The Pittsburgh Steelers are only days away from turning the page from Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and looking ahead to Mandatory Minicamp next week. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, let's recap the news and events from Day 9 of OTAs at the Steelers' South Side practice facility.
DHB spitting knowledge on the team's offense
Heyward-Bey on the offense:"We got a lotta weapons, & that’s what makes us so dynamic..We were #2 in the league–and we’re striving to be #1"
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
DHB: "You gotta learn what’s called ‘route speed.’ You can’t go 4.2 every route...Once Dri gets that down, he’s gonna be pretty unstoppable"
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
D.Heyward-Bey on Martavis Bryant:"Aw man, he’s grown so much....Ben’s trusting him right now, because he’s being where he’s supposed to be."
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
Darrius Heyward-Bey might not have the best resume compared to other wide receivers in the team's meeting room, but he does have experience and his thoughts on the team's offense seems to be very poignant and spot on. Heyward-Bey gives insight on how players are doing in practice, as well as how they are viewed within the organization.
So are the days in Archer's life
Dri Archer has been bouncing around day to day from WR to RB. "Today,"WR coach Richard Mann said,"we had him. "He's gotten a little better."
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
Dri Archer is a versatile football player, and one fast human being. Archer continues to try and find his niche within the offense, and continues to bounce back and forth between running back and wide receiver. Today, Archer was seeing time at receiver and got an average review from Coach Mann.
No play...no pay
NFL players make $195 a day for attending offseason workouts but need to attend at least 3 during a week or get $0
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 11, 2015
Interesting bit of knowledge from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly regarding player's pay during these off season workouts.
Todd Haley offensive notes
Todd Haley:"We gotta make sure when we’re in an area of the field that we can get pts that we get pts. B/c those add up surprisingly quick."
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
Haley said RB reps in camp won't change much with Bell's impending suspension "We have to get everybody ready."
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 10, 2015
Haley said that Devin Gardner hasn't been exclusively moved to QB.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 10, 2015
Quarterbacks coach talking crazy
Randy Fichtner on Landry Jones "He's gotten better throwing the ball down the field."
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 10, 2015
"I coach them all as they are starting quarterback. If I can get Landry Jones to be better than Ben Roethlisberger then we all win" FIchtner
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 10, 2015
Not sure what Randy Fichtner is getting at, but his take on Landry Jones certainly isn't common among Steelers fans across the globe. Training camp will be a big battle for the No. 3 quarterback role on the team.
The wide receiver plan
So far, Sammie Coates is staying on the outside ("Z") WR spot. WR coach Mann says Martavis/Wheaton "interchangeable" (slot/"Z") in 3-WR sets
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 10, 2015
A lot of discussion and debate has been made regarding the Steelers' two wide receivers Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant. It seems the team sees them as interchangable in their approach to how they can best help the team in 2015.
The Steelers' final OTAs will be held Thursday, be sure to check BTSC early and often for the best Steelers coverage on the internet.