TJ Watt
Joe Haden
Alejandro Villanueva
Justin Hunter
James Washington
Jaylen Samuels
BJ Finney
Matt Feiler
Fitzgerald Toussaint
Marcus Tucker
Jerald Hawkins
Jake McGee
Jake Rodgers
RJ Prince
Damoun Patterson
Jarvion Franklin
Quadree Henderson
Patrick Morris
Trey Griffey
Tevin Jones
Parker Cothran
James Summers
Joseph Cheek
Christain Scotland-Williamson
Kevin Colbert
Friday Night Lights always seems like a good time. Even better when you have VIP access.
We had 50 yd line seats on the visitor side, only a few feet from the field.
During warm-ups we had the DB’s in front of us. As they went through a few drills, #25, #21, #42 and #23 seemed to move in unison. Fluid in their change of direction, back peddling, stopping and starting. But what was more impressive was the 2nd unit was only a notch below. #24, #34, #28 and #20. This is probably the best group of DB’s this team has seen in a while. The only worry is can Davis be that true centerfielder at FS. But I think we all feel he has to be better than Mike Mitchell was last year.
I also got my first real look at Terrell Edmunds. He looked thinner when he was with the LB’s…however, he seems to dwarf our DB’s. I saw him cover, I saw him run, I saw him run support and drop as a safety. He can do it all. He was a blanket playing coverage. He is fast. It won’t be long before this guy is an every down player. Of course a lot of players look good in practice. Let’s see come game time.
James Washington again put on a show. One play he came back on the field with the 3rd team. Everyone knew he was getting the ball, and probably a deep route. The corner #35 and safety pointed at him, they covered him, they ran with him…they failed. JW went up and caught the ball over the two of them. Yes, 3rd stringers…but he beat them, and beat them knowing what was coming. Without AB in camp, it was the JW show. We got a player.
Mason Rudolph looks fluid. He seemed to make all the throws, looked very comfortable with his footwork. He has all the make up of an NFL QB. However he looked smaller than I thought. Perhaps all those years of watching Big Ben.
Don’t get your hopes up with Jaylen Samuels. I was not impressed. He can’t run, he can’t block…I assume he can catch but they didn’t seem to throw to him much. Actually I was not impressed with any of our RB’s. I hear Conner is having a good camp. But I didn’t see it. I know these “live” practices don’t necessarily show what a power back can do, so let’s see how he does in the preseason games. I just get the sense our starting RB for 2019 is NOT on the team. That’s not a bad thing as a rookie at RB can have success.
Cam Heyward had the night off, but he was clearly visible and when he talked, the D-Line listened. Again, Tuitt is a big man, hopefully he stays injury free and plays like one.
I missed the backs on backers, which apparently was the hightlight of the night. And that is why this guy is not a reporter…
The first thing I came away with from Thursday’s practice was the fact that the team seems to be missing star power. Of course, the likes of AB and Bell and a 1/2 day of Ben practicing will do that. But that’s the O. I agree with Rod Woodson, the D does not have that play maker. But I began to realize they certainly have candidates to become that player. Burns, Davis and Tuitt are all players who can be difference makers.
Burns was like a blanket. All that work against AB has shown. Now of course, will he still bite on play fakes and getting turned around on inside out routes, well games will only tell us that. However his confidence is not lacking and he was everywhere. I give this two reasons, the new coach off the field in his first camp, and the new one on the field in his first camp. Tom Bradley has this group energized and focused. There also seems to be a camaraderie that was missing last year. The second is Joe Haden. Forget his play on the field, he is leading and teaching this secondary, especially the corners. After watching and talking to Joe Haden, he is now easily my favorite non Steeler-Steeler (not that we have many of those). Although Haden was signed older, think of what James Farrior did for the Steelers as a leader for the LB’s, this is what Haden is doing to the secondary. Now, this is not to short Morgan Burnett. He was still recovering on Thursday and hopefully he has that same impact on the safeties. Davis was also sidelined this day.
I was asked about Cam Sutton. He looks to be a jack of all trades. Played corner and safety. He looked slight out there, but then again so did Haden. Sutton was beat at least three times by James Washington and once by JuJu. But I wonder if this is the Dermontti Dawson/Joel Steed effect. Especially since James Washington was beating everyone.
James Washington. What’s not to love. Great route running. Deep pass tracking. Combat catches. Getting easily open. Looked 15 years old. The only thing I have not seen is YAC but that will be better evaluated in games. But, as I said in my opinion, this is our next great receiver. He had the likes of Landry and Dobbs throwing to him and he looked great. Wait til he gets Ben. The only thing is I wish this kid had Mann as his coach. I’m guessing after seeing JW he might be thinking he should have stuck around one more year.
Jesse James just looks like he belongs. Maybe he takes another step up this year. He had a great deep flag route beating Bostic. I joked aloud as the crowd cheered. Not sure if that play was good or bad for us as Bostic was easily beating in coverage by a slow TE. Ed Bouchette, who was in front of me, turned around and chuckled. However, Bostic has all the looks of an NFL ILB. Matakevich does not. But that doesn’t mean #44 can’t be. That has been the knock on him, plays better than his measurables. Bostic hung out with Tuitt, Heyward and Hargrave. Good company. Speaking of Hargrave….my opinion of him keeps falling. He is a DT in a 4-3. I don’t see anything special with him. Frazier on the other hand took on double teams and did not look overmatched. Something to keep an eye on.
That brings us to Keion Adams, for Mack. It seemed they did not have him pin his ears back and rush, which is fine, they seem to know he can do that. However, on back to back plays against the run, #99 easily went from left to right through traffic to make the tackle for no gain. One play he beat back up guard #60 inside and at the end of the play the guard was visibly pissed at himself for getting beat so bad. This is something Bud Dupree had problems with last year.
TJ Watt signed my camp poster I print out every year. I said to him, “I know, I’t no Urine Chart.” He laughed. Ben signed a lot which was unusual, unable to get him though. Just missed Mason Rudolph too. Joe Haden signed for everyone. Had a chance to talk to him a little. What a great guy. Like I said, better person than player, and that speaks volumes.
I didn’t make too many changes, but here I go again…
[Admin Note: Click below to see Mr. Walsh’s magnificent 2.0 draft projections…]
[Admin Note: Click below to see Mr. Walsh’s magnificent draft projections…]
Charter Steel Baller Tuskegee_Brown makes an intriguing request – that we have a poll to determine the most unlikable Steelers of the past 40 years. In order to make that poll we need to produce a list of names. I’m soliciting everyone’s input because this is harder than it might appear at first blush. For one thing, there aren’t that many truly unlikable Steelers, but many names to sift through to find them. For another, we may dislike the players for different reasons: lack of talent, bad attitude, lack of discipline, low IQ, etc.
So, I’m throwing this open to the masses. Please contribute your least favorite Steelers of the Super Bowl era including your reasons if you wish, and once we have a good list we’ll put up a poll. I’ll get the party started:
Cliff Stoudt – like having Landry Jones as a starter
Neil O’Donnell – you know why
Mike Vick – torturer of dogs – though rehabilitated it’s hard to get over that
Anthony Smith – all hat, no cattle
Cam Thomas – whiffffffffff
Chris Rainey – woman beater, without even compensating talent
Jacoby Jones – did everything possible to hurt the Steelers, regardless of which team he played on
LaGarette Blount – nearly wrecked LBell, then left his teammates and slithered to the enemy
[Edit] The poll is now closed and we have a clear loser… LeGarette Blount. Here is the final tally, including a five way tie for third.
