Steelers rookie mini camp observations (Day 2)

[BigRob]

Once again its Kaboly, so take it how you want.

[URL="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2013/05/04/steelers-rookie-minicamp-observations-day-2/"]
Steelers rookie minicamp observations (Day 2)[/URL]
May 4th, 2013

[URL="http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/05/Landry.jpg"][/URL]Day 2 — the final day that the Steelers rookie camp is open to the media — started to reveal some players that have a legit shot of either making the 53-man roster, or at least being an option for the practice squad.

This is what I saw:

*Le’Veon Bell wasn’t able to show his power-running style during a pad-less practice, but the rookie second-round pick out of Michigan State sure showed his skill set. During a scramble, Oklahoma rookie quarterbackLandry Jones flung the ball awkwardly in the flat to Bell, who plucked the ball out of the air with one hand. Later on, Bell showed some nimble feet when broke through the line of scrimmage and made a move on safetyAndrew Taglianetti that almost broke the ankles of the rookie safety out of Pitt, who is on a three-day tryout with the Steelers. Very impressive so far, but let’s be honest here. He’s not being judged against NFL-caliber competition yet.

* It was yet another day of struggles for Jones. Now, his passes looked a little more crisp than Friday and he actually did complete a few during 7-on-7, but it also wasn’t pretty at times. Two passes in particular where awful by Jones. First, he tried to dump off a pass to diminutive USC running back Curtis McNeal after going through his progressions, but instead, he threw the ball right into the belly of WVU rookie linebacker Terrence Gavin for an easy score. Later on, Jones badly overthrew tight end Jamie McCoy across the middle that was intercepted by Pitt cornerback Jarred Holley. Like I said, it wasn’t all bad for Jones. He ran a couple designed waggles where he looked nimble, but again struggled with his accuracy. I know it hasn’t looked good for Jones in two days, but it has only been two days. He will get better, there is no doubt about that.

* First-year cornerback Isaiah Green out of Fresno State might be somebody to look out for. He intercepted a pass from Purdue QB Caleb Terbush intended for UConn first-year receiver Kashif Moore. Green followed that up a few plays later with by breaking up a pass down field.

* Rookie right tackle Mike Golic Jr. is a little undersized but was pretty physical on Northern Illinois rookie linebacker Alan Baxter. Penn State and Shady Side Academy tackle Mike Farrell looks like he might have a shot as well. Speaking of Farrell, I had a chance to talk to him for a couple minutes and he told me that Bill O’Brien‘s pro-style offense last year at PSU has helped him out tremendously during rookie camp.

* Standing out were Syracuse safety and fourth-round pick Shamarko Thomas during gunner drills; Utah rookie receiver Reggie Dunn and his crazy speed; fifth-rounder Terry Hawthorne and his smoothness at right corner; and the power and potential of first-year linebacker Marshall McFadden.

That’s all I have for now. The Steelers have a session on Sunday then won’t reconvene until the start of voluntary OTAs May 21. But don’t fret, we will still have plenty of Steelers coverage at the Tribune-Review.


– By Mark Kaboly

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Hey, this was a fun read, thanks Big Rob!

[DukieBoy]

Wow. Kaboly found his Yin. Pretty good read. Thanks.

[Rara]

Great read! Worried about Landry Jones...hopefully he turns things around, so far it hasn't been impressive. Really want this kid to make the team and also eventually be our franchise quarterback.

Other than that, must have been a quiet day for Jarvis Jones?

Le'Veon Bell is impressing me (even as a second round back)...however, I CAN'T WAIT to see his performance in pads!

[Mister Pittsburgh]

I'm sure Landry Jones is nervous as hell.

[SteelCrazy]

The thing about Bell is he would have been a 1st rd pick just a couple years ago. With a lot of teams focusing on their passing game it has rb's at more of a luxury then a necessity.

[flippy]

Guess these guys need to write something. This is like judging guys in a glorified combine.

[hawaiiansteel]

I'm sure Landry Jones is nervous as hell.

not to mention confused as hell with all of the new terminology being thrown at him.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

I'm not gonna judge Jones until he at least leads the team on one drive in the preseason

[Keyplay1]

Last year there were a lot of threads on this topic. Posters tried to pick out some of these players as possible keepers. But, with this years huge interest in the draft picks the UDFA's and returning 1 yr players have not received much attention.

At least that is what I was thinking until I did a Google on the Steelers minicamp. Extensive coverage would be putting it very mildly.

Anyway to sum it up the roster is at 90 right now. 41 players were at the minicamp. 33 of those listed on the roster were at the minicamp. Plus 8 others brought in for tryouts and not under contract. The link below has all the players. The link probably won't work but the address is correct.

Every year a few of these players are kept. Either on the PS or some like [ottmh] Golden , Victorian or McFadden get up to the 53. A little early to be guessing if any [besides the drafted players] have a shot.

From the article: "All nine draft picks are there, along with nine first-year players, 15 undrafted free agents who signed with the team and eight more rookies who are in town for a tryout." [All 41 are listed]

[url]http://cityofchampionssports.com/2013/05/03/pittsburgh-steelers-invite-41-players-to-rookie-mini-camp/[/url]

It's quite a while to TC/pre-season games when really these players have their chance to make the team but already there are a lot of reports on most of the players. Caleb Terbush?? the 44th ranked QB. Someone said he looked pretty good. Hmm!

[phillyesq]

If Kaboly doesn't like what he's seen so far from Landry Jones, I can only imagine that he is going to have a pro bowl future ahead of him.

[phillyesq]

Dale Lolley's take on mini-camp. Very positive things to say about the first four picks, and thinks that Embernate and Dunn have a shot at making the team.

[URL]http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/2013/05/rookie-camp-completed.html[/URL]

[steel50]

i think dunn makes the team

[hawaiiansteel]

First year players benefitted from minicamp too

Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

Last year Marshall McFadden attended Steelers’ rookie minicamp. Although he wasn’t officially a rookie, having finished his college career a year earlier but unsigned by any team, it was his first taste of an NFL camp. And it wasn’t easy.

“When I came in last year during rookie minicamp I was struggling to understand things because it was all so new to me,” said McFadden, the first-year linebacker from South Carolina State.

Things are a little different this year. McFadden was one of the first-year players permitted by NFL guidelines to attend the rookie minicamp last weekend, and it was the perfect opportunity for him to get a refresher course on the defense.

“It helped a lot,” said McFadden, who spent part of last season on the practice squad, and a limited time on the active roster. “Coming in this year and taking that step again, it was an introduction again. It was great for me because I got a better understanding because I had a year to develop. My mind is clear enough to understand it this year. It was a great refresher for me.”

Wide receiver Derek Moye understands what McFadden went through. He was signed as a rookie free agent by the Miami Dolphins last year and attended their rookie minicamp. He went through what a lot of the Steelers rookies went through during minicamp.

“Last year going into rookie camp your head is spinning,” said Moye. “First you don’t know where to line up, then you don’t know what route to run, if you are supposed to block. Everything is going 100 miles an hour. Once you know things, it starts to slow down for you, but then, it all moved so fast.”

Moye was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad last November, and in his short time with the team got some exposure to the playbook but limited reps in practice. The minicamp and the offseason program he has been participating in allow him to get a fresh look at the offense.

“It was definitely nice to be here for it,” said Moye. “I was here for some time last year, but being able to get experience and get the offense under my belt more is going to help me going into the OTAs and veteran minicamp and then training camp.

“Every time you get a chance to brush up on the offense it’s always a good thing. For a guy like me it’s a lot of help getting some one-on-one time with the coaches. It gives me a chance to show what I can do a little more. It helps me get the offense down to a T.”

Both players are hoping the minicamp gives them the springboard they need to not only be knowledgeable during OTAs, but to be competitive as they both battle for a roster spot.

“I can gain a real understanding for our plays, listening to Coach (Keith) Butler and Coach (Dick) LeBeau running through the fundamentals and helping with what I was struggling with last year,” said McFadden. “The most important thing is just understanding our plays, that we do things a certain way. It’s good when you get the opportunity to talk to your coach. When the older guys get here a lot of attention goes to them. During the rookie minicamp the coaches can spend more time with the younger guys and get a better feel for you. It makes you feel a lot more comfortable.

“I am classified as someone that has to take a big step this year. Once the OTAs start it can do nothing but help me by knowing what to do, playing faster, knowing where to be, where to go. This was perfect for it.”

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/First-year-players-benefitted-from-minicamp-too/979285c5-74e9-422f-8648-cc59d59d3f9a[/URL]

[SteelSpain]

With Spence out McFadden has a possibility of make the roster. It seems the two back up ILB spots should earn them among McFadden, Sly and Vince Williams.