Steelers coach indicates dearth of 2020 on-field work could render NFL schemes more vanilla

Pittsburgh Steelers training camps of the recent past have been on-field labs for experimenting. Like offseason and preseason practices for all NFL teams, the Steelers have debuted personnel packages, tried players in different positions and even moved some into new hybrid roles.

But in 2020 with no on-field organized team activities, no minicamp, a delayed training camp and no preseason games, this season could be different.

During a video conference call with media Tuesday, Steelers senior defensive assistant/secondary Teryl Austin indicated that the lack of time to try out new things could lead to more vanilla schemes.

“Because of the unusual offseason that we have had, I don’t think we will be ‘double teaching’ (two positions) to a lot of new guys and doing different things,” Austin said, referencing players such as rookie Antoine Brooks. “We will probably just kind of keep our guys strapped into one position and let them learn.”

The Steelers seemed intent on developing a reliable “dime” linebacker to use in passing situations. Brooks, Cameron Sutton and Marcus Allen are possibilities for the hypothetical role, although potential options broaden substantially to, say, moving starting safeties Terrell Edmunds or Minkah Fitzpatrick closer to the line of scrimmage and using another player to backfill at their strong- and free safety roles.

Aside from a sixth defensive back, the lack of typical practice time also could limit usage of schematic wrinkles such as blitzes on defense, or even in any number of looks/packages on offense.

Then again, another theory heading into the unprecedented circumstances of this NFL season is that more veteran teams and teams with plenty of continuity will benefit the most because they would not need the extra offseason on-field work as much.

Aside from two additions, the Steelers’ coaching staff remained the same. The top eight players who appeared in the most defensive snaps (and 13 of the most-used 15) return from last season. Offensively, it’s nine of the most-utilized 10 and 12 of the most-used 14 who are back.

Rookies such as Brooks or running back Anthony McFarland, for obvious reasons, are most behind the proverbial 8-ball when it comes to attaining a proficiency at being deployed at multiple spots schematically.

“It will be prudent to all (teams), globally, to be thoughtfully particular about what we ask our young guys to do because of those (coronavirus-affected practices) circumstances,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

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