When it comes to the Steelers' rookie class, there's virtually nothing they can do together on the football field. But that doesn't mean they can't virtually meet.
In fact, the group of players selected by the Steelers in the draft two weeks ago still hasn't met -- at least not in person. But the team has been holding meetings between the players and their respective position coaches the past two weeks to get them up to speed on the playbook.
And Friday, the team began holding a rookie minicamp -- virtually, of course -- to bring everyone together and go over the introduction of the playbook.
Such is the world in which we now live with things shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak.
"It’s definitely different," said wide receiver Chase Claypool, the team's second-round draft pick. "We have a couple of different websites that we use to get in and out of meetings and stuff. They were able to supply an iPad that has some of the basic concepts and the terminology and stuff like that, but not the entire playbook. It’s hard to dissect it that way. It’s kind of what this rookie minicamp is for. We have to troubleshoot every day because there’s always an audio issue or something like that. It’s a unique experience."
Indeed. And it might be something that puts this particular rookie class at a disadvantage when it comes time to winning a job.
That's less of a concern for someone like Claypool, who was the Steelers' top pick in this draft. The Steelers didn't have a first-round selection thanks to the trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
But for someone such as defensive lineman Carlos Davis, a seventh-round pick out of Nebraska, a job isn't guaranteed. These virtual meetings and this unique situation take on a different feel.
"There’s a little uncertainty there because this is a different draft class," Davis said. "We’re not able to be there. So it does raise a little concern. I really just focus on learning the playbook right now, and when we do get to be there, just going to work."
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Carlos Davis talks with reporters via Zoom Friday. - DKPS[/caption]
The rookie class has been holding one-on-one meetings with their respective coaching staffs for the past two weeks. And the Steelers sent all of their new players an iPad loaded with basic plays and terminology, but Friday marked the first time the team tried out a group meeting. The meetings kicked off at 11 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m., with Mike Tomlin speaking to everyone as a group first, before they broke off into position meetings.
"I want to get a good grasp on the playbook after this is said and done," said Claypool, a former Notre Dame star. "Obviously, you can’t get the whole playbook in a few days, but just a good grasp of the concepts. But I want a good grasp of the terminology and that stuff. That’s what I’ve learned today, those basic things, and we’ll progress as the days go on."
Claypool is back at home in Canada, just outside Vancouver, British Columbia, where he has a trainer and speed coach to walk him through things on the field after he's spent time with the coaching staff going over play concepts.
For Davis, who is at his parent's home in Missouri, it's a little different. He has a nearby field on which he can work out. He also has the added bonus of having an identical twin brother, Khalil, with whom he can go over things. Khalil Davis, who also played at Nebraska, was a sixth-round pick of the Buccaneers.
"We can look to each other," said Davis, who said he's been asked to learn to play both defensive end and nose tackle. "We see what each other is doing and we can kind of check up on each other while we’re doing this, see how they’re doing it, see how we’re doing it, and go off that. This is all new to us. We’re just trying to figure it out. We just kind of share stuff."
But it's not the same as being in a group setting and on the football field. The Steelers will continue their virtual rookie minicamp through this weekend and then move on to adding the veterans to the group learning process later.
Claypool is anxious to get onto the field with Ben Roethlisberger and show what he can do. But the NFL isn't going to open team facilities until all of the teams have equal access to their buildings. With different rules in place across the country given different levels of infection rates, that could be a while.
"Ben has a group chat going with all of us," Claypool said. "He said as soon as we can get together, we’ll get together and learn the offense. Other than that, I’ve been learning through the resources I’ve been given, the iPad and the rookie weekend."
That will continue. And it might last all the way until training camp -- whatever that might consist of -- starts.
In the meantime, the rookies will work on their conditioning and learning the playbook the best they can.
"Coach Tomlin just preached that we’re not going to hold your hand through this," Claypool said. "We’ve got to be on top of things. If they tell us we’ve got to be in shape, then we’re going to be in shape. They don’t really have to monitor us."
No pun intended.
"It’s kind of an honor system," Davis said. "They told us to be in our best shape, and they trust us to do that."
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