The Pittsburgh Steelers technically reported to training camp on Wednesday, but the only thing accomplished on that day, other than moving in and talking to media, was the mundane conditioning test.
Thursday was when the fun began.
The Steelers took to the field for their first day of training camp, and although there wasn’t a ton of news leaving the fields at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, there were a few things certainly noteworthy.
First, what most wanted to see the most was how the defense lined up. No, not whether they ran a 3-4 or a 4-3, but who lined up at which position. Who played Inside Linebacker alongside Vince Williams? Who were the safeties, and at what positions?
Fans were given an answer to those questions, although on Day 1 it’s hardly set in stone. According to several sources, Tyler Matakevich was the starting inside linebacker, with Sean Davis at Free Safety and Morgan Burnett Strong Safety
Matakevich, Morgan Burnett, Sean Davis part of the first-team defense. No surprises, Dupree at ROLB and Watt LOLB.
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 26, 2018
Offense status quo as well. James Conner RB1. Marcus Tucker got some a lot reps with 1st-team offense.
Besides James Conner working as the starting running back and Marcus Tucker getting lots of reps, Eli Rogers started camp on the PUP list.
Other than the above information, it was a pretty typical first day at training camp. No one was particularly looking to suffer a pulled muscle or sprain on the very first day, so coaches will likely be waiting until Saturday when the players can put the pads on and start hitting each other for real.
But if you’re hungry for some nuggets of information, there were some of those coming from practice as well. Let’s dig into the Day-1 tidbits:
Pick Six
Artie Burns, going head-to-head vs. Antonio Brown as usual, took advantage of a poorly-thrown Ben Roethlisberger pass and took it the distance. At least he caught it...
Ben releases out route to ABrown, yells “NO!” as the ball is in flight — Artie Burns picks it off and runs it back for a “pick 6”
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) July 26, 2018
Slim Ben
It looks as if Ben Roethlisberger is starting to take this conditioning thing a little more seriously entering his 15th season in the NFL. Hey, it only took 15 seasons...
Ben Roethlisberger said he cut out sugar and carbs to lose weight this offseason, hoping to ‘lighten the load’ on his knees after two surgeries and prolong his career. pic.twitter.com/hbsp7vFHFm
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 26, 2018
OC Trinity
Ben Roethlisberger let it slip to reporters that Bruce Arians, his former Offensive Coordinator, will be working the Week-1 game at the Browns. Just imagine Arians, Todd Haley and Randy Fichtner all in the same room — man the stories they could tell.
This should be juicy. Via Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Arians will work Steelers at Browns opener for CBS. Arians fired as Steelers coordinator for Todd Haley, fired by Steelers this year & hired by Browns. Ben: “Interesting to say the least”
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) July 26, 2018
First ‘7 Shots’ of the years goes to the ‘O’
Landry Jones hit James Washington for the deciding tally.
Offense wins 7 shots with Landry Jones throwing a TD to James Washington on the final one for a 4-3 win. Beat sensebaugh, who had broken one up earlier to him. #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) July 26, 2018
VIDEOS
#LIVE: Coach Tomlin addresses the media following our first practice at #SteelersCamp. https://t.co/Agll2v888J
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 26, 2018
Ben Roethlisberger on the team, his health and thoughts on his 15th #SteelersCamp. pic.twitter.com/tUF9xUTxo7
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 26, 2018
No truth that Antonio Brown is riding around in one of these bad boys today. pic.twitter.com/KjaLp7NxZW
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) July 26, 2018
Tuitt: "We gotta push each other every day." pic.twitter.com/TCRnVSkxs9
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 27, 2018
PHOTOS
Have a feeling Mr. Rooney had something to do with this. #steelers pic.twitter.com/53xGOAxOo8
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) July 25, 2018
Mike Tomlin takes break to meet James Franklin at camp. pic.twitter.com/7Cz28Pnewt
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) July 26, 2018
Offense getting started at first training camp practice for Steelers at Saint Vincent pic.twitter.com/FwpTZT8LTV
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) July 26, 2018