The Steelers have wrapped up their first week of training camp, and to this point, it has been a successful one. It is always good to get players back into practice and on the field. The team has gotten physical and churned out some good battles during camp already. While there is still a lot of time to go, the dust is beginning to settle.
With the first week officially in the books, I wanted to take some time to highlight the biggest trends I have seen from this week. Again, a lot can change between now and the end of the summer, but here are the four biggest takeaways from the Steelers first week of training camp.
Steelers got a good one in Allen Robinson
Pittsburgh made a very typical low-cost trade before the draft began this year. The Rams parted ways with Robinson and their seventh-round pick for the Steelers seventh-round pick. Moving back a handful of spots in the final round of the draft netted them Robinson.
To be clear, this isn’t the Robinson of old. Injuries and inconsistencies have made him a questionable name, to say the least. The Rams were figuring him to be a key member of their offense, but he once again floundered. He can still be a decent physical threat, but he isn’t as dynamic as he once was.
The early results have looked good. Robinson has flashed some strong hands and an early connection with Kenny Pickett. While I doubt he ultimately is a huge producer in this offense, the move is paying dividends.
The Steelers have paired Robinson with George Pickens as well. I love that the team is finding a mentor for the talented second-year wideout. For the cost it took to bring him in, the Robinson move certainly seems like a strong one for the team so far in training camp.
Steelers aren’t pleased with their linebackers
Pittsburgh made a clear goal to overhaul their linebacker room this offseason, as the play there hasn’t been strong the past few seasons. While the group is still lacking a true star player, they have added, as of this writing, five new linebackers to this room, and all five have a chance to make the active roster.
The latest, and arguably second most notable name, to be brought in is veteran Kwon Alexander. While he was, at one point in time, an elite defender, age and injuries have hampered him. That said, he was still a good defender for the Jets last season and figures to be one of the three regular linebackers on the field.
The lone holdover from last season, Mark Robinson, has to feel like he is in a tough position right now. While some fans, myself included, thought that Robinson could be the starter this year, he is now clearly on the roster bubble. He looked fine in his snaps last season, but he is lacking experience and wasn’t a prime special teams player last year.
While this is less training camp news and more roster construction, the Steelers are clearly trying to get more out of the group. That may cost Robinson his roster spot, as the team has added a plethora of options that can play on defense and special teams. This team wants a new-look linebacker group, and Pittsburgh will leave no stone unturned to accomplish that.
Steelers tackles are struggling against the edge rushers
This is a combination of a few different things. While the Steelers line seems to be jelling as a whole right now with some familiar faces, the tackles have been struggling against the edge rushers. To be fair, Pittsburgh has a deep group of talented edge rushers, but it is concerning to see the tackles struggle as they have.
It all started early with Le’Raven Clark getting beaten by rookie Nick Herbig. While it isn’t shocking to see Clark get consistently beaten, it was a pleasant surprise to see Herbig pop. I’m still not convinced he can stay as an edge rusher given his size, but he is off to a good start right now.
It hasn’t stopped there, as Dan Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor have also regularly struggled. Highlighted by Alex Highsmith, who is off to yet another strong camp, both tackles have been beaten consistently, and neither have looked like great starters.
Broderick Jones has arguably been the best of the group, but that isn’t saying much. He has flashed some power in run blocking but has also had some inconsistencies in the passing game. Thankfully, there is a lot of time left for this group to get its act together.
Again, to be fair, this is just as much of a compliment to the edge rushers as it is a concern with the tackles. This group is deep and talented, and even Herbig has flashed a quick first step in camp. They haven’t made things easy, but this tackle play needs to get better and soon for this offense.
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.