Training Camp/FNL 2024
Friday Night Lights opened with a different feel for us…rain was not expected. The Steelers arrived late, but got right to the autograph session before practice. Muuuth darted straight for me, like he might have remembered me from last year’s camp. However, he was all business and signed for me, then off to the next. That was when I spotted Justin Fields just a few fans to my left. He came down the line and we had a chance to chat with him. I mentioned Christina worked at the High School where Jeremy Ruckert attended. Fields face lit up with a big smile, “That’s my boy!” I asked if I can get a photo with Christina so she can show Jeremey when he is back in town. He obviously obliged.
As he moved to the next group, I said, By the way, you won me my fantasy league. He just chuckled. I can only imagine he thought, well, I won’t be able to win one for you this year from the bench. Shortly thereafter Russell Wilson came by to sign, he was all business too, he didn’t have much to say. I did have a chance to talk with Mason McCormick. He sounds and looks like everything a Steeler guard should be, I hope he plays like it. JPJ came by again this year, I let others take the photos and chat with him this time. He did sign for me. Then came the guy that if he were in street clothes I would never have guessed he was a football player. I could look down upon Jaylen Warren. He was all smiles and the fans loved him. I told him to go have a monster year. He said, I’ll do my best!
From where we are, the backs on backers are too far away to see…but they are drawing the most attention and the most cheers. We miss this every year since the VIP section is on the other side of the field. I did get to see Troy Fautanu and Logan Lee go at it one on one. They both seemed to have an edge to their game. I was surprised a fight did not break out there. They’d both continue after the whistle. Hard to tell if Fautanu got the upper hand since I did not know if Lee was supposed to get by him or lock up in combat. Lee seems to be getting a ton of reps with Lowry out.
I would be surprised if he doesn’t at least make the practice squad. Also Lee worked a lot in the three man DL drills with Cam. My guess is you don’t put someone who is just a camp body in that group.
Fields gets most of the reps with Wilson and his quad watching. The play calls all seem like short or behind the line passes. Very few are downfield. Are they working on Field’s short game? I hope so…these plays will drive us crazy. Fields will have one of these passes batted down my Watt.
I mentioned a worse fate will happen the next day. JPJ and Donte Jackson are glued together. They are often followed by their baby brother, Beanie. The three amigos seem to be in step with one another. And this proves true with the depth chart coming out, and Beanie is right there with them. Beanie looks small, then again JPJ has length. Of course, Mike Hilton looked small. I am not sure Beanie has the pop Hilton had on hits…but we have time to see if he does.
This year I soaked up more of the FNL atmosphere (than getting soaked in the rain) so I did not move around much to check out 7 shots and other activity.
Saturday at St. Vincent began with a “Please return to your cars, a lightning strike has been reported in the area” announcement. What was interesting is the players still remained on the practice field. I did see they removed their helmets, it was mentioned somewhere that they could be conductors. The lightning stayed away, as did the rain, so we were soon let into the VIP section along the sidelines.
The team was not in full pads after FNL. They did some 11 on 11 drills early. Twice Jaylen Warren broke through the line, each time running all the way to the endzone.
Fields hits a beautiful sideline over the shoulder pass to Van Jefferson. The catch was equally as good. Tomlin breaks the team down to one on one drills which I have never seen at camp before. Dump off pass to a RB/WR and a D man has to attack and 2 hand touch him low before he gets around him. Some great one on one matchups with CAIII vs Cam Sutton. Tomlin made them run it 3 times in a row. I think CAIII won 2 of the 3. Watching CAIII, they need to get the ball in his hands in space. It is Beanie’s time to cover CAIII, he fails badly getting beat both times. He looks like he overpursues his angles.
Payton Wilson looks sharp in this drill. He gets matched up against Pickens which was not the mismatch you’d think (I guess in anticipation of our ILB covering the other team’s best receiver). He went full out at Pickens along the sidelines and just kept coming with his momentum. In his pursuit Wilson almost runs me over.
Also, Fields would sometimes just take off with the ball too. Payton Wilson also had to go against Fields. Again, it is not an easy drill for the D man.
Did I mention Mason McCormick looks like a Steeler prototype guard? Fautanu is not bad either…
Najee works on his own. He is not involved in any of the team drills.
The man of the day? Punter Cameron Johnston. Applause for a punter? Yep! Not only that, there were plenty of ooooh’s and ahhhh’s as he boomed several high and deep punts.
Overall, there were not many throws downfield. It is obviously tough to judge the running game. But it looked like a lot of short passes, swing passes…a very methodical approach. I guess if they can keep the time of position even, the D won’t wear down and they can lean on them. It is hard to judge Justin Fields, because what makes him dangerous doesn’t translate in practice. I did not see a lot of throws to the TE’s, or throws over the middle. They used CAIII a ton, but will he disappear come game day?
