Ten things learned at Steelers Minicamp
It didn’t look like I was going to be able to do it, so I skipped lunch on the second day of practice and was able to learn these Ten Things From Rookie Minicamp about the Pittsburgh Steelers:
1. We may squabble about the nits with the picks, but when you see Artie Burns and Sean Davis on the field you realize the secondary has added two long, lean, sleek and fluid athletes. It may take them some time to make an impact, but to me it looks like Burns has the talent and brains to add zone coverage to his man skills and it looks like Davis will become an effective wild-card in coverage as well as a smart blitzer who knows how to pick the right spots.
2. Davis is smart off the field, too. After Saturday’s practice, a reporter asked him if he had ever watched, “Say, Rob Gronkowski, on TV and said to yourself, ‘If I did this, I could cover that guy.'”
As Davis thought about the question, I said to myself, ‘Don’t answer this, kid. Don’t try to be helpful right here, because this could blow up in your face in a way you can’t understand right now.’ Davis finally answered, “No, not really.”
3. The Steelers had six defensive backs ranked in their upper tier on draft day, with the only safety being Keanu Neal. Burns was the last of the six to go and they weren’t interested in listening to any trade offers at all.
At. All.
4. I learned that Mike Tomlin likes to call No. 83 out of Virginia “UVA,” as in “Way to finish UVA!” after the undrafted rookie, 6-2 wide receiver Canaan Severin, caught a pass in the middle of the field and managed to matriculate himself down the field for a score.
I also learned that Severin was honored to have been given Heath Miller’s jersey number and had always been thrilled when Miller went back to Virginia to talk to the young players.
5. Even when Javon Hargrave, the 305-pound defensive tackle drafted in the third round, stays too tall when he runs through the chute, he still stays plenty low to the ground in clearing the metal bars easily. And he has what scouts call a “big bubble.” It really stands out when he chases the ball down the field, which seems to already be a habit for the rookie.
His position coach, John Mitchell, has to be pleased with the rookie’s hustle. But has been doing a great job of looking unimpressed.
6. Undrafted outside linebacker Tyriq McCord told a newspaper reporter Friday that he had “turned some heads” at the first practice. But the only time my head turned was when he was being tended to by the team trainer on the sideline.
Nah, in all seriousness, McCord did take well to Joey Porter’s teachings and smacked the bags with distinction.
7. Porter’s two sons, ages 15 and 14, and Tomlin’s two sons, who are even younger, look like outstanding young football players and came off — during “Bring Your Kids To Work Weekend” — as outstanding and polite young men.
All of them will be at North Catholic, and I think first we’ll hear from Porter’s oldest, who’s tall, fast and has great hands. The boys are working with the players and coaches and truly are talented. All of them. And the rumor going around among reporters is that Burns, who’s moving into the area, might enroll his brother at North Catholic as well. That young man has already committed to Miami.
8. Number 24, a diminutive running back who juked his way to daylight, was so impressive on the play that one of the Steelers’ PR men noticed me, about 50 yards away, looking through my roster and not finding his name. I turned to go find out about this running back but the PR man was already there to tell me his name is Brandon Brown-Dukes out of Mercyhurst.
I’m not sure if I was more impressed with the runner or the PR man who read my mind, but the runner turned the corner so quickly a few snaps later that he got the nod.
9. One of the undrafted rookies who’s considered to have a chance — according to the little birdie who used to help the late, great Myron Cope — is defensive lineman Johnny Maxey (6-4 1/4, 293) out of Division II Mars Hill University. I talked to the big man after practice and will have a feature coming soon to a media outlet near you.
10. Demarcus Ayers, the seventh-rounder drafted for his return skills, also has some fine receiving ability. He grabbed one deep and on the run, and he also caught one short and in traffic.
I thought I might learn one more thing, just for a Mother’s Day bonus, but was stymied in my attempt to understand why sixth-round pick Travis Feeney, the bubbly linebacker with local ties, sat out some of the drills.
Perhaps he’s still nagged by that sports hernia, but I will find out for sure and write another column.
Haha, don’t say you weren’t warned.