PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A first interception of Steelers camp on Sunday as the team had the last of the first four days without pads. Mike Tomlin had an update on Russell Wilson, plus rookie LB Payton Wilson gets a lot of first team action.
QB1 update
Wilson threw during a couple of individual drills on Sunday, it’s the first time he’s done that this camp after suffering from calf tightness after pushing a sled on the first day of conditioning tests. Tomlin called him a ‘partial participant’ although he took no team snaps.
“We expect him to get going a bit as we come off this off-day,” Tomlin said. He later clarified that to mean Wilson will work in some team periods starting Tuesday, but didn’t say how much.
First INT
Corner Donte Jackson had the first pick of camp on either an underthrown ball by Justin Fields or miscommunication leading to an easy interception by the first-year Steeler.
“That’s what I’ve always been doing, making plays, getting around the ball,” said Jackson, who was acquired in the Diontae Johnson trade with Carolina. “Whatever it takes for the defense to get a winning edge.”
“I like his energy, I like his spirit,” Tomlin said. “He’s a football lover, he’s competitive, but we knew that about him before he got here. That’s why he’s here. He’s just confirming some of that.”
Payton Wilson also forced a turnover knocking it out of the arms of Pat Freiermuth during 11-on-11 drills.
“Credit to the coaches, every single day we are working on getting the ball out,” Wilson said. “It’s an emphasis every single meeting. Credit to coach Aaron Curry , Coach Teryl Austin and especially Coach Grady Brown , our takeaway coach, continuing every day to emphasize that we need to get the ball out.”
“When you’re working iron-on-iron like you do in this situation, there are winners and losers, and so obviously if the defense is doing a good job of searching the ball, that means we’ve got to do a better job securing it on offense,” Tomlin said. “And that’s the ebb and flow that is training camp. So, we’ll just keep working, challenge the offense to secure it more the next time we come out, and there’s going to be good days for one group, and thus it’s going to create negative days for the other.”
Payton Wilson competing
Payton Wilson confirmed on Sunday was the most work he’s had with the first team defense. The rookie, fourth-round pick was alongside Patrick Queen for most of the first team snaps.
“He’s a football junkie,” Wilson said of working with Queen. “There were certain little things he was able to show me today. I missed a pick and he came right over to me and said ‘your feet are like this’ and simple stuff like that. He’s one of the best people I’ve been around to be of that statue and be that humble and giving.”
Tomlin credited Payton Wilson for coming into training camp highly conditioned and it’s paying off.
Time for pads
After four days of no pads and a couple of practices under two hours, it gets more real on Tuesday as the pads come on for the first time since January.
“We’ll get into the real meat of this as we carry our pads next week and it will be more football-like,” Tomlin said. “Great opportunity to teach and learn, and a great opportunity to show what their capabilities are. So we’re really excited about that.”
7-shots (Steelers goal line drill from the 2.5 yard line)
· Najee Harris middle run for a TD (apparently overturned by Mike Tomlin)
· Justin Fields backpedaled to avoid the rush, threw a pass into the endzone and a diving catch by Scotty Miller
· Fields designed run left, untouched for TD
· Fields pass intended for George Pickens was tipped off-target by DL DeMarvin Leal
· QB Kyle Allen threw high to the back end line and Quez Watkins leaps to make a great catch keeping his feet inbounds.
· Allen to Marquez Callaway wide open back corner TD on a busted coverage
· LaMical Perine rush touchdown up the middle
Morning work
Off day on Monday and the first padded practice is at 10:30a on Tuesday at St. Vincent College.
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