Steelers inside the ropes: Interceptions prominent as reserve defensive backs have their day

Ben Roethlisberger once left Saint Vincent College proud of himself for accomplishing his self-dictated goal for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2017 training camp.

“Didn’t throw an interception all camp,” Big Ben beamed when camp broke that August. “So that was good.”

Not so good, then, during Tuesday’s practice was when Steelers quarterbacks threw no fewer than three interceptions in 11-on-11 play. Two came on the fourth and fifth full-team snaps of the day, during the “Seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation that traditionally opens team drills.

The first was by safety DeShon Elliott, off a Justin Fields pass that was tipped by defensive lineman Montravius Adams. That was Fields’ first throw of the day in team drills, and on the very next snap it was the first throw of the day for Kyle Allen. He, too, was picked off, this time by reserve safety Nathan Meadors.

Allen threw another interception late in practice, this one by veteran cornerback Anthony Averett on a ball tipped by nickel d-back Thomas Graham Jr.

Though Elliott is a starter, the plays by Meadors, Averett and Graham were part of a strong day by backups in the secondary.

The second-team defense was stout against second-teamers on offense in a practice-ending 2-minute drill simulation. Allen threw four consecutive incompletions at one point, stalling the “drive.”

A little earlier in practice, Graham came on a blitz and was untouched. He surely would have sacked Allen if play was allowed to continue.

• Among guests watching practice today were rock vocalist Bret Michaels of “Poison” fame, Pirates manager Derek Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington. Also on hand was former Steelers star linebacker Joey Porter, who of course is the father of the current team’s top cornerback.
• The Steelers were back in pads Tuesday following an off day Monday. As the team was lining up to begin “Seven shots,” coach Mike Tomlin yelled repeatedly: “Tackle football. Tackle football!”
• Unofficially, the offense prevailed in “Seven shots” by taking four of the seven snaps. Three were on running plays, two of which perhaps could be disputed that the player crossed the goal line: runs up the middle by Najee Harris and Aaron Shampklin. Fields also scored on a read-option, and Russell Wilson – making his “Seven shots” debut – fired a strike to George Pickens in the right of the end zone. Pickens easily reeled in the ball over Damontae Kazee.
• Usage of fullback Jack Colletto was prominent Tuesday, particularly in “Seven Shots.” He cleared the way for the Harris and Shampklin scores and was also the lead blocker when Harris was stopped just short on a run.
• Meadors left practice because of a hamstring injury, and defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal departed because of an undisclosed ailment. Starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and reserve inside linebacker Tyler Murray were referenced by Tomlin as having a groin ailments. Linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J Watt and guard Isaac Seumalo largely were starters who were non-participants in practice because of minor injuries and/or regular veteran rest.
• It was a much lower-profile staging than what was run during the first padded practice or “Friday Night Lights,” but a short period featured “backs on backers.” At midfield of the field closest to the stands at Chuck Noll Field, inside linebackers rushed against blocking running backs. On the corner of Field 2, tight ends attempted to “pass protect” versus outside linebackers.
• With Troy Fautanu running with the first team throughout practice and Mason McCormick getting plenty of first-team reps as well, at one point during an 11-on-11 drill the Steelers had an offensive line that could portend their future. From right to left: Fautanu, Spencer Anderson, Zach Frazier, McCormick and Broderick Jones. All five were rookies or second-year players who were taken over the past two drafts, and to varying degrees all are projected staters or candidates to start in 2024 or as soon as 2025.
• The aforementioned 2-minute drill began with a clock reading 1 minute and 41 seconds and one timeout assigned to the offense. After Allen’s “fourth-down” pass clanged off of the facemask of a well-covered Jaray Jenkins, Tomlin signaled for the drill to proceed anyway. Allen eventually found Quez Watkins in the back left corner of the end zone for a touchdown pass of about 15 yards in front of nickel back Beanie Bishop.
• Backup running backs Jonathan Ward and La’Michal Perine had long runs within quick succession of each other during an 11-on-11 run period.