LATROBE, Pa. - A breakdown of Practice No. 13 at Saint Vincent College:
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WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN:** The Steelers were forced indoors and did what they could in a college gymnasium because of persistent and at times heavy rain.
"We got rained out this afternoon but that didn't stop us from coming in here and making some necessary corrections," head coach Mike Tomlin said of the Steelers' first collective response to Friday night's 30-17, preseason-opening loss to Detroit. "Often times when you slow down on the activity it increases the communication. And that's good, the giving and receiving of information, whether it's coach to player or player to player.
"I thought we had a productive outing in here."
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, likewise, wasn't displeased with the work the Steelers were able to get in indoors.
"For us, it's a chance to really get the mental side of the game going," Haley said. "It gives us an advantage mentally to really go though assignments, adjustments and all those types of things."
SEVEN SHOTS: This version was much less competitive in the indoor setting (the pass "rush," for example, consisted of players taking one or two steps and then pulling up).
QB Ben Roethlisberger hit conversion passes to WR Markus Wheaton, TE Jesse James and TE David Johnson. Roethlisberger also successfully executed a read-option keeper by pulling the ball back from RB Le'Veon Bell and then darting around the right end.
QB Landry Jones hit Johnson, RB Le'Veon Bell and TE Paul Lang for conversions.
In all instances the level of resistance was debatable as the offense tried to move a few feet on the hardwood as opposed to a couple of yards on a field.
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WELCOME BACK:** Wheaton was joined by LB Bud Dupree, LB Ryan Shazier and CB Artie Burns among players who took "reps," such as they were, after sitting out the Lions game.
OT Marcus Gilbert apparently had the day off (the first-team offensive line included LT Alejandro Villanueva and RT Ryan Harris).
OT Jerald Hawkins and LB Anthony Chickillo also didn't participate.
OG/C Chris Hubbard played some tackle, as he had against the Lions.
MEDICAL FILE: "Hawkins has a shoulder," Tomlin said. "That shoulder's going to be evaluated. I don't know how long he's going to be out or what that process could be. We're hopeful that a number of people with the soft-tissue type of injuries associated with camp continue to work themselves back into the fold this week, guys like Burns and Dupree within that group. Chickillo hurt his ankle during the game. (DL) L.T. Walton, with tightness in his back, Jarvis Jones, and others, hopefully we get some of these guys back."
AUDIBLES: "I like to call it a natural bone. Sometimes, God's with them, gave them a day today. We worked above the neck as opposed to below the neck. We find ways to make it productive for them individually and collectively." - Tomlin on the rain.
