Training Camp 8/15

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers Training Camp Nuggets: What you need to know from the 8/15 practice

Getting you caught up on another training camp practice, less than 4 days before their second preseason game.

by Kelly Anozie

Aug 17, 2017, 9:30am EDT

With camp reaching its final stretch, the boys were back in full gear today, for another camp day at St. Vincent College. The storylines in today’s session: the return of many Steelers players including one from the PUP list, a future hall of fame quarterback making it look too easy in today’s play of the day, and an alien-like receiver showing why he will be a force to be reckoned this season.

So Steelers fans, let’s go!

Injury Report:

Today’s news was excellent on the injury front. After weeks on the PUP list, wide receiver Sammie Coates was officially activated, adding to the depth of the already deep Steelers receiving corps. Coates as reported by Steelers analyst Tunch Ilkin and reporter Dale Lolley, participated in one-one-ones and the ‘seven shots’ drill. As reported by Missi Matthews of Steelers.com , All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey was back in pads and participated in some individual drills, but did not participate in ‘seven shots’ or any of the team drills.

Rookie cornerback Cameron Sutton was also seen on the field working in the individual drills, but did not participate in any of the contact drills. Rookie running back James Conner was in full gear and was an active participant in contact drills. Quarterback Landry Jones was also back on the field, but his participation was limited to individual drills. Lastly, wide receiver Demarcus Ayers was seen dressed in his pads, but different reports showed that he did not partake in any of the drills.

The remaining list of players who did not participate in today’s session: Ryan Shazier(hamstring), Senquez Golson (hamstring), Mike Mitchell (lower body), and Keion Adams (shoulder).

Play of the Day:

As described by ESPN Senior writer Jeremy Fowler, future hall of fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger executed a behind-the-back flip pass to rookie receiver Juju Smith-Schuster for a goal line touchdown. The played elicited a series of ‘woos’ and a little shimmy dance by Roethlisberger.

Training Camp Action:

AB vs. Artie B! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/hWBr6yR8Dn
— Blitzburgh (@Steel_Curtain4) August 16, 2017

Video provided by @Steel_Curtain4

Hines Ward looks at Martavis Bryant looking one in. pic.twitter.com/0ntSzCIneB
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) August 16, 2017

Picture provided by @DVEMike

Notable Performers:

Martavis Bryant - Today was officially Bryant’s second practice (not counting yesterday since they were not in pads), and he was dominant, as expected. As reported by @Steel_Curtain4 , Bryant accounted for two touchdowns in one-one-ones against cornerback Ross Cockrell, one of which blew past him. If he wasn’t difficult enough to handle when he was under 211 lbs and unfocused, he is going to be a nightmare for cornerbacks at 6’5, 230 lbs, and with a renewed sense of passion for the game of football.

Jacob Hagen - Though his name does not get mentioned enough, the truth is that Hagen has had a solid training camp. As reported by @Steel_Curtain4, Hagen accounted for an interception off of quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and a pass breakup. From all accounts, he has a better showing in training camp than fellow safties Robert Golden and Jordan Dangerfied. Hagen has come a long way from being released twice from the team in 2016, and upcoming preseason games could be his chance to gain serious consideration for the 53-man roster.

Joshua Dobbs - Dobbs, the boy wonder, is one of the most resilient players that Steelers have had in a while. Whenever Dobbs makes a mistake, he has this incredible ability to process it, let it go, then respond in a positive way. In the two minute drill, as noted in Fowler post-practice report, Dobbs started with two near-interceptions. Dobbs stayed focused and ended up going 7-for-10 with a touchdown pass to receiver Eli Rogers at the end of the session. Making mistakes is part of being a rookie, but Dobbs is seemingly embracing this process rather than letting it affect him.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2017/8/17/16159092/steelers-training-camp-nuggets-what-you-need-to-know-from-the-8-15-practice-nfl-martavis-bryant

[RuthlessBurgher]

Coates under the microscope
Posted 16 hours ago

By Mike Prisuta

Tomlin pays close attention to receiver's return from P.U.P. list.

LATROBE, Pa. _ Wide receiver Sammie Coates was back and head coach Mike Tomlin wasted no time stressing the need for urgency upon Coates’ return.

“You gotta grab that, one-four,” Tomlin emphasized after Coates made contact with a pass from quarterback Joshua Dobbs but failed to finish a combat catch while working against cornerback Greg Ducre in a wide receivers/defensive backs, 1-on-1 drill.

The play was similar to one Coates hadn’t made while working against Ducre in “Seven Shots.”

Coates, activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list this morning, also heard from Tomlin after wide receiver Justin Hunter went up for a ball and came down with a toe-tap touchdown along the sideline in the end zone in the wide receivers/cornerbacks 1-on1 work.

“Sammie, he’s grabbing that,” Tomlin said. “You gotta start grabbing that.

“Two dogs, one bone; I’m going to start applying pressure.”

Coates caught a touchdown pass working against cornerback Artie Burns in the drill.

On his last rep, Coates went up and extended for a catch but came down just out of bounds while working against cornerback JaCorey Shepherd.

MEDICAL FILE: Wide receiver Demarcus Ayers, cornerback Cam Sutton, safety Mike Mitchell, cornerback Senquez Golson, linebacker Ryan Shazier, center Maurkice Pouncey, guard Ramon Foster, outside linebacker James Harrison and outside linebacker Keion Adams were among the players who didn’t practice or were limited due to injury or a coach’s decision.

Quarterback Landry Jones and outside linebacker Bud Dupree were among those who returned to practice, along with Bryant.

SEVEN SHOTS: The offense won the drill, 4-3, on a conversion/touchdown pass from Dobbs to wide receiver Eli Rogers at the goal line. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit conversion/touchdown passes to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (a shovel pass), wide receiver Martavis Bryant and wide receiver Antonio Brown on the first three reps. Roethlisberger threw incomplete for tight end Jesse James on his final rep.

Dobbs was unable to hook up with Coates and wide receiver Cobi Hamilton before the pass to Rogers.

BEAT THE CLOCK: The Steelers worked on the two-minute drill for the third consecutive practice. The offense was tasked with moving 68 yards for a touchdown in 1:43, with two timeouts at its disposal. Dobbs and the second-team offense got it done against the first-team defense on a drive that finished with a fade to Rogers over cornerback William Gay on a snap from the 3-yard line with five seconds remaining. Quarterback Bart Houston’s series ended on consecutive passes defensed by cornerback Mike Hilton on throws for wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

QUICK HITTERS: Running back James Conner got reps with Roethlisberger’s group in “Seven Shots” and in a third-down dill. Conner also got multiple carries in the 11-on-11 “tackle football” period. His first three attempts lost a combined 5 yards but he eventually broke free for a gain of about 15. Conner was also used extensively in a red zone drill and participated in both two-minute series … Safety Jacob Hagen intercepted Dobbs in 11-on-11 work … Former Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth was among the visitors to Saint Vincent College.

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Coates-under-the-microscope/822ce324-bdf0-436a-9156-15c052a605c6