Steelers camp report: Offensive linemen have 'laps' in judgment after run of false starts

By nature of the position, offensive linemen do the least amount of running during a football practice. Blocking is their forte, and they aren’t tasked with covering great distances — at least on the field.

What transpired Saturday at Saint Vincent College could be viewed as an exception — much to the dismay of the big men in the trenches — and it happened outside the white lines.

No fewer than half a dozen times, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen were called off the field and told to run a lap around the practice field. It was the punishment dished out for committing a false start.

Coach Mike Tomlin called it a “teach tool” for his linemen, and he hopes the message was received.

“We’re just trying to accelerate the learning process and trying to use all the tools at our disposal in an effort to do so,” Tomlin said.

One of the offenders was first-round draft pick Troy Fautanu, and it came at a time when he was getting work at right tackle with the first-team offense.

“It’s holding us accountable,” Fautanu said. “For as ‘high school’ as you think it is, I don’t want to run laps. I’m going to try not to do that again.”

Fautanu wasn’t the only rookie to get summoned off the field. Guard Mason McCormick ran a lap, as did Tyler Beach, Anderson Hardy, Joey Fisher and Ryan McCollum.

“I’m hard on myself so things like that overshadow some of the things I did today,” Fautanu said. “Hopefully, I’ll fix that come next week.”

The defensive line wasn’t immune, either. Keanu Benton and Willington Previlon circled the perimeter of Chuck Noll Field late in the two-hour workout.

The defense fared better in the takeaway department. Rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson and cornerback Kalon Barnes punched out balls for fumbles that the defense recovered. Cornerback Donte Jackson had an interception.

“I think a highlight was defensive ball awareness and searching,” Tomlin said. “I thought the guys were really aggressive in terms of going after the football, punching it out, raking it. This is a component of laying a foundation that is important do us.”

Sitting out practice for a fourth day day in a row was quarterback Russell Wilson, who did increase the number of passes he threw in the individual portion of practice. Wilson could begin practicing Tuesday when the Steelers don pads for the first time.

“We expect him to get going a little bit as we come off this off day,” Tomlin said.

Tight end Rodney Williams missed practice with an AC joint sprain that he sustained Saturday.