Steelers inside the ropes: Competitive practice start to finish, as Tomlin pits offense vs. defense

Perhaps Mike Tomlin was setting an early tone that would endure throughout Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practice. During the “seven shots” two-point conversion simulation drill that opens 11-on-11 play drills day, Tomlin made a call he has rarely if ever made during a seven shots at Saint Vincent College.

He brought the first-teamers back on for the seventh snap, wanting the starters to decide the rubber match. Typically, the first team handles the first 3-4 snaps, and backups come in to close out the drill.

“It was 3-3,” Tomlin said, referencing how offense and defense split the first six snaps. “(So) just to stoke the competition, get those (starting) guys back out there and let them compete and be leaders for the other groups. You hate to have the drill riding on the pups.”

Tomlin’s attempt to “stoke the competition” seemed to work, as a spirited practice ensued over the final hour and 45 minutes. Players chirped back and forth, and the offense and defense units enthusiastically cheered positive plays. Practice ended with the yellow-clad defense marching seemingly in unison to the middle of the field to meet the approaching white-jerseyed offense approaching from the other side.

The defense “won” the final drill, a simulation of game play, with pass breakups in each of the final three snaps. Good-natured trash talk ensued from the defensive backs, and defensive captain Cameron Heyward playfully waved his hand back and forth as if to say, “bye bye” to the offense at large.

• The offense won seven shots via an easy pitch-and-catch from Kenny Pickett to Diontae Johnson, who executed a quick pivot route against Chandon Sullivan right in front of the goal line on the right side.
• The defense held during Pickett’s other three pass attempts into the end zone (the offense took a 1-0 lead on a Najee Harris run up the middle) – breakups by Levi Wallace (intended for Allen Robinson) and Joey Porter Jr. (intended for George Pickens). Pickens, who’d gotten the better of the rookie many times during camp, stared down at his open palms in disbelief after this rare instance in which he did not come down with a catch that hit his fingers. Porter appeared to bask in his win of the rep.
• Mitch Trubisky had scoring throws to tight ends Connor Heyward and Rodney Williams during his seven shots reps.
• Tomlin at various points expressed as much frustration as he typically ever will during a practice that at times was sloppy with false starts and missed assignments. “Get in the game!” Tomlin yelled once. “Clean up the (expletive) blocks!” After one team rep in which several players jumped early, another coach from the sidelines yelled in, “Wake the (bleep) up!”
• Safety Elijah Riley at one point was the target of defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s ire when Riley was on the field for a play in which running back Anthony McFarland turned the corner on an outside run. But Riley atoned later when he intercepted a Trubisky pass intended for Calvin Austin III.
• The only other interception of team drills was by James Pierre in the end zone during seven-on-sevens.
• The practice featured full pads and multiple drills that called for full tackling, along with plenty of run-game reps.
• Rookie Darnell Washington caught a tight end screen during a live 11-on-11 period, and the 6-foot-7 man known as “Mount” barreled down the left side for a gain of approximately 20 yards. Later, Washington extended his hands up in stride as he crossed the goal line to corral a high-velocity pass from Mason Rudolph from 20 yards out in seven-on-seven play.
• In the second practice after his NFL preseason debut in which he played at three spots along the offensive line, rookie Spencer Anderson for the first time during camp took live reps at center. Though he likely was culpable for a false start, Anderson during one run-play rep made his way 30 yards downfield blocking down the sideline.
• Austin had a long catch roughly 30 yards down the left sideline, beating Wallace and Damontae Kazee.
• Big, 6-foot-5 receiver Hakeem Butler has had his issues with drops during this camp, but he had two consecutive nice catches in team drills Tuesday. One was a 20-yard touchdown in seven-on-seven play.
• With Kazee and Keanu Neal ramping back up to full participation after injury absences, Tuesday’s practice featured plenty of three-safety defensive sets.
• Pressley Harvin III and Braden Mann alternated punting reps, with Harvin seeming to get the better both in terms of hangtime/distance and consistency in avoiding shanks.
• Austin, Heyward, McFarland and rookie Jordan Byrd were the deep men for kickoff return reps.
• Only two open practices remain at Saint Vincent, the first at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.

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