Steelers' Mike Tomlin ready to get most out of practice time once hitting begins

If the coronavirus pandemic had not altered the NFL landscape, Monday would represent just another ordinary practice day in the training camp grind for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They likely would be holding a morning walkthrough followed by a two-hour practice in the late afternoon at Saint Vincent College. They would be turning the page from the second preseason game and building toward an Aug. 23 encounter against the New Orleans Saints.

Instead, with the pandemic changing the training camp regimen for all NFL teams, the Steelers will put on pads for the first time Monday. And they will do so at Heinz Field, not their customary training camp headquarters in Unity Township.

Although Steelers players will don pads for the first time just three weeks later than under a regular camp setting, it might seem like an eternity considering the amount of offseason work eliminated because of covid-19 concerns. Those included rookie minicamp, organized team activities and regular minicamp.

Although coach Mike Tomlin’s team will be limited to 14 padded practices before roster cuts are made in September and he’ll have no preseason games in which to evaluate players, he is looking forward to the next step in the process.

And he intends to treat it as business as usual by trotting out training camp staples such as seven shots 2-point simulations, backs-on-backers matchups and goal-line drills at various junctures of the journey.

“That is our intent,” Tomlin said Thursday in his final media availability before Monday. “We are willing to adjust based on what transpires between now and then. And that is really our mentality about this next month or so. We realize there are certain boxes that need to be checked between now and when we step into a stadium, but we also realize that we might have to alter the pace of some of those intended plans based on the readiness — or lack thereof — of the group.”

In this condensed version of training camp, the Steelers conducted physicals and coronavirus testing in the first week. Four players wound up on the reserve/covid list, but the last one — running back Jaylen Samuels — was activated Thursday.

The second week was devoted to strength and conditioning. This week has brought simulated OTAs, with players wearing pads while practicing in shorts.

“We are still transitioning into football, and there is a lot of significant work to be done in that regard,” Tomlin said. “More than anything, we’re talking about culture-building things, how we practice, how we compete professionally, how we compete appropriately based on attire.”

Tomlin expects to field a healthy roster of 80 players, which was trimmed from 90 in the past week per NFL rules, to be ready to take contact in practice.

“I’m not worried about any long-term work missed by anyone at this juncture,” he said.

With the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from right elbow surgery, the Steelers will have 10 offensive starters back from last season. Tomlin is “looking exclusively” at Matt Feiler playing left guard after he started 15 games at right tackle in 2019. Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner have been “rotating” at right tackle, Tomlin said.

The defense returns every starter except for nose tackle Javon Hargrave and inside linebacker Mark Barron. Vince Williams will return as a starter in place of Barron, and veteran Tyson Alualu will be used at nose tackle.

The makeup of the special teams units will be determined by what transpires in the practice setting. The Steelers need to replace core special teams players such as Tyler Matakevich, Anthony Chickillo and Johnny Holton.

“That is something that really has our attention in this environment,” Tomlin said. “With no preseason games, it is important that we make thoughtful decisions about the placement of people in the special teams’ capacity. But also, once we get them placed, the competitive aspect of practice and creating an environment where we can make some evaluations in that area is something that is at the front of our minds as we continue to get adjusted to what we are doing here.”