Steelers inside the ropes: Mike Tomlin opts for pads, physical practice ensues

Practices taking place days before a game in the NFL typically are glorified walkthroughs. Not Thursday for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the caveat, of course, that it is merely the preseason, the Steelers’ game Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks was preceded by Thursday’s practice (teams are always off the day before a game) for which Steelers coach Mike Tomlin opted for full pads. And Tomlin chose drills that allowed him to openly encourage hitting.

The Steelers repped plenty of running plays, they had linemen work on one-on-one blocking drills and they ran what arguably was one of the most enthusiastic drills of the three weeks so far at Saint Vincent.

Tomlin lined up defensive backs on one side about 5 yards from the sideline nearest the Chuck Noll Field bleachers at midfield, the wide receivers and running backs on the other. The players at the front of each line stood about 15 yards apart with their backs to each other when a staffer threw a “pass” to the offensive player, who then had to elude a tackle from the defender in the space between the sideline and the lined-up players.

Tomlin was an engaged observer, barking out compliments to the “winners” and needling the “losers.” The crowd in the packed bleachers reacted, cheering as loud as they did all day. Players on each side reacted excitedly to tackles and when ball-carriers made it past defenders.

While some opted for spin moves, jukes or leaps, oftentimes the offensive player went for barreling over the would-be tackler, something that consistently drew demonstrative reactions from Tomlin.

• No one, perhaps, did that more than running back Master Teague, the 220-pound former Ohio State star who signed last week. Teague’s preferred running style was to seek contact, once running over rookie cornerback Chris Steele, and later doing the same to rookie linebacker Mark Robinson. The latter elicited wide eyes and an “ooooo” from Tomlin, who said, “Yes, yes, yes. Run it over again!” Robinson made it a point to initiate contact on the second rep — and the gathered players all but demanded Tomlin allow the duo to try Round 3. Robinson made a shoestring tackle on this one after Teague opted for a more finesse approach.

• Even the quarterbacks watched intently. Tomlin, at one point, said, “(Mason) Rudolph, you want some? You want some?” Rudolph answered in the affirmative, but Tomlin said, “No you don’t.” Tomlin then laughed when he yelled, “(Mitch) Trubisky can do it because he’s a dual threat!”

• Rookie receiver George Pickens was tackled hard by James Pierre on one rep, but a clearly irritated Pickens insisted Tomlin run it back with the same duo. The next time, Pickens opted to leap over Pierre. The second-round pick earlier had similarly hurdled Karl Joseph. Pickens continues to wow on an almost-daily basis with displays of athleticism.

• If Teague was the star of the offense in the drill, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was the most valuable defender. Among other stops, Fitzpatrick forced a fumble by receiver Anthony Miller. Later, he dropped receiver Gunner Olszewski on consecutive reps.

• The battle for backup running back is intriguing, especially with starter Najee Harris and incumbent No. 1 backup Benny Snell out with injuries. Teague’s hard running is fun to watch, and he had nice carries in team drills, though Teague dropped a screen pass in a late 7-on-7 play near the goal line. Anthony McFarland touched the ball three successive plays during the team drill that ended practice, on a wheel route (taken for a touchdown), a carry and quick screen. Rookie Jaylen Warren had another pair of long runs, something he’s done with frequency this camp. Warren looked good bouncing off tacklers in the second level during one.

• The offense had success running up the middle over the past two days of camp, perhaps an indication the offensive line (the first and second units) are coming together.

• Steven Sims stood out as a receiver Thursday, catching a pass from Trubisky 15 yards downfield during a team drill, finishing the play for a 55-yard touchdown. With injuries afflicting the receivers corps, Sims was taking some reps with the first-team offense.

• Cornerback Ahkelllo Witherspoon had a pass from Trubisky in his hands but dropped it. Witherspoon, in disbelief, ran 50 yards to the goal post and playfully hid behind it in shame.

• Two signees in their first practice with the Steelers made plays that stood out: Outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed at one point bull-rushed Chuks Okorafor to get a good push into the backfield. Receiver Christian Blake had two catches during the final team period (one each from Pickett and Rudolph), the second of which he finished by running into the end zone on the final rep as the horn sounded to end practice.

• Trubisky directed scores on three of his four snaps in the seven shots daily 2-point conversion simulation. Pickett went 1 for 2, but the score was an Olszewski end around. Rudolph’s lone play was an incomplete pass to Cody White.

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