Among the Pittsburgh Steelers training-camp drills that most consistently enthrall entire sets of position groups as well as coach Mike Tomlin involves a pass-rushing mock-up of front-seven defensive players going up against offensive linemen.

Though other linemen are present as props, the drill effectively serves a purpose for one-on-ones. But it gets competitive, with players from offense and defense cheering on their peers. Tomlin routinely gets animated in declaring winners and/or in calling for rematches or asking for particular handpicked matchups.

Sunday, one name Tomlin kept calling for was Nick Herbig.

The undersized rookie outside linebacker has been a darling of camp. Having 1 ½ sacks in his NFL preseason debut Friday only added to his rising star. So it might not have been a surprise that Herbig was the edge rusher most often deployed for Sunday’s passrush drill.

Herbig had a pair of best-of-three’s against fellow rookie tackles Broderick Jones and Spencer Anderson.

First, Herbig took on seventh-rounder Anderson, who stood firm on an initial rep to draw hoots and hollers from the assembled offensive linemen watching. But Herbig used a pretty spin move to win a rematch. Round 3? Score it a split decision for Herbig.

Perhaps emboldened, Herbig then called out Jones, the No. 14 overall draft pick. Tomlin enthusiastically called for it. The big tackle held off Herbig strongly on the first rep, before Herbig used his quickness to get by him on the next “snap.” Jones, though, held his ground in the rubber match.

Jones began the drill with a series against second-year defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. Leal won the battle when he blew past him on the first snap but lost the war when Jones kept him at bay in each of the next two. After, while playing center, Kendrick Green held off nose tackle Montravius Adams, outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin quipped, “Not a bad job for a fullback.” Green has been taking plenty of practice reps at offensive skill positions over the past week-plus. When the drill ended, Tomlin slapped the helmets of Jones and Herbig while he said, “Way to work! Way to work!” Players on both sides of the ball convened to shake hands and give each other hugs and high fives. Only the most competitive and anticipated drills of camp tend to end this way. The defense prevailed in four of the “seven shots” two-point conversion simulation plays. The only time the Kenny Pickett-led first team scored was against the second-team defense and on a draw play run by Anthony McFarland on their fourth and final snap. The second-team offense scored twice – throws from Mitch Trubisky to Gunner Olszewski and Dez Fitzpatrick, though under game conditions a sack might have prevented the throw to Olszewski. Fitzpatrick, though, was wide open in the back of the end zone on the final snap after a throw to him on the previous play was broken up by Luq Barcoo. Pickett throws intended for Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson were too high, and another pass intended for Johnson was broken up by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, moreso than usual, was deployed at different spots on the defense Sunday. He was at nickel/slot, in the box and even what could be defined as outside cornerback at certain points. During at least one 11-on-11 rep, Patrick Peterson was at nickel/slot. Green caught a pass in 11-on-11 from Trubisky, stiff-arming James Pierre as he ran over the left side of the defense. He’d initially lined up as an I-formation fullback but pre-snap motion had him end up as the in-line tight end on the left side. The next snap, Connor Heyward had a carry as a traditional tailback. Pierre had an interception of Trubisky when he stepped in front of a pass intended for Calvin Austin III down the right sideline. Two snaps later, Pierre almost had another interception but he could not hold on to a ball that landed in his hands that Olszewski could not handle. Cody White had the longest reception of 11-on-11 drills, catching a ball from Trubisky about 30 yards downfield on the left sideline over Elijah Riley and Trenton Thompson. The biggest play created by Pickett was a loft of about 20 yards down the right sideline to Johnson, who was in front of Peterson. Practice ended with a pair of 2-minute drills in which the offense took over at midfield with 1:18 on the clock and one timeout. Both the first- and second-team offenses prevailed, the former by way of an Robinson sliding catch in front of Levi Wallace in the end zone. Buoyed by three catches by Olszewski, the second-team offense scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Darnell Washington. Players were in full pads, but there was no live tackling. The Steelers are off Monday but return to close out training camp with their final three practices on consecutive days, beginning Tuesday at 1:55 p.m.

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