4 for Friday: Steelers acclimating through spring training

‘Phase 2’

The Steelers have had players in their facilities for voluntary training and conditioning phases. The focus of these periods is acclimating players’ bodies to the game after a period away from any organized team activities, as well as addressing rehabilitation, cardio, and strength training.

This was also an opportunity for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to work with other staff in evaluating the progress of players that he will use to build the offense he needs to field from a strength and training aspect. Some drills are allowed during this period, but are limited.

‘Phase 3’ will be the culminating event before the Steelers hold their mandatory veteran minicamp from June 11-13, 2024. This is typically known as organized team training or ‘OTAs’ and will build on the first two phases while adding drills that do not include live contact. This phase lasts for four weeks (ten days total).

Rookie minicamp

Thursday (May 9) was the day that all of the newest batch of draft selectees and undrafted rookie free agents reported to UPMC Rooney Sports complex ahead of the beginning of rookie minicamp on Friday. It was a busy day of meetings, equipment fitting, locker room placement, photos, and other team business.

“The NFL pre-draft process was cool, and a dream come true to take part in all of that. But that’s not really who I am… I love football and I love working to get better at football, so I just can’t wait to get going and be around my teammates, the best coaches in the world.” – linebacker Payton Wilson

This year’s rookie minicamp will occur over the course of this three-day weekend. It’s an opportunity for rookies to also get a chance to meet their more senior teammates and bond while receiving instruction and information about being play-ready in the NFL.

On May 13, the Steelers can begin the league rookie football development program over the course of seven weeks.

The Atlanta impact

The Steelers have now added five players that were formerly with Smith on the Atlanta Falcons. They are: WR Van Jefferson, WR Scotty Miller, RB Cordarrelle Patterson, TE MyCole Pruitt, and WR Keilahn Harris. Does that mean Smith plans to make sure they stick in Pittsburgh?

Although fans have expressed their feelings about these moves across social media. Many of them contended that, since the Falcons were not a good team, the Steelers should not allow these implants to have an impact on a Pittsburgh team that is trending up. Others mentioned they saw the moves as being similar to the college transfer portal shuffling when a coach gets a job at a new school and some players then transfer, too.

There’s no reason to see the addition of former Falcons players as a negative mark at this point of the off-season. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that players who spent time with Smith in Atlanta – who know how to execute his schemes and work with him – bring an edge to Pittsburgh.

They can be worked into, and acclimated to, the position groups in place, communicate their experience under Smith, and give their new Steelers teammates valuable insights.

The Steelers will evaluate all their options in personnel throughout the spring and training camp this coming autumn, not just the “guys from Atlanta.” These evaluation opportunities help them to also see where cuts and/or additions need to be made. That means there is no guarantee of a roster spot; that’s been the case year after year in Pittsburgh regardless of players who’ve joined the team.