Steelers inside the ropes: Elandon Roberts a star of ‘backs on backers
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Elandon Roberts joined the Pittsburgh Steelers with a reputation of being one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers from an inside/middle linebackers’ spot. During his first time to show it to the team while in pads, Roberts lived up to the hype.
Roberts, an eight-year veteran, arguably was the biggest star of the backs-on-backers blocking and pass rushing drill that is a highlight of the first day of padded practices annually at training camp.
Projected as a starter at inside linebacker, Roberts won reps with relative ease against the likes of Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland and newly signed running back John Lovett. The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Roberts had 41/2 sacks for the Miami Dolphins last season in only 29 snaps in which he was asked to rush the passer (according to Pro Football Focus). He earned PFF’s best subjective grade for pass rushing of any “off ball” linebacker in the NFL.
Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin repeatedly referred to Roberts — as an opponent for a running back — as “a varsity rep.” He nodded approvingly after each of Roberts’ “wins.” Once, Tomlin grinned as he nodded and tracked Roberts with his eyes as Roberts was jogging back to defensive teammates, who were cheering and preparing to mob him.
After McFarland had appeared to hold his own in an earlier rep, Tomlin called for “five-oh” (Roberts wears No. 50) as McFarland’s foe. Roberts asked, “Inside or outside?” in reference to where he would release from. “Wherever you want!” Tomlin enthusiastically responded.
Roberts came from the edge and used a power move, as he had on all of his winning reps.
• Tight end Darnell Washington was someone Tomlin had his eye on throughout the drill, matching him up twice each against Pro Bowl edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. But the player Washington seemed to have the most trouble with was a fellow rookie, Nick Herbig. Herbig earned a clean win on Washington after Tomlin had handpicked the two to combat.
• Herbig vs. second-year tight end Connor Heyward was another matchup Tomlin asked to see twice in a row.
• In addition to getting run over by Roberts, Lovett was beaten badly by inside linebacker Mark Robinson. Lovett was in his first practice with the Steelers. “Welcome to Pittsburgh,” someone said after his second losing rep.
• As Tomlin called off the drill, undrafted rookie Darius Hagans pleaded for one more rep. Tomlin gave it to him, against recently signed veteran inside linebacker Kwon Alexander. Alexander won with ease.
• Backs-on-backers rendered the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation drill as a mere undercard Tuesday. But in concert with it being the first day in pads — and perhaps as a means for sending a message about the mentality and line of playcalling the Steelers plan on using this season — all three of the offense’s scores were on runs up the middle.
• Najee Harris scored on power runs on each of the first two snaps — the first easier than the second — and Hagans also just cleared the goal line for a score on the sixth snap.
• The defense’s wins came via a Patrick Peterson break-up of a pass from Kenny Pickett to Pat Freiermuth, twice when it pressured Pickett and Mitch Trubisky into throwaways and once when receiver Dez Fitzpatrick could get only one foot in bounds off a pass from Trubisky with Cory Trice Jr. defending on the final snap of the drill.
• Among those who notably got first-team reps while all healthy players took part in team drills were Chandon Sullivan (slot/nickel), Dan Moore Jr. (left tackle) and Kenny Robinson (safety). Robinson’s first-team status, though, comes with the sizable caveat that Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee are out because of absence/injury.
• Rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. had his first interception of camp in an 11-on-11 team drill, picking a Trubisky pass intended for Cody White 25 yards down the right sideline intended.
• Among the more notable catches in team drills were Gunner Olszewski, wide open 15 yards down the field, and Zach Gentry in the end zonefrom about 15 yards in seven-on-sevens. Each was off a throw from Trubisky.
• The next practice of camp is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. Wednesday at Saint Vincent.
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