Inside the ropes: Interceptions aplenty from defense off Steelers QBs

It was only four years ago that Ben Roethlisberger proudly boasted he made it through the entire Pittsburgh Steelers training camp without throwing an interception.

That certainly hasn’t been the case at the 2021 camp. Not for Roethlisberger, not for any of the four quarterbacks on the roster.

Roethlisberger threw two interceptions in 11-on-11 drills during Tuesday’s practice alone, and the defense picked off his backups at least two other times in what was the final camp session before the preseason opener Thursday.

Statistics aren’t formally kept, and observations from the first six camp practices — they weren’t open to the public — aren’t allowed to be reported on. But anecdotally, the defense has been ball-hawking in the passing game since camp began.

Tuesday, it picked off passes to start and end the team portion of practice at Heinz Field.

Linebacker Alex Highsmith nabbed a Roethlisberger quick throw to Najee Harris on the first snap of the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation drill. Rookie cornerback Mark Gilbert ended that drill when he stepped in front of tight end Marcus Baugh to pick off a pass thrown by Dwayne Haskins on the seventh snap of seven shots.

Later in 11-on-11 play, Cameron Sutton made a pretty tip-to-himself, keep-his-feet-inbounds interception of a Roethlisberger pass intended for James Washington. And then practice ended when the Josh Dobbs-led offense failed in its 2-minute drill simulation by way of an interception by undrafted rookie safety Donovan Stiner.

• Other than the interceptions, the defense got stops/wins on two other seven shots snaps: CB Justin Layne knocked down a quick pass to Washington in the slot, and Rudolph would have been sacked by LB Ulysees Gilbert III before getting off a flip to a wide open RB Trey Edmunds in the flat. Edmunds waltzed into the end zone, though, so that result is up for interpretation.
• The three unambiguous scores by the offense were an easy pitch-and-catch on a quick slant from Roethlisberger to Diontae Johnson (CB Joe Haden was beat, although he appeared to be expecting help that never came), Roethlisberger to rookie TE Pat Freiermuth in traffic over the middle and Haskins on an easy toss to split-out-wide RB Jaylen Samuels. Freiermuth deftly used his body to fend off S Miles Killebrew on his catch.
• Although the Dobbs-led second-team offense did not score in the practice-ending 2-minute drill, the Haskins-led first team did when Haskins found WR Anthony Johnson with a pretty long pass for a touchdown.
• His signing announced moments before practice was beginning, RB Tony Brooks-James had a touchdown run of about 60 yards during an 11-on-11 drill in which a hole opened up for him over left guard and he made a move on a linebacker and outran a defensive back to the end zone.
• The highlight play of the day was from FB Derek Watt, who made a one-handed catch while wide open about 20 yards downfield on a pass from Haskins. Watt kept his balance and ran into the end zone. Later, Watt and Haskins connected for another fine play in an 11-on-11 drill.
• The light moment of the day came when veteran OLB Melvin Ingram ran a route during a drill that isolated running backs or tight ends against outside linebackers. With Jamir Jones in coverage, Ingram made the catch.
• Rookie P Pressley Harvin III’s leg power is impressive. Unofficially, Harvin out-booted incumbent P Jordan Berry in terms of distance during drills with each punting from near their own goal line. Harvin’s chances to win the job rest with the trust coaches have in him as a holder and in consistency.

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