Pittsburgh Steelers: Notes and Quotes from Week 2 of Training Camp
As the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the second week of training camp, they were in the midst of their longest stretch of practices for the summer.
Six consecutive practices provided us with numerous newsworthy items that ranged anywhere from player development to injury updates. The Steelers even made some headlines with a trade, which will help rebuild the secondary.
So what have we learned during this time? Here are notes and quotes regarding the top storylines from the second week of training camp.
Emphasis on Kickoff Return
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Kick returns seemed like the perfect place for Dri Archer to make an impact as a rookie. However, he averaged just 17.9 yards per return on nine returns, and that is an area where the Steelers want to improve this season.
According to Ray Fititpaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, kick return was a “point of emphasis this offseason,” and special teams coach Danny Smith wants to improve field position for the offense.
“We need to improve our kickoff-return stuff,” Smith said. “We got off to a real slow start. We were bad early. We got decent, which made it just a below-average year. But we were awful early. We improved. That was a good thing. We have to continue that. We have to get better field position for our offense in that phase.”
Archer and Markus Wheaton were the team’s primary kick returns last season and are two of the top candidates this year, but Smith says the best man will earn the job.
“We’re going to play the best player,” Smith said to Fititpaldo. “It’s always been a Steelers philosophy. And I love that. There are some other guys in that mix. We’ll see who can do it and who can’t. With the five preseason games, that will give us a good indication.”
No matter how talented the offense, the Steelers want to begin their drives with good starting field position. Finding an answer at kick returner will provide a huge step forward to achieving that goal.
Mike Tomlin Influence on Defense
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Keith Butler is the new defensive coordinator, but he is not the only coach leaving his imprint on the defense. Head coach Mike Tomlin is taking a hands-on role during practices working the defensive backs, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"Mike Tomlin has been more actively involved in what the defense will be doing in 2015, and it’s already been evident at training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Tomlin has spent periods of several days this week working with the cornerbacks and safeties on zone coverages similar to what he employed when he was the secondary coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Prior to this season, Tomlin allowed former defensive coordinator—and Hall of Famer—Dick LeBeau to take full rein of the defense. However, with Butler at the helm, along with an infusion of youth, now was the perfect time for Tomlin to insert some of his expertise.
Several changes are already noticeable through the first week of camp, including the implementation of Cover 2 concepts and using the defensive linemen to generate pressure rather than just occupying blockers to free space for the linebackers.
Butler told Dulac he believes the scheme changes will help simplify the defense:
“It simplifies a lot of things,” Butler said. “If you’re reading routes, there is some stuff people can do when reading routes that gives you problems and, mentally, it taxes you. If you drop back and read the quarterback, how simple is that? I think it simplifies our defense, lets us be more aggressive and helps us use our speed.”
Although it is only practice, the early results are encouraging. The defense is aggressive and attacking the line of scrimmage. They have gotten the best of the offense when defending the run and are creating turnovers.
There is a long way to go before the defense returns to its dominant form, but the early signs show that Tomlin and Butler have this unit moving in the right direction.
Martavis Bryant Injury
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One of the Steelers top playmakers may miss the preseason opener on Sunday, according to Ross Jones of FOXSports.com:
"Steelers WR Martavis Bryant to undergo minor procedure for elbow infection, per source. Expected to be out 10 days, likely to miss HOF game.
— Ross Jones (@RossJonesFOX) August 1, 2015"
The procedure was precautionary, according to Tomlin, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:
"He should be back to us sooner rather than later," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "But it will be a couple of days. Making sure that's behind him. ... He had a bump or something on his elbow and it kind of graduated to [surgery]. We just exercised a little caution and got it removed."
Bryant quickly developed into a big-play threat during his rookie season, with 26 receptions for 549 yards and eight touchdowns. He is expected to make an even greater contribution this year and has performed very well in camp.
Rather than have his role limited to a deep threat, Bryant is developing into a well-rounded receiver and has become a dangerous option running routes across the middle of the field. Even with his improvement, he is not an established player yet.
Any rep he receives during practice—or during the preseason—will help, and missing upward of 10 days is a minor setback. However, with an extra week of practice and five preseason games, Bryant will have more than enough time to prepare for the regular season.
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Markus Wheaton Poised for Breakout Season
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Markus Wheaton received a significant endorsement from a high-profile teammate this week.
Ben Roethlisberger told SiriusXM NFL Radio he believes Wheaton will be the Steelers “breakout player of the year.”
"I want that. I want him to have that pressure," Roethlisberger said. "When we're in two-wide receivers he's our No. 2 and we're asking him to play outside. When we go three wide receivers, we ask him to move inside. So he's playing multiple positions."
Wheaton stepped in as the No. 2 receiver in 2014 and finished the season with 53 receptions for 644 yards and two touchdowns. While he doesn’t have the quickness of Antonio Brown or the natural size and speed of Martavis Bryant, Wheaton is still a talented option.
As he enters his third year, Wheaton looks more comfortable in the offense, and his quarterback has taken notice. With defenses focusing their attention on players such as Brown, Bryant and Le’Veon Bell, Wheaton could very well live up to Roethlisberger’s prediction and be Pittsburgh’s breakout player of the year.
Senquez Golson Shoulder Injury
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Senquez Golson was drafted to be a part of the rebuilt Steelers secondary, but after missing the first week of training camp, it was revealed that his injury could require surgery.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported surgery could cost Golson his rookie season. “The Steelers are considering several options for rookie cornerback Senquez Golson, including having him undergo season-ending shoulder surgery,” he said.
Golson told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com that the surgery option would be explored further next week.
"Just rehabbing it right now," Golson said. "We'll take a look at it in the next week."
Although Golson wasn’t necessarily slated to start this season, he could have competed for a spot as the slot corner. Ending the season on injured reserve would not only hurt the depth chart, but also it would be a setback to his development.
Steelers Trade for Brandon Boykin
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One of the top goals for the Steelers this past offseason was to upgrade at cornerback. They did just that by drafting Golson in the second round and Doran Grant in the fourth round. However, their biggest move came this past weekend when they traded for Brandon Boykin from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tomlin believed that with Golson’s injury, the Steelers needed to bolster their depth—and talent—at cornerback, via Steelers.com:
"We liked Boykin coming out, not only as a cornerback, but as a return man. He was established as a return man in his draft profile. He’s a heck of a guy. He’s a football guy. He’s a guy that makes plays above the neck and also has some physical talent. He’s just another NFL-capable veteran cornerback to put in the mix in a very competitive situation. We don’t have a lot of experience and there are some questions at the position. We don’t mind the lack of experience and the questions, but we need to have enough viable candidates. With Senquez [Golson] being out, we felt it was important to acquire another viable option to put in the mix and let those guys sort things out throughout the preseason.
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Boykin provides a significant boost to the defensive backfield, though his new teammates didn’t express much excitement, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
"If he's here to help us win games, I'm all for it,” said safety Will Allen.
Eric Galko of OptimumScouting.com spent time watching Boykin at practice on Monday and came away impressed:
"1. Boykin was best #Steelers outside/nickel CB. Closed easily, timed breaks well,finished underneath at catch point. Starter by end of camp?
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) August 3, 2015"
Boykin will work his way up the depth chart as camp progresses, but he was an impressive player to watch. As I watched practice, he immediately stood out with his ability to make plays on the ball, including a pass he batted away from Sammie Coates in a red-zone drill.
Not only did the Steelers find a talented cornerback for a fifth-round pick—or fourth-round pick based on playing time—but also he may already be the best corner on the roster and should compete for a starting spot for the regular season opener.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of ESPN.com, and roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com. Camp observations were obtained firsthand.
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