LATROBE, Pa. _ The Steelers got down to business this afternoon.
Official business.
A crew of five men in back-and-white striped shirts visited Saint Vincent College and worked practice. Among them were Down Judge Mike Spanier, Umpire Bryan Neale and Field Judge David Meslow, who will be bringing a combined 33 years of experience into the 2019 season.
The purpose of such annual visits is to interact with players, coaches and media and provide updates on rules changes and points of emphasis.
The crew identified offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins reporting as an eligible receiver.
They signaled "good" on field goals.
And they made calls such as offside and offensive pass interference.
Head coach Mike Tomlin pretended to protest after a back-shoulder catch along the sideline by first-year wide receiver Tevin Jones on third-round cornerback Justin Layne on a well-thrown ball by quarterback Mason Rudolph.
"I'm gonna challenge that for OPI," Tomlin said, before adding "I'm just practicing."
Responded Spanier: "Be careful what you wish for."
MEDICAL FILE: Safety Sean Davis (finger), inside linebacker Mark Barron (undisclosed), linebacker JT Jones (undisclosed), linebacker Bud Dupree (undisclosed), guard Fred Johnson (undisclosed) and outside linebacker T.J. Watt (Active/PUP List, hamstring) were among those who didn't practice. Long snapper Kameron Canaday (groin) didn't finish practice.
COVER ME: Fourth-round running back Benny Snell Jr. caught passes against first-round linebacker Devin Bush on three of three 1-on-1 matchups in a pass route/coverage edition of Backs-on-'Backers. The pass rush/protection version of the drill is weighted heavily in favor of the defense (running start, no cut-blocking). In this configuration the backs and tight ends have the advantage, as there's no pass rush and the quarterback can wait as long as he cares to for the would-be pass catcher to get open.
Bush bounced back with a pass defensed that denied running back James Conner near the end of the drill.
SPLITTING THE UPRIGHTS: Kicker Chris Boswell was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts from between 32-34 yards, 2-for-2 from 39-41 yards out and hit a 52-yard effort during a kicking period. Boswell also converted from 38 yards away at the end of practice. He's 15-for-15 in camp.
Kicker Matthew Wright made five of his six attempts, including the 52-yard try. The exception was a bad snap that compelled holder Ian Berryman to collect the ball and run. Wright also was successful from 38 yards at the end of practice (he's 14-for-15 overall).
EXTRA POINTS: The offense won "Seven Shots," the practice-opening, short-yardage/two-point conversion drill, 4-3. Bush had a pass defensed against wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on the first snap but the offense converted on the next four (receptions by Smith-Schuster, wide receiver Eli Rogers, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and wide receiver James Washington). Safety Jordan Dangerfield came up with an interception on a ball that had been deflected by cornerback Cam Sutton … Rookie tight end Trevor Wood (on punts) and tight end Vance McDonald (on field goals) long snapped in Canaday's absence. McDonald is considered the back-up at the position … Wide receiver Brandon Reilly, picked up on waivers on Wednesday, made it to campus and practiced … Nose tackle Javon Hargrave was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's latest victim on a hard count (Roethlisberger has been getting the defense to jump with regularity) but another such hard count induced a false start from Johnson. "What are you doing 18?" Roethlisberger barked … The Steelers are watching cornerback Artie Burns, who continues sharing snaps with first-team cornerback Joe Haden, closely. Former Steelers cornerback William Gay, who is working with the receivers in camp, noticed what he apparently thought was a sag in Burns' enthusiasm at one juncture. "Body language, Artie," Gay encouraged. "Body language." … Defensive end Stephon Tuitt had a "sack" of Rudolph in 11-on-11 work.
Take a look at photos from the Pittsburgh Steelers 6th day of training camp

James Washington

James Conner

Mike Tomlin, Art Rooney II and Kevin Colbert

Mike Hilton and Brian Allen

Ben Roethlisberger

Cameron Heyward

Anthony Chickillo

Terrell Edmunds

David DeCastro

T.J. Watt

Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry

David DeCastro

Benny Snell Jr.

Alejandro Villanueva

Terrell Edmunds

Kevin Rader

Mason Rudolph and Ralph Webb

Terryl Austin

Diontae Spencer

Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2019 Steelers Training Camp.

Christian Scotland-Williamson

Kevin Rader

Jaylen Samuels

JuJu Smith-Schuster

James Conner

Mike Tomlin

Cameron Sutton

Devin Bush

Jaylen Samuels

Stephon Tuitt

Benny Snell Jr.

Tyler Matakevich

Jordan Dangerfield

Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2019 Steelers Training Camp.

Ralph Webb and Tyler Matakevich

Jaylen Samuels and Devin Bush

James Conner and Vince Williams

Ola Adeniyi

Devin Bush and Benny Snell Jr.

Ralph Webb and Tyler Matakevich

Mason Rudolph

Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2019 Steelers Training Camp.

Casey Sayles

Xavier Grimble and Anthony Chickillo

Jordan Dangerfield

Brian Allen

Derrek Thomas

Stephon Tuitt

Connor Sheehy

Tuzar Skipper

Steven Nelson

Artie Burns

Mike Hilton

Brian Allen

Brandon Reilly

Terrell Edmunds

Joe Haden

Artie Burns and Joe Haden

Devin Bush

Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2019 Steelers Training Camp.

Ryan Switzer and Devin Bush

Xavier Grimble

Joshua Dobbs

Jordan Dangerfield

Donte Moncrief

Pittsburgh Steelers players practice at Saint Vincent College during the 2019 Steelers Training Camp.

Justin Layne and Kevin Rader

Matthew Wright and Ian Berryman

Xavier Grimble

James Washington

Eli Rogers and Terrell Edmunds

Trey Edmunds

Ian Berryman

Trey Edmunds

Jordan Dangerfield

Ryan Switzer and Devin Bush

Trey Griffey and Marcelis Branch

Jaylen Samuels and Vince Williams

Vance McDonald

Benny Snell Jr.

James Conner and Roosevelt Nix

Steven Nelson and Xavier Grimble

Diontae Spencer and Justin Layne

Steven Nelson

Garrett Brumfield

Tyler Matakevich

James Washington and Steven Nelson

James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster

James Washington

Artie Burns and Benny Snell Jr.

Benny Snell Jr. and Jordan Dangerfield

Jaylen Samuels, Xavier Grimble, Joe Haden and Ola Adeniyi

Brandon Reilly

B.J. Finney and Javon Hargrave

JuJu Smith-Schuster

James Conner and James Washington

Garrett Brumfield and Conor Sheehy

Xavier Grimble and Vance McDonald

Garrett Brumfield

Roosevelt Nix and Eddie Faulkner

Ryan Switzer