SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Hitting Someone New’ Edition

Good Monday to you Steelers fans.

We have officially reached our first “game week” of the 2023 season. I’m happy about that as I’m sure you are. You know who’s really happy about it? The players. At this point in Training Camp the players are tired of hitting each other. If you haven’t played football you may not understand but I guess you could look at it this way. If you have a sibling that never stops irritating you then you probably get it. Maybe it’s a co-worker or classmate. There’s a totally different feeling when it’s someone else that’s bugging you. That’s where the Steelers are. They’re tired of seeing the same guys across from them day after day. They are ready to deal with someone new and that “someone new” will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.  Keep some perspective here to fans. This is not about winning or losing. This is strictly about two things. One, staying as healthy as possible and two, evaluation. Mike Tomlin and his staff need to see these new and young guys perform on a bigger stage so yeah, it’s just a preseason game week, but it matters too.

Green Machine

I never say “never” and I won’t here either in regards to Kendrick Green playing fullback. We’ve seen players change positions before, yes, even at the professional level but rarely have we seen this. Defensive linemen sometimes become offensive linemen as former Steeler Ray Mansfield did. Or we may see a cornerback become a safety, a tight end become a tackle or an inside backer move to the outside. It is rare however to see a blocker move to a skill position. At 315lbs, Green is likely too big to be a true fullback but when’s the last time the Steelers used a true fullback? Dan Kreider maybe? The point here is that does Tomlin use a roster spot on a guy that will be your backup center and occasional lead blocker? I’m just not sure how serious they are about this but like I said, “Never say never.”

Tweet of the Day… Do people understand that literally every, single day at every, single NFL practice there are great catches going on? I think some people forget this.

I’ve never seen so many lose their minds over practice throws and catches.

— 𝖘𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖕𝖘 (@scarpizio) August 5, 2023

Minkah

We can all breathe safely now. Minkah Fitzpatrick is back practicing and all seems well. We learned that his personal issue was family-related and that he was not practicing simply because he thought he’d be called away at any moment. He has the full support of the team and organization so as far as I’m concerned this is no longer an issue.

Joe Thomas

Congrats to the former Browns’ offensive tackle on his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a great and dominant player for a team that never made the postseason during his career. Some of you may have seen Thomas’ young son giving Steelers’ “less than enthusiastic” responses during the HoF parade. Thomas himself has poked the Steelers several times since his retirement on social media and that’s fine – it’s a rivalry – yet Joe Thomas was 3-18 against the Steelers so maybe he and his son are just bitter.

Camp Tidbits

Tanner Morgan got his first action with the third team and looked halfway decent. No, I don’t think he overtakes Mason Rudolph but he could earn a Practice Squad job… Jet sweeps aren’t going anywhere in Matt Canada’s offense. You’ve been warned… Damontae Kazee was back practicing yesterday after missing some time with an injury… The battle for those final wide receiver spots is going to go down to the end. Cody White continues to have a nice Camp and even Hakeem Butler made some plays this week after some earlier struggles. Pencil in Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin III. After that? Miles Boykin, Butler, White and Gunner Olszewski are all vying for what could be just one or two more spots.