Steelers Training Camp: What we’ve learned so far

The Steelers recently started padded practices. Here’s what we’ve learned so far about Pittsburgh in their 2020 training camp.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp looks entirely different in 2020. In year’s past, fans from every direction could come and sit on the hillside at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe and study the players first-hand for hours on end. Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of sitting in on practices this year.

Instead, fans are forced to get their information from the select few media personnel allowed at Heinz Field right now, and they aren’t allowed to say much. Fortunately, thanks to player and coach interviews, there are still some tidbits of insight we have been able to come away with so far in 2020. Here’s some of what we’ve learned early in Steelers training camp:

Matt Feiler is playing left guard, battle at RT

Though this was the suspicion we had all along, this move is now confirmed by Mike Tomlin. Matt Feiler will step in a left guard and fill in for the recently retired Ramon Foster. Feiler started has some experience moving around the offensive line early in his career, and apparently, Tomlin is comfortable with his ability to catch on quickly.

In his stead, Zach Banner and Chukwuma Okorafor will battle it out at right tackle. Without preseason games, it’s hard to tell who will emerge victorious, but Tomlin hasn’t hidden his love for Banner, and he is likely to earn the starting right tackle role.

Benny Snell transformed his body

Benny Snell was never in bad shape, and this is hardly the first time we have seen a big Steeler running back transform their body entering year two (e.g. Le’ Veon Bell and James Conner). Conner recently spoke praise of Snell to the media, saying that he’s slim, fast, and in shape.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks that Snell is going to lock down the number two running back role, but admitted that the James Conner will be given every opportunity.

RB by committee unlikely

Speaking of running backs, Dulac spoke to Bob Pompeani of KDKA during the Steelers Training Camp 2020 show and expressed his opinion on the running back position this year. Despite the transformation of Snell and the addition of Anthony McFarland, Dulac believes that Pittsburgh won’t really deploy a running back by committee approach this season.

Instead, based on trend, Dulac thinks the Steelers plan to use James Conner as often as possible or until he gets injured. If Conner does indeed go down, Snell would step in as the starter.

There are still many things that we have yet to learn from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this year. Without a preseason to gage where players stand on the roster, we will do our best to figure out training camp information from the outside.