Steelers training camp: Early winners and losers before the pads come on

Loser: Darnell Washington

It pains me to say this, but Darnell Washington has had a pretty poor start to Steelers training camp. The mammoth tight end out of Georgia seems to be struggling from a mental standpoint with false starts and miscommunications with his quarterbacks.

This is certainly no reason to panic. Washington doesn't turn 22 years old until August 17th, and we all knew he was a pretty raw player coming out of college. The size and traits are still undeniable, as it is hard to find players who are 6'7'' and 270 pounds who move the way he does.

Still, his poor start to training camp is a bit disappointing. Washington has been a complete non-factor so far in the passing game, and mental lapses have caused him to be pulled from the field at times to talk with coaches.

I am still a believer that talent will win out in the end. Washington could look like a totally different player in the coming weeks, and it's not uncommon for third-round rookies to struggle early at camp. Eventually, we all hope to see the physically imposing 'Y' tight end we saw at Georgia. It may just take some time.