Steelers inside the ropes: Offense (finally) gets a TD in 2-minute drill — from Skylar Thompson

The defense starting out as ahead of the offense is a cliched mantra seemingly as old as training camp itself. That’s certainly been true this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers — almost unanimously, when it comes to the staged 2-minute drills.

Until Thursday, that is. But it took fourth-string quarterback Skylar Thompson to score the first touchdown in a 2-minute drill in eight tries over seven days.

Leading the second-teamers against the second-team defense after the top defense forced a turnover on downs by the Mason Rudolph’s No. 1 offense, Thompson connected on passes to Ben Skowronek and rookie Roc Taylor to set up a Lew Nichols touchdown run for a touchdown that ended Thursday’s practice at Saint Vincent.

The offense was scoreless over the first five possessions of staged hurry-up, end-of-game situations orchestrated by coach Mike Tomlin, going 0-for-2 at “Friday Night Lights” and Tuesday. On Wednesday, the second-teamers at least got a field goal (the rules of engagement for that particular possession).

Finally on Thursday, after Thompson took over at his own 40 with 1 minute, 40 seconds on the scoreboard at Chuck Noll Field, did an offensive touchdown result from a 2-minute drill.

The longest play was over the middle to a wide-open Skowronek (who beat D’Shawn Jamison), but the prettiest play was a back-shoulder catch by Taylor inside the 5-yard line along the left sidelines.

• Although Rudolph and the “starters” advanced via completions to Lance McCutcheon and Max Hurleman, a Yahya Black batted-down ball and an incompletion to McCutcheon set up a fourth-and-5 from the defense’s 41. Beanie Bishop knocked down a pass intended for rookie Ke’Shawn Williams, who was running an in route from the right side.

• The offense prevailed 4-3 in the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation that opens the team portion of practice. Jaylen Warren scored on a run up the middle to start the drill, but pressure from Derrick Harmon hastened Aaron Rodgers’ throw to Scotty Miller, who was well covered by Darius Slay on snap No. 2. But Rodgers, 41, showed some good mobility in dancing around defenders and taking off for the goal line before Juan Thornhill approached to “tackle” him — freeing up an easy flip to an open Brandon Johnson to make it 2-1 offense. Black batted down a Rudolph pass, but Rudolph answered with a flip to running back Evan Hull on the right side to set up Thompson’s lone snap: a completion to Williams in a soft spot of the zone defense. The first teams returned for the final snap: a connection between Rodgers and Miller that did not count because Miller did not get a second foot down in the back of the end zone.

• Scouting coordinator Casey Weidl made the call on that last snap while standing behind the end zone, waving his arms to signal incomplete. The offense protested playfully, with McCutcheon yelling, “Casey, you’re a hater!” Rodgers, too, had fun faux arguing with the gregarious Weidl.

• The “seven shots” snaps involving Rodgers and Rudolph alternated between a noticeably quick snap and a hard count. That’s surely intentional, training offensive players to stay still in a scheme to get some free plays when opponents jump offside.

• Roman Wilson is quietly starting to show some consistency after an uneven first week-plus start to camp. During a one-on-one drill, Wilson had a pretty deep catch from Rodgers after beating Jamison on a fade route, and he made two receptions in 11-on-11 play soon thereafter. A candidate for a prominent role in the offense, Wilson at one point reached for a nice catch on a crossing route.

• Wilson left practice briefly to be attended for a minor injury but was back in drills quickly. Later in practice, though, Wilson wasn’t ready for a long pass down the middle of the field from Rodgers that was threaded between a trio of defenders.

• Veteran Robert Woods had a long reception each from Rodgers and Rudolph. The second of which came not long after he appeared to misjudge a Rodgers throw while running down the left sideline in 11-on-11. Just a handful of plays later, though, Rudolph connected with Woods at a similar spot on the field (20 or so yards down the left side).

• Outside linebacker DeMarvin Leal left practice and appeared to be getting treatment on the sidelines on his neck/shoulder area. Leal missed the final 12 games of last season because of a neck injury.