Unlike their counterparts in the front seven, defensive backs rarely come off the field.
In fact, just three Steelers logged more than 1,000 defensive snaps last season and, not surprisingly, those three players were starting cornerbacks Joe Haden and Steven Nelson and safety Terrell Edmunds. Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick didn't quite reach 1,000 defensive snaps last season -- at least not in Pittsburgh, but he played well over 1,000 when his first two games with the Dolphins are included.
That made the defensive backfield the ironmen of the defense.
Expecting that group to start nearly every game -- the only game missed in 2019 was one by Nelson at midseason -- might be a bit much to ask. But the Steelers feel good about their depth at the cornerback position.
As for their depth at safety? Well, they're starting to feel a little better about that as they continue their training camp at Heinz Field.
With Edmunds sidelined the past few days with an undisclosed injury, veteran Curtis Riley has shown some playmaking ability next to Fitzpatrick. The team also continues to put more on the plate of third-year safety Marcus Allen, as well, and likes what it has seen from sixth-round draft pick Antoine Brooks.
Riley, signed at the start of camp to a one-year deal after spending the 2019 season with the Raiders, has continually made plays with Edmunds out. Monday, he intercepted Mason Rudolph in a pass under pressure drill, giving him three consecutive days with a forced turnover.
"I think Curtis can help us from a depth standpoint," defensive backs coach Tom Bradley said. "He’s one of the guys each day that has shown a little bit more and more. We’re getting excited about him as we continue through this process, watching him. One of the things that’s difficult, obviously, about this preseason is the fact that we don’t have the game simulations. Through drill work and things of that nature, we have to try to simulate as best as we can how we are going to play. He’s been impressive so far in camp, and we are looking forward to seeing if he can keep this thing going for the next few weeks."
Allen, a 2018 fifth-round draft pick out of Penn State, hasn't played much in his first two NFL seasons, spending most of his time on the practice squad.
But the Steelers seem intent on working him as an in-the-box safety.
Saturday, he worked with the linebackers in backs-on-backers, a pass-rushing drill that pits a defender against a running back or tight end in a one-on-one situation. Allen did well.
Monday, Allen was given a chance to test himself in coverage against the team's best pass catching tight end, Eric Ebron, in a coverage drill that clearly favors the offense. While Allen didn't fare quite as well, he did win on his final rep against Ebron, batting down a pass.
"I think this is a big year for Marcus, and he’s taking advantage of a lot of different things," Mike Tomlin said. "One thing, he’s playing a lot faster this year. You can tell he really understands the system. He’s very versatile. We can do a lot of different things with him in our package. Marcus is really coming on strong during this camp."
It's adding up to perhaps more depth at the position than the Steelers thought they would have when camp began. At that point, only Jordan Dangerfield, a special teams ace, had any real playing experience behind the starters.
It won't be Fitzpatrick and Edmunds and hoping to get some snaps from someone else if something happens. It's a far different situation than a year ago, when Sean Davis was injured in training camp and the Steelers were forced to start former AFL player Kameron Kelly at free safety in the opener at New England and then go to him again when Davis was lost for the season to a shoulder injury the next week.
Kelly allowed 10 completions on all 10 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in his coverage last season. When Davis was lost for the season, the Steelers were prompted to make the trade with the Dolphins to acquire Fitzpatrick rather than keep playing Kelly.
The combination of Fitzpatrick and Edmunds was stellar after that. Fitzpatrick allowed just 10 completions on 25 pass attempts against him with the Steelers for 163 yards and one touchdown, while Edmunds' numbers improved, as well. After giving up nine completions on 11 attempts with Kelly next to him, Edmunds allowed 25 completions on 39 attempts with just two touchdowns over the final 14 games.
If Riley, who has 19 career starts in four seasons, and Allen continue to show they can be effective, the Steelers could have their best depth at safety in several years.
"I think everybody is having a pretty solid camp. Curtis just came in, and he’s doing a good job, making plays. He’s an experienced guy," said Fitzpatrick. "Antoine, same thing, a young guy but he’s out there communicating, trying to learn every single day, asking questions to the older guys, meeting extra time and stuff like that. Danger is out there. He knows what to do. He’s not going to make any mistakes. I can’t really say anybody’s standing out, but they’re all doing their job and getting it done."
• The matchups didn't stop with simply the one of Allen against Ebron. In that same drill, for example, rookie Anthony McFarland drew Devin Bush, while Ulysees Gilbert earned reps against Jaylen Samuels. In one-on-one pass rushing drills, third-round pick Alex Highsmith matched up against more experienced players. Second-round pick Chase Claypool is getting more and more work against the team's top coverage corners.
"They’re proving that they belong. Those guys have kind of distinguished themselves in some JV competition, if you will, over the course of this camp process," Tomlin said. "They’ve had more opportunities against known veteran guys, and really, they don’t appear to be out of place in that company. So far, so good. As they continue to prove themselves, that will increase."
It's a good sign for the depth of this team.
• Highsmith is a player who has kind of flown under the radar, but like the safety position, his play early is getting some rave reviews.
With Bud Dupree out for the second portion of practice -- he had a wrap on his left hand -- Highsmith worked in with the first-team defense.
The Steelers weren't tackling live today, but Highsmith is very active.
In fact, when asked who has stood out to him among the team's lesser-known players, offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor, who didn't practice Monday because of a groin issue, didn't waiver.
"Alex, I would say," said Okorafor. "Just him showing kind of a little flash every couple plays. He’s kind of new, everything is new, so it takes time. Whether or not that means him knowing what to do on defense - after he kind of knows everything he’s going to play faster. But I think him."
That could be a good sign for the Steelers' outside linebacker depth. Of that group, only Ola Adeniyi has any substantial NFL experience. But Tuzar Skipper led the team in sacks last preseason and was brought back after initially signing with and later getting released by the Giants. The team used its second pick in this year's draft on Highsmith.
• Claypool could wind up being the steal of the draft. The 11th wide receiver taken this year -- and 49th pick overall -- the big rookie just continues to make plays, drawing raves from Tomlin.
Claypool once again went up to win a jump ball in the back corner of the end zone, coming down with the ball in bounds while going up over fellow rookie James Pierre -- who also is a nice find -- for a touchdown.
As good as that play was, we've seen the 6-foot-4, 238-pound rookie do that time and again in this camp. What we hadn't seen was another play he made Monday.
Claypool caught a short curl over the middle during an 11-on-11 and quickly accelerated, weaving through the defense for a big gain before finally being contacted by a defender. He did that on back-to-back plays, getting some words of encouragement from Tomlin, who was pleased with his immediate acceleration.
Tomlin was asked after practice about the leaping catch in the end zone and his reaction to it.
"You know, all my reactions are thoughtful. And I imagine you know that about me," Tomlin said. "It is by design whether it is positive or negative or constructive or encouraging. I just try to be what they need me to be at any given moment and he is included in that. I really don’t know which specific play you are talking about because he made a couple of them, which is a good thing."
• Edmunds, Okorafor and Dupree weren't the only veterans missing all or a portion of today's practice. Both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson were out today, with Johnson missing his third consecutive session with a calf injury.
Ben Roethlisberger also missed his first padded practice, though that was an extra day of rest for the quarterback.
That gave Rudolph a chance to run the first-team offense and while there were times when the defense got the better of him -- as it also has done against Roethlisberger -- Rudolph continues to look like his timing on throws has improved from a year ago.
Just don't tell anyone on the defense that the offense is winning its share of plays.
That was suggested to Fitzpatrick and he bristled at the thought.
"The only time we get beat is when we mess up. There are not too many times where the corners aren’t going to win 50-50 balls. They usually win those," Fitzpatrick said. "There are not too many times where T.J. or Bud aren’t going to win the rush. The only times big plays happen on us is when we make mistakes. The offense, the type of offense we have knowing Ben and everybody out there, they’re going to take advantage of it. I don’t know if it’s been ‘give and take’ the last couple of practices, but ya’ll are entitled to your own opinion."
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