LATROBE, Pa. – Saturday was a day to even some scores.
After two installments of backs-on-backers where the defense had the advantage because the drill simulated rushing the passer, Saturday's version had linebackers in coverage all over the field vs. the same teammates they had been running over.
Kenneth Gainwell, who had his hands full blocking ILB Payton Wilson, showed some of the quickness and reliable hands that allowed him to catch the 102 passes for 371 yards that were good for 37 first downs during 66 games over 4 seasons in Philadelphia. On the one rep vs. Gainwell where Wilson got a hand on the ball to break up the pass, the NFL official working the drill flagged him for pass interference.
"He's good," said Coach Mike Tomlin about Gainwell. "He's good in the backfield, he's good coming out of the backfield. He's a good route runner. He's a good outside-zone runner. He's got a well-rounded game, and that's one of the reasons why we were excited about acquiring him."
Rookie Kaleb Johnson, who had lost three straight reps to ILB Malik Harrison during the first practice in pads last Wednesday, could have been scored 2-0 vs. Harrison in the receiving version of the drill.
If there was a defensive standout in the drill, it was S Quindell Johnson, who broke up a pass to TE Connor Heyward and intercepted a pass intended for TE Kevin Foelsch.
TE Darnell Washington, who had been one of the offense's stars of the blocking versions of backs-on-backers, got away from Quindell Johnson to make a catch in stride and turn upfield, but he flagged him for offensive pass interference.
"We had a lot of spirited competitive work (Friday) night. It's good to challenge them in this way, to come back out (on Saturday afternoon) and have to perform on a short turnaround," said Tomlin. "It kind of mirrors some of the things that happen during our journey during the season. Sometimes there are short weeks and so forth, and so we just wanted to challenge the group to bring the energy today to compete.
"We rested some veteran guys, but it's a component of team development to rest the veterans while clearing the runway for some guys who could utilize additional reps. And so I was really pleased with some of the additional reps distributed to some of the younger guys, and then what the younger guys were able to do with them. It's important that they were in really good shape to position themselves to do that, and we're seeing signs of some of those things. It's a daily process, and it's fragile this time of year."
7-Shots
With Aaron Rodgers among those players given the day off, Mason Rudolph took the snaps with the first-team offense.
Rudolph's first pass was incomplete after he surveyed the whole field and could find no one open. On the next play, Rudolph lofted a pass diagonally to the far right corner of the end zone to Washington, who made a fingertip catch and got his feet down for the touchdown. Rudolph's last play was an incomplete pass intended for TE Pat Freiermuth, with ILB Cole Holcomb in coverage.
Will Howard was the next quarterback on the field. His first pass was intended for WR Ben Skowronek and was defended by CB Beanie Bishop. On the next play, Howard completed a quick slant to WR Brandon Johnson for a touchdown, and at that point the score was 3-2 in favor of the defense.
QB Skylar Thompson came on for the final two plays. His first attempt was to TE Kevin Foelsch in a tight window over the middle that was incomplete, and the final play of the drill was an incomplete pass for WR Max Hurleman. That gave the defense a 5-2 victory.
Observations
• Among the veterans given the day off were Rodgers, Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Darius Slay, and DK Metcalf. Jalen Ramsey was dressed and took part in some drills but not others.
• TE Darnell Washington continues to have impressive practices and impressive drills within those practices. In addition to backs-on-backers on Wednesday and during Friday Night Lights when he stoned every pass-rusher he faced, and then that sweet catch and toe-tap for a touchdown in Saturday's 7-Shots, he also caught a touchdown pass in an 11-on-11 red zone drill that concluded the day's practice.
• CB James Pierre had a nice day. In a WR/DB one-on-one period, he had two interceptions, and then in a pass-under-pressure period he broke up a pass.
• The Steelers will be back in full pads for Sunday's 1:55 p.m. practice, which is also Family Day. Historically, Tomlin has scheduled a lot of competitive drills on Family Day, because he correctly assumes players do not want to be embarrassed with their family members watching from the sideline.
TOMLIN'S INJURY UPDATE
"Got a lot of bumps and bruises associated with this process, but we've also got some guys who could be working their way back. DT Esezi Otomewo could work his way back to us very soon, maybe tomorrow. TE DJ Thomas-Jones, same thing. C Ryan McCollum, same thing. CB Joey Porter, same thing. We've got some guys with some soft tissue injuries who could be more than a few days, like CB Corey Trice and OT Calvin Anderson, and so we'll just march it day by day and keep working those who are available to us and try to work hard and smart. DT Keeanu Benton and WR Calvin Austin can be characterized as day-to-day. You should see those guys out here pretty soon."
