Pair of Steelers rookies get acclimated to new role on the team

Of the 8 draft picks which made up the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2015 Draft class, nearly all are represented within the Steelers organization. Bud Dupree (1st round), Senquez Golson (2nd round - IR), Sammie Coates (3rd round), Doran Grant (4th round - Practice Squad), Jesse James (5th round), L.T. Walton (6th round) and Anthony Chickillo (6th round) are all within the Steelers' South Side facility getting used to the team, the facility and their first regular season within the professional ranks.

For two of these draft picks, they are getting used to new roles on the team. For Chickillo and Coates, life heading into Week 5 is vastly different than life heading into Week 4. Chickillo was recently promoted from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. Despite not being activated for a game yet, Chickillo's outlook has changed dramatically.

"They moved me up. Now I gotta get a ‘hat' and get on the field," Chickillo told Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "You've just got to keep competing, keep playing every day and going out to work every day to get better."

"I'm happy here," he said. "I really like being here and being around all the people around the organization, and the team is great."

"I'm getting a lot more comfortable," he said.

Many speculated Chickillo was added to the 53-man roster to avoid him being picked up by another NFL franchise, and when asked, Chickillo didn't confirm or deny such a thought. "I don't know if I can talk about it," the rookie said.

With Chickillo getting accustomed to life on the 53-man roster, fellow rookie Sammie Coates has been waiting for his chance to play, not just being placed on the roster. Coates got an extended look against the Ravens Sunday as he saw 27 offensive snaps, the highest total for his young career.

Coates was even able to haul in his first reception of his NFL career, but don't tell Coates he can take it easy now with his first catch under his belt.

"A catch is a catch. That's my job," Coates said. "It was great to get a catch in a game. But at the same time, that's part of the game."

For Coates, he has a taste of success at the professional level, and now it becomes a journey to duplicate such success on a weekly basis. "I'm just looking forward to many more opportunities. Any opportunity, I just want to take advantage of it," Coates said. "Go out and do my job. That's what I did that time."

For this duo of rookies, they are getting acclimated to their new roles on the Steelers 2015 roster, which is a welcome sign for a draft class heavily influencing the 2015 Steelers organization.