there and be ready to play ball for real."

Welcome aboard: The Steelers signed receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig, who immediately got to work on Day 1 of OTAs.

Lemonious-Craig spent two seasons at the University of Arizona (2023-24), after transferring from Colorado, where he spent three seasons (2020-22).

For his college career, he appeared in 47 games, finishing with 79 receptions for 965 yards, a 12.2-yard average, and nine touchdowns.

In two seasons at Arizona he appeared in 24 games, pulling in 45 receptions for 468 yards, a 10.4-yard average, and four touchdowns.

While at Colorado, he played in 23 games, finishing with 34 receptions for 497 yards, a 14.6-yard average, and five touchdowns.

Roman approach: It was only the first of six scheduled Organized Team Activities on the South Side, but to second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson it might as well have been the regular-season opener at the New York Jets.

"Really, my goals for the season, get better every single day, treat every day like it's game day, every practice like it's game day," Wilson maintained.

The specifics applied toward that end include "come prepared with questions to ask coaches after practice," Wilson continued. "Just be mentally, physically locked in every, single day and just give it my all, give it all I got every, single day so I can get better the next day and be ready for whenever my time is."

The depth chart at wide receiver in the wake of the George Pickens trade suggests opportunity might come knocking for Wilson sooner rather than later.

"Everything I just said you've got to have some urgency with it," Wilson insisted. "You've got to get going, and I'm ready for it."

Wilson never did get going a season ago as a third-round draft pick out of Michigan. He suffered an injury on the first day in pads during training camp at Saint Vincent College and wound up appearing in just one game (a 32-13 win on Oct. 13 at Las Vegas).

Wilson wasn't targeted and ended up playing just five offensive snaps as a rookie. He had accounted for 48 receptions, 789 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches in 2023 at Michigan.

"I don't want to think too much about last year," Wilson said. "But I definitely learned a lot and it definitely helped to shape who I am this upcoming season."

Wilson also has a new veteran from whom he can learn this season it Metcalf, who had already managed to make an impression on Wilson during the early stages of the Steelers' offseason program prior to OTAs.

"I just like watching him," Wilson acknowledged. "He's a phenomenal athlete, great guy. I like the way he practices. I like the way he finishes his routes and how he conducts his business."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta