Similar to that, the necessary three-day minicamp for the Pittsburgh Steelers has come and gone. Subsequent up on the offseason calendar for the Black and Gold is the beginning of coaching camp when gamers report back to Saint Vincent School in Latrobe on July 23.
That’s six weeks between now and the beginning of coaching camp, which is a very long time within the NFL offseason schedule.
That stated, it’s time for gamers to recharge and kit up for a grueling stretch of practices main as much as the beginning of the 2025 season, particularly with the Steelers transferring practices again to the afternoons in Latrobe with a 1:55 p.m. begin time as soon as once more to assist them acclimate to the warmth and take a look at themselves, in keeping with head coach Mike Tomlin.
In that coaching camp setting, we’ll be taught fairly a bit in regards to the 2025 Steelers; that a lot is for certain. However did we be taught something in regards to the Steelers popping out of minicamp? Glad you requested.
Beneath are three of probably the most noteworthy issues that have been uncovered in the course of the Steelers’ three-day necessary minicamp on the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated on the South Aspect.
1. DERRICK HARMON SEEING STARTING SNAPS ALONG DL
Nicely, that definitely didn’t take lengthy. Regardless of the Steelers sometimes slow-playing issues with rookies, they’re doing no such factor with Derrick Harmon. In line with defensive position coach Karl Dunbar, Harmon is already seeing beginning defensive finish snaps this offseason, working with those persistently.
“He goes on the market with those,” Dunbar stated of Harmon, in keeping with audio supplied by the Steelers’ PR division. “He’s our left beginning defensive deal with. You possibly can write that.”
That’s good news for the Steelers’ protection, which had some questions alongside the defensive position reverse Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton. Harmon was drafted to be that reply, nevertheless it was unclear if he was going to begin proper out of the gate or if he was going to get inserted into the lineup slowly and need to be taught behind the likes of Daniel Ekuale, Dean Lowry, and Isaiahh Loudermilk.
Fortuitously, that’s not the case as Dunbar made it clear Harmon is the beginning defensive deal with, and that’s nice information for the Steelers. Harmon was thought-about the most effective inside defensive linemen within the draft class, and his falling to No. 21 general to Pittsburgh was some good luck for the Steelers.
He’s run defender who will assist shore up a few of the points the Steelers had in that division final season down the stretch, and he’s a dynamic go rusher, too, having led the FBS in complete pressures from an inside defensive lineman final season at Oregon with 55.
There will likely be some rising pains at instances as Harmon acclimates to the NFL recreation. Nonetheless, it’s higher that he’s getting that beginning expertise immediately, fairly than having a restricted position early behind veterans who’re extra gifted than he’s.
2. CALVIN AUSTIN III IS THE CLEAR WR2
The Steelers are nonetheless within the technique of looking for one other receiver so as to add to the roster, whether or not that’s by way of free company or commerce, however for large receivers coach Zach Azzanni, the Steelers have already got their WR2. That will be Calvin Austin III.
Azzanni said that clearly to the media earlier within the week, which raised loads of eyebrows. Austin as WR2? Looks like a stretch. However Azzanni’s feedback present simply how a lot the group believes in Austin on the receiver place.
“I believe everybody overlooks Quantity 19. That man’s a legit NFL receiver…he simply will get separation everywhere in the area, he’ll chunk your face off within the run recreation, nothing impacts him; a fantastic chief. He can do a number of issues a two can do,” Azzanni stated about Austin by way of The Pat McAfee Present’s Mark Kaboly on Twitter.
