2024 Steelers Depth Chart analysis + look in at practice on August 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers

we got a lot of work in front of us today um we're still very much Steelers versus Steelers today as I mentioned um schematics and strategy is less important to us and so we won't even begin to address Houston and what they might do and some of the things that we might be teeing up regarding them until tomorrow we got another good Steelers versus Steelers day in an effort to continue to sort the 90 allow them develop skills relative to their positions and and show their capabilities you are looking live at St Vincent College in L tro Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Steelers training camp 2024 this is Wednesday August the 7th day 14 on campus day 12 on the field and day six in pads and this is training camp live brought to you by by FedEx good morning and welcome to another should be award-winning edition of training camp live I'm Mike Puda along with Max Starks and Max uh we've got a lot to unpack today but a little breaking news as it is to kick the show off today the Steelers have added linebacker Easton Gibbs he's 24 years of age product of Wyoming 6' 234 pounds originally uh signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seahawks released by Seattle back on July the 31st the Steelers have waved inside linebacker Tyler Murray uh these things occur in Camp I guess if you're a bubble guy it's also good not not to get that knock on the door yeah no it it is or do they do that kind of thing by phone now I guess I I guess phone or text may maybe they send a text this time like hey turn in your turn in your uh iPad downstairs with security uh but uh pack your stuff up we got a flight for you no uh you know it's necessary signing like you're trying to get guys in here especially for the first preseason game where they can play and they can contribute you're trying to see what the best formation and mixture of guys are so you want to mix that up a little bit as you see guys getting released from other teams maybe there's an interest that the Steelers had they didn't get them initially in the undrafted signing process so now you Circle back around and you make some space for them so you can get a look at them yourself conversely if you've seen all you need to see from some guys now yeah no sense keeping them around you know just in case five ahead of them get hurt if they're not you're rank line then move on yeah if you're ranked 75th on the list is probably a probably a sign that's going to happen Steelers getting ready for the preseason opener Friday against the Houston Texans at AER Stadium Mike Tomlin uh with a press conference today as he always does in advance of the preseason games and yesterday the Steelers releasing a depth chart that Mike Tomlin said is actually a real depth chart sometimes it's not yeah but he said this one is is uh I found placeholder I found a couple of Curiosities in it we'll get uh to what Mike Tomlin had to say as the show progresses today but I wanted to take a deep dive into that depth chart since it's mostly factual yeah and uh let's start uh in your neighborhood Max offensive line now right off the bat uh Troy fanu is not the backup left tackle no he's the right tackle and Dylan cook is the left tackle uh you know and Troy falano I have not seen him take a left tackle snap um uh except for very sparely in an individual drill uh Dylan cook has taken some right tackle snaps the last couple of days but he's been primarily working at left tackle and doing a great job and Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormack it's a little bit of difference in the second unit you know Spencer Anderson Isaac SE is getting a lot of uh bucket hat time yes being the veteran that he is and Spencer Anderson's getting a lot of run with the big boys I think he's played both guards yes he has and seems to be quitting himself well Mason McCormack meanwhile I know he he made a statement attacking Al Landon Roberts after the hit on Justin Fields but uh Mason mccor came here to play football no he he has one thing on his mind and that and that is that is defending and finishing those are the two Staples I could say when you think of 66 on this on this offense he's an enforcer you know he wants to go out he wants to prove he's the guy that has the last hand on the shoulder pad of the defender and tugging and pushing off very violently he has a mindset that he came into camp with and that's just to be nasty and uh I love that disposition for him because that can be a Tempo Setter for the rest of your group if they're not as uh as Adept in the nasty Arts as for uh the A4 mentioned Troy fought utanu yesterday his most extensive work of training camp at right tackle with the number ones brck Jones working on the left side and mostly with the number twos you got a couple of uh reps with the first team but Max I think with bradick Jones it's not a question of which platoon he's playing on it's just the work on that side of the line of scrimmage because we know he's going to start either on the left side or the right side he's not going to be the backup left tackle no you're absolutely right I think you know this is something where you're trying to get the Reps in because he hasn't gotten a lot of those reps you've seen him a play here a play there but I guess as we're getting ready for this first preseason game you want to kind of prime him up a little bit so you're not throwing him out there raw if you want to see him at left tackle and put an Apples to Apples comparison with Dan Moore Dylan cook and see where brri Jones sets up in that equation but um but you know this is that time of camp where you start to play with things because as you get into the preseason games you're going to be pulling guys down putting guys up mixing up what that offensive line Looks like missing up all the Personnel groupings really for Arthur Smith um and trying to see what stick what has the best chemistry so this is the these last couple of days we'll get to the game on Friday this is the last really kind of I guess semi-physical practice that you're going to have you got pads on one more day just to kind of iron out the wrinkles and see if you can mix some things up come Friday night wanted to jump back to uh cook for just a minute because he's been around here a little while now and uh hasn't played but it looks like uh there's a reason they're keeping him around I mean there's there's a player there yeah there's a player there and you see he's been a developmental type of guy for them so they saw the long game in his aspect and I will say this gotten better year over-ear and it's been a big jump from last year to this season just how he's handled himself especially at the left tackle position the footwork looks good the punch looks good and he's really starting to understand the play Concepts so you've seen a market uptick in his production I think the coaches are starting to really trust what he can do that's why they throw him out there in that second unit and he's jumped in the first team unit a couple of times uh just to see how he how he plays with different players um so I'm really happy about his progress uh I mentioned that Troy fatano played more first team reps yesterday at right tackle than he has since he got here one thing we haven't seen yet is a first team rep from Zack Frasier I think there was one day in OTAs where Isaac sealo was resting or not there and they moved uh Nate hering from Center to guard and then and then Frasier filled in but we have not seen Frasier with the number ones Mike Tomlin said today Max those opportunities are coming some one opportunities are coming his way but as Tomlin explained it sometimes how quickly they come depends on how well you're doing as a number two yes so uh what are we seeing from Zack Frasier and when would you anticipate those aforementioned opportunities will will arrive well I I think you know from what I've seen from Zack Frasier he looks like a rookie and a lot of intense you know I I say this of the three tenants right it's the call it's the execution it's the Finish he gets two out of the three every single play and he gets three out of three ah majority of the time but it's not an all-time thing and for the center position you have to be all time you have to be the guy that's on if everybody else on that on that screen has a bad day the center can't have a bad day and that's CQ exchange that's calling out the mic that's creating the the the set for the formation for the offense so you know how to uh set up your your blocking schemes or your P or your pass Pro schemes those are the things that have to be constant you can't have a off moment Zack frer had a couple of snap issues on the CQ exchange I think that's what's really kind of deterred him so far but from the physicality standpoint he adds everything you want to see but it's just it has not been better than Nate herbick um and that so that's what would deter a guy because for Nate herig even though he slated at the center position so only played 48 snaps at it has sat as a backup in that position it's one thing to play so he's getting the requisite snaps to be prepared for season and so if you haven't done anything wrong it's tough to beat beat the man when you're not the man yet yeah I talked with herg about the his Center capabilities back during OTAs and he said the reason he first made an NFL team was his ability to be perceived as a backup in Philadelphia yeah but he said most of his snaps have come in game when someone's gotten hurt and he's had to switch during the game which is great skill to have yeah but uh Nate herck thinks he can play center I mean he he is not he's running too this not away from it why why wouldn't he he's starting right now yeah he's starting right now and he can play center we've seen it out here he's definitely a guy who can play center and a guy who can who can get the job done he has the respect of the offensive line he knows what he's doing out there making the right calls and he's he's also has a touch of the nasties like like Mason McCormack so you want that from your Center you want a hard-nosed guy you don't need an overly talkative guy but a guy that talks with intention and I think Nate herick has displayed all of those skills and like I said the CF right the call the execution the Finish he executes all three of those On Any Given play uh your buddy Craig wolfley our colleague would add uh SC to your uh call execute finish snap count don't forget the snap count you're thinking about all that other stuff do you just assume that that's not going to be forgotten yeah you you assume that's not going to be forgotten you know that's kind of rule number it's unspoken rule I mean can you imagine getting out on the ball 54 is the mic slide left uh oh what's it on wait a second wait a second he said to we hey QB what is it you know you could get those type of M but I don't see that but yes of course a former a former guard would think about the snap count well I mean this is training camp we're Back to Basics We Are Back to Basics but I mean we're also talking about Craig wolfley who wrote E and O on his shoelaces because he had to remember which side was even and odds so yeah I would think whatever it takes Hey listen listen as long as the opponent doesn't know we're good if uh hering is the starting center yeah would Spencer Anderson be the number one interior backup yeah I believe or would it be Frasier going in at Center if something happened to herbig and Anderson going in at guard I I would like to say that because if you're now here's a question are you dressing seven or you dressing eight on game day well what well they they they they Mel between two I think if you dress eight you can dress Mason McCormack you can D you can dress Zack Frasier and then Spencer Anderson is your swing guy but I would think if you if you don't do that then you're you're dressing Troy fanu as your eighth and him and Zack Fraser are interchangeable within the eight Spencer Anderson's your Sixth Man Off the Bench he could he can play all five positions across the board so he's your number one you know interior alert guy but if you have Zack Frasier dressing that day then yes you would put Zack Frasier in first and then Spencer Anderson covers the other four positions but if you are going with a Ply approach you know as far as guys guys who can play the most positions I would say you should go Spencer Anderson first and then Troy fatano or Mason McCormack as your core guys because then they can handle the guards and then you have the tackles if they're going to addess eight but Spencer Anderson's your number one Off the Bench guy got three guys underlined on this step chart along the offensive line that means they're rookies and that means they haven't done anything yet but I look at this group however it's going to shake out and I see more pedigree or proven commodity in terms of the depth than we've seen oh we have t we have 10 guys automatically um that's on this list that could compete for a starting job that would be key backups anywhere else and that's a luxury to have all 10 guys at you know two at every position be available and be skilled enough that they can get you out of a game they can start they can start a game they can start a string of games and you feel comfortable so it's it's it's a nice luxury you know I heard Mike Tomlin during Friday Night Lights talk to Pat say Hey you have an embarrassment of riches and he's right when you have 10 offensive linemen that can play at the drop of a hat that's a very good problem to have and the Steelers are currently in that problem phase I never understood that phrase that embarrassment or riches if I had riches I wouldn't be embarrassed well some people it depends on your approach I mean if you're very gregarious but you know um you know braggadocious type of guy of course not it's not an embarrassment but if you're humble you know kind of Meek then yeah it would feel a little bad that hey I got all this um but I think for Pat Meyer I think he would argue no i' I've been do this because I've had to put up with some crap for the last three years you mentioned 10 Deep at least uh I was fooling around the other day before practic too much time on my hands and I I didn't try to compile a 53 man roster but I just took each guy individually as to whether I thought he was good enough to be on the roster or not and I I came up with 47 names and 10 of them were offensive lineman do you think they go that that far uh I don't think you'll get 10 I think it's prob I think at the most that you could slide will probably be nine just because practice squad action yeah PE Squad you're trying to P Squad at least one guy I don't think you can get away with two P Squad offensive line I think you're have to put nine on the roster this year but um but because there's just other considerations you have to have thinking about the defensive line depth you're keeping six but you're going to need a seventh guy um outside linebacker that's going to be a rotation I think we have at least four but who knows special teams capable abilities and considerations go into that middle backer well more this year than ever right we don't know how this I mean they always tell you that you're going to be a reserve you got to play teams but yeah who can play teams on this kickoff uh with this new kickoff R procedure I was going to say something else well and and kurlu however you want to put it uh debacle um but I think you have to consider that because your return man is going to be somebody that you're not sure what the body type is because it can be a receiver it can be a running back back the guys blocking can be a linebacker can be a DB can be a safety could it be really freaky big guy who's also really fast he's so big it looks like he shouldn't be as fast as he is because they got one of those yeah I mean I mean I think that with Darnell Washington are you talking about you talking about the C Patterson well cardero Patterson yeah that's another guy but he he slots in the running back room right so then how many how many running backs do you keep that's the other thing because I think you know Aaron shamp shampan and also L Michael Peron have been doing some really good things in Camp obviously we know who Jaylen Warren and aie Harris is but now you have to consider those options and then we still haven't seen Cordo Patterson let's take a look at the uh the skill position guys The Playmakers on the depth chart uh because this is uh an interesting group let's start with those running backs uh that you mentioned Max Harrison Warren are obviously established I think Patterson assuming he gets healthy and gets back involved and there's no reason not to think that uh he's on the team as the returner uh some of these other guys you mentioned uh sh uh I really like Jonathan Warden I really like L Michel Pine and uh I'm a little enamored with uh dejon Edwards I mean yeah I wish they I wish they could keep six seven running backs but they're not gonna and we haven't even mentioned the fullback Jack ketto yeah yeah I mean Jack ketto what does that look like or is it Connor Hayward I don't know and I think that's intriguing but I also think that Cordo Patterson being listed in the initial depth chart over L Michel peryan over um over Aaron shamlin and like you said dejon Edwards they've all gotten reps he has not gotten a rep yet he has not been in practice he hasn't even done really a walkth through and he's already on the third string of the dep chart that's intriguing to see well he's got a little bit of a resume well he has a resume but when you're thinking about getting ready for this game right you know you would think you'd be slotting for that as well uh because this is an initial depth chart this isn't the final depth chart true and so I think that's what's kind of a little bit weird in that process and then of course like Roman Wilson is listed on the depth chart even though he's not been participating last couple of weeks or last week or so so you know that's one of the things where I look at the play and how they set this depth chart this isn't for Houston I guess this is a projection as we get closer into the season how they really set up this depth chart and kind of put names out there but like I said the pieces can't be still moved around now we were mentioning those running backs a moment ago and team run yesterday Jonathan Ward ripped off a huge Gainer uh and then two of them for uh L Michael Perron and this was a tackling drill so yeah it was one of those deals where they let the guy get through the hole and two and then he runs to the end zone for conditioning and everybody in the hillside starts cheering because they think it's an 80- yard run these were long gainers and these guys have been doing that with regularity yeah theyve they've been gashing the defense on a regular basis and the scheme up front the offens Lin do a great job of blocking but like you said those guys have done a great job of reading the holes and also exploding through and making sure that they finished hard and defense just couldn't bring them down to the ground it was a taked down perod you're absolutely right fullback uh I think Conor hayward's on the team may list him as fullback tight end but I think his fullback stuff uh we've seen him a little bit in the eye but I don't think he's an eye fullback I think he's kind of a move HB type he kind of yeah compliment in the backfield I think ketto is the hammer or the perceived Hammer I wouldn't go so far to say hammer but yeah lead blocker they call him jack hammer I mean people get called a lot of names often when your name is Jack yeah it kind of leads to that if his name was Quincy I don't know if they'd call him Quincy Hammer no they would not but I mean he's getting he continues to get a lot of reps high-profile reps and he's getting them in those formations that are indicative right 22 Personnel right he's lining up dotting the eye so to speak or being right there in the broken eye and moving left and right so you seeing him deployed because there is a conscious effort to utilize a fullback in that position I just need to you know maybe a little shorter compact guy you know I because I think of the fullbacks I had when I played right I had Dan kryer I had I had John Co um and those type of guys JT wall like those guys are built bread and butter when you look at them you're like you can only play one thing you can play fullback you play linebacker that's the only thing that's in your designation um so it is interesting like you said the intent for it but I think you know Jack ketto also offers some passing options as well former quarterback the ball the other day in goal line yeah so so they threw it to him yeah there a little more intrigued with him as a body type but yeah I think Connor Hayward probably gets your first crack on dress team unless otherwise noted because you're going to try and get some other positions uh a uniform on game day well let me bounce this Theory off you because I've been thinking about this ever since ketto kind of came to prominence I I think Arthur Smith wants to have that guy that kind of guy yes one of the reasons that I think that is because Arthur Smith said I'd like to have that kind of guy yeah provided that guy can also play special teams because you're not going to make it just just as the hammer ask Derek watt bat yeah exactly you got to play special teams so do you think if it's not ketto I'm not I'm not saying it is or it isn't they're looking at him right now but if they ultimately decide it's not him are there so few teams that actually use that type of guy anymore that there are quality guys on the street who are unemployed just because there aren't enough jobs I think there will be when you get to the 53 man cut down in other words if you wanted to go find what hey Jack you can be on the practice squad keep working you're not there yet whatever I want to go get one you can go find one I think you could because I'm sure San Francisco is going to have a couple guys on on their roster that's going to be that type of body I think you look at Tennessee as a team that's going to use that teams that you I think Chicago will have one on the roster that they can bring out so you're going to see a couple of those guys come off as we get to towards the cutdown period and a team that realizes hey we're not going to utilize this right now so you will find that guy that guy's not available right now but will be as we get closer to September and then uh the head of the running back class the two headed monster Naji Harris and jayen waren you know I was on the sidelines yesterday uh watching practice and there was a run uh during team run and was like third and six they had the sticks up and Harris got tackled it was it was little bit of a left run and as soon as he hit the ground he turned and looked at the sticks to see if he made it yeah like it was just a practice rep and he wanted to get the first down that is how engaged this guy is he's taking nothing off well and you have to be that intend I think Arthur Smith with this offense he realizes how good this offense can be I think you've been in here two weeks already you really have a good grasp on what the offensive concept is so you don't want to let anybody down and like you said not giving up a single rep for chance making sure that it matters making sure that the competition level is high I think is a very good brand for all of these guys but especially nii Harris you really see a reinvigorated and a brand new kind of mindset for nii where he's animated he's involved he's trying to keep everybody hype and high morale even he's into his teammates reps you know guys down the depth chart he's cheering them on and he's congratulating them and he's celebrating with them and he's barking at the defense just boy does he look locked in that true leadership right there right I mean you look at it doesn't have to be a quarterback it can come from any position on the offensive unit as long as you're playing and I think he's trying to set himself apart by by saying hey you know what I know we have a lot of new quarterbacks here guys that have to earn credibility I'm a veteran on this offensive side of the ball when you look at how long he's been here that's crazy to think when you look at that depth chart I mean he's probably the oldest 10y guy um that's on there or tied for it as far as being in the steers organization on that offensive side so of course you're going to be a little bit more in tune and I think this is a year where he takes a step as a leader and show that it's not about me I'm not a me guy I'm a we guy Jaylen Warren is also a we guy and uh continues to perform at a high level out here St talking about his height why'd you call him we no just joking he also continues to be uh one of the heavyweight Champs of backs on backers along with Darnell Washington Naji Harris has gotten at that he's got more combative in that Jaylen Warren that's a bad man in backs on backers yeah if we're doing an opening ceremonies for backs on backers he's a flag bearer right he's like I'll carry the flag up the hill guys don't worry about it so running back looks like it's in good hands tight end Pat farmu Darnell Washington Connor Hayward micole puit uh those are the four guys on my list of 47 yeah no I mean I think all of them provide I think you do have this year because of the propensity to use multiple t in sets I think you have to keep at least four guys and that's a good four I've heard great things from teammates about Michael puit we've watched his production on the field because he's in there blocking he's in there taking some of the safety valve snaps and getting the ball thrown to him and he knows how to convert and turn the ball up field and he's also a touch Fearless when it comes to going to the scrum and and and uh have a have very very optimistic that he's going to come out on the other side so no I I like michle pu he was a guy that Smith brought over here with him and I think he brings the right mindset he's very selfless and like you said he's just putting his hand in the pile and trying to create an opportunity for himself and I think he's done so so far at wide receiver we have George Pickins Calvin Austin the third and Van Jefferson uh first team on the depth chart and I like the way they did this by the way Max because you have three wide receivers and also the fullback listed as a starter if they can find a way to play 12 people at a time on offense against 11 I think that's going to be advant that's a game CH especially putting that 12th guy as the fullback not another wide receiver that definitely gives you a lot better options but I mean picking just lighting it up out here correct and he's doing the guy's a touchdown machine in he's doing way more from a volume standpoint uh it's it's not just run them down the sideline or run the occasional cross I mean Fades screens middle sideline deep stop routes in the middle I mean throwing in tight coverage he's doing it all and they've really opened up the route tree to George whereas in the past he was kind of specialized he didn't really come inside the numbers he was a numbers to sideline guy and then occasionally you get him from the hash to the numbers but more so a lot of his big plays came on the outside not a lot of yak opportunities when you're throwing into the sideline I think now you're giving him some catch and run opportunities a lot more in this offense because they see a very good player that can do a multitude of things so now you're trying to create as many opportunities for and like I said he's been an automatic touchdown um every time you know in basketball terms they say he the guy's a bucket well this guy this guy's a tutty um because when you get into the Red Zone he's a big Target he can create space he can battle one-on-one 5050 balls are always in his favor so he provides a nice Dimension at the wide receiver position tall skilled lean and athletic yeah I mean another one from uh Russell Wilson yesterday in seven shots Wilson's first uh participation in seven shots as he starts to ramp up but a beautiful Fade Out of what a three tight end set that's right 13 Personnel right I love that they are passing out of this three tight end stuff because I know they can run out of it well and I also love the fact that you know we talk about them being able to accordion that Personnel grouping right you can split them out pre- snap and keep them there but you can also adjust if you see something with the defense and compress them down and run a run play out of that or or you can start compressed and stretch them out that is true you can give a move call pre- Snap empty the Back Field go five wides look get your match up yeah so you can do whatever you want I think it's easier to spread and then come in because you they have to declare first when it's when it's compressed you don't know what you got and then when you get out there and then if it's like Zone you're like ah man dang it I really want it man you know so usually come outside to end and squeeze it in but like you said you can do those things so imagine having a no huddle drill um or a two-minute per se and you have that Personnel out there well who do you match up you're never right in those situations that puts a stress on a defense you know there was another one uh yesterday where Russell Wilson lobbed one down the field toward the sideline uh to Mount Washington Darnell Washington yeah now uh there weren't any officials here yesterday yeah and uh Nate meters was the safety and uh it looked like he got pushed and uh it looked even more like meters was convinced he got pushed because he was complaining but uh Washington may or may not have pushed off he caught the ball uh yeah they keep going to number 80 is this going to continue or is this the same fantasy that I had uh crushed last year coming out of training camp when I thought they were going to throw Washington the ball and they would not Max uh Arthur Smith is not M Canada I'll just say that and he's proven that in practice thus far so I would like to think what we see him practice you know there was another play a couple days I think it was the uh goal line Dr where Kyle Allen got in trouble on the wing and he just threw it back across the field but he basically threw a jump ball to number 80 like yeah okay I got a 10% chance of something happening here but this is my best you know best opportunity yeah last gasp kind of Hail Mary and it didn't work but they tried it that's who he is I'm like who would not throw to a 6 fo8 200 and whatever pound guy that runs a 46 he's a walking skyscraper so why wouldn't you throw to him was beyond me last season I kept begging for it during the broadcast nobody heard me apparently only Steelers Nation heard me none of the coaches I apparently I wasn't radioed into their headsets but it just it made sense why would you not throw to that option going up top and somebody on hey yeah I I did I did think about that but then I realized my credential would get pulled immediately for stepping on the sidelines and interfering with the game but it is something that I think Arthur Smith is in tune to that like he loves the options that he has at at at the tight end position and that's why he keeps calling these positions so you have to assume if you're in the game you're a viable option and I think that's what they're taking to heart and like you said you've seen the emphasis of them throwing to him a lot more you know he's not Anonymous guy Pat Frou gets a lot of targets Connor Hayward gets a lot of targets as well so now Darnell Darnell was is getting a good taste of it as well so you're seeing the ball spread amongst that entire group and I think that's a fantastic thing because you can't Peg one thing down you have to be able to defend true and you can't double team guys because anybody can burn you I mentioned pickings Austin Jefferson the top three receivers on the depth chart Mike Tomlin credited Jefferson and fellow veteran Scotty Miller today for having high floors yeah so he's getting very consistent Workman likee play out of these guys I look at that wide receiver position I think I trust Pickins and I Trust Jefferson and I think the rest of it a work in progress what are you what are you seeing yeah no definitely think that van Jefferson is has been a pleasant surprise in Camp the consistency the work ethic the catch radius and the catchability is playmaking I me he's gotten some big plays and he's converted on those I think you're right Calvin Austin still kind of working on that um you know desfit Patrick kind of working on that but Scotty Miller has been a guy in the slot that's been a safety blanket for Kyle Allen and Justin Fields he gets a lot of the short Crossing routes a little deep Crossing action he's a guy going to go into the scrum pretty much every single play and draw the defense in to create one-on-one opportunities on the outside so no I love where they're at but yeah you're right still need to see more from the other guys to really buy into who's that third guy but I think van Jefferson I would say right now is comfortable number two on that depth chart opposite George pickings and he's earned it in Camp uh I was impressed with the pick of Roman Wilson I think they had some hopes for Wilson being an impact player still might be yeah but uh early injury first a pads we haven't seen him since what is this costing him in terms of what he might be able to do this year this I mean this could be a Calvin Austin type situation when you we're talking about it right because get far enough along you just can't jump on it yeah you can't jump on it you can see it in the Horizon you can wave at it but you have to be able to got till it comes around again like under the Christmas tree yeah exactly like hey it went behind the tree it went behind the big rock sck robot I know what it is cuz I shaked it the night before type of deal but you're you're going to have to you might have to wait if he can't get back by that third preseason game I think this is something where you might see him be sheld for the year and protected um by having possibly having to go on the IR depending on the severity of that injury uh last but certainly not least the quarterbacks uh we've talked a little bit about Russell Wilson getting uh more involved yesterday I still wouldn't say he's in danger of being overworked Max yeah uh he's not going to play in the preseason opener against the Texans Justin Fields according to Mike tomblin will play a couple of series along with the rest of the first team offense I I did ask Mike Tomlin this question today Max but I should have forgot to so I'll ask you do you think we'll see Russell Wilson in the preseason I think you have to see him at some point in the preseason I would think probably the best one would be Buffalo if he is healthy enough I don't expect you to see him in Detroit um so if he is healthy enough just a little Cameo just a cameo one series couple of plays just to see what we got in a in a full speed type of scenario because he hasn't done it yet in this uniform yes we know the resume we know what he's done at other places but I got to I got to see you do it in my uniform I got to see you do it under my system and I think at least one series is denoted I think Mike Tomlin for all in TMS of purposes very old school from that approach where he wants to see guys play unless he's had you for a number of years and I think all those guys have to get a shot at un from under Center or playing in the game just like we're going to see you know come Friday Justin Fields going to get a couple of series Kyle Allen John rice plumbley and I think you have to see at least one series from Russ before you go into the season Justin Fields name came up in the Mike Tomlin press conference today Max and uh Tomlin asked what he's seeing in terms of improvement and he said uh footwork in the pocket Body Balance posture from which he throws and Tomlin went on to explain that these are things that Fields has been working on throughout the off season uh leading up to this process and that's starting to pay some dividends uh are you seeing any of that I I am seeing a lot more attention to detail because one of my biggest things that came in is accuracy now can body positioning B body alignment and footwork help with that absolutely that can help because you're going to deliver the football in a more consistent type of manner so I think all those things play into it but I've been looking at the accuracy what's the vision how is he doing the reads how's he progressing from one to two to three before he decides to pull it those are the decision-making things I like to see and it looks like the game is slowing down for him which is providing that kind of positive increase because his footwork is better when you're more efficient you can get to things faster you know um his running ability continues to be uh front and center and uh a read option keep in seven shots yesterday and Dante Jackson the corner is out on the wing they're in space Jackson did force him inside pton Wilson was closing from the backside they just assumed that Fields would been tackled uh I don't know that you can make that assumption no no especially when potentially he would have went low on him so there's a hurdle that could have happened there's a spin move that could have happened I mean the guy is he he looks like a m like a controller player right you know he you can hit the hit stick you can hit the Juke you can hit the spin at any moment for our Xbox fans it' be XO and square in case anybody was wondering but um he can do all of that so I don't know if you could really count that yes it was a two yard line but you know when you get in a game time where it really really matters I don't know if Dante Jackson makes that play and Dante Jackson's Pretty physical corner it's not he's not uh I don't tackle anybody Corner no he no he doesn't make business decisions he's all about business but Justin Fields isn't anybody no Justin Fields he he puts you in a problem it's like Lamar Jackson right you know it's like I've got to make a really conscious effort when I pick it's like it's like watching a a soccer goalie on penalty kicks right like you kind you're so close you got to make a decision almost before they do it and and you either guess wrong or you guess right on what on what direction they're going to go we just saw him uh working on the read option there read option keep do you think we'll ever see read option option where fake the dive keep it and then he's got pitcher or keep option so you're saying run the true triple option uh I don't know if we'll see the true triple option I think Lamar Jackson is probably the only guy reserved for that type of skill set but I do like I do like the double option I think the double option is a good is a good indic because you can either disguise it through boots off a fake handoff you can also use it straight and use that running back as your lead blocker there's a lot of things you can deploy within the double option because let's face it these guys hit bigger and when you run between the tackles you better know that you don't have any help when when you're trying to run across a landi they hit bigger but man I appreciate option football I I wouldn't want to see it every day yeah but I try to go to the Army Navy game every year if my schedule allows because they're both playing option football and it's like a first Down's a big deal and you get really excited if you could get in position to punt the other team into the hole oh yeah so that you might be able to get field position on the refun and kick a field goal but uh I don't know some possibilities exist here do you sense a Justin field specialty package is in the works I feel like you have for any good coordinator that's worth his elk I think you have to consider that as a viable option and you know if anything the extended kind of Hiatus of Russell Wilson so far I think would also denote that you have to consider having a package specifically for Justin Fields what a what a coincidence that Russell Wilson was able to take the slow men and they were able to see all these things from Justin Fields I know surprise surprise imagine that sometimes things just work out Max you know you know got God gives you opportunities you know and you just you got to seize the moment and this is a carpedm moment for Justin Fields getting this extended look at the uh at the number ones seeing how he fits in how people feel comfortable with him and I mean he's making a name for himself to where you say he cannot be ignored no that's a great way to put it that you know I'm not ready to Fast Track him into the starting job yet but yeah he cannot be ignored yeah no it's and it's been very apparent and obviously we're going to get a little taste of that on uh on Friday but I love the way that he's gone about a very workmanlike approach to this he has not assumed anything he has not he has not acted like he's entitled to anything down eye on the ball just put in the work and we'll see and we'll see the dust settles uh let's flip it over to the uh defensive depth chart now take a look at the front seven because uh this is pretty intriguing now uh you see that front Cameron Hayward de Marvin Leal uh backing him up Keanu Benton uh and man Adams behind him and Larry Ogen jooby Dean Lowry we haven't seen on the field yet uh because of an injury but Ogen The Firm of oen Joby bet and Hayward yeah that uh that appears to be a formidable three a lot of litigation get solved on their side a lot of high success rate I would say with that firm um when you look at it keano B has done everything you want him to do um to progress from last year to this year in training camp thus far the biggest Jump's going to be what do he do game one against the Atlanta Falcons can you be a disruptive force in the middle between the center and the two guards can you get push up the field but can you also stabilize two guys when need be because you're going to see a heavy dose of run up the middle they're going to test him he's the youngest of the group so you're looking for any cracks in that line and so you assume you go to the young guy first because you know what's on the outside with Alex heith and TJ watt you know what you have with Cam Hayward and what you have with Larry Ogen Joby he's the one question on that front five where you say maybe there's something here so for him it's going to be really imperative that he locks in and that he continues to produce at the rate that we know he can and I think it'll show up but I love the depth of that defensive line group when you even Look to You know too deep in that situation I love where demarvin Leal is at I love what M Adams has done in practice thus far and Isaiah lder milk has done a decent job um and he's kind of grown into his he was another guy kind of like Dylan cook we're talking about the offensive line side defensive line he's intriguing he's 6' s he's a very physical long body and when he plays at at least 6'4 he actually gets good things happening the problems come arise when he plays 67 is also 67 he doesn't really move guys but when he gets a little bit of Leverage he's very powerful uh maybe one uh spot beyond the guys we've talked about maybe two what are you seeing from the the draft pick out of Iowa Logan Lee nasty tenacious he's my Mason McCormack of the D line yeah like when those two go together there is an issue from this from before they say Hut you know both of those guys are very chippy very physical they they want the last grab they want the last tug they want the last push and I like that kind of physical mindset that he has now there's some technical things he needs to clean up um you know he gives too much surface area to hit um for an offensive lineman so he's got to learn how to get skinny a little bit while still staying within his technique but I like the raw capabilities that he possesses and I think that's something that they could work with and I'm sure called Dunbar would like that keep seven guys if he can because he loves a good rotation linebacker uh watt Queen Roberts High Smith your obvious starters uh herbig uh clearly uh one of the top backups outside and I think Marcus Golden's the other one Max even though they've got him listed uh third behind herbig uh Marcus gold I thought that was uh a why wouldn't you addition uh last weekend would they bring him back Friday or Saturday I forget what day Thursday Thursday and then he and then he was in practice by Friday yeah I mean as Mike tomin said low maintenance no maintenance knows his role doesn't compl plane does his job knows the system handles his business yeah a true Pro it's a true vet move and and you know and and Marcus talked about this in an initial interview was that you know I was in constant communication with the Steelers they were awesome about that better than any other place I've been and I think that's something where it's like hey it wasn't a matter of if we're going to bring you back it's just a matter of when that got fast tracked I think a little bit because of the injuries to moon and Kiren Johnson in Camp last week that was like Hey we're kind of killing guys demarvin Le's having to jump out at the uh at the outside linebacker position because they're so thin so I think bringing him in that stabilizes your front four and I think you kind of fight and see because I like what moon has possessed Moon's looked a lot better in Camp this year than than last year kind of taking taking a step forward so he is a guy that presents like six foot sixish I think is the is is the height on him so he he creates something that's a little bit different at that position and gives you a dimension and then Kiron Johnson very physical very fast outside linebacker so it's a good competition for this group but I think when you talk about the top four I think that's easily what your top four looks like Marcus Golden's a guy that stabilizes and gives you a known commodity at the fourth rusher position and of course inside they're well stocked uh you got uh Mark Robinson's been getting some run with the ones of late uh with Patrick Queen taking some time off pton Wilson has gotten some run with the ones with Patrick Queen taking some time off you have uh Tyler mavich back special teams demon and a a fighter I think this linebacker room is plenty deep it's a lot different than a year ago Mike you know you have and you also have youth on your side you have some young guys in there to pour into the the experienced guys that are in that room and I think it's a departure from last season where we had a lot of lot of Veteran guys at questionable Health reports and you're just trying to throw four guys in there and keep a rotation high and then you got to the position where the injury concerns you had in the preseason start to rear their head and it happened in consecutive weeks and luckily we were able to get a Landon Roberts back but we were coming with guys off the street we were convincing miles Jack to put on weight and stop flying planes and doing all that fun stuff to come back and put his hand in the pile so I think this year is a far departure from that the Steelers recognized that they went after it like you said going and getting Patrick Queen early in free agency he's a prized option and then doubling down by going back into the draft and drafting another linebacker for dep pyton Wilson so I think you see those type of combinations those decisions made was that this is an area of need Omar Khan and that and and the uh scouting Department were not afraid to go pull the trigger and create depth at that position yeah Wilson a fascinating Prospect we've talked a lot about him and one of those guys that got hurt last year who was playing great Cole hul uh we haven't even mentioned him he's he's still rehabbing but uh yeah Cole hul a guy that did a great job but like you said still need to see him on the field still on the pup list as as he rehab Abs from his injury last season but that's a guy that who's to say you put you put him on P squad or something because he's been injured and week eight week nine you know when we got the buy you bring them back on and then make that late season push as we have all those division games we are backloaded on the back half of the schedule with all division games and top performers from the previous year in Kansas City and Philly kind of filling out the last eight games of the season so why wouldn't you want to put a guy like that in a position where as hey it's okay we got enough guys for right now Cole take your time and then as it progresses you release them off maybe there's an injury or maybe there's some something that changes in the progress and you could bring a veteran like him along a lot slower there's not a rush to put him back in service uh defensive back also looks to be an area of depth Max uh love this starting group of uh Porter and Dante Jackson on the corner and make a Fitzpatrick and Deshawn Elliott at safety I tell you if Patrick Queen wasn't here I I would be trying to uh determine whether Deshawn Elliott or Dante Jackson uh was going to be the most impactful newcomer yeah no you're absolutely right I mean the way that Dante Jackson plays is probably one of the most like fun bright spots when you watch the defensive back play he's physical at the point he can play press man he can play off he's very communicative um with the rest of the group so I like his addition into there he kind of fits in as a stealer as a Steeler type uh for this defense and like you said when you have mink and Deshawn back there kind of running it running the traffic cop type of Duty making sure that they keep the they keep the runways clogged um you know it it presents a very formidable secondary um and the other thing I want to say Cory Tri Jr very intriguing we lost him early last year in Camp but you can't hide 6'3 6'3 is very hard to hide and if you could potentially get to a point where you have to start tce and Joey Porter together I'm thinking Cincinnati Bengals games jar Chase tce is getting some run in the dime the six defensive backs yeah he comes in very early and I love the look of it no matter what the production is the look of it is very imposing and sometimes that can scare a quarterback off of what his reads would be because he's like the dude is so long he's going to you know he's going to be able to make have catch-up speed and Cory tr's also not slow at all so he's a guy that has recovery speed so it looks good to see your draft pick from a year ago kind of getting working his way back into the good graces and getting opportunities um now the next step is to see him live in game action come Friday um in acashore yeah you've got some proven Commodities waiting in the wings there as well uh miles keru special teams Ace uh and a trustable Defender uh Damonte ky's going to play a role in sub package stuff for the big The Big Nickel uh when Elliot yeah Bey Bishop what can you say about about him just came in he has come in and taken over uh slot Corner nickel corner now cam Camp Sutton's waiting in the wings but that's going to be eight games and uh Mike Tomlin mentioning that uh beanie Bishop ma still has to do it in the games starting on Friday night but uh boys he done some things already yeah he's done some great things in Camp the game has not looked too big for him in these moments down here even in the competition periods he stands up and and he's like the Energizer Bunny takes the licking and keeps on ticking had a little WVU on WVU crime yesterday where Zack Fraser kind of threw him out the club so to speak but he's not afraid to mix it up with the big guys he's a guy that's going to follow you know and blanket a slot receiver and that's something that you want to see and like you said cam Sutton's on on the on the bench for eight games week nine we have a buy so you wouldn't see cam Su until week 10 effectively at the earliest so that's half the season so you need a guy to come in and clearly take that role and I think beanie Bishop get the first crack at is welld deserved but grayan Arnold Arnold is a guy that's also had a really good camp he's coming with some big interceptions in practice and had a really good job meters has done a has done a good job over the last two days so you have some guys that's trying to fill in for that position but I really like where Beanie Bishop is right now yeah Arnold's uh not been practicing the last couple days but a couple other names I wanted to throw at you before we get out of here uh one is Anthony aett who was a veteran cornerback like running back Jonathan Ward these these guys got invited to rookie Camp kind of like yeah okay this is your last chance Saloon that you're entering here turned an invitation as a veteran an invitation to a rookie Camp into an invitation to training camp and now making the most of it and how about Ryan Watts number 29 the draft pick uh Corner safety we weren't real sure uh looks like safety looks like Ball Hawk lately yeah no at the safety position he's done a really good job of just keying in and like you said has a knack for being a around the football and making plays on the ball I've liked what I've seen from Ryan watts and you know this secondary like you said the depth is there there's some known Commodities like you said miles killer Brew another we kind of oft Overlook because we just expect him to be the special teams's guy but he's a guy that has a great free safety vernacular he's played it because Mink's missed some games and he's succeeded to that position so I really like that it's going to be interesting you know that third unit type of guys that we look at it's a it's an interesting group kayn Barnes another one um at the corner position has ups and downs in Camp um it's been a little tough but you know I I like what I've seen for from from uh maters sorry I said maters maters Nate maters oh I pronounce that as well yeah yeah I wolf creeped in my ear and said it's called maters so I'm T I'm taking the Zen wisdom from uh from my yoda of the broadcast booth and uh and Craig wolfley Nate maters is the guy guy and so I really like that because it's been competitive like we seen and you mentioned Anthony aett not not there on the depth chart but he's come up with some big plays uh throughout camp where he's had the interceptions um yesterday very competitive seven shots defense had two interceptions from the outside off of that so I look at that and I say okay this secondary has a lot and that's the one thing a departure from a year ago we could usually point to a position that still had a deficiency going into the first game but looking at it we've just gone through the entire dep chart there are no weaknesses and there's no lack of depth at any position of all the 22 available offensive and defensive positions uh last but not least Let's uh Give a listen to Mike Tomlin today talking about the physicality in training camp uh preseason games and iron sharpening Iron Mike Justin field said that this was the hardest training camp he's ever been a part of other guys who've been here before said they feel like the intensity is different more ramped up this year how do you kind of assess the intensity in those things through this good um you know we're here to develop um you know you can't box without sparring is the analogy that I use and um we play an intense game a competitive game and I'm not doing these guys just if I Justice if I don't create an environment um that that is reflective of what's waiting on us well that says a lot right there right not doing the guys Justice if you don't have them bashing into each other as hard as you can as often at least a couple times at least a couple times we're not asking you to run through the wall every day every time somebody says the Kool-Aid man but at the same time you want to create structured environment to where you can control the parameters put a couple of takeown tackle drills but then be able to pull back and work smart so you can get the lesson you can get down on your assignments all of those things kind of make it and and Mike Mike Tom you saw that right at the beginning when the question was asked that smirk and then the word good that just lets you know that that's what he's trying to create that's what he wants mission accomplished if you're hearing those type of things from the guys quoting it to the media that's exactly the environment that Mike Tomlin wants to breed here it's healthy competitiveness but you got to hit if you're going to step into a stadium I don't want to watch film for two and a half weeks essentially and then say hey go play go play on Friday oh by the way they've already had a game under their belt yeah go go do your best you wouldn't do that you wouldn't do that so I like the fact that Mike Tomlin has a very physical football camp it's a departure he's also going to play guys who are known starters which across the league we see is becoming a very very old style Trend where you're sitting Kyler Murray's you're sitting Justin hers you're sitting all your starting type type bodies but Mike's like no we need to get these guys in they need to they need to hit before we get to Atlanta week one that's going to do it for us today don't forget we've got uh training camp wrapup coming up at 3:00 this afternoon I'll be hosting that and joined by Craig wolfley until then for Max Starks I'm Mike pursa this has been training camp live brought to you by FedEx