Advertisement

Extended camp gives reserves a chance to make impression

Ray Fittipaldo 8 years ago

With an extra week of training camp this year, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is taking the opportunity to rest many of his veteran players. Many of them, like James Harrison, haven’t even participated in a practice yet while others are receiving reduced repetitions.

The byproduct is the coaching staff is getting a good look at many second- and third-teamers who otherwise wouldn’t be playing as much.

Here are some random thoughts on some young players who have stood out:

*Rookie sixth-round pick Anthony Chickillo has been more noticeable than first-round pick Bud Dupree. Chickillo has a knack for rushing the passer. He has a motor, and he competes well. It’s not that Dupreee has been disappointing, just that Chickillo has been able to make a few more plays.

The Steelers only kept three outside linebackers last year and Chickillo has at least four players (Harrison, Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats Bud Dupree) in front of him on the depth chart, but he is making the staff take a long hard look at him.

*The newest offensive lineman is holding his own in drills. The Steelers signed Kevin Palmer shortly before camp started because Mike Adams had back surgery. Palmer was undrafted out of Baylor and is already with his third team this year. He originally signed with the Cardinals and was cut in May. The Chiefs picked him up but cut him in June.

*Palmer has been taking reps at right tackle and has more than held his own the first couple of days the team has practiced in pads. In a run-blocking drill against 2014 practice squad player Ethan Hemer, Palmer twice reached Hemer and pushed him three or four yards down the field.

Some other observations from one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive lines on Thursday:

*Ramon Foster had a rough time in one-on-one pass rush drills. He was twice matched up with Cam Heyward and twice was beaten baldy. On the first rush, Heyward pulled Foster forward and easily got into the backfield. On the second he executed a bull rush and pushed Foster backward.

*Kelvin Beachum and Jarvis Jones went at it three times in a row. After Jones got the better of Beachum on the first rep, Beachum won the final two. On the second one, he muscled Jones to the ground. It was only one snapshot from a long practice but it was too reminiscent of Jones struggling to get off blocks and show any kind of violent force.

*Right tackle Marcus Gilbert didn’t get lazy the year after signing a big contract. He was impressive again on Thursday. In a run-blocking drill, he had a pancake block against Stephon Tuitt, last year’s second-round pick.

*Cody Wallace is getting the first-team reps at center with Maurkice Pouncey on the PUP list and playing well for the most part. He won one and lost one against starting nose tackle Steve McLendon in the one-on-one pass rush drill.

*The Steelers hold their annual night practice tonight at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.