4 critical takeaways from Steelers first week of training camp

Steelers have an active cornerback in Joey Porter

It was a match made in heaven when Joey Porter fell out of the first round of the draft and into the Steelers laps with the 32nd pick. Many fans expected the team to target him in the first round, so getting him where they got him was a huge win. While expectations are high for Porter, he needs to first earn a starting role in camp.

So far, he seems to be well on his way to doing just that. While no one will argue against his physical traits, as Porter has a rare build for an outside cornerback, some of the nuances of the position weren’t on display in college. His long arms weren’t always used properly and his footwork was far from elite.

The team has given him a lot of work so far in camp, and it certainly looks like the right move. In particular, he has been tasked with covering George Pickens, a player known for spectacular catches and big plays. It has been a fair battle, and while Pickens has gotten the win more often, I would argue that Porter is more than holding his own.

Porter is well on his way to opening the season as a starter on the outside. While his camp hasn’t been perfect, as he has given up some big plays, he doesn’t let anything stack. After losing a rep, he will go out and win the next one. This is huge, as the cornerback position is susceptible to bad plays mounting if a player can’t clear their head.

Porter looks like the real deal, and while I want to see him go up against crisper route runners like Diontae Johnson, he is doing everything right so far. Even when a bad play happens, he shakes it off and puts up a good next rep. He could quickly become a core defender for this team.

The Steelers first week of camp is in the books, and while a lot will still change between now and the regular season, these are my biggest takeaways. This team has gotten some good play out of their defense, and I am excited to see how this unit continues to grow as camp progresses.