LATROBE, Pa. — The scene was picturesque as the Steelers’ final practice at training camp began. The fans were engaged, the coaches were lively and the players seemed to have a little more momentum as they looked to end camp on a high.
The scene temporarily changed, however, when Cameron Heyward, defensive captain, three-time All-Pro and anchor of Pittsburgh’s defensive line, was down for several moments after Seven Shots’ third play, 11-on-11. of the Steelers. 11 drilling from the three-meter line. Heyward finally stood up before leaving the field under his own power. He stayed on the bench for a good part of a practice before taking a cart ride off the field.
Heyward returned to the field after practice and told reporters that after being assessed by coaches he was fine. The news surely led to a huge sigh of relief for the Steelers, who have played the majority of the 2021 season with two starters on the defensive line.
Heyward’s scare aside, Saint Vincent’s final practice – which took place in hot and humid conditions after several unusually cool days for the season – was celebratory and felt like the last day of school. Players lingered on the pitch after practice, posing for photos, signing autographs and, in the case of cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, throwing to young fans who ran along the sideline near Chuck Noll Field. Mason Rudolph took individual and group photos with a large number of fans taking the last day of camp.
Speaking of practice, here are the main takeaways from Pittsburgh’s final practice at Latrobe.
The offense wins seven shots
Similar to Tuesday’s Seven Shots, the offense overcame an early deficit to claim a 4-3 victory over the defense. The comeback began when running back Jaylen Warren – whose impressive side gave him a strong case to make the 53-man roster – scored on an inside run. The offense tied the score in the next play on Mitchell Trubisky’s pass to Pat Freiermuth, who also benefited from a strong camp.
The offense didn’t miss a beat when rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett came on the next play. Pickett hit Anthony McFarland on a bubble screen for a score, then connected with Miles Boykin for another. Rudolph capped Seven Shots with an impressive throw to Tyler Snead, who managed to catch the ball while staying inbounds.
Mobile QB
The Steelers didn’t shy away from acquiring a mobile quarterback ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh was looking for a quarterback who was mobile enough to extend play while allowing Matt Canada to expand his offense. The Steelers found such a quarterback in Pickett, who used his mobility Thursday to complete the most impressive play of the day.
With TJ Watt in the 11-on-11 practice, Pickett entered the pocket before delivering a strike to Christian Blake. Moments earlier, Pickett was on the throw for the most impressive play of the day. On his first play after replacing Trubisky, Pickett threw a quick but deep pass towards Gunner Olszewski, who was battling to separate himself from the defender. The pass was on the silver, and Olszewski managed to make a diving catch crossing the plane of the pylon for a score.
Earlier in the day, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced Pickett would be the second quarterback to play in Saturday’s preseason game against Jacksonville. Trubisky will again be the starter, while Rudolph will replace Pickett at some point in the contest.
Harvin finds the fairway
It was another good practice for second-year punter Pressley Harvin III, who received a loud ovation from the crowd after one of his punts appeared to hit the sun before succumbing to gravity. As well as working on his craft, Harvin said his new hobby – golf – has also helped him as he looks forward to a successful second campaign.
“I think that’s the biggest thing that’s helped me with punting, just trying to find the same golf swing and the same thing trying to find the same swing with punting,” Harvin told CBS Sports after practice. “You work muscle memory so much with practice, the moment you get into a game or on a course, it’s natural for you.
“It’s little things off the pitch like that that I tried to bring in to try to help correlate with focus,” Harvin continued. “Something different to get my mind going, to learn something new.”
Sutton takes time to reflect
You don’t have to tell Cam Sutton that the NFL stands for “Not For Long”. Sutton is one of five players remaining on the Steelers squad in 2017, his first season in the league. At the time, Sutton was looking to find his footing while playing alongside veterans, including fellow defensive backs Joe Haden and Mike Mitchell. Sutton is now the oldest statesman in a defensive backfield that also includes former first-round picks Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds.
“It definitely passes,” Sutton told CBS Sports after practice. “To still be able to be affiliated with where I started, which is really special for me. … I want to continue to build my relationship with the team, the organization, the players who come in and out over the years. It’s been special.”
Sutton, who takes on the leadership role that comes with being a veteran player, shared what he thinks are the top tips he would offer a first-year player.
“The most important thing is your availability,” he said. “It’s one of Mike T’s big catchphrases: ‘The best ability is availability.’ As part of this, just take care of your body. Be thorough in your work and manage your affairs, not just on the pitch but off the pitch. And keep putting yourself around the right situations and the right people in the direction in which you want to go. .”