LATROBE- After Friday’s “game practice” gave us plenty of walkthrough and offensive install notes, the helmets were back on for a well-attended Saturday practice at Saint Vincent College. It’s time to take a look at who is rising and who may be falling after the Steelers Saturday practice, and their last before pads come on Monday.
Stock up:
WR DK Metcalf
Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf talked about how improving his communication with Aaron Rodgers was a point of emphasis this camp during his pre-training camp press
conference on Tuesday. It was easy to tell the two were on the same page today. Metcalf put together what was easily his best day of camp so far. Rodgers was hitting him on all levels of the field in all areas. Metcalf made some tough catches in traffic and caught some balls where he could have picked up some serious yardage after the catch if it was a game scenario. The quarterback-receiver duo put on a show for all to see in Latrobe today.
RB Lew Nichols
The 2023 seventh-round pick of the Green Bay Packers has been with Pittsburgh for each of the last two training camps. Nichols had some hype after a solid preseason showing last year but was ultimately cut. Now, Nichols is back and seems to be competing for the RB3 role with the Steelers. Many have assumed that the battle would be between second-year back Kaleb Johnson and rookie seventh-round selection Eli Heidenreich, and it most likely still is, but Nichols got the majority of that work today. Nichols even ran with the first team offense in their two-minute drill to end practice. This early on in camp, teams are obviously trying lots of different things out, and Nichols was the player who benefitted the most from this today.
S Robert Spears-Jennings
The speedy seventh-round rookie was spotted with the starting defense opposite Jaquan Brisker to open practice. Later in practice during individual drills, Pittsburgh’s assistant head coach and secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. was paying special attention to Spears-Jennings. Much like Nichols, Spears-Jennings benefited from the team trying out players in different situations early in camp. However, in a thinner safety room that just recruited some help today, Spears-Jennings is a name to watch when pads come on next week.
Stock down:
WR Germie Bernard
After getting first-team reps during practice yesterday, that role seemed to go back to Roman Wilson. Near the end of practice, Mason Rudolph tried to hit a wide open Bernard over the middle that would have been a great chunk gain, but the rookie wideout was unable to haul it in.
Bernard looks to be a very fluid route runner who can create separation with ease. There is still plenty of time for Bernard to separate himself from the competition and earn a starting role over the next few weeks.
QB Drew Allar
We are getting to see the highs and lows of the rookie third-round selection’s development in real time. I actually had thought Allar looks very solid throughout the first few days of camp accuracy wise, as well as pushing the ball down the field. To end practice today, Allar was given the opportunity to lead the offense on a two-minute drill. This drive was a perfect example of Allar both having some flashes and a lot to learn. Some of the layups, the quick underneath passes were simply off target throws by Allar. On fourth down near midfield, Allar then rifled a perfectly placed back shoulder throw to A.T. Perry over rookie cornerback Daylen Everette for a gain of about 40.
The offense then failed to score inside the ten to end practice. While Allar made another flashy throw, it was a good reminder to everyone that he is still very much a work in progress.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
